After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 49

The next day.

Isla stood in front of Leo’s townhouse, greeting her guest with an awkward smile.

“Welcome, Prince Edward.”

“Good morning, Isla. Did you have good dreams?”

“Thanks to you. But Your Highness, I clearly said I would go to the palace.”

“Must you be so formal? Didn’t we agree to use each other’s names?”

“Well, yes but still, I said I would go, so why?”

“It’s on the way to the hunting grounds anyway. It’s no trouble to stop by.”

Edward’s affable attitude was quite awkward.

She slightly regretted agreeing to his suggestion to be comfortable with each other, but she couldn’t take it back now.

She had no choice but to express her gratitude for him picking her up, and Edward waved his hand, telling her not to worry about it, as he looked around.

“But where is your brother?”

Leo appeared from behind the group gathered in front of the entrance, just as the Second Prince arrived.

He seemed to have known about Edward’s arrival, and his expression was displeased.

“Ah, Brother! Good morning. The weather is lovely.”

Edward, spotting Leo, waved and greeted him with a bright smile.

Leo sighed briefly and stepped forward.

“Edward.”

“Yes, Brother.”

“You’re going to the hunting grounds.”

“I’m going to scout the hunting competition. It’s a place I went with you when we were young, Brother, why don’t you come along? The scenery there is beautiful.”

“I’ve assigned an escort. I suppose one more person in the group won’t matter?”

Even though he had almost ignored his words, Edward immediately smiled and nodded.

“Of course. I understand, Brother.”

Leo’s gaze turned back.

He saw Isla, who seemed to have come out to see them off, talking to Bella.

She was dressed in light, active-looking clothes, and he worried she might be cold, but he figured she’d be back soon, so he didn’t say anything.

“Lady Isla.”

At his call, Isla, who had finished talking with Bella, hurried over.

“Be careful.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness.”

“Watch your step.”

“Watch my step?”

While Isla tilted her head at the sudden remark, Leo turned his gaze to Ian, as if he had finished speaking.

“Ian.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“I’m counting on you.”

“Leave it to me.”

Leo nodded at Ian’s firm reply.

“That’s all. Depart now.”

“Yes, Brother. I’ll be back!”

“Whatever.”

Leo muttered, displeased, and took a step back.

Then, with his arms crossed and standing askew, he frowned as Edward followed Isla into the carriage.

Leo turned his head and ordered Ian, who was mounting his horse.

“Ian, return before dark.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Have a good one.”

Leo, thinking he should go inside now, paused in his movement.

It was because Isla opened the carriage window and leaned her face towards him.

“I’ll be back, Your Highness!”

Blue hair cascaded out of the window.

Leo’s hardened brow softened slightly at her clear face, smiling at him.

The inexplicable discomfort that had been coiling in a corner of his heart disappeared, and a warm feeling gently filled its place.

“Yes. Come back safely.”

“Okay.”

Even the drawn-out reply pleased him, and the corners of his lips turned up involuntarily.

Leo, who had been standing stiffly, slowly turned around after confirming that the carriage carrying Isla had left the mansion gates.

Then he entered the mansion and looked up.

Diana was squatting on the stairs leading to the lobby, looking down at him.

“Diana. What are you doing there?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

“Hmm. Did everyone leave you behind, so you’re sulking?”

“Whatever. No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.”

Diana frowned and shouted, and Leo chuckled and began to climb the stairs.

Diana stared at Leo with a sulky face, then pouted and looked away as he passed her.

She had thought Leo would just pass her by.

Then, surprised by the sudden impact on the top of her head, Diana let out a shrill scream and glared.

There stood Leo, narrowing his eyes, who had flicked her forehead.

“Stop being so grumpy.”

“Grumpy!”

“Aren’t you?”

“No!”

“Diana. Really not?”

Diana bit her lower lip at Leo’s stern tone.

“That woman is an Everett. How can you be with an Everett? This doesn’t make sense!”

“Haa. I need to get married soon because of you.”

Diana asked back, flustered by Leo’s reply, as if he couldn’t help it.

“What? Why is the story going that way!”

“If I get married, she’ll be a Zigranta, not an Everett. Then you’ll have no reason to be grumpy.”

“That’s nonsense!”

“It’s not nonsense. Don’t you know that when you get married, you take your husband’s last name?”

Diana, as if dumbfounded, stood up and spat out a criticism at Leo’s wordplay.

“Is blood important?”

“……”

“You always said that you’re family even if you don’t share blood.”

“Brother.”

“Was that a lie?”

Diana shook her head in horror at Leo’s cold question.

“No! That can’t be!”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“Then accept it, Diana.”

“Accept what?”

“The fact that I’m marrying the Lady Isla.”

“……”

“Whether you like her or hate her is up to you, but it’s a problem if you think all of this is just because she’s an Everett. I understand that, but you know it’s not her fault, right?”

Diana looked down at the floor, her lips pressed tightly together, as if she didn’t want to answer Leo.

Leo looked down at her with complicated eyes, then sighed softly and placed his hand on Diana’s head.

“It’s not nice to see you staying alone in this mansion because you’re being grumpy, Diana.”

After saying that, Leo left, and in the silence that remained, Diana quietly raised her hand.

Then, she stroked her hair where he had petted her, grumbling in a tearful tone.

“You don’t even know how I feel. How am I supposed to accept that, you idiot.”

Thick tears fell drop by drop onto the carpet.

She had known that Leo only thought of her as a sister ever since she had started to grow her feelings alone.

She also knew that no matter how much she grew her feelings, she would eventually give up without ever having the courage.

It was an expected result, but the end of her unrequited love, which she faced right in front of her, was much lonelier and more bitter than she had thought.

The mansion receding outside the window felt new.

When did this place become so familiar?

Recalling Leo smiling as he told her to come back safely, the corners of her lips softened involuntarily.

Soon, Isla closed the window and adjusted her posture, and her eyes met Edward’s, who was looking at her.

Just as a sense of reality and a sudden awkwardness were about to set in with the realization that they were the only two in the carriage, Edward opened his mouth with an envious look.

“You have a good relationship with your brother.”

“Ah! Does it seem that way?”

“Didn’t you notice? He seemed very worried.”

“Surely not. I’m not a child.”

Isla’s eyes curved prettily as she waved her hand, saying that couldn’t be true.

“Of course, he takes good care of me, though.”

So much so that she often forgot that her marriage to him was by contract.

Isla, who hid the rest of her words in her heart, turned the topic to Edward.

There was something she was curious about anyway.

“But Your Highness, you seem to be saying that with some envy.”

It wasn’t just this time that she felt that way.

Edward’s tone was the same when he joined the tea time that Empress Tatiana had invited her to, and so were Edward’s eyes and attitude when he ran into Leo that day.

Moreover, today, Isla couldn’t help but be puzzled by his words, as she thought that Edward’s purpose in coming to the townhouse, even though she had dissuaded him, was Leo.

“Perhaps. Do you want to become friends with your brother?”

A bitter smile bloomed on Edward’s face, as if he had been hit right on the mark.

“Is that possible?”

“Oh! Really?”

Isla’s tone was filled with embarrassment, as she hadn’t expected such an immediate answer.

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