When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 82

Turn Around and You’re a Stranger (81)

Contrary to Princess Adel’s expectations, she quite liked the detached palace.

‘I thought they’d just give me anything.’

From the furniture to the dresses, everything suited her taste.

“It seems like quite the reception.”

Adel didn’t hold back her admiration as she looked around her room.

“I hope you’ll be comfortable during your short stay.”

Adel’s eyebrows twitched at the word ‘short.’ Now that she was here, she had no intention of leaving.

“You never know, do you?”

“If you want to align with the Empire, you must return to the kingdom with me.”

“…The Phelloponsia Kingdom, you mean?”

Adel sat on the bed and crossed her arms.

“You’re not thinking of going back alone after we came together, are you?”

“Wouldn’t that depend on your actions?”

Kaver sat on the sofa opposite her and stared at Adel.

“This is about trade tariffs, isn’t it?”

“I can’t deny that.”

He smoothly continued the conversation.

“With just a word from me, my father could change his mind.”

Adel ran her hand over the bed, her eyes slightly lowered.

“It seems the people are quite troubled by the tariffs in the trade with the Phelloponsia Kingdom.”

“I believe it was unavoidable due to the sudden increase in tariffs.”

Kaver quietly stared at Princess Adel before getting up.

“I’ve prepared dinner; how about we eat together?”

“I’ll just change my clothes and join you.”

Adel got up, thinking of a dress in the closet.

“Please call Lirita when you leave.”

“Then, I’ll wait in the drawing-room.”

Kaver slowly took in the room before passing her and walking towards the door. He didn’t miss the necklace around Adel’s neck, glancing at it.

‘That looks quite intricate.’

Even at a glance, it was clear that a unique jewel was embedded in it. The red gem looked like a ruby, but the craftsmanship was so unique that he would notice even the slightest difference.

Kaver had disguised a jeweler as a servant and sent him to the drawing-room in advance.

‘I can only hope he has the skill to quickly make a copy.’

As soon as Kaver left Princess Adel’s room, he dusted off his arms.

Feeling like her scent was still clinging to him, he took off his jacket and unbuttoned a few buttons on his shirt.

“I wonder what he was doing in there.”

Ren, who had been standing next to Reilly waiting for Kaver to come out, twisted his lips.

“…Lirita, you’ve been summoned, so go.”

Kaver ignored Ren’s words and conveyed Adel’s message.

However, Kaver stopped in front of Reilly, noticing her staring at him.

“Why are you waiting here instead of going inside?”

“…It’s still chilly.”

Reilly reached out and fastened the unbuttoned buttons one by one.

“And you shouldn’t always present yourself disheveled.”

Reilly’s expression hardened as she looked at the jacket in his hand.

“I shouldn’t be smiling at this, but why do I feel so good when you say that?”

“That’s because you’re strange, Your Highness.”

“Right. I’m being scolded, but I feel good.”

Kaver, however, didn’t put on the jacket.

“But I don’t think it’s a good idea to wear this.”

He handed the jacket to Haban, who was next to him, and began to unbutton his shirt.

“I’m a little short on time. I might have to change here.”

With Kaver’s touch, his firm upper body was soon revealed through the white shirt. His well-defined muscles were clearly visible.

“Are you going to keep watching? I don’t mind, though.”

“Ah!”

Only then did Reilly turn around.

Ren covered Reilly’s eyes with his hands, in case she might see something, and glared at Kaver with burning eyes.

“That calculating bastard.”

“It’s always good to foresee what might happen,” Kaver said, buttoning up his shirt with a relaxed smile.

At this moment, Reilly would be reminded of what had happened before.

“I don’t want the scent of another woman on my body.”

Only after putting on his jacket did Kaver approach Reilly.

“One woman is enough.”

His hand lightly brushed against Reilly’s.

“Are you planning to have dinner just the two of you?”

Ren pulled Reilly towards him and asked Kaver.

“I think I have to today. If things are going to work out, I have to cater to her tastes.”

Kaver acted thoroughly calculated in everything except for Reilly.

“Well, shall we go then?”

Haban approached Reilly and Ren, pushing their backs.

“Is it really okay to keep leaving your post like this?”

Reilly asked Haban seriously.

“It’s okay. His Highness is so tough he wouldn’t die even if he were stabbed with a knife.”

“…Your jokes aren’t very funny.”

Ren shook his head, looking at Haban. How could he be so much like Kaver?

“There’s no chance of being stabbed, so don’t make such a serious face.”

Ren put his hand on Reilly’s shoulder, turned her around, and pushed her forward.

She was walking forward, taken aback by his touch, but Reilly’s expression wasn’t particularly good.

“It seems we have a role to play, so let’s do as they want.”

He said that, but Ren had no intention of helping at all. At first, he wanted her ego to return quickly. But now it was the opposite.

“It wouldn’t be bad to take a day off. Or should we go on a date?”

Ren whispered to Reilly, watching Haban’s reaction.

“I can hear everything. Please come along; we really have something to do.”

Haban looked at Ren, who didn’t seem like he would cooperate, and came out firmly, as if he had expected it.

Besides, Ren saw Leta waving her hand from afar, so it seemed like they really had something to do.

* * *

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you helping?”

Adel ordered, her voice mixed with annoyance as she looked at Lirita.

“Are you really going to wear this dress?”

Lirita swallowed hard, looking at the dress in her hand.

‘What on earth is she thinking? Is she crazy?’

She should have expected that there would be another intention from the moment she brought this dress.

Lirita calmed her trembling hands and waited for Adel’s answer.

“Why? Is there something wrong with the dress?”

“No, it’s not that, but…”

“Lirita. You know what I might do if you keep standing there blankly, right?”

Adel turned and stood in front of Lirita.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Lirita quickly bowed her head and hurriedly prepared the adornments.

‘Aren’t you supposed to win His Highness’s heart? Why are you provoking him?’

No matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn’t understand. She just hoped that the blame wouldn’t fall on her.

The princess, who was ready, looked at herself in the mirror.

“As expected, red suits me better.”

The blue dress didn’t look bad either. But was it because she wasn’t the owner of this dress?

It felt like she was wearing someone else’s clothes.

The words that others had said to her at the Serhin mansion wouldn’t be sincere.

Adel was just curious about Kaver’s expression when she stood in front of him wearing this dress.

‘He wouldn’t be interested in me.’

Even if it was a childish act, she had nothing to lose.

Kaver wouldn’t be able to directly mention the dress to her because he wanted something from her.

Adel wanted to see Kaver’s face, which would be as bewildered as Lirita. The raw, unadorned him, who was always expressionless or forced a smile.

‘He’ll be somewhat irrational when it comes to that woman.’

Human emotions are so scary.

They are swayed by even the smallest things, to the point where they can’t be controlled, and they make mistakes.

So she was going to touch his weakness.

She was looking forward to seeing how long he would endure, and maybe he would even turn his attention to her in order to protect her.

Like this time.

Adel left the room with a satisfied expression. Her steps towards Kaver, who would be waiting for her, felt somewhat enjoyable.

* * *

Standing in front of the drawing-room, she still wore an enchanting smile. As the door opened, she stepped inside with an elegant gait.

Kaver was sitting upright in his chair.

Adel’s eyes curved prettily.

“I didn’t keep you waiting long, did I?”

The blue dress caught Kaver’s eye.

“Please understand that I took so long to prepare because I wanted to look good for Your Highness.”

She wore a deep smile and sat opposite Kaver as if to show off.

Kaver’s lips twisted as he recognized the dress Adel was wearing.

‘This is something else entirely.’

Kaver ran his finger over his lips, knowing Adel’s intentions.

It was clearly the dress that had been prepared for Reilly. He had heard the whole story in advance, so he wasn’t particularly angry.

Rather, he was losing his will to fight.

“Vivianna Adel, Princess.”

Adel smiled sweetly at Kaver’s low voice.

“I hope you like the dinner I’ve prepared.”

“I’m grateful just for the invitation.”

Adel spun the wine glass around and stared intently at Kaver.

‘The reaction is less than I expected.’

How boring.

Adel crossed her legs, her eyes losing interest.

She felt better for a moment as the wine smoothly passed down her throat, but the silence grew longer.

Adel kicked off one of her shoes and then brushed her foot against Kaver’s leg across the table.

‘……What now.’

Kaver was startled by the unfamiliar sensation under the table.

He almost dropped the knife he was holding.

“Your Highness, is everything alright?”

The chief attendant asked urgently, noticing Kaver’s subtle change in expression.

“It’s nothing…”

“It seems Your Highness finds the food exceptionally delicious.”

Adel kicked Kaver’s leg again.

“Now you’re showing a different expression.”

Kaver stood up abruptly, seeing the satisfied look on her face.