When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 32

After leaving the information broker, Railey finally turned to face Kavel directly.

“Is Leta doing well?”

“Yes, she’s constantly worried about you.”

“Please tell her to wait a little longer. I’m sorting things out.”

Railey noticed the seal embedded in Kavel’s right chest.

The same pattern that was on her neck, a clear, blue color.

A long-time friend and one of the few fond memories from her childhood.

“Kavel Varitas.”

Kavel’s eyes widened at hearing his name from Railey’s lips.

How long had it been since she had heard her call him by his name?

“…It’s been a while.”

‘No, you idiot. Is that all you can say?’ Railey thought.

Even though they had seen each other just a few days ago, all he could manage was, “It’s been a while.”

Kavel’s face was filled with frustration.

Railey watched his changing expression and deliberately pressed her lips shut. There was no reason to be happy, nor was there time for trivial conversations.

“Why is His Highness the Crown Prince chasing after me?”

She hadn’t received any explanation from Ren. Furthermore, she couldn’t understand why he, who should be in the Imperial Palace, was lingering around her.

“If you’re curious, will you give me a chance to explain?”

He hoped, even just a little, to have a conversation. Kavel felt that he might not get another chance to meet Railey alone.

He desperately wished for it, grasping at straws.

“No, I don’t have much time right now. I’ll go to the Imperial Palace once this is over.”

However, Railey refused firmly. Kavel’s heart sank once again at her indifferent expression and monotonous voice.

‘The Imperial Palace?’

Kavel frowned, repeating Railey’s words. Wasn’t that the place she wanted to escape from so badly?

“Railey.”

“Your Highness, I have never given you permission to call me by my name.”

A cold air surrounded them. Railey was drawing a line between them. Kavel lowered his head at her cold gaze.

“Yes, you definitely did. You, and no one else, allowed me to call you Railey.”

A tearful voice rang out softly. Golden eyes, holding the sun, were shaking erratically.

* * *

“You must leave urgently.”

“No, wait a moment!”

Suddenly, masked men appeared and grabbed Kavel’s arm. He was dragged away before he could say anything to Railey.

“Ah, Lady Charlize. We have prepared a carriage. Please return without worry.”

“…I understand. Please take care of him.”

Haban flinched at Railey’s words. It was as if she knew it was Kavel.

‘She knows.’

He should have asked Kavel for a detailed explanation, but the answer seemed to be already out. Haban thought it was fortunate that Railey, and not someone else, had noticed.

Because she would keep it a secret and not reveal it to anyone.

However, what bothered him was Kavel’s state of mind after meeting Railey.

“We will meet again soon.”

Haban bowed politely to Railey and quickly disappeared.

“Hmm…”

Railey, with a bewildered expression, stared blankly at the place where they had disappeared before getting into the carriage. Fortunately, she returned to the mansion before sunset.

Thanks to the maid who hadn’t reported Railey’s departure, no one said anything to her.

Judging by the quietness, Theo seemed to be out as well.

Railey, entering the annex, calmly examined the information about Anna.

‘Hmm, there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly different.’

As she expected, she was from a lower noble family on the verge of collapse. She hadn’t been in the capital for long, and there were no other unusual details.

A sneer spread across Railey’s face as she read the short, summarized text on one page.

It was about her recent whereabouts.

“She’s been there quite a few times, hasn’t she? Without getting caught…”

Anna had left the mansion secretly, not just once but several times, without Theo’s knowledge, heading to a place not far from the mansion. It was a place that managed horses and carriages, and also served as the servants’ quarters.

However, most of them stayed and lived in the mansion. It was undoubtedly the perfect place for a secret rendezvous [a secret meeting].

Who on earth did she meet there? Railey couldn’t think of anyone.

It was a place where few people came and went, not even the maids knew about it, and she herself barely knew it existed.

It was a place where only those who stayed there had any reason to go.

‘Wait a minute, does this mean that the father of the child she’s carrying… is someone who lives inside the mansion?’

Railey thought it was absurd, but the information couldn’t be wrong. She put on a cloak without anyone knowing, secretly slipped out of the annex, and walked along the back path.

Railey held a note in her hand.

‘He was a strange person.’

Veron kept laughing, saying that she would find out if she went, as if it was amusing.

He said it would be more fun to go without knowing, and didn’t tell Railey anything about the man.

‘Now that I think about it, I feel like I was tricked like a fool.’

Railey smiled slightly as she looked at the note in her hand.

She was the one who paid for the information, but he acted as if he didn’t care about the money. Railey thought she should call Ren later and ask about this.

First, she needed to confirm it, and then she would argue about it later.

It was then, as the rustling sounds and a gentle breeze lingered around Railey, that she heard voices from behind the servants’ quarters. She stopped and slowly headed towards the sound.

‘…It sounds like someone’s there?’

Railey held her breath, lowered her body, and leaned against the wall. The moment she peeked her head out, her eyes widened.

‘It’s that man.’

Thanks to the composite sketch Veron had drawn, Railey recognized the man at a glance. Anna and the man, who hadn’t expected anyone to be there, were leaning against the wall, breathing heavily.

“Haa… I missed you.”

“…I’ve been neglecting you lately, haven’t I? Hmm.”

Before Anna could finish speaking, their lips met. As if accustomed to it, the man’s hand slid down Anna’s back and quickly went inside her skirt.

As embarrassing sounds pierced her ears, Railey’s hand, holding the note, tightened.

“Haa, ugh. Not here!”

“Shh. Someone might hear us.”

The man whispered in Anna’s ear and gently nibbled on it. Startled by the moan that burst out without her knowing, she covered her mouth with her hand.

‘You’ve gone all the way, haven’t you?’

Railey could only laugh at what was happening before her eyes.

The man who was intimately touching Anna was none other than the head butler of the Prinz family.

* * *

Railey headed to the main building early in the morning. Judging by the maids moving busily, she seemed to have arrived at the right time.

“Are you preparing breakfast?”

“Yes, but there’s no reason for the Madam to be here, is there?”

The head maid treated Railey coldly, giving her a look.

‘She’s divorced, but she’s still acting like a Madam [a respectful title for a married woman].’

Since they were already divorced, there was no need to call Railey ‘Madam,’ but everyone was forced to use the title by Theo’s orders.

She was well-trained by Anna and looked wary, resembling her.

“Hmm, I wasn’t planning on eating, but… I came to see if I could help.”

“…Help?”

Suspicious eyes narrowed sharply. She shook her head, seemingly unwilling, and said firmly to Railey.

“It’s alright. It’s not good for the Madam to be in the kitchen.”

“You must not have heard. The Duke told me to take good care of Anna.”

Railey wiggled her fingers with an innocent face. The head maid had heard from Theo that her memories were stuck when she was married.

‘Does she really want to help?’

The head maid was troubled by Railey’s clueless expression and innocent smile.

“Then… please help with something simple.”

Railey smiled brightly and helped prepare the ingredients. She was planning to tell Theo later to let her be in charge of the meals.

She hummed a tune while preparing the ingredients, slowly observing the maids.

‘Everyone’s so busy that they don’t even care about me.’

That was fortunate. It would have been troublesome if they had been watching her closely, so she would be satisfied with this for today.

She took out a small bottle from her sleeve and sprinkled it into the ingredients without being noticed.

“It’s harder than I thought… I hope Anna likes it.”

The head maid glanced at the clock and approached Railey.

“It’s probably best if you leave now.”

It was a clear expulsion.

Looking at the clock, it was almost breakfast time. Railey looked regretful, but left the kitchen without hesitation.

“I should call Ren and have breakfast.”

Railey said she would eat separately and headed straight to the annex.