After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 27

“Then what is your other reason, if not that?”

“What other reason?”

“Maybe you’ve fallen for her or maybe you’re in love with her.”

“You idiot. Focus on getting things ready. It’s lucky Marcus still doesn’t know what’s happening, but that won’t last long.”

“True. But still, do you really think His Majesty will allow it?”

“Who was it that told me I could pick anyone I wanted?”

“Don’t you remember him saying anyone except Marcus Everett’s daughter?”

“That’s a bit rich, acting like a father now after all this time. Does he really think I’ll play along?”

“He is still the Emperor. You can’t just ignore him completely.”

Just then, one of the men who had been listening to their conversation raised his hand.

“But Captain, doesn’t the young lady have to agree to the marriage first?”

“Right.”

“I mean, if she refuses, then it’s all over, isn’t it?”

Now that someone had finally mentioned the obvious, the others began to murmur in agreement.
Even so, Leo answered with calm certainty.

“She will accept it.”

“Why are you so sure?”

“Because she doesn’t seem like someone who gives up easily.”

Another man tilted his head, puzzled.

“What exactly do you think she won’t give up on?”

“Whatever it is she wants.”

“And what is that, exactly?”

“How should I know? It’s not like she told me.”

“What?”

The man looked confused at Leo’s blunt response.
But Leo smiled slightly and added with confidence.

“Whatever it is, she had the eyes of someone who knows exactly what she wants. She was the one who suggested marriage first. Even if the terms change a little, I doubt she’ll disagree.”

And that made Leo even more curious.

He was genuinely looking forward to seeing what terms she would bring to the marriage contract.

But for now, there was a more serious matter to consider. Dex, knowing Leo well, asked with a serious expression,

“More importantly, are you really alright with having Marcus Everett’s daughter by your side? As your wife?”

“I’m not sure,” Leo replied slowly, his hand resting under his chin.

“I think I’ll be fine.”

Dex said nothing.

“Although, thinking back on the past… it still makes me want to kill her father.”

Leo spoke in a calm voice, even though his words were chilling.
He looked at Dex’s stiff expression and shrugged.

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s not like I’d actually kill her.”

It was the dead of night.
Even the insects had gone quiet, and the air was still.

Ayla lay in bed, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling for a long time.
Eventually, she sat up.

Her body and mind were completely drained, but sleep refused to come.
She suddenly wanted to take a walk.

She grabbed a robe and wrapped it around her shoulders.
Opening the door, she stepped into the hallway and descended the stairs toward the lobby.
As she reached the bottom, her eyes widened.

There was no one there.

Not a single guard. Not even a servant.

It was very late, but still, for a mansion of this size, the silence was strange.

She wondered if this was simply how Northerners lived.
The stillness felt entirely different from the tense formality of the Everett household.
It was quiet, but not suffocating. Just… unfamiliar.

She pushed open the front door, which felt heavier than she expected.
A rush of cold air filled her lungs the moment she stepped outside.

Only then did she feel like she could finally breathe.

The Milky Way shimmered like scattered jewels across the navy night sky, holding her gaze in place.
As she stared at the stars, sparkling without any pattern, Leo’s voice from earlier echoed softly in her ears.

“I will give you freedom.”
“Live however you want. I won’t interfere with anything you choose to do.”

It didn’t feel like a lie.
He had no reason to deceive her.
In fact, he had been the one to help her every time she was in trouble.

He had appeared when she nearly got caught by Rodrigo.
He had helped her on the night she desperately needed someone.
He had stepped in again when things seemed like they would spiral out of control.

Every time, without asking for anything, he had offered his help.

He had even accepted her marriage proposal.
Although he had rejected her condition about divorce, he had promised her freedom in return.
She didn’t know how far that freedom would go, but in her current state, she had no reason and no strength to refuse.

That only made her more curious.

What was his reason?

When she first arrived at the mansion, what struck her was how deeply the people here seemed to resent House Everett.
That hadn’t changed much. Even earlier, while walking briefly in the garden, Bella had asked if she had done something wrong to the staff based on how coldly they treated her.

And yet he still wanted to marry her.

She had been the one to propose it, but she still couldn’t understand why he had accepted.

She didn’t know the exact reason, but the First Prince had suddenly returned to the marriage market.
Knowing the way noble families in the capital operated, she doubted any lady would willingly follow him to the North.

Since he seemed to truly care about the North, she had thought that if she promised to dedicate herself to serving the region for a few years, there might be a chance, even if she was from House Everett.

Maybe it was because they had spent the night together.
Maybe he felt responsible. Or maybe there was a hint of pity involved.

Either way, Ayla felt both grateful and guilty toward the First Prince, who had chosen to enter a marriage that offered him no real benefit.

The North.

Ayla tried to recall what she had read about Eisenfelt.
Unlike the warm capital where the weather stayed mild throughout the year, Eisenfelt was known for its long, harsh winters.
The cold was reportedly unbearable during those months.
Wild animals and beasts often appeared, and sometimes even pirates came ashore along the western coast.

It was known as a land of danger and wildness.

She wondered what kind of work she could do in a place like that.
As she stood there deep in thought, a voice called out from behind her.

“Can’t sleep?”

“Ah!”

Startled, Ayla flinched.

Her body jerked back slightly, and as she lost her balance, she instinctively reached out and grabbed the front of someone’s clothes.

“You know, grabbing someone by the collar is a bit much.”

A firm arm caught her waist and helped her steady herself.

Only then did she realize the voice belonged to Leo.
And her hand was still gripping the front of his shirt.

Startled again, Ayla quickly let go and apologized.

“I’m sorry. You surprised me, and I didn’t mean to…”

“So when you’re surprised, you grab people by the collar. I’ll have to keep that in mind.”

There was something about the way he said “from now on” that made her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

Ayla quickly adjusted the folds of her robe, trying to hide her awkwardness.
Above her head, Leo’s calm voice sounded again.

“Since you’re out for a walk, why don’t we walk together for a while?”

Leo began walking along the garden path, and Ayla hurried to catch up.

Once she reached his side and walked beside him, Leo asked casually,

“What brings you out here at this hour?”

“I couldn’t sleep. What about you, Your Highness?”

“Me? I think I mentioned it before. I don’t really have nights.”

His answer came lightly, but it brought back a memory.

It reminded her of something he had said the night they spent together.
That thought embarrassed her all over again, and she quickly tried to change the subject.

“Did you? I must have forgotten.”

“That’s disappointing. Is your memory already getting fuzzy?”

“At the time, I didn’t think I would ever see you again.”

She answered a little sharply. When Leo didn’t respond, she glanced sideways at him.
She caught him holding back a smile and narrowed her eyes.

“What is it?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s just funny.”

“What is?”

“You say you don’t remember what I said, but you clearly remember when it happened. That’s what’s funny.”

Ayla realized her slip and pressed her lips together.
Her face turned red, almost to the point of bursting.

Just in time, Leo changed the subject.

“There’s something I’ve been curious about. Can I ask you?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Then how about this? We ask each other one question at a time.”

Leo looked at her in surprise, clearly caught off guard by her suggestion.

The embarrassment from earlier was gone. Her face now showed a quiet determination, as if she was already thinking of how best to use this opportunity.

“Alright. One question at a time. What do you want to know?”

“Why me?”

“You were the one who made the proposal. Isn’t it strange for you to ask?”

“I suppose it is. But I don’t understand why you accepted.”

Leo paused for a moment, then gave a thoughtful hum.

“Well, it was something I had to do eventually. I didn’t care much who it was, but you stood out.”

“If I set aside your family’s background, then there was no reason not to go through with it. That is why I made my decision.”

“I understand.”

“Does that answer your question? Then I believe it is my turn to ask now.”

Leo stopped walking, his eyes narrowing in a slow, relaxed smile. Ayla followed his lead and came to a stop as well.

“I want to ask you something.”

“Yes?”

“What would you do if I killed your father?”

Ayla stared at him in disbelief.

“I am sorry… What did you just say?”

Her voice trembled as she looked up at him, completely shocked.

Leo met her gaze without saying a word.
His red eyes gleamed sharply, filled with a cold and dangerous intensity.

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