After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 26

There was a knock at the door, and a moment later, Bella’s head peeked through the small opening.

“It’s me. Can I come in?”

“Of course, Bella. Please come in.”

Ayla smiled and stood up, happy to see her.
As she guided Bella to the table, she found herself thinking how odd it was to act like the hostess in someone else’s house. Then a sudden thought made her chuckle quietly. Maybe this would become her home soon.

She sighed inwardly at herself.
What am I even thinking?

Still smiling faintly, she took a seat across from Bella. Bella looked her over with interest, then grinned.

“I already knew, but seeing you now really confirms it. You’re definitely a noble lady.”

“What?”

“You’re beautiful and I like pretty friends.”

Bella’s serious tone didn’t match her words at all, and Ayla burst into laughter.

“Thank you. And you look beautiful too, Bella. I almost didn’t recognize you all dressed up like that.”

Bella had sun-kissed skin and vivid red hair. Her fitted pants made her look like a warrior.

“Do you think so? Well, I guess I clean up pretty well. Not bad, right?”

“You look more than just ‘not bad.’ You really do look amazing. By the way, how’s your hand?”

“My hand?”

At Ayla’s question, Bella held up her arm, which was wrapped in clean bandages. She turned it this way and that, then gave a grin.

“It’s fine. The bleeding stopped, but it will take some time to heal completely.”

“I see.”

“Why do you look disappointed? A cut-off hand isn’t going to grow back just because we treat it.”

“I know, but… it must hurt.”

“It does. And it’s my right hand, so everything’s a hassle now. But this is a good chance to learn how to use my left.”

Bella seemed completely sincere, and Ayla was quietly impressed.

“You really are amazing, Bella. If it were me, I don’t think I could be that optimistic.”

“The Shan people don’t cling to what we’ve lost. That’s how we protect what we still have.”

“You’re right. That’s a powerful way to live.”

Ayla nodded slowly as if realizing something. Then she smiled and reached out with her left hand.

“Alright. Then I’ll be your first practice partner.”

“Practice partner?”

“Yes. Let’s shake hands properly. My name is Ayla Everett. I’m nineteen. And I want to be a good friend to you.”

Bella looked at the girl who had offered her left hand, knowing she did it out of thoughtfulness.
She remained silent for a moment, then her eyes softened into a warm smile. She reached out and clasped Ayla’s hand firmly.

“I’m Bella Trix. I’m the thirty-ninth daughter of Shan. I’m twenty years old. And I would love to be your friend.”

Her voice was so loud and full of spirit that Ayla was startled.

At that same time, in the Everett duchy residence…

Natalie, Ayla’s longtime governess, opened the door with a deep scowl on her face. She stepped into Ayla’s bedroom, clearly annoyed.

“Why hasn’t she come back yet?”

She muttered to herself in a tone full of irritation, then walked further into the room.

“Staying out all night like some commoner. Has she finally lost her mind now of all times?”

Grumbling under her breath, she swung open the door to the dressing room.
She scanned the rows of hanging dresses with sharp eyes. Everything was in place, except for the one Ayla had worn when she left.

“Honestly, where could she even go?”

Natalie had known since early morning that Ayla had not returned from her supposed visit to the temple.
But she had not told anyone.
It was her job to manage and report on Ayla’s behavior.

A part of Natalie wanted to question the coachman who had taken Ayla, but she hesitated, worried it might stir up unnecessary trouble.

“No one gains anything from knowing too much,” she muttered.

Until recently, there had never been any real issues with her responsibility over Ayla.
There had been a stir when Rodrigo Esteban’s promiscuity came to light and the engagement was broken off, but Natalie had not considered it very important.

She had served as Ayla’s governess since the girl was nine years old.
That meant ten years of easy, comfortable living, with little to worry about.

Ayla was a quiet child and, as the illegitimate daughter, always desperate for the approval of those around her.
Natalie often found it pathetic how the girl would cling to anything that seemed like a way to earn acceptance, trying desperately to prove herself.

“For a fake Everett, she should have just been grateful for the position she was given instead of acting out.”

Clicking her tongue, Natalie turned away.

Since all of Ayla’s clothes were still in place, except for the one she had worn, it was clear this wasn’t a runaway.

Was it that girl Vivian? She was a bold one. Ayla had recently become close to her.
Or perhaps it was the pleasure she had discovered from that night when she returned so late, her behavior unseemly.

She always acted so refined and proper. Maybe now she was trying to enjoy herself before marriage.

Natalie scoffed and curled her lips into a mocking smile. She muttered that it was definitely the latter.
She closed the door to the empty room, assuming that whatever the case, Ayla would return before nightfall.

“Still no movement?”

Leo frowned as Jade delivered his report during the meeting with his aides.

“Yes, Your Highness. It appears they are still unaware of the lady’s absence.”

“That makes no sense. Is her living space somehow separated from the main house?”

“No, Your Highness. In the townhouse, they stay together in the main building.”

“In the townhouse? What does that mean exactly?”

“Well… it’s not confirmed, but there are reports that at the Saint estate within the duchy, the young lady stayed alone in the annex.”

“She stayed alone?”

“Yes. Ever since she was a child.”

Since she was a child? Alone all that time?

Leo touched his jaw, deep in thought.
This did not match what he had been told. He had heard that Marcus Everett doted on his second daughter.
She was supposedly too frail to leave the house, kept close and protected.

But if she had been sick, why leave her alone in a separate building?

Dex, who had been sitting beside him, also looked puzzled. He turned to Jade with a furrowed brow.

“That’s strange. Do nobles usually leave a beloved daughter in a separate wing? That’s not how things work in our household. My old man would never do that.”

“It definitely raises questions.”

“Right? My father never lets my sister out of his sight. But if they were living together in the capital, maybe there’s a reason for it.”

As Dex and Jade voiced their confusion, Leo finally spoke.

“Maybe it’s because there are more eyes watching in the capital. They might have wanted to keep up appearances.”

“That makes sense,” Dex said, slapping his knee.

But Jade now looked more doubtful.

“That would make it even more suspicious. If that’s true, can we really say she was a cherished daughter?”

“Should someone who leads an information guild be asking us that question?”

Dex smiled slightly as he teased Jade. The guild leader pressed his lips together and bowed his head.

“I will investigate further, Your Highness.”

“It seems necessary.”

“Yes. I will verify it quickly and report back.”

“Go ahead.”

“What did you say?”

“I said to find out quickly.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At Leo’s gesture toward the door, Jade quickly left the office.
Once the door closed behind him, Dex turned back to the discussion and urged Leo to continue.

“Now, keep talking. So, you’re saying you actually fell asleep when you were with the young lady?”

The conversation had been cut off earlier when Jade arrived, and now everyone in the room turned their attention to Leo again.
The silence that followed was heavy with anticipation.
Leo slowly nodded, breaking the tension.

“Yes.”

A quiet wave of relief spread among the group.
Each man’s eyes were filled with cautious hope.
Dex pressed further to be sure.

“Did the obsidian change color too?”

“I told you. She said she saw me sleeping. To make sure, I used the night stored in the obsidian. After that, I felt sleepy. I actually fell asleep. Do you really need more proof?”

“But when you spoke to her at the mansion before, there was no change.”

“That’s true.”

“Was there any physical contact between you and the young lady?”

Leo paused for a moment, thinking back. He remembered not letting go of her hand after she pushed him from behind.
He gave a small nod.

“Yes.”

Dex took a moment to process that, then spoke with a confident look on his face.

“Then we know one thing for certain.”

“And what is that?”

“When you touch the young lady, you can fall asleep without needing to kill a beast. And that sleep effect can be stored in obsidian.”

“Is that really how it works?”

“It makes perfect sense. That must be one of the reasons you decided to marry her.”

“Yes, I suppose it is.”

Leo replied with a hint of hesitation in his voice. Dex narrowed his eyes, clearly picking up on it.

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