When You Turned Your Back On Me, We Became Strangers [EN]: Chapter 99

Reilly stepped out of the carriage and gazed up at the building before her.

“How does it feel to be back home?”

At Leta’s words, she smiled brightly.

“I can’t believe it.”

“Sister, we have a lot to do today. Let’s go in quickly.”

The two slowly entered the mansion. The transformed interior immediately caught their eyes as the door opened.

Her gaze wandered, taking in the scene, so different that her past memories felt distant.

“Do you like it?”

Leta carefully watched Reilly’s reaction.

Unsure of what her sister would prefer, she had requested a comprehensive design, trying to incorporate Reilly’s tastes as much as possible. Leta, herself, was very pleased with the result.

“Of course, I love it.”

Only then did Leta smile brightly, as if relieved.

“People will be arriving for interviews today.”

“You could have chosen them yourself.”

“I wanted to see them with you. It’s the head of the family’s job, so shouldn’t I take a break?” Leta rubbed her shoulder with her hand, feigning pain.

To be honest, she had enjoyed working.

“Okay, thank you. Just until today, please.”

Reilly linked her arm with Leta’s and headed to the room. The well-prepared space seemed to have a professional atmosphere.

“You could handle it yourself, you know?”

“Please don’t say that.”

Leta waved her hand and shuddered.

She had enjoyed working, but she knew better than anyone how difficult the head of the family’s position was. Even in a short time, her head had been spinning.

“How about throwing a banquet when everything is settled?”

Reilly readily nodded.

It was necessary to inform everyone that the leadership of the Trailla family had changed. Besides, Caber had asked to be invited, so it would be a good excuse.

“But, Sister.”

Leta looked at the ring on Reilly’s finger and asked, “Did His Highness give you this?”

“…Yes.”

Reilly touched the ring with her hand, a faint smile on her face. She missed him. Caber’s face, which she couldn’t bring herself to hold onto when she left, flickered in her mind.

‘Isn’t this practically a proposal…?’

Leta tried to hide her bewildered feelings and cleared her throat.

Her sister’s expression looked somewhat sad, so she didn’t continue the conversation. Perhaps Reilly wasn’t as happy as she could be?

No, what kind of happiness does my sister even want?

She pondered deeply.

“Sister, are you happy now?”

“I came back with you, to my original place.”

Reilly smiled, her eyes crinkling. Happiness… she was happy. She had obtained what she had so desperately wanted.

But why, why did one side of her heart feel empty?

“Seriously, she’s such a fool for not knowing what I really want.”

Ren, who was watching the two, sighed and swept his hair back. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, gazing silently at Reilly for a moment before going outside, feeling suffocated.

“Looks like the people coming for the interviews are arriving.”

He climbed onto the roof again and propped his chin up, watching the people entering the mansion.

‘Ah, I don’t know.’

Ren lay back and looked at the sky. It was a scene he never tired of, no matter how many times he saw it. The flowing clouds, the pleasant breeze, and the warm sunlight were all perfect.

This is happiness.

He closed his eyes and hummed, trying to clear his mind.

“Ah! Seriously.”

But eventually, Ren jumped up and moved somewhere.

* * *

I never wanted to come again, but I ended up coming to this disgusting place again.

Ren knocked on the window.

He ran into Arhin in the middle, but he didn’t seem to care about him.

‘Does he perhaps think I’m friends with this guy?’

Ren clicked his tongue, watching the guards who didn’t stop him.

That in itself didn’t feel good. Friends? It was ridiculous.

“What, it’s better than I thought?”

Caber opened the window and let Ren in. Haban was shocked to see Ren appear through the window again.

“How long are you planning to come this way?”

“What’s it matter.”

Haban pointed to the door, frowning. “There’s a perfectly good door here, why don’t you use it for its intended purpose?”

Ren lightly ignored Haban’s words and plopped down on a chair.

“It doesn’t seem like anything happened to Reilly, so why all of a sudden?”

Caber also didn’t understand why Ren had suddenly come. He was already so busy that he didn’t have the energy to worry about other things.

“I heard you’re becoming emperor tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you really satisfied with this?”

Ren supported his face with his hand and stared intently at Caber. He looked a little tired, with dark circles reaching down to his chin, and his eyes looked sensitive, as if he hadn’t slept.

“What, you were pretending to be okay.”

He immediately saw through Caber’s true feelings.

“I thought you’d be jumping for joy, did you come to tease me?”

“I’m hurt.”

Ren narrowed his eyes and approached Caber, leaning forward.

He slowly breathed into his ear, causing Caber to jump back in surprise.

“Are you crazy?”

“Now you react.”

“Ha… Can’t you see I’m busy? I wish you’d leave.”

“What are you worrying about so much?”

Ren leaned closer to Caber and said in a low voice. “Tell her to take responsibility.”

“…What?”

“That day, you locked me up like that.”

Caber quickly covered Ren’s mouth, as if flustered. Haban’s gaze turned to them, his eyes widening sharply.

“That day, what are you talking about?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“It’s hard to say it’s nothing when Your Highness’s ears are burning up.”

Haban couldn’t shake off his suspicious gaze. Ren’s sly smile and Caber’s reddened face.

“…Whatever it is, the two of you look like you’re about to cause a misunderstanding. How about you separate so I don’t have any disrespectful thoughts.”

Ren immediately moved away from Caber at Haban’s words.

“So, think about it carefully.”

He dusted himself off and patted Caber’s shoulder a couple of times.

“Why are you suddenly helping me? You’re the one who…”

Caber didn’t understand Ren’s actions. Wasn’t he also harboring feelings for Reilly? When did he suddenly have a change of heart after always interfering with me?

“You don’t seem to know, but Reilly’s happiness has always been my priority from the beginning.”

So my feelings don’t matter.

Ren opened the window, winked at Haban, and disappeared.

“…I really hate that guy.”

Haban gnashed his teeth, watching the documents fluttering in the wind coming through the open window.

“Me too.”

“You don’t look like it at all.”

“It’s your imagination.”

Caber closed the window and smiled faintly.

His priority was also Reilly’s happiness, so he couldn’t act rashly.

“Lady Reilly will be coming tomorrow for the coronation.”

Haban rolled his eyes at the awkward title. He could imagine her participating in the succession ceremony as the Duchess of Trailla.

‘She’s really a wonderful person.’

If you look at Reilly’s upright character, she will surely lead well.

One thing that worries me is Caber.

It’s pitiful how he sometimes droops like an abandoned puppy.

“Why don’t you talk to her once?”

“No, I won’t recommend it if she doesn’t want it.”

Haban nodded at Caber’s words. It was really frustrating and suffocating.

Did Ren come with the same heart as me?

‘Oh my, I have to plot something.’

Caber silently picked up the documents and continued working. Anyone who saw him would think he was possessed by a workaholic ghost.

He was only attached to state affairs all day, so his appearance was terrible.

“Anyone can see that you’ve been dumped.”

“…I haven’t been dumped.”

“Yes, yes. You wouldn’t be.”

Haban shook his head and took the documents from Caber’s hand.

“It would be better to go in and rest today.”

“There’s still work…”

“Who am I? Aren’t I the aide who has become too competent because Your Highness has been overworking me?”

Caber was eventually kicked out of the office by Haban.

“What, haven’t you left yet?”

Ren was standing in front of him, blocking his way as he headed to his room.

“Well, let’s say I waited because I thought it would be like this.”

Ren grabbed Caber’s collar as it was.

In an instant, the two disappeared from the palace. Verne, who was watching this, wondered if he should follow, but was stopped by Arhin.

“I think I know where they went.”

“Still, shouldn’t we go?”

“It’s okay. Let’s pretend we don’t know.”

In the end, they returned to their seats and decided to wait for Caber.

* * *

Caber let out a hollow laugh as he looked at himself standing on the roof of the Trailla family’s mansion.

“Seriously…”

“I miss you, you know.”

“…You’re really reckless.”

“If you’re thankful, say thank you.”

Ren slowly moved at Caber’s words.

“Follow me. You coward.”

He cursed casually and took the lead.

“You should be glad you’re not human.”

“You’re the one who should be glad, right?”

Ren glanced back at Caber.

“If I were human, I wouldn’t have sent Reilly to you.”

At those words, Caber laughed as if it were ridiculous and lightly bumped his shoulder.

“Even if you were human, Reilly would have come to me.”

The fate that she and I hated so much was connecting us so terribly.

I realized now how precious that fate was.

“I would always only look at Reilly so desperately.”

Even if it’s been more than 10 years or more than 20 years, until the day my life ends, there will be no one other than Reilly for him.