Lennox was led out of the hall by the hand of a woman much smaller than him.
All the way down the corridor, Juliet didn’t even make eye contact with him.
However, he couldn’t take his eyes off the hand that grasped his wrist and the back of the woman walking ahead.
Juliet took him to a secluded terrace a short distance away.
Thump.
As Juliet let go of his hand to close the terrace door, Lennox felt a pang of longing.
His wrist, still warm, felt strangely tingling.
Even for the south, the evening air was quite chilly. Lennox wanted to offer her a coat, but he didn’t think Juliet would accept it.
Only after making sure no one was around did Juliet turn to face him.
“I didn’t need your help.”
“…Is that what you say to someone who helped you?”
A sarcastic question came first.
But Lennox probably knew best.
Juliet didn’t need his help. He just couldn’t contain her anger at the moment and jumped in.
Looking back, it was always like this. ‘I won’t bother you’ meant not to meddle in one’s own affairs.
“I can solve my problems.”
“…”
“So, don’t interfere…”
That’s what he didn’t like.
Lennox couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.
Now he was the one clinging.
Juliet looked at him for a moment and then asked directly. She wasn’t one to beat around the bush.
“So, did you buy the villa too?”
“You’re not surprised.”
“I thought you would.”
The curtains, furniture, even the fruit served on a silver plate, everything was tailored to Juliet’s taste. And it resembled the summer villa they spent time in every year.
“You must have thought I wouldn’t notice.”
“…”
Lennox didn’t answer.
Somehow, when she spotted him in the hall, Juliet wasn’t shaken at all.
She asked sincerely.
“What do you want from me?”
She was curious about why he went through the trouble of decorating the villa, sending an invitation through Ilena, and inviting her to the south. But instead of answering, Lennox handed her something.
“What is this?”
“You’ll know when you see it.”
Instead of explaining, Lennox replied curtly.
He didn’t want to bring it up in this situation. But he had a feeling that if not now, the opportunity would never come.
He wasn’t sure he’d ever see her again.
Taking what he offered with a puzzled look, Juliet soon became even more baffled.
“Why is this…”
It was something Juliet recognized.
It was the contract she asked him to write 7 years ago.
“You ended it unilaterally. So, it’s only fair to give me a chance to correct it, right?”
Juliet looked up at him with a puzzled face.
“I don’t understand.”
“Let’s do that contract you like again. From the beginning.”
Juliet remembered what Lennox had said a while ago when he asked her to dance.
Contract extension.
“…Your Highness, are you okay?”
With a shocked face, Juliet indirectly asked if he was in his right mind.
“Our contract ended. We agreed on that.”
“It wasn’t a ‘mutual agreement’. I don’t remember agreeing.”
He’s not a child.
Juliet frowned at his absurdity.
“That’s…”
It sounded like an excuse, but she had no choice.
Like what happened in the hall just before. Who knows what those bugs might do out of his sight.
For now, the priority was to keep Juliet by his side.
This was the best he could do.
“So, don’t do this again.”
After that incident in the banquet hall, he realized.
No matter how he tried to atone for the past, Juliet would never forgive him.
From the start, she didn’t understand why he wanted to make amends.
Then, a familiar approach was better. Soft and moderate ways like forgiveness and atonement never suited them.
‘Intimidation and contracts are much faster.’
Lennox tried to think of ways to keep her by his side, using any means necessary.
He tried his best to understand Juliet’s way of thinking.
The Juliet he knew was surprisingly old-fashioned. She would do surprisingly shocking things without a second thought but valued contracts and promises.
He was the opposite.
And he was right. Although Juliet seemed reluctant, she didn’t completely ignore his nonsense.
“I don’t want to waste several more years, Your Highness.”
“It won’t take that long.”
Lennox said calmly.
He didn’t think he could keep Juliet forever.
But he estimated that she wouldn’t push him away for about six months.
Who knows if he’ll be alive in a few months.
Lennox remembered the warning from his doctor. Even if he’s fine now, there’s no guarantee there won’t be side effects. He said to wait at least six months.
“Six months.”
“…”
“In six months, I’ll completely disappear from your sight.”
Six months.
At the mention of that, Juliet’s face turned slightly pale. However, due to his heightened tension, Lennox failed to notice it.
“It won’t be a loss for you either.”
Lennox spoke to Juliet as if soothing a child.
“Just like before. Just give it six months.”
I’ll give you anything – be it the mansion, my wealth, anything. He clung to her desperately.
In fact, the southern mansion had nothing to do with this.
He had planned to forcibly hand it over to Juliet, even if through Madam Ilena. But since Juliet had caught onto his tricks, it was clear that she wouldn’t accept it unless conditions like these were attached.
“…What if I refuse?”
“You won’t.”
Lennox said softly.
“Because you wouldn’t want to lose the things dear to you.”
Lennox watched quietly as her eyes filled with shock and disdain, then clenched her thin wrist.
“Just half a year. After that, I’ll tell you everything you’ve wanted to know.”
“…What do I want to know?”
“Snowdrop.”
At that word, Juliet flinched.
“Why do you know that name?”
“You’ve always wanted to know about your butterflies.”
Suspicion flashed across Juliet’s face.
But Lennox waited patiently without hurrying, trying hard to hide his anxiety.
If Juliet had a weakness for contracts, Lennox’s forte was threats and persuasion.
A woman who neither wanted to marry nor cared for his manor.
The only miserable way he had conceived to keep a woman who rejected everything he could offer and always tried to run away was this.
“But why?”
Juliet genuinely asked.
“Do I still have value to Your Highness?”
To that, even Lennox couldn’t reply.
“I have nothing to offer. I don’t know what you expect from me…”
“Well…”
It might sound indifferent, but Lennox truly had nothing else to say.
He had been pondering the same question himself for the past few months.
“It seems like you’ve become fond.”
All he wanted was to keep Juliet by his side.
He didn’t know anything more than that, nor the reason behind it.
“Your Highness.”
Juliet, who had been looking at him with a strange expression, took a step closer.
“I want to confirm something.”
“Speak.”
But instead of speaking, Juliet reached out to him.
Instinctively lowering his stance, Lennox didn’t even get to ask what she was doing. Before he could, Juliet clumsily pressed her lips to his.
It was too awkward to even call it a kiss.
She merely brushed her lips against his as if testing the waters. However, it was enough to send his rationality flying.
“…Damn it.”
Moments later, even if Juliet hadn’t pushed him away, it was clear he wouldn’t have come back to his senses.
Regaining his senses, Lennox glared at her with a lustful look.
“What was that for?”
Catching her breath, Juliet tilted her head.
“I thought that’s what you wanted. Wasn’t it?”
“…Of course not.”
His argument lacked conviction.
With an annoyed face, Lennox let go of Juliet’s shoulders, wishing he could kill his past self.
“If you don’t like it, don’t do it.”
As if she’d believe that.
“Understand? It’s not because of just this…!”
His words were getting increasingly jumbled.
He hadn’t meant to lash out like this. The one who should be pleading was him. But he couldn’t read Juliet’s face, and his anxiety grew.
“So what I’m saying is…”
“I understand.”
“What?”
Juliet sighed lightly and took his hand off her shoulder.
“I don’t know what you want, but at least it’s not a losing deal.”
Lennox couldn’t believe his ears.
Was that an acceptance?
“But promise me.”
“What?”
Juliet spoke firmly.
“In six months, threatening me with that contract will be of no use.”
“…Alright. I promise.”
Lennox reluctantly nodded. But Juliet’s conditions didn’t end there.
“And don’t threaten to rip someone apart or slit their throat in front of others.”
Lennox felt slightly irritated.
It seemed she was referring to the incident in the hall. That wasn’t a threat.
“Why?”
“Because murder is wrong.”
Juliet spoke sternly without a smile.
But Lennox wanted to protest. The ruffian from earlier was not human by his standards.
“So it’s okay if they’re not human?”
“Your Highness.”
“…Fine. Got it.”
Grudgingly replying, Lennox pulled Juliet by the wrist.
He was worried about the chilly weather. He thought Juliet might resist, but still pulled her hand. Surprisingly, Juliet followed him inside.
The familiar warmth in his hand was satisfying. Lennox smiled, unseen by Juliet.
Juliet had clearly said, ‘in front of others.’