Nightmare Came to The Place I Escaped - Chapter 97

“Lady Diana Avery, I was waiting.”

 

Diana glanced at the butler who met her at the door. As if her heart was twisted, her gaze at the butler wasn’t very nice.

 

“…Were you safe on your way back?”

 

The butler stopped for a moment at the sight of Diana’s eyes. Murderous intent flowed from Diana’s eyes, they were so filled with rage.

 

He had seen her for a long time since her childhood, but it was definitely the first time he’d seen Diana show such anger.

 

“My father?”

“He is in the office.”

“Ha, the office?”

 

Diana was slightly annoyed at the butler’s words.

 

He must have heard the news that she was coming, but she suddenly felt annoyed at the fact that he was still in the office without coming out to see her.

 

“The Duke had a meal prepared that the lady likes. Would you like to go upstairs to greet the Duke?”

“Don’t follow me. I will go alone.”

 

Diana glanced up the stairs, took off her overcoat, and left it with the butler. Then she walked toward the Duke’s office.

 

Maybe he was still angry about what happened before she left the estate last time?

 

“Sigh.”

 

Diana let out a deep sigh.

 

Anyway, if she wanted to get revenge on Rachel Oates, she would need her father’s help.

 

Knock Knock

 

“Father, it’s Diana.”

“Yes, come in.”

 

Diana sighed softly and opened the door of the office.

 

“I didn’t expect you to come back so soon, but something happened in the capital, right?”

“….”

“…Was it because of His Majesty?”

 

The Duke, who was looking at Diana’s sullen face, asked his daughter in a softer voice.

 

“Tut, that’s enough. Your father is looking for a good marriage candidate for you.”

“….”

“There is nothing to regret because I will find someone who isn’t inferior to the Emperor.”

 

Despite the Duke’s consolation, Diana still bowed her head deeply and did not raise her face.

 

“…But according to what I heard, you received a present from His Majesty, right? How did that happen?”

 

The Duke pondered over the lengthy silence for a while before changing the topic.

 

He’d also heard about what Diana was doing in the capital.

 

“I heard that he even gave you a gift, the Lucky necklace. I heard His Majesty had affection for you.”

“….”

“Tsk, since you weren’t engaged, I can’t hold him accountable. His Majesty wouldn’t be so proud if people in society knew that you were in a special relationship, and had even received gifts from His Majesty.”

 

Despite the Duke’s consolation, Diana said nothing. She just tightened her fists again.

 

“There is nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone will ask His Majesty what’s wrong, no one will ever blame you.”

“…Father.”

“Tsk, if you want I can arrange a marriage in another country. Then there is nothing to worry about anymore. Diana?”

“…I want to kill her.”

 

After a while, Diana opened her mouth.

 

Diana’s voice, which sank low, was eerie. The Duke felt the rage in his daughter’s eyes and frowned as if he was uncomfortable.

 

“Rachel Oates. Father, that girl ignored me. She dared to humiliate and insult me in front of other noblewomen.”

“Diana.”

“She invited me to a tea party she was hosting and humiliated me in front of the other young ladies.”

 

Diana shed tears as she recited what had happened at Rachel’s tea party.

 

It was only then that the Duke remembered that he’d been told that Diana was attending a tea party at the Oates estate.

 

“You were on your way from the Oates estate.”

“She tricked the young ladies, and turned me into a liar. I won’t be able to set foot in society anymore.”

 

Various emotions were seen in Diana’s shaking eyes.

 

Anger, fear, hatred.

 

“All the young noblewomen were on her side and laughed at me.”

 

The Duke wasn’t sure exactly what Diana had gone through at the tea party, but anger flared up.

 

She must’ve laughed at the fact that she was the one chosen by the Emperor.

 

“Father, please. Please kill her.”

“Tsk, you idiot. I can’t believe you’re crying over such a thing.”

 

The Duke clicked his tongue coldly without hiding his displeasure.

 

“Okay, stop crying.”

“Like this. I can’t just be beaten like this.”

“Of course! Don’t cry because I’ll show that girl what happens when she touches an Avery.”

 

The Duke of Avery gritted his teeth as he looked at the sobbing Diana.

 

***

 

A grand dinner was prepared for Diana.

 

The Duke of Avery stared blankly at the maids carrying food and turned to Diana. The Duke frowned at his red-eyed daughter.

 

“Tut, Diana. Never show your weak side like you did today.”

 

When the Duke suddenly opened his mouth, Diana looked at him.

 

“The more you do that, the more ridiculous you look. Always be confident no matter what.”

 

At the Duke’s words, Diane opened her mouth slightly, as if her pride had been hurt.

 

“…Don’t worry. It won’t happen again.”

 

Diana, who seemed to be ignoring the Duke’s words, had quietly opened her mouth. Then she began to eat as if nothing had happened.

 

“I was embarrassed because I didn’t know that the girl, who pretended to be innocent, would do such a thing behind my back. I’ll never be beaten by that girl again.”

“Yes, that’s the way, Diana Avery.”

 

Just then, the Duke nodded satisfactorily, and started to lift his tableware.

 

Bang

 

“Your Grace!”

 

The butler hurriedly opened the door, and entered the dining room.

 

“Your Grace! The 1st Knights of the Imperial palace have entered our territory just now.”

“What?”

“I don’t know the exact reason, but it doesn’t seem like an ordinary purpose when they’ve entered armed. At this rate, I think they’ll be at the Duke’s residence within an hour.”

 

Neither Diana nor the Duke of Avery could hide their confusion at the butler’s urgent words.

 

“Did the Emperor send the Knights for no reason? Find out what the reason is!”

“But then it would be too late. Perhaps His Majesty has found something out?”

“Within an hour… Why are you reporting this now?”

 

Shift

 

Thud

 

The chair fell back as the Duke rose violently from it. The maid standing next to him flinched at the loud noise.

 

“I couldn’t stop the Knight Commander for even a moment. I think they’re going to push in like this. I think His Majesty intends to accuse Your Grace of a crime.”

 

Then the butler glanced at Diana. Following the butler’s gaze, the Duke also looked at Diana.

 

Only then did Diana frown at the thought of the medicine she’d given the Emperor.

 

“Diana, I heard that the Emperor collapsed while you and he were drinking tea together, is that right?”

“…Yes.”

“Were you involved in that?”

“That’s…”

 

Diana paused, and chewed on her lip.

 

Bang!

 

“Right now! Can’t you speak clearly?!”

 

The Duke couldn’t stand to wait for a second, and slammed the table.

 

“… Yes. However, I used the maid planted in the Imperial palace by our family. There’s no way that maid would tell on me!”

“Ha. So, how did you deal with this maid?”

“That’s…”

 

Bang!

 

The Duke slammed the table at the speechless Diana.

 

“You stupid girl! What the heck are you doing when you can’t do anything right!”

“But… but the maid was caught. But she wouldn’t have told them about me! Unless she wants all of her family killed!”

“Then why did the Emperor send the Imperial knights to our territory at this time of year?”

 

The Duke swept the plates off of the table as if he were full of rage. The dishes that fell off the table broke into pieces.

 

The grandly prepared dinner quickly became a mess.

 

“If you failed at your job, you should have taken care of the maid!”

“I tried to take care of it, but I couldn’t do anything because the Imperial family blocked any contact with our palace insiders!”

 

Diana raised her voice as if it were unfair. She also tried to deal with the maidservant, but she couldn’t meet anyone in the Imperial palace, let alone the maidservant.

 

“What kind of fool are you? You should’ve told me!”

 

The Duke rose from his seat and ranted for a long time.

 

That was the only reason the Emperor would have sent the knights.

 

“Butler, send someone to the maid’s family right now! See if the maid’s betrayed us!”

 

Maybe he spirited away the family in advance. If the maidservant really had betrayed them, her family must’ve been rescued first.

 

He needed to figure out exactly how things were going so that he knew how to behave.

 

“But Your Grace, there are no knights to defend the family, the castle will be infiltrated soon. You should take refuge right now…”

“Find out what I’ve told you to! Now!”

“…I understand.”

 

At the Duke’s shout, the butler hurriedly left the dining room.

 

“Haa…”

 

After the Duke suddenly shouted he leaned against the table with a sigh as if he was feeling a little dizzy. Then he raised his eyes and looked at Diana.

 

“You stupid girl.”

“It’s that maid that couldn’t do it, wasn’t it? It wouldn’t only be her, but all of her family will die, so there’s no way she would’ve talked at all to His Majesty.”

 

The Duke raised his hand and called out to the knight with a small sigh.

 

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Come here for a minute.”

 

The Duke took out the sword from the approaching knight’s scabbard.

 

Swish

 

“Oh, father. I’m sure it’s not a big deal. Even if he’s the Emperor, he can’t do anything reckless. What? Don’t you think so?”

 

Diana frowned at the Duke holding the sword, and talked in a hurry.

 

Step Step

 

“Umm, Father?”

 

Diana’s face went cold when the Duke grabbed her hair. The Duke moved the sword without any hesitation.

 

“Kyaah!”

 

Thud

 

When the Duke opened his hand, Diana’s coveted, fine blonde hair fell to the floor.

 

***