When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 50

Turning Away is Another Person (49)

The music changed, and people began to dance. Railey, who had never danced before, was led by Caber into the crowd.

“I… I can’t dance.”

“Don’t worry. Just lean on me a little.”

Caber pulled Railey close, making her lean on him. As the Crown Prince, he had to start the ball.

He couldn’t leave Railey and dance with others, so he took her hand and led her.

Ren, who was standing to one side watching Railey, noticed Leta entering the ballroom with a somewhat nervous expression.

‘So, it begins.’

Ren glanced at Railey with Caber and then left.

“Was that the signal?”

Railey asked Caber, as if she had noticed. The plan to switch Railey and Leta in the confusion had already begun with the music.

Each time they danced around, Duke Beritar’s face briefly passed by. If they reached the opposite side before the partners changed, Leta would naturally replace Railey.

“Well, I thought it would be obvious if I told you in advance.”

“I hope you move as you wish, without any trouble.”

Railey finished speaking and switched places with Leta. She moved through the door on the opposite side to the terrace and looked at the stage.

‘About ten people will move with Father.’

She put her hand to her neck and signaled Ren.

“There’s a carriage in the woods.”

Ren, who had appeared unnoticed, reported the situation to Railey. As expected, they were planning to kidnap Railey today.

“He’s a man who doesn’t know when to stop.”

How far down will he have to go before he stops? Does his bottom even exist?

Railey swallowed a bitter smile at the feeling of emptiness.

“Leta’s safety is guaranteed, right?”

“Of course, once this is done, we really need to make a contract.”

“I know. It’ll be okay.”

Ren couldn’t be sure. He just hoped so.

* * *

As the ball deepened, the atmosphere became more heated. Leta glanced at her father’s movements.

‘Don’t be nervous. Don’t tremble. Sister would have done well.’

Gripping the hem of her dress tightly, she took a deep breath.

They had created a reason to call Caber out, so he pretended to go along with it and left.

People gradually gathered around Leta, who was alone.

“I can’t recognize you like this.”

“That’s right, I heard the news in the newspaper… Are you okay?”

The women spoke to Leta about Railey’s affairs with a slightly envious tone. They seemed to think she was Railey.

‘Thank goodness. It seems like they don’t recognize me.’

Leta smiled, covering her face with a fan, looking a little relieved. She had practiced countless times to look like her sister, but she still felt awkward.

“Railey.”

Duke Beritar approached before more people gathered, with perfect timing. Leta’s body trembled.

The fear she had experienced in the past could not be easily shaken off. The memories of the past came rushing back, stiffening her body and quickening her breath.

It’s okay. It’s okay.

Leta calmed herself inwardly. If she couldn’t play her part here, everything would be in vain.

“I didn’t expect you to come all the way here.”

A low, emotionless voice rang out. An interested gaze turned to Duke Beritar in the cold atmosphere. They pricked up their ears, wondering if they could glean any information.

“Railey, it seems awkward to see me after a long time.”

“It seems like you have something to say.”

Leta glanced at her watch. It was almost noon. It seemed like the time would be right, so she spread her fan out further to cover her face tightly.

‘No matter how similar I look, Father will definitely notice right away.’

She lowered her gaze and stood next to Duke Beritar.

“Aren’t there too many eyes on us?”

“Yes, it would be better to move to another place.”

Duke Beritar reached his hand back and gestured. Slowly, without anyone noticing, they headed towards the back door.

A desolate feeling lingered in the space where only the two of them were, where the sound of music could not be heard. Leta’s heart beat even faster.

‘Don’t tremble. Everyone is watching.’

She glanced at the place where the others would be lurking. Her father hadn’t changed at all.

Her breath caught as his greedy eyes still looked at her.

“You dare betray this father?”

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You hated the Imperial Family so much, and all you decided to do was side with them?”

After all, wasn’t he the one who tried to sell his sister to the Imperial Family?

Leta chuckled at her father’s hypocritical behavior. It was rather fortunate. If he had begged for forgiveness now, she might have been unconsciously drawn to his affection.

Who knows, the affection that had remained from her childhood might have suddenly sprung out.

“What does it matter? I’ve entered the Imperial Family that Father wanted so much.”

“It matters. Why did I raise you? It seems like your mana has become stronger, so come to your father.”

“Is that all you have to say? You’re so disgustingly unchanged.”

Leta felt goosebumps at his seething desire. Perhaps because of the darkness, Duke Beritar couldn’t see the color of Leta’s eyes.

He grabbed her wrist tightly, afraid that she might run away.

“That’s why I was able to get you.”

“Do you think you can do as you please? I will never move for my father.”

Slap-

Duke Beritar couldn’t control his anger for a moment and slapped Leta’s cheek. He tried to examine Leta’s collapsed figure like a madman.

“Oh, dear. You might be hurt. I have to treat you with care.”

Leta gasped for breath, supporting herself on the floor. Her eyes were wide with shock, and fear seized her again.

‘Oh, no.’

The words ‘I’m sorry, I was wrong’ seemed to come out of her mouth involuntarily. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand and swallowed her breath.

“So why are you making this father angry? Are you going to threaten me again like last time?”

That won’t happen. Duke Beritar grabbed Leta’s hair and tilted her head back. Leta, who was struggling, squeezed her eyes shut and didn’t open them.

Her whole body trembled with fear, but she couldn’t ruin it.

“Ah! Ugh.”

The Duke forced a potion into Leta’s mouth, which had opened in pain. He had obtained the drug in case she used her powers.

“It’s no use struggling. If you take this medicine, you won’t be able to use any power for at least a day.”

“…You’ll regret it.”

She felt her throat stiffen as if it were freezing. With her fading consciousness, her body was being moved by someone.

She felt nauseous and vomited involuntarily. But there was nothing she could do.

“My lovely daughter, Railey. Let’s go home now. For this father.”

A cold sensation and a hand stroking her face were felt.

The maids who searched every corner of her body to find the pattern [referring to a magical mark or birthmark] and her father came to mind, and goosebumps rose all over her body.

Leta was reminded of the humiliation when she was stripped naked in front of people, with the feeling of insects crawling on her.

Tears streamed down her eyes.

* * *

“They moved. It’s now.”

Caber nodded at Haban’s words. With his gesture, they secretly began to chase the carriage that was standing in the forest.

“I’m going to kill them right now.”

Railey’s face, who had been watching Leta, was a mess with tears.

Railey’s heart had long been torn to pieces when she saw her sister crying in fear.

Blue mana flickered with her trembling hands in anger.

It was a power that even Ren couldn’t control for the first time. Railey immediately followed Caber. The guards surrounded the ballroom, and Haban stayed behind to prevent people from leaving.

This was because Duke Beritar’s people, who were in charge of the cleanup, remained.

The rapidly moving carriage felt strange when the group that was supposed to follow didn’t come.

“Something’s wrong. Isn’t it too quiet?”

“They must have noticed by now, so don’t think uselessly and go to the Duke’s mansion quickly!”

Duke Beritar took off his gloves, feeling agitated. He looked at Leta, who was closing her eyes, and stopped at the scarf around her neck.

“I don’t think she was covering her neck earlier.”

I should check it out. Come to think of it, it was strange that Railey, who didn’t usually tie her hair up, had changed her style today.

Duke Beritar reached out and pulled the scarf around Leta’s neck.

“Ah!”

A scream was heard from outside, and soon the carriage stopped.

The Duke swallowed hard at the eerie feeling outside. After a while, when he couldn’t hear anything, the group slowly opened the window.

“Cough!”

A hand suddenly came in from outside the window and quickly snatched the man’s neck.

The man’s neck was pulled in an instant, and his body collapsed into the carriage with a snap.

Duke Beritar was startled and tried to close the window.

‘Something must be wrong.’

His gaze then moved to Leta’s neck.

There was no pattern on her exposed neck.

“Damn it!”

Duke Beritar finally realized that they had been completely fooled.

The Duke looked at the window and collapsed, his legs giving way. Eyes containing green energy were staring at him.