Nightmare Came to The Place I Escaped - Chapter 65

“Your Majesty!”

 

Harmond, who had been waiting for Ian to come out of the North Tower, quickly followed Ian.

 

Ian, however, did not slow down his pace despite Harmond’s call.

 

He just crossed the middle ground, and went back to his palace.

 

“What did he say?”

“….”

“The Prophet.”

 

Harmond whispered softly.

 

As if he was aware of their surroundings.

 

Harmond’s question finally slowed Ian’s steps a little. However, Ian only furrowed his brow and gave Harmond a warning look instead of answering him.

 

“Harmond.”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

 

Then Harmond lowered his curious eyes, and slightly lowered his head.

 

“How far are you going to follow me?”

“….”

“Stop it.”
“Of course, then rest peacefully, Your Majesty.”

 

Ian stood still until Harmond was out of sight.

 

“Sigh.”

 

Then he sighed quietly, and soon moved again.

 

‘Death.’

 

Maybe he already knew it himself.

 

The pain was Increasingly intense, and the time had prolonged as well.

 

Ian knew he didn’t have much time left. He just didn’t want to admit it.

 

He’d finally met Rachel, and he didn’t want to accept that he didn’t have the time.

 

“….”

 

Rachel still drew a small line in the sand between them.

 

But if he admitted to all of the bad things he’d done, she might really leave.

 

Of course, even if Rachel could forgive him, if it came from pity…

 

In the end, that choice would hurt Rachel.

 

“Ha…”

 

Ian couldn’t be sure himself.

 

What did he want to do?

 

What did he want from Rachel?

 

If he was greedy, he wanted to be forgiven by Rachel. He wanted her to look at him again, and love him again.

 

But if it caused a hard time for Rachel.

 

This situation wasn’t so bad if they could just be next to each other.

 

He was able to give Rachel some good things, and he was able to spend time with her. Now that she was by his side.

 

It was good, even if it couldn’t last forever.

 

The time they could spend together was shorter than his greed.

 

He didn’t want to make Rachel suffer by begging for his life, and he didn’t want to be hated by Rachel.

 

He didn’t want to risk losing her again.

 

In fact, if he did this well, he thought that Rachel’s pain would be a little lighter.

 

He thought her wounds would heal a little bit.

 

So, even if Rachel eventually found out, she wouldn’t leave him.

 

Ian thought that she’ll accept him.

 

He thought that she’d stay by his side like they were now.

 

She’ll forgive him.

 

He was looking forward to it, but he didn’t have enough time now.

 

Maybe Rachel would leave him again if she found out that he knew the past. And if she knew he didn’t have much time left, if Rachel knew that she could save him, she would forgive him.

 

Ian wasn’t sure what to do.

 

He didn’t want to lose Rachel, or put all the burden on her.

 

If he couldn’t be forgiven anyway, he just wanted to stay with her a little longer. And if he died, Rachel wouldn’t want to remember anything about him anyway.

 

***

 

Knock Knock

 

“Rachel, are you busy?”

“Oh… no.”

 

Rachel shook her head lightly at Mike’s question.

 

“I’ve got a lot of letters for you. How about replying to some? I’ll bring them to you.”

 

Mike asked with a light smile, and Rachel nodded quietly.

 

After a short wait, Mike returned with a box. It was a large box that was filled with letters.

 

“This is all…”

“A lot, right?”

 

Rachel wrinkled her brow softly in surprise.

 

Mike smiled softly at Rachel.

 

“But I sorted them out for you.”

“Did you do it yourself?”

“I haven’t had anything to do lately.”

 

Rachel moved her chair away so she could put the box down, and Mike set it down next to her.

 

“Do you want to see the invitations that would be good for you to participate in?”

 

Rachel’s expression hardened a little as she took a bunch of letters from Mike, and looked through them.

 

Rachel’s hand stopped as she turned over one of the letters, and Mike glanced over her shoulder.

 

“Lady Avery sent you an invitation too.”

“….”

“There’s nothing good about getting involved with that lady, but I think you should at least reply.”

 

Rachel nodded slowly at Mike’s words.

 

Her eyes were still on Diana’s letter, but Rachel forced her way through it.

 

“Some of the letters are simply to greet you. If you don’t want to answer them yourself, you can ask a maid to write a reply for you.”

 

Rachel shook her head slightly.

 

At Rachel’s refusal, Mike put the letters back into the box.

 

Then he took out about five letters.

 

“This is a party worth joining in with me. Let’s go together if you’re not too busy. It’s time for you to show your face to the other young lords and young ladies.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“It won’t be difficult, I will always be with you.”

“Thank you.”

 

Mike dropped the letter on her desk with a small nod.

 

Then he tapped the other letters he’d placed in Rachel’s hands.

 

“These are tea parties where you have to participate alone. Even if I want to go with you, I can’t. It might feel a little strange, but try to participate in at least three of these. I’m sure it will help you.”

“Yes, I will.”

 

Rachel nodded at Mike’s words.

 

A tea party for young ladies.

 

As Mike said, it would be strange to her. It would be uncomfortable.

 

But it wouldn’t be difficult.

 

She’d been with Diana a few times before.

 

Even from a distance, Rachel knew well what the young ladies were talking about at the tea parties, and how the tea parties went.

 

She’ll just have to stay still, just like she did back then.

 

“….”

 

If they talked to her, she would answer.

 

“I’ll pick you up at the end of the tea party.”

 

Mike said, as he patted Rachel on the head.

 

“Everyone will be polite to you, so don’t worry too much, as usual. Just do what you want, and tell me about it later.”

 

Mike smiled affectionately, and reassured Rachel.

 

“Still, if it’s too hard or uncomfortable, don’t put up with it and just leave. If you’re nervous or anxious, I’ll be waiting around nearby.”

 

However, Mike himself seemed more nervous than Rachel.

 

Rachel burst into a small laugh at Mike, who was looking at her anxiously as if she were a child.

 

She was grateful for him taking care of her, even though he must be busy. She laughed when the thought of the Young Lord of Oates following her around until the end of the tea party.

 

“You’re going to be bored, will you be okay?”

 

It would be a boring and tedious wait.

 

“I haven’t read much lately. I’ll read something while I wait.”

 

But Mike shrugged his shoulders as if it wasn’t a problem.

 

As if it was a matter of course.

 

“….”

 

Rachel knew it was something she should refuse.

 

She wasn’t a child.

 

Just because he was waiting outside didn’t change the fact that she was going to the tea party alone. Maybe it was useless.

 

Nevertheless, Rachel was relieved at the thought of Mike waiting nearby for her.

 

Was it because of the fact that he was on her side?

 

“Then please do that.”

 

Actually, she wasn’t that nervous.

 

She could just do it, and endure it.

 

Even so, Rachel didn’t reject Mike’s favor.

 

Favor.

 

The favor that would’ve been inconvenient originally, his kind consideration was no longer so inconvenient.

 

She was just grateful.

 

She didn’t want to turn down his offer of being on her side.

 

She thought he’d be disappointed if she said no. It would be as if she was drawing a line between him and her.

 

“I would like it if you wait.”

 

If she accepted Mike’s offer, it seemed as if the relationship between them would be defined that way.

 

It seemed that the willingness to take care of each other would become a natural thing.

 

“Okay.”

 

Even though it was obvious that it would be annoying, Mike smiled cheerfully, as if he was in a good mood.

 

***

 

“Your Majesty, this is the proposal for the Hunting Competition.”

 

Ian received the document from Harmond, and hurriedly scanned the document.

 

“Well…”

 

Ian was looking through the document, and rubbed his chin as if he didn’t like something.

 

“For this hunting competition, we will remove the spectator seats.”

“…What?”
“It would be better to start the competition from the third annex.”

“Your Majesty, the reason. What is the reason for removing the spectator seats?”

“Even if you put out the spectator seats, there are no hunting grounds in sight. Instead of setting up the tent in vain, we’re going to do it in the annex.”

 

Harmond nodded as he contemplated Ian’s sudden suggestion for a moment.

 

As Ian said, there wouldn’t be much difference.

 

His suggestion was just a little strange.

 

He didn’t think he was clearing out the annex for the hard working hunters.

 

“Then I’ll correct it.”

 

But Harmond didn’t bother to ask Ian.

 

Because he was still busy.

 

“Your Majesty, I don’t see your name on the list of participants for the Hunting competition. Should I put it on?”

“The list is complete.”

 

Harmond, who wasn’t interested in Ian’s words before, froze in place.

 

“What? Are you saying you don’t want to participate?”

 

A Hunting competition.

 

It was customary for unmarried men to participate in hunting competitions.

 

It was a great opportunity to catch the interest of young ladies through this competition. It was also a way for a young lord to honor the young lady who he loved, if he managed to win the competition.

 

Harmond wasn’t talented in the martial arts, so he wasn’t participating.

 

If Ian participated, the winner was already decided. So, he couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t participate.

 

***