“Princess, I’m back. Oh my, what is that?”
The maid asked with wide eyes, but it was just an act of surprise. She had been there when Driene put the necklace around Juliet’s neck.
Juliet knew all of this, but instead of scolding her, she replied curtly. She understood that the maid was trying to comfort her.
“It’s a gift from my brother.”
“The Crown Prince gave you something pretty. But doesn’t it feel a bit sharp? Should I ask them to smooth it out a bit?”
At that, Juliet shook her head.
“No, that’s not necessary.”
“Do you like it that much?”
“…Well, it’s pretty.”
It was rough but not unpleasant.
I’m tired. Juliet mumbled as she pulled the blanket closer. Despite her brusque attitude, the maid tidied up without showing any signs of dislike.
After adjusting the blanket, the collar of her clothes, and finally her hair, she said,
“But you should take it off when you sleep. You might scratch yourself.”
Juliet mumbled with her eyes half-closed.
“Don’t worry, I won’t fall asleep.”
Ironically, it was only after it got dark that Juliet opened her eyes. Considering that Driene had left in the afternoon while the sun was still up, it was clear she had spent a few hours napping.
This will mess up my night’s sleep. Juliet thought, blinking her still drowsy eyes.
Noticing that she had woken up, the maids came closer.
“Princess, did you cough? You should eat something.”
At that, Juliet almost instinctively replied that she didn’t need to. Skipping meals whenever she felt like it had become second nature to her.
However, the promise she made with Driene during the day was still fresh in her memory. Juliet replied with a frown.
“Fine.”
Her tone was filled with displeasure, but the maids smiled, pleased nonetheless.
“Then please wait just a moment.”
One maid quickly added that in case she changed her mind and left the room. She was going to fetch some food.
Meanwhile, the other maids tidy up her appearance. Delicate hands brushed through her hair and around her neck.
After wrapping a shawl over her thin nightgown, one maid asked,
“Shall I take off the necklace?”
Only then did Juliet realize she had fallen asleep with the necklace still on. A rough-looking green gem hung from it.
However, she didn’t feel any prickling or discomfort on her skin.
It seems it’s not as sharp as it looks, Juliet thought as she grasped the gem in her hand. She felt a faint warmth.
She replied, “No. I’ll leave it on.”
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
That night, even as she lay down to sleep, Juliet fiddled with the gem attached to the necklace for a long time. Looking at the shining green reminded her of Driene, as the color of the gem was strikingly similar to his eyes.
Where did my brother get something like this?
He had always brought her fascinating things since she was little, and this time was no different. Juliet recalled the necklace Driene had given her a few years ago when she was very ill. That necklace, which had been a pair with a bracelet, was also very pretty.
The sparkling amber color, which she usually didn’t like, had caught her attention. Because of that, she wore them for a while.
Then, as she got better, Driene gifted her new jewelry to celebrate her recovery, and since it happened to be a delicate piece adorned with bright blue gems, she completely forgot about the previous one.
She couldn’t understand why she was thinking about it now. Juliet blinked as she traced the slightly pointed edge of the gem.
Just then, the maid who had finished applying the oil to her hair asked,
“Aren’t you feeling sleepy?”
“Yeah.”
“Shall I read you a book?”
It was a kind suggestion, but Juliet declined. No thanks. She didn’t think she’d be able to concentrate anyway.
With a sullen expression, Juliet stared into space and spoke in a small voice.
“I wonder how close my brother has gotten to Rosenta.”
It was a weak question, almost a mumble, but the maid didn’t miss it.
Carefully placing the oil bottle on the nightstand, the maid knelt beside the bed. Soft brown eyes were gazing at her.
In those gentle eyes, Juliet sensed hesitation. The maids always became cautious whenever she brought up Rosenta. They understood her longing behind it.
That caution weighed on Juliet’s heart, prompting her to add,
“I just asked because I heard there’s a new road.”
Since a direct road to Rosenta had been established, that’s why.
As she continued to make excuses, a sudden question crossed her mind. Her fingers, which had been fiddling with the green gem, came to a halt.
“Didn’t I come to this land through Millesen?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“My brother said the road was built because that country sold the land. Then who bought that land?”
Juliet frowned; the more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed.
It wasn’t Rosenta that had dealt with Millesen. Juliet remembered how Driene had acted when discussing the road.
He had assumed she knew all those details.
Then he had been surprised to find out she didn’t know anything at all. He had even frowned and asked her again.
So, there was only one person left. Juliet recalled another wealthy man she knew. The Grand Duke.
He was a man of great wealth. He possessed vast plains, seas, and numerous islands.
Juliet was indifferent to luxury, but she knew that he had poured a significant amount of gold into her. All the precious things produced on his land were hers for the taking. Even if she didn’t want them, he would still unconditionally give them to her.
However, when it came to money, he never opened his mouth, so it was likely that he was a man who kept his purse strings tight.
But that made it even stranger.
What reason did he have to create a direct road to Rosenta?
Although they were currently bound by a marriage alliance, the relationship between Rosenta and the man’s land, Herventel, was one that could easily become adversarial.
After I die, Driene might start a war. Even though she was ignorant of politics, Juliet understood at least that much.
If that happened, the only border area, the Eifros Mountains, would be enough of a headache, but to lengthen the border?
For over several hundred years, Millesen had served as a buffer zone between Rosenta and Nasant. So why would the man ruin that with his own hands?
If it were Driene, she could have understood. He cared for her and was sharper than others. If he had done it, she could believe he had some reasoning behind it.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t imagine the man scheming something political.
Juliet bit her lower lip.
“The one who made the road is the Grand Duke, right?”
The maid looked at her with kind brown eyes. Juliet read concern in those eyes.
However, the hesitation didn’t last long. The maids of Rosenta were always like that. They never defied their master.
The maid replied, “Yes, as far as I know.”
It was something she had expected, yet hearing it made her feel strange. Juliet said, “Do you know why he did that?”
“I’m not sure.”
It was a natural response since the maid wouldn’t know about the man’s affairs.
Nonetheless, feeling somewhat dissatisfied, Juliet furrowed her brows. After a moment of silence, she asked, “What did he name that land?”
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Driene had left.
Enoch, unlike Driene, did not exchange greetings. Driene neither demanded it nor was their relationship close enough for that.
All he did was lean against the mansion’s window and watch the man’s retreating figure.
Once Driene was out of sight, Enoch turned his body. A woman who had been waiting behind him stepped forward. It was his second aide, Enkal.
“Your Highness, I have something to report.”
Enoch nodded slightly. It was permission to speak.
The woman bowed her head briefly in respect and said, “A letter has arrived from Agante. This winter is particularly harsh, and with frequent invasions, more support is needed than in the previous quarter.”
Winter. Hearing that word, Enoch recalled a season he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
His own land, Herventel, had short winters and rarely saw snow, but even that brief season didn’t exist in the mansion where Juliet lived. He had adjusted the mansion’s temperature for years.
To keep flowers blooming year-round, the temperature couldn’t drop below a certain level. Since Juliet didn’t want to leave the mansion—other places held no meaning for her—Enoch knew she loved the garden.
That alone was reason enough to halt the seasons, so for years, he had held onto spring, summer, and autumn. It wasn’t particularly difficult. Letina had been capable enough to manage extensive droughts or floods, and while Enoch wasn’t as brilliant as her, he had some talent.
However, in Agante, where that talent was useless, he had no choice but to endure winter as it was.
Despite being a land that snowed every day, Agante still had a distinct winter season. Enoch had grown tired of that season. The blizzards mixed with hail, and with no sun, they had to light fires even during the day in that season.
