Perhaps Dahlia had also accidentally found out.
But Juliet had a feeling that it was different.
‘What on earth is the purpose?’
Juliet’s friend and the magician of the guild, Eshelrid, speculated that Dahlia might be a powerful magician.
‘Maybe she’s the one who sent me here.’
While Juliet was thinking this, someone suddenly asked.
It was Dahlia.
“Miss Monad, aren’t you afraid of anything?”
The title alone suggests as much.
The somewhat awkward title ‘Miss Monad’ was the title by which the servants of the castle called her when Juliet lived in the North.
“Why wouldn’t I be afraid?”
Juliet smiled lightly.
“I get scared easily. For example…”
Juliet, who was brushing the horse’s snout, moved her hand to the saddle on the horse’s back.
“I’m afraid that someone might have hidden a sharp nail under the saddle.”
“…?”
The others present didn’t seem to understand what she meant.
However, Elizabeth Tillman said meaningfully,
“Then be careful, for your precious family.”
At Elizabeth’s words, Juliet looked at the Empress’s maid with a cold smile.
People around her cautiously intervened.
“Miss Elizabeth.”
“Countess Monad doesn’t have close relatives.”
“That’s right. My parents passed away a long time ago.”
“Oh, really? I had no idea. I’m not familiar with the social etiquette.”
Elizabeth feigned ignorance by raising her eyebrows.
“Forgive my rudeness, miss. I wasn’t very ladylike.”
At that, instead of Juliet, people around started making a fuss at Elizabeth.
“It’s okay. If you didn’t know, it’s understandable.”
“It’s something you’ll gradually learn.”
“Learning from mistakes is what makes one ladylike.”
“Isn’t that right, Miss Juliet?”
Juliet, smiling lightly, responded in a ladylike manner.
Thud!
Suddenly, Juliet, who had mounted the horse, pulled the reins and the horse kicked the sand, spraying it at the spectators.
“Ah!”
“Countess Monad!”
“What is she doing…!”
“Oh my.”
Juliet calmly stopped the horse and then showed a troubled expression.
“I’m sorry. I’m not good at riding.”
“Did you hear?”
“Ah, about the incident at the ladies’ riding course?”
A group of young nobles was looking down at the riding course from a distance. They were more into lying in the shade and sipping their drinks than doing anything productive.
The main topic was clearly the tension between the Empress’s healer and Count Monad.
Under the sunlight, Elizabeth Tillman looked like a lively and flawless noblewoman. She was bright and charming.
“Why is Countess Monad being so unnecessarily spiteful when we have such a beautiful woman in the palace after such a long time?”
“It’s obvious. Women’s jealousy can be terrifying.”
“Given the beauty of that maid named Elizabeth, she must have felt threatened.”
A vulgar laughter emerged.
“Tsk tsk, if only Countess Monad smiled more, how wonderful would that be?”
“Juliet Monad is notoriously rigid.”
“She should just be kicked out by the Duke. She’s completely out of her depth.”
There were those who were quietly hostile to Juliet Monad.
The main reason Juliet had a bad reputation in society was because she was the lover of Duke Carlyle.
A month ago, after Duke Carlyle publicly threatened her at the palace ball, people hadn’t even made eye contact with her. But now, the Duke wasn’t in the capital.
“That’s right. Being ambiguous achieves nothing.”
“When Duke Carlyle gets tired of her, she’ll be just another woman.”
“Isn’t that right, Your Highness?”
Among this ill-mannered and forgetful group was the second prince, Cloff.
Bang!
Suddenly, Cloff kicked the table leg.
“That damn Duke Carlyle!”
Cloff, who had been listening quietly, suddenly erupted in anger.
“Your Highness the prince?”
“Ugh! Is there nothing else to talk about other than Duke Carlyle?”
Prince Cloff, the second prince, became angry and stormed out of his seat.
He was boiling inside.
‘He’s such a thorn in my eye.’
Cloff, who was the same age as the Duke, had been compared to Lennox Carlyle in various situations since he reached adulthood.
But how could he defeat a monstrous man who had made a name for himself before even turning twenty and reclaimed his title with his own hands?
It was the same with the recent incident involving Marquis Guinness.
Although not many knew, Cloff had actually invested a significant amount of money in Marquis Guinness.
He knew that the Duke was plotting something and had secretly provided funds, hoping to bring down Duke Carlyle.
However, the cunning Duke Carlyle not only survived but deceived the Emperor until his death and cornered Marquis Guinness.
So, what was the outcome?
It was Marquis Guinness who had fallen.
Although they tried to incite the nobles to prevent Duke Carlyle from taking over the South, the Duke’s property ended up in the hands of that Carlyle.
‘After all, that guy is just a Duke, and I am a member of the imperial family…!’
Cloff tried to cheer himself up, but it wasn’t enough to calm his anger.
Then-
“Excuse me, are you the second prince?”
Suddenly, a melodious voice was heard from behind him.
“Who are you?”
“I’m here to see the second prince.”
Looking up, there stood a woman with golden hair tinted in orange.
The woman greeted him with a bright smile.
“My name is Elizabeth Tillman. I serve the Empress.”
“Oh… The imperial healer. Stand up.”
Cloff scrutinized Elizabeth from head to toe with a wary gaze.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I happened to overhear your conversation earlier and followed you.”
Conversation? Was she referring to when he became upset upon hearing about Duke Carlyle?
Distrusting by nature, Cloff was cautious of Elizabeth.
“However, I believe I can help you, Your Highness.”
But as Elizabeth took a step closer, Cloff felt disoriented.
‘What was I thinking just now?’
“I can definitely help you defeat Duke Carlyle.”
It felt as if he could hear the hissing of a snake from somewhere.
* * *
“Juliet?”
Teo chased after her, but Juliet, in her anger, rode off the equestrian course.
Dahlia’s words were a clear threat.
– Then be careful, for the sake of your precious family.
It was an unpleasant warning, indicating she knew of the existence of relatives, including Juliet’s grandfather.
After a while, Teo caught up to Juliet on horseback.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“Teo.”
Upon seeing his face, Juliet wanted to ask the question that had been plaguing her.
“Grandfather…”
Juliet hesitated for a moment as she felt an odd gaze upon her.
“Why did you stop speaking?”
Teo urged Juliet, looking puzzled.
“Well, it’s just…”
Suddenly, she remembered the warning from Lennox’s letter.
‘Don’t trust anyone.’
Why would Dahlia blatantly bring up Juliet’s family in front of everyone? To flaunt the fact that she knew of her grandfather, who was a wanted man?
“It’s not that.”
Juliet regained her composure surprisingly quickly.
This was inside the imperial palace. Eyes and ears could be everywhere.
Juliet spoke calmly.
“Teo, can you send someone to Levant?”
“What? Why?”
“I have news to relay to him.”
Juliet spoke calmly and composedly.
“But why in Levant…”
Teo seemed puzzled for a moment, but quickly caught onto Juliet’s meaning.
Lionel Lebant wasn’t currently in Levant. Meaning, Juliet was intentionally trying to deceive someone.