After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 24

“Leomond Zigranta.”

Leo whispered his name into the overseer’s ear. Then he turned to Ayla, who had woken up and was now staring at him, stunned.

“I am the First Prince.”

The First Prince.

Shock swept through Ayla’s eyes.

The man who had spent the night with her. The man she had spoken to about a political marriage. That man was the First Prince of the empire.

In that moment, she remembered clearly the day she had made the proposal. It all made sense now.

That was why he had refused without hesitation. He had not needed to consider it. He had already known.

He had been the one she was talking about.

“Unbelievable.”

Ayla furrowed her brow and clenched her fists.

She had spent the night with him without knowing who he was. She had gone to him of her own free will and failed to recognize him. She had left without making a proper proposal, dismissed and embarrassed.

Leo watched her reaction with a slight smirk. Then he shoved the man he had captured forward.

The man fell to the ground with a loud cry. He struggled to get up, panicked and trembling.

Leo gave a small gesture with his chin, looking completely relaxed.

“Go tell them. The First Prince is here. If they are confident, they can come and try.”

“You will regret this.”

The man could not even stand properly. He crawled and stumbled away, shouting as loud as he could.

“Emergency. Wake up. We have an intruder.”

Heavy footsteps began echoing from above. Voices shouted and orders were given. Chaos filled the building.

Even as tension and fear rose in the air, Leo remained completely calm.

Ayla could not stay silent any longer.

“What are you thinking? You know they are going to come down all at once. What are you going to do against all of them?”

“Lady Ayla, do you not know what they call the First Prince of the North?”

“I know. They call you the Butcher of the Night.”

“Then why are you worried, if you know?”

“I am not worried. I just do not understand how you can be so calm.”

“You do not need to worry.”

Leo’s eyes became sharp and cold.

“Compared to beasts and monsters, humans like these are nothing to me.”

Ayla could not say anything. His words were hard to understand, and even harder to believe.

But she did not argue. Something about his calm voice, his unshaken presence, made it impossible.

Soon the entire room filled with armed men.

Their faces were twisted with anger and fear, and they carried weapons in their hands. But Leo did not move. He stood there, still and confident, like a predator among frightened prey.

“Is this all of them?”

Leo looked at the group without the slightest hint of concern.

The man at the front, who looked like one of the leaders, scowled and shouted.

“Who do you think you are?”

That was exactly what Ayla wanted to ask. What kind of person could stay so calm in a situation like this?

But before she could finish the thought, the air shifted.

Blood spilled from the man’s neck. He dropped without a sound.

The room went completely silent.

Leo calmly shook the blood from his dagger and spoke in a low voice.

“If you want to stay alive, watch your mouth. I am not your fool. Do I look like one?”

The situation ended more quickly than Ayla had expected. Her earlier fear felt almost unnecessary.

Some of the smarter ones tried to escape, but Leo’s people were already waiting outside. They had sealed off every exit.

“Thank you. Truly, thank you, Your Highness.”

“Thank you for saving us. I will never forget this kindness.”

The people who had been trapped in the cages each offered their thanks to Leo.

“No need for all that. Just go.”

Leo waved them off carelessly, clearly uninterested in formalities. In the meantime, Ayla helped Bella out of the cage.

Leo, who had been leaning against the wall, watched them with narrowed eyes. Then his gaze turned sharp.

“You… you’re from the Shan tribe.”

Bella stopped in her tracks.

“You know the Shan tribe?”

“A little.”

Bella gave him a long look, sizing him up. Then she glanced back and forth between Leo and Ayla before shrugging with a smirk.

“You’re lucky. Well, I suppose it makes sense.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you’re lucky. You nearly missed something important, but you caught it in time.”

Her teasing tone was clear. She motioned to Ayla and added a warning.

“Protect her well. Your own life may depend on it.”

“What do you mean by that, Bella…?”

“Ayla, my friend. From now on, stay close to that man. It’s safer for you that way.”

“Huh…?”

Ayla blinked in confusion, but Bella just laughed and started walking again.

“Can we get out of here already? I’m in so much pain I might actually die.”

“Oh, right. Let’s go. Um… Your Highness?”

Ayla hesitated slightly at the title. Leo narrowed his eyes.

“What?”

“Could we get Bella some quick medical attention? Her hand is badly injured…”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. You really picked up something strange.”

“Sorry?”

“Just go. Let’s get out of here.”

Leo muttered under his breath, clearly annoyed, and pushed both women toward the exit. His irritation only grew. It was obvious now that the Shan woman had every intention of staying close to Ayla.

“I guess this is where I say goodbye…”

Ayla had barely started speaking in front of Leo’s carriage when he cut her off.

“What are you talking about? Get in.”

“Yeah, friend. Do you really think there’s anything waiting for you out there? Nothing but more pain and misery. Just get in already, will you?”

With both Leo and Bella urging her forward, Ayla had no choice but to climb into the carriage, though her eyes were full of worry.

“But I wasn’t planning to return anywhere…”

“Who said anything about sending you back? Just get in and stop worrying.”

“She’s right, friend. You’re safe. Trust me. That man couldn’t abandon you even if he wanted to.”

“Why did I even pick up this loud Shan woman…”

“Your Highness, I do appreciate you saving us, but saying you ‘picked someone up’ is a little rude.”

“Thanks for picking me up, Ayla. I owe you one.”

“Don’t say that, Bella. We’re friends. You don’t have to repay me for anything.”

“Let’s go too. There’s something we need to talk about.”

Leo walked ahead without waiting, and Ayla followed him quietly, her heart pounding slightly. The inside of the townhouse was as grand and orderly as she remembered. Still, the atmosphere felt different now. More personal, somehow.

They passed through a hallway and entered a room that looked like a study. Leo motioned for her to sit.

“Make yourself comfortable. You look like you have a lot to say.”

Ayla hesitated, then took a seat across from him. She fiddled with her fingers, trying to find the right words.

“I just wanted to thank you again. For what you did back there.”

“You already thanked me,” Leo said simply, leaning back in his chair.

“I know. But I mean it. If you hadn’t shown up… I don’t even want to imagine what could have happened.”

Leo didn’t reply right away. He looked at her silently, his eyes thoughtful. Then he asked,

“Why didn’t you take the chance to run? You had it. I even gave you the choice.”

Ayla’s expression turned serious. She lowered her gaze.

“I couldn’t just leave. Not when there were others still trapped. Not after seeing what happened to Bella.”

“Most people wouldn’t care. They would run while they could.”

“I’m not most people.”

“I can see that,” Leo said, watching her carefully.

Silence stretched between them for a moment before Ayla spoke again.

“I don’t know what happens next. I’m not even sure where I can go right now. But I know I can’t go back. I won’t go back.”

“You don’t have to,” Leo replied calmly.

Her eyes widened slightly.

“You’re not sending me to the Everett house?”

“No. That was never the plan.”

Relief washed over Ayla’s face, and for the first time in days, her shoulders relaxed.

“Thank you. Really.”

“You keep thanking me, but I’m not doing this for free.”

Ayla blinked, confused. “Then why?”

Leo stood up and walked to the window. He looked out for a moment before answering.

“I don’t know yet. But I think you’re important. More than you understand.”

That answer sent a small chill through her. She didn’t fully grasp what he meant, but something in his voice told her he wasn’t just saying it. He meant it.

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