After Putting the Slayer of the Night to Sleep, I Ran Away - Chapter 98

The night deepened with each person’s thoughts.

After finishing the simple celebratory party held at the mansion, Isla finished her bath in the room she used to use.

Sarah, the maid who always attended to her as if she were there and not there, dried her hair today with a face full of smiles.

Then, after fastening her gown over her pajamas, she asked her.

“Will you go straight to the bedroom, Your Highness?”

“Huh? Yes! I should go.”

It felt unfamiliar.

The changed title, the existence of the marital bedroom.

Just a moment ago, she heard from Sarah that Leo had decorated the room he used to use alone as a marital bedroom, according to Northern tradition.

At first, she was embarrassed by the fact that she had to share a bedroom with him, but she thought it was fortunate since she had to be with him to put him to sleep anyway.

With Sarah as her guide, Isla arrived in front of Leo’s room no, the marital bedroom, and took a deep breath.

“You’ve worked hard. Go and rest now, Sarah.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Have a good night.”

The usual goodnight greeting felt awkward today.

Isla, who was quietly watching Sarah’s receding figure, took a deep breath before knocking.

Suddenly, the closed door burst open. Leo, leaning against the door, came into her surprised view.

“What are you doing outside the door?”

“I was just about to go in.”

“Really? I thought you were standing there for a while.”

“I was seeing Sarah off.”

Isla tried to hide her awkwardness and entered the room. Instantly, her eyes widened in admiration at the drastically changed interior.

“Wow! When did you decorate this?”

“It was the same until dawn today, so it must have been while we were performing the consecration ceremony.”

“In just one day? The room looks completely different.”

The neat and tidy room had changed so much that it was hard to recognize its original appearance.

They had left the mansion from early in the morning to perform the consecration ceremony until the afternoon when they returned after completing all the rituals.

Thinking about how hard those who remained in the mansion must have worked during that short time, her heart welled up anew.

Meanwhile, Leo, who had closed the door and turned around, stared at her and asked.

“Won’t it be uncomfortable?”

“What?”

“Sharing a bedroom, I mean.”

“It’s okay. Now that we’re officially married, it’s only natural. I heard that married couples in the North use the same bedroom? The aide said that it’s a natural custom to meet in the same bedroom after a busy day and spend time as a couple.”

Leo rubbed his forehead at Isla’s answer.

He seemed to be muttering “crazy bastard” under his breath.

Isla, who was averting her gaze out of awkwardness, sparkled her eyes at the refreshments set up on the table.

“That’s…”

“I thought you didn’t eat properly earlier.”

“Did you prepare this on purpose for me?”

“I just told them to do it, though.”

Isla approached the table with a touched face.

Thanks to the simple reception and celebratory party held at the mansion, her stomach, which she hadn’t been able to fill properly because she had been receiving greetings all along, was rumbling.

She thought it would be simple nuts or fruits since it was late, but there were beautifully arranged finger foods, sweet cakes, and even a bottle of liquor with a subtle fragrance.

“This is…… alcohol?”

Isla sat down on the chair that Leo pulled out for her, her eyes shining.

“I heard it’s a specialty wine from the Marquis Neville’s territory.”

“I’ve heard of it too. I heard it’s a wine that young ladies enjoy because it’s very sweet.”

“Have you ever tasted it?”

At his questioning, Isla smiled sheepishly and nodded.

“I didn’t have many opportunities to drink alcohol. You know. Drinking alcohol isn’t a princess-like behavior.”

“Well!”

Isla clicked her tongue and held out her wine glass towards him, who was sitting across from her.

“I want to try it!”

“Are you sure? Wine is stronger than champagne.”

“It’s okay. It’s not like I’ve never had it before.”

At her confident answer, Leo chuckled and picked up the wine bottle.

“Indeed. You were drinking quite strong liquor when we met at the Moonlight Mansion.”

“That’s…….”

Isla’s cheeks flushed at the sudden summoning of that day’s memory.

“At that time, I felt like I had to rely on the alcohol.”

“Oh ho.”

After filling Isla’s glass, Leo filled his own glass to the brim and playfully added.

“Does that mean you chose me under the influence of alcohol?”

“Huh? No, that’s not what I meant. Of course, I borrowed the courage of alcohol, but.”

“But?”

“That’s……. You helped me the day before. So, I trusted you, I guess.”

“If you really trusted me, you wouldn’t have put me to sleep and run away.”

She made a tearful face at his teasing words as he sipped his wine.

Then, she hesitated and moved her lips before muttering in a small voice.

“I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

“…Well, I guess so.”

Leo suddenly became curious about the truth of that day.

He wouldn’t have asked normally, but today, when her birth secret was revealed, he was curious.

“Why did you do that back then? Was it because of the broken engagement?”

“Yes. I clearly told my father that I wanted to break off the engagement, but he wouldn’t listen at all.”

“So, you went there? You could have found another way.”

“Of course, I didn’t decide right away. I met Lord Rodrigo and talked to him too. But….”

“But?”

“He came to the mansion the next day. He met my father instead of me and discussed the marriage issue with me. I was exposed as an illegitimate child that day. Of course, for some reason, His Highness the Prince’s magical tool says I’m his biological daughter, but…….”

Leo tightly grasped Isla’s hand, who was about to ramble.

“Forget that thought. So that bastard… No, what did that guy say?”

“…….”

“Tell me, Isla. What did he say that made you go there?”

“…He said he would be the one to pluck the blue rose. He said he would leave that moment as a poem or a painting.”

“…….”

“So I thought. If that’s what he wanted, I’d pluck myself. That’s why I did it. I naively thought I could break off the engagement if I did that.”

Isla forced a smile and lowered her gaze.

She didn’t regret her decision that day.

She did everything she could to bring about the result of breaking off the engagement, and even if the process wasn’t smooth, it was successful in the end.

‘Success is not enough to describe it.’

She was able to meet Leo because she made a difficult decision.

He helped her unconditionally from the first meeting, and he repeatedly gave her that help even though she was the daughter of his enemy.

‘Come to think of it, he knew I was the Duke’s illegitimate daughter.’

Isla’s movements stopped as the thought belatedly struck her.

‘Is it really okay?’

Her trembling gaze carefully turned to Leo.

His profile, which was turning away from her, was stiff.

Judging from the fact that his chest was heaving greatly with his brows furrowed, it seemed like he was suppressing his rising anger.

‘He’s angry after all.’

It felt like her heart was sinking.

The moment she unknowingly grabbed her chest, he turned his gaze at her small gesture and bent down in surprise.

“What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

His expression, asking with concern, was clearly different from before.

Isla blinked at the gap that felt too big and murmured blankly.

“I thought you were angry.”

“Ah ah. Did it show?”

Leo scratched the back of his head awkwardly and added.

“Of course I’m angry. Rodrigo, or whatever his name is. How dare he say such a thing.”

“You’re not angry because of me?”

“What are you talking about?”

He frowned.

“Why would I be angry because of you. Don’t tell me, is it because of what happened today?”

“I’m really the enemy’s daughter. Not an illegitimate child.”

“Haa, Isla. That’s.”

Leo hesitated to say the rest and wiped his eyes.

“That’s what I want to ask you.”

“?”

“Are you okay?”

His eyes, looking at Isla as if examining her, were filled with only worry.

“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t know. That you, who have lived thinking you were an illegitimate child, were actually his biological daughter. Whether it will be a little joy, or sadness.”

“Ah!”

“It seems like it would be joyful that you’re not an illegitimate child. On the other hand, it seems sad and angry that you’ve lived as an illegitimate child even though you’re his biological daughter.”

Leo’s low and deep voice flowed softly.

“Tell me, Isla. How do you feel?”

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