When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 6

Turning Away, You’re Just Another Person (5)

Because she visited so often, Lailly spent a lot of time with Kaver. Whenever her father had an audience with Prince Kaver, he always presented his daughter as if she were a rare commodity.

“Your Highness Kaver, what do you think? Doesn’t she become more beautiful with each passing day?”

“It seems the Trailla family has a lot of free time these days.”

Although he was just a twelve-year-old boy, Kaver knew very well why Duke Beritter was saying those things to him.

‘That transparent old man.’

Kaver frowned when he saw Lailly’s stiff face.

He had known Duke Beritter better than anyone, having seen him day and night since he started walking. Lailly, who used to have a bright smile, had stopped smiling at some point.

“Hahaha. Since Your Highness is so busy with state affairs, I have no choice but to make time.”

Duke Beritter laughed it off with a sly remark. It was amazing how he didn’t reveal the words he couldn’t even utter in his mind.

“I don’t need to see you, so you can leave now. I’ll take Lady Lailly home myself.”

“…I must have been lacking in perception. Then, I’ll see you again next time.”

The Duke, seemingly disappointed, clicked his tongue, glanced at Kaver, who didn’t even look at him, bowed his head, and disappeared.

Kaver, who had been quietly looking at Lailly, cleared his throat.

“You look much thinner.”

‘If she’s like this in front of me, how are they treating her at home?’

From the moment he learned the truth he hadn’t known when he was young, Kaver felt guilty about his relationship with Lailly.

He had never once thought of her as a tool for his own sake.

‘Lailly becoming a sword for me…’

He had never wanted her sacrifice either. Kaver had secretly admired Lailly since he was young.

He had been drawn to her from the first time he saw her, so even if he were to make a contract with her in the future, he thought it would be a different kind of contract from what others might think.

A marriage registration, living as each other’s partner for life, something like that.

However, unlike him, many things had changed for Lailly. At some point, she drew a line between them, and their once casual relationship became businesslike.

“I’m fine. I’m just a little tired these days, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

There was no emotion on Lailly’s face as she drank her tea.

“The thing you’re thinking about won’t happen.”

“…How do you plan to break a predetermined fate?”

Lailly’s eyes, devoid of any expectation, met Kaver’s. The eyes that used to be full of life and shone just by looking at them were no longer there.

What kind of change could have happened to a mere ten-year-old child?

Before knowing all the facts, Lailly had always approached him with a smile. She was an innocent and pure child without any ulterior motives.

“I will break it.”

Definitely.

Kaver expressed his resolute will towards Lailly. He didn’t tell Lailly, but he had been struggling to find a way on his own for a year.

The time left until Lailly’s coming-of-age ceremony was approximately ten years.

“No, Your Highness will never be able to break it.”

Lailly shook her head. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Kaver, but it was better not to expect something that wasn’t certain.

‘If I have expectations, the disappointment will be greater.’

She wanted Kaver to remain as her childhood friend, the only person she felt comfortable with.

Kaver didn’t say a word in the carriage taking Lailly home.

* * *

“Why isn’t the mark appearing?”

Lailly’s body trembled at the distorted face and voice suppressed with anger. Her father had never been so angry at her, though he wasn’t exactly affectionate.

“Lailly, tell me, haven’t you really had any other changes in your body?”

“…What is that mark that you’re so concerned about?”

“It tells you your worth. If you don’t have it, you know what will happen to your worth without me having to say it.”

Duke Beritter clicked his tongue and ran a hand over his face. He looked at Lailly, who was standing in front of him with her head bowed, then stood up, grabbed her hair, and swept it back.

“You’re not hiding anything, are you?”

“Ugh! Father… Why, why are you doing this?”

Her head snapped back from the rough grip on her hair. Duke Beritter examined her body here and there, and even tried to tear her clothes.

“No! Please don’t do this!”

“Tsk.”

The Duke, unable to find any mark on her body exposed to her chest, let her go.

She felt fear and dread at her father’s sudden change. Her body trembled, and she felt so ashamed that she wanted to die.

“Come in and examine her.”

At the Duke’s words, three maids opened the door and entered. Lailly knew immediately what her father was thinking.

She clutched at her slipping clothes and shouted in a tearful voice.

“What is that damn mark that you’re doing this to me for!”

*Slap-*

“Watch your mouth. That damn mark you mentioned is what has kept you alive until now. If not you, then it would be your sister.”

“…What were you going to do with me if the mark appeared?”

“You’re asking the obvious. You were meant to be given to the Crown Prince from birth.”

“Am I… not your daughter?”

“Useless thing. If you don’t have the mark, you’re neither my daughter nor a child of the Trailla family. You must not know how my position has become because of you.”

Duke Beritter looked down at Lailly, who had collapsed, as if he didn’t want to talk anymore, and left the room. Two maids firmly held Lailly by the closed door.

“Let go!”

“Stay still. The Duke said it’s okay to make the Lady obey quietly if she resists. You don’t want that, do you?”

“Sniff… sob.”

“Hurry up and examine her.”

One of the maids began to undress Lailly and examine her body. Even though she struggled, the maid didn’t budge.

As the maid lifted her skirt, the maid’s face was struck by Lailly’s foot as she screamed and tried to break free.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay still!”

*Slap-*

“Ha… haa. How dare you lay a hand on me?”

“Don’t you know what the Duke said? If you do this, we have no choice.”

The maid’s eyes turned cold. Tears streamed down Lailly’s face as she looked into her eyes. She swallowed the screams she couldn’t utter, seeing her body being undressed while her mouth was covered and her hair was grabbed roughly.

“Sob…흑.”

“It’s not there, it seems like it’s really not there. Let’s go report.”

The maids left the room, abandoning her. She picked up the scattered clothes, wrapped them around her body, and buried her face in her knees.

Her whole body was filled with shame. Her jaw trembled, and her teeth chattered.

‘How could he do this?’

She bit her lip, trying to calm her trembling body. Lailly realized that the value her father spoke of was her value as a sword and weapon for the Crown Prince. In other words, it meant giving her entire life.

Not as Lailly, but as a being living solely for the Imperial Family and for the Crown Prince.

Looking at the sword hanging on the wall, Lailly bit her lip. She never wanted to live like that.

Unlike her determination, Lailly’s life became even more filled with despair after that day. Her father treated her as if she didn’t exist, and all the maids of the duchy united to ignore her.

No one spoke to her.

Except for one person, Leta. However, she couldn’t see her often because Leta had to go to the Imperial Palace in her place.

Lailly was bitterly realizing what her father had said. What it meant when he told her that the house she was living in wasn’t her home either.

There was nowhere for her to be. If she left, her younger sister would take her place and suffer, but at that time, she only thought about escaping from the suffocating despair.

She thought that her younger sister, whom her father had loved unlike her since she was young, would be okay. She didn’t know that it was a naive thought along with her selfish heart.

* * *

Kaver hadn’t seen Lailly for a while. Naturally, he thought things would get a little better after she came of age, but reality defied his expectations as if mocking him.

“It’s been a while.”

Lailly, who was thinner than before, stared at Kaver silently. When no mark appeared on Lailly, Duke Beritter lost interest in her.

That also meant that she couldn’t come to the Imperial Palace. Since then, Leta had been visiting the Imperial Palace day and night.

“I heard from my father. I was able to come out of the house thanks to Your Highness.”

Kaver’s gaze wavered at her exhausted voice. His hand, holding the teacup along with her bitten lip, tightened.

“Lailly, if you wait a little longer, it will really be completed…”

Lailly shook her head lightly. Did she have the strength to endure this hellish situation any longer? It was something she had brought upon herself because she didn’t want to become a sword [a tool or weapon].

‘Kaver, I’m sorry to you too.’

Because of her, the contract wouldn’t be established, so the days ahead would be difficult for him, who had no power. Nevertheless, Lailly couldn’t tell the truth.

Because she didn’t want her life to flow in the predetermined order, as her father wanted.

“Your Highness, thank you for everything so far.”

“…Even if I said I loved you as a person, not as a sword, would nothing change?”

Kaver smiled weakly as he saw Lailly’s unwavering, straight eyes. He could tell without her saying it. The fact that Lailly wouldn’t come to him.

Having come to hate the Imperial Family, the culprit of all contracts, he was no different either.

“Ask me for help anytime when you’re having a hard time. I’ll always be on your side.”

“It’s a dangerous statement for someone who will become the emperor of a country to say they’ll take someone’s side.”

Lailly smiled faintly at Kaver’s absurd words. There was no lie in his words.