When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 103

Turning Away, a Stranger (102)

Side Story 2

“Two, both of you.”

Reilly was speechless with bewilderment. But then, she suddenly remembered Ren, who was standing beside her, watching them with an indifferent expression.

“Ren, did you know about this?”

“It would be more surprising if I didn’t.”

“Ha! I thought they were meeting quite often… Does Caber know too?”

Surely, she wasn’t the only one who didn’t know.

Ren shrugged at Reilly’s gaze. He probably knew. He had given them leave, after all.

“Everyone is so mean.”

Reilly plopped down on the roof, resting her chin on her hand. But seeing Leta smiling brightly, she felt good inside.

“Don’t worry. They look like that, but they’re working quite hard.”

“I suppose so. They seem to be enjoying it.”

“That’s because they haven’t done any of the really troublesome things yet.”

Ren was more worried about Reilly than Leta. He wondered what she was thinking in this ambiguous situation.

“Have you made up your mind?”

“Um… I’m almost there. I don’t know. I’m worried about what the other nobles will think, and what if my authority diminishes because of me.”

“Did that guy even have any authority to lose? He got a strong backer thanks to you.”

“Who?”

“Me.”

Reilly laughed at Ren’s confident voice. He really seemed to think so.

Objectively speaking, he wasn’t wrong. The Empire’s Sword. She, who possessed Kerathium [a powerful magical artifact or ability], had come to love the Emperor.

“Would it be okay to enter the Imperial Palace?”

“I don’t know.”

“You can’t just keep running away and living like this forever.”

“…I know.”

She already knew that Caber was under a lot of pressure.

He was in a position where he had to raise an heir, and therefore, many people were interested in the Empress’s seat.

It was an opportunity to set foot at the pinnacle of power, the closest place.

“I heard that guy is more popular than I thought?”

“Ren, stop calling him ‘that guy.’ Seriously.”

“My master is you. There’s no reason for me to show respect to anyone other than you.”

Because he had completely broken free from the contract, Ren was not bound to the Imperial Family. He could devote everything only to Reilly, who he had a contract with.

“How is it? The feeling of being free from servitude?”

“Not bad. I don’t have to watch the old men’s faces in that stuffy place or attend boring meetings.”

“That’s because I’m going instead.”

“That’s your job.”

Ren shook his head, looking disgusted. Since Reilly was the one putting power into the sword anyway, what was the point of him going there and listening to it himself?

He just had to do as his master told him.

“Now, only you are left.”

“That’s right.”

Reilly lay down on the roof, looking at the sky. The sky she had seen in a long time was filled with clouds drifting leisurely.

“The sky is clear, should we go on a picnic?”

“Do whatever. But go with the guy who’s waiting, not me.”

Ren dusted off his clothes and stood up. His black hair fluttered in the wind as he stretched. His red eyes then turned to Reilly.

“Don’t make him wait too long; it’s quite cruel.”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I really don’t know if I can sit in that position.”

“That’s not your problem to worry about. That’s the guy’s problem to fret over. He’s so crazy about you, what can others do?”

“Pfft, what is that.”

“So be more confident. Two people, whom others can’t even dare to look in the eye, are on your side.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t just say thank you.”

Ren leaped over the roof and disappeared. Where is he going this time? She felt good seeing him looking so much more relaxed.

“Really, only I am left.”

She stared blankly at the sky.

If Caber had someone else… she couldn’t stand it.

* * *

“So, why did you do things your way without telling me?”

Caber’s sharp voice echoed through the audience chamber.

The nobles flinched, looking at each other, and closed their mouths. No one could step forward and express their opinion to the Emperor.

He was gentle and kind in other matters, but he reacted sensitively to the issue of the Empress. Everyone knew that Reilly was the cause.

“I told you not to.”

“What can we do? The other kingdom suddenly presented it.”

“You should have refused. What are we going to do about this?”

They were busy poking each other in the side and whispering.

Caber, who had been watching them quietly, sighed. The woman in front of him, with her sparkling eyes, staring intently at him, didn’t budge.

‘Damn it, I’m going to be misunderstood.’

If Reilly found out about this, she would be disappointed. But since he had said that he would not bring in an Empress or a mistress, it was natural for others to be anxious.

He really didn’t intend to bring in an Empress.

Caber couldn’t think of any other woman besides Reilly.

He just needed a little more time. He wanted to make her want to be by his side, not out of duty, but out of love.

“What did you all think of me to do something like this?”

“N, no, that’s not it! We couldn’t help it either.”

One of the nobles hurriedly waved his hand and denied it. His aggrieved expression clearly showed that it wasn’t acting.

Who would do things their way without wanting to have their head cut off?

“Don’t blame them. I came on my own.”

A slightly youthful-looking princess opened her mouth.

Even with Caber’s cold gaze in front of her, she didn’t care. Instead, she stared even more brightly.

‘It’s just as I thought. So cool.’

If she were to marry, she wanted to marry someone like him.

She was the youngest daughter of the King of Thebe [a fictional kingdom], a neighboring kingdom. The King of Thebe tried to stop her, but she didn’t listen and crossed over to the Empire.

“I came on my own. I want to marry Your Majesty. I am Dea, the daughter of Thebe.”

She boldly said what she wanted.

Caber had a throbbing headache. He pressed his temples with his thumb and closed his lips tightly.

“I have no intention of marrying you, so go back.”

“But! You don’t have anyone to marry!”

“I guess you haven’t heard the rumors properly. Don’t you know that I have someone I love? I wish you knew that I’ve been courting her for over 10 years.”

“If it’s been over 10 years, shouldn’t you just give up?”

The princess tilted her head. If it’s been that long, doesn’t that mean she doesn’t like you? Why are you wasting so much time on one person?

She was young and pretty. She was perfect for bearing an heir, and she had a brilliant mind for politics. Even though it was a kingdom, royal blood flowed through her veins. So, wasn’t she the perfect match for Caber?

“I guess you haven’t heard what happened to the other princesses from other kingdoms.”

“I heard. But I’m going to compete fairly.”

It was no use talking. No matter what he said, that child wouldn’t back down. Then he had no choice but to show her directly.

“Then see it with your own eyes. I’ll give you a chance to go back on your own without being kicked out. You’ll need to save face too.”

Dea’s face brightened at Caber’s words.

She heard it as giving her a chance. That was a huge misunderstanding.

He glanced at his watch. It was time to meet Reilly. He had to meet her in front of others today. That way, that clueless child would realize and go back.

That there wasn’t even a small gap between the two of them.

* * *

“Why did you want to meet outside today?”

Reilly, dressed beautifully, asked as she fastened her sword to her waist. It didn’t match the dress, but it looked beautiful on her.

Caber laughed to himself, calling it a love filter that wouldn’t come off even after time passed. Naturally, their hands clasped together, and they looked into each other’s eyes.

“I wanted to walk for a long time.”

“Was work hard today? Then shouldn’t you go and rest?”

“No, I feel energized just by seeing you. Just stay by my side.”

Caber nuzzled his face against Reilly’s shoulder, imitating a cat purring.

He felt at peace when her pleasant scent reached his nose.

“You’re acting strange today….”

Reilly tilted her head at Caber’s unusual behavior.

Of course, he was more affectionate and playful than anyone else to her, but today was especially….

“But Caber, did you come alone?”

Strangely, she kept feeling someone’s gaze. It wasn’t close, but she felt a persistent gaze from a distance.

It was too blatant to ignore.

“Um, actually, something happened.”

“What happened?”

Reilly raised her hand and gestured. At the same time, Ren, who had been hiding, appeared before her eyes.

He looked at Caber with an unpleasant expression. Someone was dangling from Ren’s hand. It was a woman she had never seen before.

“Are you talking about this?”

Caber sighed briefly at her words.

As expected, she couldn’t have missed the presence. In the end, the princess who was caught by Reilly revealed herself.

‘I told you to just be honest.’

Haban was vehemently opposed, so he couldn’t say anything.

He clearly said that it would be better to quietly watch the two of them and make them give up, saying that Reilly would be displeased.

“L, let me go! Do you know who I am? Do you think you can just grab me by the scruff of the neck like this!”

She sobbed and struggled. She must have been embarrassed by the humiliation she was experiencing for the first time.

Reilly gestured to Ren.

“You should let her go. She’s a princess from another kingdom, even if she looks like that.”

At Caber’s words, Ren dropped her with a thud. Dea frowned.

“Your Majesty! These people are!”

He didn’t even know the princess’s name properly.

He wasn’t curious, and he didn’t put it in his head. He didn’t like the fact that this situation had arisen in the first place.

‘Haban, I helped you, but you’re giving me such a headache.’

He must have been resentful that he didn’t give him a vacation for a few days. But even so, he didn’t tell Reilly about the two of them and hid it, but he’s repaying him like this.

“You need to explain a little.”

Reilly crossed her arms and nudged Caber’s face playfully.

Caber hugged Reilly and glanced at Dea.

She was still struggling, unable to contain her anger, and glaring at Ren.

“You shouldn’t do that. As the princess heard, that man over there is the Empire’s Sword.”

“…What? That rude person is the Empire’s Sword? Shouldn’t he be loyal to His Majesty?”

“I’m sorry, but he has a separate master.”

At Caber’s words, Dea’s gaze reached Reilly. The moment she saw her, she was captivated by the word beautiful.

The ends of her long silver hair were tinged with blue, and her green eyes, which seemed to have captured the forest, stole her soul just by looking at them.

“Wow….”

She couldn’t help but say that Caber was handsome, but she couldn’t even utter those words to Reilly.

She was beautiful and elegant.

Reilly, standing in the garden and staring intently at her, looked like an angel.

Her white dress and the beautifully lined flowers that suited her so well made her shine even more.

“That beautiful person is a sword?”

She couldn’t believe it. Dea wanted to see her a little closer. However, she was stopped by Ren’s hand.

“Let me go, I just want to talk to her up close.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible.”

“Why? Is she more important than His Majesty?”

“More important than anyone.”

Ren’s red eyes gleamed ominously.

She felt a threat to her life for the first time. This man had no good feelings for her at all.

“Stop scaring her. An empire that treats a princess from another kingdom like this… It would be a big deal if other countries found out. I’m sorry, please forgive her rudeness.”

Reilly slowly approached her.

She didn’t seem to have any malice.

Curiosity about her, and clear eyes. She wouldn’t be a bad person. Of course, the person who brought her to this point should be punished.

“Would you like to have a cup of tea with me?”

“S, sure!”

She smiled brightly and approached Reilly closely. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at Reilly, who was much taller than her.

“…I think she likes Reilly more than me.”

Caber scratched his head and looked at the two of them. Maybe Reilly was good at handling people.