When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 52

Kaver quickly got out of bed, urgently reaching out to Railey.

“D-Don’t scream.”

He flailed his arms in the air, looking embarrassed. Railey blinked slowly, trying to grasp the situation.

‘Why… is he naked?’

Moreover, he was holding me with that body.

Her face flushed, and Railey instinctively pulled the blanket over her face. She slowly slipped inside the blanket and checked her body.

Fearing Railey might misunderstand, Kaver quickly explained.

“I was just sharing body heat because you were shivering so much! Absolutely nothing happened.”

He desperately tried to explain the situation.

“I know, so, p-put some clothes on.”

Railey said, her head bowed. It wasn’t the first time she had seen a man’s naked body, so why was she getting so hot?

She had been fine when she saw Ren’s exposed upper body before.

When her hand touched the spot next to her where Kaver’s warmth lingered, it felt strange. Was it because she wasn’t feeling well?

Railey curled her toes, feeling like she was getting hotter.

“Ah, right.”

Kaver stared blankly at Railey before quickly picking up the shirt that had fallen on the floor and buttoning it up. He tilted his head, thinking he had seen her looking shy.

“Ahem. Railey, I really hope you don’t misunderstand.”

Kaver, his face flushed red, covered his upper body and rambled, hiding his face. He was filled with the urge to tear his hair out for being so foolish.

‘Why did I fall asleep here?’

He knew all too well what Railey would think of him. No matter what he said, he had been holding her naked.

‘Ren will try to kill me if he finds out.’

The thought alone sent shivers down his spine.

Railey stirred slightly under the blanket. She examined her hands and then threw back the blanket, saying,

“My mana… feels stable.”

Her body felt light. No, it felt not just light but even refreshed.

Kaver, relieved by her words, slumped to the floor. Seeing Railey’s brightened complexion, he finally felt at ease.

“You must be hungry. I’ll call a maid.”

Kaver got up and smiled. Fortunately, Railey didn’t seem to have mistaken him for a pervert.

He nodded slowly to Railey and strode to the door, opening it.

“…Looks like you’ve been waiting a while.”

The moment the door opened, people poured in, causing Kaver to step back. Haban, awkwardly raising the corners of his mouth, glanced at Railey and said,

“I should be the one asking why Your Highness is in this room.”

Judging by how much time had passed, something must have happened inside. He couldn’t bring himself to ask and just glared into the room.

* * *

“Are you really not going to tell me?”

Haban persistently clung to Kaver, asking. Kaver didn’t open his mouth, struck dumb by the question of why his ears were red.

“Tell Leta that Railey has woken up.”

“Another maid has already gone to inform her. Are you really not going to answer my question?”

“Whatever you’re thinking, nothing happened.”

Haban’s eyes narrowed at Kaver’s words.

“But, the atmosphere between the two of you seems to have changed subtly.”

Kaver pushed away Haban, who was leaning in with a questioning look. Why was he being so annoying today?

“Why are you being like this today?”

“I’m just wondering if your one-sided love of over ten years is finally coming true!”

“Please, watch your mouth!”

Kaver sighed, covering Haban’s mouth. How could someone become more sly and cheeky day by day?

“Well, I’m glad she’s awake. We also need to tell her about Duke Berito’s matter.”

Haban shuffled through the documents in his hand, his expression hardening. Just thinking about the battles with the nobles while she was unable to wake up made him shudder.

Nevertheless, the reason he could smile like this was because he had won.

“Where is Father?”

Kaver asked, taking the documents. If he hadn’t forgotten his promise to Railey, he would surely summon her to the audience chamber now that she had woken up.

“He will summon you soon.”

“Yes, he’s not one to lie.”

“His Majesty put a lot of effort into this trial.”

The nobles who had sided with Duke Berito were practically rebelling against the imperial family, so from the Emperor’s perspective, he had eliminated troublesome seeds.

The Trailla family itself had the backing of the imperial family, so it was obvious that the nobles would be wary after this incident.

“It will be quiet for a while then.”

Haban nodded with a slightly excited expression. That also meant that his work would be reduced a bit.

With the opposing forces subdued, Kaver’s support would also increase slightly. His shaky position had become a bit more secure.

“It was a good thing that Your Highness strengthened your own power apart from her.”

Otherwise, the imperial authority would have been shaken. His position would have been precarious just by not having the relationship with the Trailla family and the Sword Contract [a magical agreement binding a knight to their lord].

It was a good thing that he had developed the power to protect himself.

‘If it weren’t for Railey, I might not have been able to do it.’

Haban also didn’t understand why Kaver had tried to handle the aura even at the cost of his life. It was reckless to do it for the sake of loving someone, and he thought it was an absurdly small reason.

However, watching Kaver train every year without giving up, he seemed to have changed a bit too.

Perhaps the moments when Kaver met Railey in his life were the most significant to him.

“It was reckless.”

Kaver smiled, thinking back to that time. But because it was reckless, he was able to move forward fearlessly.

Perhaps it was because he was pure that he only looked ahead without considering anything else.

“That’s why I am who I am now.”

Haban shuddered and shook his head at Kaver’s slightly cheesy words. Something must have happened in the room.

‘He has the look of someone completely in love.’

For a while, words that he couldn’t bear might pour out of Kaver’s mouth. Haban was worried about whether he should accept this positively or not.

* * *

“The weather is still chilly.”

Kaver said, draping a coat over Railey, who was sitting in the garden. He had come out for a walk to clear his head from work and happened to find her.

Thanks to Haban discreetly leaving, Kaver was able to approach Railey.

“It’s okay, the sun is still out.”

Railey said, looking at the coat on her shoulders. Kaver, who had been anxious that she might refuse, breathed a sigh of relief when Railey didn’t say anything.

“Ren is nowhere to be seen.”

He usually didn’t leave her side for a moment, but he was nowhere to be seen today. He wouldn’t leave his post unless Railey specifically ordered him to.

“He said he was going for a walk. But who knows, he might be watching from somewhere.”

Railey laughed softly. Kaver felt relieved at her expression, which seemed a bit more relaxed than before.

“That’s possible for that guy.”

Kaver also laughed in agreement with Railey. Kaver hesitated as he was about to sit across from her.

Kaver, looking at her, seemed to be waiting for her permission.

“Since you’re here, why don’t you have some tea?”

Railey casually said, as if she was bothered by Kaver’s hesitation. Whether it was consideration or foolishness.

He probably wouldn’t have said anything even if he had sat down as he pleased. But Kaver pulled up a chair and sat down only after Railey gave her permission.

“Shall I call a maid to bring out teacups?”

Railey asked, fiddling with the only teacup.

Kaver didn’t intend to stay long, but he was eager to have tea with her. Because she was showing him favor.

He felt like having a maid come would disturb their time alone.

He didn’t want anyone to interfere.

“It’s okay. It’s not important to drink tea.”

This moment of facing Railey was important to Kaver. The slightly fleeting glances, the way her hair swayed in the wind, he liked seeing her now.

“Still…”

Railey didn’t seem to like drinking tea alone. Kaver started to get up slightly, then reached out his hand.

“Then, we can do this.”

Kaver’s hand overlapped Railey’s hand holding the teacup.

Kaver brought it to his lips as it was and took a sip from the teacup that Railey had drunk from.

Railey blinked at Kaver’s gaze, which was fixed on her.

He took a sip of the tea and smiled.

“It’s my favorite tea.”

Rather than feeling unpleasant at his sudden action, Railey’s cheeks were tinged with crimson. Unlike the warmth of the teacup that was transmitted through her hand, the back of her hand was burning.

Railey couldn’t look straight at Kaver’s brightly smiling face, feeling a hot flush as if she had been burned.