When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 70

Everyone hurried around the palace, their faces flushed with excitement. The Aperio Palace, which opened only once in a lifetime, was finally opening its doors.

The doors opened naturally only when the Trailla family’s sword formed a contract with a member of the Imperial Family. Because of this unique requirement, even members of the Imperial Family couldn’t enter at any other time.

Leilly stared at herself in the Imperial Family uniform for a long time, lost in thought.

A carefully tied-up hairstyle, a sword at her waist, and a badge with a distinctive pattern on her chest all drew attention to her.

The silver in her hair was now subtly mixed with blue, creating a striking and unusual harmony.

“It knew the time for the contract had come.”

“Ren.”

Leilly turned around and greeted Ren, who was leaning casually against a pillar, with a warm smile.

“I thought you had already left.”

“Where would I go?”

Ren frowned slightly, looking at the sword at Leilly’s waist with a hint of concern.

“If I make a contract with you, I’ll be around more often.”

“Then I can keep seeing you?”

Ren shook his head gently at Leilly’s hopeful expression.

“It might be difficult until you adjust to the new connection. More than anything, you need to finish the contract successfully for me to be comfortable too.”

When a complete contract was made, Ren would interact with Leilly almost as if he were assimilated into her being. Therefore, he would be directly influenced by her physical and mental condition.

“One good thing is that I’ll be sticking closer to you than usual. Someone’s going to be quite jealous,” Ren said, crossing his arms and chuckling softly.

“Stop teasing me,” Leilly replied, shaking her head slightly and giving a faint, amused smile.

“Ah! Then, have you ever been to the Aperio Palace before?”

“Well, I don’t remember well, but I probably have. I’ve been involved in sword contracts all the time, after all.”

“You don’t remember?”

Didn’t Ren remember anything that happened during the contract ceremonies?

“I told you, most contractors lose their sense of self, their ego, during the process.”

“Ah…….”

That meant Ren’s own ego was also becoming unstable, potentially fading. Even so, would he really be affected that much?

“It’s okay. Unless something special happens, you’ll do well.”

“Do you really think so?”

Leilly suddenly felt a surge of fear regarding the contract that was now imminent.

“Among the contractors I’ve seen so far, there hasn’t been a human with as strong a will as you.”

“It gives me a little confidence when you say that.”

Uncharacteristically, Ren relieved her tension with those warm, reassuring words.

Even for him, the contract wouldn’t be easy, but Ren, as Leilly perceived him, remained endlessly relaxed and confident.

“Maybe when we make a contract, we’ll communicate in a different way.”

“How?”

“Closer and more intimately than now, perhaps.”

Ren put his hand on Leilly’s head and grinned playfully.

“This relationship with you ends today.”

Ren’s eyes, which were suddenly filled with a hint of regret, soon lowered to Leilly’s hand.

He knelt down gracefully, slowly raised his head, looked intently at Leilly, and gently kissed the back of her hand.

“So, I guess I can do this much.”

Leilly looked at Ren and smiled as naturally as she could.

* * *

“Can’t I really see her, even for a moment?”

“No, you can’t,” Haban replied firmly, standing resolutely in front of the door. He had a growing headache because of Cabre, who was stubbornly trying to go to Leilly.

“Don’t you understand!”

“Even if I just see her from afar, that should be fine.”

“Absolutely not.”

Haban shook his head emphatically and didn’t budge, refusing to open the way.

Until the contract ceremony was officially held within the Aperio Palace, the contractor was strictly forbidden from contacting anyone. Not even the Crown Prince.

“This is all for Leilly’s sake.”

“……I know.”

Even though he knew it was for the best, he desperately wanted to see her just once.

“I don’t know why I’m so anxious.”

“It’s because it’s your first time doing a contract of this magnitude. You’ll see her when the contract proceeds anyway.”

“I feel like I won’t be able to say anything then.”

Cabre felt a growing sense of unease as his heart continued to tremble with apprehension.

Just yesterday, he had kissed her and finally understood her true feelings, and he had been filled with excitement and joy. But since this morning, he had been strangely restless and worried.

“Is there really no potential problem with the contract process itself?”

“The priests are fully in charge, so there’s no need to worry. You know how meticulously they’ve prepared for this day.”

Haban tried his best to calm Cabre, who had been unusually restless since early morning.

‘I thought there would be nothing left to worry about now.’

He just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss.

A few days ago, the Emperor had called him aside for a private conversation and said something rather strange, but Haban hadn’t paid it much attention at the time.

‘To find out more about Princess Adel.’

He knew she had visited the Imperial Palace recently, but he hadn’t expected the Emperor himself to take such a direct interest.

“But really, nothing happened with Princess Adel, did it?”

Haban wondered if there was some hidden connection between Cabre and her that had piqued the Emperor’s curiosity. However, he quickly closed his mouth, sensing Cabre’s growing irritation.

‘Definitely not. Then what is it?’

He was deeply confused by the unfolding situation.

He served Cabre loyally, but his true allegiance was to the Emperor.

He knew very well that everything could be easily twisted by his words at this critical moment.

“Your Highness.”

“Why are you suddenly lowering your voice like that?”

Cabre sat down heavily on the sofa and narrowed his brows in annoyance. He pressed his forehead with his index finger and sighed deeply.

“You know I trust you, right?”

“……Haban, you sometimes say creepy things with such a serious expression.”

He lightly shook his body as if he had goosebumps from the unexpected intensity.

“So, please make me a promise.”

“What promise?”

“I’ll tell you if you promise to keep it.”

Haban finally made up his mind. He decided to confide in Cabre, whom he had protected since childhood.

“Tell me,” Cabre said, straightening his posture and staring intently at Haban.

If he was being this serious, it must be a significant matter.

“Don’t do anything rash until the contract is officially over.”

“After it’s over?”

“Promise me quickly.”

Perhaps he would finally be granted the resignation he had secretly desired for so long because of this revelation. If things went terribly wrong, he might even face imprisonment or beheading.

“Okay, I promise.”

“It seems His Majesty has approved some sort of deal with Princess Adel.”

“……A deal?”

“Yes, he secretly ordered me to find out more about Princess Adel. Everything about her abilities and her kingdom.”

A dark shadow fell over Cabre’s face, replacing his earlier anticipation.

His eyes, which had been full of warmth and excitement, became dim and desolate.

“Did Father give her a chance to become the Crown Princess?”

“……Yes. It seems so.”

“Is the revocation of the contract with Leilly also part of the deal?”

Haban nodded slowly.

If the contract with Leilly went smoothly and according to plan, the Emperor would fulfill his initial promise to the very end. But there were always exceptions to every rule, especially in politics.

“Haban, it seems like there’s something you need to do separately, something you’ve been tasked with in secret.”

Cabre smiled bitterly and glanced at the clock once.

It seemed he had grown too powerful, too independent, to fully trust even his own father.

* * *

Squeak-

When the massive door to the Aperio Palace, which had remained unopened for generations, finally creaked open, the assembled crowd couldn’t help but gasp in awe. The interior looked too pristine and sacred to be a building that hadn’t been properly maintained over the centuries.

Along with the intricate blue patterned bands that adorned the pure white walls and pillars, golden light fluttered and scattered down from the high ceiling, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

“Oh my god…… it’s so beautiful.”

“It’s truly amazing that we’re able to witness this sight.”

The nobles and commoners alike took their designated seats outside the marked lines and gazed around in stunned silence.

Those who appeared to be high-ranking priests stood facing the people, carefully guarding their positions around a central table.

Leilly slowly passed through the hushed crowd and walked purposefully up to the table.

After offering a respectful greeting to the Emperor, who was standing in the center, she carefully took out the sword at her waist and placed it reverently on the high platform.

Soon, Cabre entered the Aperio Palace with measured steps.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the three figures.

As the Emperor, Cabre, and Leilly stood in a perfect triangular formation, the sword on the platform rose majestically into the air and stood upright, suspended as if by an invisible force.

“Let’s proceed with the contract,” the Emperor announced, his voice echoing through the vast hall.

With the Emperor’s solemn words, the clear pattern on Leilly’s neck slowly began to glow with an ethereal light. The priests and the Emperor chanted in unison, their voices blending into a powerful incantation.

Leilly, who was slowly lying down on the platform, closed her eyes and focused on the mana flowing within her body.

‘I feel like my heart is finally at ease.’

Leilly’s body, which had been trembling uneasily just moments before, gradually became more relaxed and comfortable, and her consciousness began to fade gently.

At that precise moment, waves of blue mana rippled out from the sword and instantly wrapped themselves around Leilly’s body, cocooning her in pure energy.

“Oh my god!” someone exclaimed in the crowd.

Many people instinctively shielded their eyes from the blinding light.

The waves of blue and silver energy filled the entire palace, seemingly captivating the souls of all who were present. The gazes of those who had been staring blankly above gradually cleared, returning to focus.

“Uh…… uh?” someone stammered, pointing directly at Leilly.

A sinister red aura suddenly erupted from her body and intertwined violently with the pure blue light, creating a terrifying black light that pulsed with dark energy.

The Emperor and Cabre, who were standing close to Leilly, were violently pushed away by this chaotic energy and were unable to approach her.

“Leilly!” Cabre shouted in alarm, hurriedly reaching out his hand to grab Leilly’s hand.

But he couldn’t even touch her because of the immense magical power that was forcefully pushing him away.

Cabre desperately tried to grab Leilly when he saw tears streaming from her closed eyes.

He barely managed to touch the tip of her finger before being violently thrown back.

The ominous black aura, along with the fading blue light, soon permeated completely into her body.

‘Agh! It hurts! It’s painful…….’ Leilly thought as her consciousness slipped away, overwhelmed by the intense pain.

The sword that had been floating in the air suddenly returned to Leilly as if it were instinctively seeking its true owner.

Everything calmed down in an instant, and Leilly, who had been lying motionless on the platform, slowly and deliberately got up.

No emotion whatsoever could be found in her eyes.

Because only empty, vacant eyes were now directed at Cabre, devoid of recognition or feeling.