Forgotten Juliet

* * *

Not only the Duke and Duchess but the entire Dukedom was busy preparing to welcome guests.

But there was one exception, the baby dragon Onyx who monopolized the cuteness of the castle inhabitants.

“Peep.”

Onyx roamed the forest and the garden as usual.

The baby dragon, who was playing chasing squirrels in the forest, didn’t return to the castle until the afternoon. In his mouth, he carried a tempting thistle flower to give to Juliet.

Thanks to the skilled magicians sent from the tower, flowers bloomed in the Duchy’s garden regardless of the season.

The wild rose was Onyx’s favorite flower.

‘And it’s delicious.’

Of course, Juliet didn’t eat the flower brought by Onyx but praised it whenever he brought a gift.

The most important thing in the 10-month-old baby dragon’s world was to be praised by Juliet for being pretty.

‘It’s fun.’

As usual, Onyx, who was about to enter the castle through any open window, hesitated.

“Gruk?”

On the first floor corner, at the end of the corridor, a trace of strong magic was felt from a small reception room.

To Onyx, who could sense magic, it felt like a very delicious scent.

Entranced, Onyx entered the deserted reception room through a large window. There was nobody in the room.

“Ggurk?”

‘What’s this?’

Onyx’s eyes widened as he wandered around, drawn to the sweet scent.

On the table, there was a small box.

Inside the box was a large crystal flower, about the size of an adult fist, shining madly.

The brooch shining in rainbow colors was actually a magical tool made of magic crystal.

In fact, the reception room Onyx entered was the room where Duke Carlyle had secretly discussed the counterfeiting currency case with his knight just a few hours ago.

The crystal flower on the table was actually a magical tool with a recording spell, but the baby dragon had no way of knowing that.

Onyx swallowed saliva.

The baby dragon sensing strong magic smelled a very edible scent from the crystal flower.

Onyx hesitated.

‘This seems much better…’

Should he take this shiny thing to Juliet instead of the thistle flower?

While pondering, Onyx nudged the brooch with his front paw.

Crack.

“Kyang?!”

Suddenly, Onyx was startled by a strange sound and hopped up.

“…”

But no more sound came from the shiny flower.

Did I hear it wrong? Just as Onyx peeked over the table.

“…It’s only a matter of time before we get caught!”

‘Eek!’

Suddenly, there were sounds of people coming from the corridor outside, and the baby dragon instinctively laid flat on the floor.

“Shh. Lower your voice, Baron!”

Two unfamiliar human men were arguing in hushed tones in the corridor.

“Count Gruber, what do you think is the intention of that arrogant Duke inviting us? It’s certain that the caught counterfeiters named us.”

“Don’t be foolish! It’s the opposite, Baron. If the Duke had evidence, would he have sent an invitation like this?”

“Well, but…”

“They’re just a newlywed couple acting cocky. Especially the Duchess, she’s a clueless child.”

“…Indeed, just by looking at the sent invitation, you can tell they want to show off.”

“So, there’s nothing to worry about. No matter how arrogant, the Duke can’t act recklessly without solid evidence that we are the culprits behind the counterfeit coins.”

“It’s better to be cautious. If the counterfeiting workshop is discovered again-“

The suspicious voices quickly faded away.

“…Meow?”

Of course, Onyx didn’t understand a bit of the conversation that had just transpired.

‘The guests will come,’ she said, but Juliet’s words only came back to mind later.

For some reason, there was a strange bustling in the castle.

“Hey! Throw it this way!”

“Grr?”

This time, it was noisy outside the window.

Approaching the window, Onyx discovered an interesting scene.

In the large castle, unfamiliar people were frequently coming and going, so the arrival of guests was not really a special occasion.

“It’s my ball!”

“Mom! Brother is bothering me!”

But today was different than usual. The courtyard in front of the castle was filled with children playing ball.

‘They are tiny humans.’

There were many people in the castle, but it was the first time seeing children.

Driven by curiosity, Onyx completely forgot about the crystal flower and the strange conversation earlier.

The baby dragon flew to the yard where the children were playing, as if enchanted.

Onyx didn’t really have much interest in humans, but was certainly intrigued by the ball game.

“Peep.”

Watching the children play seemed fun.

‘I like playing ball too.’

Looking over a low shrub at the human children playing, suddenly a ball rolled toward Onyx who was hiding in the bushes.

Thump, thump, thump.

“Eh? Where did the ball go?”

“There… oh? It’s a cat!”

“The kitty is holding a flower!”

“Wow, it’s huge!”

The children discovered Onyx and gathered around.

“Grr.”

Onyx felt shy but thought that maybe playing ball with these tiny humans might not be so bad.

With the bushes in between, the children and Onyx looked at each other with intrigue.

“Hey! Bring the ball!”

“What’s that?”

A few slightly older children approached.

“Brother Anton! Look, it’s a huge cat!”

“Idiot. Where would you find such a big cat?”

A boy around ten years old pushed through the younger children and stepped forward. He wore a sophisticated outfit with a sailor collar and gold buttons, which looked quite expensive.

“That’s a magic beast. My dad said so. The new Duchess is raising a magic beast.”

Playing ball is fun.

Onyx glanced at the ball that had rolled under his feet with a touch of regret.

The children, who had completely lost interest in the ball game, gathered around and stared at Onyx.

“What’s a magic beast?”

“A beast is… so… oh, like a monster!”

Onyx perked up his head.

A monster?

“But isn’t it cute?”

“See, I told you! A monster! A beast!”

“…Grr.”

Onyx felt hurt. He was neither a monster nor a beast. The desire to play together had already faded.

“My dad says, in the lineage of the Ducal family, there’s something non-human mixed in. Maybe the Duchess is a witch too.”

“No, no, you shouldn’t say that, Anton.”

Some older children around seemed shocked and scolded him.

“Therefore, she might not be able to bear an heir, so that’s why she’s raising such a monster.”

But the child who kept mentioning ‘my dad’ at the end of his sentences was in high spirits. Anton was the youngest son of Count Grover.

“But that’s a bad thing to say…”

“Isn’t it a bad thing for you guys, too, you fools? If the Duchess can’t have a baby, one of us might be adopted, you know?”

Anton mocked, and the children looked around nervously, intimidated. Given the other children’s reactions, it seemed like they were from a prestigious family as well.

However, that was a human concern. Onyx, whose mood had soured, glared at the small boy. He lowered his stance, instinctively assuming a hunting position. But the cheeky boy didn’t stop there.

“See? It is a monster, right? Watch this.” 

Anton sneered, picking up a stone and aiming at Onyx with a slingshot.

Ping!

The slingshot had enough firepower to hunt a rabbit, but Onyx easily dodged the flying stone. However, the stone that the boy shot hit a large ice sculpture at the entrance.

Crash!

The dazzling ice shattered into pieces in an instant, and sharp ice shards scattered in all directions. One shard caused a shallow wound on Onyx’s right front paw, and the onlooking children screamed in surprise and scattered.

“Kyaa!”

“Huaa, Mommy!”

“What’s happening!”

Startled by the children’s screams, the servants and guests rushed out from inside. However, the people who came out into the courtyard were shocked.

“My goodness, what is that?”

“Peeeep!”

Onyx, enraged, was in the air, with wings spread wide, as if ready to pounce at any moment. Below him, a boy in flamboyant clothes was struggling on the grass.

“Anton!”

It seemed like the aristocrats shouting were the boy’s parents.

Then, a tall boy rushed out with a wooden sword.

“Peep!”

As the enraged Onyx turned towards the boy, he hesitated to swing his sword but only managed to infuriate Onyx further.

“What is going on here, Anton!”

“I, I didn’t do anything!”

Boastfully, Anton had aimed at the dragon with his slingshot to teach it a lesson, but seeing the angry adults, he realized the gravity of the situation.

The expensive ice sculpture was shattered, and the atmosphere was tense. Frightened Anton only thought of somehow pushing the blame away.

“That monster started it…!”

Onyx was furious.

The white flower he had brought for Juliet was nowhere to be seen. That naughty boy deserved a scolding. But just as Onyx was about to pounce on the boy-

“Onyx!”

“…!”

At the familiar voice, Onyx turned his head and saw Juliet through the crowd.

“Come here.”

“Peep.”

“Quickly, Onyx.”

Juliet didn’t raise her voice, but Onyx noticed.

‘Juliet is angry.’

Dejected, Onyx folded his wings and landed right at Juliet’s feet.