* * *
Juliet’s eyes widened.
“Oh, elder.”
Zachary didn’t know what to do, he was flustered. Juliet was equally flustered.
‘I helped him!’
Repaying kindness with enmity.
Juliet began to resent the nameless old man.
“Give this back.”
“…Huh?”
For some reason, the old man with a complicated expression handed something to Zachary, as if he was disarming in a demilitarized zone, with a cautious touch.
Zachary looked perplexed, but he followed the instructions and passed the item to Juliet.
Juliet opened her eyes wide and exclaimed without realizing it.
“My glove!”
The object in his hand was familiar.
‘And that’s my hairpin, right?’
These were clearly the items she had lost two days ago.
She had turned her bed upside down twice to find them!
She was momentarily happy to find the items she thought she had undoubtedly lost.
Juliet glared at the old man with narrow eyes.
“Oh, okay. I’m getting goosebumps now.”
Juliet was angry.
Anyone in this situation would have been.
She thought it was a gentle rural village, but it turned out to be a suspicious village beyond belief.
The villagers, as one, tried to stop her from going out, conspired to not give her a job. And…
…She didn’t know why they took it, or what they intended to do with it, but they even stole her stuff and used it for their play.
Just as Juliet was about to ask, the old man with red hair, who had been watching her, preempted her.
“My name is Lionel Lebatan.”
Even for Juliet, there was no way she would respond with ‘Oh, I see. I’m Juliet Monad. Countess Monad.’
However, the other party didn’t seem to be joking.
If it was true, she was meeting one of the most famous figures of the last half-century.
“…So?”
Juliet asked, trying her best not to show her agitation.
The old man who introduced himself as Lionel Lebatan looked down at Juliet for a while without a word.
“The name ‘Lebatan’ means morning star.”
I know.
Juliet crossed her arms with a somewhat stubborn attitude.
Because it was drawn on the banner of the Ash Mercenary Group that Lionel led when he was young.
Juliet had seen that banner too. A flag embroidered with gold thread on a navy blue fabric, almost black.
“And ‘Seneca’ means Venus in ancient language.”
Juliet’s eyes widened.
‘…Really?’
As Juliet still looked doubtful, Lionel Lebatan took out a worn-out purple cloth and showed it to her.
To Juliet’s eyes, it looked like a baby’s swaddle.
It was embroidered with lilies and roses, and golden stars, and the name written below was…
Lillian Rose Seneca-Lebatan.
When Juliet, as if she were mesmerized, looked up, her eyes met with Lionel Lebatan who let out a quiet sigh.
“Yes. So, you are Lilli’s daughter.”
* * *
The grandly named Red King, Lionel Lebatan, settled in the crime city of Carcassonne about half a century ago.
People wondered why he had suddenly disappeared, leaving behind his fame.
Some said he was killed, and others said he was terrified and hid forever because of a death sentence in a court martial.
Or, they speculated that he had become weary of all the commotion and renounced the world.
But they were all wrong.
The reason Lionel Lebatan settled in Carcassonne was because of the will left by his deceased wife.
Beside the sorrowful Lionel were three sons and a tiny baby who had just been born without even having reached a full month.
And the moment he held the small baby in his arms, Lionel decided to give his youngest daughter, who came to him in his twilight years, everything precious in the world.
Lillian Rose Seneca-Lebant.
Lionel pondered on the most suitable name for his youngest daughter, who he loved so much that he couldn’t bear to see her hurt.
After much thought, instead of the rustic sound of ‘Lebatan’, he gave his daughter the name of the blessed ancient gods.
Lillian Rose Seneca-Lebatan.
Lillian, who grew up bright and healthy within sturdy fences, was a daughter who greatly resembled her mother.
She was gentle and vivacious.
There was no stopping Lillian from falling in love with a young officer.
And it was not just any officer, but a noble of the Empire.
The fact that Lillian had fallen in love with a young officer from a distinguished family of the Empire was inevitable.
Lionel agonized, but he knew that this day would come.
So the decision was quick.
Lionel chose to quietly step back from his only daughter’s life.
Despite the long time he had been in hiding, he was no more than a convict who would be arrested and sent to the gallows the moment he stepped into the imperial territory.
So, Lionel implored his daughter to forget the name he had given her and live with a new one forever.
He thought that was the last thing he could do for her.
May she live a normal and happy life in a broader and safer world.
* * *
The fireplace was ablaze.
When the short yet long story ended, Juliet sat quietly on the rug in front of the fireplace, watching the flames.
“I’m sorry for surprising you.”
Lionel was sitting quietly in the armchair right next to her.
Juliet blinked slowly. This story was a domain she knew nothing about.
She had no such memory in her past life as she remembered it. If things had stayed the same, Juliet Monad would have lived without ever stepping out of the system and would have died.
However, she wasn’t surprised or shocked. She had been somewhat prepared since she left the house clutching her mother’s heirloom pearl necklace.
But she needed time to sort out her thoughts, so Juliet threw out disorganized questions that came to mind.
“What about the villagers? Did grandfather ask them?”
Grandfather. Lionel answered with a slight smile at this odd feeling.
“No, they all volunteered to help when I said you might be my granddaughter.”
So that’s what it was.
Only then did Juliet understand the overly friendly attitude of the villagers.
“So, the gloves and hairpin were for confirmation.”
At Juliet’s words, Lionel’s face showed a slightly awkward expression.
“That’s right.”
He couldn’t bring himself to say don’t be too upset.
Because he was the one who told Mrs. Ronda that Juliet’s personal belongings that she had on her body were needed.
There were many magical tools in the east, and among them were ones that could confirm a blood relationship with just personal belongings.
But surprisingly, Juliet nodded calmly.
“I see. I understand.”
Lionel looked apologetic.
“I wanted to tell you at a better time.”
“It’s okay.”
“But immediately after I heard your story, all the idiots arrived in Lobell.”
Lionel, who had moved his steps towards the door, opened the door with a laugh.
Thud!
“Ouch!”
At the loud noise, Juliet was startled and looked outside the door.
Three men were tangled and fallen over.
It looked like they were trying to eavesdrop on the conversation in the room, but when the door suddenly opened without warning, they were surprised and fell.
Despite the spacious mansion hallway, with three sturdy middle-aged men with good physique tumbling around, the hallway seemed cramped.
“Ah… Hello. Juliet.”
“Ahem”
“Nice to meet you. I’m your, ahem, big uncle.”
In the end, Juliet burst out laughing.