After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 33

“Oh, Bami!”

Ayla quickly stepped over and bent down to scoop the cat into her arms. She had just noticed Leo standing nearby.

“Your Highness, I did not see you there.”

“Yes, I just arrived.”

“This is my cat. A friend was taking care of her for me but I finally got her back.”

After hesitating for a moment, she asked cautiously,

“Would it be alright if I kept her here?”

“You seem to have trouble understanding simple things, Lady Ayla.”

“What do you mean?”

“You do not need to ask permission for something like that. I am sure I already told you.”

His words were rough, but the meaning was clear. It was permission. Ayla’s face lit up with relief and joy.

“Thank you.”

Vivian, who had been standing back, took the opportunity to step forward and politely lowered her head.

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am Vivian, daughter of Count Helios.”

“Ah, you are her friend then?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I am Ayla’s friend, Vivian.”

Leo looked at her for a moment, then turned his gaze past the Shaan woman who was still sitting at the table, uninterested in the exchange. His eyes returned to Ayla.

“How did things go with your father?”

“As well as could be expected. At least he is still alive.”

“Your Highness…”

“Do not worry. I did what you asked. He will be confused for a while.”

At the serious tone in Leo’s voice, Ayla gave a small smile and lowered her eyes.

“Thank you again for helping me.”

“It was meaningful for me too. I learned that I can only stay patient for thirty minutes.”

“Thirty minutes… I will keep that in mind.”

“Not a bad thing to remember. But tell me.”

Leo looked down at the cat in her arms.

“Is that just a regular cat?”

Glad to see he was interested, Ayla held the cat up a little closer with a proud smile.

“She is cute, right? Her name is Bami.”

“Not sure I would say cute, but she does seem young.”

“She is. I found her injured on the street. I took care of her, and since then, she never left my side.”

As Ayla gently stroked Bami’s head, the cat began to purr softly.

Leo watched the cat relax under her touch, then turned away as his interest faded.

“I will head inside now. Enjoy your tea.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Please rest well.”

Leo left the garden and walked straight back into the house. He went to his office and stood by the window that looked out over the back garden. His brows drew together as he looked down.

Ever since he met Lady Ayla, or rather, Ayla herself, it felt like his daily life had started to slip out of rhythm.

It began with doing something he never would have done before. Then the color of his magic changed. And now, even animals that usually kept their distance were starting to approach him.

Leo remembered the green eyes of the cat. The memory lingered in his mind for a moment before he shook it away and returned to his desk.

There, waiting for him, was a towering stack of paperwork. Dex had clearly left it on purpose.

On their way back to the table where Bella was waiting, Vivian could hardly contain her excitement.

“Wow. He is even better looking up closely. Tall, well built, and honestly, he seems kind too. Definitely a better match for you than that awful Rodrigo.”

“A better match?”

Ayla repeated the words softly, as if thinking them over.

“Of course. A man needs to be at least that decent if you want to walk beside him without feeling embarrassed. Rodrigo is not just embarrassing. He is completely shameful. Honestly, you would have to hide him somewhere just to be seen in public.”

“Hide him? Vivian, where did you even learn to say things like that?”

Vivian smiled proudly.

“From my good-for-nothing older brother.”

“Oh, your brother. You mean Viscount Vischten?”

“That’s right. You know him?”

“I met him once at a banquet. Now that I think about it, he and you share a lot of similarities.”

“Like what?”

“It is hard to explain exactly, but talking to you feels just like talking to him.”

Ayla gave a warm smile, and Bella, who had been fully focused on eating her cake, suddenly spoke.

“So you mean she talks too much?”

“Huh?”

“Wait, Bella, do you think I’m too loud?”

Vivian looked a little hurt as she glanced toward Ayla.

Bella continued eating as if nothing was wrong, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“Ayla is quiet. Vivian talks a lot. Isn’t that true?”

“Well, I guess so. I do tend to talk a lot when I feel comfortable around someone.”

“But you are warm and loyal. People like that can be a little loud. They are still lovable.”

Vivian’s cheeks flushed with surprise at Bella’s unexpected kindness.

“My family and the people at the estate care for me, but there are still many who dislike me.”

“Not everyone can recognize a gem when they see one. Only those who know its value can truly appreciate it. Vivian, you should understand that.”

“So are you saying I am a gem, Bella?”

“Vivian, you shine. And I like people who shine. Ayla shines too.”

“I love that. What a beautiful way to put it. Yes, Ayla really does shine.”

As if joining the moment, Bami let out a long cheerful meow.

Ayla, who had been quietly worried that Vivian and Bella might not get along, looked at the two girls with relief and amusement. The scene felt so unexpectedly calm and heartwarming that she could not help but laugh with them.

Meanwhile, the knights of the Grey Wolf Order were returning from their morning training when they heard laughter coming from the back garden. All of them turned their heads toward the sound.

“What could she possibly be laughing about?”

One knight spoke in irritation.

“Watch your mouth, Walter. She is going to be the captain’s bride.”

“She is not married yet. I still do not get it. Why would the captain want to marry the daughter of his enemy?”

“Yes. That part makes no sense to me either.”

Several of the knights nodded in agreement and shared glances. Then one of them stepped forward, clearly frustrated.

“Deputy Commander Ian.”

“What is it?”

“You need to explain this. We have the right to know.”

“Know what?”

“You know exactly what we mean. Why is our commander, our prince, marrying that woman? You were in the meeting, weren’t you? You must know something.”

“That is right. Tell us. It is not fair to keep it to yourself.”

As the voices grew louder, Ian sighed deeply.

He had expected this would happen.

His thoughts went back to the meeting held a few days ago. Only senior officers had been present, those ranked deputy commander or higher. He still remembered the moment when he first heard the news that their commander would be marrying the second daughter of the Everett family.

“She is someone the commander needs.”

“He needs her?”

“Yes. Just understand it that way.”

Not every member of the Order knew about the commander’s curse. Even though the commander deeply trusted his knights, secrets became harder to keep the more people knew about them. Especially when the secret was directly tied to the safety of the commander himself, maintaining confidentiality was critical. That was why only the Hanover family, his closest aides, and the senior officers of the Grey Wolf Order were aware of the curse.

“What does he even need that woman for? Is it about political power or something?”

“Political power? You think our commander would care about that kind of thing?”

“True, that doesn’t sound like him. Then what is she for?”

Ian’s sigh grew heavier as the knights continued to question the situation.

He could not exactly go around revealing the lady’s secrets.

When Jade had barged into the meeting that day and exposed the truth about Ayla’s origins, Ian had felt a strange sense of relief. If the duke’s wife had conceived a child outside the marriage, it meant Ayla Everett shared no blood with Marcus Everett.

But still, a royal prince marrying an illegitimate daughter?

Ian would never say so out loud, but he was not pleased. He did not like her, and probably never would. Still, if there was even the slightest chance that she could truly break the commander’s curse…

“Stop arguing and accept it. Whether you agree or not changes nothing.”

With a sharp tone, Ian turned and started walking away. As he moved, he began counting the days in his head.

In just a few days, the sky would be lit by a supermoon, the kind that appeared once a month, brighter and larger than usual.

It was a night that brought dread not only to Ian but to everyone who cared for Leomond. A night when pain and helplessness would tighten around their commander like a noose.

Commander…

Ian silently prayed, heart aching just from the thought of his master.

Let there be an end to his suffering.

Because the commander’s real curse was not simply losing the night. It was far worse than that.

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