After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 72

Edward quietly watched the departing carriage.

Leo and Ayla’s laughter-filled voices leaked from inside the carriage.

Suddenly, his chest ached with a sharp pang.

The moment he unconsciously clutched his chest, Edward murmured with trembling eyes.

“Could it be.”

His head shook back and forth rapidly.

It couldn’t be. It mustn’t be.

This must be because the brother he had missed so dearly had said words of concern for him.

But he was eighteen now.

He knew well what emotion this, this bitterness, stemmed from.

“Unbelievable.”

It was an unbelievable emotion.

After all, Ayla was his cousin, wasn’t she?

She was his maternal uncle’s second daughter, a lady whose marriage partner had already been decided.

And what’s more, her intended husband was the brother he would have to feel sorry for his entire life.

‘She got hurt saving me, so she must be feeling sorry for me.’

The moment he saw Ayla appear in the assembly hall today, he was, honestly, glad.

He wanted to run to her immediately and ask about her well-being.

He wanted to hold her and confirm if her arm, injured for his sake, was alright.

The dress she wore, neatly put on for today, accentuated her delicate neckline, and her blue hair, elegantly braided and adorned with petals, was dazzlingly beautiful.

At that moment, someone blocked his view, his brother, bound by love and hate.

His brother, who had looked at him with narrowed eyes, then skillfully blocked Ayla from his sight. Edward, having missed the chance to greet her, had no choice but to enter the assembly hall.

That’s why he had rushed to the carriage waiting area as soon as the meeting ended.

Resigned, Edward turned away with a complicated expression.

His steps, repeating to himself that this was wrong, felt heavy as lead.

Early afternoon.

The red sun dyed the vast grasslands in golden hues, and sunlight sparkled on the blue lake.

The deep and vast forest was usually quiet, but today was different.

Dozens of carriages gathered for the hunting tournament lined up, raising dust, and the nobles who disembarked from them, each showing off their splendid hunting attire, exchanged greetings.

Male nobles, clad in fitted hunting suits and elegant cloaks, declared their ambitions, while female nobles in dresses that considered both practicality and elegance chatted in small groups, busy predicting today’s winner.

“Wow!”

Meanwhile, Ayla, who had just alighted from the carriage, gaped at the bustling crowd.

While Leo briefly inspected the horse he would ride, Ayla turned her expectant gaze towards the spectator stands.

The spectator stands, reflecting her own opinions and considerations, were neat and elegant overall.

Seeing no one looking uncomfortable, a pleased smile naturally spread across her lips.

Then, she spotted someone glaring at her from one side.

‘Do I really hate them that much?’

Although her own feelings weren’t good, meeting his fierce gaze made her mood sink.

“What are you looking at?”

As if he had finished inspecting the horses, Leo wrapped an arm around Ayla’s shoulders and looked down at her.

As Ayla looked up at Leo, her view now blocked, he, with a mischievous face, uttered a word.

“Look with your pretty eyes at only beautiful and good things. Why look at something ugly?”

At his playful chiding, Ayla laughed and asked back.

“Like Your Highness?”

“Me?”

“Yes. Because Your Highness is handsome.”

Of course, she genuinely thought so, but her intention to tease him was clear.

However, Leo seemed to be one step ahead.

He let out a soft chuckle, nodded his head, and replied.

“Good. Then look only at me.”

“Yes?”

“Look only at me. With those pretty eyes.”

Leo laughed, seemingly very satisfied with his own words.

And his face was so beautiful again that Ayla couldn’t easily tear her eyes away.

“I don’t like it, really.”

Shuelle, sitting in the spectator stands, muttered with a stern expression.

She wondered what all the attention was about, only to see the most obnoxious presence these days standing there.

Ayla, and Leo standing beside her.

Ever since the two of them suddenly announced their marriage, all attention had been focused on Ayla.

Ayla, who had rarely even attended banquets before, not only appeared at every official event after leaving home but also brought Prince Leo Raymond as her partner.

It was irritating enough that she would become a member of the royal family, but the prince who returned was also an astonishingly handsome man.

What did it matter if he had a notorious reputation, like being called the “slayer of the night”?

His blunt speech and personality were attractive in themselves, and his appearance, which captured attention wherever he went, was truly outstanding.

“Ayla, Ayla. Why is everyone making such a fuss?”

Just two years ago, she had always been the center of attention at banquets. But since Ayla made her debut in society through her debutante ball, people had started looking for her.

People began approaching her, asking, ‘When will Lady Ayla arrive?’, and some even praised Ayla in front of her, saying, ‘Second Lady Ayla has a different charm than Lady Shuelle.’

At first, she dismissed it. But as the same thing repeated, deep resentment bloomed in Shuelle’s heart.

‘That child is a fake. I am the real one.’

She couldn’t possibly not know the rumors circulating in the household.

But still, thinking she was her sister, Ayla gradually began to be hated.

Eventually, she began to subtly spread gossip about Ayla, and naturally grew close to several ladies who were displeased by Ayla’s attention.

Then, the fight with Vivian Helios occurred.

“I won’t forgive you.”

Shuelle bit her lip in anger.

It was the first time in her life that she, called the flower of high society, had been so publicly humiliated.

‘Ayla, that adorable thing must have manipulated Vivian.’

It was clearly Ayla’s scheme. Otherwise, Vivian Helios, who usually couldn’t even speak to her, wouldn’t have dared to act that way.

It was an act she could never forgive or tolerate.

‘Does she think I’ll just stand by and take it?’

Shuelle’s lips curled up coldly. Just then, someone quietly approached her.

“Don’t worry, Lady.”

Jane, a lady from the Count’s family, whispered subtly.

“Lady Ayla will be thoroughly disgraced today.”

Shuelle looked at her with interest.

“Will she?”

“Of course. You can’t hide behind a man today, can you?”

“That’s true.”

“Lady, as a kind older sister, you just need to draw Lady Ayla out. We’ve prepared everything else.”

At Jane’s words, Shuelle smiled with satisfaction.

She looked forward to seeing how that innocent face would contort today.

Thinking so, Shuelle glanced towards Ayla, her gaze stopping at one spot.

‘Oh my. That man.’

She saw Rodrigo glaring at Ayla from one side.

‘What’s this? Has he not given up yet?’

Shuelle slowly licked her lips again and smiled meaningfully.

It wouldn’t be bad to use that man next time.

As she thought so and turned her body, a humming tune naturally came out.

Today seemed like it would be a very enjoyable day.

“What shall I catch for you?”

Ayla tilted her head at Leo’s question.

Her long eyelashes blinked slowly.

“Will you catch anything I ask for?”

“Anything that’s here, whatever it may be.”

At Leo’s confident smile, Ayla pouted her lips.

“Never mind that, just let me see your arm.”

“My arm?”

Leo tilted his head and looked down at her.

Ayla smiled awkwardly and took out the ribbon she had brought.

Then, she carefully approached his side and began to tie the ribbon around his forearm.

Her touch moved cautiously.

“It’s said to carry the meaning of wishing for a safe return. It’s a superstition, but still, if you get hurt because I didn’t do it, it would be a big problem.”

After tying the ribbon knot firmly, Ayla took a step back and smiled sulkily.

“Don’t get hurt, Your Highness. I can’t protect you in there, can I?”

At her playful plea, Leo gazed down at the blue ribbon wrapped around his forearm.

Then, with a light laugh like a sigh, he casually covered his mouth.

Don’t get hurt.

He could guarantee that no one here could defeat him.

But Ayla always worried about him. The fact was amusing, yet it strangely resonated in his heart.

Leo’s ears, once again disarmed, were met with the short sound of a trumpet.

The Emperor’s speech, announcing the start of the hunting tournament, was beginning.

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