Nightmare Came to The Place I Escaped - Chapter 101

Stroke

 

The Count waved his hand at the purse, and looked at Diana.

 

“Then why are you giving me this much money?”

 

He had been struggling for a long time, but couldn’t resist opening his mouth.

 

“Believe me.”

“…Huh?”

 

The Count frowned, not understanding Diana’s words.

 

“I told you to believe me.”

“Why?”

“I won’t have any regrets about life anymore. Rachel, if I kill that girl, I’ll follow her. So, I don’t need money.”

“….”

“I’m giving it to you because I’m afraid that the Count will change his mind and betray me. Now that I’ve given you everything, I’ll only have one choice. So, there’s no need for the Count to worry, right?”

 

The Count burst into a small laugh at the calm way Diana spoke.

 

According to Diana, it was unlikely that she would change her mind later. Then he had no reason to refuse her offer because he could easily go back to Ian.

 

“Haha, I think we’re on the same wavelength now, Lady Diana Avery.”

 

Diana smiled softly at the Count who called her a lady. However, the self-deprecating smile soon disappeared from her face.

 

“Don’t worry about Lady Oates. There’s no reason for me to betray you.”

 

The Count was as bold as he could be.

 

“I’ll gather mercenaries within three days.”

 

Diana bit her tender mouth lightly at the Count, who spoke as if showing mercy. However, Diana couldn’t reveal her feelings to the Count.

 

No matter how much the Count said he would help her, that didn’t mean he and she were on equal footing. Diana realized her situation once again along with the first humiliation she’d felt.

 

“…One more thing. Find out Rachel’s movement.”

 

Diana hesitated for a moment before adding that.

 

“You’re right. If you want to attack the lady, the best place to catch her is on her way to the capital.”

“Yes.”

 

Oates would be vulnerable on her way to the capital.

 

Before the wedding, she would head to the capital excitedly to prepare for the ceremony with the Emperor. It would have been nice to let them taste tragedy at the happiest moment.

 

For Ian. Also, for Rachel.

 

“Yes, in the capital, the mercenaries may realize who they are attacking and run away. The Duke of Oates’ residence is guarded by knights. So, you won’t be able to enter there, it’ll be too difficult for you to succeed.”

 

The Count spit out his words excitedly.

 

“Haha, I’m already curious about Ian’s expression.”

 

The Count lightly stroked his chin as if he was thinking of Ian, who would be in despair.

 

“Unfortunately, Lady Avery, you won’t see that face.”

“…That’s one thing I’m sorry to hear.”

“Then I’ll find the mercenaries soon, and let you know. Be at ease.”

 

The Count chuckled, and then turned around.

 

Screech Tak

 

Soon the door to the dungeon closed, and Diana was alone again.

 

In this cold and damp place, how could she be at ease in a place full of bugs?

 

Diana swore softly, then closed her eyes.

 

***

 

Early in the morning, the Duchy of Oates.

 

“Time flies so quickly. The ceremony is already a month away. Right, Rachel, be careful on your way.”

 

The Duke of Oates and all the servants were out to see off Rachel and Mike, who were heading to the capital.

 

“I just need to check a few things about the railroad, then I’ll follow you up.”

“Yes, Father. I’ll go up first.”

 

Duke Oates’ mouth went down a little as if he was sorry for not being able to go up to the capital with Rachel.

 

“Mike, you should be careful too.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Contact me when you arrive.”

“Yes, Father.”

 

Mike nodded lightly.

 

“I’ll have to pass on the title to you soon.”

“You just want to follow Rachel around.”

 

Mike glanced at the Duke with a playful smile.

 

“Hmm, that can’t be true.”

 

The Duke coughed softly, and denied Mike’s words.

 

“Haha, yes. We’ll leave now.”

 

Mike nodded softly as if he understood, and opened his mouth.

 

“Yes, you’ll follow us soon, so we’ll go ahead.”

 

They finished their goodbyes. Mike and Rachel climbed into the carriage as the servants finished loading the luggage.

 

“Father, I’ll be on my way.”

“Yes, when you see His Majesty, say hello.”

 

Mike nodded and closed the carriage door. It was not long before the horse’s cry announced the departure of the carriage.

 

Mike and Rachel looked out the window, they waved softly until the Duke was out of sight.

 

“Father must be very concerned that we couldn’t go up together.”

“I know. It would’ve been nice if we could’ve waited, and gone up together.”

“It’s only a week difference.”

 

Mike shrugged his shoulders slightly.

 

“In addition, we have to hurry to prepare for the ceremony so that it goes on without a hitch.”

 

Mike added, as if he wasn’t worried about his father.

 

“More than that, I hope Diana Avery is caught soon. That way, the chaotic atmosphere will calm down a little.”

“Oh, Father was worried about that, too.”

“The ceremony is important to you, so it can’t be helped that he would be concerned.”

 

Diana Avery

 

Where in the world has she been hiding that even the Imperial knights were having such a hard time. Any imperial citizen who found her would report it.

 

He couldn’t understand how she’d hidden so well.

 

Mike had heard they’d already searched all the families that had anything to do with the Avery family.

 

He’d heard she’d caused a disturbance at Rachel’s tea party, so he’d planned on warning her the next time they met.

 

He never thought the Avery’s would end up like this.

 

More than likely, they’d been doing these things behind the scenes.

 

Anyway, he just wanted her to be caught as soon as possible and Avery’s sentence to be decided.

 

Mike had been dozing for a moment, when he suddenly opened his eyes. It seemed that he’d fallen asleep from the carriage movement that started early in the morning. No, he wouldn’t have been so tired if his father hadn’t insisted on having a drink last night, saying that good wine had come in.

 

Mike turned his head around as if he was stiff from sleeping in the wrong position.

 

Rachel caught Mike’s gaze, she was nodding off like he’d been. Mike carefully leaned Rachel’s head, which was shaking aimlessly, against him.

 

Mike’s act of giving his shoulder to Rachel, he became more calm and cautious.

 

Mike looked out the window as if trying to gauge the remaining distance.

 

That was the moment.

 

Whiny!

 

The carriage suddenly stopped, and their bodies leaned heavily.

 

“Aah!”

 

Rachel suddenly bent forward, and she screamed in surprise.

 

“Rachel!”

“Oh, yes.”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

 

Fortunately, Mike supported her body and she was not hurt, but Rachel’s eyes shook finely as if panicked by the suddenness of the situation.

 

“Geez, I’ll check what’s going on first, so wait a minute.”

 

As Mike finished talking and checked out the window, the escort knight hurried over.

 

“Young Master.”

“What’s going on?”

“Young Master, it’s…”

 

The escort knight looked at the road in front of the carriage as if bewildered, and hurriedly opened his mouth.

 

“It’s His Majesty…”

 

THUD

 

The door of the carriage opened just as the knight delivered the message.

 

“Rachel!”

 

It was Ian Dakendov who opened the door.

 

“Your Highness?”

“…Your Highness?”

 

Both Mike and Rachel’s eyebrows furrowed in surprise at Ian’s sudden appearance.

 

Ian’s face was white, and he even looked as if he were insane. Rachel’s heart was beating faster at the look in his eyes and the way his hands were shaking uneasily.

 

“I made it. Thank God. Thank God.”

“What does that mean, Your Majesty?”

 

Rachel’s heart throbbed with anxiety as Ian’s face became contemplative.

 

“Rachel, it’s not safe here. You, you need to go to the capital.”

“Your Majesty? What do you mean…”

 

Ian dragged Rachel in an uncharacteristic flurry. His sudden appearance caused Rachel to twist her hand as if she didn’t want to follow Ian, who was dragging her.

 

His actions were so sudden that Rachel had no idea what he meant by it.

 

“Your Majesty! Where are you taking Rachel?”

 

Mike grabbed Ian’s arm as if he felt the same way as Rachel.

 

Ian finally let go of Rachel’s hand as if he was shocked.

 

“Diana Avery. She’s going to raid this carriage.”

 

Ian finally realized that he’d pushed Rachel too far, and explained the current situation.

 

“So, Rachel, you…”

“Your Majesty? But how can Diana Avery attack the carriage?”

 

Mike, who was looking at Ian with a frown, hurriedly cut off his words.

 

In fact, there were more than one or two things he wanted to ask.

 

How the heck was Ian here when he should be in the Imperial palace.

 

How did he find out the fact that Diana Avery was going to attack the carriage? If Ian knew that, why didn’t he take care of it in advance.

 

“Sigh, I saved a mercenary. But there’s more of them.”

“There’s mercenaries… How many are there?”

 

Mike was confused by this sudden situation. However, he had no choice but to accept his words in such a chaotic situation.

 

“No matter how many there are, there’s no way they could win against the Oates and Imperial knights, right?”

“Sigh, Mike Oates. We don’t have much time now.”

 

Ian shook his head slightly, and turned his head away from Mike.

 

“Rachel, you need to go back to the capital with the Prophet. It’s safer that way.”

“Ah…”

 

Rachel let out a small sigh, as if she finally knew how things were happening when Ian mentioned the Prophet.

 

That’s how Ian was able to suddenly appear here. It was also understandable why he was more flustered than she’d ever seen him before.

 

***