After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 83

After sending Vivian back first, Ayla was about to get into the carriage with Alexander when.

“That won’t do.”

Ian blocked the carriage, speaking firmly.

“I cannot allow the two of you to be alone in the carriage. I apologize, Princess.”

Ayla hesitated for a moment at his resolute attitude, but soon acquiesced.

She fully understood why he, her escort, would say no, and she didn’t want to bend Ian’s will for someone else’s sake.

“What should we do, Alexander? The squad leader says the carriage is out of the question, so I wonder if it would be difficult to talk here.”

“It would be a bit difficult. It’s a matter of security.”

“I see. Then let’s talk here.”

Alexander was taken aback by Ayla’s smiling decision and asked back.

“Princess, I wanted to talk in private.”

“If you want another chance, you can make a formal appointment to visit, Alexander.”

“……”

“But if you just have something to say, why not say it here? If I understand you in one go, you won’t have to bother coming to the mansion.”

Alexander hesitated at Ayla’s neat tone, then made up his mind.

He was concerned about Tatiana’s extreme impatience to wait for another time.

First of all, he needed to confirm whether Ayla was really the one who had been there that day, the owner of that presence.

“The day of the hunting competition. Did you happen to hear anything?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t eavesdrop on purpose. I just happened to overhear.”

Alexander’s heart stopped with a thud at Ayla’s calm admission.

Thinking that Tatiana was right, he felt his mind go blank.

“Did you tell anyone?”

At his urgent question, Ayla slowly shook her head.

“I’m not so careless as to easily talk about other people’s affairs. You don’t have to worry if it’s about that.”

“…Can I trust you?”

“I have no reason to beg for Alexander’s trust. However…”

Ayla paused for a moment before speaking.

“I can promise not to tell anyone.”

“…A promise, is it…”

“Yes. I will make that promise.”

“Even if they are close to you?”

“I said, no one.”

Alexander nodded with a relieved expression as Ayla shrugged her shoulders in affirmation.

“…Thank you.”

“It’s something I was going to pretend never happened anyway. Don’t worry about it.”

Of course, Tatiana’s words bothered her in the back of her mind.

Her voice saying that Leo would take Edward’s place.

‘He’s not interested in the Crown Prince position.’

She hadn’t heard it exactly, but she could tell.

Leo has no intention of becoming the Crown Prince.

He’ll probably be returning to the North soon.

But there’s no need to tell them that…

Ayla added a word as a precaution.

“So, the two of you. I hope you don’t worry about anything.”

“……”

“About me, or about him.”

Ayla smiled gently and affirmed.

“The person I know has no intention of taking anything.”

“……”

“Then I’ll be going now. Excuse me.”

Ayla bowed to Alexander and got into the carriage.

Ian escorted her, closed the carriage door, and immediately got up next to the coachman to start the carriage.

Alexander watched the carriage disappear into the distance before letting out a sigh.

For some reason, he felt like he knew why Leo and Edward had fallen for her.

Meanwhile, a serious meeting was underway in Leo’s office.

It was because of the news brought by the knight Walter, who had returned from a support request in the border area a few days ago.

“It’s not good, Commander. The size of the gate.”

Walter, who looked somewhat pale, reported in a calm but anxious voice.

“It was as vast as if three or four large gates had been combined. The surrounding forest has already been devoured by the gate. The magical energy felt like it could explode at any moment.”

Leo turned his gaze to Lucas, who was listening.

He thought that he, who had protected the North for so long, might know something.

“Count, have you ever seen the gate Walter is talking about?”

“I’ve never seen it myself, but…”

Lucas continued with a somber face.

“I heard it from my father only once. He said he had seen an unusually large and terrible gate.”

“……”

“Leo, I think we need to go.”

At Lucas’s words, Leo sighed and stroked his chin.

“Going is one thing, but you have to tell me what’s going on.”

“…I heard that magical beasts several levels stronger than usual appeared. They are not easy to deal with even with several people. So many people died.”

Dex scratched the back of his head irritably and muttered in annoyance at Lucas’s words.

“Damn it. Why now of all times?.”

In the heavy atmosphere, Walter anxiously asked back.

“What should we do, Commander…?”

“What do you mean, what should we do? We have to leave right away.”

Dex sighed and asked at Leo’s calm reply.

“Hey. You know the consecration ceremony is in ten days, right?”

“We can finish it before then and come back.”

“Who knows when that damn gate will explode.”

Dave nodded at Dex’s words.

“That’s right, Commander. We can go and wait, and if it explodes, we’ll let you know, and then you can leave.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? How long does it take to get from here to there? And didn’t you hear Walter? He said it could explode at any moment.”

“…But you’re going to tell the Princess before you go, right? I think it’s about time for her to come back.”

Leo sighed at Dex’s question.

“I have to.”

“I’ll prepare for the departure.”

Dex frowned as he watched Lucas get up after him.

“Father, stay here.”

“I’m going too.”

“What are you talking about? Where are you going at your age?”

“I can do my part, so don’t worry, you rascal.”

“Here we go again. He thinks he’s in his twenties.”

“What, you rascal?”

Leo opened his mouth with a tired face at the two fathers’ bickering that had started again.

“Count, stay here.”

“Are even you treating me like luggage?”

“What luggage? Someone has to protect this place.”

“……”

“The Count knows. This is the Imperial Capital, and even if it’s just in name, I’m the First Prince.”

Leo said calmly, standing up with his knees bent.

“Take care of Ayla and Diana.”

“You…”

“The Count can stop anyone among the Imperial Capital nobles from doing anything while I’m away.”

Lucas’s mouth closed at the words he couldn’t refute.

Leo stared at Lucas for a moment before sincerely asking.

“Please, Count. It would make me feel at ease.”

“…Tch. Alright, you rascal.”

In the end, Lucas gave up.

Leo was right.

He was the only one who could prepare for any possible event, not the other knights.

Even if the Emperor came.

“Then everyone, prepare for departure. I’ll tell Ayla as soon as I’m ready and leave.”

Leo saw Ayla’s carriage arriving in front of the mansion’s entrance through the window he was looking down at.

Leo, who had finished preparing for departure, was about to go to Ayla’s room when.

“Commander.”

Ian, who had been waiting for him, stepped forward.

Leo nodded as if to say let’s talk while walking and passed him, and Ian followed without delay.

“Did something happen outside?”

“That’s…”

Leo, who had heard everything Ayla and Alexander had said, nodded indifferently.

“I see. Go prepare for departure.”

“Yes, Commander.”

As Ian disappeared, Leo stopped walking again and fell into thought.

‘What could my uncle and Ayla have to promise each other? Did they run into each other while getting lost on the day of the hunting competition?’

If so, wouldn’t that be strange?

When he found Ayla, she was clearly wandering alone in the forest.

If she had met his uncle, they should have come out together.

‘That means there’s something I don’t know.’

Leo’s eyes sank heavily.

It had already been several days since the hunting competition, but Ayla had never mentioned meeting his uncle.

According to Ian, Ayla seemed to have a rough idea of why he had come.

While lost in thought, Leo arrived in front of Ayla’s room.

After taking a moment to catch his breath, Leo knocked on the door, and the sound of Ayla approaching from inside could be heard.

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