“But the mansion…”
“We’ll go somewhere else today.”
“Ah…”
She just wanted to go back to the mansion to eat.
Until now, she’d been lucky to not encounter people, but she would definitely meet people if she went to a high-end restaurant. He was the emperor, so if she was eating with him, she would definitely attract attention.
No one would know her name or face, but if she was with the emperor, it would be just the thing to attract people’s attention.
Rachel glanced at Ian.
She was sure he didn’t know that either since Ian still looked relaxed and laid back.
As if it had nothing to do with him.
‘Will it be okay?’
People’s eyes felt burdensome, but if Ian wanted to, then it couldn’t be helped.
“Why? Don’t you like it?”
“What? No. It’s my first time going there… I want to know what kind of place it is.”
Ian was looking at Rachel after he’d suddenly asked her that, as if he would change the plans if she didn’t like it.
Rachel shook her head in a hurry.
No matter how much she thought about it, it would be more uncomfortable if he changed his plan. After all, the man who always put himself first, was being considerate of her.
Perhaps this was also included in the interest he’d talked about, but she didn’t want to be cared for at all.
If he came back to his senses, she might have to pay everything back.
Besides, she didn’t want to be wrong.
When he acted so considerate of her, it was as if she’d become something important. In reality, she was sure that she was nothing to him…
She didn’t want to suffer anymore.
***
Contrary to Rachel’s worries, there was no one in the seafood restaurant other than the employees.
She looked around as she was guided to her seat by a server.
“Oh, there’s no one here.”
“Yeah, I borrowed it.”
A restaurant employee helped Ian out of his jacket.
Rachel opened her mouth as if surprised by his words, but soon recalled that he was the emperor and quickly shut her mouth.
“Ah…”
He was no longer the little prince who ran away with her.
He was taller than six years ago when Rachel ran away from him, and many things that he didn’t have then were now in his hands.
Time had passed, and much had changed from back then.
Her previous life once again loomed vividly. He’d changed a lot from the man she’d once known.
Unfortunately, the biggest change would be that he was out of his mind.
Otherwise, why would he give a necklace to a maid, let her live a luxurious life in a mansion, and eat in a place like this where lovers would go together.
Ian definitely needed treatment, but if she told the emperor that he was crazy and needed help, that would be the end of her life.
“What do you want to eat?”
“I’ll eat the same thing as you, Your Majesty.”
Rachel quickly replied that she’d eat the same thing as him since she couldn’t understand the menu.
‘More than that, where was Miss Avery?’
When Diana came to Rachel’s mind, she frowned. Come to think of it, she didn’t understand why Ian was doing this with her, and not with Miss Avery.
Even in this life, Diana and Ian would like each other, just like they did in their past life.
Would the young lady find out?
That her relationship with Ian was strange.
“Will… the young lady become the empress?’
Diana Avery.
Rachel was concerned about Ian’s interest in her this time around.
She’d never met Diana in this life, so Rachel had no idea what kind of relationship Ian and Diana had this time.
But just like in the last life, the two probably fell in love with each other again.
‘Why me, by the way?’
In his previous life, he was engaged to Miss Avery as soon as he became the crown prince.
However, it didn’t seem to be the case in this life.
Rachel read the newspaper every day, but she never saw an article saying that the two were engaged.
‘No way…’
Rachel’s face hardened when some ominous thoughts came to mind.
Did they stop loving each other? Did Miss Avery and Ian not meet in this life?
Because she disappeared.
In her previous life, she met Miss Avery while she walked through the forest with Ian and the duke. At that time, I’d fallen down the mountain and gotten hurt, so she’d received help from the young miss.
Perhaps he didn’t meet Diana that day because he didn’t go to the forest? Maybe Ian hid himself at the sound of an approaching person because he didn’t need her help?
‘Was it… because of me?’
In the end, Rachel couldn’t even eat the expensive food properly, and after struggling with her thoughts, she finally shoved the food into her mouth towards the end of the meal.
***
Close, too close.
Rachel completely stiffened up while she sat next to Ian nervously.
If he moved even a little bit, she thought that her body would touch his, so she slouched her shoulders subconsciously.
“….”
Night time had already fallen, and there was nothing to see out the window, but Rachel stubbornly turned her head to look outside.
It was better to pretend to focus on something else, then to endure this uncomfortable situation.
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Fortunately, Ian didn’t seem intent on ending the silence first.
In the quiet carriage, Rachel managed a small gulp.
‘What was he doing now?’
Today was the strangest day she’d ever had. The time Ian and her spent together felt like a date for lovers no matter how much she thought about it.
‘The interest that his Majesty said was…’
Her head was so full of complicated things that it felt like it would burst, but Rachel, who couldn’t rest at all because Ian was in the seat next to her, just blinked.
‘Was it a rational interest?’
Rachel wasn’t that foolish either.
She knew how a man would behave towards a woman he was interested in. Like giving gifts, minor considerations, or going to see her face continuously.
Yes, that’s right.
The necklace that was given out of the blue, the hand he held out to her, and how he would come to the mansion for every meal.
It seemed that this strange time we had spent together today meant that Ian was interested in her as a woman.
She tried to ignore those confusing thoughts, reminded herself that it was ridiculous, but he did seem to have a rational interest in her.
Her guess was that it was a fleeting interest.
“….”
Rachel glanced sideways at Ian, then bowed her head.
Everything was so awkward.
The mansion that didn’t suit her, nor her soft nightgown and bedding. Even the meals she had with Ian every day.
He told her to stay with him until his interest waned.
‘If you just wanted to keep me by your side, you could’ve just made me a maid at the Imperial palace again.’
He wouldn’t have had to take the time to come here if he’d just called her to be a maid again, nor would he have to give her such fancy things.
If he’d used his name, she couldn’t go against it, and she couldn’t say anything even if she was called to serve as a maid. She was a fugitive in the first place.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t understand Ian.
Why did he appear in front of her? There must be many beauties and noblewomen around him, so what interest did he find in her.
With just one command, he could make everything go his way, so why was he doing these troublesome things?
What happened to Miss Avery?
She was feeling confused because she couldn’t understand where these uncomfortable feelings were coming from.
Rachel’s eyes were closed, and a thin crease appeared between her brows. She was about to sigh, but Rachel pressed her lips together tightly.
“….”
How could she stop Ian if he asked her for what he wanted.
If it was going to happen anyway, she hoped that she would be okay with it.
***
After a long time with him, the carriage finally returned to the mansion.
When the carriage stopped, Ian exited first and reached out to Rachel.
Indifferent expression, and confident movements.
The emperor’s act of reaching out to a maid as if it was something natural without even the smallest amount of hesitation.
Although, she did need help since she was wearing a long dress.
“….”
She didn’t like Ian being considerate towards her.
Rachel looked at Ian’s hand, took hold of it half-heartedly, and stepped down.
Large, white hands that were different from her own.
Rachel let go of his hand in a hurry.
“Go in.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, I had a lot of fun today. Please get home safely.”
The time with him was more difficult and burdensome than enjoyable, but all Rachel could say was that she had fun.
Ian stared down at Rachel.
“It’s late. Go inside.”
“I’ll go in after Your Majesty leaves.”
“…I guess.”
After a long time, Ian nodded quietly and boarded the carriage.
The carriage left Rachel behind and drove to the Imperial castle without delay.
Rachel, who was watching the carriage leave, stood in place until it disappeared in the distance.
“Ha…”
Rachel stood there for a long time, then she sighed deeply, as if she could see Ian’s heart.
Only when she was trembling from the cold night breeze did Rachel quietly walk into the mansion.
***
“Ha…”
In the quiet room, Rachel let out a deep sigh.
The emperor was wrong.
She was examined by the doctor and took the medicine that was prescribed to her, but Rachel couldn’t sleep that night.
Even though she was tired, Rachel tossed and turned, and pulled the blanket over her head.
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However, it wasn’t that long until dawn, and Rachel knew it.
It was time for Ian to come soon.
“Phew, I have to get up.”
She made herself get up, and changed her clothes.
Rachel forced herself to put strength into her eyelids, which had become heavy, because she was afraid that Ian would call another doctor if she looked tired. Then she left the room in a hurry to greet him.