Nightmare Came to The Place I Escaped - Chapter 46

“Your Majesty.”

 

Knock Knock

 

“The lady has returned.”

 

The maid tried to open the door, but she was only able to half open it before it was blocked.  This happened because Ian, who was standing behind the door, had grabbed the handle at the same time.

 

The maid noticed Ian, and hurriedly removed her hand from the door.

 

“Your Majesty, why are you standing there?”

“Yes, I thought you’d returned. I heard you saw a play with the Duke. Did you have fun?”

 

Ian slowly opened the door as if it didn’t matter. He looked down at Rachel, and smiled softly.

 

“…Yes.”

 

Rachel hesitated to reply to his usual warm smile.

 

“Did you wait for a long time?”
“No.”

 

Ian shook his head, and his hair moved gently. It was a light and itchy movement like the sugar powdered on the cake that she’d eaten a while ago.

 

“What did you do with the Duke?”

“We watched a magic performance together.”

 

Ian’s lips were a little stiff for a moment.

 

“And…”

 

Rachel blinked as if she was trying to change the subject in a hurry.

 

“We went to a bakery. It was the place that His Majesty had bought a cake from the other day.”

“What did you eat this time?”

“Pandoro and lemonade.”

“Pandoro?”

“It had cream cheese in it. There were two strawberries on top, and there was also powdered sugar.”

 

Rachel was chattering, but then she suddenly shut her mouth.

 

It was because when she met Ian’s eyes, she belatedly realized that he was staring at her. She thought she’d said too much, and her face turned red for a moment.

 

“It must’ve been fun.”
“Your Majesty.”

 

Rachel hurriedly changed the subject.

 

She walked to the sofa in the drawing room, and sat down.

 

She thought Ian would sit across from her, but he flopped down right next to Rachel.

 

“Your Majesty, were you busy today as well?”
“Well, that’s me every day.”

 

Rachel nodded slowly at the remark.

 

She thought he would come in the morning, but he must’ve been busy since he only came in the evening.

 

“Your eyes are a little red, Your Majesty.”

 

His purple eyes had a slightly darker red color than usual.

 

“Are you okay? Your eyes look a little bloodshot. Did you not sleep?”

“I’m a little tired.”

“Oh…”

 

Rachel frowned apologetically at Ian’s words.

 

“You came all the way here because of me.”

“Well, I think I’ll be fine if I stay like this for a while.”

 

Ian leaned his head on her shoulder.

 

His soft hair fell lightly on Rachel’s shoulder.

 

“Your Majesty?”

“Just for a moment.”

 

His whisper caused Rachel’s back to stiffen.

 

Rachel looked around helplessly, as if his whispered hot breath made her nervous.

 

“I think I’ll be fine soon if I stay like this for a while. Are you uncomfortable?”

 

Ian asked, and moved his head lightly on Rachel’s shoulder.

 

She thought he wanted to find a more comfortable position.

 

He moved his head like a cub digging into its mother’s arms. The movement messed up his hair, and rubbed it against Rachel’s shoulders and neck.

 

“It tickles.”

 

Rachel’s shoulders trembled slightly at the exotic feeling.

 

Soon enough, Ian pulled back off of her shoulder a little bit so that she wouldn’t feel so uncomfortable.

 

“Sorry.”

 

Ian apologized quietly.

 

However, contrary to the apology, he still had his head on Rachel’s shoulder. Somehow Ian looked a lot different than usual.

 

Although she’d been by his side for a long time, Ian’s tired appearance was unfamiliar to her.

 

Rachel saw Ian as a knight.

 

The word knight suited this man very well.

 

A brave and valiant knight.

 

He was someone who’d lived a long knightly life of battles, and war. He was dulled by it all, but that’s why he was someone who could see the bigger picture

 

Ian looked exhausted somehow today.

 

Twenty-one. Ian, a knight who has been through all sorts of hardships, was still young. Was the throne too demanding at such a young age?

 

Looking unusually tired, Rachel finally realized that he was only a year older than her.

 

When they ran away from the Imperial palace together, he was 15 years old. When he defeated the dragon, he was only 18 years old.

 

Even so, Ian had never shown this side of himself in front of Rachel or the other people around him. Rachel stopped her hand awkwardly midair, unable to do anything about her sense of regret.

 

“Oh, the Duke is coming to say hello a little later.”

 

Rachel hurriedly opened her mouth as if she were trying to get rid of the awkward atmosphere.

 

“They’re being considerate to you.”

 

Then Ian, who still had his eyes closed, smiled.

 

“I had a really hard time today.”

“Your Majesty?”

“So, just once.”

 

Ian turned his head toward Rachel. But the only thing that caught his eye was Rachel’s stiff white neck.

 

“Please stroke my head a little bit.”

 

The stiff neck remained motionless for a long time.

 

Then her neck moved slightly, as Rachel swallowed her saliva.

 

Then, a little more time passed, and Rachel’s small hand was gently placed on the back of Ian’s head. She patted him on the head with an awkward, stiff touch.

 

Rachel raised the arm that Ian wasn’t leaning on, and followed his request as best she could.

 

“Puff. Puhaha.”

 

At that moment, Ian’s shoulders shook slightly, but soon he couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

 

Ian’s clear laughter filled the living room.

 

“Your Majesty?”

 

Rachel leaned back in embarrassment at Ian’s sudden laughter.

 

“You’re a real fool.”

 

Ian said, as he raised his head from Rachel’s shoulder, which gently recoiled. His voice, mingled with laughter, sounded like a whisper.

 

Rachel didn’t like Ian’s voice, and her face turned red as if she thought he was making fun of her.

 

“I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”

 

Ian wrinkled his nose slightly and whined softly, then got up from his seat.

 

Although he’d laughed more easily than usual, the dark atmosphere quickly disappeared.

 

Rachel finally realized that Ian was teasing me, so she stared at him, but soon got up from her seat when he beckoned to her.

 

As they entered the dining room, Mike and the Duke, who were waiting for the two, rose from their seats.

 

“We greet His Majesty, the Emperor.”

“It’s alright, Duke. Why are you being so polite when you’re just saying hello?”

“I heard you’ve been waiting here for a long time. If you had told me you would be visiting, we wouldn’t have gone out.”

 

Ian shook his head as if he didn’t mind.

 

“Rachel had a good time with the Duke, and that’s enough. I’m fine, so don’t worry about it.”
“More than that, it’s new to see His Majesty in the dining room of our family mansion.”

 

Rachel glanced at Ian, who was sitting close to the Duke. Ian was having no problems speaking with the Duke, despite the large age gap between the two, and they talked about this and that without a break.

 

Ian looked relaxed as if he had no difficulty in dealing with the Duke.

 

Since he’d looked so tired, Rachel thought he’d been having a hard time dealing with the older aristocrats.

 

She guessed that he was just trying to make fun of her.

 

How funny it must have been to have her stroke his head without knowing it.

 

‘Like a fool.’

 

Rachel cursed herself for not being able to distinguish a prank, and pushed the food into her mouth.

 

She felt less embarrassed when she was doing something.

 

***

 

Ian, who had only talked to the Duke throughout the meal, finally put down his tableware.

 

The amount given to him was more than usual, but Ian finished the food as if it was true that he was hungry.

 

“So, you’re going down in a week?”

“Yes, I think I’ll stay in the capital for a week.”

“Hmm, alright.”

 

Ian nodded, and lightly wiped his mouth with a napkin.

 

“Your Majesty, would you like a drink?”

“No, I’ll leave it for another time.”

 

The Duke offered a drink as if it was a pity to end the conversation with him, but Ian only shook his head slightly.

 

“Why? Are you leaving already?”

“No, I just want to take a break away from the Duke.”

“What?”

“I need to talk to Rachel.”

“Well, Your Majesty did come here to see Rachel.”

 

Only then did the Duke nod as if he understood.

 

“Rachel, would you like to walk in the garden for a minute?”

 

Ian asked for Rachel’s permission as if she could do what she wanted, but Rachel would only spit out a positive answer to his query.

 

Rachel nodded lightly, and the Duke rose from his seat.

 

“Well, I’ll retire first.”

 

Rachel bowed low, and hurried out after Ian.

 

Tap Tap

 

Ian walked slowly in time for Rachel’s step.

 

“I think winter is coming soon, the wind is cold.”

 

Ian glanced at Rachel’s thin dress, and took off my jacket.

 

“I’m fine.”

“Why? You don’t like it?”

 

Ian tilted his head at Rachel as she waved her hand.

 

“You were wearing Mike’s jacket that day.”

 

It took Rachel a while before she realized he was talking about the moment on the balcony at the victory banquet.

 

“That time…”

 

At that time, the dress was so thin that it was really cold. But this time their positions were reversed.

 

If he took off his jacket, he’d probably be colder than she was.

 

“Your shirt is thinner than my dress.”

“Haha, is that so?”

 

Ian smiled briefly, and put his jacket on Rachel’s shoulders.

 

“I’m different from you.”

 

Then he shook his head softly.

 

“You must’ve forgotten, I’m a dragon slayer. I’ve survived with this body without having anything.”

 

He grinned, as he showed off his usual bravado.

 

“I’m not weak enough to catch a cold as easily as you.”

“…A cold.”

 

Rachel followed Ian blankly, and he tilted his head.

 

“Why are you still worried about me?”

“No, I’m not.”

 

Rachel shook her head quietly, and followed along behind him.

 

As she did so, she gradually slowed down as she became lost in thought. Ian kept pace with Rachel as she slowed.

 

Ian, who normally walked fast, was frustrated, but he once again set his pace to Rachel’s steps, which slowed down without a word.

 

After walking silently for a long time, Ian broke the silence and opened his mouth.

 

“The wind is nice.”

 

Rachel’s hair tickled Ian’s shirt in the cool breeze. He inhaled Rachel’s scent which came to him on the breeze.