When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 98

Turning Away is Easy (97)

“Why do you look so tired?”

Reilly smiled, watching Ren, who had been bothered by Leta.

“You saw it yesterday, too. Do you know how annoying she is?”

Ren plopped down on a chair and leaned his head back.

“So, you ran away and then showed up.”

Reilly finished her preparations and told Lirita that she could leave.

“Um…”

Lirita was still staying in the Imperial Palace.

She took out something from a box and carefully handed it to Reilly.

“The Princess told me to burn it, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

The box contained a dress that originally belonged to Reilly.

“I see.”

Reilly blinked slowly, looking at the dress in the box.

“You said you’re leaving tomorrow?”

Lirita quietly clasped her hands together.

“Thank you for everything.”

“I hope you do well when you go.”

Reilly was relieved to see the longing disappear from Lirita’s face. She seemed to have learned a lot from this experience.

“If anything happens, come find me.”

“Thank you for the thought. But I don’t want to cause any more trouble.”

Lirita no longer wanted to be involved with the Imperial Family, nor with the nobles, nor with anyone in the city who knew her.

Living quietly might be happiness.

Living an ordinary life wasn’t easy.

“You probably won’t lack anything to live on.”

Reilly took out a small pouch from the drawer and handed it to Lirita.

“I said I would take responsibility for your well-being, so you can accept it.”

Lirita hesitated, then took the pouch.

Her eyes widened at the heavy feeling in her hand.

‘I can tell without opening it.’

She probably wouldn’t lack anything to live on quietly.

“Are you sure I can take this?”

“Yes, but I hope we never see each other again.”

At Reilly’s words, Lirita quickly nodded.

Not seeing her meant that no problems would arise for either of them. Reilly coming to find her meant that something had happened.

Lirita gave Reilly one last greeting and left the room.

Ren abruptly sat up and made a sulky face.

“Is it okay to give her so much?”

Reilly shrugged at Ren’s words. Although she had stumbled into something she shouldn’t have, it was her own way of surviving.

She hoped she wouldn’t get involved in something like this again.

“It’s worth the price.”

Besides, Reilly added, looking at the dress placed at her feet.

She probably wouldn’t wear it again, but it was enough that it had returned to her hands. Because Kaver had given it to her.

“There’s no time to be caught up in thoughts.”

Ren pointed to the clock and nodded at Reilly.

“You’re right, shall we go now?”

Reilly’s hair had completely returned to silver. The gold thread embroidered on the white dress sparkled with her movements.

The silhouette of the dress, with its exposed neck and sheer, puffed sleeves, was beautifully revealed.

Wearing a dress instead of a uniform meant that she was no longer the sword of the Imperial Family.

She was now going to her vassals as the head of the Trailla family.

“It suits you well.”

Ren smiled at Reilly’s changed attire, which he hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Ah, of course, the uniform suited you well too.”

“I know, I look good in it too.”

Reilly retorted Ren’s words and left the room with a smile.

* * *

The expressions of those gathered in the audience hall were all dark.

“The Empire’s Sword no longer exists, what does that mean?”

The nobles began to express their dissatisfaction with the Emperor’s words.

The Emperor quietly listened to their complaints and watched.

“The Empire’s Sword is the power of the Imperial Family, and His Highness the Crown Prince’s!”

One of them couldn’t hide his agitated emotions and blurted out the words. The murmuring vassals suddenly closed their mouths.

“The Crown Prince knows that this has brought great benefits to the Empire. Besides, the child doesn’t need the power of the sword in the first place, so it doesn’t matter, does it?”

“However, we should have been consulted about this.”

Duke Serhin calmly conveyed his opinion to the Emperor.

“You know very well what impact the reputation of the Empire’s Sword has on other countries.”

“That’s right! What if she joins hands with another country…!”

The vassals were startled and looked somewhat uneasy.

“Reilly will no longer be the Empire’s Sword, but will become the head of the Trailla family as of today.”

The Emperor raised his hand and announced to the vassals.

“…Are you serious?”

“As the head of the Trailla family, she will continue to maintain exchanges with the Imperial Family, so there doesn’t seem to be a problem. What are you so dissatisfied with?”

They thought they could wedge their way into the place where Reilly had disappeared. But the Emperor didn’t even give them that spot.

The firm, unyielding imperial power, along with the Crown Prince’s contribution, helped establish his right to succession.

“Your Majesty, Lady Reilly Sharltea of the Trailla family has arrived.”

As her name was mentioned, everyone’s eyes turned to the door.

Reilly and the sword at her waist came into view. At the same time, the nobles swallowed hard at the sight of Ren standing behind her.

The man with the chillingly red eyes was giving them a bitter smile.

‘Chilling.’

The nobles recognized who he was at once. He was Kellatum.

“Greetings to His Majesty the Emperor. In accordance with your strict orders, I have come to receive the title in order to return to my original position.”

Reilly knelt before the Emperor and bowed her head.

The Emperor rose from his seat and slowly approached Reilly. He raised the Imperial Sword and placed it alternately on her shoulders, bestowing the title upon her.

Finally, she received the dukedom she had been waiting for.

Reilly bit her lip to hold back the overwhelming emotions.

“Do not forget that you have become the head of the Trailla family and be helpful to the Imperial Family.”

“Thank you.”

The Emperor went up to the platform and sat back in his chair.

Reilly turned to where the nobles were and sat in her place, looking straight ahead. She was right next to him, but she couldn’t talk to him.

Because Ren was standing firmly behind her.

“Now, I will hand over the position to the Crown Prince.”

Everyone was stunned by the Emperor’s statement. No matter how recognized his abilities were and how suitable he was as an heir, to suddenly hand over the throne like this.

“Come in.”

The Emperor didn’t even give the nobles a chance to object.

Kaver entered the audience hall and quickly scanned the nobles.

‘She looks beautiful in anything.’

The corners of his lips twitched slightly as he quickly caught sight of Reilly in her dress.

“Greetings to His Majesty the Emperor. I have come to accept the mission given to me by your call.”

Kaver knelt on one knee and looked at his father.

Seeing this, some of the nobles who were dissatisfied tried to rise from their seats.

At that moment, Reilly, who had been quietly watching Kaver, raised her hand.

“Your Majesty, it seems that there are still those who think the time is not right. Then, how about deciding through a vote?”

Those who opposed her nodded at her words.

“I agree too. A sudden succession to the throne when Your Majesty is still healthy!”

They were worried that they might not receive the benefits they had been receiving.

Since they had been opposing Kaver, their position might be jeopardized if the throne was changed.

However, they didn’t seem to realize why Reilly supported the voting method.

Nor did they realize that those who had been expressing dissatisfaction had also closed their mouths at some point.

“Then, let’s do that. There will be no turning back, so cast your votes carefully.”

The Emperor didn’t take any special action. He just seemed to accept it and called the servant to distribute the paper.

After a few minutes, the nobles’ papers were gathered in one place.

The servant, with a nervous expression, unfolded the papers one by one and counted the votes of approval.

‘It will surely be rejected.’

The families who had not met Reilly were confident that it would lead to their victory.

Duke Serhin already knew the outcome of this vote. From the moment he decided to side with the Crown Prince, he had been meeting with others to persuade them.

It was to protect his family.

“The, the results are in.”

The servant swallowed hard and took the results to the Emperor.

The Emperor’s expressionless face turned to the vassals [vassals were like feudal tenants or subordinates].

‘As expected!’

‘Could it be that others have betrayed us?’

They were all holding their breath in their own anxiety.

“12 out of 16 votes are in favor.”

It was a complete victory. The Emperor immediately announced the schedule.

“You have chosen it, so there will be no regrets. What is the need to delay it now?”

The Emperor looked at Kaver with a slightly tired look.

“The throne will be succeeded in three days.”

“Your Majesty!”

The surprised vassals jumped up from their seats, but they couldn’t object.

“I will assume that you are also happy. Let’s end the meeting now.”

The Emperor rubbed his forehead as if he was tired.

Reilly rose from her seat and gave Duke Serhin a slight nod.

‘Well, now that I’ve become the head of the family, all that’s left is to fly high.’

The Duke groaned lowly as he looked at Reilly, who had risen to the same position as him. With both power and authority in her hands, who could ignore her?

“Congratulations, Duchess Reilly.”

Kaver spoke to Reilly as she left the audience hall.

“It is Your Highness who should be congratulated. Now everything will return to its place.”

At Reilly’s words, Kaver nodded.

“…Could you invite me to your house?”

“Of course. I would welcome Your Highness anytime.”

Kaver lightly touched Reilly’s hand. He let go of her hand as he looked at the ring still on her finger.

Wasn’t this the life Reilly had wanted so much?

Kaver couldn’t easily hold her. In the end, Reilly left the Imperial Palace with Leta in a carriage.