When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 18

Turn Around and You’re a Stranger (17)

But there was no way he would be here. Wasn’t I the one who rejected him so coldly?

‘There’s no way he would have looked for me.’

It was absurd. Even when I was at the mansion, I had a slight hope, but I didn’t even see his shadow.

If you ask if I was disappointed, the answer is ‘no.’

Because everything related to the Imperial Family was an object of hatred for her.

Reilly glanced at Kaver. Although his appearance was different, his actions were enough to remind her of *him*.

‘It’s ridiculous.’

Me, thinking of him now, and having strange expectations.

Kaver’s ears perked up. He couldn’t help but feel a little expectation at the word “familiar.”

‘Will she recognize me at least a little?’

He had changed his appearance, but he held a fleeting hope that she might recognize him.

“I don’t know. Did I see you in the newspaper or something?”

Kaver’s heart sank at Reilly’s expressionless face and indifferent voice.

‘Ah…….’

What was I expecting, like an idiot?

Kaver met Reilly’s eyes.

“I’m not a great man *enough* to be in the newspaper.”

Kaver, with an awkward smile, stroked the chair absently and turned his gaze away.

It was clear that she didn’t recognize me in disguise.

Ren began to chuckle and wiggle his body.

“I should have come without disguising myself…….”

Kaver muttered, touching his forehead with his hand. He didn’t like this situation. He was going to explain everything when we met again.

Ren, who was watching Kaver with amusement, moved closer to Reilly.

“Give it to me; your skills are still the same even after doing it so many times.”

“Ren is just good at it.”

Ren took what Reilly was tying the string around and skillfully tied a ribbon.

“Did you deliver the goods well?”

“Yeah, I always do well.”

Ren was on his way back from delivering the goods directly at Reilly’s request. He had no choice but to leave her alone to deliver the goods because she was so worried that it would break.

‘I’m glad I came quickly.’

Ren took a short breath as he watched Reilly next to him, watching him pack. Ren’s brow furrowed at Kaver’s blatant gaze that was felt even by him.

‘If he looks so blatantly, Reilly will think it’s strange. That idiot…….’

Ren subtly introduced a topic that would be of interest to Reilly in order to send her inside.

“Setria, I brought the raw stone you asked for.”

“Okay.”

Reilly didn’t seem to register Ren’s words. *’How can he pack so beautifully?’* She was surprised several times a day by Ren’s meticulousness.

‘Ren is really amazing.’

She kept exclaiming inwardly and watched the gift being packaged.

The rolled-up sleeves revealed firm muscles and tendons. She couldn’t believe that he, with his rough hands, could tie a ribbon better than her.

Thump-

A large hand was placed on Reilly’s head. Reilly, surprised, raised her head.

“Go in and take a look quickly. If you don’t like it later, I won’t buy it for you again.”

Ren turned her body around with his hand before Reilly could answer. In a daze, Reilly had no choice but to go inside. She turned her head slightly and looked at Kaver.

Kaver, who was quietly watching me and Ren, bowed slightly.

“She’ll like it! Goodbye. Oh, and please come again!”

Kaver’s face suddenly contorted as Reilly greeted him with a smile.

‘Fortunately, her face has gotten a lot better.’

Kaver was nervous, even more so when he faced her. He was afraid that she might be living with someone else again, like before. He was afraid that he was late again.

Kaver roughly ran a hand over his face and lowered his head. His lips, which had been pressed into a thin line, finally opened, and he asked Ren.

“Why did you hide it from me?”

“Because Reilly doesn’t want it yet.”

“Ah…….”

Kaver was relieved by Ren’s words. He was afraid that she wouldn’t come back for some other reason.

“But.”

Ren smiled and handed Kaver a well-packaged gift.

“I’ll have to think about sending it to you.”

Besides, Reilly was in an incomplete state of memory. She had erased the memories of the child and made a contract, so the memories in between were sparse.

Because what she wanted to forget was the guilt and pain associated with the child.

Ren didn’t know why, but it seemed that even Reilly’s past memories had been erased from her head. It may have been a side effect of an incomplete contract.

Reilly’s reason for being here now would also be distorted.

“And… don’t talk nonsense. Reilly’s memory is fragmented right now.”

Kaver’s lips twitched at Ren’s words, but he quickly composed himself because of Reilly, who came out.

Kaver immediately understood his words. She shouldn’t have forgotten the pain of losing her child, but the Reilly he was facing now seemed too bright.

Kaver thought it would be better to hold his tongue for now, as Ren said.

‘Did she erase even her past memories?’

A pang of pain resonated in one corner of his chest. He was afraid that even his existence would disappear from her memory.

Ren composed his expression towards Reilly and asked in a friendly voice, never turning his gaze away from Kaver’s persistent stare.

“Do you like it?”

“The raw stone is good; it must have been hard to get.”

Reilly nodded and gave a genuine smile. When she turned her head at the gaze looking at her, her eyes met Kaver’s for a few seconds.

‘Ah……. He’s still here. I hope she likes it.’

Reilly’s gaze shifted to the gift in her hand.

“I’ll deliver the rest.”

Ren said indifferently to Kaver. Eventually, Kaver gave a brief greeting and moved away.

It was an inevitable retreat.

Clang-

As Kaver left the store, Ren’s eyes narrowed. Reilly tried to ignore Ren’s gaze and began to organize the jewels.

“You, earlier.”

“Huh?”

It’s a nagging. Reilly rolled her eyes and tried to escape.

“I told you to be careful.”

“……I didn’t realize.”

Ren turned Reilly’s body towards him. Reilly, who was mumbling, gave an awkward smile.

Ren looked at Reilly with affectionate eyes, re-tying the crooked scarf.

Incomplete contract, sword that keeps wanting a contract.

I couldn’t resist the constant calls.

But Ren wanted Reilly to forget everything and be happy, even if it was just a little bit. Even if there wasn’t much time left, he hoped that her face would be smiling like now.

‘If that bastard’s patience holds out.’

* * *

“Your Highness, have you checked?”

“Ah, I saw it wrong.”

“Yes, I understand. But what is the paper in your hand?”

Haban asked, staring at Kaver’s hand.

At first glance, he could see the words ‘urgently needed’ written on it……

As anxiety swept through him, Haban shook his head from side to side.

‘No way, he didn’t take it from that store.’

Kaver’s expression after leaving the store was unusual, but Haban thought it was just because he couldn’t find Reilly.

“Ah, this?”

Kaver readily handed the paper to Haban.

“So, I have to keep an eye on it.”

“Yes? W-What are you talking about?”

The eyes, shaking in confusion, carefully examined the paper.

[Urgently looking for staff]

No way, it can’t be. I’m just imagining too much these days.

Haban chuckled softly and crumpled the paper in his hand. He shook his head violently, looking at Kaver with innocent eyes as if he hadn’t seen anything, smiling brightly.

“I’m not saying I’ll go every day. Doesn’t it say there? It’s not all day, but only needed in the morning.”

“Ah, you mean you’re going to send an employee to check on the situation?”

Haban shrugged innocently and playfully.

He was obviously hoping it wasn’t, but Kaver shattered Haban’s belief in an instant.

“I’m going to work there, not anyone else, because they don’t know Reilly well. So take care of the aftermath.”

“……No way. I can’t do it even if I die!”

He shook his head resolutely and hardened his expression. But Kaver looked at the place where Reilly was again and patted Haban’s shoulder.

“Isn’t it time to get used to it now?”

This, crazy Crown Prince…….

He almost burst out with a curse that squeezed his lips. If he did, his head might really fly off.

Haban lowered his head, sobbing. It was clear that he would have a lot of work to do as soon as he returned. First of all, he had to create a fake identity to hide that he was the Crown Prince, and what about reporting to His Majesty?

‘No, in what crazy country does the Crown Prince do chores in a store?’

He felt like his head was throbbing and he wanted to lie down.

“Absolutely not.”

He couldn’t allow this no matter what. He even thought about lying on the floor and telling him to step on him.

‘No, he’s really going to step on me.’

Haban tried to come up with another suggestion, but it was clear that he wouldn’t be able to win because he was such a strong person.

“If I report to His Majesty, I might die on the spot.”

“Then I’ll report it.”

“Don’t you think that in itself will cause my head to fly off?”

“It is necessary for the Crown Prince to experience the lives of the people himself.”

“The intention is impure.”

He knew Kaver’s thoughts even if he wrapped it up. It wasn’t *just* Reilly who was the target; the fact that he was trying to stay by her side like this must be related.

“What is the reason?”

“Haban, are you daring to question my intentions?”

Kaver frowned with a solemn expression. It was quite a threatening action, but Haban was someone who had been watching Kaver since he was a child.

That means it doesn’t work.

“No matter what you say, absolutely not.”

“You know that it’s no use coming out like that, right?”

Kaver was the type to never change his mind once he made it. And Haban, who had been serving him by his side, was the same kind of person.

“You know that I am too, right?”

“Haban!”

“It’s no use shouting. And you’re definitely not thinking of acting like a child or acting cute, right?”

Haban blocked all means to break Kaver’s resolve. It was absurd for the Crown Prince to work as an employee in a store.

‘If the people find out, the prestige of the Imperial Family…….’

The hairs on his body stood on end, and goosebumps rose. He even felt a chill, so he wrapped his arms around himself and trembled.