* * *
Juliet leaned on the railing and stretched her body out towards the stands.
She looked down with her opera glasses. They were sitting in the grandstand of the largest racetrack in the South.
To anyone watching, it would seem she was enjoying the view of the racetrack.
However, Juliet’s gaze was fixed on a couple of small butterflies that flew towards the stands.
The butterflies, glowing with a bluish hue, were so tiny in the crowded venue that you’d miss them if you weren’t paying close attention.
Some were momentarily captivated by the shimmering butterflies, but soon turned their heads, thinking they must have seen wrongly.
“It’s dangerous, sit down.”
From behind, Lennox pulled her waist.
Juliet sneaked a glance at him as she obediently sat down.
He was the one who had warned that starving the butterflies was dangerous.
And such an excited crowd was a feast for the butterflies.
Even though, despite mobilizing the entire information guild, they hadn’t been able to find anything about ‘Snowdrop’, Juliet had her plans.
Watching the sleek horses racing on the track, Juliet exclaimed:
“The horses of the South are certainly different.”
Lennox, who was resting his chin beside her, casually asked:
“Want one?”
“No. Don’t even dream about it.”
At her firm refusal, Lennox seemed a little disappointed for a moment.
Juliet gave him a sidelong glance.
She definitely felt more relaxed here than at the theater.
Nevertheless, Lennox looked somber. Ever since their visit to the lake, he seemed lost in thought.
“Is it because of the magic stone mine?”
When Juliet asked directly, Lennox’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Did Elliot tell you?”
“?”
“No.”
She could figure out that much without asking his secretary.
It had happened in her past life, too.
Marquis Guinness from the South’s was fighting over the rights to the magic stone with the North. That’s why the members of the Carlyle Duchy were so busy.
“Are you worried?”
With his chin still propped up, Lennox locked eyes with her and asked.
Somehow, Juliet felt he was expecting a certain answer from her.
But before she could respond, he sighed lightly and turned his head.
“Don’t worry. I won’t let you live lacking.”
“I’m not worried about that.”
Juliet already knew who would win this war.
Moreover, even if the rights to the magic stone business were taken away, it wouldn’t destabilize the Duchy.
Lennox didn’t really care about the Marquis’s house or the magic stones either, and he gazed intently at the side profile of the woman observing the ground floor.
With emotions fluctuating madly dozens of times a day, it was no small matter.
The horses from the South often had shiny dark or reddish-brown fur.
“Madam, which horse will you bet on?”
But Juliet was more interested in the owner than the horses.
She smiled faintly and made a peculiar request.
“Can you get me the list of horse owners?”
Lennox just gave her an intrigued look.
Juliet kept betting on the race results without paying much attention and placed bets.
Out of five races, she won twice and lost three times.
And when the horse Juliet bet on narrowly came in second in the fifth race, Lennox flicked a gold coin.
“I won.”
Only then did Juliet realize he had also placed a bet on the racehorse. It was the black horse that came in first.
“What about it?”
“Since you lost, answer my question.”
Juliet had a puzzled look, wondering when it had become a bet, but Lennox ignored it.
“What are you curious about?”
Eventually, Lennox couldn’t hold back any longer and asked.
“Who is it?”
“What?”
“The man who told you that he doesn’t need a child.”
“Ah… You heard that?”
Juliet didn’t seem particularly surprised.
“Where did you hear up to?”
“Does your answer change depending on how much I’ve heard?”
For a moment, they exchanged silent glances, as if locked in a staring contest. They knew each other all too well.
There was something bothering in Juliet’s words that he had overheard by accident.
– He was a man who said he didn’t need children.
After hearing that, he was on edge.
– He’s someone I will never meet again.
Lennox couldn’t decide which was worse.
Whether it was because of him that Juliet didn’t want a child, or because of that damn first love who no longer exists that made her think so.
Either way, it seemed like there was no future for him. Perhaps it would be better if it were the dead first love.
“You don’t want a child.”
But Juliet had clearly said that to him. It weighed heavily on his heart.
Lennox Carlyle reflected on his past actions.
He was certain he had never once told Juliet not to have a child or that they didn’t need one.
He had firmly stated countless times that they wouldn’t marry, and even chased away women who claimed to have his children.
Lennox nervously brushed his hair back.
“Did I, um…”
He felt humiliated asking directly if he was the bastard who had spouted nonsense about not needing a child.
But Juliet smirked and quickly denied it.
“No.”
He didn’t know what kind of answer he expected.
Upon hearing that, Lennox felt momentarily empty.
“Did you think Your Highness would be my first love?”
“…”
The conclusion came easily, making his night-long worries seem pointless. With a heavy sigh, Lennox curtly responded, hinting at the dead first love.
“…What did that bastard say?”
“Just as you heard.”
Juliet said calmly.
“He said he didn’t need a child, that even if one was conceived, he wouldn’t let it be born.”
“What a worthless man.”
As he spat those words, Juliet giggled slightly.
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Juliet seemed happy for some reason.
But Lennox couldn’t smile.
He felt even heavier than before he asked. He knew all too well that he wasn’t any better than that worthless man.
His postponed anger surged.
‘It’s natural for her to dislike marriage or anything after hearing such words.’
It made sense why Juliet never flinched no matter what he offered.
A man who no longer exists and can’t be met again.
‘Damn it.’
Even worse, he couldn’t even chase him down and kill him.
Juliet naturally changed the topic.
“Will you go to the Duke’s residence when you return to the capital?”
“Yes.”
Lennox casually replied, then added:
“Tell me if you need anything.”
“I don’t really need anything. And I’m not lacking…”
Juliet tilted her head.
“Can I bring Nix?”
After a moment, Lennox realized that Nix was the name of the suspicious beast Juliet kept.
“Better to buy a puppy.”
A fleeting expression of disappointment crossed Juliet’s face, and Lennox felt a pang in his chest.
“It’s okay. I don’t need a puppy.”
But even before he could change his mind, Juliet refused as if it was no big deal. Then, as if suddenly remembering, she added:
“Oh, but you might want to change the maid in charge of the bedroom.”
“The maid?”
“Yes. My hair comb is missing.”
Frowning, Lennox was about to ask for more details.
It was absurd to steal a cheap hair comb, especially when there were more expensive ornaments in the bedroom.
But before he could ask, an uninvited guest arrived.