After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 34

Empress Tatiana left her room upon hearing that her brother, Marcus, had arrived at the palace.

Tatiana had been known for her striking beauty since childhood, and even now, just past the age of forty, she was still breathtaking.
She walked gracefully, almost as if she were gliding, and soon reached the entrance of the rear garden. There, she left her maids standing in line and stepped into the garden alone.

“Brother,” she called softly.

“You came, Your Majesty,” Marcus replied with a gentle smile, his eyes slightly crinkling.

He looked just like her.

“I came today because the weather was especially nice. It felt like the perfect day to take a walk with you.”

“Yes, it really is a lovely day,” Tatiana replied with a warm smile. She gently took the arm he offered, and they began to walk together.

The flowers and trees in the Empress’s garden were not very tall, which made the space feel open and wide. It was an ideal place for private conversations.

Once they had walked far enough away from the waiting maids, Marcus finally spoke.

“Tatiana, what are you really doing sitting on that throne?”

His tone and choice of words had changed completely.

“Ayla is marrying that man, and you didn’t even try to stop it. Now that you are Empress, are you just going to sit back and watch?”

“His Majesty approved the marriage. It is no longer something I can interfere with.”

“Bring Ayla into the Empress’s palace.”

“Into the palace?”

“You and she don’t have a bad relationship. Keep her close, comfort her, and make her trust you.”

Tatiana’s graceful eyebrows drew together slightly at his words.

“I don’t think that is necessary.”

“There is intelligence that says he is planning to enter the Crown Prince selection.”

“What did you say?”

“This came up in a gathering of nobles who support the Emperor. It is not just a rumor.”

“That makes no sense. The title of Crown Prince belongs to Edward. He is turning eighteen soon. That means he can rightfully take the position.”

“Do you really not understand, Tatiana?”

Marcus looked at her coldly as she struggled with the news.

“Why do you think the Emperor called the First Prince back to the capital at this time?”

She stayed silent.

“If the First Prince does join the succession, how likely is it that Edward will win?”

“Edward will become Crown Prince. I am sure of it.”

“Do you really believe that gentle boy can defeat the First Prince, who is known as the Butcher of the North?”

Tatiana said nothing.

“He already built his own power in the North. Edward cannot compete with that.”

“He is my son. Do not speak of him so carelessly.”

“Tia, my little sister.”
Marcus gave a cold smile and used her childhood nickname.

“Do you really believe you are sitting on that throne because of your own strength?”

She did not answer.

“If it had not been for Father and me, do you think you could have become Empress?”

Still, she remained silent.

“Do whatever it takes to bring Ayla to your side. You need something to use against the First Prince.”

“Fine. I will meet her. But in return, tell me how I can win her heart.”

Tatiana had made up her mind. Her voice was firm.

“How to win her heart?”

“You should know how. She is your daughter, not mine.”

Tatiana looked at him as if she were stating the obvious. Marcus paused for a moment, then spoke without emotion.

“Keep her close and show her kindness.”

“…What?”

“She is a child who longs for love. That alone should be enough.”

After returning to her room, Tatiana dismissed the maids.

She could no longer maintain the kind and graceful appearance of an Empress.

“Friedrich, that bastard…”

Tatiana fought the urge to throw something. Her voice, filled with restrained fury, spilled curses directed at the Emperor.

She had kept a composed face while speaking with Marcus, but when he told her that the First Prince planned to join the competition for Crown Prince, her knees had almost given out.

“So, you have finally crossed the line.”

She had felt something was wrong the moment Friedrich suddenly summoned the First Prince to the capital.
She had tried to convince herself that it was only to reward him for his success in the southern campaign.

Ever since the First Prince had been sent to the North, Friedrich had never called for him. Not even once.

She had considered ignoring it with a generous heart, assuming he would stay briefly and then leave.

But now, talk of a succession battle?

To allow someone else to reach for the position that belonged to Edward?

A burning fury surged from deep inside her chest.

“Did you really think I would just watch this happen?”

If he thought she would be tossed around and obedient like in the past, he was making a grave mistake.

She was no longer a young noble lady who followed her family’s orders without question.

“Friedrich Zigranta, the throne you sit on belongs to Edward. It belongs to my son.”

She would never allow it to be handed to anyone else.

Tatiana sat still for a while, forcing herself to cool down and gather her resolve.

Then, wearing once again the serene and gentle expression of an Empress, she summoned her trusted lady-in-waiting, Countess Caroline.

“My niece is marrying the First Prince. As a member of the family, I should offer my congratulations. I am thinking of hosting a small tea party. Would you be willing to prepare it?”

“That sounds like a lovely idea, Your Majesty. When should we plan it for?”

“The sooner the better. Is that possible?”

“Of course, Your Majesty. I will send out invitations for two days from now.”

“Thank you, Countess.”

Tatiana gave a pleasant smile. Then, as if she had just remembered something, she added one more request.

“Oh, we should invite the Second Prince as well.”

“The Second Prince, Your Majesty?”

“They are cousins. This would be a good opportunity for them to become closer, don’t you think?”

Tatiana smiled gently, her true feelings hidden completely behind her composed expression.

Night fell, as it always did.

As the world quieted down and everything grew still, it became the time he was always left alone.

Leo sat on the window ledge, leaning against the frame, staring blankly into the night sky.

The moon disappeared behind a thick cluster of clouds.

“Cro.”

At his word, a shadow stirred and released a crow with a light pop.

Cro remained perfectly still, as if waiting for Leo’s next command. Leo watched him in silence for a moment, then spoke another name.

“Wiltus.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a large eagle suddenly rose from the ground with a sharp cry.

Wiltus circled the room once, then opened its razor-sharp talons and landed on Leo’s shoulder. Only after securing its grip did, it fold its wide wings.

The sharp pain brought a strange relief. It was as if the loneliness had been pierced, if only a little.

But Leo did not stop. He quietly spoke the final name that remained.

“Wolf.”

The shadows stirred heavily.

From the pitch-black darkness, the front paw of a beast rose up. Then another paw followed, then its head. Soon, the entire body of a massive ash-gray wolf came into view. Its glowing red eyes turned and stared directly at Leo.

“Come here.”

At his command, Cro took flight while Wolf stepped forward with his thick front paw.

The sound of the creaking floor stopped as Wolf came to a halt.

Leo leaned forward and slowly buried his face into the wolf’s thick neck.

The fur was soft to the touch, but there was no warmth. Instead, a cool chill settled in his chest. It reminded him that this familiar was not a living creature. Still, even that coldness brought him a small sense of comfort.

“This is a little better.”

He kept his eyes closed, resting his face against the wolf’s neck.

Whenever the silence became too much to bear, whenever he felt like he might lose control, Leo summoned his familiars to stay with him. It didn’t matter that they weren’t alive. It didn’t matter that they only moved when ordered. Just being able to see them and touch them made it feel a little easier to breathe.

He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

A cat’s meow sounded close by.

Startled, Leo lifted his head from Wolf’s fur. In that brief moment, something small and warm leapt into his arms.

“You are…”

It was that cat.

The same cat that had come to him for the first time after he was cursed with forbidden power. The one that belonged to Ayla.

The warmth from the cat slowly began to spread through Leo’s cold and empty chest.

He stared down at it in disbelief, silently watching as the cat curled up in his arms.

Meow.

The cat gently bumped its head against his chest and rubbed its cheek against him.

Leo frowned slightly, surprised by its affection.

Then he heard soft footsteps outside the hallway, followed by a faint presence.

A gentle voice called out in a whisper.

“Bami, are you in here?”

When had the door even opened?

Through the narrow gap of the not-quite-closed door, Ayla’s clear and gentle face peeked inside.

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