When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 80

“To find a jeweler within a day, of all things…”

Haban sighed as he wandered through the city.

It was his own fault for speaking out of turn.

“Sir Haban, it seems impossible to find him today…”

The guard who had accompanied him leaned against a wall, looking exhausted.

They had been searching for the rumored man all day, but couldn’t find him.

“No, I can’t go back empty-handed…”

The thought alone was terrifying.

“That’s why you shouldn’t have said those words!”

Arhin, a member of the guard who had been discreetly moving to avoid attracting attention, raised his voice.

“Yes, I’m already regretting my past self.”

Haban had been talking about Princess Adel in the evening when he suddenly had a good idea about the necklace.

The moment he told Caber his idea, he covered his mouth with his hand, but he couldn’t take back the words he had already spoken.

“I didn’t know you would immediately agree to the idea of replacing Princess Adel’s necklace.”

“Don’t you know His Highness, even after watching him for so long?”

Berne, who had been silent, emerged from the shadowy alley.

“No. Even with Sir Reilley by his side, I can’t believe he’s using us for this kind of task.”

Caber’s personal guard, who moved in top secret, seemed quite dissatisfied with this mission.

“Then why don’t you complain to him directly?”

Haban scoffed at their voices.

‘They couldn’t say anything in front of him, but they were complaining to me,’ he thought.

“We can if we want to.”

They immediately backed down, but they were also at a loss.

“But how are you going to replace the necklace?”

“That’s up to His Highness.”

He didn’t know if he would do well.

Haban needed to find a jeweler right away.

‘Princess Adel is one thing, but how is he going to replace Sir Reilley’s necklace?’ he wondered.

Reilley was the more difficult one.

Even though he had no ego, he wouldn’t willingly give up what he had on his body.

“By the way, why is that person…”

Arhin pointed to a woman wearing a robe.

“Don’t ask me about that.”

Haban shrugged, looking at Leta. She had said she would go with him if it was related to her sister, so he had no choice but to bring her along.

Caber gladly allowed it, saying it wouldn’t be bad for her to get some fresh air outside rather than being trapped in the imperial palace.

Besides, he had his most trusted personal guards with him, so there was no need to worry about protection.

“I’ll do my best to help!”

Leta clenched her fists, showing her determination.

Honestly, she wasn’t a hindrance. She was asking people about the rumored man faster than anyone else.

‘But it’s not good to stand out,’ Haban thought.

Haban, noticing the robe slightly slipping back, approached her.

He quickly pulled her robe towards her face.

“I know you’re enthusiastic, but you have to be careful.”

“Ah…”

“It would be really troublesome if your identity was revealed to others.”

Leta quickly nodded and held onto her robe tightly.

“Then shall we move quickly? It would be good to finish before it gets dark.”

Haban looked at the sky and sighed briefly.

At his words, Arhin and Berne quickly disappeared.

“Princess, please move with me.”

“Yes, yes!”

Leta started walking, keeping pace with Haban.

* * *

“Were you very tired?”

Reilley stopped flipping through documents.

Anyone would nod their head if they saw the pile of documents on the desk. If he was bringing work to the bedroom instead of the office…

She put down the documents and stared at Caber, who was dozing off.

‘He’s going to hit his head like that,’ she thought.

She was amazed that Caber was sleeping so steadily without shaking.

“Should I wake him up?”

Reilley hesitated for a moment and reached out her hand.

Before it touched his shoulder, she withdrew her hand.

‘It’ll be okay if it’s just for a moment,’ she reasoned.

Looking out the window, the sun was setting.

Thud-

Caber’s face leaned on her shoulder.

Reilley froze in place, staring blankly ahead.

Soon, she heard soft breathing and quietly listened to his breath.

The sunset came in through the window, casting a shadow.

She slowly read the documents in front of her. Reading the documents with minimal movement, she began to separate them little by little.

‘This will make it a little easier for him to handle the work,’ she thought.

Reilley worked on the documents without waking Caber.

“I was going to see how long you would stay like that, but it seems like it would be dawn.”

Peace might have continued if it weren’t for Ren’s sudden appearance.

“Where have you been?”

Reilley asked Ren as she finished moving the documents.

At the same time, Caber’s eyes slowly opened.

“Who knows.”

Ren didn’t answer Reilley’s words and plopped down on the sofa.

He wore a bitter smile as he watched Caber sitting next to her.

‘It’s really annoying, but they look good together,’ he thought.

He didn’t want to admit it, but they looked too good together in his eyes.

He was going to endure it a little longer since it might not be possible from tomorrow, but he eventually showed up because he didn’t think he would wake up like that.

“You can’t curse with your eyes.”

“I can’t curse with my mouth, can I?”

Caber raised his head from Reilley’s shoulder and smiled at Ren with his eyes narrowed.

“Aren’t you being too relaxed?”

“Well, there’s no need to worry about what will happen in advance.”

“Even if this doesn’t go well, keep your promise.”

Ren rubbed his neck as he looked at the pattern drawn on Reilley’s neck.

Caber’s eyes sank coldly.

‘I have to succeed. Otherwise, I’ll be in danger,’ he thought.

If he doesn’t belong to the imperial family, Reilley might be devoured by the sword. Ren would also be aware of this.

“It’s getting late, so you can go back now.”

Caber changed his expression to a kind smile towards Reilley.

Reilley was bothered by the subtle tension between Ren and Caber.

“I’ll leave when Sir Haban comes.”

“Ah, he’ll be a little late.”

“Then I’ll…”

“Don’t worry. I can protect myself even without you.”

Caber pushed Reilley out the door.

“There’s no fun anymore since a nuisance has come.”

‘I guess I’ll have to finish my work,’ he mused.

He glanced at the side Reilley had left and sat back down.

‘Hmm, well, I’ll have to go find them,’ he thought.

Caber was thinking of going out himself if they didn’t come even after midnight.

It was an unreasonable request, but Haban would do it.

But people can’t always be perfect, so he would understand even if he didn’t succeed.

That might make him feel a little more human.

“Reilley would have made a fuss if she knew.”

She would have immediately gone to find them as soon as she knew Leta had gone out with them.

“I don’t want to be hated later.”

Caber put on the robe prepared on one side and opened the window.

Looking down, he saw guards walking around, guarding firmly.

“Hmm, how can I sneak out?”

It was quite a high floor, but he, who had been trained, could easily go down this far. Of course, he would have to hide well so as not to be seen and reach the ground.

A cool breeze flowed over his cheeks, making him feel relieved.

‘Ah, this is the taste of sneaking out,’ he thought.

Caber pulled up his mask to cover his face and took a stance as if he was about to jump down.

“Ah…”

“Let’s go down.”

Haban grabbed the window frame and stopped Caber, so he obediently came into the room.

“You have amazing timing.”

“Let’s just say my intuition is particularly developed.”

“So, did you finish the mission and come back?”

“Who do you think I am?”

Haban nodded triumphantly.

“I thought you would have a human side.”

As expected, he might be a machine pretending to be human. Looking at the faces of the guards who followed him in, they must have been suffering all day.

“Aren’t you pushing him too hard, even if it’s you?”

“That’s what I want to say.”

Haban breathed out, pushing his sweaty hair back.

“Princess Leta has been safely taken to her room.”

“I hope she enjoyed the outing.”

“She’s probably fast asleep.”

Haban smiled slightly, recalling Leta, who had fallen asleep in his arms on the way.

“…What?”

“I found the jeweler. I also made a separate appointment.”

“No, you fell asleep quickly.”

At Caber’s words, Haban quickly hardened his expression and acted as if nothing had happened.

“Arhin, Berne, you probably saw the same thing as me.”

“I think I saw it too.”

“We have to leave a record of this today.”

Haban pressed his lips tightly at Caber’s words.

It was clear that he would be teased for a while. His two eyes were sparkling, which was very unsettling.

“Am I not allowed to laugh?”

“No, you can laugh.”

“Then explain why everyone is looking at me with strange expressions.”

Haban hardened his expression and spoke calmly to avoid stopping them.

“Is there anything to explain?”

“No, I don’t know either.”

As expected of the Crown Prince’s guard, they were all in cahoots [conspiring together].

Haban finally realized that the only way to escape was to leave this room.

“I’ve finished my mission, so I’ll be on my way.”

“Where are you going?”

Caber grabbed Haban’s collar and smiled brightly.

“Our night hasn’t ended yet.”

“Why. Why are you doing this! It’s disgusting!”

Haban felt goosebumps all over his body. Arhin and Berne, who had been quietly watching this, quickly greeted him and disappeared.

“We need to talk a little more.”

Caber whispered in Haban’s ear in a playful voice.

“Aaaaaaack!”

Haban’s screams, trying to break free from his arms, echoed through the hallway.