When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 86

Though Ren told me to come to Rayleigh’s room, I lacked the courage to enter.

“Is she asleep?”

What if I wake her if she’s asleep?

Kaver still felt the lingering sensation on his hand and clenched his fist.

Just in case, he quietly knocked on the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

There was no response from inside. Kaver released the doorknob and leaned his back against the door.

‘How foolish of me.’

He chuckled at his own cowardice.

What if she pushes me away? What if she runs away from me again?

Kaver covered his head with both hands and buried his face in his knees.

“Let’s just check if she’s sleeping.”

He stood up, as if steeling himself. His hands trembled slightly, but he gently turned the doorknob and opened the door.

Even in the dim light, Rayleigh’s face was clearly visible.

She must have been tossing and turning in her sleep, as beads of sweat dotted her forehead.

Kaver slowly approached her, pulled the blanket up, and quietly gazed at Rayleigh.

Her soft breathing filled the room.

“…You lied.”

Kaver recalled Ren’s words and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Perhaps it was because the tension in his body had eased, but his legs felt weak.

Kaver pulled the blanket up to her chin, drinking in her image. As if feeling stifled, Rayleigh pushed the blanket away with her hand.

“Umm…”

Kaver reached out and wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief.

His hand, which had been tucking her hair behind her ear, froze.

“Kaver?”

Rayleigh’s eyes slowly opened. Her hand, which tightly gripped his, tightened its hold.

‘It must be a dream.’

There was no way he would be in her bedroom.

She held Kaver’s hand even tighter, not wanting to let go.

“I must have been quite worried. Seeing you in my dream…”

Rayleigh struggled to stay awake, trying to keep her heavy eyelids open.

She thought it was a dream, but the warmth she felt in her hand was vivid. The sad eyes looking at her, and the smile that always reassured her, felt real.

If it was a dream, she didn’t want to wake up, and if it wasn’t a dream, she didn’t want to fall asleep.

However, her eyelids kept drooping.

“…Don’t worry, just sleep. I’ll be here until you fall asleep.”

Kaver stroked Rayleigh’s cheek and smiled.

Kaver’s low voice, echoing in Rayleigh’s ear, calmed her heart.

“Rayleigh, you don’t have to rush things.”

“Umm, but…”

Rayleigh felt drowsy, but she wanted to feel his warmth a little longer. She reached out, wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her face against him.

Kaver quietly embraced Rayleigh and stroked her back.

“The you now and the you before are the same to me.”

Nothing has been easy for me from the beginning. So, I can start again this time.

“So, don’t worry and get some sleep.”

Wherever you are, I’ll follow.

He could feel the strength leaving the hand that held him as Rayleigh’s breathing deepened.

Kaver carefully pulled away from Rayleigh and kissed her forehead.

“Please, don’t have nightmares.”

Though I wish you would dream of me.

He watched the sleeping Rayleigh for a long time before leaving the room.

* * *

“I’m uneasy; something is off.”

Princess Adel bit her nails anxiously.

The detached palace where she resided was not far from the imperial palace.

She looked out the window and picked up a glass.

She trembled, on the verge of throwing it against the wall, but placed it back on the table instead.

“Ha… I really don’t like any of this.”

She had been intoxicated with a sense of victory, watching Kaver cater to her to get what she wanted, but it was only temporary.

He would no longer act like that.

“It’s because of that woman, Rayleigh.”

Haban brought her here to keep an eye on her.

He stayed for several hours after she entered the detached palace before returning to the imperial palace.

‘I shouldn’t have come here.’

It was a misjudgment. Besides, since I have to go to Pelleponcia tomorrow, I need to quickly figure out what Kaver is up to.

Now that it’s come to this, I have to get rid of the evidence.

“Lirita, finally, I have something for you to do.”

Lirita trembled as she watered the plants.

It was something she had been waiting for, but she was scared now that it was actually happening. But she had no other choice.

‘Maybe I can finish it quickly.’

Lirita carefully took Adel’s note.

“It’s not a difficult task. You just have to switch it.”

Adel handed her a necklace along with the note.

‘This is… the same necklace that Sir Rayleigh was wearing.’

Lirita swallowed hard as she looked at the necklace in her hand.

‘Are you telling me to steal?’

Adel seemed to have read Lirita’s eyes and gently patted her, speaking in a soft voice.

“It’s just taking back what was originally mine. This might even be a better gemstone.”

“Is it really okay?”

“Of course, don’t worry. Nothing will happen to you.”

Lirita inwardly screamed ‘lie’ at Adel’s words.

She would abandon her at any time. She was a woman who would cut her off without hesitation if she lost her value, just like now.

“I trust you, Princess.”

Lirita smiled brightly, erasing her doubts.

“Oh, and is it true that only one ability user is produced in the Trailla family?”

“Yes? Why suddenly…”

“Lirita, you’re good at everything, but you have a bad habit.”

Adel gently stroked Lirita’s shoulder and patted her.

“You just have to answer my questions; you shouldn’t question what I do.”

Lirita quickly nodded at her changed tone.

“It seems like you don’t know about that part either, so you can go now. You have a lot to do, right?”

Adel waved her hand towards the door.

“Yes, yes!”

“I believe you’ll do well.”

Honestly, she didn’t expect much. Rayleigh never took off her necklace, so it was ridiculous to expect a mere maid to switch the necklace.

Adel was testing her.

She hummed, looking at the necklace in her hand.

The same necklace she gave to Lirita sparkled in her hand.

“Now, let’s see who fell into the trap.”

Adel twisted her lips into a smile as she watched Lirita quickly leave through the window.

* * *

Lirita was torn between the note and the necklace she held in her arms.

‘Should I go and tell them right away?’

Honestly, she didn’t expect Adel to order her to do something like this so openly.

It wasn’t a simple task, and she wouldn’t even have to face Rayleigh, so why?

She had lived in the Duke’s residence for a long time and was quite perceptive.

She had left the detached palace according to Adel’s instructions, but she hadn’t decided where to go.

She had to inform the Crown Prince anyway. But if she did, the Crown Prince would switch the necklace and give it back to her.

He would think that’s how she could gain Adel’s trust.

It was obvious that they would be suspicious if things went too smoothly.

“What should I do?”

She couldn’t decide what was right.

In the first place, she couldn’t possibly understand the heart of the black-hearted princess. The same was true for the Crown Prince.

‘If I say I failed…’

She might kill me! Or maybe she’ll get rid of me without anyone knowing!

Should I just run away?

If I get caught, I don’t know what charges she’ll pin on me.

Lirita leaned against a pillar and sat down.

She had never been at such a crossroads in her life as a maid. This was a disaster she had created herself.

She shouldn’t have been greedy and blinded by the jewels.

‘I should have just stayed with Lady Roanna!’

She was demanding but not difficult to serve.

This was also the miserable result of her greed.

“Hic, what should I do?”

“How about doing this?”

A familiar voice came from behind the pillar.

Lirita was startled and fell to the floor.

“L-Lady Rayleigh. Gasp!”

She covered her mouth, but it was no use.

Rayleigh, who had already appeared in front of her, reached out her hand to Lirita.

‘The necklace!’

Lirita quickly tried to pick up the necklace that had fallen on the floor.

But the necklace was already in Rayleigh’s hand.

It looked like her necklace, but the mana [magical energy] flowing through it was different.

‘She must have been quite anxious.’

Rayleigh suppressed her rising smile and stared blankly at Lirita.

She couldn’t let anyone find out that her ego had returned.

“How about it? Should I help you?”

“Y-Yes?”

Lirita stared blankly at Rayleigh and swallowed hard. Her throat kept burning, and her voice cracked.

“I can’t give you the necklace, but there’s a way for you to gain trust.”

“How… did you know?”

“Instead, you have to postpone informing His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“But…”

Rayleigh grabbed Lirita’s hand, pulled her up, and hugged her.

Rayleigh, who was dusting off her skirt, suddenly whispered in her ear and smiled.

“And this is confiscated.”

She said, taking out the note that was in Lirita’s arms.