When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 61

“So, it’s really true then.”

Princess Adel took a bite of a sweet dessert before placing it back on the plate.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has feelings for her?”

When they spoke, she hadn’t noticed anything. Lady Leyla hadn’t revealed any emotions at all.

Adel chewed on her lip, looking at Leyla’s dress hanging on one side.

“Not only did she have a dress made, but she also has his heart.”

Her pride plummeted, and she was filled with anger.

She had never been rejected by anyone. On the contrary, there were plenty of men eager to marry her.

“Lirita, find out more about Lady Leyla.”

“I thought you might be curious, Princess, so I brought you an interesting story.”

Roanna’s maid, assigned to Princess Adel, gently massaged her feet as she spoke.

In fact, Lirita was a maid sent by Roanna to monitor Princess Adel. However, Lirita was clever.

She played a double role as Roanna’s spy and Adel’s spy.

“You’ve come to a foreign country, Princess, so you may not know much about our empire.”

“Continue.”

Adel leaned back comfortably in her chair, listening to Lirita’s words.

“Lady Leyla Sharltea is…”

Adel’s expression brightened considerably after hearing everything about her from Lirita.

‘She’s not even worth paying attention to.’

Adel’s face showed a hint of relief as she heard about Leyla’s past, which she hadn’t known.

“But there’s one thing you should know.”

Lirita quietly lowered her voice. She hadn’t intended to say this, but the more details she gave, the higher the chance she would be sought out.

Princess Adel was more generous than she thought, giving her jewels or money whenever she listened to her stories or ran errands.

Unlike Roanna, she was quite generous.

She had even placed a jeweled brooch in her hand this time.

‘Lady Roanna told me to be careful, but I can’t miss this good opportunity.’

As long as she handled herself well without getting caught, there would be no repercussions. Besides, they had different things they were curious about, so there was no chance of confusing or misreporting anything.

“There’s a rumor that Lady Leyla Sharltea is His Highness the Crown Prince’s first love.”

This was a story known only to a few.

Lirita happened to hear it because she was friendly with a maid in the Imperial Palace. Of course, if this fact got into the wrong hands, her mouth might be torn off.

‘If it’s the Crown Prince, he’s capable of doing that.’

She knew better than anyone what had happened to those who had been involved with Lady Leyla, so she couldn’t help but tremble.

However, Princess Adel would not spread the story she heard from her.

Her pride, and the fact that digging around would not be good for her either, would prevent it.

“…First love?”

As Lirita expected, Princess Adel’s brow furrowed noticeably. Judging by her trembling lips, she seemed to be forcibly suppressing her rising anger.

“Don’t worry too much, Princess.”

Lirita stroked Adel’s leg gently, using her snake-like tongue.

“They say first loves don’t work out, right?”

Adel didn’t dislike Lirita’s flattery. As she said, that was the common story about first loves.

“You will be the one who remains by His Highness’s side, Princess.”

Adel’s lips twitched at Lirita’s words.

“You speak the obvious well. You may leave for today.”

Adel smiled, putting another small jewel in Lirita’s pocket.

‘That light mouth should be heavy elsewhere [meaning she talks too much and should be bribed to keep quiet].’

She liked that she found out what she wanted immediately, but if the tail is too long, it will be stepped on [if she gets too ambitious, she’ll be punished].

She kept her by her side because she was still useful, but she was a child who would have to be cut off someday.

“Lady Roanna really doesn’t have an eye for people.”

To have such a child as a maid. Adel clicked her tongue in pity.

Well, thanks to that, I’m living comfortably here.

She got up and approached the open window. The Duke’s garden, lit by the moonlight, was truly beautiful.

“It’s not as good as the Imperial Palace’s garden, but I’ll have to be satisfied with this for now.”

Adel recalled the memory of strolling through the garden with Kavel, and clasped her hands to her chest.

“If His Highness disliked me, he wouldn’t have taken a walk with me.”

Moreover, I am someone who will bring profits to the empire.

Princess Adel touched the necklace around her neck and stared at the moon for a long time.

“A divorcee and a woman to be used as a sword [a political pawn]. There’s no way His Majesty would allow such a woman.”

Leyla would naturally distance herself from the Imperial Family once she fulfilled her duty as a sword. In the first place, it didn’t make sense for her to be with the Crown Prince.

“She’s not presuming to think she can become the Crown Princess, is she?”

How did she stay here?

She had no intention of giving that position to anyone else.

Adel lay in bed, hugging her pillow tightly, and prayed that she would end her sword contract as soon as possible.

“Just wait a little longer.”

Her eyes turned red for a moment before disappearing.

* * *

“Should I ask for the dress back?”

Leyla murmured, looking at the dark dress hanging in the closet.

It was awkward to return it, and it didn’t make sense to get her clothes back.

‘I have no choice.’

It was right to give up on the clothes. That was the best way to think of each other.

Leyla took a short breath and left the room.

Since she was the one who asked for the time first, she was going to go out a little early and wait for him.

However, Leyla’s pace quickened as she approached the meeting place.

‘When did he come out?’

She was already out earlier than the appointed time. Nevertheless, Kavel was already there, as if he had anticipated her.

“……It’s not time yet. Did I mistake the time?”

Could it be that the clock was wrong?

Kavel shook his head at Leyla’s cautious question.

“I finished work early, so I came out a little early.”

But even so…….

“Sir Haban is glaring at us from over there.”

Leyla pointed to the window, feeling even her gaze. When Kavel quickly looked up at the window, no one was visible.

“He’s just being spiteful, so don’t worry about it. I finished my morning work and came out.”

“That’s a relief then.”

Kavel pressed his fingers to his forehead and bit his lip.

‘That Haban.’

It was clearly a prearranged appointment, and he had finished the urgent work and came out. Nevertheless, the fact that Haban was glaring at him like that was surely because of today’s day off.

He had warned him that he would never allow it, but he came out like this.

Kavel sighed softly, blaming himself for being careless.

Kavel raised his hand and waved it. Haban, who had been hiding under the window and watching, finally moved away from the window with a satisfied expression.

“Sir Haban seems to have asked for something.”

Leyla said cautiously after witnessing Haban’s smile.

“I haven’t been able to rest lately, so it wouldn’t be bad to take a day off.”

The fact that Haban hadn’t been able to rest meant that Kavel hadn’t either. Recently, the amount of work has doubled thanks to the increase in things to prepare.

“I asked them to prepare tea and simple refreshments.”

Leyla turned slightly and gestured to Kavel.

“It might be nice to talk while walking a little.”

“……Are you suggesting a walk with me?”

Kavel’s eyes widened and his spirit sharpened. To be able to walk side by side, let alone stroll through the garden.

It was a relief that he had given Haban a vacation so that he wouldn’t bother him.

‘He’s in a good mood now.’

Leyla thought that Kavel’s noticeably energetic appearance resembled a puppy wagging its tail.

“Your Highness still seems to enjoy strolling through the garden.”

Kavel slowed his pace to match Leyla’s walking speed. She probably didn’t know how precious this moment of walking with her was to him.

Besides, she was wrong. Kavel didn’t like walking.

“It’s not that I enjoy strolling through the garden.”

Leyla tilted her head at the unexpected answer.

“It’s who I’m walking with that matters. I enjoy everything I do with you.”

Kavel looked ahead and honestly expressed his feelings. The mere fact that Leyla was by his side made him happy.

“Your Highness is really good at saying embarrassing things……”

I can’t say anything like this.

Leyla’s face turned red, so red that it burned. She didn’t know how to react to these words, so she quickly covered her face with a fan.

“You’d better get used to it from now on.”

Kavel gently lowered Leyla’s fan and stared at her face. Her red cheeks felt lovely.

He didn’t intend to hold back, but Kavel wanted to be a little spiteful about yesterday’s events.

To be honest, seeing Leyla’s reaction made him want to do it even more. It was quite cute how she, who was usually expressionless, couldn’t hide her expressions at times like this.

“These are words that come out of me without me knowing when I see you, so I can’t help it.”

Kavel folded his eyes and whispered with a smile, as if he had made up his mind to go even further.

Leyla’s mouth opened wide, and Kavel’s raised lips went up.

“So, I hope you don’t make me feel spiteful.”

Only then did Leyla realize that Kavel was teasing her. It seemed he was a man who held grudges.

A lot, too.