Chapter 125

* * *

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve never heard of the Frans having a child.”

A flustered Juliet checked multiple times.

“…Have you ever heard of the name Dahlia Fran?”

“No, it’s my first time hearing it.”

Milan answered firmly. It was a disappointingly straightforward answer.

“As far as I know, there were no children of the same age as the Duke in the Duchy back then. The only one close in age was the youngest of our family.”

Milan explained patiently to Juliet.

“So, I was His Highness’s playmate and sparring partner. Anyone in the Ducal mansion will give you the same answer.”

Juliet blinked silently.

Milan’s words made sense.

Children of noble families usually had playmates before they entered society. Typically, they’d pick children from noble families who were a few years older.

In essence, it would be more fitting for the Ducal family to have the youngest son of a loyal noble family as a playmate rather than the daughter of a lowly maid. But until now, Juliet had always assumed it was because of the laid-back nature of the Carlyle family.

‘But Dahlia was said to be the daughter of the Frans?’

Or perhaps Milan simply didn’t remember Dahlia, the daughter of a maid. Milan is from a knight’s family and didn’t live in the Ducal mansion, so how would he know if a maid had a child?

“But Miss, where did you hear about this childhood friend?”

“I heard it from…”

Although Milan asked, Juliet couldn’t answer.

‘Who was it?’

For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

The widespread knowledge of Dahlia Fran’s existence was from her previous life. If she now mentions where she heard it from, Milan would most likely not understand.

But someone definitely told Juliet for the first time that Dahlia was the daughter of the Frans.

Yet she couldn’t remember who.

‘But I know Dahlia…’

The woman from the eastern tower.

When Juliet first arrived at the Duchy, Dahlia was known by that title.

The eastern tower, where Dahlia resided, was a place Juliet had never been allowed to enter. It was where the Duke’s family stored their precious treasures, and in Juliet’s previous life, Duke Carlyle strictly protected Dahlia there.

No one was allowed in.

But Juliet had seen Dahlia, just the two of them.

Remembering back, Juliet realized her memories of Dahlia were not as clear as she thought.

‘…That’s strange.’

Due to the monstrous butterflies that constantly forced her to dwell on her past memories, Juliet could vividly recall her previous life’s experiences as if they were from yesterday.

‘Was it that short?’

Logically, after finding out she had a child, Dahlia came to the north.

This meant Dahlia’s stay at the Ducal mansion was much shorter than Juliet had speculated.

Suddenly her heart raced.

It was an ominous feeling.

In the recent past shown to her by the butterflies, Juliet couldn’t precisely confirm when and how Dahlia’s existence was revealed.

She just suddenly knew.

Only her feelings of anxiety, disappointment, and pain were vividly remembered. As if someone deliberately mixed that part of her memory.

‘When did I meet Dahlia directly?’

– I’ll help you.

In her previous life, it was Dahlia who offered a helping hand to Juliet when she was trying to flee in fear.

But even that felt suspicious now.

“Miss Juliet?”

“Ah, yes.”

Lost in thought, Juliet suddenly looked up, recalling her conversation with Milan.

“I’m sorry. I was lost in my thoughts.”

“It’s okay.”

Milan glanced curiously at the young dragon that was peacefully sleeping on the armchair.

Juliet quickly came to a conclusion.

‘Even if Dahlia wasn’t the daughter of the Frans, nothing changes now.’

Moreover, there were immediate matters to attend to.

“Let’s resolve the urgent matters first.”

From finalizing matters with Marquis Guinness, to finding out how Lennox became aware of the past that only Juliet remembered.

‘And then…’

Who exactly, and for what purpose, sent her back to this place?

“Sir Milan.”

Juliet fiddled with the small portrait he gave her before handing it back to him.

“Here, I’m returning this.”

Every time she looked at the black-haired boy in the portrait, she was reminded of her lost child.

“Don’t you like it?”

“No. It’s a precious gift.”

“If you say so.”

Despite the refusal, Milan didn’t seem too disappointed.

“However, I’d appreciate if you could return it directly to His Highness.”

Juliet smiled a little.

Milan was a loyal knight, and true to his honest nature, he didn’t hide his intentions.

From the beginning, the reason he came with the portrait as a gift was probably because of the Duke.

Juliet knew that the Ducal family was worried about Lennox. After that day, the Duke of Carlyle had acted quite viciously.

‘But I’m not the one who avoided the meeting.’

For the past few days, Juliet hadn’t seen Lennox. It was him who was blatantly avoiding her.

“Where is His Highness?”

* * *

Creeeak.

The old prison door opened, and as soon as Duke Carlyle stepped out, several nobles who were outside rushed to him.

“Congratulations! Duke…”

“I heard you did a great job by capturing the Marquis Guinness, right?”

They were sycophants found everywhere.

Somehow they knew and had come upon hearing that Lennox Carlyle came to interrogate Marquis Guinness.

However, the man who achieved the feat had a menacing look. Those who tried to approach him hesitated and retreated.

“…Are you alright?”

The Duke’s secretary quickly approached him and peeped through the door gap before it closed completely.

Contrary to imagination, the body of Marquis Guinness was not sprawled inside the prison.

Elliot sighed in relief.

This was the prison where Marquis Guinness was confined.

“What if I’m not?”

Responding with a dry voice, the Duke began to walk down the dark corridor.

For the past few days, Duke Carlyle disappeared and returned looking drenched. Nobody among the visitors knew his whereabouts.

Elliot decided he wouldn’t be surprised if one day the Duke was found having taken drugs. His condition wasn’t good.

But two days ago, seeing Duke Carlyle sitting in his office with a healthy face, Elliot almost fainted.

Elliot was worried.

It was scarier because he appeared unaffected by alcohol or drugs. Moreover, he didn’t even look for Juliet. Apart from being more restless than usual, what was surprising was that he was doing his work properly.

Whatever conversation had taken place inside, today he personally went to interrogate Marquis Guinness.

The secretary sneaked glances at the Duke. Thankfully, he returned safe and sound with all limbs intact.

But his well-being made him anxious in another way.

‘How can this be?’

Many had seen the scene where the Duke clung to Juliet Monad a few days ago.

But no one understood the strange conversation between them.

After that day, the Duke acted as if he was waiting for his death. Whenever they met, his gaze was cold and grim. But after a few days, he returned and focused solely on his work, albeit selectively.

“His Majesty The Emperor has sent another letter.”

Hastening to catch up, Elliot showed the letter. The Duke didn’t even glance at it.

It was undeniable that the Duke of Carlyle played a major role in exposing Marquis Guinness’s crimes.

No, wasn’t it an issue that started with a dispute between the two families in the first place?

Therefore, the right to punish Marquis Guinness was transferred to the Duchy.

But the Duke’s intentions were uncertain, so the Emperor, curious about how he would deal with the Marquis, kept summoning him.

But the Duke remained silent.

He had ignored the Emperor’s summons multiple times.

“This time, you must visit the imperial palace-“

“Tell him to get off.”

“Your Highness…”

Sighing, Elliot looked around.

This was the imperial prison where Marquis Guinness was confined. In front of the capital guards, such disrespect was blatant.

There was nothing to say even if they were reprimanded.

‘Of course, he’s not one to care about such things.’

Elliot grumbled internally.

Ignoring not just the Emperor but also all the summons to the Duchy.

It was clear that the Duke’s temper was fiercer than usual.

“Ah, and Your Highness.”

Rushing to catch up, Elliot added as if he just remembered.

“Miss Juliet has been looking for you.”

The Duke, who was walking fast, stopped.

“Juliet?”

“Yes.”

For the past few days, it was the first time the Duke reacted to someone’s name.

Elliot saw a mix of complex emotions rise and fade on the face of the Duke.