* * *
White doves prepared for the wedding flew up from all over the temple.
The temple was hectic with wedding preparations.
In fact, the wedding should have been held a few days ago, but because of the incident with Marquis Guinness that erupted even before it began, the wedding of the second prince and Fatima was naturally postponed.
The situation was resolved and the guests were called again, but the atmosphere of the temple was chaotic.
The guests were preoccupied with the recent treason of the Marquis.
“Hasn’t the punishment for Marquis Guinness been decided yet?”
“Is there anything more to see? It’s treason.”
“If the Marquis’s title and territory are confiscated…”
“Duke Carlyle’s power will grow.”
Juliet walked slowly among the people engaging in trivial conversations.
Thanks to the Silica law being properly maintained, people just greeted Juliet with a nod.
The fact that she was accused of murdering the Duke and that the Duke of Carlyle had faked death was almost unknown.
While moving to a secluded backyard away from the main building, Juliet suddenly stopped. Someone was blocking her way.
Raising her head in surprise, Juliet saw a familiar man. It wasn’t the person Juliet was waiting for.
“Hello, Roy. It’s been a while.”
Juliet greeted him with a big smile.
It felt like a long time since they last met.
Today, Roy was neatly dressed in a suit like other guests. He seemed to have come for the wedding.
His ash-gray hair, golden eyes, and the unique ambiance of Lycanthrope made him look like a prince from a fairy tale.
He looked good, but Juliet felt he was a little unfamiliar. Maybe because of his unusually stern expression?
“Juliet.”
Roy skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point.
“Do you remember when I said I would invite you to Katia?”
“Yes. But you said later.”
“Do you want to go now?”
Juliet blinked.
“So suddenly?”
“It’s safe there.”
“It’s safe here too.”
Juliet replied jokingly, but Roy didn’t laugh.
“Getting involved in a treason case isn’t safe.”
Juliet narrowed her eyes.
“…Did you spy on me?”
“I know that without having to spy.”
Roy replied without flinching.
“Juliet’s butterflies are dangerous. As much as that man.”
“I know.”
“No, Juliet, you don’t, hence I’m telling you. You don’t know how dangerous Snowdrop and other artifacts are.”
Juliet was taken aback.
He had definitely said ‘Snowdrop’ and ‘artifacts’.
“…How do you know that name, Roy? Did Elsa tell you?”
“Aren’t you curious why such a fragile flower’s name was given?”
Juliet asked, but Roy smiled slightly.
“A monstrous creature from another dimension that devours human emotions. Doesn’t the name seem unfit? Don’t you think so?”
Juliet had also wondered about it.
Snowdrop. Such a romantic name.
“It’s because the artifacts that summon demons were first made in the Silver Forest.”
This was new to Juliet. The origin of the artifacts was related to Lycanthropes’ Silver Forest?
“Juliet’s butterflies come from outside the forest, that is, from another dimension. A long time ago, foolish human kings summoned them.”
Juliet listened intently.
“To handle beings from another dimension, mysterious names were required. So, deliberately, names of the most delicate flowers growing in the Silver Forest were given.”
‘Flowers?’
Juliet paused for a moment.
Why plural?
“Only the name of Juliet’s artifact is known.”
Having said that, Roy smiled slightly.
“Interesting, isn’t it?”
It was indeed a fascinating proposition.
“Thanks, but no.”
But Juliet shook her head.
“I have reasons I can’t leave right now.”
“Because of your contract with that man?”
Juliet jerked her head in surprise. It was amazing how much he knew.
The smile vanished from Roy’s face.
“That man will put Juliet in danger. You can’t be happy with him.”
Juliet chuckled.
Despite his somewhat rude words and overly assertive attitude, she wasn’t really angry.
“How can you be sure?”
Then Roy asked, as if mocking,
“Did that man ever tell Juliet about the family’s madness?”
…Madness?
“Like a malevolent snake, a cursed lineage that is born after killing its mother.”
“…Born after killing its mother?”
“Oh. He hasn’t told you?”
Roy smiled coldly.
“Do you know the snake called the viper?”
Juliet blinked blankly. She didn’t know how to respond to his sudden question.
“So, Juliet.”
Roy whispered affectionately.
“Come with me. I can take care of Juliet.”
* * *
Lennox, having dismounted from the horse, easily found the woman he was looking for from a distance.
Juliet stood in the courtyard, somewhat away from the main hall of the temple.
Her hair neatly bundled up and holding a small purple bouquet in one hand, she looked as if she could enter a banquet hall without any reservations.
Juliet seemed unaware of Lennox’s presence, conversing with someone while turning her body slightly. From his position, Lennox couldn’t see with whom Juliet was speaking, as the person was hidden behind the trees. He slowly moved closer.
Lennox still didn’t know exactly what he had seen that day.
Whether it was a nightmare or a hallucination didn’t matter. When he closed his eyes, he saw Juliet in a white dress, blood-stained and slowly dying.
Since then, the black panther hadn’t appeared, but he was haunted by nightmares even when awake.
Although he wanted to summon and confirm it, the black panther didn’t respond to his call.
There were things he needed to verify, like the scars on Juliet as if she’d been brutally whipped.
Initially, he thought it was merely an illusion, created to torment him.
(Demons don’t lie.)
The cat often said this, but who would believe it?
However, Juliet confirmed it with just one sentence.
– Your Highness, how do you remember that?
She indicated it wasn’t a fabricated illusion or trap, but a real event.
The face of the woman who once blushed easily and had a bright smile fitting her age lingered in his mind. The current Juliet showed an expression she had never shown him before.
– I once loved you, Your Highness.
The foolish and blinded man didn’t even question why her confession was in the past tense.
Just that one sentence was enough to impulsively enact a reckless plan without thinking. He believed he could fix whatever wrong he had done.
But the past Juliet spoke of was much further back than he thought, and the hidden meaning was that she no longer loved him.
Her naive and blind love had ended either when she lost the child or her life.
He could remember some distant past events, even without seeing them. He could guess how precious her baby was to her, as she couldn’t just pass by anything weak and pitiable.
That’s why he couldn’t be honest with a woman who had lost her child. Regardless of his explanation, Juliet would be hurt, and if she knew the truth, she would surely leave.
As he thought that, Lennox stopped walking. He heard Juliet softly laughing.
“I’m not going, Roy.”
That’s all Lennox heard, but the atmosphere between them made him guess their conversation.
Juliet spoke firmly and turned to look at him. Even when their eyes met, she showed no signs of being flustered.
“I don’t need anyone to protect me.”
Juliet spoke slowly, keeping her gaze fixed on Lennox.
“…Is that so.”
Beyond Juliet’s shoulder, the golden eyes of Lycanthrope stared menacingly at Lennox.
“But Juliet, if you ever change your mind…”
Roy, as if to show off, affectionately pressed his cheek to Juliet’s in front of him.
“…You can come to me, okay?”
Juliet responded with a faint smile.
Roy gave Lennox one last cold look and walked away.
The courtyard fell into silence.
Only a few white doves fluttered.
Juliet seemed to be examining his attire, looking him up and down. His slightly unfamiliar gray suit stood out. His usual unbuttoned shirt was still there.
“Give me your tie.”
Juliet approached and extended her hand as if it was the most natural thing to do. Lennox obediently handed over his bowtie.
He detested wearing anything tight around his neck and didn’t know how to tie one. Juliet likely knew this.
However, there was something she didn’t know.
“…”
While Juliet was tying the tie, he was able to admire her neat forehead and downward gaze.
“What were you talking about?”
“I thought you heard everything.”
Juliet replied with a faint smile.
Lennox didn’t answer.
It seemed unbelievable that he had blatantly avoided Juliet for the past few days. She was calm as if nothing had happened.
Though smaller than him, no woman could harm him.
Yet, Juliet Monad was the only woman who taught him fear.
In six months, he couldn’t possibly keep Juliet by any means.
The mere thought made him anxious.
“I have something to ask too.”
After neatly adjusting the knot, Juliet looked up at him innocently.
“Your Highness, what’s the bloodline that kills one’s mother?”