For the Beautiful Juliet

 

Of course, Kinas would not act recklessly, but the world was unpredictable.

Just looking at his own life, there had been many instances where things didn’t go as planned.

Time and again, Enoch was caught off guard by chance and fate, and he realized that no matter how many countermeasures he devised, they were never enough.

So, assuming Kinas would seek revenge by any means necessary, the only person who could stand against him was Driene. Empress Melinox had always been on her husband’s side, and the others were not as sharp as Kinas.

It was then that Driene asked a question.

“Do you have any personal plans in place?”

Of course he did. Enoch thought about the paths he had secretly laid out across the country—paths that would be considered treason if discovered—and the reasons for the disputes he had gathered. These were justifications that would allow him to leave Herventel under Kinas’s definition of a “reasonable line.”

He had also put effort into external matters. He deliberately acted as if he lived a normal and peaceful life, keeping those sent by Kinas close, and he diligently fulfilled his responsibilities.

And now it was time for all those efforts to bear fruit.

Enoch spoke up.

“In Agante, there is a cemetery called ‘The Wall,’ where the remains of my ancestors are gathered.”

It was indeed a massive, pearly-white wall. Enoch recalled the structure, which had patches of moss that could survive in the snow.

For generations, the firstborns of the Inovis family had been buried there. Probably everyone except Letina.

Thus, ‘The Wall’ played a significant role in Agante. Moreover, the location where it was built held considerable historical value.

Among the things that the barbarians targeted for invasion, ‘The Wall’ was undoubtedly included.

Recently, there had been disturbances in the area, and that wall had been damaged. Enoch intended to use that as an excuse.

He continued speaking.

“It’s an old structure, so anyone managing Agante would have to pay attention to it.”

And Agante was his inheritance. Although he had been exiled there as a soldier, the area had been maintained for a long time with support from the Inovis family. Since he became the Grand Duke of Herventel, a portion of Herventel’s income had been sent there.

“Recently, that wall has been damaged. I plan to go to Agante under the pretext of repairs and investigating the cause. I will extract my heart before then.”

Driene, who had been listening with a furrowed brow, asked, “I understand Agante is quite far away. Is there a specific reason you must go there?”

“If it’s not there, my brother will suspect my death.”

Even if he were to cut himself and drink poison, he wouldn’t die. If it wasn’t Agante, there was no place where he could die normally.

Of course, Kinas would realize it was suicide, but by then it would be too late. Using the recently established direct route to Rosenta, Juliet could easily return there.

“Please ensure that Juliet can arrive in Rosenta while I’m in Agante. I will send the documents to prove the annulment of the marriage with her.”

He thought he had explained well, but Driene still looked dissatisfied.

“It’s possible we might not need your entire heart. Assuming that’s the case, is there no way for you to survive?”

That was likely Driene’s way of showing concern. Enoch shook his head.

Of course, if he didn’t give his entire heart, he might live longer with what remained. But that would only be prolonging life.

It was just a difference in time, but once a heart was split, it would reveal its bottom. Just like Letina.

Enoch didn’t want to die like her. Dying slowly is tiresome.

Moreover, he had the most important reason to end it all at once.

“If I don’t die, Juliet will have to stay here.”

“……Then,”

In this regard, Driene resembled his sister. Enoch spoke to the man who kept showing kindness.

“You know, don’t you, that she always wants to return to her homeland?”

That was Juliet’s oldest wish. Enoch had not forgotten the frail voice of the woman.

“After I die, please make sure to send my body back to Rosenta.”

On the day she pulled him out of the shadows, despite detesting him, Juliet whispered like that. It was a wish so desperate that she could tolerate her dislike.

Hearing those words, Enoch truly wanted to strangle himself.

Juliet had always wanted nothing from him. Even if it was something she originally liked, once it came from his hands, it became useless from that moment on.

Yet that day, Juliet treated him kindly. She answered all his questions without frowning.

What could have caused such a sudden change?

It was the price she was paying. “I will step back this much, so please listen to me.” Something with that meaning.

Even as someone distant from her understood her temperament. Juliet liked what was just and had a strong will. It was not in her nature to lower her pride first.

Still, she reached out to him first.

With only one thought in mind: to return to Rosenta.

And now he could finally grant her that wish.

What was there to hesitate about?

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

Driene couldn’t stay long. It was only natural since he had left a position that couldn’t be left empty.

Juliet understood this well, but Driene seemed to feel guilty.

Before leaving the mansion, he came to say goodbye, cradling his sister’s cheek and bowing his head.

“I’m sure we will meet again.”

He whispered with a trembling voice. Juliet didn’t believe those words but nodded nonetheless.

“Yes.”

Anything that is a final moment tends to last, and she knew Driene would remember this moment forever.

But how could she send him off with a crying face?

Of course, if she cried, Driene would comfort her. Juliet had always been tearful since she was young, and her kind older brother had never let her cry alone.

However, he was someone who would remember that moment even after she stopped crying and shook everything off.

So Juliet couldn’t bring herself to shed tears in front of Driene.

“Take care of yourself.”

She wasn’t the only one suppressing her sadness. Driene, who looked down at her with eyes that seemed ready to shed tears at any moment, took something out.

It was something shiny, and her gaze was drawn to it. Juliet looked at what he held in his hand.

It was a delicate pendant with a gem attached to a fine gold chain, but unlike the slender and beautiful chain, the gem was roughly cut.

It couldn’t even be called crafted, but the gem shone brightly in its own right.

Looking at the flawless and clean gem, Juliet asked, “What is that?”

She thought she knew more about gems and fabrics than others, but this type of mineral was something she had never seen before.

It had a familiar green color with a transparent texture. Yet it seemed to glow on its own rather than reflecting light. It was so bright that it could be seen even in the dark, without the need for a candle.

Of course, such a gemstone didn’t exist in the world, so it was probably just an optical illusion due to the angle. But even so, her impression didn’t change.

However, Driene didn’t explain much about the pendant. Instead, he placed it around her neck, and the moment the green gem touched her chest, she felt warmth. It was probably just her imagination, but it was a strange sensation.

“Keep it with you.”

Driene quietly said after checking that the necklace’s clasp was secured.

Juliet looked up at her usually reticent brother. The words “What is this?” rose to her throat.

But since Driene’s lips touched her forehead and then fell away, Juliet couldn’t ask that question. It was his way of saying goodbye and expressing his desire for silence.

It was just a gem, after all.

Looking into her brother’s tearful eyes, Juliet swallowed her words. She could identify the type of gem on her own. There was no need to ask and make things awkward.

Instead, she focused on the warm touch of his hand brushing her forehead. It was one of Driene’s old habits.

“Make sure to eat well, sleep on time, and don’t think about anything that troubles your heart.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t skip your medicine. I heard you’ve been refusing to take the bitter stuff.”

Who told him that? Juliet rolled her eyes at the annoying revelation. She had eaten everything without showing any distaste when Driene was around, so she had no idea when she had been found out.

“I understand.”

Despite her obedient reply, Driene looked down at her for a moment as if he didn’t fully trust her, then continued speaking.

“I’m sure we’ll see each other again, so don’t be too sad.”

His voice was gentle. Juliet smiled slightly.

“Yes.”

After adding a few more pieces of advice, Driene eventually stood up, pressed for time. Juliet wanted to follow him outside to see him off, but everyone stopped her. They said it was better not to overexert her body, which had only just recovered.

“So you want me to just lie down and stare at the ceiling?”

Juliet grumbled like that but didn’t stubbornly insist. In fact, there was no harm in being careful. She understood that.

But she wanted to see her brother leave.

As she turned over in the crinkling blanket, pouting, a maid who had just returned from seeing Driene off approached her.