When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 102

Revolving Door (101)

Side Story 1

“I can’t believe you’re standing in front of me.”

Kavern stared intently at Leyla’s face. He never imagined a day would come when he could comfortably look at her in the Imperial Palace.

If he were her flower, as Leyla had said, he wanted to be a flower that always bloomed without withering.

“Thank you.”

He kissed Leyla’s hand. He couldn’t express all his sincerity with just these words, but he couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Tears welled up as he looked at her, smiling gently and gazing at him silently.

Tears streamed down his cheeks without him even realizing it.

“Don’t cry. I’m not too late, am I?”

Leyla reached out and wiped Kavern’s wet eyes.

Even with his eyes red-rimmed, he was still so handsome. She suddenly laughed at her own foolishness.

‘Why did I turn away so much when I felt this good?’

Just looking at each other made her heart swell so much.

Perhaps, with such a precious person by her side, she had been too busy chasing after other things to notice. But she had no regrets about it.

Maybe if she hadn’t done that, she would have lived with regrets her whole life.

She had reclaimed her original place, and this moment, where she could live as herself without losing her identity, was precious to her.

“Then what will happen to the Trayla family?”

Kavern wiped away his tears and cleared his throat. Even he thought that crying any more here was not the way to go.

He needed to make a good impression, and he couldn’t just keep crying like a child.

Having regained his composure, he tried to regain his dignity, but it was futile in front of Leyla.

“I don’t know.”

Leyla didn’t seem to have any particular thoughts.

Even if she didn’t give up being the head of the family, he had no right to stop her. It was her life, and no one could force her.

“Let’s think about that later. Are you having other thoughts with me right in front of you?”

Leyla smiled mischievously and cupped Kavern’s face. What did it matter? She was so happy in this moment.

“No, I’m not thinking about anything else.”

Kavern gently wrapped his arms around the back of Leyla’s neck and kissed her. Heat bloomed all over his body each time their breaths brushed against each other’s noses.

It felt like a part of his heart that had been empty was being filled. Warmth spread from his fingertips to his lips, and then to his body, confirming each other’s existence.

Memories flashed by like a slideshow. A tear streamed down from Leyla’s closed eyes.

Not sadness, not pain, but happiness.

It was love, and it was happiness.

* * *

“You can’t leave, can you… …”

Kavern made a sulky face and grabbed Leyla’s sleeve. She stopped changing her clothes and looked at him.

“You’re just like a child when you’re like this.”

“I’m worried about you sneaking out like a stray cat every night.”

“I wonder who keeps calling me every night.”

Leyla sighed as she continued to get dressed.

She had come because he kept begging to see her, and now he wouldn’t let her go, so she stayed until sunrise.

“Isn’t Leta here yet?”

“She’s learning diligently. Did you think becoming the head of the family was easy?”

“But what am I supposed to do? I want to see you every day.”

Kavern hugged Leyla and whined.

He must be tired from having a lot of work today.

Currently, Leta was diligently learning the duties of the head of the family. There were still many things she was clumsy at, so there was a mountain of things to watch over and help with.

“Hey, Your Majesty.”

“I get scared when you call me that.”

He slyly turned his head away.

Leyla brushed his blond hair back and lightly kissed his forehead.

“Good boy? I’ll come again.”

“Anytime. I’ll go wherever you want.”

“What if you run into an assassin?”

Leyla chuckled and looked at Kavern. She knew he was skilled because she was the sword of the Empire, but Kavern was no slouch either.

He was an incredibly hard worker. If Leyla was talented and naturally gifted, Kavern was the type of person who gritted his teeth and climbed to the top.

If you had to pick one, Kavern was the more tenacious one.

“If it’s an assassin… you don’t have to worry. If you’re so worried about me, stay by my side.”

He pretended not to know and flirted with Leyla.

It was impossible not to laugh at his behavior, which didn’t suit his large frame.

“I won’t fall for it, unlike other women.”

Leyla firmly broke free from Kavern’s embrace. She stretched, opened the window, and disappeared with a brief greeting.

Kavern wiped the smiling expression off his face and raised the corners of his mouth.

“Well, then, shall we take care of some things now?”

He had been trying to see how long the annoying presence would stay, but either they were fearless or they had missed their timing, because they were still there.

As he was about to open the window and go out, he saw Leyla grabbing someone by the collar in the distance and throwing them to the ground.

The assassin, wearing a mask and dangling from her hand, quickly fell to the ground, unconscious.

She dusted off her hands and turned her head towards Kavern.

“Rest! I took care of it on the way.”

“Haha… haha.”

Sheathed her sword without a care and smiled brightly.

It seemed that he hadn’t run away, but had been frozen in place by her aura.

Kavern curled up the corners of his mouth as he watched her silver hair flutter in the wind. Her figure, illuminated by the moonlight, was truly lovely.

“How can I not fall for her?”

He smiled contentedly as he watched Leyla change day by day.

* * *

“Sister! Look, the purchase price has gone up!”

Leta burst in as soon as she knocked on the door.

Leyla rubbed her eyes and got out of bed, looking at the paper being thrust in front of her with blurry eyes.

“Leta, you have a good eye for this kind of thing. It’s a pretty high price, so we can sell it later if we wait a little longer.”

“Haban is supposed to teach me about finance today.”

“Haban? Isn’t he bothering you too much?”

Leyla squinted and stared at Leta.

“No! His Majesty gave him a day off today.”

“He gave him a day off, but he’s going to teach you about finance?”

Hmm, something feels strange.

Leta was startled and waved her hands at her suspicious gaze.

“It’s not what you’re thinking!”

“I wasn’t thinking anything.”

Leyla’s gaze became even more intense at Leta’s seemingly flustered reaction.

Besides, even Ren, who had been quiet, jumped in to help.

“Ren, stay out of this!”

“I thought we were family, but you’re telling me to stay out of this?”

Ren crossed his arms and stared at Leta. Leta’s face turned red as if his gaze was too intense.

“You’re both so mean!”

“What’s so mean about it? I just looked at you.”

“Th-that’s…! I don’t know!”

Leta hurriedly ran out of the room. Judging by her flustered appearance, something must be going on.

“I thought I was going to get some rest, but why did you come out?”

“I was feeling stuffy, and I thought I’d go out for a bit after a long time.”

“Where are you going?”

“Somewhere. I have freedom too.”

Ren glanced at Leyla and approached the door. Leyla sat in her pajamas, blinking and staring at Ren.

“Do you know what you’re wearing right now?”

“Huh? …Gasp!”

Only then did Leyla pull the blanket up and cover her body.

She was wearing pajamas, and they were made of silk, so they clung to her body, making her look quite sexy.

‘If only Kavern hadn’t given them to me.’

It was far from her taste, but the material was so good that it felt good every time she wore it to sleep. As a result, she naturally started looking for these clothes.

In conclusion, she was very sexy right now.

「I wish you would only wear them in front of me, but it’s a shame I can’t.」

Only then did Kavern’s voice, when he gave it to her as a gift, come to mind. Leyla buried her face in her knees, trying to cool her burning face.

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to eat you.”

“Ren!”

“Hehe, if you react like that, I want to tease you more.”

Ren turned his back to Leyla and opened the door. If he went out the window, she would nag him again, so he had no choice but to obey quietly.

“Where are you going?”

“Somewhere. To see something fun.”

Leyla’s eyes sparkled at his words. Wouldn’t it be nice to see something fun together?

“Let’s go together!”

“Then get ready quickly. You won’t be able to see it if you miss it.”

Leyla quickly started changing her clothes.

She told the maids to bring her simple clothes and became anxious, wondering if he would leave alone.

‘He always sees fun things by himself. I have to go with him today.’

Working was only good for a day or two, and she needed something new in her life.

Her heart was pounding and she was excited without even realizing it.

“Let’s go!”

Ren grabbed Leyla’s hand and quickly started moving. Soon, he headed to the roof of the Trayla family’s mansion and sat down.

“…You said we were going to see something fun?”

“Yes, it’s about to start.”

He patted the spot next to him and gestured to Leyla. She felt a bit let down, but she quietly sat next to him and looked at the garden.

“The garden looks quite nice from this direction.”

“Right? I bet they didn’t think it would be visible from here.”

Leyla tilted her head at Ren’s words. And before long, Leta and Haban appeared.

The two of them started kissing passionately as soon as they met.

“Oh my!”

Leyla, startled, jumped up from her seat.