When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 68

Kaver’s face flushed red.

The memory from earlier vanished, and only Reilly’s words echoed in his mind.

“More importantly, are you sure it’s Princess Adel?”

He barely regained his composure and asked Reilly.

Reilly found it hard to stop laughing at Kaver, who was stammering with his face still held in her hands.

Kaver seemed to have no intention of escaping her grasp.

“Pfft.”

“Why are you laughing?”

Reilly took her hands off Kaver’s cheeks and covered her mouth with her hand.

“I’m sorry.”

“Well, anything to bring a smile to your face.”

Kaver acted as if he was pushing his cheeks out once more with his hands.

“Stop it, really.”

Reilly shrugged as if she couldn’t handle him.

“But why was Princess Adel there? From what I saw, she seemed to be operating under the name Hella.”

“I heard that too. It seems like no one even suspects she might be Princess Adel…”

Could it be?

Kaver wondered if she might have taken some action against them.

If she wanted something.

“It could be information.”

Since she was quite clever, she wouldn’t have been going there for no reason.

“But did she recognize you?”

“…That’s my feeling.”

He had a strong feeling, but no concrete evidence.

However, considering what had happened because of her actions towards him, it was certain.

“But she didn’t seem to know who you were.”

“You knew, but I didn’t?”

That was definitely strange.

Since they were both disguised, the inability to recognize each other should have been the same.

Then, something that only Princess Adel could recognize…

“I don’t know. There’s nothing she could have recognized.”

“We need to look into this further.”

Of course, there was nothing about her appearance or anything else that would remind anyone of Reilly. She had disguised herself as a completely different person, so that was only natural.

Reilly didn’t seem to notice the necklace because she always wore it.

“It’s quite late, so I think we should head back soon,” Kaver said to Reilly, glancing at his watch.

It felt dangerous to stay here any longer.

‘She might come out of there at any moment.’

It would be troublesome if they were followed.

Just then, Leta and Ren came into view in the distance. Ren looked somewhat annoyed at not having seen Reilly for a while.

“Shouldn’t we get in the carriage quickly?” Reilly said to Kaver as soon as she made eye contact with Ren.

She felt like she was about to be scolded.

Kaver, quick to catch on, agreed with her and quickly headed to the carriage.

* * *

“Where have you been all this time?”

Ren had been following Reilly around since she woke up, grilling her.

Reilly didn’t say anything, knowing she would only get scolded if she told the truth.

She felt strangely like a child who had deceived their parents.

“Ren, you’re being like a mom right now.”

“…What?”

“It feels like you’re scolding your daughter.”

Reilly trailed off, subtly averting her gaze.

Ren seemed quite shocked by her words and slumped into a chair.

‘A mom, not even an older brother.’

She didn’t even expect to be seen as a man, but a mom?

Ren felt a sense of emptiness.

How could she not have felt any other emotions towards him, after all he had done?

He thought she would at least have some awareness, even if she didn’t realize it!

“Come to think of it, you’re not very perceptive.”

Ren rested his chin on his hand and stared intently at Reilly.

“So you’ve been comfortable enough to think of me as a mom.”

His eyes narrowed dangerously.

He had never been greedy before. Knowing his place, he was content just being by her side.

But if she was going to be like this, wouldn’t it be okay to be a little spiteful?

Ren reached out and took Reilly’s hand.

“I want you to feel uncomfortable around me.”

Ren’s large fingers intertwined with Reilly’s slender fingers. As he clasped their hands together, Reilly’s eyes widened.

Ren warned Reilly.

“Do I still feel like a mom to you?”

Ren released her hand, seeing Reilly frozen in place.

Reilly blinked in surprise, her gaze darting back and forth.

She was more surprised by Ren’s unfamiliar demeanor than confused.

She hadn’t really meant to say he felt like a mom, but Ren’s words made her heart pound.

‘I don’t know what to say.’

Reilly looked at her flushed hand and subtly lowered it under the table.

She didn’t have the courage to meet Ren’s gaze, which was fixed on her. What should she do if he looked at her with a similar expression as before?

“Just kidding.”

Ren chuckled in his usual voice and withdrew his hand.

Reilly was relieved at his words, but she couldn’t be completely at ease, because of the disappointment faintly visible in Ren’s eyes.

“By the way, did you hear that Princess Adel came to the Imperial Palace?” Ren quickly changed the subject, watching Reilly’s expression.

“…Princess Adel?”

Unless she had been invited to the Imperial Palace, she wouldn’t have visited the palace separately.

“I heard she had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”

“With His Majesty?”

Not Kaver, but the Emperor.

Reilly recalled the woman she had seen at the masquerade ball.

‘Could she have obtained some information?’

She hadn’t heard what others were saying because she was focused on her. So she had no idea what information Princess Adel had found out and what she had used as leverage to meet His Majesty.

“Did His Highness Kaver meet with her too?”

“No, that guy is probably busy with his own work right now. I don’t know what he’s doing, but he seems busy today.”

Besides, Princess Adel didn’t even think about meeting Kaver as soon as she arrived at the Imperial Palace.

Ren, who had been watching everything, found that strange.

“Looks like she came to make some kind of deal.”

“Maybe.”

“Do you think His Majesty would make a deal with that woman?”

“If it’s beneficial, he would.”

There would be no need to refuse.

The Emperor was the ruler of a country, and he would readily make a deal if it benefited the Empire. Reilly and the Emperor also had a contractual relationship, but it wasn’t a relationship of complete trust.

“Is there any chance the Emperor will betray you?”

“Not yet. He cherishes His Highness more than anyone else.”

Until Kaver ascends to the throne and his position is stable, it will be solid.

“Tomorrow is the appointed day.”

“I know.”

For Princess Adel to visit the palace the day before the contract was scheduled was unsettling.

Moreover, the longer audience time was also bothering her.

“I think it would be best to stay in the room.”

“It wouldn’t be good to run into her.”

It was too frequent to keep calling it a coincidence.

Reilly got up from the garden with Ren and headed to her room, hoping that she wouldn’t run into Princess Adel while going inside.

* * *

“I heard you came to offer me a deal.”

The Emperor pressed his temples as he looked at Princess Adel, who stood boldly before him.

Although the connection with Crown Prince Kaver had fallen through, he knew that the princess still harbored feelings.

She just hadn’t come forward.

“I understand that matter has already been settled, unless I am mistaken?”

Princess Adel bowed respectfully to the Emperor and responded.

“I am aware. I also know how important tomorrow is.”

“Haha, I’m glad you know. Then what is the reason you came to see me today?”

As a princess from another country, the Emperor remained vigilant and sought to discern her intentions. However, she revealed no thoughts beyond her smiling face.

“What do you think of me, Your Majesty?”

“I should be asking that. What do you want to hear from me? What if I haven’t given you any particular thought?”

The Emperor was interested in her special abilities, but that was all.

“I believe that Your Majesty needs a sword, not a Crown Princess.”

Princess Adel felt it was right to reveal her true intentions without hiding them.

The Emperor was keeping Reilly by Kaver’s side as a sword. Moreover, according to the information she had heard, Reilly was going to become the head of her family.

“After all, she is going to be the head of her family. Even if she becomes a sword, that’s all she will be.”

The Emperor listened quietly to Princess Adel’s story.

“Besides, I heard that there are cases where one loses their ego when making a contract.”

“How do you know that?”

The Emperor’s expression darkened sharply at the information that only a select few knew. The information must have been leaked.

It was dangerous for the Empire for a princess from another country to know so much about the sword.

“So are you trying to threaten me with that?”

Even if one loses their ego, they do not follow others. That is the fate of the sword bound to the Imperial Family.

Since the Emperor had already agreed to sever the contract with the Imperial Family, there would be no problem as long as the ego remained.

“If the ego disappears, then what will you do? Are you going to break the contract and set her free?”

“Princess Adel, stop beating around the bush and speak your mind.”

The Emperor slammed his hand on the chair, suppressing his anger.

“I was merely saying to give me a chance as well, Your Majesty.”

Adel smiled without yielding to the Emperor’s voice filled with anger.

“So, Your Majesty, I hope you will give me one more chance to stand by His Highness Kaver’s side.”

The Emperor’s expression visibly distorted at her bold and brazen request.

Silence and suffocating tension filled the audience chamber, and finally, the Emperor spoke.

“…Seizing the opportunity is your responsibility.”

The Emperor ended up giving her an opening.