Forgotten Juliet

Chapter 189:

[One day, as the mischief of the butterflies were getting more severe, the wise Lord came after hearing rumors about the mischievous butterflies.

The wise Lord asked first:

‘Is it true that there is nowhere you can’t go?’

‘We can go anywhere!’

‘Even the deep prison from which you can never escape?’

‘Of course!’

‘A desert with no exit?’

‘We can go!’

‘Then how about this small jar from which you can never escape?’

‘!’

‘Obviously!?’

At that moment, the arrogant butterflies were trapped forever.

Only then did the butterflies realize their mistake and regretted it, but it was already too late.]

“…Is this the end?”

The end?

The story ended there.

Juliet was disappointed and flicked through the next pages, but it was a different story from then on.

Juliet quietly mulled over the story.

Mischievous butterflies. It was a mild expression, but if they were deceived in this way and trapped themselves, it was understandable that the butterflies were filled with rage.

Humans always spin stories to their advantage.

Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded beside her, and Juliet looked up.

Inside the large four-horse carriage, there was a large black panther seated, making the space feel cramped.

Seeing the black panther, Juliet was slightly happy.

“Hello, Meow.”

(That’s rude.)

The black panther discreetly flicked its tongue, but unlike before, there were no golden chains binding the black panther’s reflection in the mirror.

Could it have something to do with the snake getting injured and fleeing? Perhaps the snake’s power weakened, reducing the restraint on the black panther.

‘So it wasn’t a completely futile effort.’

Juliet felt a bit proud, but the black panther asked haughtily.

(Where did this come from?)

“A friend gave it to me.”

(It’s quite different from the story I know.)

“In what part?”

(The part where your ancestor appears as the ‘wise lord’.)

Juliet frowned. In this context, only one ancestor came to mind.

“Quirien Monad?”

(It seems that was the name.)

Quirien Monad was her ancestor, and the first Count Monad. For Juliet, he was about a great-great-grandfather.

He was also a national founding meritocrat who received the title of ‘Guardian’ from the first Emperor of the Empire, and he bequeathed a mysterious key to the Count family.

(That guy was a fraud.)

The black panther scoffed harshly.

(He exploited those foolish butterflies to satisfy his desires, and instead of keeping his promise, he trapped them forever.)

“What was the promise?”

(He promised to give them freedom if they let him do his wish.)

Juliet blinked for a moment.

She had a vague idea that Quirien Monad used the power of evil spirits to achieve his goals.

What Juliet couldn’t understand was the next part.

“Letting them free?”

(Instead of being bound to the artifact and being used as human slaves, he promised to break the bondage and let them return to their original world.)

“Was that even possible?”

(But whether your ancestor was skilled in deceit or was a coward, instead of fulfilling the contract, he deceived the butterflies and trapped them inside a field.)

“Field?”

(I don’t know what it’s called in human language, but you’ve seen it, haven’t you? The butterflies took you to the door many times.)

Ah.

Juliet remembered the time when she lost consciousness and faced her past through a large door.

(We can go anywhere!)

Indeed, when the underground prison collapsed, they found a ‘door’ to let her out.

She felt like she was on the verge of understanding something.

‘So, this field is not just a space but also includes rifling through a person’s memories?’

Certainly, she had heard similar words before.

‘A monster that freely cleanses negative energy while traversing dimensions.’

Juliet sank into thought for a moment.

“So my ancestor… Quirien Monad promised to release the butterflies from the artifact but didn’t keep the promise?”

(Yes.)

Juliet was more uncomfortable with the fact that the butterflies were naively deceived and trapped for hundreds of years than her ancestor’s fraudulent actions.

There’s a saying that the two things needed to catch a demon are arrogance and deceit.

Once, her maternal grandfather Lionel Lebatan had told her so.

“…Is that such an important thing? Getting out of the artifact and returning to the original world?”

(Of course. It must be painful to be tied to one place, even with the ability to go anywhere.)

“How is that done?”

(What do you mean, how is it done?)

“What needs to be done to free them from the artifact?”

(Why, are you trying to free them on your ancestor’s behalf?)

The black panther snickered.

(Rather, it would be better to hope that those foolish butterflies are still breathing.)

Ah.

Juliet felt a sting of truth.

She had thought that if she caught the snake, the butterflies would automatically return, but she was uneasy about what happened to her butterfly spirits after she missed the snake disappointingly.

Rumble.

The sound of the carriage wheels stopping was heard, and the knights shouted from the front of the procession.

“We’ve just crossed the border!”

It meant that they were now in the northern territory.

Knock knock.

“Let’s take a break.”josei

A knight knocked on the door from outside.

At the same time, the black panther disappeared without a trace.

Instead, the baby dragon opened his eyes sharply.

“Grrrruk?”

As soon as the carriage door was opened, Onyx was the first to hop outside.

The dragon didn’t seem to mind the cold, but thanks to the maids’ adoration, a small hooded cape was made for Onyx.

The baby dragon, wearing a light sky-blue cape, rolled around excitedly on the snow, as if intrigued by the sight of snow for the first time.

Crunch.

Onyx took a large bite of a big snowball and leapt with surprise.

“Mew?”

Echh.

The pure white snow was cold and tasteless.

The baby dragon shivered his head with dissatisfaction, making the onlookers burst into laughter.

“From now on, it’s the Duchy.”

The knight said, offering his hand to help Juliet out of the carriage.

Looking at the snow-covered scenery, Juliet was momentarily absorbed in contemplation.

“I’ve finally returned.”

It had been several months since she left the North.

Though the season had changed, an unexpected winter made it seem no different from when she left.

The North, the land favored by winter.

Looking up, Juliet noticed a black-haired man approaching her on horseback.

‘I thought I’d never return.’

“Juliet.”

Holding the reins, Lennox naturally asked for her hand as he approached.

“Come here.”

Juliet obediently approached the large black horse.

Lennox seated Juliet beside him on the saddle, then slowly walked the horse holding the reins.

Moving on the snowy path with a carriage and horse was never easy.

While the knights were arranging the formation with the horses and carriages, they walked slowly towards the snow-covered forest.

Thud.

The noble black horse, despite its fierce appearance, was well-mannered. Carrying Juliet after a long time, it walked gently across the snowy field.

Holding the reins, Lennox walked towards the forest, stopping at a distance where the carriage procession was visible.

Though it wasn’t a situation to enjoy leisurely, viewing the snowfall over the plains was quite pleasant.

“Are you worried?”

“Huh?”

“You’ve been fidgeting with your hands.”

“Oh…”

Juliet looked down at her hands. She had lost one of her gloves, and was twisting the remaining one absent-mindedly. Juliet tucked the remaining glove into her pocket without a second thought.

“What’s bothering you?”

“Just various thoughts. I wonder if the snow piled up at the Duke’s residence, if the greenhouse roof and the bridge will be alright, and the snow falling in the backyard…”

“Are you worried the snow foxes will starve to death?”

Huh?

Juliet looked at Lennox with a surprised expression, then nodded.

“Yes, that.”

His reaction was as if he had read her mind.

“And that snake.”

Juliet said cautiously.

“I’ve heard it’s lived for a very long time, I don’t understand how it can live with such hatred.”

The black panther had said that the snake was driven mad by its hatred towards the humans of the Carlyle family.

But Juliet couldn’t easily accept that explanation.

“Well.”

Without asking, Lennox put a black leather glove on Juliet’s hand.

The men’s gloves were exceedingly large for her.

Juliet silently watched his big, well-shaped hands move slowly and delicately.

“Hundreds of years may not be a long time to love or hate someone.”

Somehow, it was an unexpectedly sentimental remark, and Juliet smiled faintly.

Maybe it was because of the warmth remaining in the glove.