Nightmare Came to The Place I Escaped - Chapter 66

If Ian won the Hunting competition, he could once again imprint his excellence on the nobles and give glory to his favorite woman, Lady Oates.

 

He couldn’t believe that he wouldn’t participate in such a big deal.

 

Harmond, who couldn’t hold back his wonder, tilted his head slightly.

 

“I’m not interested.”

 

However, Ian only replied indifferently as if he wasn’t interested.

 

“Your Majesty, as you already know, you must keep your seat even if you do not participate in the Hunting competition.”

“I know.”

 

Harmond blinked as if he couldn’t understand.

 

Was he refusing to participate in the competition because he was lazy?

 

No, wasn’t it more fun to hunt than to wait that long alone?

 

Your Majesty, he was going to spend time with the ones too young to participate or the old married couples?

 

Harmond knew that Ian hated useless noise the most.

 

He didn’t want to make friends. He didn’t like unnecessary attention placed on him.

 

So, he couldn’t believe he would be waiting for the winner of the Hunting competition with the elderly aristocrats and young ladies.

 

It was already clear what they would say.

 

He was sure they would be curious about his private life.

 

There would be conversation without any substance.

 

He knew that, and still didn’t want to participate in the Hunting competition.

 

It was beyond Harmond’s comprehension.

 

“…May I ask why?”

“Isn’t it boring if I participate? Because I’m going to win anyway.”

 

Ian said, as he added his signature to the document.

 

It was unfortunate, but Harmond had no words to refute him.

 

Because Ian was right.

 

Harmond nodded slowly.

 

Yes, on second thought, he thought it would be more interesting if His Majesty dropped out.

 

Wouldn’t the other young lords work harder if they had some hope of winning?

 

Apart from that, it was painful that Ian was confident of his victory in front of him, who had no martial skills.

 

“…I will revise the document and post it again.”

 

Harmond just swallowed his irreverent words, and moved on.

 

***

 

Late evening.

 

The Young Lord of Oates.

 

“Did you have a good trip?”
“Yes, Butler.”

 

Mike smiled slightly at the butler who was waiting to greet them.

 

“Rachel, you’re tired, aren’t you?”

“A little bit?”

 

After the party, Mike returned to the Oates mansion. As he took off his jacket, he turned to Rachel, who was standing beside him.

 

“Still, you did very well. Your dancing was perfect.”

 

He patted Rachel on the head.

 

“This is the last of the parties you’ll be attending with me. After the first time, it won’t be that hard since you’ll be used to it.”

 

Mike glanced at his watch, and opened his mouth again.

 

“You’re going alone tomorrow, will you be okay?”

“Yes, but my brother promised to wait for me.”

“Yes, it will be difficult. Go upstairs, and get some rest.”

 

Rachel, who was very wary of people, found it hard to deal with strangers in unfamiliar settings.

 

Mike smiled quietly, and sent Rachel upstairs.

 

“Um, I’ll go up first. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

 

Rachel nodded her head slightly, and climbed the stairs.

 

The butler, who was staring at Rachel, cautiously opened his mouth.

 

“The Lady seems to like you. I often see her smiling like I’ve never seen before.”

 

Mike nodded silently at the butler’s words.

 

Even to him, it felt like Rachel was more familiar with him than when they first met.

 

At first, she seemed very shy. So he thought it would take a long time to become close.

 

But Rachel opened up to him faster than he expected.

 

Of course, he was willing to wait until she was ready to open up.

 

Mike was just grateful to Rachel for accepting him earlier than he expected.

 

“Did you enjoy the party?”

“Yes, I enjoyed it.”

“But aren’t you tired? You haven’t been able to sleep properly lately.”

 

Mike shrugged his shoulders playfully as the butler spoke anxiously.

 

“I’m not tired because I’m still young.”

“Haha, as expected, being youthful is nice.”

 

These days, Mike had participated in several parties with Rachel, who was new to high society.

 

It was to introduce Rachel, and to protect her from those who would be rude.

 

But the lack of time didn’t reduce his workload.

 

As a result, Mike had spent a few sleepless nights.

 

As a result, the butler was worried about him, but the young man didn’t seem to care too much.

 

Mike smiled at the stairs that Rachel had climbed, then turned his eyes away.

 

“Butler, it’s late. So, go ahead and rest.”
“Yes, then I’ll go in first.”

 

The butler bowed his head and left.

 

Mike, who was left alone in the hall, turned his head slowly as if he was stretching, then he moved towards his study.

 

***

 

On the way to a tea party.

 

Mike was on the road with Rachel as promised.

 

“Rachel, His Majesty is coming today, isn’t that right?”

“Yes, I think so.”

 

Rachel nodded lightly.

 

“His Majesty is leaving quickly after eating these days.”

“Yes, he must be busy.”

“Isn’t it a pity that you’re parting so soon?”
“…A little bit.”

 

Rachel, who answered after thinking for a while, soon lowered her head. Her face was invisible with her head down, but her ears had turned red.

 

Mike smiled quietly because a shy Rachel was cute.

 

“Maybe he’s busy preparing for the Hunting competition.”

“Hunting competition?”

“Yes, there will be a hunting contest soon. Maybe in 10 days?”

 

Mike added an explanation to Rachel’s puzzled expression.

 

“The Hunting competition, it’s already that time.”

 

It was only then that Rachel shook her head.

 

At the end of the harvest, there was a hunting contest.

 

“Did His Majesty say anything to you?”

“What?”

“About participating in the Hunting competition? Usually young ladies give embroidered handkerchiefs to the men who want to participate in the hunt.”

“…I haven’t yet.”

 

At Rachel’s words, Mike blinked slowly as if he were lost in thought for a moment.

 

“But, I’m also participating.”

“What?”

“No… just that.”

 

Mike shrugged his shoulders, as if it was nothing to worry about.

 

“It’s not like I want a handkerchief or anything. I don’t want to burden you at all.”

 

When Mike spoke like that, Rachel finally realized what he was talking about.

 

“Pfft.”

 

Rachel burst into laughter at Mike’s subtle hint.

 

For a moment, Mike’s face turned a little red.

 

She also felt a little mortified at herself, she shouldn’t have been that dumb.

 

Mike coughed and turned his head to look out the window.

 

He was always so considerate.

 

He seemed to hate being indebted to others, and Mike didn’t want to burden her.

 

“Hmm.”

 

It wasn’t something that she would usually do, but it didn’t feel bad that Mike wanted something from her.

 

She was rather pleased that she could give him something that he wanted.

 

“We’re already here.”

 

Mike scratched his head awkwardly, and changed the subject.

 

“Go ahead, I’ll be waiting nearby.”

“Thank you for coming with me.”

“Yeah.”

 

Mike arranged Rachel’s hat once, and opened the door to the carriage.

 

After helping Rachel step down from the carriage, he waved again.

 

“Go on in.”

 

Mike only re-entered the carriage after he confirmed that Rachel had entered the building.

 

***

 

Rachel followed the lead of the Marquise de Harite’s maid.

 

They entered a well-maintained garden where the young ladies were gathered.

 

The moment Rachel made eye contact with the tea party host, young lady Harite, stood up and smiled happily.

 

“Lady Oates, you must be busy, but thank you for attending.”

 

“Lady Harite, thank you for inviting me to such a wonderful place.”

 

Rachel opened her mouth leisurely, as she had been taught.

 

“Your garden is very beautiful.”
“Even if our garden is beautiful, it can’t be as beautiful as the Oates’ gardens.”

 

Young Lady Harite guided Rachel to her seat.

 

It was the closest seat to Lady Harite.

 

Rachel sat down, and gave the answer Lady Harite wanted.

 

“I’m glad you said so. If I have a tea party later, I hope that Young Lady Harite will attend.”

“It would be an honor, My Lady…”

 

The quiet garden suddenly became noisy due to the gossip of the young ladies, and as if Lady Harite realized it too, she couldn’t finish her words and hesitated.

 

The moment the Young Lady Harite’s head turned away from Rachel, she frowned slightly.

 

“Oh, here comes Lady Avery.”

 

At Harite’s words, Rachel followed her gaze and turned her head.

 

At the end of Rachel’s gaze.

 

Diana, with her red fan open, was walking with her wavy blonde hair fluttering.

 

“Lady Avery.”

“Young Lady Harite, it’s been a while.”

 

Click

 

After folding her fan, Diana looked around the tea party.

 

Then she sat in the Young Lady Harite’s seat.

 

Lady Harite, who was deprived of her seat because of that, bit her lip as if she was embarrassed.

 

“Long time no see, everyone.”

 

The other young ladies greeted her with a smile.

 

“Lady Oates, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“….”

“I thought you didn’t enjoy these kinds of meetings since you refused my invitation. Did you just turn down my invitation?”

 

Diana asked indifferently.

 

She didn’t seem very angry at Rachel for refusing her invitation, but she seemed upset.

 

As Rachel remained silent, Diana smirked and turned her head towards the other ladies.

 

“I haven’t been receiving any invitations these days.”

“….”

“Have you all decided to ostracize me?”

 

It was only then that Rachel realized that Diana wasn’t an invited guest.

 

The number of chairs was less than the number of people. Beyond that, Young Lady Harite, the host of the tea party, seemed embarrassed by Diana’s visit.

 

***