Nightmare Came to The Place I Escaped - Chapter 96

“You gave it to me!”

“So do you have any proof?”

 

Rachel asked quietly, in a voice that only Diana and servants could hear.

 

“What?”

“Is there any evidence that I gave it to you?”

“…You’re a madwoman!”

 

Diana burst out in anger at Rachel, who’d spoken with a surprisingly calm face.

 

“I heard that the lady insulted my brother, isn’t that right? Did you think you’d be able to be so brazen like you were to me? This is a matter that can’t be easily dismissed.”

 

While Diana’s eyes trembled in anger, Rachel’s eyes were cold.

 

“Does Lady Avery think this was too much?”

“….”

“I just gave back as much as the lady gave to me. So, don’t be so shameless.”

“Even if you do this!!!”

 

Rachel finished what she had to say, and turned her back as if she had no regrets. Then the servants pulled Diana away again.

 

“You think you’ll be fine if you do this!”

 

The door to the party hall closed as Diana screamed in rage.

 

***

 

“How dare you!”

 

Diana screamed and waved her arms. However, it was a meaningless struggle because she was firmly caught by the Duke of Oates’ knights.

 

“Let go of me!”

“My Lady!”

 

Her escort knight, who belatedly noticed the disturbance as Diana was dragged out of the Duke’s residence, hurried over to her as if embarrassed.

 

“Get out of my way.”

“What are you doing?”

 

Diana’s guard put his hand on the hilt of his sword as if he was about to take it out, but the Oates’ knights were a little faster.

 

Tak

 

“Tsk, our lady was hurt.”

 

The knight of the Oates family, who’d struck the sword with his scabbard, clicked his tongue slightly.

 

“Due to Lady Avery’s atrocities, our lady was injured. It means that she hurt Lady Oates of the Oates family.”

“Let go of me! How dare you! Do you know who I am? And you dare to touch me! I will leave even if you don’t tell me to, so release me right now!!!”

“Keep in mind that this is the best consideration we can give you.”

 

The Oates family knights, who’d dragged Diana out, released her with a warning.

 

“If you want to escalate things, she won’t stop you, but if you want to finish things quietly, leave immediately. This is the last grace from Lady Oates.”

“Ha!!! Last grace?!”

“If the Duke finds out, we won’t be able to go easy like this.”

 

Diana, who seemed like she would hit the knights in front of her at any moment, finally turned around.

 

Diana’s escort knight stood in front of her for a while, and looked at the Oates family knights who were watching them with expressionless faces. Then he picked up his sword that had fallen to the ground, and moved away.

 

Screech

 

Click

 

The servants of the Oates family, who’d driven Diana out, firmly closed the iron door as if they had no regrets.

 

“You idiot!”

 

Diana looked at the iron door closing behind her, and suddenly shouted at her escort.

 

“What were you doing this whole time?! Where have you been?!”

“…I’m sorry.”

“You stupid b*stard! Can’t you handle your job at all?”

 

Diana spat out a curse, then slapped the knight on the cheek.

 

After swearing in front of the tightly closed gate for a long time, Diana got into her carriage.

 

“Rachel Oates. You intentionally insulted me!”

 

Even when she got on the carriage, Diana’s anger did not subside so easily.

 

“Ha! You’re coming at me like this, is that right?”

 

Diana clenched her teeth as indignant tears formed.

 

***

 

Knock Knock

 

“Your Majesty, it’s Harmond.”

“Come in.”

 

With Ian’s permission, Harmond entered his office.

 

“I’ve taken care of everything you ordered. I have identified all of the people planted by the Avery’s and posted knights. I have also received their statements, and the statement of the maid who drugged His Majesty.”

“Good, and the people know that I’m in a serious condition?”

“Yes, they understand that you took an unidentified drug and are recovering now.”

 

Ian nodded and checked Harmond’s papers.

 

「Statement on the Avery spies」

 

“He’s planted a lot.”

 

Ian smiled cheerfully.

 

No wonder the normally greedy Duke of Avery was so quiet.

 

“I see that his interest was in stealing little by little from the Imperial family.”

 

Harmond said, as he pointed to a document.

 

“Captain of the 23rd Division.”

“He stole military supplies.”

“Yes, he made a profit from reselling stolen military goods. How much did it cost to make that? How much did this iron cost?”

 

Harmond let out a deep sigh and shook his head.

 

Shift

 

“Also, this person is one of those who manages the servants of the Imperial palace. The Duke of Avery has sown people throughout the Imperial palace.”

“Seeing that these two are aristocrats, I don’t think they’re moving because of threats or anything, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right. They’re the ones who moved because they have money falling into their pockets.”

“Hmm. I see.”

 

Shift Shift

 

Harmond stared at Ian as he checked the paperwork before opening his mouth cautiously.

 

“Your Majesty, what shall we do now?”

“What? Embezzlement of Imperial funds, violation of the Imperial Security Law, and the charge of attempted assassination of the Emperor.”

 

Ian put down the papers Harmond had handed him as he listed off several charges.

 

“From now on, the Averys are traitors. Confiscate all titles of the Avery family. Arm the 1st Imperial Knights and send them to the Avery estate to capture the traitors.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Also, by the morning on the fifth day, take care of things so that Avery’s atrocities can be reported to the newspaper.”

“Yes, sir.”

 

Harmond finished answering Ian’s orders and moved as if he was about to leave the office, then looked at Ian again.

 

“Your Majesty, I will organize Avery’s atrocities within the day and hand them over to the newspaper. I’ll burn through it all today.”

 

Thump

 

Harmond tapped his chest as if he were confident and lifted his eyebrows a little.

 

“Trust me.”

 

***

 

Knock Knock

 

“Your Grace!”

 

Duke Avery’s office.

 

The knock on the office door was more urgent than usual.

 

“Come in.”

 

As soon as the Duke’s permission was granted, the butler hurriedly entered the office and opened his mouth before the Duke could say anything more.

 

“They say that Lady Avery is returning to the territory.”

“Diana?”

 

The Duke tilted his head in surprise as he recalled the past when he and Diana had parted ways so badly.

 

“Hmm, I didn’t expect Diana to come back first.”

 

The Duke seemed surprised by Diana’s sudden return, but smiled as if he didn’t hate her homecoming.

 

“It looks like she’ll arrive at the Duchy within 2 hours and 30 minutes.”

“Good, Diana is coming back after such a long time, so prepare a large dinner.”

“Yes, Duke. I will tell the servants.”

 

The butler sincerely answered the Duke’s words and nodded.

 

“Butler, what else do you have to say?”

 

When the Duke spoke first to the hesitant butler, the butler slowly opened his mouth.

 

“I’m worried that Lady Avery might be heartbroken.”

“What?”

“Didn’t the lady really like His Majesty? Since His Majesty announced his marriage to Lady Oates, I’m worried that the lady will be deeply saddened.”

 

Duke Avery clicked his tongue coldly at the butler’s words.

 

“Did you say Rachel Oates? Tsk, where the heck did that girl come from?”

“Even though she’s a distant relative of the Duke of Oates, how can he just trust her?”

“Your Majesty, what kind of girl do you like? Tsk, even if our family hadn’t become like this, Diana should’ve been the one to sit in the Empress’ seat.”

 

Duke Avery clicked his tongue slightly as if he was angry.

 

Although he has now fallen into a position where he humbled himself and paid attention to others, he would soon regain his glory as the Duke of Avery.

 

And when that time came, he was thinking of paying back all of those who had humiliated him and his daughter like this.

 

“His Majesty will surely regret not choosing an Avery.”

“Yes, of course.”

 

The Duke clicked his tongue quietly as if he didn’t like it. Then, he suddenly opened his mouth as if he had an idea.

 

“Butler, find a marriage partner for Diana.”

“A husband?”

“Yes, we’ve already missed out on the Emperor.”

 

He was a little sad that he’d lost the chance on the Emperor, but what could he do?

 

“Then there is no need to waste any more time. Among the nobles of the Levskaya Empire…”

 

Duke Avery extended his words, as if trying to think of a suitable husband for Diana.

 

“Tsk, at least Young Mike Oates is the most suitable for Diana Avery’s class. It wouldn’t be bad to have a relationship with the future Emperor’s maternal family.”

“Yes, let’s take a look.”

“Look into Earl Haley too. It seems that the Haley family’s knights will be quite helpful to our family, since the formation of knights is impossible.”

“Hmm, again…”

 

The Duke of Avery fell into thought as if he was trying to choose Diana’s husband once again, but he could no longer think of another suitable marriage candidate.

 

Although the Avery family was disgraced and their family’s knights were disbanded, the family’s estate was still fertile with an economy of the territory that had developed and had no difficulty.

 

As it was, he was looking at himself a little more and bowed as if he was self-conscious. If he offered a few ports to the Empire, his family’s status would quickly return.

 

“There seems to be no more talented men in the Levskaya Empire, so look into the foreign countries. It’s even better if it’s the Imperial family of another country that can keep the Emperor in check.”

“Yes, I will investigate and report to the Master at tea time.”

“Good, hurry up, because she might be heartbroken by the Emperor’s marriage.”

“Yes, I will.”

 

The Duke quietly expressed his concern for Diana.

 

It was Diana who, in the end, had everything she wanted in her life. He didn’t know how greedy Diana must have been for Ian, but he was worried that Diana’s heartache might be great.

 

Still, he thought that if there were other options comparable to Ian, it would be a little better.

 

“We’ll have to hurry if we don’t want Diana to wait. Get out of here.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Then I’ll leave now.”

 

The butler left and the Duke, who was left alone in the office, let out a small sigh.

 

“She will have an Emperor, she’s spoken so loudly about it.”

 

Tsk, how was Diana feeling right now?

 

He thought she wouldn’t be returning to the manor for a while, saying that she was ashamed of being pushed into being an insignificant girl.

 

It was not exactly clear what reason she was returning to the manor, but the news that Diana, whom he had thought he would not see for quite a long time, was coming wasn’t so bad.

 

“Tsk, she’ll have to forget about it soon.”

 

The Duke muttered in a small voice as if he felt sorry for his daughter, who couldn’t fulfill her wish.

 

***