When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 66

Seeing the ring on my finger, Reilly’s face flushed red.

Reilly was thankful she was wearing a mask at that moment.

‘Otherwise, my red face would have been exposed,’ she thought.

The thought alone was burning. She tried to cool down by fanning herself with her hand.

*If it were really Kavel, even if she fell into the deepest despair, he would find her.*

“Think of this as a way to connect us,” Kavel added, worried that Reilly might feel burdened by the gift.

“I understand,” Reilly nodded slightly.

She felt like she understood his intention in giving her the ring. Judging from the faint mana [magical energy] he possessed, he probably gave it to her to protect her.

“Shall we go?”

Reilly walked through the growing crowd, looking around with interest. Kavel remained vigilant, staying close to Reilly’s side.

“This must be magic.”

The light stayed in the air, spinning in place. The constant bursting of light kept catching her eye.

“It’s one of the lights often seen during festivals,” Kavel explained.

Kavel paid for one and placed it in Reilly’s hand.

“It lights the way when it gets dark.”

“Doesn’t it go out?”

“Strangely, it’s designed to go out when the festival ends.”

“The way home could be dangerous,” Reilly said, looking at the light spinning in her hand.

“Since the festival involves children and people of all classes, it would be nice if it went out the moment they arrived home….”

The duration was quite disappointing. Reilly hoped the beautifully shining light would last a little longer, preferably for the safety of everyone.

“I’ll consider it.”

“Really?”

“It’s a good suggestion.”

Kavel couldn’t help but smile at Reilly’s brightening expression. Suppressing the constant twitching of his lips, he cleared his throat.

“But I don’t see Leta.”

Reilly turned around, looking for Ren and Leta. In the distance, she saw a man resembling Ren listening to Leta’s chattering with a sulky expression.

“I don’t think we need to worry since Ren is with her.”

“Still, wouldn’t it be better to stick together?”

At Reilly’s sincere words, Kavel suddenly changed his expression, grabbed her hand, and pulled her towards him.

“I’d rather we went around separately.”

“…Why?”

“The reason I suggested we come out as four was just an excuse.”

Reilly tilted her head at the word ‘excuse’.

“Since no one recognizes us anyway, it’s good for a comfortable date,” Kavel grinned, raising their clasped hands.

A date.

Reilly had been embarrassed more than once by Kavel’s occasional remarks. This time, too, Reilly froze stiffly like a broken doll at his words.

“There’s a lot to see at the festival. There might be something you like.”

“Is it really okay to walk around like this?”

“No one will recognize me as the Crown Prince, will they?”

*Ah.*

Kavel lowered his head and met Reilly’s gaze. He raised his index finger to his lips and said softly, “Shh.”

“Then we should decide on our terms of address.”

He seemed to think for a moment, then opened his mouth with a playful expression.

“My fiancée? Destiny? Honey? That seems a bit much.”

In fact, Kavel really liked the word ‘honey,’ but since Reilly wouldn’t accept it, he was thinking of throwing out all the other options.

*One will stick.*

Seeing the smile spreading across his face, Reilly cried out urgently, “J, just! Call me Lee!”

Reilly could never choose any of the things Kavel had said. *Why does this man act like this sometimes?*

*He’s definitely teasing me.*

“Lee, what are you going to call me?”

“…Lee, Berry.”

“That’s quite a cute name.”

Kavel smiled at Reilly, seemingly satisfied.

Honestly, he didn’t think he would get anything, but Reilly had created a nickname for him. Pleased with the unexpected gain, Kavel turned around and grinned at Ren.

Even from a distance, Ren, who could see their figures, had a mixed expression of annoyance on his face.

*A nickname, I should ask her to give me one too.*

Ren’s name itself was already a nickname, but Ren seemed to have completely forgotten this fact.

If Reilly found out he was eavesdropping, she would be upset, so he was planning to probe her about it later.

“Lee, where shall we go then?”

Kavel changed the atmosphere and spoke to Reilly in a polite tone. With his sweet voice and smile, Reilly felt like she was a lover.

“How about a masquerade ball?”

Reilly looked at Kavel with slightly expectant eyes. A look of bewilderment flashed across Kavel’s face.

“Is it not possible?”

“Well, it’s not impossible, but if you go there, you have to stick close to me.”

“We’re already close, aren’t we?”

Reilly raised the hand she had been holding since earlier and looked up at Kavel.

Reilly had never been to a ball, so she had high expectations.

“I’ll give up if it’s really not possible.”

But she didn’t want Kavel to be troubled. It was just simple curiosity.

“Well, no. It might not be bad to go once.”

Reilly felt awkward at Kavel’s continued use of honorifics, but she couldn’t help but smile as she watched him use them so casually.

The polite language felt like he was respecting her and suited Kavel’s kindness even more.

Of course, it was right for the Crown Prince to speak informally to her.

Even though he was wearing a mask, his blonde hair was not hidden. It seemed that only Reilly wouldn’t recognize him.

“But is it really okay to go like this?”

Reilly glanced at Kavel’s noticeable hair.

“I guess it would be better to cover it up a bit.”

After pondering for a moment, Kavel asked Ren to change his hair color.

“Shall we go now then?”

“What about Leta and Ren?”

“It might be better if the two of them don’t go together.”

Reilly’s eyes widened at Kavel’s incomprehensible words.

Before Ren could follow, Kavel quickly grabbed Reilly’s hand and pulled her into the crowd.

* * *

“So… this is the masquerade ball?”

Unlike the festive atmosphere outside, the ballroom was dark and extravagant.

“I didn’t expect it to be like this.”

They stared at each other with intense eyes for a moment, and then casual skinship [physical contact] began to take place. The people hidden behind masks seemed to be acting primally, without worrying about the gazes of others.

This place, where everyone seemed to open their hearts to everyone else, was a secretly known charm of the festival.

“But it doesn’t seem like there are any others who came here together.”

Reilly whispered softly in Kavel’s ear.

“It’s natural since they come here to find a partner.”

“B, but aren’t you too close?”

Reilly subtly backed away from Kavel’s face, which was close to hers.

However, Reilly froze as Kavel wrapped his arms around her waist, narrowing the distance.

“Didn’t I tell you? You have to stick close to me when you come here.”

“You don’t have to….”

Reilly glanced around.

The eyes of the men hidden behind masks were sparkling, and she realized that some of them were staring at her.

She ended up snuggling into Kavel’s arms.

“Why don’t you look around the places you were curious about while I’m here?”

“I, I think that’s enough.”

“There will be a stage performance soon.”

It was true that she was somewhat embarrassed by the decadent atmosphere and sticky lighting, but the atmosphere emanating from this place seemed to hide a strange charm.

“Not everyone comes here with a different purpose.”

Kavel handed Reilly a glass of wine and smiled. This place was also one of the events that people waited for at the festival.

It doesn’t open often, and no noble wants to become a topic of gossip.

“So I hope you don’t see this place too badly.”

Reilly nodded lightly.

It was an unfamiliar atmosphere, but after slowly looking around and relaxing, she began to see the fun of this place.

She liked the unique colors of alcohol that weren’t sold elsewhere and the free atmosphere.

“But you can’t come here alone.”

Kavel growled lowly, as if guarding his surroundings, because in this place, no power or strength works.

Besides, as soon as Reilly entered this place, many eyes were drawn to her.

*Since people who come often don’t come often, it’s understandable that they’re curious about her.*

Kavel became even more nervous and thoroughly blocked her surroundings.

Whether she knew this or not, Reilly explored her surroundings with sparkling eyes. As the song began on the stage that was starting just in time, a smile spread across her face.

“But isn’t that the princess over there?”

Reilly pointed to the protagonist who had taken the stage wearing a mask and couldn’t help but be amazed.