When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 75

Turning Away, You're a Stranger

“What are you staring at?”

Ren stretched and suddenly appeared behind Reilly, sticking his face out.

He rested his chin on her shoulder and let out a short sigh.

“Did that guy bother you again?”

Even with Ren so close that their faces could touch, Reilly didn’t react. Normally, she would have pushed him away.

“Sometimes, I think this is a good thing.”

Ren was taken aback by Reilly not pushing him away.

“What’s the problem?”

Ren knew what Reilly was thinking about.

“If it bothers you, just take it off.”

That was true.

The problem was that the ring didn’t bother her.

Reilly stared at the ring for a long time before finally leaning back on the sofa as if giving up. As a result, Ren inadvertently slid off her shoulder.

“The problem is that there isn’t a problem.”

“Stop overthinking it.”

Ren flicked Reilly’s forehead lightly as she leaned back, pouting slightly.

Reilly frowned at the slight sting.

Rather, Reilly didn’t understand why Ren was acting so familiar with her.

“You haven’t been going into the sword [likely referring to a training ground or meditative space] quite as often lately.”

“So you’re complaining?”

“It’s up to you, Ren, but a lot of mana is consumed, so unnecessary activities…”

“Don’t change the subject.”

Ren looked down at Reilly, narrowing his eyes. He had softened quite a bit compared to the beginning, but perhaps he didn’t want her to revert to her previous self.

Because then he wouldn’t be able to stay this close to her.

“Then why are you acting so familiar with me, Ren?”

Reilly thought about it and couldn’t understand Ren’s behavior.

It reminded her of a pattern of behavior that was similar to, yet different from, the Crown Prince.

Ren moved his lips and blurted out what was on his mind.

“You’re thinking about that guy right now, aren’t you?”

“That guy? Are you perhaps referring to His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Reilly focused on a different part of his statement.

“If you’re going to start insulting the Imperial Family again, forget it.”

“Tomorrow is the day we have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor, so please be especially mindful.”

“I can’t get used to that tone either.”

Ren felt like he was talking to someone else, beyond Reilly’s stiff tone. She was so overly loyal that it could be said she had truly become the Imperial Family’s devoted servant.

‘Even if it’s because of the contract, this is too much.’

It was as if she resembled someone… Ah.

“You’re just like Haban.”

“Don’t compare me to the aide.”

Reilly shook her head, thinking of Haban.

“Reilly, have you forgotten that you said you would become the head of the Trailla family?”

“…Can I become the head of the family?”

For a moment, Reilly’s pupils wavered.

Ren didn’t miss the fleeting hesitation and quickly replied.

“Yes, if you just come back to yourself.”

“Come back… what does that…”

Throb.

Reilly clutched her head, feeling a sudden headache.

‘Head of the family.’

‘Trailla family.’

It felt like these two words were spinning around in confusion.

The clear pattern on her neck glowed, repeatedly changing from blue to red.

“You…!”

Ren quickly grabbed Reilly’s face and turned it to the side.

Mysterious tears welled up in Reilly’s eyes and streamed down her cheeks.

“Reilly Shaltia!”

Reilly’s pupils, which had been aimlessly shaking, focused at Ren’s loud voice.

“…Ren?”

“Are you… Reilly right now?”

“Please… just a little… please.”

Reilly groaned, grabbing Ren’s arms tightly.

‘My head feels like it’s breaking. I feel like I’m being pulled into a distant place again.’

Even though she was trying to keep her eyes wide open and stay conscious, it wasn’t easy.

Something unknown kept scattering and suppressing her consciousness.

Bang!

“What…!”

Kaver entered her room, surprised by Ren’s voice.

“Reilly!”

Kaver lost his composure at the sight of Reilly holding Ren’s arms and making a painfully distorted expression.

Before anyone could stop him, he took Reilly, who was in Ren’s arms, and pulled her into his own.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“…Kaver.”

Just wait a little longer.

Reilly was trapped in a dark place, unable to do anything. When she briefly regained consciousness from the occasional voices of Kaver and Ren, her consciousness faded again almost immediately.

And so, Reilly lost consciousness again.

* * *

“Where’s Reilly?”

“The Marchioness woke up this morning and went to see His Majesty.”

“…Did Ren go with her too?”

“Yes.”

Kaver hadn’t slept a wink last night.

The Reilly who had briefly returned seemed exhausted.

“Breaking the contract with the Imperial Family is…”

“Dangerous.”

“But she clearly told me…”

He couldn’t forget Reilly’s eyes. They were lifeless, but her eyes, looking at him, clearly contained affection.

“She was definitely trying to say something.”

“Did her true self briefly return?”

Kaver nodded at Haban’s words.

This guaranteed that Reilly’s true self would eventually return. He didn’t know how long it would take, but there was hope.

“Will you tell His Majesty?”

“No.”

Kaver answered firmly.

There was no point in telling him about Reilly’s condition in this situation. His father would still consider the gains and losses from a political perspective.

“The only thing I’m worried about is…”

“That she might show her unstable true self even in front of His Majesty.”

Haban quickly grasped the situation and looked at his watch.

“It will be short for 30 minutes, and long for up to 1 hour.”

“Was today that day?”

“Yes, unfortunately, it’s the day when all the vassals [feudal lords or high-ranking officials] gather.”

Shadows fell on Kaver and Haban’s faces at the same time.

“I have to step in.”

“His Majesty won’t like it.”

“Attendance was originally free, so it doesn’t matter.”

“Isn’t the reason too obvious?”

Haban racked his brains to find a reasonable basis. He needed a reason why it wouldn’t be strange for Kaver to attend the meeting, a reason that no one could refute.

“Only I should know that Her Excellency Reilly is swaying His Highness.”

If she became the Crown Prince’s weakness, everyone would try to exploit her.

“How about this? I think His Highness should compromise a little.”

Haban, who came up with a good idea after thinking about it, cautiously suggested it to Kaver.

It was an agenda that he wouldn’t like, but there was no other way.

“It’s about bringing in things related to Princess Viviana Adel.”

“Are you talking about trade with the Pheleponcia Kingdom?”

Since she was still staying in the Empire, it wasn’t a bad idea to ask Duchess Roanna for cooperation and rewrite the trade clauses with the kingdom.

“And let Princess Viviana Adel stay in the Imperial Palace.”

“…What?”

“There’s an old saying that you should keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”

From Princess Adel’s point of view, it was something she would welcome very much.

“She will have no reason to refuse.”

“Of course, the vassals and His Majesty will not doubt His Highness’s attendance if it is such an agenda.”

“But are you really going to bring her in?”

“What does it matter? We’re just throwing bait at her anyway.”

Haban shrugged and raised one corner of his mouth.

“Wouldn’t it be easier to gather evidence?”

“I really don’t know about you.”

Kaver shook his head at Haban’s seemingly vicious smile.

“Princess Adel must be grinding her teeth right now. She’s not going to miss this opportunity.”

Haban imagined goosebumps on his face when he returned to the Duke’s residence that day and saw Adel’s distorted face with anger. He could feel the murderous intent outright, so she probably broke a few things that day.

“The Pheleponcia Kingdom will also welcome it.”

“It wouldn’t be bad to go to the kingdom for a while under the pretext of negotiation.”

“That’s right.”

No matter how hard he tried to find out information in the Empire, there would be limits.

“So go to the Pheleponcia Kingdom with Princess Adel. Of course, Her Excellency Reilly must also accompany you.”

“Haban, can you finish everything by the time I get back?”

Haban’s expression changed somewhat arrogantly at Kaver’s words.

“Your Highness, even though I look like this, I am a capable aide.”

He confidently spread out the documents in his hand, puffed out his chest, and nodded slightly.

“Everything you need is already prepared.”

“You really are…”

Haban shook his head, showing his palm.

“This document will only be used when Your Highness has finished the job well.”

“Then I’ll have to turn the tables before it’s too late.”

Kaver got up from his seat and put on his clothes.

“Take it easy.”

Haban said to Kaver, opening the door.

“If His Majesty grabs the back of his neck and collapses [a figure of speech meaning to be shocked or angered to the point of physical distress], I’ll be in trouble too.”

“Don’t worry about that. In my opinion, my father is still fine.”

Kaver exchanged a short joke with Haban and turned to the audience room.

When he reached the door, the guard standing guard looked at Kaver in surprise.

“Inform His Majesty.”

“Is Your Highness also attending?”

The guard was flustered because he had not heard that he would be attending, so he quickly looked at the list.

“Something urgent came up. It’s a matter of great importance to the country.”

At Kaver’s words, the guard quickly rolled his eyes.

‘A matter of great importance, if something goes wrong later, won’t this be a big deal? Besides, His Highness the Crown Prince would not attend the meeting without any problems, so I should open the door quickly.’

The guard cleared his throat and shouted.

“Crown Prince Kaver Baritas is entering!”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Kaver as he entered the audience room as the door opened.

Reilly, who was kneeling in the middle, turned her head to the side.

“…Your Highness Kaver?”

Her heart beat a little faster at the sight of him smiling faintly at her.

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

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

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Status: Completed Author: Native Language: Korean
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[English Translation] Betrayal cuts deeper than any blade. When a woman loses her child due to her husband's infidelity, the pain is unbearable. His excuses and protection of the other woman are the final straw. Haunted by the ghost of her lost child and consumed by hatred for the man she sacrificed everything for, she makes a life-altering decision. She vows to become a stranger to him forever. A poignant tale of love, loss, and the strength to walk away, 'When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers' explores the devastating consequences of betrayal and the journey to reclaim one's life.

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