After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 80

‘Why is he being so nice to me…?’

She couldn’t understand the reason he was acting this way towards her.

This was a contract marriage, and moreover, wasn’t she the daughter of an enemy?

It was a relationship formed purely out of mutual necessity.

Of course, even if it was a contract marriage, she had chosen it dreaming of a happier life than before. But she hadn’t expected to become this happy.

Naturally, questions arose. She felt afraid.

‘Is this okay? To be this happy…’

Just as she was lost in her confused emotions.

“Look over there.”

Leo’s voice cut through the silence, resonating low.

The tip of his finger was pointing somewhere in the sky where darkness had settled.

“It’s starting, Ayla.”

No sooner had his voice finished than a red light shot up, piercing the night sky. And then.

Fiiiii! Boom!

Exploding with a loud noise, the fireworks drew a large circle and scattered brilliantly.

Red and blue flames beautifully adorned the night sky.

“Ah…”

Beautiful.

Ayla stared at the sky, mesmerized.

With each burst of colorful flames, the darkness was dyed in bright light.

Had she ever seen such a bright night in her life, which had only been dark?

Overwhelmed by the dazzling spectacle of light, Ayla forgot even to breathe and savored the moment.

It was a night like a birthday gift.

To someone, it might be trivial, but to her, it was a special, beautiful, unforgettable night.

Ayla shifted her gaze from the sky to the side.

Each moment the flames illuminated the darkness, Leo’s profile was subtly revealed.

His soft hair slightly covering his forehead, his straight nose, his slightly upturned lips, and his sharp jawline.

Everything about him shook Ayla’s heart.

With every burst of flame, small sparks flickered chaotically in Ayla’s chest.

‘…I want to touch him.’

She wanted to reach out with these two hands, cup his face, and rest her head on his broad chest.

She wanted to be trapped in his strong arms and kiss him.

Caught in such desires, Ayla startled herself and looked away.

‘My goodness. What was I thinking?’

Even after turning her gaze away, the clamor of her heart did not subside.

‘I like him.’

How could she not lose her heart to him?

He was the one giving her this gift of a night.

Looking up at the fireworks bursting overhead, Ayla earnestly wished.

She hoped she could be a gift to him, too.

Just as he is to her, so I to him.

A few days later.

Ayla knocked on Leo’s study door with a face beaming with joy.

“Leo. Did you see the newspaper today?”

She held the Imperial Daily of the day in one hand, her eyes sparkling.

Then, she spread the newspaper wide on his desk.

“It’s finally in. And on the front page, in large print. Do you see?”

“I saw it. The headline was absurd.”

“Oh, really? I thought it was cool.”

“Absurd. ‘The identity of the hidden power that has protected the capital from magical beasts.’ When did we ever hide?”

“Hey. That’s because they’re revealing what people didn’t know until now.”

Ayla tapped the middle of the newspaper and explained confidently.

“The important part is here. That magical beasts don’t appear because the First Prince of Eisenfelt, Lemond Zigranta, and his knights are guarding the mountain range! This means your and the Ash Wolf Knights’ achievements are revealed.”

Her expression as she looked at Leo was full of pride.

“Now everyone in the capital knows, right? Who they have to thank for living safely.”

“Is that something to be so happy about?”

“It’s something everyone should know. I didn’t know it either… And I like it. I worked hard to get this one page in the newspaper.”

“Yes, you did. You worked hard.”

Watching her, who was rarely puffing out her chest and acting smug, Leo chuckled and pulled the bell cord to call the butler.

“You want to have tea?”

“Yes, I’d love some.”

In the few days that had passed, a slight change had occurred in Ayla and Leo’s relationship.

First, Ayla’s way of addressing Leo changed. It was because whenever she called him “Your Highness,” Leo would not respond, as if protesting.

Eventually, Ayla began calling him Leo, regardless of whether people were around, and their relationship naturally became more intimate, matching the closer form of address.

The Consecration Ceremony was also just around the corner.

While drinking the tea the butler brought, Leo asked.

“You’re going to the Imperial Arts Festival this afternoon, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I was invited by Her Majesty the Empress. I’m meeting Vivian to go.”

“Take Ian with you. Don’t move alone wherever you go.”

“I will.”

Ayla nodded readily.

Since the hunting competition, Leo hadn’t let her go around alone, and she assumed it was because the culprit involved in the lycan pack attack hadn’t been identified yet.

“I have a question. Are there artists in Eisenfelt?”

“Hmm. The social scene in the north isn’t very active, so… Even if there are a few, wouldn’t they flock to the capital?”

“I suppose so? Then, if there is an artist from the north, would it be okay for me to sponsor them?”

“Well, that would be good. You decide based on your judgment.”

Ayla narrowed her eyes at Leo’s ready agreement and asked.

“You know that sponsoring an artist can mean losing all the sponsorship money, right?”

“Still, there’s nothing to be done.”

“What if I sponsor an enormous amount of money?”

“Instead, your discernment will improve, won’t it?”

“Wow… That’s an incredibly burdensome answer.”

“Burdensome?”

To Leo’s playful question, Ayla smiled brightly and shook her head.

“Of course not. If nothing else, I’ll learn whether or not I have artistic talent. I’ll go and take a good look!”

“I’m curious too. It doesn’t have to be an artist from Eisenfelt; if you find an artist you like, consider it.”

At Leo’s suggestion, Ayla nodded, her eyes sparkling.

At Everett Ducal Mansion, she had never dared to dream of sponsorship for fear of her discernment being doubted.

‘But not now…’

She liked that he told her it was fine to learn discernment even if she lost a huge sum of money.

That said, she didn’t intend to sponsor just anyone, but if she found an artist she truly liked, as he said, she would consider it.

Ayla emptied her teacup, looking forward to the arts festival.

The venue for the arts festival was the Ceres Palace.

This was a detached palace located closest to the city gates, where events related to art were always held.

In the spacious hall paved with marble, chandeliers made of crystal sculptures sparkled, catching the sunlight streaming through the large windows.

Paintings in golden frames hung on the walls, and various sculptures were placed in the central hall, captivating visitors.

Artists were explaining their works here and there, and nobles strolled among the artworks, admiring and debating.

Ayla was looking at a few paintings with Vivian.

It was a landscape painting of a beautiful lakeside, and its exquisite colors caught Ayla’s eye.

“Isn’t it painted beautifully?”

Ayla nodded in agreement with Vivian’s admiration.

“It’s so beautiful I want to go boating right now.”

“I’m planning to buy a painting today. If I don’t find anything I like better, I might buy this one.”

“You’re buying a painting?”

“Yes. What about you, Ayla?”

“Me! I’m not interested in paintings. I’m thinking of looking for an artist to sponsor.”

“Oh, really?”

Vivian’s eyes sparkled.

“Then I’ll buy a painting by that artist. Somehow, I feel like an artist sponsored by Ayla will become great.”

“Puhuhu. What if it’s the opposite?”

“What does it matter? It’s a painting by an artist Ayla sponsors. That’s enough for me.”

“For Vivian’s sake, I’ll have to awaken my artistic sense today.”

“Ahaha. Okay, okay.”

Ayla and Vivian continued their tour, giggling.

Then, they saw a space with red drapery, and Vivian pointed to it.

“That seems to be where the works of artists sponsored by Her Majesty the Empress are gathered.”

“Her Majesty the Empress is here too.”

“We should go, right? We need to pay our respects.”

“We should.”

Ayla walked towards Tatiana, hiding her discomfort.

It was true that after learning about Tatiana and Alexander’s relationship in the forest on the day of the hunting competition, she had hesitated for a moment.

And she decided to keep silent.

It was wrong to speak of another person’s sensitive affairs, and above all, she couldn’t ignore the shock Edward would receive.

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