When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 83

Kaver couldn’t bring himself to say aloud what Adel had done.

It was beyond unpleasant; it was utterly absurd.

“Is this the dining etiquette in the Pheroponcia Kingdom?”

“Oh my, is there a country with such dining etiquette?”

She brazenly wiped her mouth with a napkin, feigning ignorance.

“Shall we conclude the meal here?”

At Adel’s words, Kaver spoke to the head butler.

“Bring out a simple tea and then leave us.”

He rubbed his throbbing head and sat back in his chair.

‘They must have figured it out by now.’

The craftsman disguised as a servant nodded beside the head butler.

Kaver sighed briefly as he watched them leave the reception room.

“It’ll take longer than you thought, won’t it?”

Adel adjusted her posture, propped her chin on her hand, and stared intently at Kaver.

“What do you want?”

“You know.”

At her quick reply, Kaver silently lifted his teacup.

“Do you have no pride?”

“Were we ever close enough to stand on pride?”

“If you wish, we could be.”

Kaver quickly changed his expression and met Adel’s gaze head-on. She did the same.

“Don’t you think we might get along quite well?”

“Perhaps.”

“I have that feeling.”

Adel shrugged, taking a bite of a cookie.

“Before that, shouldn’t we get to know each other a bit?”

“Which aspect are you curious about?”

Kaver set down his teacup at Adel’s playful tone.

“Everything about you.”

“Quite a romantic thing to say, but it doesn’t suit you.”

Adel swept the refreshments on the table aside and stood up.

Leaning suddenly towards Kaver, she reached out and flicked dust off his collar.

“Your Highness seems to have quite the impatient personality.”

“……There’s no reason to be leisurely.”

Kaver lowered his gaze and stared at Adel’s lips.

“Well, as you said, there’s no need to rush.”

He stood up, leaving Adel, who was close to his face, as she was.

“I will go to the Pheroponcia Kingdom with you in three days.”

“What if I refuse?”

Adel turned and sat on the edge of the table, asking Kaver, who was standing by the door.

“No, you will go.”

Kaver no longer had any intention of trying to win her favor. This kind of approach was not good for either Railey or Adel.

If the same situation were to arise again, it might ruin his plans.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Adel readily agreed to Kaver’s words.

“But until we leave, Your Highness must do your best for me.”

“Even if it’s a lie?”

“You’d do it as a lie even if I asked you to be sincere, wouldn’t you?”

Kaver chuckled at Adel’s words.

“Having dinner together once a day seems to be the best I can do for you.”

“Did you like my behavior earlier?”

Adel tilted her head slightly, crossing her bare legs.

“No, I simply didn’t want anyone to witness this situation.”

“Are you referring to Sir Railey?”

“Then let’s meet at this time tomorrow. I hope you enjoy your time at the annex.”

Kaver opened the door and left Adel in the reception room.

* * *

Railey glanced at the spot where Kaver had disappeared.

“Sister, how about this one?”

Leta took out several necklaces and held them up to Railey.

Railey was still standing in the same spot, except for sitting at the tea time table prepared next to her, not far from the annex.

She frowned, looking at the weeds rustling under her feet.

“Is this an urgent matter?”

At Railey’s gaze, Haban cleared his throat and avoided her eyes.

“Ren, what are you doing standing there? You should take a look.”

At Leta’s wink, Ren widened her eyes and shrugged.

‘I need an explanation to understand. Suddenly a necklace… Ah.’

Ren finally understood the situation. They were trying to replace the necklace around her neck with another one.

“This one is enough for me.”

“I wanted to give you a gift.”

Railey awkwardly touched the necklace at Leta’s sparkling eyes.

“But, this necklace…….”

She felt like she shouldn’t take it off. It felt like some kind of safety device.

‘I don’t think this method will work.’

Ren quietly looked at the necklace around Railey’s neck.

‘But, why does she have such a determined look?’

Leta’s eyes, as if she had made a big decision, bothered her.

Just in case, Ren stood close to Railey and sent a look to Leta.

However, Leta ignored Ren’s signal and jumped up from her seat.

“Then, won’t your mind change if I do it myself?”

At Railey’s refusal, Leta smiled brightly and fixed her gaze on Railey’s neck.

‘I have to end it in one go.’

She was desperate to help Railey in any way she could.

She had something she could do, and she couldn’t give up like this.

‘It can’t be awkward.’

Leta took a short breath and strode towards Railey.

As she got closer, she gauged the distance and deliberately stepped on her own foot.

“Ah!”

As she fell, she reached for Railey’s necklace.

“Huh?”

“Oops.”

Ren firmly grabbed Railey’s shoulder as she fell forward, cutting the necklace string.

Snap-

At the same time as the thin necklace string broke, Haban grabbed Leta’s waist.

Relief escaped from Leta’s mouth as she saw the floor right in front of her face.

“Wow, wow…….”

If she had planted her face there… just thinking about it was terrible.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I tripped over my feet.”

Leta hid the necklace in her hand inside her sleeve.

“Sister, is your neck okay?!”

She quickly got up and tried to check Railey’s neck.

“Ah, thankfully Ren cut the string in the middle… I’m fine.”

Ren couldn’t bring herself to get angry at Leta. Her method was reckless, but it was successful.

Haban was also quite surprised, as if he didn’t expect this to happen.

“I’m fine, but the necklace…….”

Railey fiddled with her empty necklace and fixed her gaze on the floor.

‘It seems to be around here.’

She bent down towards the side where the necklace had fallen. If she just rummaged through the grass with her hands, it might shine in the sunlight.

Leta quickly handed over the necklace she was holding in her other hand.

‘No, if she finds out it’s missing, she’ll question me.’

Leta swallowed nervously.

It wouldn’t take long to find the necklace. It seemed like Railey would find it soon if she just reached out and concentrated.

The problem was that the necklace was already hidden in Leta’s arms.

“Then, how about wearing this until I find it?”

Adel might think it’s strange if she’s not wearing anything.

Of course, since her plan was successful anyway, even if Railey took off the necklace now…….

“Huh?”

Suddenly, faint memories flashed through Railey’s mind one by one.

‘……Could it be, am I back?’

The dark energy that had covered her eyes and ears disappeared, and she even felt lighter.

But that didn’t mean she could reveal it right here, or Adel wouldn’t stay still.

Railey closed her mouth, thinking that she might lose consciousness again at any moment.

“Then, I’ll wear it for a while.”

She accepted the necklace Leta handed her.

Seeing that it was similar to the one she was wearing, there must have been a reason for her to come here.

‘First, I don’t know how long my ego will last, so I need to time it.’

She glanced at her watch. The sun had set and it was night, so the key was whether she could maintain it until tomorrow.

“What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

Ren asked worriedly, looking at Railey’s complexion.

She shook her head lightly and got up from her seat.

“Then, I think it’s best to go in now.”

“……Shall we?”

Leta nodded and casually held the necklace box in her hand.

“I’ll have people look for the necklace.”

Railey nodded in agreement at Haban’s words.

There was no need to spend time looking for the necklace. Railey also didn’t feel comfortable with everyone being together right now.

‘Viviana Adel.’

Railey thought of her as she walked to her room.

She clenched her fist involuntarily, but soon released the strength and stopped in her place.

A person walking towards her from afar.

It was Kaver.

‘Kaver.’

Railey didn’t have the confidence to hide her expression in front of him.

Then, now, and in the future, she would never be able to hide her feelings for Kaver.

But now was dangerous.

‘He must have had dinner with Princess Adel, so I might run into her soon.’

She would notice the change that had happened to her.

It was natural to think it was strange since her mana was not visible.

‘Sorry, I’m sorry.’

Railey immediately turned around and walked in the opposite direction.

“Railey.”

Kaver noticed Railey, who turned her direction when she saw him, and hurried his steps.

Even Ren, who was next to her, found Railey’s attitude strange.

“Why did you suddenly turn around?”

“I just remembered something I had to do.”

Should she tell Ren?

Railey glanced at Ren. Then she closed her mouth and conveyed the words in her head.

-It’s troublesome if I’m with Kaver and run into Adel.

-……Railey, is that you?

Ren grabbed Railey’s arm and turned her towards her.

-Yes, so. Don’t make it obvious.

-Since when…… Ah, that’s not important right now.

Railey glanced back.

Seeing Kaver, who was already close by, she pulled on Ren’s sleeve.

-Where do you want to go?

-……A place where his eyes can’t reach.

Ren wrapped her arm around Railey’s shoulder and deliberately turned her head to stare at Kaver.

Kaver reached out at Ren’s grinning smile.

The moment his hand slightly touched Railey, she disappeared from sight.

Only Kaver’s hand, which had failed to grab her, remained in the air.