When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 100

Kaver watched Lailly, her attention fixed on something outside the window.

“I think she’d be surprised if I just showed up like this.”

“Who said I was going to let you in?”

Ren grabbed Kaver’s arm and pulled him closer.

Lailly turned her head, sensing someone outside the window.

“…What are you doing?”

Kaver whispered softly. *What kind of bad luck leads to facing each other like this every time?*

“Maybe you have ulterior motives for me, not Lailly.”

“What? Are you crazy?”

Ren pushed Kaver away and ran a hand through his hair.

“Then why did you bring me here if you were going to stop me?”

Kaver confronted Ren with an annoyed expression. Ren crossed his arms and scanned him up and down at his sharp tone.

“Isn’t it obvious? Why would I trust you enough to let you into her room?”

“……”

“Hitting a nerve, huh?”

Kaver’s face flushed again at Ren’s words.

“I’m not some kind of beast…”

*Or am I?*

Kaver couldn’t bring himself to deny it.

Just seeing her face made him want to hold her in his arms. It seemed he was a beast after all.

“At least you have a conscience.”

Ren sneered at Kaver, who couldn’t answer.

Admitting it hurt his pride, but making excuses was even worse.

“Then why did you bring me here in the first place?”

Kaver sighed and glanced into the window. Lailly was staring intently outside, as if sensing something was off.

Startled, Kaver hid himself behind the wall.

“Goodness, you’re like a stray cat.”

“Go to the garden. I’ll send Lailly that way.”

“…Honestly, you’re something else.”

Ren waved his hand dismissively and pushed Kaver to the ground.

“Oh, you crazy–”

Kaver disappeared with a short cry as he fell to the ground.

*Thump.*

“Ren?”

Lailly opened the window and leaned out, recognizing the familiar voice.

“I definitely heard a scream.”

“You must be too tired. How about a walk?”

Ren lowered himself to meet Lailly’s gaze with a brazen face.

*That’s strange, I could have sworn I heard Kaver’s voice.*

It seemed like it was time to rest, just as Ren said.

“Okay. I’ve finished the urgent work, so let’s go.”

Ren took Lailly’s hand and pulled her out. Her silver hair sparkled in the moonlight as she came to the window.

A scarf was wrapped around her neck along with her long hair.

“Thanks to Ren, I don’t even need a door anymore.”

“See? You’re getting used to it, aren’t you?”

Lailly took a deep breath, looking at the stars in the night sky. The cool breeze and refreshing air filled her lungs, making her feel refreshed.

“Should we bring Leta with us?”

“No, I’d rather not have any interruptions.”

Ren wrapped his arm around Lailly’s waist and grinned.

* * *

Lailly landed gracefully in the garden. Thanks to Leta’s care, the garden was full of flowers she had never seen before, creating a spectacle.

Although the colors were not visible in the night sky, the sight of them slightly illuminated by the moonlight seemed to add to the mystery.

“Oh, I think I left something behind.”

“Suddenly?”

Ren took a step or two away from Lailly and scratched his head awkwardly.

“I’ll go get it later.”

*What could he possibly need for a walk?*

Lailly found Ren’s behavior strange, as if he was trying to leave as soon as they arrived in the garden.

“Tell me honestly. What are you hiding?”

Ren subtly avoided Lailly’s suspicious gaze.

“It’ll only take a moment.”

“You know you’re acting weird, right?”

“Lailly.”

Ren shrugged and smiled at Lailly’s words.

“I’ve always been weird. You should have realized that by now.”

Lailly reluctantly nodded at Ren’s words.

In the end, she had to stand alone in the garden and watch Ren leave.

“Did he want me to rest?”

It seemed Ren was concerned that she was working without rest. She slowly stretched her stiff shoulders and strolled through the garden.

She hadn’t even had a chance to take a leisurely walk since coming to the Duke’s residence.

Leta was also busy preparing for the banquet, so neither of them had even had a proper cup of tea.

“Well, the night air isn’t bad.”

Lailly slowly took in the sight of the garden.

“Huh?”

She saw someone’s figure as she walked further into the garden.

She stopped abruptly.

It wasn’t Ren, and it wouldn’t be Leta either. *So, what was the chance that someone else was here?*

*Zero.*

Lailly immediately went on alert. She slowly approached, holding her breath so as not to make a sound.

*Did Ren not notice?*

No, that didn’t make sense either.

She calmed her throbbing head and suppressed her presence.

*To think I left my sword behind at a time like this.*

She blamed her complacency and gathered the mana [magical energy] in her body.

If necessary, she could use mana to fight. She had never used it properly, but it would buy her time until Ren arrived.

The distance between her and the person shrouded in darkness grew smaller.

One step.

Two steps.

And soon, when she was close enough, she saw golden hair clearly revealed by the moonlight.

“Kaver?”

Kaver, who had been sitting anxiously, jumped up and turned around at Lailly’s voice.

He flinched and stepped back as she raised her hand as if to strike his neck at any moment.

“…Lailly. But that hand.”

It seemed Ren had brought her without giving her any warning.

If Lailly hadn’t realized who he was…

The two felt a sense of déjà vu [a feeling of having already experienced the present situation].

The memory of this happening before came to mind, and they burst out laughing.

“I never imagined it would be you.”

“I didn’t know I would end up here either.”

Kaver and Lailly looked at each other for a while without saying a word. They seemed too busy capturing each other in their eyes.

“The succession ceremony is tomorrow.”

Kaver nodded as he sat down on the prepared chair at Lailly’s words.

“You must have a lot to prepare; aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

Kaver pulled Lailly onto his lap.

“Lailly.”

His sweet voice tickled her ear on the wind.

“Nothing is more important to me than you.”

“…Me too.”

Lailly buried her face in Kaver’s shoulder, seemingly embarrassed.

His pleasant scent and heartbeat were conveyed to her. She wanted to see him. But she couldn’t go to see him.

She was afraid that her resolve would crumble.

Kaver slowly and gently caressed Lailly’s face. He tucked her hair, which fell long and tickled his face, behind her ear, revealing her face completely.

Lailly’s cheeks were adorably flushed, and her green eyes, hidden by long, shadowed eyelashes, were visible.

“I’m glad you look well.”

“……”

Kaver’s lips curled up involuntarily. Their eyes met in the air, and then the distance between their faces slowly narrowed.

Their breaths were exchanged, creating a strange atmosphere.

“I should go now.”

He lightly kissed Lailly’s forehead and subtly avoided her eyes.

“…Are you running away?”

Lailly grabbed his collar urgently at Kaver’s attempt to avoid her.

“Yes, I’m running away.”

It was difficult to maintain his reason in front of her. Lailly’s scent was too dizzying, and her breathing seemed to awaken another personality within him.

“I might turn into a beast again.”

Kaver frowned as if troubled.

He wasn’t even sexually frustrated, so why couldn’t he control himself only when he was in front of her?

“Then, why don’t you try running away?”

Lailly pulled Kaver by the collar and kissed him.

*Swoosh.*

With the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, Kaver’s eyes were filled with Lailly.

*……Really, I might as well admit that I’m turning into a beast.*

He wrapped his arms around her face in a kiss so captivating that he couldn’t resist.

The moonlight shone brightly, as if illuminating the two of them.

Kaver was so greedy that he felt like he was going crazy. He didn’t want to let go of her hand. He wanted to keep her by his side and spend his life with her.

Lailly’s breathing grew rough with heated breaths.

He couldn’t see the light in his eyes in the dark, but he felt like a beast being devoured by a wild animal. Nevertheless, she couldn’t get away from Kaver.

She wanted him too.

In the end, Kaver spat out the words that had been building up in his throat.

“…Take responsibility.”

“Huh?”

Lailly’s eyes widened as she caught her breath.

“You took my first time.”

Kaver pulled Lailly closer and pressed their bodies together.

“So you take responsibility for me.”

Lailly blinked, her mouth agape.

“W-what are you saying now.”

Her face flushed and felt like it was about to explode. She quickly looked around to see if anyone was listening to Kaver’s words.

“You’re not going to eat me up, the man who will be Emperor, and then pretend you don’t know anything, are you?”

“E-eat you up!”

Lailly reached out and covered Kaver’s mouth.

Kaver took Lailly’s hand that touched his mouth and kissed her palm deeply. Lailly’s body trembled as she looked up at him slightly.

He had eyes that looked like he was about to devour her, but he was wagging his tail like an abandoned cat.

“Huh? What are you going to do? Lailly.”

Lailly shut her mouth tightly as if flustered.

“I don’t think I can live without you now. You have to take responsibility if you tame me.”

Kaver’s eyes flickered dangerously.