Forgotten Juliet

* * *

Juliet blinked her eyes as she faced the sight of a gigantic wolf she had never seen before.

Grrrrr.

Fortunately, the massive wolf inside the iron bars was securely bound by chains.

It was the first time she had seen a silver-gray wolf.

No, it was the first time she had even known such a gigantic wolf existed.

‘They say there are demons lurking in the East. Is this also one of them?’

If that were the case, it was undoubtedly an incredibly rare creature.

The beautiful silver-gray fur was so enticing that Juliet felt an urge to come closer and stroke it, if not for the current situation.

“Spread out and find it!”

“!”

“Where is Lord Roy?!”

…It seemed that the men outside were searching for this wolf.

Juliet couldn’t have imagined that ‘Lord Roy’ might be a wolf rather than a person, so she was a bit confused.

“How did you end up getting kidnapped, doggie?”

Grrrrrrr.

A threatening growl emanated from the wolf’s throat.

Apparently, the nickname didn’t sit well with it.

‘Well…’

Even if it was a supernatural being, it wouldn’t understand human language.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Juliet decided to stick to her original plan.

“You’re a good boy, aren’t you?”

After carefully observing the wolf’s restrained state, Juliet cautiously reached her hand toward the dark iron bars.

“I’m going to release you now… Anyway, don’t eat me. Got it?”

While making this promise, Juliet didn’t forget to secure an escape route in case things went awry.

Approaching with caution, Juliet examined the structure that bound the wolf and how it was attached.

In addition to the iron grating, there were layers of sturdy chains tightly wrapped around the wolf’s entire body, secured by a large padlock.

“…?”

And the most noticeable thing was an unidentified cylinder embedded in the back of the wolf’s neck.

Inside the glass tube, there was a crimson liquid that appeared suspicious at first glance.

What is this?

Is it some kind of sedative for wolves?

The cylinder, resembling a large syringe, was firmly embedded near the back of the wolf’s neck, and the appearance seemed quite painful, causing Juliet to unconsciously furrow her brow.

‘While other things may be fine, that one seems like it needs to be pulled out by hand.’

Juliet hesitated but slowly approached.

Creak.

Feeling something unsettling, the wolf writhed threateningly.

Ironically, being securely bound by chains prevented the wolf from making any movements.

“Just wait… Just stay still. You’re a good boy, aren’t you?”

Juliet managed to reach in and quickly pulled out the cylinder.

Kiang!

The wolf contorted its body, making a sound akin to a groan.

The train car shook with the intensity of the movement.

However, Juliet didn’t let go of the cylinder. What came out was a needle-like syringe.

“Sorry, but I won’t hurt you anymore.”

Anxious to finish as quickly as possible, Juliet thought.

The chains restraining the wolf were not just simple restraints. They seemed impossible to unlock without some special key.

But Juliet wasn’t particularly worried.

Within the darkness, several small butterflies appeared, emitting a blue-green light. They looked just like blue fireflies.

Startled by the sudden appearance of the mysterious luminescent creatures, the wolf raised its fur.

As the butterflies concealed themselves within the lock mechanism, the chains were instantly released.

Clank.

When the restraints that had tightly held its body suddenly fell away, the wolf seemed somewhat surprised.

Its golden eyes stared intensely at Juliet.

‘Surely, it’s not an ungrateful beast, right?’

Juliet felt a slight tension, but fortunately, the wolf didn’t rush at her or make any hostile moves.

From then on, Juliet had nothing more to do to help.

As soon as the large wolf effortlessly shook its coat, the chains and iron bars that had bound it were shattered simultaneously.

Creak.

With a single stretch, the wolf leaped out through the open door into the next compartment.

* * *

After the wolf escaped, Juliet closed the door to the luggage compartment.

Given the chaos outside, paradoxically, the safest place within the train was here, she judged.

Juliet counted to 100 before opening the door to the luggage compartment and stepping out.

‘This should be enough.’

The inside of the train was a scene of turmoil, as if a storm had swept through.

However, the bandits who had caused the commotion seemed somewhat subdued.

“Ah!”

As Juliet thought that, while crossing a few compartments, she noticed a man wielding a sword, lunging at a mother and daughter crouched in a corner.

Without hesitation, a butterfly fluttered from her fingertips.

It was in that instant.

“Get out of the way!”

Juliet lost her balance and was pushed down by someone.

Thud!

A golden light.

Suddenly pressed against the floor, Juliet furrowed her brow at the glaring sunlight.

The person who had pushed her turned out to be a young man with a rather handsome appearance.

His intention was probably to protect her.

“Mom!”

Fortunately, at that moment, a crowd rushed in and rescued the mother and daughter.

The bandit, who was wielding the sword, fled.

If they had waited just a little longer, they could have put an end to it. But in the last moment, their concentration wavered, and their magic was shattered.

With a jarring shock, Juliet couldn’t regain her composure.

Juliet quickly realized the cause of this sudden situation.

‘Sword master?’

She had experienced a situation like this only once in the past seven years. It was when an opponent who was immune to magic had intervened in the middle of a battle.

Under normal circumstances, the butterflies would have warned her, but in their frenzied excitement, the butterflies were unable to communicate with her.

As her magic was shattered, the butterflies instantly disappeared from sight.

The consequences of the shattered magic fell squarely on Juliet. She felt a splitting headache and nausea.

“Ugh.”

“Are you okay, dear…?”

The unwelcome intruder who pushed her to the floor suddenly seemed startled.

Why?

It felt as if her insides would spill out if she opened her mouth.

Juliet quickly covered her mouth, blocking the intruder’s view, and glared at the person who had hindered her.

Thanks to that, his golden eyes met directly with hers.

Due to being pushed down, the black veil she was wearing had fallen far away.

And only then did Juliet realize that this unwelcome intruder was straddling her in a rather peculiar position.

The man with whom her eyes met had an exceptionally striking appearance. Under different circumstances, Juliet might have found him attractive as well.

With distinct facial features, he was undeniably a handsome young man.

Strangely reminiscent of a wolf.

‘…A wolf?’

However, regardless of his looks, due to the interference with her magic, Juliet was in a highly alert state.

“Get away.”

“Pardon?”

“Get up from me and step aside!”

“Ah… Yes!”

The man who quickly moved aside seemed apologetic and tried to apologize, but Juliet didn’t pay attention as she looked around in a fluster.

The hairpin that had secured her long hair in place had also been flung away during the push.

Staggering, Juliet managed to get up.

“…My hairpin.”

But soon, she stumbled and touched the ground again. Her long hair cascaded down in disarray.

If she opened her mouth, it felt like she would vomit.

“Are you okay, Lady?”

A hand reached out from nearby, picking up the hairpin and offering it to her, while asking if she was alright.

‘…Do I look okay?’

Unable to respond, Juliet barely managed to sit down on a nearby chair and took a deep breath.

The man approached her and knelt down, bringing himself to eye level with her, and apologized.

“Really, I don’t know what to say for an apology… I’m sorry. Were you very startled?”

With a sturdy build and gray hair that had a hint of silver…

He was a man with impressive golden eyes.

And what was more impressive was the fact that the man didn’t have anything covering his upper body.

The man continuously apologized to Juliet with sincere tone.

Seeing a man with such a perfect physique kneeling before her, Juliet couldn’t help but feel a bit strange.

Although it wasn’t his fault that she didn’t expect such a young man to be a swordsman, he seemed at a loss, like a scolded puppy, in front of his master.