Chapter 15
Please read the note at the end of chapter 16
“Suddenly asking for a break-up. Was this the only reason?”
Before Juliet could answer anything, the mouth of the man who clasped her shoulder was brutally twisted.
“But you shouldn’t have been caught by me if you wanted to run away with my child.”
“…So that’s why you followed me here?”
Juliet’s face turned pale by his atrocious words.
Of course, that must be it.
Juliet felt like a fool for having a faint expectation briefly.
What the hell was she expecting?
She laughed at herself.
“You think I stole your lineage and ran away?”
She was well aware of what a lineage meant to a man named Lennox Karlyle.
It was none other than the greedy relatives who drove the nine-year-old patriarch to a war.
His biological mother also deceived his father, the former duke, and gave birth to him.
Juliet suddenly became curious.
How would he react if she nodded and said that she was carrying his child?
Just like the woman who brought his child in the past, is she going to get dragged somewhere and receive similar ‘treatment’?
In the first place, Lennox Karlyle wasn’t interested in things like the duke’s successor.
And that’s why he preferred only light and short relationships instead of getting involved in marriage.
But it was public knowledge that some people went to the dukedom and claimed to bring the children of Duke Karlyle.
There was a well-known tale that a red-eyed and black-haired child was born in the dukedom.
But no one knew what happened to the children and women who visited the duke.
Some people had been clamoring that the foxy Juliet Monad must have dealt with them.
But among those people, Juliet was the most curious about what happened to them.
“No, I didn’t steal anything.”
Juliet lowered her head helplessly and answered calmly.
However, his subsequent words made her feel even more distressed.
Lennox Karlyle spoke sarcastically with a smirk on his face.
“Then what kind of bastard is he?”
“Lennox!”
Juliet’s face was flushed in embarrassment.
Juliet quickly bit her lips in order to hide the tears that began seeping down her cheeks.
But it wasn’t enough to suppress her pent-up emotion.
“…Juliet?”
“Let go of me.”
Her lover might be angrier than she thought because she ran away without a word. He’s a man who never missed something that he lost in his hand.
‘But I don’t want to mistake it as affection.’
Would it be a similar analogy to a domesticated dog who broke off from the leash and ran away?
Rather, it was closer to vengeance than affection.
She’ll never understand Lennox Karlyle, but….
“Fine. I believe you.”
However, the man who only stared strangely at the woman who was barely holding back her tears, opened his mouth.
“Instead, let’s stop it and go back together. Marriage or whatever, I’ll do whatever you want.”
Juliet was instantly dumbstruck.
“…What did you say?”
“Darn it. I said I’d do anything you want, whether it’s marriage or playhouse.”
His expression and voice were calm.
But Lennox nervously gnawed his teeth inside.
“So let’s go back.”
Please.
The man reached out his hand. It was a gentle attitude that he never shown before. Lennox was so nervous that for the first time in his life, he didn’t notice that he was clinging to a woman.
The temple excommunicated him.
If he wants to get married, he has to go on a rampage again.
But what’s the big deal?
If all it takes is war, then that’s it.
He was the duke of the north. The owner of an undefeated military and the land of gold. If even the emperor can’t win against the north, what’s different about a mere temple?
He did not believe in god. It’s only a bunch of old men who declared to be the servants of God and talk about bullshit.
It doesn’t matter as long as Juliet won’t run away again.
After he spits it out, everything will be solved.
(T/N: Once he grants her wishes by saying he’ll marry her, he thought it’ll solve the problem)
“Marriage…?”
“Yes.”
However, Juliet neither smiled nor shed tears of joy.
Even though everyone is willing to do anything to be the duchess.
Somehow, she only looked up at Lennox with empty eyes.
“Then what about the child?”
“Do as you please.”
Lennox nervously swept his hair.
He’s reluctant to hand over that cursed family to his lineage. Besides, children are annoying and irritating. But he thought a child resembling Juliet might be tolerable.
Lennox looked down at Juliet, who was still standing blankly in shock.
Once they have a child, she’ll never be able to escape easily like this again. Juliet was weak, just like a small animal.
He just said it impulsively, but when he thought about it again, he felt nauseous.
“Really….until the end…..”
Juliet’s flower-like red lips parted.
“You’re cruel.”
“…Cruel?”
“When will you stop making people miserable?”
Cruel?
Lennox Karlyle doubted his ears.
Just a day before, it was her who had been affectionately coming into his arms like a spring breeze, then half-day later she completely changed by deceiving him and ran away.
It was Juliet Monad who let go of his hand first and left him behind.
Who’s being cruel now?
Lennox tried to snap back like that. But he couldn’t do that.
“Juliet?”
Juliet burst into tears without any sign.
Like someone who has reached their limit. Like an overflowed water on the glass.
Juliet was crying without a sound.
He knew that it was not the tears of joy he would see from a woman that he just proposed to.
The startled man grabbed her wrist belatedly.
Somehow, in a hopeless voice, Juliet murmured.
“What if I go back?”
“What?”
“What’s the difference if I go back with you?”
“Did you say, what’s the difference?”
The unexpected question made Lennox narrowed his eyes.
Juliet never asked such a thing.
The future is uncertain and obscure. But nothing will change. Because he didn’t want anything to change.
Lennox knew well about a woman named Juliet Monad. Smooth skin with warm blood, her sweet breaths, her quivering eyelashes, her alluring dimples, and many more.
Lennox thought it was enough for him.
Juliet did not beg for affection. She didn’t restrict him or whining.
“Nothing.”
Their relationship won’t change.
And that was all he wanted.
Juliet Monad will still remain as his lover and they will return to the north together.
Whether it was a marriage or a child, he might have to prepare a stronger cage to keep Juliet from running away, but all the problems will be solved anyway.
Right now, as long as she nods her head-
“Lennox.”
But Juliet didn’t nod.
“I’ve had enough.”
“…Juliet?”
“I don’t love you anymore.”
She was always worried about being abandoned.
“I’m sick of it now.”
Beep-!
Just then, with a loud noise, the train came into the platform.
“Your Highness.”
Juliet shook her head and pushed the chest of the man who was trying to embrace her as though he was doing that to give her comfort.
“I know. Somewhere in this world, there will be a woman who will make a man like you kneel down and teach you humility.”
Flapping-!
Before he instinctively reached out for Juliet, his eyes were stung by the glistening butterflies that suddenly appeared.
A flock of fluttering blue butterflies brushed against her skirt and shook it all over.
They were blocking Lennox’s vision to prevent him from approaching her. In the meantime, the woman scuttled away from him and towards the train.
“But that won’t be me.”
Juliet’s lips smiled flawlessly as she looked straight into the eyes of the man who was hardened in the spot.
“I told you earlier. I didn’t steal anything. That wasn’t a lie.”
Juliet innately realized…..it was her who was wielding the sword. The only chance to leave an unforgettable wound on a man who will not be hurt by anything and will not be shaken by anything was in her hands now.
Juliet calmly placed her hand on her empty belly.
“Because this is not your child.”
Juliet laughed loudly and lied for the last time.