Chapter 124

* * *

Clack. Clack.

As she appeared with slow steps, the atmosphere of the banquet hall froze coldly.

The guests who were chattering loudly, and even the man seated at the most prominent position in the banquet hall, looked at her with a stern gaze.

However, disregarding that gaze, she brazenly smiled and greeted.

[I’m sorry. I’m late.]

People were busy looking at her dazzling attire. Some also pointed at the old scars on her back that she had always hated to show.

But none of that mattered anymore. She scanned the banquet hall but didn’t see the woman of the infamous eastern tower.

She must have chosen not to attend. A place guarded so strictly, treasuring it so deeply.

Suddenly, Juliet felt relieved.

Though her fake smile felt awkward, Juliet tried to appear cheerful.

She brushed off blatant disdain and ridicule, and laughed mindlessly at the sly jokes made with ulterior motives.

It was easy to win the people’s favor by not refusing the offered drinks and dance invitations.

[I never knew you were such a fun person.]

[If I had known earlier, it would have been much more fun.]

She was aware of the mocking laughter and malicious comments from behind, but she didn’t care.

The Duke didn’t say a word to her.

Avoiding the gaze of a man who seemed like he could kill her any moment, Juliet pondered what she should say to him after the banquet.

How could she break the ice?

As Juliet was deep in thought, someone suggested she make a toast. She hesitated because it was something she had never done before, but the people around her urged her on.

[Just make a wish when His Highness lowers his glass.]

[It’s not difficult.]

Their eyes met naturally.

[Your Highness, the glass.]

It was the first time they had looked each other in the eye since the banquet began.

With his usual cold demeanor, the man silently handed her a silver cup filled with wine. As she hesitantly took the cup, Juliet paused for a moment.

She stared blankly at the silver cup. The inside of the cup touching the red liquid had turned black.

For a moment, everything went white.

For a second, Juliet was stunned, and as she lifted her head, her eyes met the cold gaze of the man.

‘Ah.’

I see.

Could there be a clearer expression of intent?

He wished for her death.

In her surprise, she lowered her head and a tear dropped into the cup.

Just a moment ago, she was contemplating what to say to him. It felt foolish now.

She could have pretended to drop the cup by accident or run away from this place.

After a brief hesitation, Juliet realized she didn’t want to do that.

She lifted her head quietly.

It felt as if only the two of them existed in the noisy crowd.

In truth, she intended to speak to him after the banquet.

She wouldn’t ask for anything anymore, wouldn’t blame him for the loss of their child, and would request to leave him.

However, it seemed her lover had prepared something beyond that.

[Even if I die, I die here.]

No matter how much she thought about it, his anger didn’t seem to go away.

‘But shouldn’t I be the one to be angry?’

However, she didn’t feel like getting angry. Suddenly, this conclusion didn’t seem so bad.

Juliet was tired. Blaming him for everything, hurling sharp words to hurt each other, was no longer bearable.

Staying by his side was painful, but leaving him seemed equally bleak.

After all, it was this man who had saved her from the abyss. Dying by his hands might not be so bad.

Having made up her mind, Juliet raised her cup with a smile.

[Thank you for everything, Your Highness.]

Whether it was a proper toast or not didn’t matter.

Looking into his eyes, she slowly brought the cup to her lips. The sweet, red liquid flowed down her throat.

‘I hope it’s not too painful.’

That was the last thought she had before dropping the silver cup.

As her vision blurred, it seemed like the startled man was rushing towards her.

* * *

“Miss Juliet.”

Sitting in a quiet living room, Juliet quickly lifted her head.

“Sir Milan.”

“Do you have a moment, Miss?”

It was Milan, the vice-captain of the Duke’s Knights. He gave a slightly awkward smile.

Since returning from the abandoned temple ruins, all members of the Duke’s household were wary of her.

The knights had overheard the conversation between the Duke and Juliet at the ruins, but they didn’t understand it.

“Of course. Please come in.”

“I stopped by to deliver something.”

After looking around the empty reception room, Milan took out a small package from his pocket.

“I hope you accept this.”

Juliet took the small package wrapped in thin paper and a thin string.

“I bought it for your last birthday.”

Birthday?

Juliet, unable to grasp Milan’s intention, narrowed her eyes.

“His Highness asked what he should give.”

“And?”

“I recommended this, but he didn’t accept.”

Milan awkwardly smiled.

“But now I think it would be good to give it to you.”

“What is it?”

“You’ll understand when you see it.”

Milan urged Juliet.

Though she felt a bit hesitant, Juliet, with a dubious expression, started to unwrap the poorly wrapped package.

Inside was a canvas the size of a palm. It wasn’t originally drawn on the canvas; it seemed like someone had redrawn what was originally drawn on paper for storage purposes.

It was a portrait of a young boy.

Juliet’s eyes widened.

“Oh my.”

It was instantly recognizable.

Seven years old? Eight years old? It was hard to guess.

The white cheeks with baby fat still intact and distinct facial features made it a child’s face that could turn into a beauty when grown.

In childhood, the appearance was more dazzling than expected. However, due to the stubborn eyebrows and a characteristic defiant attitude, the atmosphere remained the same.

With a rebellious expression, the child who became the model for the portrait undoubtedly seemed quite angry at the painter.

“It came out when disposing of the old furniture in the mansion.”

Adding that, Milan hinted that this portrait recording Lenox’s childhood was unique.

Juliet also knew. This was an item she had never seen even in her previous life.

“Can I have this?”

“Even if I give it to His Highness, he will probably tell you to dispose of it anyway.”

Juliet agreed with his opinion. While fiddling with the portrait, Juliet suddenly asked something that came to her mind.

“Sir Milan, I have a question.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Has sir Milan’s family had a long association with the Ducal house?”

“Yes. Our family has served the Duchy for generations.”

There was pride in Milan’s answer.

Lennox Carlyle was famous for hiring based on ability, regardless of status. As a result, it was rare for the current Northern Cabinet to have Northern nobles.

Elliot, the chief secretary to the Duke, was of commoner origin, and Hadin, a close confidant of the Duke, was of immigrant descent.

Among them, sir Milan, who was the deputy commander of the Duke’s knights, was one of the few pure-blooded Northern officials.

Milan had every right to be proud. Many renowned Northern families either chose the wrong future heir to be loyal to, lacked capability, and were either purged or pushed into lesser positions.

“I also often visited the Duke’s mansion with my father since I was young.”

“So, you must remember His Highness’s childhood?”

Juliet asked cautiously, but Milan understood immediately.

“Of course. I often saw the young Duke.”

Milan grinned. He guessed that Juliet was curious about Lennox’s childhood.

“I was His Highness’s sparring partner in swordsmanship. Ah, those were good times. Back then, our win rates were about the same.”

Juliet smiled faintly.

Milan was four years older than Duke Carlyle. So, when Milan mentioned visiting the Duke’s mansion during Lennox’s childhood, he would have been a young boy around twelve years old.

Juliet could easily imagine the scene of a nine-year-old and a twelve-year-old sparring with wooden swords in the training ground of the Duke’s mansion.

But what she was curious about wasn’t the young Duke Carlyle.

“Sir Milan, do you remember the servants working at the mansion?”

“Well, not all of them, but I remember those who worked there for a long time.”

Juliet cautiously approached the main topic.

“Do you, by any chance, remember a couple named Fran?”

“Pardon?”

Juliet decided to try a different angle.

If she couldn’t find Dahlia in the present, she would delve into the past, starting with the parents who ran away with her.

“I heard that Mrs. Fran was the nanny who took care of the Duke. Her husband was also a trusted servant.”

“Ah! I remember the Fran couple.”

However, Milan’s expression turned bitter.

“That couple took advantage of the chaos and fled with the Ducal family’s heirloom, the tiara. Such ungratefulness…”

Milan gritted his teeth.

Heirloom.

The tiara, adorned with jewels, was the heirloom of the ducal house that Lennox had been searching for years.

In her previous life, Juliet had never seen the famously beautiful tiara. She had only heard that Dahlia, the daughter of the runaway Fran couple, had appeared and the treasure was recovered.

Realizing he might have said too much, Milan cleared his throat.

“Ahem! I’m sorry. Miss, please keep what I just said a secret from His Highness.”

“Of course. I’d appreciate it if you kept my inquiries a secret too.”

“His Highness might not be pleased if he finds out.”

Milan chuckled, seemingly joking but with a hint of seriousness.

“Anything else you want to know?”

“Do you know the whereabouts of the Fran couple?”

“His Highness has been searching for them for years, but I don’t know the outcome. Perhaps the wolves or Hadin would know better.”

That seemed likely.

However, Hadin, who is solely loyal to the Duke, would never tell Juliet. If she asked, he would immediately report to Lennox.

“Do you remember the daughter of the Fran couple?”

“…Yes?”

“They had a young daughter. I’ve heard she was a little younger than Lennox, a girl.”

“…”

“Her name was Dahlia Fran. She grew up with His Highness, almost like childhood friends…”

As Juliet explained about Dahlia, she felt something was off and looked up. Milan was staring at her with a blank expression.

“Ah, I apologize.”

Milan hastily composed himself.

“Um, so… the Fran couple had a daughter?”

“Yes, she grew up with His Highness, almost like siblings or childhood friends.”

But why?

Juliet couldn’t decipher the expression Milan wore. Just as she began to feel anxious, Milan cautiously spoke.

“Miss.”

Milan seemed unsure of how to phrase what he wanted to say, then he told bluntly:

“The Fran couple didn’t have a child.”