When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 89

Knock, knock, knock.

“Your Highness, I’m coming in.”

Haban visited Caber’s room in the morning to report on the work he had finally finished.

“Oh? You’re all ready already?”

Caber, who used to be buried in work and sleep late every day, was up early for some reason.

“Isn’t it the day we have to go to the kingdom?”

“But why do you seem to be in such a good mood?”

Haban looked at Caber with suspicious eyes.

He was clearly anxious just yesterday, but this morning his face looked much more relaxed.

“Did something happen last night?”

“What could have happened?”

Caber scanned the documents Haban had prepared and adjusted his attire.

“Is the Princess ready?”

“There’s still time, so I’ll ask later.”

“She’ll come out on her own.”

Haban nodded at Caber’s words.

“You’re going to see His Majesty, right?”

“I have to. I need to report the situation.”

“I think he’ll probably call a general meeting.”

Since they were going to another country, everyone was paying attention to Caber.

If things went wrong, a war could break out.

“Well, let’s go then.”

Caber left the room with Haban.

“Ah, Sir Reilly needs to come with you too.”

“Isn’t that obvious? She’s going with us.”

Haban was bothered by Caber, who seemed strangely happy.

‘Something good must have happened.’

He didn’t know what it was, but he felt very uneasy.

He was even worried that he might be secretly doing something else.

Haban turned his head and gestured.

“…….”

‘They’re all in cahoots.’

Seeing that they didn’t respond to his call, it seemed they had been strictly silenced.

Haban cursed the unresponsive Imperial Guards in his mind and followed Caber.

He soon found Reilly.

“I was wondering where you had gone; you were waiting here.”

“His Highness told me to come to the audience chamber immediately.”

“……Pardon? When on earth?”

He hadn’t heard anything about it because he had been with him all the time.

No matter how much he tried to remember, he couldn’t recall such a conversation.

“I guess you don’t remember very well.”

Reilly replied briefly to Haban’s words and stood behind Caber.

He felt like they were ignoring him, but Haban didn’t show it.

‘Something feels off.’

But he couldn’t argue with them.

He nodded and stood in front of the door.

“Then, I’ll wait outside.”

He hid his expression and smiled.

There was no point in showing it anyway; Caber would only make fun of him.

The two entered the audience chamber leisurely as the door opened.

“They’re really the same when you look at them.”

Haban shook his head and squinted his eyes.

* * *

“Greetings to His Imperial Majesty.”

The Emperor nodded lightly at Caber and Reilly’s greetings.

The nobles rose and greeted Caber, who gestured for them to sit.

As everyone sat down, all eyes turned to Reilly.

“You know what you have to do when you get there, right?”

The Emperor asked Reilly.

“You don’t have to worry. As a sword, I will protect His Highness the Crown Prince no matter what.”

The Emperor was relieved by her unchanging appearance.

‘Maybe she’ll develop a self by the time she comes back.’

If Caber was right, he would make sure to make the plan a success no matter what.

The Emperor recalled the contract he had forgotten.

He might need to prepare it.

“Is there any other movement from Princess Adel?”

Reilly swallowed hard at the Emperor’s words. There was something that no one else knew except her.

And no one should notice it yet.

“Not yet. It won’t be easy for her to move in another country either.”

Caber glanced at Reilly’s necklace and replied.

“What have you found out about the necklace?”

“I’ve prepared thoroughly. I’ve got the craftsman, and there won’t be any problems.”

“Aren’t you taking any other escort knights with you?”

The nobles were secretly worried about the Crown Prince’s safety.

If something happened to him in another country, it would not look good to others.

“Sir Reilly is with me, so it’s fine.”

“Even if she is the Empire’s sword… she has no practical experience, does she?”

There was some truth to their words.

Reilly had no experience in any battle.

But she didn’t need any. Her body reacted on its own.

Without a word, Caber drew his sword and thrust it at Reilly.

The nobles, startled by the sharp sound and the clash of swords, jumped up from their seats.

“Isn’t this enough to prove it?”

Reilly calmly blocked the sword, even though it was so fast that others could not see it.

“Excellent, I never thought I would see the skills of the Empire’s sword here.”

Duke Serhin clapped and eased the tense atmosphere.

“If Your Highness says so……”

Her skills could be easily predicted just by looking at her reaction speed.

The nobles were amazed by her unwavering posture.

The blue aura colliding with the black aura was also unusual. The pattern on her neck glowed, and the sword sparkled as if reacting.

“It seems that the Pheroponsia Kingdom uses necklaces to contain power. Princess Adel’s power also seems to come from her necklace.”

“Is there a way to get it?”

“I’ll make the kingdom have no choice but to hand it over.”

“Do you think they will give up their power on their own?”

The Emperor smiled mysteriously at Caber’s words.

“Did you find a weakness?”

“Maybe.”

Caber shrugged, looking at the Emperor.

There was no need to show all his cards to others. Even if it was his father.

“Son, I hope everything goes according to your wishes.”

The Emperor didn’t ask any more questions.

He also needed to be reminded that there were things in the world that he could not control.

The nobles had many questions to ask at the Emperor’s words, but they could not open their mouths.

They could only pray that no harm would come to them.

* * *

“Ririta, I’m sorry, but I don’t think you’ll be able to go to the kingdom.”

Adel gave Ririta a jewel with a troubled expression.

“This might be the last gift.”

“No. What you’ve done for me so far……”

Ririta hurriedly shook her head and handed the jewel back.

“I, Princess, I haven’t even done what you asked me to do.”

Adel looked at Ririta, who was being honest, and raised her chin.

“You don’t have to be so anxious. I didn’t think you would succeed in the first place.”

“Still……”

“It would be strange if you succeeded. She’s the Empire’s sword; she wouldn’t show a gap to a mere maid.”

Ririta was relieved by Adel’s words and lowered her eyes.

“If you had lied, you and I would probably not be facing each other right now.”

“Huh.”

She gasped and trembled.

“You don’t have to worry anymore, as long as you keep your mouth shut.”

“Yes, yes!”

Ririta hurriedly shut her mouth and nodded quickly.

“Maybe I’ll come back.”

Ririta’s teeth chattered with fear at Adel’s words.

“I have to go now. His Highness must be waiting.”

She carefully released Ririta’s chin.

“Oh, and burn that dress.”

She pointed to Reilly’s dress in the closet and left the room.

Adel hurried to where Caber was waiting.

She expected there to be a guard, but why was Reilly standing there?

‘She must have come to greet me.’

But the situation was unusual.

Adel’s expression hardened rapidly when she saw Reilly standing with Caber.

“……By any chance, is Sir Reilly going with us too?”

She asked Caber with a hopeful tone.

Caber answered without hesitation.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Adel bit her lip.

“I see. I guess the Empire only has one escort knight, Sir Reilly.”

“That’s not true. She’s going with us because she’s the best in the Empire.”

“Are you worried that I might harm Your Highness?”

Caber smirked at Adel’s words.

“Oh, Princess, I think you’re overestimating yourself too much.”

“Are you insulting me now?”

Adel clenched her fists and glared at Caber.

“Otherwise, the Princess underestimated me.”

“……”

Darkness fell heavily in Caber’s eyes.

She composed herself with a sense of urgency.

‘He can protect himself well enough even without an escort knight.’

There was no point in provoking him.

“I think I was too playful. I’m excited to go to the kingdom after a long time, so please understand.”

“I knew it.”

Caber smiled, folding his eyes [smiling with his eyes], and held out his hand to Adel.

“Get in; I’m so excited to see what the Pheroponsia Kingdom is like.”

“You won’t be disappointed.”

Adel glanced at Reilly.

She could still feel her energy from her.

‘It’s a relief that we’re riding in separate carriages.’

Adel got into the carriage with Caber’s escort.

Only after Caber got in did the carriage start quickly. Reilly, who was watching this, got into another carriage and closed the door.

“Are you ready?”

“……Yes.”

“You don’t have to worry. I’ll protect you.”

Reilly smiled reassuringly at Berham, who was sitting across from her.