Forgotten Juliet

After seeing Helen off, Juliet decided to take a light walk to the entrance of the castle on her way back.

The large green trees cast a shadow, making it a cool, pleasant weather for a walk.

However, Juliet stopped walking after a while. She discovered a tall man and woman under a big tree.

“Ah… Hello, Juliet?”

The woman who greeted her awkwardly first was a stunning beauty with a tall figure that could make one’s eyes sparkle.

“Have you been well?”

A very beautiful tall woman, and a man with a large physique, too.

“Elsa.”

They were Roy’s colleagues, Elsa and Nathan, who were members of the forest clan.

“I’m glad you’re safe, Juliet.”

Elsa seemed happy, but for some reason, she couldn’t meet Juliet’s eyes.

“I heard there was an accident… It’s good to see you looking well. Are you alright now?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

Juliet’s eyes lingered on Nathan who was standing behind Elsa as she answered with a smile.

Unlike Elsa who treated Juliet warmly like a friend, Nathan didn’t like her.

Furthermore, Nathan was very loyal to Roy.

Juliet thought Nathan might openly resent or criticize her.

However, when Nathan’s eyes met Juliet’s, he only slightly nodded, not showing any particular emotion.

“Well, you see. The elders have decided on Roy’s punishment. So, we wanted to let you know…”

Juliet then remembered that it had been a few months since she last saw Roy.

The forest clan couldn’t be punished under the Emperor’s law, so it was said that they took Roy into the forest.

Elsa hesitated, then spoke.

“It’s an iron cage punishment.”

“Iron cage?”

Juliet blinked, not knowing how severe the punishment was.

Is Roy locked up somewhere?

Noticing Juliet’s confusion, Nathan chimed in to explain.

“It’s a 9-sided… in human time, it’s a 10-year imprisonment.”

“Yes, Roy has been imprisoned often before. It’s a relatively light punishment.”

10 years of imprisonment?

How could that be a light punishment, Juliet wondered.

However, Elsa and Nathan didn’t seem to think it was serious.

‘Well, they have different lifespans and species.’

By their standards, it might not be such a long time.

“Oh, of course, there were elders who claimed that the punishment was too light for what he did, that he deserved a heavier one…”

Elsa trailed off, checking Juliet’s reaction.

It seemed she belatedly realized that Juliet nearly died due to the ripple effects of Roy’s actions.

Since Juliet’s return, the Duke of Carlyle had been extremely cautious not to expose her whereabouts. There were still many people who believed that Countess Monad had died, or suffered a terrible fate and gone missing.

‘She nearly died after all.’

Elsa seemed to be worried that Juliet might get angry knowing that the punishment was light compared to Roy releasing the snake.

But Juliet didn’t care.

“It must be hard.”

She was human, not a wolf, so from Juliet’s perspective, 10 years was a long time.

And in the first place, Roy released the snake because he was deceived by it. He might think it was his own will, but Juliet knew how cunningly the snake manipulated people.

It was force majeure.

“But Juliet, I have a favor to ask.”

“Uh, tell me.”

“Roy is a bit… not doing well.”

Juliet blinked for a moment.

“Not doing well? What happened?”

“He’s just very depressed. Barely talks… And it seems like he wants to see Juliet.”

Juliet then understood why these two unexpectedly came to see her, especially when the Duke wasn’t around.

“So, if Juliet could come with us to see Roy…”

“Elsa.”

“Uh?”

Juliet smiled bitterly and shook her head.

“I can’t go.”

Elsa’s eyes widened.

“Oh…”

Both Elsa and Nathan’s faces showed a surprised reaction, as they didn’t expect Juliet to refuse.

However, neither of them could force Juliet.

Only Nathan, standing behind Elsa, gave her a brief glare of discontent.

“I’m sorry.”

“No! I understand. Juliet almost died because of Roy…”

But that wasn’t the only reason.

“I just think it’s better not to meet Roy again.”

Juliet smiled faintly.

“Even for Roy’s sake.”

“Yeah. I see…”

Elsa’s shoulders drooped.

Both seemed disappointed, but they seemed to understand the unspoken meaning that Juliet didn’t explicitly express.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, Juliet has nothing to apologize for.”

After saying goodbye and taking a few steps, Elsa turned around and spoke again.

“There, Juliet.”

“Hmm.”

“Can I… come to see Juliet again later?”

At that, Juliet smiled brightly.

“Of course. Elsa is my friend. You’re welcome anytime.”

“Yeah!”

Only then did Elsa loosen up from her uneasy expression and smiled brightly.

Juliet stood there for a while even after the two left.

There is a law that a thread that has been threaded wrong from the beginning exists.

“Miss.”

Milan approached Juliet, who was standing alone, and advised her.

“The carriage is ready, it would be good to leave first.”

The preparations to depart to the summer palace were nearly completed, so it was suggested to depart for the summer palace first.

Without a doubt, Juliet obediently climbed onto the carriage alone.

‘If I hadn’t met Roy on that train…’

Or if she had just passed by without saving the wolf trapped in the cage, would many things have changed?

The summer sunshine shone through the running window. Juliet closed her eyes and mulled over the past events.

The events of half a year ago felt like a very long time ago.

* * *

Knock knock.

“Yes?”

At the sound of knocking, Juliet opened her eyes.

Confused for a moment by the low ceiling, Juliet realized she was moving in a carriage and now the carriage has stopped.

‘Did I sleep all day again?’

Juliet was bewildered.

The journey to the summer palace through a gate usually took half a day. She clearly left in the afternoon, so it should have been midnight with the moon risen.

But when she drew back the curtain by the window, it seemed like just before sunrise outside, and she felt tired as if she had been running on the carriage all night.

“We have arrived, Miss.”

At the urging of a soft voice from outside, Juliet hesitated.

But this isn’t the Duke’s summer palace?

“Where is this…”

“Please descend.”

“…?”

One by one, Juliet was picking out the suspicious points, and somehow realized that the man’s voice calling her from outside the carriage was very familiar.

Thump.

“…What are you doing here?”

Sure enough.

When the carriage door opened, the black-haired man, who was leisurely leaning against the door, was someone she knew well.

“I came to escort my lady.”

In a linen shirt and black pants, the modestly dressed Duke Carlyle looked like a completely different person from the man who has been bringing nightmares to countless northern lords recently.

Come to think of it, it had been a long time since they faced each other.

Although the situation was a bit strange, Juliet scanned him and was relieved that he looked unharmed without a scratch.

Lennox offered her his hand with a courtesy as if he really had been a servant.

“Where is this?”

“Velot.”

Velot?

Juliet was confused again.

Velot was a leisurely resort city in the central west. Moreover, it was in the exact opposite direction of the Duke’s summer palace.

“You said you wanted to come here?”

It seems like he remembered that in a weird way.

“I said I had to come, not that I needed a villa.”

Besides, the reason Juliet wanted to come to Velot was not to enjoy it as a resort but for another purpose.

“I’ll consider that next time.”

Will there be a next time?

He held out his hand to Juliet, who was amazed.

Juliet, with a cautious expression, came out of the carriage for now.

“…Wow.”

The first thing that caught her eye as she came out was the blue roof shining in the morning sunlight.

The newly roofed magnificent arches made up of stone mansions, harmonized with the surrounding forest, looked like a picture.

It seemed like someone’s craftsmanship, built with a similar atmosphere to the summer palace.

But although it’s magnificent, it’s a bit small compared to the palace… Isn’t it a bit cramped for all the Duke’s people to stay?

Just as Juliet was about to ask, she hesitated.

They seemed to be following her, but besides the carriage she rode, there was nothing in sight around.

No, to begin with, apart from the coachman, they were the only humans in this vast barren field.

“Lennox.”

Suspecting that this man had some scheme again, Juliet stared at him with suspicious eyes.

“When are the others coming?”

“Not coming.”

“They’re not coming?”

Seeing the heavily guarded Juliet, Lennox laughed leisurely like a fed-up beast.

“Is there a kidnapper who informs you of the destination?”