After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 60

‘Was I too indifferent?’

He felt a pang of guilt.

She must have had a hard time adjusting to a new place, and he felt like he’d kept her cooped up in the mansion.

Moreover, if she was truly excited about seeing the sea as she’d said, he had a reasonable suspicion that she’d never seen it before.

‘When she ran away, she said her destination was the Flanberre docks…’

Could it be that she had a hidden desire to see the sea?

He still thought it was a reckless attempt, but the reason for choosing the location felt a little endearing.

‘I should show her around before the delegation arrives.’

Leo, who had been covering his mouth with his elbow on the windowsill, erased the smile that was escaping and asked,

“Have you ever been to the Flanberre docks?”

“No. Have you, Your Highness?”

“I have. But it was a long time ago, when I was a child.”

“Ah!”

Her sparkling eyes filled with self-reproach.

Oops. That’s not what he meant to imply.

Leo quickly continued, trying to sound nonchalant,

“I should take a look around while we’re there. Our coast has docks too, though they’re small.”

“Are you going to look for things to borrow?”

“Sort of. Just looking, you know.”

Because someone seems to have never seen the sea before.

He shrugged casually, keeping the real reason to himself.

It was Leo’s small consideration, hoping she wouldn’t feel burdened.

The blue sea began to appear beyond the carriage’s window as they diligently traveled.

Ayla, whose blue eyes had grown wider, gradually moved closer to the window.

As if that wasn’t enough, she stuck half her face out the window, causing her blue hair to flutter like dancing.

“Wow!”

Leo saw her, smiling at her, as Ayla repeated the same exclamation for the fourth time.

Realizing her behavior belatedly, she straightened up, feeling embarrassed.

As her eyes darted around, Leo made a pretty dimple without trying to hide his smile.

“Did I make it too obvious? Don’t worry. I won’t be like this in front of the delegation.”

“What does the delegation have to do with it?”

“It’s embarrassing.”

“It’s okay. It was cute.”

Ayla’s mouth snapped shut like a clam at the unexpected answer.

Cute.

Ayla’s mind froze at the word she was hearing for the first time in her life.

She was so surprised that even the sea, which had captivated her heart, was no longer in her sight.

Meanwhile, the carriage entered a narrow alley.

Ayla’s body bounced around as the carriage lurched, as if the road conditions were terrible.

How light must her body be for her to bounce around like this?

Leo, who was watching the scene with curiosity, turned his head to the window, thinking that he should increase her food intake.

The coachman was slowing down.

It seemed they had arrived at their destination.

A little later.

“Dex Hanover, you crazy bastard.”

Leo, who had gotten out of the carriage, crumpled the letter he had received from the Moonlight Manor’s informant and cursed.

The letter read:

“Come to think of it, tomorrow is the right day. Since you’ve already gone, spend the day there today.”

He was even more dumbfounded by the only room key enclosed and the postscript.

“Oh, and there are no rooms left because of the National Foundation Festival. It was hard to get this one too.”

It was obvious without even looking.

His intention must have been to put him together with Ayla.

What was strange was that he didn’t entirely dislike the situation Dex had created.

Brook, who had been carefully watching him, added an explanation.

“This is the accommodation that the aide secured. And this is a list of good restaurants.”

“Okay, you can go now.”

“Yes, Your Highness. All the necessary preparations have been made, but if you need me, please tell the front desk to call Brook.”

“I said go.”

Brook quickly bowed and left the spot at Leo’s command, which clearly revealed his discomfort.

Ayla, who had been standing silently one step behind, approached after Brook disappeared.

“What does the letter say that makes you so upset?”

Leo, who couldn’t possibly hand over the letter, crumpled it into his pocket and elaborated.

“It says the delegation is arriving tomorrow.”

“Yes? Then why did we rush so much.”

“Exactly. It seems like that Dex guy was playing a prank.”

“A prank?”

Ayla pondered for a moment why he would play such a prank, then focused on one fact.

Originally, they would have waited for the delegation to arrive, treated them to a meal, and then taken them to the imperial palace’s guest room by carriage, but if all of that was postponed until tomorrow.

“Whatever the reason, it means today is free, right?”

Leo swallowed a bitter smile and nodded at Ayla’s words, which she uttered with a lively expression on her cheeks.

“I guess so. The problem is…”

“Then first of all.”

Ayla clapped her hands together and said,

“Let’s play, us!”

“What?”

“I’ll buy you something delicious. Ah, of course, the money I have is the money you gave me, Your Highness!”

“Okay.”

“Really?”

“We can look at the sea first, look around a bit, and then come back.”

“I’m good with that!”

“Then let’s go.”

Leo headed towards the coast.

The area where the accommodation was located was in the center, which was built along the coast, so there was no need to wander around.

“Wow. Is that a seagull? The birds are bigger than I thought?”

“Your Highness, do you see that? All the buildings here are made of stone. Is it because of the sea breeze?”

Ayla’s mouth chattered non-stop, as busy as her moving eyes.

Leo couldn’t help but turn his head to the other side for a moment, unable to control the corners of his mouth from rising, and soon noticed one thing.

The gazes of the passersby, especially the men, were fixed on Ayla.

Only then did Leo widen his view of the surroundings.

Perhaps it was because it was a place with many men working on ships, due to the regional characteristics.

All he could see were dark-skinned men.

‘This won’t do.’

He instinctively grabbed Ayla’s hand.

Not stopping there, he intertwined his fingers tightly.

“Your Highness?”

He made an excuse to Ayla, who was looking at him in surprise.

“Because there are many people around.”

“People?”

“Yes. If I grabbed you carelessly and let go.”

“…?”

“You might get lost.”

“That’s right. I shouldn’t get lost. But isn’t ‘lost’ a word used for children?”

Ayla, who mumbled softly, lowered her gaze.

Her pouting lips and the blush rising on her cheeks, which showed what she didn’t like, were pleasing.

After walking in silence for a while, they were already on the sandy beach.

Leo, holding Ayla, who was staggering because her feet were sinking into the sand, said,

“It would be better to take off your shoes for a while.”

It was a statement that could have sounded rude, but Ayla obediently followed his words.

Leaving her neatly removed shoes behind, she walked towards the sea, where the sunlit waves were sparkling.

A vast horizon unfolded at the end of the singing waves.

“So, this is what it was.”

Ayla murmured, fixing her gaze on somewhere beyond the endless horizon.

“A world I didn’t know.”

“…”

“It’s so beautiful.”

“I clearly said I would buy it for you.”

A rarely sulky voice flowed from Ayla’s mouth.

It was because she had confidently taken out her wallet after a satisfying meal at the restaurant, only to hear that it had already been paid for.

“What’s so important about that? We ate together anyway.”

Leo, who was just laughing next to her, making his Adam’s apple bob, was just frustrating.

On the one hand, she was also disappointed that she would soon be at the accommodation, and had to be separated from him in an unfamiliar place.

‘I can’t even take a night walk here.’

The accommodation that Ayla had seen when she first got out of the carriage came into view.

It seemed they were already there.

Leo opened his mouth with a troubled expression to her, who was inwardly soothing her disappointment.

“Um, Ayla.”

“Yes?”

“There’s one problem I couldn’t tell you earlier.”

“A problem?”

“Yeah. It seems like all the accommodations around here are fully booked because of the National Foundation Festival.”

“Ah! I guess so. The festival will start soon. Ah, then?”

Leo’s main point was hammered into Ayla’s ears, who had a doubtful expression on her face.

“Dex said he could only secure one room.”

“Oh, yes. I see!”

“I’ll take you to the room, can you be alone? I’ll look for another room.”

“No?”

“Huh?”

“Why go through all that trouble? We don’t even know if there are any rooms.”

“Are you sure? It would be uncomfortable to stay in the same room.”

Ayla quickly grabbed his arm.

“What’s wrong with it? We’re going to get married soon. Let’s go in quickly.”

An awkward atmosphere flowed, but she pretended not to notice and moved to the room she was guided to.

And…

‘Even if there’s only one room, why is there only one bed?’

Ayla’s eyes trembled, filled with embarrassment.

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