When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 41

Reilly rubbed her neck absently.

“Am I regretting this now?”

Even after considering it again, she knew this was the right decision. She couldn’t sign a contract immediately. If she were to contract with Ren, she’d have to go straight to the Imperial Palace.

And she couldn’t just leave Ren as he was.

Reilly sighed, fidgeting with the letter from Caber.

“‘Celatum’ is a sword that means ‘secret.’ No one will know anything about the sword.”

She was supposed to hear about the sword from Ren, but he had returned to his sword form, so she couldn’t get the story from him directly.

In his sword form, Ren was utterly silent. The silence was so profound that they couldn’t discern his thoughts at all.

“…I didn’t realize it when he was around, but I feel empty now that he’s gone.”

She hadn’t noticed it when she was with Ren, but she felt his absence quite strongly now.

Come to think of it, he seemed a little hurt…

Frustrated, Reilly opened the window and looked outside. At the edge of the mansion grounds, she saw someone moving furtively.

“They don’t seem to be from the Duke’s family. Who are they?”

It wasn’t just one or two people; several were carrying things in their arms and heading outside.

She quietly held her breath and watched their movements.

Reilly’s face tightened as she recognized the last person carrying a box.

* * *

“Are you really not coming out?”

Caber said, tapping the sword with his finger.

A few days ago, he would at least react, but today there was nothing. After pondering for a moment, Caber sat down at his desk and began to process documents.

“He’ll come out when the time comes.”

It was more helpful to him if Ren wasn’t present. Ren had been by her side, protecting her, while he had been helping from behind.

Caber frowned, recalling Reilly’s slightly worn face.

“Now I will protect her.”

He quickly signed the documents, his expression hardening. Haban, who was observing him, glanced at the sword.

‘Does he feel jealous of the sword?’

Even though humanization is possible, Ren was essentially the sword itself. But that didn’t negate the emotions he possessed.

“What are you going to do in the future? You can’t keep this sword in the Imperial Palace indefinitely.”

He had taken it away by imperial order, but if Duke Veriter contested it and filed a lawsuit, things would become complicated.

There would be a lot of gossip, and it would be combined with the rumors about Caber that have been circulating recently, which would be disadvantageous.

“Your Highness, do you have any ideas?”

Haban was increasingly anxious. Caber was already unpredictable, but recently he was so erratic that Haban couldn’t anticipate anything.

‘His Majesty won’t just leave it to him forever.’

If too many problems arise and issues emerge regarding the succession, the Emperor will intervene directly. The current Emperor was too lenient with Caber.

“He will be participating in the property division trial soon.”

Everyone’s attention will be focused on it. It will be on the front page of the newspapers again, and regardless of the truth, people will be talking about the trial.

“And if Your Highness is found to be involved in the divorce…”

“My reputation will be ruined.”

“Are you still so relaxed even though you know that?”

Haban couldn’t contain his frustration and questioned Caber. However, Caber simply smiled at Haban’s words, unfazed.

“Haban, you don’t know Reilly.”

“I think it would be strange if I did.”

“She is smarter and stronger than anyone else.”

‘Did someone like that marry someone like Theo?’ Haban wanted to shout, but he kept his mouth shut. He might have his tongue cut off if he said it out loud.

However, judging from her recent spirit, she had definitely changed. Her eyes were unwavering, and her voice held an unknown power.

“Above all, there will be no way to lose the trial.”

Caber turned his gaze back to the documents and focused on his work. Haban, who didn’t understand anything, blinked and pondered his words.

‘No, but how?’

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t find the answer. In the end, he decided to wait until the answer emerged. He couldn’t trust Reilly, but he trusted Caber, whom he served.

* * *

Reilly, who was looking through the books of the Printz family, got up from her seat and left the room.

‘Was this what they were so busy moving?’

As Reilly left the room, the servants glanced at her and greeted her. She smiled brightly as usual and nodded.

‘It’s been almost a week since the Duke was imprisoned, so I should check on the situation.’

Before that, there was something she had to resolve first.

She passed by those who were watching her and headed to the room where Anna was staying. Ignoring the maid who was looking at her warily, she said.

“I want you to tell her I have something to say.”

It will be quite difficult if you don’t listen, Anna.

Reilly thought of Anna, who would be watching her from behind the door.

‘I have to finish this before the trial.’

That way, she can steer the results to her advantage as much as possible. And Reilly has secured enough evidence to prevent it from dragging on.

Now that Theo can’t manage the Duke’s affairs properly, the opportunity is ripe.

She was in the position of Duchess while she was away, but she wouldn’t have been able to handle the Duke’s work effectively.

‘Theo wouldn’t have left it to Anna.’

If he had, Anna wouldn’t have been able to embezzle the Duke’s property secretly.

The maid naturally blocked Reilly’s path.

“She needs to rest because she was shocked by the recent events.”

Anna will probably be pleased with this maid. But that will change when she hears what Reilly is about to say.

“Then I’ll have to say it here.”

Reilly took a breath and spoke in a loud voice that could be heard in the room.

“About the baby in your belly.”

She paused for a beat to gauge the reaction. But there was no sign of movement in the room.

“A man named Tom told me an interesting story—”

At that moment, the door burst open and Anna, with a flustered expression, reached out and pulled Reilly inside.

“L, Lady?”

The flustered maid widened her eyes and took two steps back.

“Go now. It seems like we have something important to talk about. Don’t let anyone else in!”

Anna shouted urgently and closed the door.

“What’s the rush?”

Reilly smiled as she removed Anna’s hand from her arm. Anna, who was looking at the door with an uneasy expression, hurriedly locked it.

“Are you afraid someone will hear you?”

It seemed like she was leisurely drinking tea alone, as there were some snacks and teacups on the table.

“But why two cups?”

Anna frowned and stood in front of the table.

“What did you say outside just now?”

“Anna, you need to think carefully from now on. It wouldn’t be bad to consider what would be most beneficial to you.”

Reilly smiled as she looked at Anna’s quite swollen belly.

“I know what kind of medicine you bought from a man named Tom.”

“I, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Anna desperately tried to hide her embarrassment and gripped the hem of her dress tightly.

“He hasn’t been in touch lately, has he?”

There will be no need to find him, but she would have tried to get news out of anxiety. And even if she didn’t hear the details, she would have heard that he was threatened by someone.

“Now, Anna. Listen carefully to what I’m going to say.”

Reilly sat down with her legs crossed and stared at Anna. The corners of her lips twitched at the sight of Anna’s eyes darting back and forth with anxiety.

“You need to agree with me before the property division trial. It’s simple, just stamp this document with your seal, right?”

“Do you think I’ll do it?”

“If you don’t, I’ll reveal that the baby in your belly isn’t Theo’s.”

“Do you think he’ll believe you?”

Anna scoffed and crossed her arms. She expected her to react this way, but was she more foolish than she thought, unable to calculate profits?

“Then let me ask you one thing. Why don’t you get Theo out [of prison]?”

Now the Duchess is Anna. Even though they were swept away by Reilly’s words and imprisoned him, he could be released with just one word from Anna.

‘Do you think I don’t know your intentions?’

She had already embezzled the property and expected the worst-case scenario when Theo was released.

However, the only thing that bothered her was Anna’s attitude.

Even though she talked about the baby in her belly, she didn’t waver. That meant she had something she believed in.

“Theo doesn’t trust you anymore. He won’t abandon me.”

Reilly continued to probe Anna. It worked a little, and her brow began to furrow slightly.

“Ha! Then you believe your own words?”

Reilly shook her head at Anna’s words. There was no way he would believe other people’s words. Moreover, it was extremely rare in the case of Reilly or Anna.

“If you let me end the trial quietly, I won’t reveal what you did.”

Of course, it was a lie.

She could honestly bring down Theo and Anna in any way, whether she stood trial or not. It just mattered how many spectators there would be.

‘Maybe the Imperial Family wants to end it as quietly as possible.’

Reilly was also considering doing so if she could end it quietly. Looking at Anna, it didn’t seem like it would be difficult.

“You said you were curious about who I was drinking with, right?”

Anna strode to the closet and opened the door.

With the open door, a deep smile spread across Reilly’s face at the sight of the man crouching inside.