Nightmare Came to The Place I Escaped - Chapter 63

“What are you doing?”

 

There was a silly smile spreading across Ian’s face. It was because he was happy to see Rachel smiling at him.

 

“I was making a baesuk. I thought it would help a little bit with your cold.”

 

Ian’s eyes followed Rachel’s fingertips to the ladle for a moment, but they soon returned to her. Rachel’s words made Ian’s mouth smile even stronger.

 

It was because he liked the fact that she’d made it for him, but it was because she looked too good in a white apron with her hair tied low.

 

“Are you feeling better?”

 

Rachel walked up to Ian without putting down the ladle she was holding in her right hand. She muttered to herself, and reached for Ian’s cheek.

 

Ian bent down a little so Rachel could touch his face.

 

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes.”

 

Ian nodded slightly. As she looked up at him, Rachel’s eyes were round to the fullest, and she held the ladle tightly in her right hand.

 

He foolishly thought about Rachel’s appearance.

 

If only they were from this town. If they were born to similar families, loved each other, and got married.

 

However, Ian knew better than anyone how useless and unnecessary this assumption was, so he hurriedly threw out that idea.

 

Rachel, who had been standing close to him, took another step back.

 

He didn’t like it, he wanted to wrap his arms around her waist, but Ian could only endure it this time.

 

“Would you like to try some of the baesuk?”

 

When Ian nodded, Rachel poured a cup, and placed it on a tray.

 

“Will you drink it in the drawing room?”

“Here, give it to me.”

“I can do it.”

 

Ian reached to take the tray from Rachel, but she just shook her head firmly.

 

“You’re sick…”

“This is fine.”

 

Ian laughed awkwardly at Rachel’s words, and moved toward the drawing room.

 

“If you’re eating, I’ll make you a meal right away.”

“Huh? Aren’t you going to stay next to me? You want me to be alone?”

“You haven’t had a meal yet. I’ll be back in a minute.”

 

Ian wanted to catch Rachel, but Rachel left him alone in the drawing room before he could stop her and went to the kitchen.

 

Ian followed Rachel’s busy back with his eyes, and he finally smiled.

 

The fact that she was busy for him made his heart weep.

 

***

 

Knock Knock

 

Rachel closed her book at that faint sound.

 

Knock Knock

 

When she opened the door of the drawing room, the sound was louder and clearer.

 

At the knock on the front door, she looked up at Ian’s room upstairs, then she slowly moved to the front door.

 

‘Who was it?’

 

The sky had darkened.

 

It was quite frightening to greet an unknown guest alone in a strange village and mansion.

 

Why did Ian have to go wash up now?

 

‘Was it someone from the village?’

 

Knock Knock!

 

The knock sounded a little louder, probably because the person had been knocking on the door for quite some time.

 

Rachel was standing in front of the door when the strong knock sounded, and her shoulders shook slightly in surprise.

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

She was about to take a few steps back when the person on the other side of the door opened their mouth.

 

“It’s Harmond!”

 

Harmond.

 

Harmond Bourke.

 

Rachel was acquainted with him. She took a small, relieved breath, and opened the front door.

 

“Ah…”

 

Harmond blinked a few times in surprise when he saw Rachel, not a servant, through the open door.

 

“Good evening, Lady Oates. I am His Majesty’s aide, Harmond Bourke.”

“Yes, hello.”

 

But Harmond soon introduced himself, and smiled kindly.

 

“His Majesty has just gone to wash up. Would you like to come in and wait?”

“Can I?”

 

Harmond stepped in, and looked around the mansion.

 

“Where did all of the servants go? Why did the Young Lady open the door?”

 

There were no employees here. Rachel was somehow ashamed to tell Harmond the truth, even though it was just a matter of fact.

 

“I knocked on the door for quite a while, but there was no response. So, I thought no one was there.”

“His Majesty will be a while. Would you like to go to the drawing room? I’ll treat you to some tea.”

 

Rachel saw Harmond nod, and walked to get the tea.

 

Obviously, Ian said that they would be alone here for three days. So, why did his assistant come? Rachel was worried that something bad had happened to Ian.

 

***

 

“Oh, my Lady? Why is the Young Lady…”

 

Harmond frowned in amazement at Rachel as she walked into the drawing room with the tea, then he scrambled up from his seat, and took the tray from her.

 

“Is there no one else here?”

“Yes.”

“Oh… I see.”

 

Harmond had finally grasped the awkward situation, and accepted it with a nod. Rachel hurriedly turned her head in fear that her face had turned red.

 

“Oh, it’s my first time greeting the Young Lady like this. Let me introduce myself again.”

 

She didn’t know if he was trying to change the awkward atmosphere or if he really felt that his introduction to Rachel was lacking, but Harmond rose from his seat and bowed to Rachel once again.

 

“Rachel, of the Oates family. It’s nice to meet you, I’m Sir Harmond.”

“I really wanted to greet you at the last banquet, but unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to.”

 

Harmond sighed a little as he remembered the day when Ian had taken him to work the overnight. Rachel smiled softly at Harmond’s words, and took the book she’d left upside on the table.

 

“If you’re in a hurry, should I call His Majesty down? I think he’ll be down soon.”
“Umm, no. I will wait a little bit.”

 

Rachel lowered her eyes as if it was awkward to be alone with Harmond.

 

She learned from Countess Achille that it was the host’s duty to ensure that the conversation doesn’t stop when a guest visits. Harmond appeared to be a guest now, but she had no idea what to ask him, or how to lead the conversation.

 

She wanted to get out of here, but she’d learned that it wasn’t polite to leave a guest alone, so Rachel sat awkwardly there while she clasped her hands.

 

“The Lady.”

 

Harmond carefully opened his mouth as Rachel busily tried to recall a subject of conversation.

 

“Don’t you want to know why I’m here?”

“What? I wonder why you came so far.”

“Why don’t you ask?”

 

Harmond tilted his head slightly.

 

Rachel, who was facing the door, seemed unusual and embarrassed by his sudden visit. She didn’t even ask why he’d come here.

 

Even after she’d brought tea, and he’d introduced himself twice.

 

“It’s His Majesty’s business.”

“What?”

“I’m curious, but it’s His Majesty’s business. You don’t have to explain it to me.”

“Ah…”

 

Harmond sighed quietly at Rachel’s words. He was just staring at Rachel, and was about to say something.

 

Click

 

The door to the drawing room burst open, and Ian came in.

 

“Harmond.”

 

Ian frowned when he found Harmond sitting in the drawing room, as if it was an unexpected visit. From the look in Ian’s eyes, he seemed to be upset with Harmond.

 

“What’s going on here?”
“It’s…”

 

Harmond glanced at Rachel, as if it was difficult to say why he was there.

 

“With apologies to the Lady Oates, but could the Lady…”

“What?”

 

Ian frowned slightly at Harmond, who was paying attention to Rachel.

 

“Your Majesty, I shall be going now.”

 

Rachel noticed what Harmond wanted before Ian opened his mouth, so she moved away. She closed the door of the drawing room, and left Ian, who thanked her with a light sigh.

 

Click

 

Ian slumped into the chair as the door closed. It seemed that he didn’t like Harmond’s visit.

 

“Now tell me. Why are you here?”

“Well…”

 

However, even at Ian’s urging, Harmond seemed to still find it difficult to speak. Ian was looking at Harmond like that, tilted his head slightly, and Harmond finally opened his mouth.

 

“I saw the Prophet.”

 

Harmond whispered with his voice as low as he could. They were the only ones in the drawing room, but they were careful with their whispered words, as if they were worried that someone else would hear them.

 

“The Prophet?”

 

Harmond nodded grimly.

 

Nevertheless, it was only the Emperors who faced the Prophets of the Empire.

 

“I know it’s unbelievable that I saw the Prophet that only the Emperors have seen, but…”

 

He still couldn’t believe he’d seen the Prophet. Harmond stared at Ian, still puzzled. He was thinking he’d like to get some assurances from Ian.

 

“Did he come to you?”

“Yes.”

 

When Harmond said that he had seen the Prophet, Ian only tilted his head as if he was a little surprised, as he slowly blinked his eyes.

 

At Ian’s seemingly insignificant response, Harmond awkwardly nodded and hid some of his excitement.

 

“He had something urgent to say to His Majesty, so he wanted me to bring you to him.”

 

Then he explained why he’d come down there.

 

“Ha? He told you to come down because he had something to say?”

 

Ian smirked a little, as if he didn’t like Harmond’s words.

 

“You said he had something of great importance.”

“….”

“I think you should go now. I don’t think it’s an ordinary prophecy, since he’s shown me his face and urged me.”

 

Harmond urged him by saying more to Ian, who seemed to be contemplating whether to return to the capital.

 

At Harmond’s words, Ian averted his gaze for a moment.

 

The Prophet, it could purely be an intentional prank for him to call Ian back at this moment.

 

When he’d traveled down to this distant place, the intention of calling him back, that was something that he would clearly find funny.

 

Even though the intention was clear that he was playing with him, Ian, who was on the verge of my death, had no choice but to think about it. If he had a little more time, he would’ve wanted to spend more time with Rachel. He would have to hear it, even if it was just a lame prank from the Prophet.

 

Ian soon rose from his seat and spoke to Harmond, who was waiting for his response.

 

“Wait a minute. I will give you an answer soon.”

 

***