When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 62

Reilly quickly composed herself.

She knew why Kaver was acting this way. Dragging things out wouldn’t benefit her.

She cleared her throat and bowed politely.

“I apologize for the dress incident.”

“Well, it’s not that my feelings weren’t hurt.”

Kaver shrugged and gently raised Reilly’s head.

“It’s not that I wanted to see you bowing like this.”

He simply enjoyed seeing her flustered and blushing. Of course, he couldn’t deny being a bit mischievous.

“So, what happened?”

He relaxed his expression, watching Reilly’s lips as she spoke.

“First of all, Princess Roanna won’t be an obstacle to Your Highness’s plans.”

“So, the Siren Duchy offered to support me.”

“The princess made a small jest, creating an opening. I was lucky.”

Reilly smiled slightly, recalling Princess Roanna’s playful antics.

‘Thanks to her, things were easily resolved.’

If her dress hadn’t been soiled, she wouldn’t have acted the same way.

“Fortunately, the princess doesn’t seem to know your true identity.”

Kaver hadn’t expected anything from Reilly. However, he was impressed with her achievements.

Besides, it seemed she hadn’t yet realized that *she* was the one he held in his heart.

‘Who knows what she would have done if she had known?’

Kaver listened to Reilly’s story with a more relaxed expression.

“My true identity? What do you mean by that…?”

Reilly tilted her head. Everyone knew her as the princess of the Traila family and a sword of the Imperial Family [a warrior contracted to serve the Imperial Family].

Did she have another identity she wasn’t aware of?

She narrowed her eyes, not understanding Kaver’s words.

Clearly, there was something she didn’t know. Come to think of it, Princess Adele’s eyes were full of hostility when she first saw her.

“I heard the relationship with the Pheleponcia Kingdom has soured slightly, and tariffs have increased.”

“…Who disclosed the Imperial Family’s state affairs to you?”

Kaver pressed his throbbing head, thinking of one person.

He didn’t know how Adele found out about his affairs, but she was already gone.

“Even if tariffs have increased a bit, it won’t be a problem for the Empire. We can trade with other countries for necessary goods.”

The silk and various crafts imported from the Pheleponcia Kingdom were of particularly high quality, thanks to Princess Vivianna Adele’s unique abilities.

“You’re not the type to ask my country to lower tariffs just because you’ve gained favor.”

Kaver shuddered, thinking of the wicked Adele.

Others might not know, but for him, who had suffered under her machinations, being involved with her was a torment in itself.

“I thought you would be able to tell right from wrong.”

“Well, I think differently.”

If that were the case, there wouldn’t have been any problems with trade. Other kingdoms had sent candidates to become the Crown Princess, but they all gave up and returned.

“Well, you would have handled it wisely.”

This was Reilly’s first time officially accepting an invitation as a sword contractor.

“I can imagine what the others’ faces must have looked like.”

They must have been curious whether the Reilly they knew in the past still existed.

“So, Princess Roanna played a prank with your dress?”

Reilly shook her head slightly.

“Princess Adele coveted that dress.”

“…Princess Vivianna Adele?”

Was there something to be concerned about?

Kaver’s expression rapidly hardened.

Daring to covet a dress given to someone without knowing her place.

‘I was uneasy when she stayed by Princess Roanna’s side without returning to her country.’

He couldn’t figure out why she wasn’t leaving.

It was too far-fetched to say she hadn’t given up on her feelings for him.

Wasn’t their relationship already strained?

“That was the only option I could think of at the time. I’m a little bothered that I responded to such a childish fight.”

Still, she had succeeded in winning Princess Adele’s favor.

“I didn’t change dresses without thinking.”

Reilly gripped the hem of her dress tightly for no reason.

She didn’t know why she was making excuses, but she didn’t want him to worry.

‘Sir Haban came to me separately to ask about it.’

He kept asking if she didn’t like the dress or if the gift itself was a burden. Besides, Ren laughed beside her, openly teasing Haban.

Reilly felt uneasy seeing Haban, who had come in place of Kaver, in such distress.

‘I liked it. It felt like he knew everything, from the design to my tastes.’

If she had known this would happen, she wouldn’t have stepped forward.

For that reason, Reilly was convinced that Kaver was holding something in his heart.

“It’s not that I didn’t like it. It’s just that it was the only option I could think of at the time.”

“Reilly.”

Kaver smiled brightly and leaned back in his chair.

“That’s enough.”

He didn’t like seeing her uncomfortable. His heart melted at her words that she liked it.

He could always give her another dress.

‘I don’t like the dress that the princess has, though.’

If he stepped in to take Reilly’s side here, Adele would notice.

She might mistake her for being his lover rather than being in the Imperial Family as a sword.

Above all, he couldn’t act rashly without knowing what Princess Adele’s abilities were.

“I hope you don’t have frequent contact with Princess Adele in the future.”

“I don’t think that will happen.”

Reilly had to perform her duties as a sword, and she didn’t expect to encounter a foreign princess.

After all, she would soon be entering into a contract.

* * *

She certainly thought that would be the case. At least until she became a sword and broke the contract, there would be no reason to see her.

“…What brings Princess Adele here?”

Reilly wasn’t the only one who didn’t understand this situation.

She had attended the gathering because there were still a few invitations left to fulfill, and Adele was waiting for her there again, as if she had expected her to come.

-Reilly, I have a bad feeling about this.

Ren, who had followed without being seen by others, said to Reilly through their mental link.

-It’s a little unsettling, but there’s nothing particularly noticeable.

Reilly looked around, communicating mentally. For a princess to attend a gathering hosted by a mere count’s daughter…

“Oh, I guess you didn’t know.”

Princess Adele approached Reilly and gently stroked her shoulder.

“There’s nowhere I can’t go.”

Reilly’s eyes darkened at the princess’s attitude, which was quite different from before. She was bothered by the strange aura surrounding her.

-Ren, am I the only one feeling this?

Looking at the others’ expressions, they seemed normal. Reilly forced a calm expression, pretending not to notice, and smiled at Princess Adele.

“Of course. There’s nowhere a noble person from the kingdom can’t go.”

“That’s right.”

“But I heard you were too busy to attend such small gatherings. Was I mistaken?”

At Reilly’s words, Adele bit her lower lip.

-But can’t she even step into the Imperial Palace?

Did Ren forget that Adele couldn’t hear him?

He only said things that would infuriate her to the point of jumping up and down if she could hear him.

“That sounds like there’s a bone in your words [a hidden insult]. Unless my ears are deceiving me.”

“I was just worried because I heard you’ve been busy with recent events.”

Reilly smiled, nonchalantly removing her gloves.

Princess Adele’s eyebrows twitched along with her reddened face. Her red eyes flickered, and one corner of her mouth turned up.

“I see. Well, you don’t need to worry about that since it’s not something the princess should be concerned about. Let’s go in; it seems others are waiting.”

Adele turned sharply and led the way.

-Let’s just go back. I don’t like that woman’s vibe.

-Wouldn’t it be strange if we went back now?

Reilly cautiously followed Adele, touching her neck.

‘It feels like she’s figured something out.’

Ren walked beside Reilly, grinding his teeth. He even began to feel weighed down by the ominous energy around him.

-I’ll be by your side, so if you sense anything strange, get out immediately.

-Okay, you’re right that the princess is showing hostility, right? I don’t understand.”

No matter how hard she racked her brain, she couldn’t come up with an answer.

What was with the sudden change in attitude and the subtle, persistent unpleasantness?

Reilly pondered whether she had made a mistake without realizing it. However, it didn’t make sense since it was the first time she had seen her since that day.

“Princess, anyone would think I’m going to harm you.”

At that moment, Adele turned around and said to Reilly. She didn’t like the way she was walking with some distance between them.

‘I had a hunch, but I’ll find out today.’

Perhaps because of the story she had heard recently, she couldn’t look at Reilly favorably.

“Oh, Princess Reilly Sharltea.”

Reilly took her hand away from her neck at Adele’s eerie gaze.

“It’s unlikely, but…”

Even though she already knew, she pretended not to know.

There was anxiety in Adele’s assertive tone. Her red eyes flickered and blazed, revealing her emotions.

“Are you His Highness the Crown Prince’s first love?”

Reilly’s mouth closed tightly at the words that came out of her mouth.