After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 11

Ayla could not understand what was happening.

The boy had just stolen an apple right in front of her, yet now he was asking the shopkeeper for another one.

“There’s no way he’ll give it for free.”

Even though Ayla was still young, she already knew that if you wanted something, you had to pay for it.

“Young lady, you should earn your keep. Just look at the state of this room.”

“Nothing in this world comes for free, young lady. If someone feeds you and gives you a place to sleep without asking anything in return, the least you can do is clean.”

Anna’s harsh voice echoed in her ears again and slowly faded.

The shopkeeper handed an apple to the boy with a laugh.

“A promise like that for a single apple? Sounds like a good deal to me. Go ahead and take it.”

Ayla could hardly believe what she was seeing.

He wasn’t her family. He wasn’t gaining anything from her. Yet here he was, giving her food.

The boy walked back over and casually held out one of the apples to her.

“Here. This one’s yours. I stole it. The other one is mine. I got it on credit.”

“Why did you give me the stolen one?”

Ayla hesitated as she took it and asked quietly.

The boy took a bite of his apple and gave her a crooked smile.

“Because that one doesn’t come with a promise.”

“A promise?”

“The promise I made to pay back the cost of the apple several times over. I intend to keep it.”

“Then I’ll pay it back too. I’ll return the favor someday. I promise.”

Ayla’s voice burned with determination. The boy smiled like he found her adorable and shook his head.

“You don’t have to pay anything back, little one. I’ll take responsibility for your apple too.”

“Take responsibility?”

“But more important than that,” he said slowly, bending down to meet her eyes, “is knowing what you really want.”

She looked confused.

“You saw it, didn’t you?”

“Saw what?”

“If you want something, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get it.”

“Even if it means stealing?”

“Yes. Even if it means stealing. Because if you don’t, someone else will take it from you.”

His words were hard for Ayla to understand, but she didn’t ask him to explain.

Something about his voice made her think he might cry if she did.

After Ayla finished the apple, the boy turned to her and asked a question.

“So, where’s your home?”

“My home?”

“You don’t know where it is? Are you lost?”

“Not exactly.”

Her expression dimmed immediately.

The boy frowned slightly and spoke more gently.

“Do you not have anywhere to go?”

She could not answer. Her lips trembled, and tears threatened to return.

Seeing her struggle, the boy scratched his cheek awkwardly and asked again.

“Then do you want to come with me?”

“With you?”

“Yeah. It’s colder and rougher than here, but at least it’s a place you can go back to.”

“A place I can go back to?”

“A place where you’re allowed to exist.”

Ayla’s eyes widened, trembling with emotion.

The boy stood upright again and gave her head a quick pat, looking guilty.

“But for now, I have to go somewhere. It’s not a place I can take you.”

She remained silent.

“Hey, don’t make that face. I’m not leaving you. I just want you to wait here for me. I’ll come back.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Just wait one hour. I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay.”

The boy smiled warmly, then turned and walked away quickly.

Ayla stood still on the street, watching his back, and suddenly her heart sank.

His retreating figure began to blur and overlap with the memory of her mother walking away from her.

What if she was being abandoned again?

Just as anxiety crept into her chest, the boy turned around and waved at her.

Relief flooded her heart.

Ayla waved back with all her strength.

The thought that she might finally have a place to return to made her heart flutter with warmth.

“I’ll be good and wait right here until he comes back.”

Ayla had been crouching in the same spot for a long time when a carriage quietly came to a stop in front of her.

She opened her eyes wide in surprise. When the door opened, her jaw dropped.

“Father?”

With a dazed expression, she called out to him. Marcus stood there with a stern face and spoke in a firm voice.

“Get in.”

She could not believe it. Her father had come to pick her up. It felt like she was dreaming.

The boy had not returned yet.

Her blue eyes glanced around in hesitation as conflict filled her gaze.

After a brief moment of indecision, Ayla climbed into the carriage.

That was the last time she ever saw the boy.

Sometimes she wondered what would have happened if she had not followed her father that day and had waited for the boy instead.

It had been a short meeting, but to Ayla, it was a precious memory she would never trade for anything.

She often remembered the warmth of his hand when he patted her head or the smile, he gave her as he looked at her kindly.

Even more than that, his words stayed with her. He had told her to know what she wanted and to do whatever it took to get it. That idea became the foundation for how Ayla lived her life.

She tried her best to follow that belief. But no matter how hard she worked, some things simply could not be changed.

Love and recognition from her family were not things she could steal or force her way into having.

“Things are different now. Letting go is easy.”

As Bam rubbed against her legs, Ayla stroked his head and made her decision.

If what Rodrigo wanted from her was purity, then she would give it up. That was all it would take.

And once Ayla made a decision, she did not look back.

Two nights later, late at night.

Ayla had waited for this day. She slipped quietly out of the mansion and headed toward the familiar Moonlight Manor.

Tonight was the perfect night for her plan.

She had to go through with it now. The imperial banquet celebrating the First Prince’s return would be held early the next morning.

Her family would be awake preparing for the event, and Rodrigo, unless he planned to cancel the engagement, would arrive at the duke’s estate early to escort her.

If she could close her eyes just for one night, she could end everything in a single move.

Determined, Ayla arrived at the Moonlight Manor.

As she had expected, the manor was quieter than usual. Most of the nobles were too busy preparing for the next day’s banquet to be out tonight.

She had made up her mind, but this was something she had never done before. It was not easy to take the first step.

To give herself a little courage, she headed to the bar.

The red-haired bartender, wearing a mask, greeted her with a practiced smile.

“What would you like?”

“Anything. Just one drink, please.”

With smooth motions, the bartender chose a bottle, filled a glass, and slid it in front of her.

“This one goes down easily.”

“Thank you.”

Without hesitation, Ayla lifted the glass and drank it in one gulp.

The hot liquid burned her throat and settled in her stomach, warming her from the inside.

Only then did her tense body begin to relax slightly. She slowly looked around the room.

“Can I find someone suitable?”

From what she knew, the Moonlight Manor was well-known among the younger nobles of the capital, heirs of wealthy merchant families, and nobles from other regions.

Because of tomorrow’s banquet, there would likely be fewer nobles tonight who could recognize her. If she was careful, carrying out her plan would not be too difficult.

Someone from outside the capital would be best.

While she sipped from the second drink the bartender had wordlessly offered, a voice spoke beside her.

“What a surprise.”

Startled, Ayla turned her head quickly.

A man was standing right beside her, pulling out a chair.

“I didn’t think I would see you again after you left without saying a word. I thought that was the end of it. Vodka for me.”

The man sat beside her as if he belonged there, taking the drink handed to him by the bartender.

He seemed so natural that for a moment, Ayla wondered if he had always been there.

His familiar tone puzzled her, and she tilted her head. Then her eyes widened in recognition.

“Wait, are you the one who helped me a few days ago?”

The man smiled faintly, confirming her guess. He brought the glass to his lips with relaxed ease.

His red eyes, visible behind the mask, curled gently as he looked at her.

Suddenly, Ayla remembered that she had never even thanked him properly for helping her. She lowered her head with an apologetic voice.

“Thank you for that day. I was overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do.”

“You’re welcome. I didn’t help you because I wanted thanks.”

His calm tone helped her regain her composure.

“But how did you recognize me?”

“I have a sharp eye.”

“You only saw me for a moment.”

“Are you sure that’s all it was?”

His tone carried a hint of amusement, but also something more. The meaning behind his words made Ayla’s heart sink.

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