After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 78

“Ahem. Won’t people worry?” Ayla’s words, spoken with concern to change the subject, were met with Leo’s wry smile.

“I’ve already taken care of it, so you don’t need to worry.” “Taken care of it?” “As soon as Wiltus found you, I entrusted the aftermath to Dex.”

Upon returning from the hunt, Leo immediately sensed a strange atmosphere. He heard the situation from Vivian, who had run to him upon seeing him, and from there, he released his familiars to search for Ayla. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before Leo confirmed Ayla was safe through Wiltus’s shared vision. He patted Dex on the shoulder, entrusted him with the aftermath, and headed straight for her. He’s a sharp and capable fellow, so he would have handled it without issue. Checking with Kro, the Empress’s knights who had been dispatched to find her seemed to have withdrawn as well. In other words, the only people left in this vast hunting ground were…

‘Just you and me.’

Leo let out a quiet sigh as he looked directly at Ayla. Unaware of his inner thoughts, she finally seemed to relax, showing a look of relief.

“In any case, we don’t have to worry about them, right?” “Yes. Rather, it would be good to give your ankle some first aid before it swells further.” “First aid?”

Leo left the room, leaving her tilting her head in confusion, and returned a moment later. He carried a bucket full of water hot enough to steam, with two towels draped over his arm. Leo placed the bucket on the floor beside the bed and began to soak one of the towels in the water.

Feeling the intense heat, Ayla flinched and said with concern, “Isn’t it hot?” “What’s this much?”

Leo replied nonchalantly and wrung out the towel in his hand. Beneath his rolled-up sleeves, his taut forearm muscles caught her eye.

Ayla, who had been staring blankly at him, was startled by the towel suddenly appearing in front of her face.

“……!”

Along with the warm sensation brushing against her cheek, she felt a stinging pain. He was gently wiping her cheek.

“I, I’ll do it…!”

Flustered, Ayla snatched the towel and quickly wiped her face.

“…Alright.”

Leo stepped back, seemingly to let her do as she pleased, and soaked the other towel, wringing out the excess water. Then, he sat down at the foot of the bed and gently placed it over her ankle. As the warm heat spread over her swollen skin, she felt a dull sensation, both stinging and refreshing.

“Is it hot?” “No!”

Feeling somehow embarrassed and shy, Ayla mumbled her reply and then rubbed the towel against her face for a while. She was applying a compress to her ankle, but for some reason, her face felt flushed.

The outside was completely steeped in darkness. Ayla and Leo lay side-by-side in the same bed. It wasn’t their intention from the start or was it? Had she expected it? At any rate, when it was time to lie down, Leo read a determined will in Ayla’s eyes. A resolute will to absolutely not let him sleep on the floor.

Having already experienced this at the Franboise docks, Leo swallowed a sigh and got into bed without a word. When he got into bed without saying he would sleep on the floor, Ayla seemed slightly taken aback, but soon pretended to be nonchalant and changed the subject.

‘Honestly. Does she think I wouldn’t know?’ Still, she was cute, so he decided to play along. And now, after exchanging goodnight greetings. Leo was testing his own patience.

‘It would be better to just fall asleep.’ He had stayed up all night for half his life, yet on days when she was beside him, staying up all night felt increasingly painful.

‘Should I hold her hand. No, I can’t.’ He moved his fingers unconsciously, then clenched his fist tightly. He might be able to fall asleep if he touched her, but the problem was, would his hand be enough.

Yes? No? Just as he let out a sigh, he felt her turn over beside him.

“Are you asleep…?” Was he asleep? Of course not. But wouldn’t it be better for both of them if he pretended to be asleep.

“…Can’t you sleep?” Finally turning over, Leo met Ayla’s blue eyes. Seeing him, her lips curved upwards so beautifully, it was incredibly endearing. Ever since he had confirmed his feelings for her a few days ago, Leo had been in turmoil. What should he do with these feelings? Was it okay to express them? No, before that, what about her feelings? After all, their marriage was a contract from the beginning. Moreover, the contract condition she had requested was ultimately divorce, wasn’t it?

“Yes. I think it’s because I’m not used to the change of sleeping arrangements.” “…How about an arm pillow?” It was a selfish thought that slipped out before he knew it. In front of him, who inwardly felt he had made a mistake, Ayla’s eyes widened. She seemed to ponder for a moment, then nodded slightly.

‘She doesn’t dislike it, it seems.’ Leo chuckled and released his hands clasped behind his head, extending one arm. Ayla gently lifted her head, and slowly rested it beneath his elbow. The moment her soft hair covered his arm, his heart began to pound.

‘…Sigh.’ This is torture. I can’t stand it, what should I do?

‘We’ve already spent the night together. We’re going to get married.’ No, I can’t. He lamented his own tendency to rationalize things this way. After all, he wasn’t the basis for either of her two decisions. So for now, he had to make Ayla want him of her own accord.

‘Still, this much should be okay…’ He slightly bent his elbow and pulled Ayla’s waist closer with his other hand. She, who was embraced by him so lightly, looked up at him with surprised eyes. Leo said with a composed face, “Isn’t this more comfortable?” Ayla still looked surprised, but soon smiled enigmatically and buried her head in his embrace. “It is. Much more comfortable. And warm…” “……” For a moment, Leo felt a surge of heat rush through his body. He wanted to hold her right away, but considering the day she had spent, wouldn’t that make him no different from a beast? And confirming their feelings should come first.

While his inner conflict raged, Ayla spoke softly. “Um, Leo,Your Highness.” “…Stop calling me Your Highness.” “It’s just, I’m not used to it yet.” “You’ll get used to it if you call me that often.” “Well, yes! Then, Leo…” “Yes.” “Um! What do those familiars look like?”

Leo was silent for a moment at Ayla’s question, then replied. “It’s a power my mother gave me.”

“Your mother?”

“Yes. It seems to be related to the ancestors of Eisenfelt, but I don’t know the specifics myself.”

“…You don’t have to talk about it if it’s uncomfortable.” At Ayla’s worried words, Leo smiled bitterly. “It was a long time ago. It’s been 11 years now, I think.” Pausing as if recalling the past, Leo continued. “When I was sent to the north, as if being kicked out of the palace, I wasn’t the only one sent.” “Then?” “Assassins followed me. There were more people than I thought who wanted to eliminate me as a threat by killing me.”

Leo’s tone was calm. “There were several attacks. During that time, all the knights who were escorting me died, and I almost died too. That’s when my mother suddenly appeared.”

“Your mother…?” “Yes. She hadn’t been seen for a few days before I left. I never imagined she would appear there like magic.” Leo sometimes wondered. Was it really magic? He had never heard that his mother was a sorceress.

Taking a short breath, Leo continued. “It was literally in the middle of enemy territory. I was so surprised and my mother must have been too when she found me.”

“……”

“My mother just hugged me and said, ‘It’s okay now. I met our ancestor and resolved everything.’” He took a short breath. “Then she said something quickly, but honestly, I don’t remember it well. The hesitant assassins started attacking again.” “Oh!”

“The sword that was meant to stab me, stabbed my mother instead. Seeing me turn pale, my mother said, ‘Hurry and tell me what you want.’” Leo looked down at Ayla’s tense face and smiled faintly.

“So, I begged. I begged anyone, please help me.”

“……”

“And then, they rose.” “They?”

“Yes. The wolf and the hawk you saw earlier. There’s also a crow named ‘Kro’. It was flying above your head the whole time.

There was one more.” Leo gave a wry smile for a moment and continued. “They were with me on the way north. Wiltus was my hunting hawk, and Wolf and Kro were found as chicks dying in the hunting grounds.

I found them, treated them, and took care of them afterward.” “I see. But what do you mean by ‘they rose’?” “Exactly as I said. They were already dead. Trying to protect me.”

“Oh!” Leo’s voice deepened.

“Familiars are not living beings, Ayla.”

“……”

“The ones who rose again that day live in my shadow. I believe it was the power my mother gave me.”

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