Chapter 02
“Rachel!”
“……”
“Rachel! I’m done!”
Thomas tugged at the hem of Rachel’s skirt and shouted loudly.
“I memorized everything!”
Only then did Rachel look at Thomas over the newspaper.
“Oh, you’re done.”
He had already called her several times, but Rachel, absorbed in the newspaper, had only just heard him and hurriedly folded it.
“Then shall we do a test?”
“Um… but Rachel.”
“Hmm?”
“…Are you not feeling well?”
“Huh? No, I’m fine. Why would you think that?”
Startled by Thomas’s question, Rachel quickly shook her head.
“But you look tired. Your eyes look like this.”
Thomas made a gesture around his eyes with both hands. Seeing him look up at her with concern, Rachel shook her head again.
“Really? I’m not tired. Maybe I’m just a bit sleepy since I stayed up late yesterday.”
“Rachel, you should sleep early. It’s not good to stay up late.”
“Yeah, I’ll sleep early today.”
Looking a little embarrassed that she had worried a child, Rachel gave an awkward smile and lifted the corners of her eyes with her fingers.
“Alright, let’s start the test.”
Still sensing something was off, Thomas stared at her, but Rachel gently patted his head and changed the subject.
“…Okay.”
Thomas pouted at having his hair messed up, clearly displeased, but soon nodded.
—
After finishing the day’s studies and coming down the hill behind them, the autumn sun still brightly lit the sky.
Though they had studied hard, lessons ended earlier than usual today.
But for some reason, Thomas didn’t seem happy at all that they finished early.
“It’s still bright out. I don’t want to go home yet. Can I play a bit at your house, Rachel?”
“Do you want to?”
“Yes, I do.”
Thomas grabbed Rachel’s free hand—the one not holding the picnic basket—and fidgeted.
“Alright, then let’s do that.”
“Yay! That’ll be fun.”
After a moment of thought, Rachel nodded. She simply couldn’t refuse Thomas’s cute tone and gestures.
Besides, Rachel also enjoyed spending time with the adorable boy. She briefly wondered if she had any snacks at home for him.
“Huh? A horse!”
At that moment, Thomas raised his other hand and pointed somewhere, his voice filled with excitement at something unusual.
Following his finger, Rachel turned her gaze.
There really was a black horse standing where he pointed.
The moment she saw it, Rachel immediately understood why Thomas was surprised.
Even from afar, the horse’s well-balanced muscular body and its glossy black coat, shining as if oiled under the sunlight, made it clear—this was not something you’d normally see in a small village like this.
*Why would a horse like that be here?*
At a glance, it was clearly a fine-bred horse.
Not something you’d expect in Ravenna.
Rachel frowned at the out-of-place black horse. Even carriage horses in the capital weren’t as impressive as that one.
For some reason, an inexplicable unease tightened in her chest.
She had a bad feeling about this.
“Wow… I’ve never seen such an amazing horse before.”
Thomas murmured in admiration.
“But why is it in front of your house, Rachel?”
“….”
Rachel had no answer.
“Thomas!”
As if realizing she wouldn’t answer, Thomas let go of her hand and ran toward the horse.
“Thomas! It’s dangerous, don’t run!”
Rachel shouted after him, but the boy, though stumbling as if he might fall, ran straight toward the large black horse.
Only then did Rachel notice the horse wasn’t tied up, and she hurried after him. Just as Thomas was about to reach out and touch it, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“Thomas, come back here!”
“Huh?”
Rachel, out of breath and afraid the horse might hurt him, called out urgently. But Thomas stood still, staring fixedly at the horse.
“Thomas, you have to be careful!”
Rachel grabbed his small shoulders and pulled him back.
“The horse isn’t tied. It could be dangerous, so let’s go inside.”
“Rachel, but…”
Still not looking at her, Thomas kept staring ahead. Rachel turned to follow his gaze.
Polished black shoes. Neatly pressed black trousers.
For some reason, it took her a long time to lift her head.
“Who is it?”
The moment she finally raised her head and saw what Thomas was looking at, Rachel lost her voice.
A tall man in uniform stood beside her house.
A handsome man with silver hair shining as brightly as the black horse’s coat.
Eyes a deep violet—darker than violets—looked down at Rachel with indifference.
No… the slight furrow of his brow made him seem somewhat irritated.
Ian Dakendorf.
Rachel recognized him instantly.
She had seen him in newspapers for years. She had even been reading about him just moments ago. There was no way she wouldn’t recognize him.
The emperor who led the war to victory. The emperor loved by all citizens of the empire.
Ian Dakendorf stood before her.
Six years.
Yet his indifferent gaze toward Rachel was exactly the same as it had been six years ago.
The cool autumn breeze rustled his hair.
Perhaps because of the wind brushing his forehead, he frowned slightly and stepped toward her.
His long strides quickly closed the distance.
“Ah… Rachel?”
“Why…”
As he approached, Rachel unconsciously tightened her grip on Thomas’s shoulder. Her legs trembled.
She wanted to collapse, but even that wouldn’t happen.
As if everything had broken, she couldn’t think of anything but fear.
“……”
His gaze moved past Rachel—to the small child she was holding.
Even when his eyes left her, Rachel couldn’t calm down. The trembling she felt through Thomas only made her more anxious.
Instinctively, Rachel pulled Thomas closer to her.
The boy stumbled as he was pulled, nearly twisting his ankle, but Rachel standing behind him kept him from falling.
“Who is this child?”
Ian spoke, pausing briefly.
Seeing Rachel act as if protecting the child from him, Ian Dakendorf’s face hardened even more.
“Ha… ha…”
As Rachel tried to process his question, she heard heavy breathing.
“Waaah!”
Suddenly, Thomas broke into loud sobs, unable to overcome his fear. At the sound, Ian’s expression grew even colder.
His violet eyes shifted back to the child.
As if annoyed by the noise, he frowned slightly. Seeing this, Rachel finally realized what she had to do.
“Thomas, it’s okay.”
“Waaah!”
“Don’t cry—go home quickly. Hurry!”
Rachel knelt down to meet his eye level, urgently speaking while wiping his tears. Her hands trembled with fear.
Even though she herself looked ready to cry, her voice was firm.
Clenching her lips, Rachel pushed Thomas.
But he only shook his head, his legs rooted to the ground.
Whether from fear or because he didn’t want to leave her, he refused to move.
“Rachel? Thom… as?”
At that moment, a confused male voice called out.
Rachel tried to look, but Ian’s body blocked her view. Still, she instantly recognized the voice.
Dean—Thomas’s older brother.
Hearing him, Rachel felt a tiny bit of relief.
Now he could take Thomas away.
“Go to Dean.”
Rachel said, wiping Thomas’s tear-streaked face. But Thomas still shook his head.
“Um… who… are you?”
Dean approached cautiously, his voice trembling with fear.
That was the kind of man Ian Dakendorf was.
Even without speaking, his mere presence instilled fear.
Rachel didn’t want Dean dragged into this situation.
Biting her lip, she picked Thomas up and stood.
Ian was now looking at Dean, his profile visibly angry.
“Dean.”
Forcing her trembling legs to move, Rachel approached him.
“You take Thomas.”
“Huh? O-okay.”
Though startled and tense, Dean did as she said, taking Thomas from her arms.
The boy resisted, clinging to Rachel, but eventually he was passed to Dean.
“Go. Quickly.”
“But… Rachel, what about you—”
Dean hesitated, looking between her and Ian.
He didn’t understand what was happening, but he couldn’t just leave her behind.
“Go!”
Rachel pushed his arm firmly.
Startled, Dean widened his eyes, then finally left, glancing back at her and the stranger.
Thomas’s crying gradually faded as they disappeared around the corner.
Rachel stood still until they were completely gone.
She had managed to get Thomas away from Ian.
But beyond that, she had no idea what to do.
She didn’t know why Ian had come here, or how he found this place.
And because she knew nothing—she couldn’t act at all.
