Nightmare Came to The Place I Escaped - Chapter 62

“Why the heck were you standing there? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, but let’s stay like this for a second.”

 

Ian nodded, and leaned his head on Rachel’s shoulder.

 

“Why, what’s wrong with you…”

 

Rachel turned her head slightly, and his neck caught her eye. For some reason, his neck was visibly drenched with sweat.

 

“Your Majesty? Wait a minute…”

“No, let’s stay like this for a while.”

“Why are you sweating so much? What happened to you?”

“No, I’m okay.”

 

Rachel moved as if she wanted to escape Ian’s arms, but Ian didn’t budge.

 

He was sweating strangely, but he was saying he was okay. She just wanted to make sure that he was okay, but Ian stubbornly refused to move, as if he didn’t like it for a second.

 

“You’re okay, right?”

 

Rachel sighed in frustration, and gently patted his back.

 

“…I’m all right.”

 

Ian answered with a small nod as if he liked Rachel’s touch.

 

“I was surprised when I heard a strange sound. You said it was just the two of us, but I thought someone else had snuck in.”

“Sorry.”

“Let me go now.”

 

Rachel moved again as the strength of his hug decreased a little.

 

This time Ian let Rachel go without saying much.

 

The sweat on his face seemed to have disappeared, but he still looked strange to Rachel.

 

“Why were you sweating so much?”

 

Rachel frowned at Ian, and looked up at him.

 

“Wait a minute.”

 

Then she put the back of her hand on his cheek. Ian, who was blinking his eyes as she checked if he had fever, looked down at her quietly.

 

“You were surprised.”

 

At Ian’s words, Rachel looked up at him as if she didn’t know what he was talking about.

 

“I think you have a bit of a fever. Did you catch a cold?”

“…I guess so.”

 

Ian nodded slowly, Rachel silently wiped the nape of his neck with her sleeve.

 

“You said so confidently that you won’t catch a cold. What is this?”

“I know. It’s good though.”

“…What?”

“Are you concerned?”

 

As he said this, Ian leaned his head slightly into her hand. Rachel quickly removed her hand from his neck.

 

“Let’s go up first.”

 

Ian followed Rachel up the stairs and returned to his room, then he laid down on the bed as Rachel told him to.

 

“Your eyes are a little red, they must be bloodshot.”

“I’ll be fine with a little rest.”

 

Ian reached out to Rachel, as he was trying to tell her not to worry. However, since he was lying down, Ian’s hand couldn’t reach the place he wanted.

 

Rachel looked down at his outstretched hand, then knelt by the bedside and laid her face on his hand.

 

Ian closed his eyes, and smiled broadly.

 

When Ian smiled broadly, his left eye closed a little more. Rachel quietly looked at him with the raised corners of her lips at the pleasant sound of his laughter.

 

She couldn’t figure out what was so good about a person who was sweating profusely and was in pain.

 

“Should I call a doctor?”

“No, things would get complicated for no reason.”

“Why were you in the drawing room?”

“Umm, are you going to prepare breakfast?”

 

He lengthened the end of his speech a little, then he looked into Rachel’s eyes a little.

 

“Are you that sick?”

“Nope, I’m not really that sick. Actually, I haven’t been that sick before.”

“….”

“Really.”

 

Rachel put her hand on his forehead again.

 

His fever didn’t feel too high, but Rachel sighed quietly at his still damp hair.

 

“How can I help you?”

“I’m really fine…”

“Your Majesty.”

 

Ian nodded his head slightly as if he understood Rachel’s determined call.

 

“Then stay with me.”

“Okay.”

“Do you want me to get you a chair?”

“No, I’ll get it.”

 

Rachel hurriedly said this to Ian, as if he would get up from the bed at any moment.

 

Rachel hurriedly got up from her seat, and gently pressed on Ian’s shoulder. She then brought a chair to the bedside, and sat down.

 

“Rachel, why did you wake up so early?”

“I was going to prepare the meal this time.”

“Ah…”

 

Ian frowned slightly.

 

She didn’t have to. Preparing a meal was what he wanted to do. He didn’t want Rachel to feel pressured.

 

Everything seemed to be a burden to Rachel.

 

“Are you sure you don’t want me to call a doctor?”

“Yeah, I think I’ll be fine if I rest a little.”

“Is there anything you want to eat?”

“Anything you make for me is fine.”

 

Rachel nodded, and arranged Ian’s blanket.

 

“Then close your eyes.”

“Ummm.”

 

Ian opened his eyes and looked up at Rachel as if he had no desire to do so. However, Rachel looked at him anxiously, which forced him to close his eyes.

 

Ian hadn’t slept properly for a single moment since the prophecy had come out about him.

 

Besides, he never took naps.

 

This was Ian’s least favorite time because if he closed his eyes and didn’t do anything, there were more unnecessary worries. But he had to close his eyes for Rachel, who was worried about him.

 

Like that, he closed his eyes for a while, but it was just boring. Ian stretched out his left hand to Rachel with his eyes closed.

 

Soon afterwards, her small, tender hand was in his hand. The corners of Ian’s mouth went up a little in satisfaction.

 

Didn’t she touch his face just now?

 

It would have normally been burdensome, but there was no hesitation this time.

 

It was all because he looked sick.

 

Yeah, Rachel was too nice.

 

She couldn’t be cruel to the sick.

 

“….”

 

Ian’s lips were becoming increasingly stiff.

 

Whatever the reason, Rachel’s interest in him felt good.

 

It was nice that she took the lead and held his hand first, and it was nice that they could hold hands as if it was natural just because he asked. It was also nice to have her interested eyes on him.

 

To be honest, he was greedy. It wouldn’t hurt to pretend to be sick and get sympathy from her.

 

To have her by his side like that. Then he knew Rachel would stay with him forever.

 

Then he wouldn’t have to lose Rachel.

 

Yes, Rachel was too nice.

 

Ian held Rachel’s hand a little tighter. He was still greedy, but he didn’t want to take advantage of Rachel’s goodwill.

 

As the prophet said, if he told Rachel everything, he would get sympathy. She would have to forgive him, and marry him. Then he could be with Rachel for the rest of his life and not die.

 

However, Ian was well aware that it was a decision he had to bear all the wounds on his own.

 

Forgiveness for the unforgivable, that would just hurt Rachel again.

 

Ian didn’t want Rachel to end up being hurt and alone again.

 

So, his greed would be up today.

 

***

 

Rachel looked down at Ian, who was fast asleep.

 

The breathing sound was constant and the fever seemed to have gone down, but somehow she wasn’t relieved. Why did he get so sick? Why was he sweating so hard?

 

“Was it cold?”

 

Ian quickly fell asleep, perhaps because he wasn’t feeling well.

 

Rachel wanted to get up from her seat, but she couldn’t do it while he was holding her hand so tightly. So, she sat still and stroked his hand.

 

Rachel was holding onto Ian’s hand, and she felt badly about the idea of leaving him alone for some reason.

 

He didn’t ask her to stay with him.

 

Rachel peered at Ian’s sleeping face without hesitation.

 

His closed eyes and a high nose, a white face and red lips. It seemed to be the first time that she’d seen him sleep, so she looked at him for a long time.

 

Ian’s chest rose and fell constantly.

 

For some reason, the more she spent with him, the less she understood him.

 

Rachel stared at Ian’s sleeping face as if she was searching for something. Soon enough, she looked away and carefully pulled her hand out of his.

 

Rachel looked at Ian one last time, and left the room cautiously.

 

She was thinking that she should make something for Ian to eat when he woke up.

 

Click

 

Rachel closed the door carefully.

 

“You were worried that I might catch a cold.”

 

He actually caught a cold.

 

Was it cold yesterday? He even took off his jacket.

 

Rachel was about to leave the mansion, but before she left, she wrote a short note and put it where she was sitting.

 

Even though she left a note, Rachel hurried her steps in case Ian was worried about her when he woke up.

 

***

 

Ian woke up again around 1pm.

 

As soon as he got up, he looked around the room and realized that Rachel wasn’t there, so he got out of the bed. As soon as he was about to leave the room, he saw the paper lying on the chair Rachel had been sitting on.

 

Ian unfolded the paper, and checked the contents. He put the paper in his pocket, and left the room.

 

Rachel was going grocery shopping.

 

When did she leave?

 

Ian walked down the hall to the first floor, and checked his watch.

 

He didn’t know when Rachel had left. So he knew that waiting in the mansion was the most comfortable choice, but for some reason, he wanted to see her right away and wanted to find her.

 

He didn’t even know where she was by now.

 

As Ian was about to leave through the front door, he smelled the light scent of cinnamon and wine that drifted through the hallway.

 

Ian’s mouth smiled at the distinctive smell of wine.

 

He was sure he’d found Rachel, so he hurried to the kitchen.

 

“Rachel.”

 

Ian opened the kitchen door, and happily called out to Rachel.

 

“Are you awake already?”

 

Because of that, Rachel was a little startled, and her shoulders trembled slightly. The moment she confirmed that it was Ian who surprised her, Rachel’s eyes folded nicely as if she was relieved.

 

***