When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 94

Kavern couldn’t hide his surprise as he looked at the books.

“There are so many rare books here.”

“Ha… Is that all you notice right now?”

“Why wouldn’t I notice it?”

Adel didn’t like Kavern’s nonchalant attitude.

It was humiliating that he not only deceived her but also didn’t show any emotion, even in this moment alone with her.

“Do you think I’ll let you get away with this when we get out of here?”

“You’ll have no choice but to let it go.”

Kavern flipped through a book, glancing at the fuming Adel.

‘I think I saw a book with the Trailla crest earlier.’

He glanced at Adel and quickly scanned the books. When he spotted a familiar crest on a book at the very bottom, he subtly moved and picked it up.

“What do you even think of me, to do this?”

“A nuisance?”

At Kavern’s words, Adel jumped up from her seat and grabbed his arm.

“You can’t do this to me!”

“Be careful. It would be a disaster if you damaged me.”

Kavern grabbed Adel’s hand and warned her in a low voice.

“Have you forgotten where you are?”

“I haven’t forgotten. But you seem to forget who I am sometimes.”

Adel’s hands trembled. She felt beyond humiliation, even shame. She hated the chillingly cold look in Kavern’s eyes whenever they met hers.

“Why, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Then why did you do that?”

Kavern quietly turned a page of the book, absorbing the contents. It contained not only information about the Trailla family but also about swords and the power corresponding to them.

‘It’s written in an ancient language, but it’s readable enough.’

He felt grateful, remembering Haban, who had relentlessly tutored him in the past.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Adel raised her voice at Kavern, her face flushed.

‘Even though I hid it in a place where no one knows, I’m still anxious.’

She had a feeling that something was going to happen. She shouldn’t have taken off the necklace.

It was no use regretting it now.

“…What do you want?”

“Ah, have you finally grasped the situation?”

Kavern closed the book and tapped the cover with his finger, smiling.

“I probably have it in my hands by now.”

He trusted Lailly. She would have done it.

“No way!”

Adel’s face turned pale, and she covered her head with both hands, screaming.

“Argh! You tricked me! I won’t let you get away with this!”

“Then why did you touch someone you shouldn’t have?”

Adel’s eyes widened with anger at Kavern’s cold voice. His words implied that he had already obtained all the evidence.

‘I should have switched the necklace sooner.’

Adel gritted her teeth, thinking of the necklace around Lailly’s neck.

‘No, it’s not too late yet. If I get that, even if he gets my necklace, he won’t be able to confirm anything.’

She brushed her disheveled hair back into place with her hands.

“Will things really go your way?”

“Things always go my way.”

“Even failing to restore the ego of the woman you love?”

Adel smiled mockingly and slowly walked towards the stairs.

“It seems you still haven’t grasped the situation.”

“There’s a saying: it’s not over until it’s over.”

Kavern nodded, as if agreeing with Adel’s words.

“We’ll see when we get there, won’t we? It’ll be quite fun watching your face distort.”

“Your Highness has made a mistake.”

“There must be a lot you haven’t heard about me.”

Adel shuddered at Kavern’s murderous tone.

“I’m quite cold and cruel, you know.”

Except for Lailly.

Kavern smiled and offered his hand to Adel as the closed door opened.

“Now, shall we go?”

He grabbed Adel’s hand, who didn’t take his, and walked towards the palace. Adel was almost dragged along, moving her feet reluctantly, led by Kavern’s hand.

* * *

“Your Majesty! The Princess…”

At the maid’s hurried words, the King jumped up and came out to the front of the palace.

He was pleased to see the two walking hand in hand with Kavern in the garden, but his face quickly crumpled.

“Adel… ?”

Her hair was a mess, and her reddened eyes were filled with tears that seemed ready to fall at any moment.

“What, what is going on?”

The King asked Kavern, trying to understand the situation.

“You know what this is.”

Kavern smiled, shaking the book in his hand slightly.

The King looked at the book with the Trailla family crest and was speechless with embarrassment.

“I am now giving the Kingdom of Pelleponsia a choice.”

Kavern turned the pages of the book one by one, watching the King’s expression.

“What are you doing! Even if you are the Crown Prince of the Empire!”

“I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

He narrowed his brows and slammed the book shut.

“I will not hold you responsible for what you did in the Kingdom of Pelleponsia. However, it seems we will have to take the necklace.”

“Necklace?!”

The King’s gaze then turned to his daughter’s bare neck.

“Do you know what Princess Viviana Adel did to the Empire?”

Kavern clapped his hands and nodded.

“Ah, I guess you don’t. If you did, you would have had to prepare for war. Against the Empire, that is.”

“Father, I…!”

“Be quiet!”

The King stopped Adel’s words and approached Kavern.

“Do you have any definite evidence? This is nothing more than coercion against the kingdom…!”

All the soldiers came out to protect the King and Adel.

“Sir Lailly.”

At Kavern’s words, Lailly appeared leisurely from the palace with Ren.

The King’s expression hardened as he saw the red necklace in her hand. Moreover, the blue design, the same as his necklace that came out of her pocket, even had Adel’s power flowing through it.

‘No. No!’

Adel hurriedly rushed towards Lailly, but it was useless.

“Princess Adel’s actions during the Empire’s Sword Contract caused quite a setback. This is a clear declaration of war against the Empire.”

“No, listen.”

The King hurriedly waved his hands, fixing his gaze on the necklace in Lailly’s hand.

She handed the necklace to Kavern and stepped back.

“No excuses are necessary. There is only one choice.”

Kavern looked at the necklace in his hand and shook it towards Adel.

“Princess Adel must break the contract she made herself, and the Kingdom of Pelleponsia must hand over all priority for trade and commerce with the Empire.”

“…What are you going to do if we don’t?”

“What do you think I’ll do?”

Kavern asked back at the King’s words. He probably already knew the outcome.

“Instead, we will keep this matter a secret from other countries.”

Adel sat down on the floor and began to cry. In the end, the kingdom was being held back because of what she had done.

“Hic, I’m sorry… I just…”

The King closed his eyes tightly at Adel’s tears.

“I will do as you say.”

“Ah, we will take this book along with the necklace.”

“…Do as you wish.”

If a war broke out, the kingdom’s damage would be enormous. Moreover, if it became known that the princess was the cause, not only would public sentiment be affected, but the kingdom’s dignity might also be jeopardized.

“Adel, quickly undo the magic with your own hands.”

At the King’s words, the soldiers stepped back and watched.

She bit her lip tightly, stood up from her seat, and approached Lailly.

“It’s best not to have any foolish thoughts.”

Kavern whispered in Adel’s ear.

Adel, who had snatched the necklace from his hand, cast a spell to return the magic on Lailly’s necklace back to her side.

“Ugh!”

Lailly collapsed to the floor with a suffocating feeling in her chest and a pain that made her feel like she was going to stop breathing.

Adel continued to draw her mana [magical energy] back towards herself.

Lailly’s crest alternately emitted blue and red light, and a black aura surrounded her body.

“Lailly!”

Kavern tried to approach Lailly, but he was stopped by Adel’s hand.

“Didn’t you say to take it back?”

He clenched his fist and could only watch Lailly writhing in pain.

Adel felt a moment of relief as she saw the red mana escaping.

She reveled in the thought of how much pain Lailly was in at this moment.

‘To see them both in pain.’

She withdrew her mana a little more forcefully.

Just as Lailly’s breathing became rough and she gradually lost consciousness, the red mana that had been mixed in her body completely escaped.

The blue mana hovered over Lailly’s unconscious body, shining as it re-entered her body.

Ren quickly snatched the necklace from Adel’s hand.

She also seemed to have exerted a lot of effort, as she collapsed to the floor and laughed madly as she watched Kavern hugging Lailly.

Her laughter sounded sadder than ever. The King watched his daughter and ordered her punishment.

“Princess Viviana Adel will have to spend the next year in the kingdom’s prison.”

“Father!”

“That’s wise.”

Kavern smiled, seemingly satisfied with the King’s words.

“Even if I went back, Your Majesty would not have let me go for treason against the Empire….”

The King ordered the guards to drag Adel away.

Being in front of Kavern would only further offend him, and it would not have a good effect.

“Let go of me! Father! I didn’t do anything wrong!”

With Adel’s screaming voice, the King turned his back on her.

He closed his eyes tightly, thinking that it might be fortunate to end it in his hands like this.