After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 113

“I repeat, the choice is yours. I’ve already told the Duke as much.”

“…I’ll meet him.”

At Ayla’s decision, Leo nodded readily, as if he had expected that answer.

“Very well. Will you see him here?”

“No. I’ll go home and come back.”

The word ‘home’ that she uttered felt new.

Perhaps her expression was strange, as Leo reached out and covered the back of Ayla’s hand with his, looking genuinely worried.

“Are you sure you’re alright? Shall I go with you?”

“I’m not a child. I can go alone.”

Ayla refused his warm consideration with a smile, then calmly added.

“Thank you. For telling me.”

“…I didn’t want to tell you.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

“Because I think I wouldn’t have wanted to be told either.”

Leo looked at her silently, then quietly raised the corners of his lips in a smile.

Whenever he confirmed that their hearts were the same in this way, an indescribable fullness filled him.

“I’ll go tomorrow when it’s light and come right back. So be good and wait for me. Okay?”

At her playfully smiling words, Leo muttered as if he was dumbfounded.

“You’re really playing with me.”

“Who else would I play with if not you?”

“Yeah, only play with me.”

He pulled Ayla’s hand and stood up.

Then he strode towards her, who had risen awkwardly.

Ayla was embarrassed by the sudden closeness, but also amused by his words about only playing with him, and she laughed.

“What are we going to play?”

“I wonder. What would my wife like to do?”

His arm around her waist was firm.

Ayla felt his body heat instantly and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“There are many things I want to do. For example…”

She stood on tiptoe.

“Something like this…?”

At the whisper-like low voice, Leo’s heart began to pound.

The moment her lips touched his, he unleashed the desire he had been holding back.

Breaths met, warmth permeated.

The emotions that had been suppressed by a series of events became a larger wave and washed in like the tide.

“I love you, Ayla.”

His whisper was as sweet as a cake melting in his mouth.

Ayla felt like she was going to cry for some reason, so she hugged him even tighter and answered in kind.

“I love you.”

Sharing feelings that could not be fully expressed in words, the two people’s night continued for a long time.

The Everett estate was bustling with life for the first time in a long time.

The entrance to the mansion was decorated with fragrant fresh flowers, and meticulously crafted silverware and all sorts of rare foods were laid out along the long table in the dining room.

Ayla, who had returned to the mansion after a very long time, suddenly smiled bitterly.

The grand meal prepared at Marcus’s direction was a welcome she had never received before.

“Thank you for coming, Ayla.”

At Marcus’s cautious greeting, as if he was afraid she would leave if he spoke even a little louder, Ayla nodded with an awkward expression.

“Let’s eat first. I’ve taken special care to prepare it, so eat up. It’s been a long time since our family sat down to eat like this.”

Marcus grasped his utensils with an effort to sound cheerful.

Ayla looked down at the food in front of her for a moment, then glanced at Shuel, who had started eating with an uncomfortable expression, and then at Claudia, who still had a nonchalant expression.

‘It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this discomfort.’

She realized anew how well the people who were now by her side treated her.

And Leo, who cherished her as if she would fly away if he blew on her, or break if he touched her.

Perhaps because she was loved enough by them, this discomfort was not so unpleasant.

The only problem here was that she was already very full.

“Eat your fill here before you go. Don’t pick up anything strange to eat over there.”

“Yes, that would be good. Eat up.”

“Eat a lot, Your Highness. It’s a wonder you even came. You didn’t have to have a meal, did you?”

“I think so too, Sister. Eat all of this before you go.”

Just before leaving for this place.

She had been helplessly attacked by Leo and the Hanover family.

‘I can’t live like this. They even received a call in advance that a meal would be prepared, really.’

Of course, it was because of that call that the kitchen staff had prepared a table several times more lavish than usual.

Ayla found this situation embarrassing yet happy, and she raised the corners of her lips.

“Why aren’t you eating? Is there perhaps something that doesn’t suit your taste?”

Marcus looked at Ayla, who was still not holding her utensils, with an uneasy gaze.

She stared at his unfamiliar gaze and shook her head, calmly parting her lips.

“It’s not that, it’s just that I already ate at the mansion.”

“What? I clearly conveyed that I would prepare a meal.”

“I didn’t know you would treat me to a meal. We don’t usually eat together, do we?”

At her words, which cut him off, Marcus’s lips snapped shut like a clam.

Ayla pretended not to see him, turned her gaze, and said to the maid standing by to serve her.

“I’ve had my meal, so will you bring me a cup of tea?”

“Yes, Miss. I will prepare it.”

Despite the instructions being somewhat contrary to dining etiquette, the maid’s attitude was as smooth as water.

‘It seems like they received instructions in advance.’

It was impossible not to know the situation.

That Marcus had put a lot of preparation and care into her visit.

And…

“Your dining etiquette has become a mess.”

That her mother hadn’t changed much either.

“Is that so?”

Ayla retorted nonchalantly and smiled comfortably.

“My new family treats me so well. I guess it’s because I’m living comfortably.”

“You must be so happy you could die.”

“I want to live a long life because I’m happy. I’ve only just now realized that being recognized and loved by someone is such a joyful thing.”

At Ayla’s continued replies, Shuelle frowned and interjected.

“Ayla, what kind of way is that to talk to Mother?”

“What did I do?”

“What? Has something really happened to your head?”

At Shuelle’s dumbfounded expression, Marcus twitched his eyebrows and shouted.

“Stop it, Shuelle.”

“Father, you stop it. Does she look any different to you just because she’s your biological daughter? Look at how she’s talking back to Mother. And a new family. It’s like she’s determined to abandon us.”

“It’s not that I’m determined.”

Ayla, who had been listening quietly, quietly corrected one of the words Shuelle had uttered.

“I already abandoned you.”

“…What?”

“When I left this house, exhausted from struggling to get you to look at me, to love me, even just a little.”

“……”

“I already abandoned you then, me.”

Silence fell over Ayla’s calm tone.

Marcus had an expression as if the world had collapsed, Claudia narrowed her eyebrows as if she didn’t like what she had said.

Shuelle opened her mouth wide as if greatly embarrassed, then widened her eyes and shouted as if it was absurd.

“You! You, are you crazy? Of course, it’s true that we misunderstood you and made you feel hurt, but to abandon your family because of that. Do you think that makes sense?”

“The more beautiful the flower, the faster it is broken and withers in the vase.”

“What, what…? You!”

“So, your words, Sister, that I should just wither, were not something that could be ended with just one word of regret for me. When I followed you on the falconry hunt, I almost died.”

“Back then! I was surprised back then too. I never thought you would cut the rope.”

“I cherished the small bracelet that you gave me as if you were doing me a favor. One day when I had a cold and was sick, I kept the high-grade potion that Mother left behind in my drawer for a long time.”

Ayla looked back at her family with a faint smile.

Her father, who seemed to feel guilty, closed his eyes tightly. Shuelle, who was biting her lip, and her mother, who had an uncomfortable expression.

Then, Marcus’s cracked voice flowed out.

“I’m sorry, Ayla.”

“……”

“I heard you’ll be leaving soon. And that you’re planning to have a proper wedding ceremony. After this incident, I guess you won’t be coming back. But it’s a wedding ceremony, we should go.”

Ayla sighed briefly.

Her father, who had always been like an unbreakable stick, felt like a broken branch today.

“Come if you want. It doesn’t really matter if you don’t.”

Marcus’s face lit up as he quickly replied.

Shuelle pouted her lips from the side and said.

“We’re family, of course we have to go. Is there anything you want as a wedding gift?”

Just then, the maid brought the tea.

Ayla looked down at the tea water with hot steam rising from it, then picked up the teacup and said slowly.

“I wonder.”

The taste of the tea she took a sip of was quite good.

“I don’t think anything I receive now will be precious.”

She didn’t come with any expectations or purpose.

Just a sense of duty that she had to see them at least once?

So, she told the truth about what had happened. And she didn’t hold back the words she wanted to say.

She would just accept what happened after that as she wanted, as it flowed.

Ayla, who had organized her thoughts in that way, took another sip of tea.

She thought she should ask about the type of tea leaves before she left.

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