Nightmare Came to The Place I Escaped - Chapter 54

“Are you sure you’re okay with it?”

“How could I not like it when you’ve given me something so priceless?”

 

Duke Oates shook his head softly.

 

The Duke, who was looking carefully at the handkerchief, smiled quietly and put it in his pocket.

 

“I don’t think I can even use it because it would be such a waste.”

“What a relief, I was afraid you might not like it.”

 

Only then did Rachel sigh quietly as if she were relieved.

 

“I didn’t know you were so dexterous. It’s too bad that there’s still so much I don’t know about you.”

 

The Duke looked down at Rachel for a moment, then gave a small nod.

 

“Well, I think I should go now.”

 

Duke Oates said his farewell, and turned towards the carriage.

 

“Ah, Father.”

 

The Duke didn’t walk more than a few steps when he stopped in place after Rachel called out to him.

 

“Travel safely.”

 

Rachel spoke in a quieter voice than usual, perhaps because she was feeling shy or awkward.

 

Father.

 

The Duke of Oates and the Young Master were really strange people. Ian’s order would have put her in their family register, but they treated her like she was real family.

 

Many gifts and short letters that he’d prepared for her. Thinking of his gentle hands and warm eyes from different moments, it felt like she’d really become a part of their family.

 

Often when Mike would make a silly joke, it was nice to have time to mingle and laugh among them. She also liked the interest they showed when they asked her if she was ok ahead of time, or worried if she was really alright.

 

She liked the kindness that reassured her not to worry about anything because they would be there for her, even though she was used to enduring it alone.

 

It was strange that they could be so dependable, even though she’d only met them recently. She’d braced herself already to not get her hopes up in vain so that she wouldn’t get hurt, but she couldn’t hold back.

 

She was afraid of being rejected. Nevertheless, all the actions they had shown so far seemed sincere, as the Duke waited patiently until the end.

 

Maybe it was all a misunderstanding.

 

She didn’t want to disappoint Duke Oates now. When the Duke returned to the Oates estate today, she wasn’t sure when she would see him again. He said he would wait patiently, so she wanted to keep her promise.

 

It wasn’t as difficult as she thought it would be, she just wanted to do something for those who’d given to her, even if it was something so small to her. If she could truly be family just by calling him Father, she would gladly do so.

 

“Rachel, can I give you a hug?”

 

Nod

 

Rachel nodded softly at the Duke’s question. The Duke of Oates smiled awkwardly, and held Rachel in his arms.

 

She’d glanced at the Duke’s lips before he’d embraced her in his arms, and she saw an awkward smile on his lips. It was a kind of sad smile.

 

“Thank you. Thank you very much.”

 

He said, as he stroked Rachel’s hair lightly.

 

“Rachel, we’re really a family now.”

 

The Duke’s arms were large and firm. Rachel closed her eyes at the faint scent of cologne from him.

 

Oddly, for a moment, she thought she wanted to share her concerns about Ian with the Duke.

 

“If you’re having a hard time, don’t worry about it alone, and make sure to tell me. Whatever it is, I won’t leave you alone.”

 

Rachel nodded quietly at the Duke’s reminder.

 

“I can’t believe I got such a lovely daughter. I think I’m very lucky.”

“Ugh.”

 

The Duke tightened his arm around Rachel.

 

As Rachel groaned slightly at the pressure, he quickly released her, but Rachel was somehow saddened as his arms fell away.

 

“I really think I have to go now. I’ll send a message as soon as I get there.”
“Yes, get home safely.”

 

Rachel nodded. However, she opened her mouth again under the persistent gaze of the Duke, who seemed to want something.

 

“Father.”

“Okay.”

 

Perhaps what she said was right, the Duke nodded quietly and got into the carriage.

 

The departure was a little later than planned, so the coach driver hurried the horses along. The carriage quickly moved away, and turned down the street.

 

“Rachel.”

 

Mike called Rachel, who stood for a long time even after the carriage disappeared.

 

“Let’s go in.”
“Yes.”

“More than that, I’m a little disappointed.”

“What? Why?”

“I met you before Father.”

 

Mike glanced at Rachel as usual.

 

“Why don’t you call me Brother?”

“Oh…”

“I even got to know you before Father. Isn’t that’s why I came to the capital to see you first, leaving my Father to come after me, right?”

“…Yes.”

“So, will you call me that?”

 

Mike looked at Rachel with great expectation and hope.

 

“Come on…”

“If it’s too much for you to call me Brother, you can call me Mike. Just don’t call me Young Master.”

“Big brother.”

 

Rachel hastily finished her sentence. Otherwise, she thought she’d have to call him Mike.

 

“Yes, that’s good.”

 

Only then did Mike smile in satisfaction.

 

***

 

Droop 

 

Rachel dozed off tiredly in her seat. Her head fell down little by little.

 

“Rachel.”

 

Mike, who saw Rachel like that, put down his tableware and called out to her.

 

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

 

Rachel rubbed her eyes as if to wake herself up. However, despite such efforts, the deep shade under her eyes showed no signs of disappearing.

 

“You mustn’t have slept because you were preparing our Father’s gift. Would you like to go up and rest since you’re tired? I’ll have a meal prepared separately for when you wake up.”
“I’m fine.”
“It’s alright.”

 

Mike shook his head softly.

 

If she was dozing off while she was chewing meat, she must be very tired.

 

“Go upstairs, and get some rest.”

“Then I’ll go up first.”

 

At Mike’s determination, Rachel finally got up from her seat.

 

Click

 

After Rachel closed the dining room door, she let out a deep sigh.

 

She hadn’t slept properly in a week. She kept wondering what Ian was thinking. Did he really remember the past? Or were his words just said in passing?

 

If he has memories of the past like her, why was he deceiving her? She mused and thought about it for a week, but she couldn’t be sure about anything.

 

He was going to visit her tomorrow because he said they should go see the sea together.

 

“Ha…”

 

Rachel had finally come to a decision after much consideration. She wasn’t sure about anything yet, so she would just shut up.

 

She decided to treat him the way she had always treated him.

 

Whether he remembered the past or not, she decided to treat him as she had always done. She thought it would be best to pretend that she didn’t know until everything was clear.

 

She had a clear conclusion about how to deal with Ian and what to do in the future, but she didn’t feel at ease.

 

Back in her room, Rachel laid her weary body on the bed.

 

She couldn’t open her eyes because they were heavy, but somehow she kept waking up.

 

After she tossed and turned for about three hours, Rachel asked the maid to bring her a sleeping pill. After taking about three pills, Rachel finally fell asleep.

 

***

 

“Rachel.”

 

The next morning.

 

Ian visited Rachel early in the morning.

 

“Have you been well?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. How have you been?”
“I missed you.”

 

Ian said this, and smiled softly.

 

Beautifully folded eyes and elongated lips.

 

His smile had always made Rachel feel strange, especially so today.

 

“Have you eaten?”
“I have. What about you, Your Majesty?”
“Me too. Shall we go then?”

 

Rachel somehow felt that his words were false.

 

Because whenever he came to this mansion, he always came before meals.

 

But Rachel just nodded.

 

“Your Majesty, are you leaving now?”

“Yes, we must leave now.”

“Have a safe journey.”

 

Mike greeted Ian quietly, and looked over at Rachel.

 

“Rachel, have a safe trip. Don’t get separated from His Majesty, okay?”

“Yes, Brother. I’m off.”

 

Mike smiled softly, and patted Rachel on the head.

 

“Brother?”

 

Ian tilted his head.

 

“You seem to have gotten to know each other pretty well.”

“That’s right. We are family.”

“Yes, we’re family.”

 

Ian looked at Rachel and Mike, shook his head quietly, and reached for Rachel.

 

“Let’s go. We’d better hurry up and start because we have a long way to go.”

 

Rachel looked down at Ian’s hand that was outstretched toward her, and carefully grasped his hand.

 

Ian gave a small, faint smile, as if he were happy that Rachel was holding his hand.

 

Rachel glanced at Ian, then quickly turned her eyes away.

 

‘Was it just me misunderstanding?’

 

Rachel agonized over his smile, which seemed to have no malice at all.

 

Maybe she was the only one who was worrying about something that seemed to have passed by without any meaning.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

Ian asked Rachel as he glanced at her, with her slightly lowered head.

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

Rachel hastily shook her head.

 

He was kinder to her than she had ever seen him be to her before. Therefore, she had no reason to fear or worry.

 

He couldn’t have remembered the past.

 

***

 

Rattle Rattle

 

In the rocking carriage.

 

Rachel fixed her gaze out of the carriage window until they left through the capital gates.

 

The sea, she wanted to look out the window until she got there, but she couldn’t help but look back at him as he secretly looked at her.

 

“Your Majesty, is there something you wanted to say?”
“Are you perhaps tired? Your eyes look a little bruised…”
“No, I’m fine.”

 

Rachel shook her head softly.

 

“Are you still having trouble sleeping lately?”
“No.”

“I heard you took some sleeping pills.”

“What?”

 

Instantly, Rachel’s eyes turned cold.

 

“How did Your Majesty know? Did you hear that from the maid?”
“Oh, umm.”

 

Ian hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

 

“Are you mad?”
“No.”

“Then why won’t you look at me?”

 

Ian slightly lowered his head as if he wanted to make eye contact with Rachel.

 

He seemed to be looking at her, and Rachel suddenly wondered how far he would listen to her.

 

“Is Your Majesty keeping an eye on me?”

“What?”

“I wondered if you have the servants of the mansion watching me.”

“No, it’s not like that.”

 

Ian shook his head firmly.

 

“Because we can’t see each other every day, I just thought it’d be nice to know. Do you not like it?”

“It makes me a little uncomfortable when I think my actions are being reported to you without me knowing.”

“Sorry. I only care about knowing how you are doing. I really didn’t mean to spy on you. If you don’t like it, then I’ll stop.”

 

She nodded without saying anything.