After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 63

“So that’s why you made that choice.”

Alex, sitting beside him, said with a knowing, laughter-tinged voice.

“Quite a clever young lady.”

Leo, understanding the implication of Alex’s words, chuckled and speared the finely chopped goat meat with his fork.

“An undeserved match.”

“You must have many stories to tell.”

“Have you returned for good?”

“Who knows. I’m a free spirit, after all.”

“Whatever the case, at least tell me when you leave.”

Alex chuckled and nodded at Leo’s blunt words.

“Yes, I will.”

As the meal continued, Leo suddenly stopped spearing his food and looked towards the entrance.

Ayla, sensing his displeasure, turned her head towards the entrance as well.

Currently, the restaurant was not accepting outside guests to entertain the delegation.

Yet, the entrance area became bustling, and a figure appeared as the door opened.

“Edward?”

Ayla, recognizing him, wore a surprised expression.

Edward, looking around the interior, spotted them and approached with a delighted expression.

“Uncle!”

“Ed, you’re here.”

“Of course, I had to come. How have you been? Princess Grace, it’s been a while.”

“It has, Your Highness. You’ve grown a bit?”

“I officially came of age a few days ago.”

“I brought you a birthday present anyway. I’ll give it to you when we get to the palace.”

“You didn’t have to, you bring gifts every year.”

“It’s nothing much. There’s no particular reason to give you something good.”

“Haha. Anything the Princess gives is good.”

“Oh, you’re just saying that.”

After exchanging pleasantries filled with warmth, Edward pulled out a chair from an empty spot and sat down.

He then greeted Leo, who remained seated, and Ayla, who had awkwardly stood up, with a smile.

“Brother, we meet again.”

“Yes. Ayla, why are you standing? Sit down quickly.”

“Ah, yes.”

Ayla sat down with a bewildered look, and Leo pushed a plate towards her, as if telling her not to mind and to just eat.

“Eat before it gets cold.”

“Yes. Your Highness, please eat as well.”

Edward’s eyes held a hint of curiosity as he spoke to the attendant standing behind him.

“I’m hungry too.”

“It will be out soon, Your Highness.”

As soon as the words were spoken, food was brought out, and the interrupted meal resumed.

As the conversation continued, Ayla, who couldn’t help but be curious, asked Edward.

“How did you know to come here?”

“Actually, I came secretly.”

“Secretly?”

“Yes. There was a family event at a noble’s house about an hour’s distance from here. I attended as a representative of the royal family, and then. I came on impulse.”

“And how did you know the time and place?”

“I couldn’t not know. It was my job until last year.”

“Ah!”

Ayla’s expression became complicated as Edward’s words made her realize much.

She hadn’t thought of it.

The delegation came to the Empire around this time every year, so someone must have been there to greet them.

It was Edward, and by chance, the person in charge had changed right after the Emperor declared the Crown Prince competition.

Seeing Ayla’s troubled expression, Alex raised his hand with a smile.

“It was my mistake.”

“Mistake?”

“I sent him a letter without knowing this would happen.”

Alex looked at Edward and smiled.

“I wrote to my nephew, thinking he might want to return to his homeland after a long time. Grace talked about Edward a lot.”

“Uncle!”

Grace, startled, tried to stop him.

“What are you talking about?”

“Hm? I said you talked about him a lot, Grace. I was just happy thinking about meeting my nephew, who always welcomed the delegation.”

“Oh, stop drinking wine now.”

“Shall I? I should listen to Grace. Otherwise, I’ll get scolded.”

“What do you mean, scolding me again?”

“Hm? Hoho. Don’t you scold me often? You worry so much about this old man.”

The bickering between the two was pleasant to watch.

“You two seem to get along well.”

At Ayla’s words, Grace explained her connection with him with a smile.

“I’ve known Uncle since I was little.”

“Since you were little?”

“He’s friends with my father.”

“Ah, I see.”

So this was why Alexander was staying in the Kingdom of Drain.

It was strange for him, the Emperor’s brother, to be living abroad.

The meal, with Edward joining them, ended quickly.

It was time to depart for the palace.

“Everett? Are you alright?”

On the way back to the palace, Alex asked as the speed of the horses and carriages slowed.

“He’s fine, so he’s with us.”

“Did Duke Everett give his permission for the marriage?”

“Permission isn’t strictly necessary, but that’s how it appears externally.”

“Externally.”

Alex glanced at the carriage Ayla was in.

“I’ve heard of the ‘Blue Rose of the Empire,’ a noble lady. They say Marcus Everett cherishes his daughter greatly.”

“There were such rumors.”

“Are you saying rumors are just rumors?”

“I’m saying that rumors and facts can differ.”

“Well, she seems like a decent young lady, though.”

“Then that’s all that matters.”

Leo’s shrug and reply made Alex’s expression wistful.

“I misspoke. Yes, family isn’t everything.”

Just then.

Leo looked far into the distance. Alex, stretching his neck to follow, narrowed his gaze.

The knights who had departed as the vanguard were returning.

“The knights are coming back.”

“They are. It doesn’t seem like anything major, though.”

Leo raised an eyebrow and lightly spurred his horse, accelerating towards the approaching knights.

“Dave, what’s wrong?”

“Commander, we need to detour.”

“Detour? Weren’t you guys coming this way?”

Leo questioned Dave with a displeased look.

“Why would we need to detour after only a few hours?”

“There’s a problem with the bridge.”

“A problem?”

Leo’s eyes gleamed sharply.

To get from the Flambeau docks to the capital, one had to cross two mountains, connected by a bridge.

If the bridge couldn’t be used, it literally meant crossing the mountains.

“Explain.”

“A herd of wild boars descended from the mountain. And they ran across the bridge.”

“It must be a mess.”

“Yes. The bridge is broken in places and cracked, so to prevent any potential accidents, it would be best to detour.”

“Hmm.”

Leo looked ahead with a displeased expression, then, as if having no choice, turned his horse’s head.

The knights of the vanguard followed behind him.

“Commander, what do we do?”

“What do we do? We detour.”

“Is it a coincidence?”

“A coincidence? What? Wild boars crossing a bridge in a herd? And at this particular time?”

“If it’s not a coincidence, who would do such a thing?”

“Who knows.”

Leo murmured as he rejoined the group.

“We’ll know when we get there. Whoever did this, I wonder who they were aiming for.”

Before entering the detour mountain path, Leo reorganized the formation.

This was because carriages could not enter the mountain path.

Ayla, the Princess, and the rest of the party dismounted their carriages and switched to spare horses, making the procession a rather long line.

“Dex and I will take the lead. Theodore and Walter will guard the middle, and Ian will watch the rear.”

“Yes, Commander.”

His knights moved to their assigned positions.

Ayla, Princess Grace, Alex, and Edward were designated as protected individuals and were naturally in the middle of the line.

“Don’t worry, ladies. I will protect you by my side.”

Edward declared, patting his chest, to which Grace teasingly replied.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. You’re also a protected person.”

“Haha. I say this because I don’t think I’ll need to step in. Brother is here, after all.”

“Indeed, it is reassuring to have the First Prince himself providing escort.”

Ayla, listening to Edward and Grace’s conversation, grumbled inwardly.

Of course, she agreed that it would be fine, but she couldn’t help but worry about him at the front.

‘Will it be, okay?’

It was when they passed one mountain without incident, making her worries seem unfounded.

“We’ll be out of the mountain path in about an hour.”

As if someone’s words were a signal, Leo, who was at the front, raised his right hand sharply.

A suffocating silence fell as no one moved. Through the branches where the setting sun cast a faint light, a blade-like wind passed chillingly.

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