Chapter 2
1. The Reason for Breaking Up.
Lennox Carlisle was born as the heir to a family with a long history.
The Carlisle Dukedom, which ruled the North, boasted immense wealth and power, but it was a family where bloody power struggles never ceased.
The boy born as the heir was no exception.
He was nine years old when he killed someone for the first time.
When his father, the previous Duke, died, greedy relatives put the young heir on a horse and chased him away to the battlefield.
The poorly organized army quickly fled, and the nine-year-old boy, the head of the family, disappeared from the battlefield.
That's what everyone thought.
Until ten years later, when a man with red eyes returned, leading an undefeated army.
The boy who had left the Dukedom returned as a war hero.
It was a return exactly ten years later.
His army knew no mercy and easily recaptured the Duke's castle in the North.
However, no one dared to question Lennox Carlisle's legitimacy or qualifications.
It wasn't just because of the Duke's family's unique black hair and red eyes. It was because all the relatives who dared to raise questions had already been beheaded by his hand.
From that day on, no one wanted to displease the young Duke Carlisle. So, it had been a long time since Lennox Carlisle had felt this annoyed.
"What did you say?"
"I said I want to break up."
Lennox stared intently at the woman before him.
Wavy, light brown long hair and intelligently sparkling blue eyes. Even wearing only a thin negligee without any adornments, her posture was as upright as a Queen.
After a brief silence, Lennox Carlisle smiled softly at her.
"Juliet Monad."
She was the Duke Carlisle's official lover.
"Are you kidding me?"
One might have shrunk back at the sharp force, but Juliet, far from being intimidated, tilted her head. She even blinked innocently, as if she knew nothing.
"Of course not, Your Highness."
"Then take it back and say something else.
Something more plausible."
"But I've already said it. That's all I want."
Juliet's expression, answering calmly, was as composed as usual. Like a calm surface of water.
Conversely, Lennox's eyes narrowed. It had only been three days since they left the Duke's castle in the Northern territory and arrived at the mansion in the capital.
As they did every year, it was to attend the New Year's banquet held at the Imperial Palace.
It was a journey through two Gates, but it was a considerable procession, including the Duke's retainers and royal guard.
Juliet, known as Duke Carlisle's lover, also visited the capital with him.
"I won't bother Your Highness."
As she had said seven years ago, Juliet had never bothered him.
She didn't beg for affection or attention, nor did she cling to him, scattering tears.
That was Juliet Monad as he knew her.
Juliet had never asked for something he couldn't give.
Until today.
And to say this the moment they left the North...
"Please, let's break up."
Dare she leave him?
Lennox didn't know the exact reason, but he felt displeased.
Like a man indifferent to his own emotions, let alone those of others, he wasn't interested in why he was angry.
However, he thought he needed to know why Juliet had suddenly changed and was acting like a child, making unreasonable demands.
"What's the reason?"
"Do I have to give a reason?"
"Juliet."
"You promised. You'd grant me anything."
"Are you serious?"
Lennox couldn't stand it any longer and grabbed Juliet's arm. It was then.
Knock, knock.
"Your Highness, it's Elliot."
A light knock interrupted the two.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, but there's a guest downstairs."
It was Elliot, the Duke's secretary, who knocked on the bedroom door. And Juliet, not missing the chance when Lennox paused, quickly broke free from his grasp.
When Lennox turned his head again, she was standing far away from him.
Like a playful child, Juliet stepped back, put her hands behind her back, and smiled at him.
"You…"
"Go ahead. Your guest is waiting."
Lennox glared at her coldly, but only for a moment.
Having left the Northern territory for the first time in a while to visit the capital, there was a mountain of work to be done. He was going to be busy all day.
In the end, Lennox reluctantly said,
"……We'll talk again this afternoon."
"Yes, later."
Juliet saw the Duke off with a bright smile until the end.
Clunk.
However, the very next moment the Duke left the bedroom and the bedroom door closed with a sound.
The smile disappeared without a trace, and Juliet collapsed on the spot as if she had lost all strength.
"……It's okay, it's okay. I did well."
Left alone, Juliet buried her pale face in her hands and whispered to herself.
Her fingertips were trembling slightly because she was so nervous. Tears welled up at the ends of her eyelashes, sparkling precariously. But now, even the time to indulge in sentiment was a luxury for her.
After catching her breath, Juliet went straight to the dressing room without waiting for the maid.
**
Elliot, the Duke's secretary, was returning after seeing off the guest when he encountered Juliet coming out of the mansion's main building.
Dressed in a neat going-out dress, Juliet was about to get into the Duke's carriage.
'At this early hour?'
"Are you going out, Miss Monad?"
"Yes, I'm going to the temple. I'll pray for Elliot's New Year's fortune too."
"Thank you. Have a good trip."
Although he had never told anyone, Elliot quite admired this composed lady.
Juliet Monad was smart and quick-witted, but she was taciturn and cautious.
In fact, she was admirable just for having endured as the Duke Carlisle's lover for several years.
She was the only one who had made an exception for the Duke, who changed partners almost every day.
Juliet was about to get into the carriage when she pointed to the flowerpot Elliot was holding and asked.
"What's that?"
"Ah, this. It's a visiting gift from the guest."
Marquess Roman, who had visited the mansion since dawn, left a flowerpot as a gift, saying he was sorry for intruding so early in the morning.
It was a modest gift, but Marquess Roman was known as a horticulture enthusiast.
But for some reason, Juliet stared intently at the purple flowers Elliot was holding.
Wondering why she was suddenly like that, Elliot looked down at the flowerpot and finally realized his mistake.
'……Oh no..'
Juliet Monad wasn't a picky person. Rather, she was easygoing and quiet.
Except for one thing.
For some reason, she hated purple dahlia flowers very much.
Dahlias, which had strong vitality, were common flowers even in the North.
However, because Juliet especially disliked them, purple dahlias were practically taboo in the Duke's castle in the North.
Elliot immediately apologized.
"I'm sorry, Miss. I'll get rid of it right away."
"No. Just leave it."
"Yes?"
"It would look good in Your Highness's study."
"Yes…?"
Elliot doubted his ears.
But Juliet, having said that, smiled brightly and got into the carriage for going out and left.
Elliot stared blankly at the departing carriage before snapping out of it.
'Miss Monad is a bit strange today.'
But Elliot didn't know yet. That Juliet wasn't the only strange person today.
Knock, knock.
"Your Highness, it's Elliot."
"Come in."
In addition to the Duke, there were two more royal guard from the Duke's family in the study.
The two royal guard, who were standing with serious expressions for some reason, only gave Elliot a cursory greeting.
'What's going on?'
Not only that, but the documents were scattered on the table, and there was a flat box that looked like a jewelry box on one side.
Sensing an unusual atmosphere, Elliot quietly placed the flowerpot he had brought on the side table.
As expected. Duke Carlisle didn't even glance at the flowerpot Elliot had brought.
The Duke, leaning back in his armchair, was looking out the window of the study.
When Elliot glanced at the window, he saw one of the Duke's carriages leaving the mansion.
It was the very carriage that Juliet had taken out.
"Elliot."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Elliot answered politely and quickly organized today's schedule in his head.
Because he thought a question about today's schedule would come up.
Thanks to the visit to the capital after a long time, there was a lot of work to be done. But the Duke asked a completely unexpected question.
"Who is Juliet's escort right now?"
"Uh……. It's Cain."
"Then bring Cain here."
"Yes."
He answered reflexively, but Elliot was a little surprised.
Why are you suddenly looking for the lady's escort? Was there a problem with the escort?
"And summarize Juliet's activities for the past three months and report it by lunchtime."
"Yes?"
"Where she went, who she met.
Every letter exchanged without exception.
Do you understand?"
"But Your Highness, that's………."
Elliot raised his head sharply.
This was a really strange order this time.
Investigate Miss Monad's activities? Why don't you ask her directly?
But when the red eyes glared at him coldly, Elliot quickly bowed his head.
"Do I have to say it twice?"
"No, it's not."
"I'll give you three hours. Get out."
Thud.
In an instant, Elliot was kicked out of the study.
Elliot stared at the mercilessly closed door with a dazed expression before coming to his senses.
The Duke, who hated wasting time, never gave meaningless orders. But suddenly, he's telling me to investigate her activities. Did Miss Monad do something terribly wrong?
'If I had known this would happen, I would have stopped Miss Monad from going out when I ran into her earlier.'
Clicking his tongue inwardly, Elliot hurried his steps.
It seemed like a happy New Year's celebration was out of the question.
Forgotten Juliet
