Juno saw their expressions change. “Get out. And you better keep what I said in mind.”
The nobles left one by one. Once they were gone, Juno sighed and plopped into a chair. John handed her a cup of tea.
“My lady.”
“John, where is he?” She was tired, but there were still people to meet.
“He’s here.”
After drinking the tea, she asked, “Is there anyone else?”
“Only the bodyguard.”
“Let him in.”
“Understood.”
Juno straightened her posture as someone entered the room. It was Prince Argos.
“Countess Sergien.”
Behind him, John prevented the bodyguard from joining them. Once the door was closed, Juno rose from her seat to welcome him.
“Your Highness must have been surprised by the sudden invitation.”
Argos looked around the large meeting room with traces of people once being present. “No, but I would like to know why you wanted to meet all of a sudden.”
“Someone knew I was helping you.” Juno’s promise to support Prince Argos was a secret. That way even the idiot prince wouldn’t find out.
Argos’s eyes widened. “What? The people who know should be…”
“Aside from you, your bodyguard.”
Argos’s bodyguard was the only person who followed Argos to his secret rendezvous.
“He’s a bad drinker.”
“Have you…”
The question was whether or not she handled the people who found out. Juno smiled, recalling the nobles that had stayed behind. “Yes. It’s up to you to take care of them.”
“All right.”
Juno looked up at him and raised one corner of her mouth.
Argos, who understood her warning, asked, “Why do you not want to be found out?”
Juno laughed. Sooner or later, he’ll know why.
“Even if everyone is aware, His Majesty won’t help you.”
“I know.”
“So?”
“Didn’t I already tell you? I can only buy you time.” It was already boring and still is. Juno didn’t even want to get a title or reward. “I have a lot of money, but I don’t have time. Time is precious.”
“…I see.”
Argos seemed to back down, though he didn’t understand. Unlike the emperor, Juno liked people who weren’t stubborn and decided to reward Argos.
She approached him and whispered, “Here.”
Argos froze as Juno took the Protective Barrier she was holding and put it in his inner coat pocket. “Carry it around.”
“What is it?”
Juno laughed as she placed her hand on Argos’s chest, where the Protective Barrier was. “It’s better than the ones on the market.”
“Why are you giving this to me?”
“I heard there will be another assassination attempt. Of course, the crown prince is behind it with the emperor’s approval.”
“…”
Argos seemed to want more information, but Juno had no intention of giving it or revealing her source. “You can deal with your bodyguard.”
“…I see.”
She stepped back. “So, Your Highness, do you have some spare time next week?”
Now it was Argos’s turn.
***
As soon as Juno left the mansion, Peter visited Jupiter. Jupiter blinked. Even though his new eye wasn’t a real one, it didn’t feel like a foreign object. It was strange.
“Is it uncomfortable?”
Jupiter shook his head. “I’m very impressed.”
Peter handed him a mirror. “Tell me if you feel any sort of discomfort. I made sure to make it as similar as possible to your original eye.”
It was amazing to see normally because of the replacement eye. It had the same shape and eye color as his left eye. In addition, the fact that Peter, John, and Hebe existed proved how great an alchemist was.
“It’s slightly off-putting, but it truly is the same as my actual eye.”
Pi, perched on Jupiter’s shoulder, flapped her wings and puffed out her chest. “It’s amazing, right? Master is the best!”
“Pi.” Jupiter smiled. He didn’t usually feel much affection for small things, but this bird was different.
Pi tilted her head. “What?”
“I heard you’ve taken good care of me.”
“You’re so weak, so I can’t help but take care of you!” She huffed.
“Thank you.”
Pi snorted at his honesty. “Hmph.”
As Jupiter laughed at her being embarrassed, Pi flew out the window. Then, Jupiter heard someone else’s voice.
“Who’s laughing?” It was higher-pitched than Hebe’s. Jupiter glanced at Peter. “Does she have another child?”
“She’s not her actual daughter. Use your eyes correctly for once.”
“…” Jupiter looked in the mirror. His fierce gaze stared back at him.
“You’ll be caught if you keep acting like this.” While Jupiter’s expression shifted, Peter continued, “It’s been eight years since you fell asleep. Juno has quickly matured a lot since then.”
“…I will keep that in mind.”
“Good.”
As Jupiter checked his face, he heard laughter again. He wondered whose child that was. “Is that child another doll?”
“Juno’s half-sister.”
Jupiter, who had started to nod, looked at Peter. “Excuse me?”
“Everyone knows her as the child of Marquis Robert and Lilith.”
Jupiter recalled the child he saw in House Trish’s residence. Why was she here? “Aren’t they dead?” If the marquis and Lilith hadn’t died, the child wouldn’t be here.
“A lot of things happened.”
Nusrion died. Jupiter “died” too, which put the branch families into a state of panic. The marquis was merciless with his enemies, and even if he didn’t lose, he would die eventually. There was bound to be a lot of back and forth.
“The marquis must have lost,” Jupiter said.
“Correct.”
Then why was his child here? “Why did she accept her?”
“I can’t be bothered to give a full explanation.” Peter sighed as he organized a box’s contents. “Basically, the marquis and the emperor entrusted that child to Juno under the excuse of House Trish’s inheritance.”
Jupiter knew the marquis had no shame, but he didn’t understand why the emperor cared.
“Juno was very upset about it, so she decided to make her move. That’s why she’s not here right now.”
After Juno greeted him in the morning, she left the mansion with John. Jupiter could tell she had enough influence to be angry about the emperor’s behavior. “Why did His Majesty get involved? At a glance, she already settled down.”
“They say the child is the crown prince’s son.”
“Wait…” Jupiter frowned.
“Yes, she’s not the marquis’s daughter.”
Because of Juno, Jupiter knew of some events that had occurred since he was asleep, but there appeared to be more to it.
Peter shook his head. “Anyway, that’s why I’m stuck here. You also don’t have to worry for a while since she’s not allowed to go to the third floor. She’s a nice kid, so I think Juno will like her.”
It was as he said. Juno was softhearted despite her imposing appearance. She must feel sorry for that child. Peter explained the girl’s situation, and Jupiter knew how the marquis and Lilith would have treated her. Could Juno ignore her?
When Jupiter tried to approach the window, Peter stopped him. “I’m observing the child for now, so just focus on resting. The sooner you recover, the happier Juno will be.”
“I’ll be there for her too.” Hebe had entered the room.
“Yes, Juno has a family now.”
Jupiter didn’t know what this feeling was; however, he was relieved that Juno wasn’t just sad for the past eight years. I’m annoyed that I wasn’t part of that, but it was my fault.
It was good Juno had a real family now. Perhaps she wouldn’t be the way she was now without them. While Jupiter was away, they supported and protected her. And now, Peter was telling him not to worry and rest for Juno’s happiness because he would have his own role as her shield.
