When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 57

Turning Around, It’s Someone Else (56)

“I think you’ve forgotten about me over here.”

Leta, who had been watching the two from the front, couldn’t help but speak up.

She had been waiting in the carriage and turned back when it seemed a little late, only to find her sister in Kaver’s arms.

“I just caught her because she almost fell.”

“I didn’t ask. And since I’m not curious, why don’t you just get in the carriage?”

Leta shook her head and climbed into the carriage. Kaver’s hand, which had been about to escort her, felt awkward.

In the end, Kaver escorted Railey and then got into the carriage.

Silence filled the carriage as it drove on. Unable to bear it, Leta asked Kaver,

“Is there anything I should be aware of?”

“Not really. I trust you’ll handle things well on your own.”

“You trust my sister, not me, right?”

Leta shrugged. There might not be much for her to do, but they probably wouldn’t leave both her and Railey alone.

Besides, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t ask her about the Count.

“If it’s about Count Heriond, rest assured.”

Kaver said casually, as if reading Leta’s mind. No one would dare speak carelessly about the Count.

Of course, Kaver had said before that he had handled it well, but she was still uneasy.

“You can’t silence everyone.”

“It’s been handled as a divorce due to wrongdoing on the part of the Heriond family, so you don’t have to worry.”

Kaver replied to Leta’s anxious eyes. Few people knew about Leta’s death because the Heriond family hadn’t told anyone else.

Besides, it had ended as a mere incident, so if others asked about it, Leta just had to deflect the questions well.

Of course, it would be difficult even to talk about it because of the trauma of that day.

“No one will bring it up carelessly.”

Kaver asserted. He reassured Leta that it would never happen. She didn’t have to step forward for anything difficult.

“Leta, I’m fine, so you don’t have to come with me.”

“But I want to see their faces.”

Past trauma resurfaced, and she was afraid, but Leta shook her head. She couldn’t send her sister to such a place alone.

Besides, if even Kaver wasn’t there, it was obvious how others would treat Railey.

“I’m going with my sister.”

And who knew what that princess might do.

This time, she had to protect her sister. She had to hide the fact that Kaver liked Railey.

Leta’s eyes sparkled as if she had made up her mind.

* * *

The gazes of those attending the tea party all focused on one spot. It was because a carriage bearing the imperial seal had arrived at the Duke’s residence.

Everyone rose from their seats.

The door opened, and Kaver got out of the carriage, escorting Leta and Railey. That was all he could do.

Railey blinked slowly at Kaver and turned away.

Only after the carriage carrying Kaver left the Duke’s residence did Railey and Leta slowly walk towards the gathered people.

The first to greet them was the Duke’s daughter of the Serhinn family, the hostess of the invitation. Duchess Roanna greeted them with a bright smile.

“Welcome, Railey and Duchess Leta Sharltea.”

“Thank you for the invitation.”

Railey and Leta bowed with elegant grace. Everyone glanced at them, quickly scanning them.

‘The way they’re dressed, the way they look is completely different from before.’

They didn’t like the two staying in the imperial palace. But they couldn’t show their true feelings.

“We’ve been eagerly awaiting the Duchesses’ arrival.”

Everyone put on a mask and extended their hands to the two Duchesses.

Railey looked at the attendees one by one. She breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t see one more person who should have been there.

She had been quite nervous, but Princess Vivianna Adel was nowhere to be seen.

“The tea that came in this time is quite delicious.”

Duchess Roanna smiled and handed Railey a cup of tea.

“Oh my, haven’t you already tasted it?”

A young lady folded her eyes prettily and took a sip of tea. Railey silently lifted the teacup and smelled the aroma.

She didn’t know much about tea, but since she had been having tea time with Kaver in the imperial palace since she was young, she had naturally developed an eye for tea.

“Judging by the tea leaves, it seems to have been imported from the west.”

“Y-yes, it is. Duchess Railey seems to know a bit about tea.”

The young lady who had been sarcastic quickly covered her trembling lips, as if embarrassed.

“It’s just thanks to being familiar with it since I was young.”

Railey smiled lightly and put down the teacup. Leta quietly sipped her tea, glancing at Roanna.

‘She seems to be waiting for something.’

She was bothered by the way she kept looking at her watch.

“Duchess Roanna, do you perhaps have something urgent to attend to?”

Leta asked her with an innocent expression. Roanna, startled by this, waved her hands and fanned herself.

“Oh my, I’ve been rude to my guests. It’s just that I ordered a special dessert, but it hasn’t arrived yet.”

Despite the obvious lie, Leta nodded.

“I’m so excited about the dessert that the Duchess prepared.”

She put her hands together and stared at Roanna with sparkling eyes. There was no specially prepared dessert, but she couldn’t let her lie be exposed.

‘She’s been quick-witted since she was young.’

Roanna, who had been smiling brightly at Leta, reluctantly called a maid and secretly told her to bring a new dessert.

She became a little anxious. She should have been here by now.

“Am I too late?”

A blonde woman in a red dress appeared with a smile. Roanna’s expression brightened noticeably as soon as she appeared.

“Oh! Princess!”

Everyone rose from their seats and greeted Vivianna Adel. Railey and Leta also rose from their seats and paid their respects.

Vivianna Adel approached Railey and gave her a gentle smile.

‘I don’t know why, but she doesn’t like me.’

Adel’s eyes and mouth certainly seemed to be smiling.

However, Railey sensed the faint hostility in her eyes.

“You must be Duchess Railey Sharltea.”

“I greet the Princess of Pheroponsia.”

Railey bowed slightly to Adel. Adel’s eyes curved even more at the flawless etiquette.

“I didn’t expect to see the Princess here. Others would be quite envious if they heard about this.”

The Princess sat down with a deep smile at Railey’s words.

“It’s not easy to see me, after all.”

She even said quite pleasant things, which she secretly liked.

Her first impression wasn’t very good, but it seemed like they could communicate better than she thought.

‘That child is said to be the one who will become the Imperial Sword, right?’

According to recent rumors, she was sticking to Kaver’s side so much that ridiculous rumors were circulating. She had heard from a close maid in the imperial palace that the Crown Prince was interested in her.

It was absurd.

Adel glanced at Railey once.

“If you become a sword, I’ll see you often. A sword working for the imperial family… The Empire is too much, using people as swords.”

Adel lifted her teacup slightly and examined Railey.

She didn’t want to admit it, but she was a woman with beautiful looks. The silver-haired woman next to her must be her sister, Leta.

“Even if I become a sword, I don’t belong to the imperial family. Above all, I don’t think I’ll see the Princess often.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

Adel put down her teacup nervously and glared.

Roanna calmly watched the situation. She was in a good mood because it seemed like things were going in the direction she wanted, with the Princess offending her.

‘Yes, if this happens, our family will be more advantageous even if we maintain a friendly relationship with the Crown Prince.’

No matter how much Railey was a Sword Contractor [a person contracted to be a magical sword], Vivianna Adel was a princess of a kingdom. She was not someone that an Imperial Duchess could dare to treat carelessly.

“If I become a sword, I’ll be going to dangerous places often. Wouldn’t it be bad if I saw the Princess often?”

Railey lowered her voice with a soft smile. Adel felt like she was being played with for some reason, but she couldn’t help but agree with Railey’s words.

“Well, that’s true.”

“I saw earlier that your clothes seemed to match the Crown Prince’s. Someone might misunderstand.”

Roanna threw out another story that Adel would be concerned about. The ears of the young ladies who had been quiet perked up, wondering if it was a story everyone was curious about.

“…Did His Highness the Crown Prince visit?”

Adel asked in a trembling voice. It was Kaver who had never responded to her requests even once. Of course, this was the same not only for her but also for other princesses.

The fact that Kaver had come here in the same carriage was shocking to her.

Moreover, wasn’t he aware that she was staying here?

‘But he’s leaving without seeing me?’

No matter how much he rejected her, she was a princess. She was not someone who should be treated like this.

He even escorted a mere duchess, but he didn’t even show his face to her. It was unbearable.

Adel looked at Railey’s blue dress, which seemed to match his. It was a dress with a color as beautiful as his eyes.

She wanted to tear it apart right away. The blue color, which contrasted with her red, seemed to represent the two of them.

Railey’s calm attitude, as if she didn’t care, was also not to her liking.

She hated herself for being consumed by jealousy. Anger flickered in Adel’s eyes.

“I have prepared new tea.”

The maid who appeared just in time approached Adel. She silently pointed to Railey with her eyes. The maid hesitated for a moment, then stumbled and poured the teacup on Railey.

Railey’s dress was stained and blotched because of it.

“Sister!”

Leta was startled and stood up, taking out a handkerchief.

Railey raised her hand to stop Leta. Despite the hot teacup falling on her, she didn’t waver. Rather, she stared at Adel with eyes that were calmer than before.

“Roanna, you need to train your maids properly.”

Adel said to Roanna without avoiding Railey’s gaze.

“And Duchess Railey should change into a dress that doesn’t suit her. Since it’s stained, it looks just like you.”

Railey didn’t care about Adel’s words and slowly opened her eyes as she drank her tea.

“Princess, thank you for your concern, but my dress is fine.”

The dress, which was clearly wet and stained, was already fine. Railey looked at the maid who was bringing tea again and stared at her.

Suddenly, the maid’s body leaned towards Adel on its own, and she spilled the teacup on her.

“Kyaa!”

Adel, startled, stood up and screamed. Railey put down her teacup and said in a pitiful voice.

“Roanna, you really need to train your maids properly. It’s a mess.”