Forgotten Juliet

“What are you talking about?”

“…Well?”

Juliet, coming out with Sir Milan, noticed people gathered near the greenhouse.

“Oh my, you little rascal!”

“Peep!”

Elliot stood holding onto the neck of a small black dragon.

A tall stack of fruit baskets had toppled over, and the servants were cleaning up the empty baskets and debris.

“Anyone would think you’re starving!”

Elliot grumbled.

The baby dragon had seemingly gorged on precious tropical fruits, its belly rounded as it playfully flicked its pink tongue.

“I apologize, secretary.”

“We… we surely locked the door as instructed…”

The servants also looked astonished.

The hungry young dragon ate almost anything, but had a particular weakness for sweet fruits.

Despite being scolded by Elliot, the Duke’s secretary, Onyx seemed pleased with its mischief.

“Peep.”

When Elliot picked up Onyx, it relaxed its body, perhaps thinking he was playing.

Understanding the situation, Juliet sighed and approached them.

“Ah, Miss Juliet.”

Elliot handed her the mischievous dragon.

“Peep?”

Onyx wagged its tail happily but sneakily watched Juliet’s reactions.

“I’m sorry, Elliot. I’ll compensate for the damages.”

“No need for that. This little one sure has expensive tastes.”

As this wasn’t the first time such an incident occurred, the servants efficiently cleaned up the scene.

“However, it’s strange.”

Elliot tilted his head.

“We certainly locked the door this time.”

Standing next to Juliet, Count Milan glanced around and pointed to the top of the door.

“Maybe it entered from above?”

He pointed to a narrow gap between the door and the ceiling.

“The ceiling?”

Juliet asked, and others looked puzzled too.

“Doesn’t it have suction cups on its feet?”

They flipped Onyx’s front foot suspiciously, but the baby dragon’s paw was soft and squishy.

Juliet looked down at Onyx. The young dragon had always been mischievous, but its antics seemed to increase recently.

She wondered if it’s not just growing bigger, but if something else had changed.

“?”

The baby dragon, feigning innocence, looked somewhat suspicious.

“Peep.”

The silence prolonged, and Onyx, fearing Juliet might scold it, tried to act cute.

After some thought, Juliet gently embraced Onyx.

“Sir Milan.”

“Yes, Miss?”

Juliet’s eyes flashed meaningfully and seriously.

“About that plan earlier, can I hear it again?”

* * *

A few days later, in the palace.

In Second Prince Cloff’s office, a secret strategy session was in progress.

“All preparations are complete.”

Because the Emperor had told him to catch the culprit, prince Cloff was slowly preparing for the final phase.

He had reduced the frequency of smoke bombs that agitated the beasts and discreetly informed the Emperor that he had acquired decisive evidence.

“Now, we just need to decide when to reveal the evidence.”

“Once the smoke bomb bearing the Duke’s emblem is disclosed, the North will turn against the entire Empire.”

“How about the court meeting in a few days?”

“What about the official banquet where the Pope attends?”

The prince’s advisors eagerly offered their opinions.

“I… Your Highness, I’d advise not to trust that healer too much.”

Of course, some in the Second Prince’s circle were suspicious of Elizabeth Tillman.

She was gaining fame by treating those injured by the magical beasts, but also rumored to have incited the incident. They wondered if she might be using them.

“Enough!”

Prince Cloff, having already seized the opportunity to take down Duke Carlyle by following Elizabeth’s plan, wasn’t interested in such words.

“Revealing the healer’s identity can wait until after we’ve taken down the Duke!”

Prince Cloff believed that once Duke Carlyle was eliminated, not only the throne but also the fragile authority of the imperial family could be restored.

“Your Highness is right.”

“In a few days, the Duke’s golden days will end.”

“You’ll finally have the North in your grasp!”

The Second Prince’s entourage quickly flattered him.

Prince Cloff eagerly anticipated the Duke’s reaction when accused.

“It’ll surely be worth watching!”

As Prince Cloff chuckled, an aide brought news.

“Duke Carlyle is in the palace now. Why not meet him?”

“What?”

“He’s attending tonight’s dinner. You remember?”

Startled by the mention of the Duke, Second Prince Cloff soon remembered.

“Ah… because of that Monad woman.”

He had heard that the Emperor was hosting a dinner concerned about Countess Monad’s wellbeing after a recent unfortunate incident.

‘What’s the big deal about the Duke’s lover almost getting hurt?’

He was reluctant, but thought it worthwhile to see the oblivious Duke Carlyle.

Prince Cloff headed to the outer palace.

“Presenting His Highness, the Second Prince!”

Nobles invited to the evening banquet were gathered in the salon of the outer palace.

In addition to the Duke of Carlyle, several court nobles were invited to the banquet. They each took their places in a spacious salon divided by columns, waiting for the feast to begin.

“Your Highness, are you well?”

Nobles who recognized Cloff came forward to greet him. Among them was Countess Monad, elegantly turning her head and dressed in a deep green dress.

“Second Prince Cloff.”

Cloff looked her up and down with a displeased gaze.

‘Just a fallen noble after all.’

Juliet Monad was equally arrogant.

Had she not audaciously declined the Emperor’s proposal to make her a princess? And under the pretense that she didn’t need parents other than the late Count and Countess Monad.

Cloff gritted his teeth.

Next to the arrogant Juliet Monad, Lennox Carlyle’s face was as sullen as ever. He looked even more uncomfortable than usual.

‘Hmph.’

Cloff couldn’t help but smile inwardly. He was curious if he would maintain such attitudes after everything was over.

Meanwhile, Juliet faced those who were giving her unpleasant looks.

“Did she jump into the lake?”

“It’s obviously a ploy for attention.”

“Poor Princess Fatima.”

There were few nobles generally favorable to them, but many who were ensnared by Cloff were noticeable.

Lennox’s eyes quickly became fierce, but Juliet deliberately let the chatter continue.

“Your Highness.”

Juliet, as if to show off, dragged him by the arm.

“Please bear with me, even if you don’t like it.”

While adjusting Lennox’s tie, Juliet whispered softly.

“The bait needs to be flashy.”

Due to the banquet, there were many guests outside the palace, making the inner palace relatively unguarded.

Sir Milan suggested taking advantage of this. Hence, Juliet and Lennox had to keep the nobles’ attention and buy time.

Juliet had already asked Fatima to delay entering the banquet hall as much as possible.

During the delay, the attendants of the Duke, who entered the palace under the pretext of escort, would carry out their task.

Reluctantly cooperating with the plan, Lennox peeped over Juliet’s shoulder and muttered.

“…I don’t like it.”

“…?”

When Juliet turned around, surprised by the comment, she spotted a familiar man in the distance.

It seemed that Roy was also one of the invited guests to the dinner banquet.

Roy, always expressionless, gave Juliet a warm smile as their eyes met. However, he soon left surrounded by others.

They probably wouldn’t have a chance to chat at the banquet.

‘By the way, Roy said he was invited because of the prophecy. What was in that prophecy…?’

“Juliet.”

“Yes?”

Distracted, Juliet unwittingly lost her balance and landed on Lennox’s lap as he sat on the couch.

“Oh my…”

Their intimate posture was so obvious that the court ladies, who were blatantly staring, blushed and quickly moved away.

“I’m sorry!”

But, despite their close posture, the atmosphere between them was incredibly dry.

Having Juliet so near after a while, she thought, ‘That expression again.’

He was the one who had pulled her close to chase away the curious onlookers, yet Lennox flinched noticeably when Juliet shifted.

Lately, Lennox was strange.

He seemed cautious even about touching Juliet.

Sometimes, when she felt his gaze and looked back, Lennox would look at her with a sad expression as if he had something to say.

But he never spoke.

The only times he displayed emotion were when he was blatantly jealous. Like earlier when he encountered Roy.

Juliet thought it would be better if Lennox acted as he used to, bossing her around, instead of acting like a sulky child.

When Juliet sighed heavily, his gaze followed her.

“Your Highness.”

“What.”

With a sly smile, Juliet suddenly pulled at his collar.

He could have easily pulled away, but Lennox, looking surprised, allowed Juliet to grab him by the collar.

“What are you doing now…”

“Don’t be childish.”

“…”

For a moment, a puzzled expression appeared on Duke Carlyle’s handsome face.

“Childish?”

“I’ve never questioned or got mad no matter how you behaved.”

“…Who said I was playing around?”

He protested as if taken aback.

Juliet shrugged.

“Everyone has seen and heard, haven’t they?”

“Damn. How many times have I said that’s all a misunderstanding-“

“The marriage proposals that came in almost daily?”

“Who kindly sorted and handed them to you?”

Lennox’s voice rose, prompting Juliet’s eyes to widen in surprise.

Indeed, a few years ago, Juliet had meticulously examined a marriage proposal that had been presented to her. But she didn’t expect Lennox to remember it.

It was just a fleeting memory for her, but judging by Juliet’s expression, he quickly added.

“I properly refused them all.”

“What about Princess Priscilla?”

Juliet’s reaction was skeptical.

Though he claimed to have declined, she had heard that Lennox had also sent gifts in return.

“I never promised marriage to Priscilla. She came on her own to talk about her crush. Don’t you remember the incident? I remember being particularly pestered by you at the time.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Juliet feigned ignorance, remembering Lennox’s angry face from back then.

When she smiled mischievously, Lennox asked her sincerely,

“Do you believe me now?”

Juliet playfully pushed his forehead.

“If you acted sincerely from the beginning, I wouldn’t have misunderstood.”

Lennox seemed to take her words to heart and didn’t protest further.

He put his hand on Juliet’s waist, slowly pulling her close.

“Then, let’s go.”

Looking down at Juliet’s face, which was now closer than before, he continued:

“If you’re done making a scene, we should join the banquet.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The evening banquet proceeded under the watchful eyes of everyone present.