Forgotten Juliet

Chapter 115:

Jude abruptly halted and swiftly pinpointed the direction from which the noise emanated.

What should we do, Miss Juliet?

Judes eyes twinkled with curiosity as he asked. Reluctantly, Juliet nodded.

Lets go.

No sooner had she spoken than Jude pulled her along, rushing towards the rear palace where the scream was heard.

Of course, they were still within the imperial palace, so neither of them expected a severe situation.

Help me!

Juliet, dragged a bit by the escort knight, tripped onto the palaces rear garden grass. The sight before her was somewhat absurd.

It was a cliched scene.

A graceful young lady was being surrounded and held by the wrists by a few gentlemen who clearly looked like trouble.

But this is the imperial palace?

It was clearly suspicious.

Are you alright, my lady?

But before Juliet could intervene, the courteous escort knight had already darted forward.

Jude quickly took down the hooligans who were mocking the frail young lady.

Ugh!

Well see about this!

The frightened young lady was rescued, and the men who had been taunting her threw out some clichd lines before scampering off. It all felt so theatrical that Juliet considered giving them applause.

Thank you How can I ever repay this kindness

Are you alright?

However, the tearful young lady was a face Juliet recognized.

Dolores?

She was the new wife of Marquis Guinness, whom Juliet had seen in the south a few days ago.

Huh?

Dolores seemed to recognize Juliet as well.

Ah, hello, my lady.

Yes.

Juliet observed Dolores closely. Outside, Dolores appeared frail and naive.

Is she your friend?

Weve met in the south.

Yes, thats right! I didnt think youd remember me.

Dolores said shyly.

What are you doing here?

Ah I wanted to give a wedding gift to Her Highness the Crown Princess.

Dolores showed a small box she was holding.

Only then did Juliet realize why Marquis Guinness, whom she had met in the south a few days ago, had said, Ill see you in the capital.

Of course, a figure like Marquis Guinness would attend the Crown Princes wedding.

But they said non-nobles cant enter the salon of the Crown Princess.

Dolores said, looking a bit downcast.

So you had a run-in with those guys?

Yes, when they learned that Im not a noble, they tried to drag me away.

Oh I see.

Juliets escort knight looked at Juliet with a meaningful grin, to which she pretended not to notice.

Perhaps, Miss Juliet, could you deliver this gift to the Crown Princess on my behalf?

Dolores held out the box to Juliet.

Juliet, staring at the box, declined with a broad smile.

No.

Ah Why?

The gift should be given in person to have meaning. Instead, Ill speak to the maid so you can enter the salon.

Juliet made a kind offer that Dolores couldnt refuse, and Dolores had no choice but to nod in agreement.

As soon as Dolores left, Jude eagerly asked:

Didnt you recognize those poor actors earlier?

Juliet smirked.

Yes, they were under Marquis Guinness.

The men who were mocking Dolores earlier were lower-ranking nobles under Marquis Guinness.

Why did you pretend not to know?

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Juliet remembered just how malicious Marquis Guinness was.

He must have a reason for using such terrible actors.

In truth, Juliet wasnt very curious as to why Marquis Guinness sent the very unconvincing Dolores to be close to her.

Asking her to deliver a gift to the Crown Princess? Juliet did just as she was told.

It must have been their intention to push the blame onto Juliet, who had passed on the item in the middle and caused the problem.

However, Juliet had no intention of falling for such a shallow trick. She was also not curious about Marquis Guinesss secret dealings.

To tell the truth, I have something to bring up with Marquis Guiness.

Juliet grinned.

Marquis Guiness would soon learn the lesson that when you spy on someone, you risk exposing your own secrets.

* * *

A few days later, late at night.

A strange event took place in the silent bedroom of the Dukes residence.

A shape that had been lurking in the shadow suddenly popped out.

It was a translucent dark shadow, as if a humans shadow had been reduced in size.

This creature, created through black magic, had arms and legs, and could perceive basic situations.

It was a spiritual entity sent by Archbishop Solon. The small, dark entity looked around and easily found its target.

The entity dashed towards its prey. But even before it reached the bed

?

The flailing entity was obstructed by something that appeared above it.

A pair of pumpkin-yellow eyes looked down at it.

It was supposedly impossible.

The spiritual entity was made of malevolent power. For any ordinary creature, even touching the entity would be impossible.

A creature, silent as a stalking cat and suddenly pouncing on it, had gem-like shining eyes even in the darkness.

A cat?

No, a hedgehog?

Whatever it was, it didnt matter. The spiritual entity, having been created with forbidden divine power, could protect itself to some extent.

Spark!

Spark!

A spark ignited.

Peep?

But the creature with a tiny body, rather than being startled, jumped as if familiar with the situation and soon took a hunting stance.

A moment later.

Onyx came out with something strange in its mouth, slithering out.

?

However, the young dragon, which excitedly darted out into the corridor, locked eyes with a human man who was calmly sitting on a chair at the end of the corridor.

It was the exact spot where he had been clearing away the hunted prey of Onyx over the past few days.

Hmm.

Surprised, the young dragon almost swallowed what it had in its mouth.

Onyx thought desperately with its little head, glancing at the man, realizing that the man didn particularly like it.

The man, holding a crystal glass filled with orange liquid, gazed at Onyx expressionlessly.

Yet, unexpectedly, he called out to the dragon with a tender voice.

Come here.

Peep

The conflicted young dragon slowly approached the man.

And realized that what the human man held out was not just a glass of alcohol, but a tempting ripe apple.

The decision was quick.

Onyx hastily climbed onto the table, set down what it had in its mouth, and bit into the red apple.

Clang.

At the same time the young dragon set its catch on the table, the mans hand overturned a glass, trapping a small dark shadow inside.

After staring at the object in the glass for a while, the man tossed another apple.

You do quite interesting things.

Peep!

The next day, as Juliet was heading downstairs, she witnessed a peculiar sight.

In the annexs reception room, a black young dragon was contentedly growling at Lennoxs feet.

Its strange. Those two shouldnt be on such good terms.

With a puzzled expression, Juliet locked eyes with Lennox.

Your Highness.

I heard you called for the jeweler.

Yes. I ordered something from the craftsman.

Lennox didnt ask further about what Juliet had ordered.

However, he gazed at the back of Juliet descending the stairs.

Specifically, her exposed pale nape caught his attention.

Last night, he had been tormented by a dream where an unidentified woman appeared.

In the nightmare, the woman had a pitiable, small, and slender back. Her back looked as if she had been severely whipped, covered in wounds.

As Lennox recalled the womans back, he opened the window and took in the cold breeze.

Thanks to that, though he couldnt sleep, he happened to witness a fun scene where the young dragon rolled around on the soft carpet.