Forgotten Juliet

* * *

“There’s no change in the amount of the young lady’s magic.”

Eshelrid slightly spread the gap between her thumb and index finger.

“It’s the same amount as before.”

Swoosh.

Eshel made a motion of waving the back of her hand sideways.

When the doctors couldn’t determine the cause, Juliet immediately sought out Eshelr.

However, Eshel’s response felt just as mysterious.

Originally, Juliet Monad’s magic power wasn’t particularly outstanding.

It even seemed a bit insufficient to summon butterflies at will.

However, Juliet summoned butterflies freely.

That was also why Eshel had been observing her closely with interest.

Perhaps it had been a fluke up until now, and it was only natural that Juliet lost her butterflies.

But Juliet didn’t think so.

“When I was in the underground dungeon, I took the Soulstone from Sebastian.”

Juliet briefly explained what had happened in the underground dungeon.

From the puppets controlled by Pope Sebastian to the Soulstone made from the remains of his sister.

“Hmm, that might be the cause.”

“Is it because of Genovia’s Soulstone?”

“Yes, because magic and divine power are opposed.”

“Even if I didn’t use the divine power directly?”

“I’m not sure about that.”

Eshel thought deeply with a serious expression.

“I’ll look more into the girl named Genovia and the Soulstone.”

If she was that much of a genius, there might be records left, Eshelrid added.

Having said that, he suddenly grinned.

“You must be the only one who summoned so many spirits in the middle of Lucerne.”

Eshel continued to giggle.

It was truly an unprecedented event.

Eshel thought he would never forget the sight of thousands of butterflies soaring into the sky above Lucerne.

“Eshel, you just looked like a very wicked magician.”

“How can I resist such a delight?”

Eshel shrugged.

Come to think of it, the long-standing rivalry between the temple and the Mage Tower was famous.

“It’s like planting a flag in the enemy’s territory!”

Of course, Juliet was a spirit user, not a magician, but she did use magic in a sacred place of divine power.

Eshel knew many crazy magicians who would pay a fortune just to demonstrate a large-scale magic in the middle of Lucerne.

“If you visit the Mage Tower, masters will rush out to treat you as an honored guest.”

“But wouldn’t they want to meet a spirit user with enough ability to do such things?”

Not just a spirit user who can’t summon butterflies anymore.

When Juliet spoke somewhat coldly, Eshel hesitated.

“Ah…”

“Why?”

Eshelrid, looking a bit awkward, opened his mouth.

“Well, you see…”

* * *

Juliet went downstairs in the mansion with Eshel.

“Peep?”

Onyx, who was comfortably occupying an armchair near the fireplace as a proper guest, hurriedly ran to Juliet upon seeing her.

Hopping happily, he seemed overjoyed.

“Peep peep!”

After a week, Onyx had definitely grown a bit.

It was now somewhat difficult to hold him with one hand.

Juliet lifted Onyx onto her lap. He flapped his wings, but he still couldn’t fly.

“Is it because he’s still a baby? Too small?”

“Juliet, they usually call that ‘my baby looks small syndrome’.”

“Is it because there’s no adult dragon to teach him?”

Or was it because he’s the first dragon to appear in hundreds of years?

The fact that Onyx was first found in a long-abandoned dungeon also weighed on her mind.

‘Maybe he was born inherently unhealthy…’

Onyx, on the other hand, purred contentedly in Juliet’s arms.

‘Fool, oblivious to others’ worries.’

Eshel, who once had a great interest in Onyx, seemed to lose interest even faster.

“Don’t worry. Soon they will realize that it isn’t a magnificent dragon, but nothing more than a winged cat.”

That was the situation Esselrid shared.

Coincidentally, there were rumors spreading about seeing a dragon at the scene where the Lucerne terrarium was destroyed.

Juliet flared up a bit.

“It might just be a baseless rumor.”

“I’m not sure about the details. From what I saw, Roy was with him.”

Essel shrugged.

“How on earth did he get out?”

Juliet gently looked down at Onyx, which was purring on her lap.

“Exactly, really. How did you get out?”

“Peeeep…?”

Suddenly, Onyx rolled over, showing its belly, pretending to be an innocent lamb.

While it’s considered a wild rumor right now… If more eyewitness accounts spread, it could lead to trouble.

So the point is, even without stirring the pot, there’s a potential to get wrapped up in a bothersome situation.

“I thought the wings were just for show…”

For some reason, Eshel stared at Onyx with eyes filled with a sense of betrayal for a while.

* * *

Just before dinner, Juliet heard an unexpected piece of news.

Clink.

The sound of dishes clashing echoed.

“…The Duke is in the capital?”

“Yes. Didn’t you know?”

Eshel, who was preparing for the meal, replied as if surprised.

Lennox Carlyle rarely left the North. He only stayed in the capital a few days a year.

“Why?”

“I don’t know the details, but people are in a frenzy. It seems he’s in critical condition. They say it’s a matter of life and death… Juliet?”

Upon hearing this, Juliet’s face turned pale.

It was only then that Eshel realized his mistake. He momentarily forgot that the young lady and the Duke had been lovers for seven years.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. Excuse me for a moment.”

Juliet quickly ran up the stairs, but staggered slightly.

When you think about it, it’s not such an outlandish story.

‘What an idiot!’

After breaking a barrier and falling seriously ill for a week, how would he have been?

Juliet hurriedly ran to her room and changed her clothes.

Her hands were shaking so badly she had trouble fastening the buttons.

Her heart pounded loudly, her head throbbed, and her mind was blank.

All she could think about was one thing.

‘What if he dies?’

Could it be?

‘But if he’s just a normal person, he couldn’t have done such a thing and still be okay, right?’

“Juliet?”

“Roy!”

Juliet, who was rushing down the stairs, ran into Roy.

“I think I need to go out right now. Roy, I…”

Roy grabbed Juliet’s arm, looking pale and rambling. He locked eyes with her and spoke calmly.

“Juliet.”

“Yes?”

“Calm down. Do you want me to take you out?”

“…Yes.”

Juliet nodded.

Soon after, the two boarded the carriage of the County Monad.

Roy, who was staring at the seemingly distraught Juliet from across the seat, suddenly asked:

“Are you going because of that story?”

“Yes?”

Which story? What is he talking about?

Seeing her confused expression, Roy blinked and calmly said:

“Don’t you remember? Back then, at the altar in Lucerne, the story you told.”

“Lennox, you shouldn’t go against the temple.”

Right. There was that story.

‘Oh.’

Juliet’s face turned pale again.