“Do you have a preference?”
While Rachel freaked out a little bit, Mike smiled quietly and pondered for a while.
“Our family color is navy blue. Why don’t you pick a similar color?”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
Mike’s mouth tightened as if he didn’t like something about Rachel’s reply.
“Rachel, it’s your dress. You can choose whatever you want, so do as you please. Only pick a blue dress if you want it, okay? Don’t pick something you don’t like.”
“…Alright.”
Only then did Mike nod.
After Mike’s words, Rachel was beckoned by the designer, and had to try on several outfits.
“Ha…”
This was the fifth outfit.
Rachel glanced at the clock anxiously.
It was almost 5:30.
She should’ve left for the mansion by now so that she could arrive by 6 o’clock.
“I want this one.”
Rachel said urgently.
Otherwise, the designer would bring out another dress.
“Oh, Lady Oates, you like this one.”
“Yes, I’ll take this one.”
Rachel nodded in a hurry without even looking in the mirror.
“You look so beautiful! This is a great dress.”
The designer circled Rachel and studied her.
“Wait, I think I just need to fix it a little bit.”
The designer touched her waist and the hem of the dress several times.
“Master Oates, would you like to see?”
Then she called out to Mike.
“Oh, you like this?”
“Yes, I like it.”
“Okay, then let’s go with this. It’s pretty.”
With Mike’s approval, Rachel felt a bit more impatient. If they left now, she could arrive at the mansion before 6 o’clock.
“Then please do.”
“Yes, Master Oates. Please be safe on your way home.”
Rachel hurried out of the boutique in silence.
“Rachel?”
Mike called out quietly to Rachel, who was walking in a hurry.
“Where are you going when you don’t know the way?”
“What?”
“You didn’t even buy any accessories yet.”
“Ah…”
Rachel had no choice but to turn back to Mike, who pointed in the opposite direction of the carriage.
“You also need to buy gloves, shoes, and a fan that will match the dress.”
“…Okay.”
“Are you having a hard time?”
Mike asked carefully why Rachel’s reply was so listless.
“A little bit.”
Rachel hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
She had to be leaving now if she wanted to get to the mansion by 6 o’clock without being late. Any delay here would make the Emperor, who could be visiting the mansion, wait.
Ian hadn’t visited for a few days, so Rachel wasn’t sure if he would visit the mansion today.
She didn’t know what to say to Mike.
If Ian didn’t show up after they returned to the mansion, it would look like she’d lied to him. It was already embarrassing how funny she looked next to Mike.
“I want to go back and rest.”
Rachel hesitated for a moment, then lied that she was tired. For some reason, it was difficult to tell Mike that Ian might come to the mansion, so it would be better to go back.
“Then let’s hurry up, pick some things, and go back. It won’t take longer than thirty minutes.”
Mike gave a small smile at Rachel, who was finally speaking her mind.
“That’s okay, right?”
“…Yes.”
Rachel replied, and glanced down the street towards the clock tower. Rachel’s steps, that had been dragging, suddenly became hurried once again.
***
‘Will he be gone?’
Inside the carriage that was returning to the mansion.
Rachel looked out the dark window.
It was almost 8 o’clock. Even if Ian had gone to the mansion, he must’ve returned after getting tired of waiting.
“….”
Ian used to stop by the mansion twice a day, but she had a hard time seeing his face these days.
He didn’t even visit her the morning after they’d visited the night market.
Ian didn’t show his face the whole next day.
Before going down to Ravenna, Ian didn’t even visit her that morning.
She was wondering if he was angry.
Ian didn’t seem to be very angry when she saw him last evening.
It was definitely that.
Why didn’t he stop by the mansion?
“….”
Rachel gaze one again turned towards the dark window.
Neigh
With a short horse cry, the carriage slowly came to the stop.
“Rachel.”
Mike got off first, and reached out to Rachel.
Rachel grabbed his hand, and quickly descended from the carriage so she could enter the mansion faster.
“You have to be careful, you might fall.”
Mike warned Rachel as she stepped out of the carriage without looking at the steps.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Rachel blinked helplessly, as she mumbled her apology.
“….”
Ian didn’t seem to be in the mansion. She couldn’t see his black horse.
Did he leave? Or maybe he didn’t come?
“You must be tired. Where do you want to eat? Do you want to eat in your room since you’re tired?”
“Yes. Can I do that?”
Rachel asked helplessly.
“Okay, I’ll tell the servants, so go up now.”
Mike told Rachel, who looked tired, not to stay up anymore, then went into the dining room.
Rachel, however, hurried past the stairs and visited the butler.
“Excuse me, Mr. Butler.”
“Yes, my lady. Please feel free to speak.”
Rachel hesitated for a moment, then opened her mouth.
“Today, His Majesty…”
“His Majesty didn’t visit here today.”
“Oh, I see.”
Rachel nodded her head slightly.
“My Lady, was there anything else you needed to know?”
“No, there isn’t. Thank you.”
Rachel hurried up the stairs, and left the butler behind.
“….”
Why didn’t he come today?
Yes, the Emperor of the empire didn’t have extra time.
She wasn’t sure, but he must have been busy preparing for the upcoming banquet. Even if he wasn’t, there must be a lot of things he needed to do.
Maybe he wasn’t coming because he was tired.
“Ha, what am I doing?”
Rachel, who was filling her head with thoughts about Ian, grimaced in frustration.
“If you do this, it feels like I’m waiting for you.”
Rachel soon shook her head vigorously.
There was no reason for her to wait for Ian. The time with him wasn’t enjoyable at all, and she was uncomfortable around him.
Besides, she didn’t have anything to say when she met him.
Then, why was she thinking about this?
“No, I just don’t have people who come every day. I’m just curious because it’s weird.”
Rachel frowned and murmured softly. As if she was protesting against something.
Knock Knock
Rachel quickly stood up from her seat at the sound of knocking at her door.
“My Lady, I brought your meal.”
Rachel’s thoughts were slightly diverted by the maid, who knocked on the door.
“Thank you.”
Rachel purposefully gave a small smile.
***
Early in the morning.
Rachel was walking around the hall before entering the dining room.
Mike had been walking down the stairs, when he noticed Rachel wandering around the hall, and tilted his head.
“Rachel, what are you doing here?”
“What? That’s…”
Rachel couldn’t easily answer Mike’s question. For some reason, it was difficult to say that she was waiting for Ian.
“Are you waiting for His Majesty?”
“…Yes. There was something I wanted to ask him.”
Rachel quickly added a reason, worried that Mike would misunderstand.
She wasn’t waiting for Ian because she wanted to see him, but because she wanted to make sure that he visited.
She was waiting for him, thinking that the arrival of Ian, who seemed to be friends with Mike, might ease this awkward situation even a little. That was it.
“You don’t have to wait here. Why don’t you go into the drawing room and wait?”
“Oh, I’m bothering you. I’m sorry.”
“That’s not true, but we don’t know when he’ll come, so let’s sit down and wait. Come here, Rachel.”
Mike beckoned to Rachel to come over to him, and walked toward the drawing room.
For some reason, Mike said this as if Ian would visit that day.
“Is he coming today? Does Master Oates know His Majesty’s schedule?”
Rachel nodded to herself, and followed Mike.
Somehow, he knew that Ian would come today.
***
“His Majesty has arrived.”
Rachel was having a conversation with Mike in the drawing room when the butler informed them that Ian had arrived.
“Okay, I understand.”
Mike nodded, and got up from his seat.
“Let’s go, Rachel.”
Mike held the door for Rachel, so she could leave the room first.
Rachel hesitated for a moment because of how awkward his consideration made her feel. She whispered a thank you, and hurried out of the drawing room.
As she entered the hall alone, she could see Ian standing still and looking at her.
Waiting for Rachel with an expressionless face, he opened his mouth even before she greeted him.
“Are you doing well?”
“…Yes.”
“Are you still having trouble sleeping?”
He stared at Rachel and asked.
“Is the medication not working?”
“That’s not it.”
Rachel shook her head slightly.
“I was here only yesterday.”
“…Yeah.”
Ian nodded slightly to Mike, who was greeting him, and turned back towards Rachel. He didn’t seem interested in Mike.
“Shall we go?”
Rachel had a lot to ask Ian, but she couldn’t say it and just nodded.
“Your Majesty, you’d rather eat separately, correct?”
When Ian was about to walk into the dining room, Mike carefully asked this, as if he’d noticed Ian’s mind.
“If it’s easier for you, then let’s do that.”
Ian glanced at him, and nodded.
Mike smiled, and whispered quietly to Rachel to have a good time. Her face turned a little red at his whispered words.
“Let’s go, Rachel.”
Ian beckoned to Rachel, whose head was bowed.
He didn’t begin to walk again until she was by his side.
“I heard you picked out your dress with Mike yesterday.”
“Yes.”
He hadn’t come to the mansion yesterday, how did Ian know about that.
“Do you like it?”
“…Yes.”
In response to Rachel’s answer, Ian blinked slowly as if thinking about something.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
He frowned a little as if he was disappointed that he hadn’t seen it, and murmured a little.
Rachel looked up at him, as if worried that she’d missed his words.
However, Ian only smiled quietly.
His playful smile completely eased the mood.
“Well, Your Majesty.”
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Rachel finally opened her mouth after tens of thousands of worried moments.
***