A Nightmare Came To The Place I Escaped - Chapter 23

Chapter 22

 

 

*Thank you to Beatrice for the Kofi~ [1 of 4]* 

 

On a dark evening, in a room with the lights off.

 

“The Duke of Oates…”

 

A murmur came out of the quiet room.

 

“Hmm? What did you say?”

“Oh, no. I’m sorry, I was just thinking about something.”

Anna apologized again to Rose, who sat up at the sound of her voice.

 

Rose soon murmured that it was okay, and lay down again. It wasn’t long before Anna could hear her slow breathing, but she still couldn’t fall asleep. She tossed and turned with her eyes open.

 

‘His Majesty visits the Duke of Oates everyday?’

 

Anna had been in the same state since she left Diana’s room.

 

‘The Count of Achille’s wife was a well-known tutor with a good reputation.’

 

Of course, reputation alone couldn’t determine a person, but His Majesty and the Countess. She couldn’t believe what Diana said. 

 

‘The reason why His Majesty was visiting the Duke of Oates’ residence…’

 

She wasn’t sure about anything yet, but if she was right, she thought things were about to get interesting. She could imagine how mortified that uptight Diana would feel. 

 

‘Lady Oates.’

 

Before the war broke out, around two years ago, Duke Oates added a woman to his family register, claiming that she was a child of his relative.

 

The Dukes of Oates, who had only one son, now had a new daughter. The nobles saw it as a good opportunity to make a connection with the Oates family, and they all hoped that the new lady would show her face in society as soon as possible.

 

However, the Duke of Oates insisted that he had no intention of showing his daughter yet, then the war broke out, and the new lady was the last thing on people’s minds.

 

Diana seemed to have forgotten that fact, but if Anna was right, that was also the reason why the Emperor visited the Duke of Oates’ residence every day, and why Countess Achille, the famous tutor, was in the Duke’s residence. It seemed to be because Lady Oates was currently staying at the red mansion.

 

What was the young lady learning from Count Achille’s wife?

 

Obviously, it would be the empress classes. Maybe she was learning some basic lessons in preparation for when she becomes the empress.

 

She didn’t know how the emperor and the young lady were connected, but the next empress seemed to have been chosen. 

 

‘Then Lady Avery…’

 

Diana always talked to her as if Ian owed her a lot, but Anna actually disagreed with Diana.

 

How ridiculous was it that the emperor was indebted to Lady Avery just for the fact that he stayed in the Avery territory for several years when he was young.

 

One might think that Diana and Ian had a few conversations in those days. In reality, Diana only heard rumors that he’d stayed in Avery for years as a child after he became the emperor. 

 

However, Diana pretended to have a great connection with the emperor because he’d lived in hiding in her family’s territory as a weak child. To the point that she believed that the emperor could be hers.

 

If Anna’s expectations were correct, then the emperor and Lady Oates were lovers. She was sure Diana couldn’t beat her.

 

***

 

Shift

 

A quiet drawing room where the dazzling sunlight gently fell. A light autumn wind flowed through the open window.

 

Shift

 

“….”

 

Rachel walked past the bookshelf, she soon bowed her head close to a book. She felt like she wanted to see the letters better.

 

Shift

 

However, even though she was close enough to the book, Rachel leaned in close and closer over time.

 

For a while now, her nose was close enough to touch the book. When she couldn’t bend down any more, Rachel carefully took a breath and raised her head. 

 

“Your Majesty, do you have anything to say to me?”

 

Rachel looked at him as if she couldn’t understand. For some reason, Ian hadn’t left for the castle after dinner today.

 

From thirty minutes ago, he was staring at her silently.

 

Rachel had become even more uncomfortable after hearing from Ian that he liked her. So, she wanted to ignore his gaze as much as possible.

 

Apparently, that wasn’t going to happen.

 

“Your Majesty?”

 

When Rachel called Ian once again, he glanced up from the newspaper in his hands in confusion, as if he didn’t realize that Rachel had been talking to him.

 

“I’ve been reading this.”

“Is that so?”

 

For the past thirty minutes, he’d been reading the same page. 

 

It’s upside down too.

 

“Ah…”

 

When Rachel pointed that out, Ian’s ears turned a little red when he realized he’d been holding the newspaper upside down.

 

“That…”

 

Ian frowned a little as if embarrassed and stammered a bit.

 

“I heard that there’s a night market in the square. Shall we go together?”

“A night market?”

“Yeah, the festival starts today. You liked night markets.”

 

Rachel didn’t understand why he was asking for permission. Also, why was he looking so nervous right now?

 

He was going to do whatever he wanted. 

 

‘Night market…’

 

Rachel nodded silently to Ian, who was waiting for her answer. No matter how uncomfortable her time was with him, it was just something she had to deal with. Even if it was true that he liked her, nothing changed. 

 

After all, she had to obey him.

 

“Then let’s leave here around seven o’clock.”

“Okay, I got it.”

 

She hastily averted her gaze from his bright smile, and ducked her head. 

 

‘It was a festival.’

 

She guessed that the harvest was already over. Was the festival already being held in Ravenna?

 

She was supposed to spend this festival with Thomas and Dean.

 

“Your Majesty, I’d like to ask you for a favor.”

“Yes?”

Rachel was able to more easily speak to Ian, who seemed to be receptive to her request for some reason.

 

“Can I go to Ravenna? I think they might be worried since I left without saying anything. I just want to say hi.”

“….”

“If I can’t, please tell me. I just want to let Thomas’ family know.”

 

She was sure that they must be worried about her.

 

They were warm people with a lot of affection.

 

“You’re going to go and come back, right?”

“What?”

“You can’t go alone, so I’ll assign a knight to you.”

“Really?”

 

Ian gave a small nod to Rachel, who opened her eyes wide in surprise.

 

In reality, Rachel hadn’t expected much. Since she couldn’t even go to the plaza alone.

 

“I’ll give you as much money as you want, so take a gift.”

“A gift? Can I really do that?”

 

By the look on Rachel’s face as she asked in surprise, the suggestion didn’t seem so bad.

 

“Yes, you must like them, so you can use as much money as you want.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

Ian looked at her happy smile as she thanked him. He wanted to go with her, but Rachel would be uncomfortable.

 

‘She’s finally smiling for real.’

 

It was the first time since they’d met again. When she smiled sincerely, her eyes folded prettily and her cheeks dimpled. Ian looked at Rachel and grabbed her hand. 

 

“…When do you want to go?”

“I want to go as early as possible…”

“Then you can leave in two days. If there’s anything that you need, get it ready by then.”

 

Rachel nodded.

 

“Just say hello, and come back.”

“Yes, thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

Ian shrugged as if it was nothing. 

 

“….”

“….”

 

She smiled happily, but Rachel quickly became awkward and turned her attention to her book again with a small cough.

 

Ian tried to quickly grab Rachel’s hand as the happiness disappeared from her green eyes, but then he turned away from her. 

 

She’d even smiled at him today. He thought that was enough, but he was impatient. 

 

No matter how much he tried to pull himself together, he couldn’t help feeling restless.

 

Ian clenched his fists as if he was trying to get his act together again. 

 

‘It’s okay if it’s slow, so I hope we can become closer.’

 

After he swallowed his sigh that he couldn’t spit out, he corrected the newspaper this time. That didn’t mean that he was reading the paper, but he pretended really hard by turning the pages so that Rachel wouldn’t feel uncomfortable. 

 

But before he knew it, his eyes were on Rachel beyond the newspaper. 

 

***

 

“Lady Avery?”

 

Entering the drawing room, Countess Achille blinked as if she were embarrassed by Diana’s sudden visit. 

 

“What brought you here?”

 

The Countess didn’t seem to like that Diana had visited, and talked in a cold tone.

 

“I want to ask you something.”

However, despite Countess Achille’s sharp tone, Diana was still so confident that she continued without even trying to apologize. 

 

“You should sit down.”

 

The Countess almost laughed in disgust at Diana’s suggestion that she sit down as if it were her own home, but she struggled to smile.

 

No matter how much she thought about it, wasn’t she too confident?

 

However, the Countess sat in the seat Diana pointed to without saying much.

 

Countess Achille resented the way she disregarded proper etiquette, but she didn’t want to get embroiled in a personal fight with Diana or the Avery family. 

 

If someone pointed out Diana’s faults, she would be your enemy from that moment on.

 

Diana was just that kind of person. When she was told her faults, she wouldn’t admit and correct the mistakes, instead she’d reveal her teeth. That’s why she didn’t want to create more work for herself or create enemies by pointing out Diana’s faults. 

 

“I don’t have a lot of time, so I don’t think you can stay long.”

“That’s okay, I don’t want to stay for long either.”

Diana proudly raised one corner of her mouth.

 

“Then let’s get straight to the point.”

 

Tak

 

Diana, who put down the teacup she was holding, looked down at Countess Achille with an arrogant look. As she was treating her like a subordinate, Diana had no consideration for the Countess. 

 

Countess Achille’s mouth, which had been smiling serenely, hardened at Diana’s absolute disregard for her opponent.