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Chapter: 15
“Was that the only reason you suddenly decided to leave?”
Before Juliet could answer, the man gripping her shoulders twisted his lips cruelly.
“But if you were going to run away with my child, you shouldn’t have let me catch you, right?”
“…So you chased me all the way here?”
The smile disappeared from Juliet’s face. Right, this was a man who could be merciless even to a woman carrying his child.
Knowing that, yet standing in front of his anger made her heart feel like it was being shallowly cut.
What did she expect? She laughed at herself silently.
“Were you worried that I stole the noble duke’s heir and ran away?”
“….”
The man’s face hardened, but Juliet did not avert her gaze.
She knew exactly what bloodlines meant to Lennox Carlisle.
It was greedy relatives who had sent the nine-year-old heir to the battlefield, and his father, the former duke, had even tried to kill his only son with his own hands in a fit of madness.
The Carlisle duke was still very young to be worrying about succession.
And that was why he preferred light, short relationships over being tied down in marriage.
‘But one day, you’ll marry and have a child too.’
Would he treat his wife and child kindly, then?
Many impostors had claimed to be his child and approached the duke’s household.
It was well known that a child born to the Carlisle family would have red eyes and black hair.
Last summer, Juliet had seen a man claiming to be his child—a scammer after money. The way Lennox had looked at the child being taken away was nothing but icy disdain. She often recalled that look.
Suddenly, Juliet wondered.
If she nodded and admitted that the child was his, how would he react?
Would he demand she give up the child?
She wanted to ask but was always too afraid. Swallowing a sigh, she feared the answer.
“No, I didn’t steal anything.”
Her quiet plan to leave seemed to have been disrupted, but Juliet still believed it could be managed.
She explained carefully.
“I don’t know how you found the apothecary, but it’s a misunderstanding. The medicine I ordered wasn’t for me—it was meant for someone else.”
Even stating facts made her own voice sound like an excuse, and she chuckled softly.
But the man didn’t smile. Calmly, he asked again:
“So you did order the medicine, but you had no intention of using it or having a child?”
“Yes.”
It was just coincidence after coincidence. Busy planning her escape, Juliet could never have guessed the apothecary would meet the duke.
Yet the red eyes of the man looking down at her were more than cold—they were chilling.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Even if you don’t, it’s the truth.”
Lennox, who had been silently staring, suddenly smiled faintly.
“So, while I turned the capital upside down all day searching for you, what did you do today?”
The cynicism in his eyes showed he still didn’t believe her.
“You made excuses and avoided me all day. You lied and ran away as if you didn’t even want to see me. And now, you want me to believe your words?”
“…I just didn’t want to cause trouble.”
That was all Juliet could say.
Honestly, she wasn’t confident facing him.
She had resolved to leave quietly, but if she faced him, she might unwittingly let out resentment and longing. The secret feelings she had held back for seven years might be exposed.
Juliet hid her trembling heart and forced a smile.
“I just wanted to leave quietly.”
On Lennox Carlisle’s handsome face, a gentle expression appeared. It was a kind smile, enough to make Juliet let her guard down.
“So… you’re saying, you definitely didn’t have my child?”
“Yes. I swear.”
But as Juliet cautiously nodded, she had no idea how cruel he could be.
In the next moment, the gentle smile twisted cruelly.
“Then who’s the bastard?”
“Lennox!”
Shame flushed Juliet’s face. The man she loved had made her despair with a single word.
She bit her lips to hide the tears that threatened to spill.
But suppressing her surging emotions was impossible.
“…Juliet.”
“Let go.”
The man stepped closer and held her cheek, but Juliet turned her head.
Her lover must have been more angry than she expected for her attempt to leave without a word. He was a man who never lost control of what was in his hands.
‘But he has the discernment not to mistake that for love.’
Perhaps it was like a dog breaking free from a leash.
But that was more resentment or vengeance, not love.
Juliet had no right to be treated like this just for angering him.
At the very least, she did not deserve to be mocked for meeting another man’s eyes. She had been loyal to him for seven years.
She had hesitated to stay longer, ending up fleeing like a fugitive, but she never wished for this kind of farewell.
Who do you think you are, making me this miserable?
Falling for someone isn’t a crime. She had simply liked him and been hurt.
I just… wanted to leave quietly. That’s not too much to ask.
If she let him take her to see the physician, it would quickly clear up the misunderstanding.
She really hadn’t run away with his child—it was just a misunderstanding.
But Juliet didn’t want to do that.
For the first time, Juliet felt deep despair. She hadn’t stayed by his side for seven years just to be treated like this.
He probably wouldn’t understand, but…
“Fine. I’ll believe you.”
The man, who had been silently watching Juliet’s shoulders tremble with anger and humiliation, suddenly said.
With a light sigh, he took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, straightening her collar.
“Now, let’s go back. Marriage or whatever, I’ll let you have it your way.”
Juliet, holding back tears, looked up in shock.
“…What did you just say?”
“Damn it. Marriage, or whatever you want, I’ll let you have it. But first, let’s go back and see the physician.”
His calm expression repeated the words, but Lennox ground his teeth anxiously.
He laughed at himself.
Crazy bastard. You’re still a Carlisle.
A bloodline crazy with desire, unable to let a poor woman go, and now doing this.
“So, let’s go.”
Please.
The man reached out his hand. For the first time, his gesture was gentle.
Lennox, too tense to notice, didn’t realize he was clinging to someone for the first time in his life.
He decided on one thing: take Juliet back and show her to the physician.
It was impulsive, but once spoken, everything became clear.
The best-case scenario was that Juliet truly had no child, but even if she did, he didn’t care. He was already prepared for worse.
“Marriage… you said.”
“Yes.”
Suddenly, he remembered seven years ago. Eighteen-year-old Juliet had first reached out to him for help taking revenge on her parents.
Juliet Monad with bruised cheeks, making reckless proposals.
And just a few hours ago, Juliet’s smile on the balcony, speaking of a normal life, had pierced his heart—but he dismissed it lightly.
So what? Even if they marry, there’s no rule that they must share dark secrets.
The truth could be buried, and conscience ignored. In time, Juliet would blame herself for being deceived.
She would despair realizing the man she trusted was worse than she imagined.
‘So what.’
He wasn’t afraid. Compared to never seeing her again, this was trivial.
Marry normally, have children resembling her, raise them. Juliet’s wish may never be fulfilled, but he would make her the most luxurious bride in the world.
Even holding her in his coat, Lennox felt uneasy. Until she was safely hidden and examined by the physician, he couldn’t relax.
That was enough to satisfy him—hiding her in a lavish cage, even if Juliet Monad withered there.
But Juliet didn’t smile with joy or tears.
She looked at Lennox as if in shock, quietly.
“Really… to the end…”
Her flower-like red lips parted.
“You’re cruel.”
“…What?”
“How far must you go to make someone miserable to be satisfied?”
Lennox couldn’t believe his ears. Cruel? Who’s being cruel here?
Just a day ago, she had smiled like spring breeze and come into his arms, only to betray him and run away in half a day.
She had let go of his hand first. She left him. Juliet Monad had abandoned him.
So who’s the cruel one now?
He wanted to snap at her, but he couldn’t.
“Juliet?”
Juliet, head lowered, suddenly shed tears silently, without warning.
As if she had reached her limit, like a single drop overflowing a cup.
She cried without sound.
Even he realized this was not the usual reaction of a woman hearing a marriage proposal.
Startled, he grabbed her wrist, and Juliet asked:
“If I go back?”
“What?”
“If I go back with you, what will change?”
‘What will change?’
Juliet had never asked that.
The future was uncertain and vague. But nothing would change. She didn’t want him to change.
Lennox thought he knew Juliet well.
Warm, soft skin, sweet sighs, trembling lashes, dimples—he thought that was enough.
“Nothing.”
Nothing would change between them. That’s what he wanted.
They would return to the northern ducal palace and live as they always had.
The small issue of their relationship becoming slightly more affectionate could be solved by binding Juliet so she never left.
If Juliet nodded now—
“Lennox.”
But Juliet did not nod.
“I’m done now.”
“…Juliet?”
“I can’t love you anymore.”
The constant anxiety of when she might be abandoned.
“I’m fed up.”
Beep—beep—beep.
At that moment, the train arrived at the platform with a loud sound.
“Your Highness.”
Juliet shook her head and pushed away the man who was holding her like a crutch.
“I know. Somewhere in the world, there’s a woman who could humble a man like you.”
Flap.
Before he instinctively reached for her, butterflies with dazzlingly bright wings appeared.
The fluttering of blue butterflies brushed her skirt, stirring everything.
As if to say nothing would be allowed near her, they blocked Lennox’s view.
Meanwhile, Juliet stepped back toward the train, staggering.
Though it was only a short distance, enough for him to grab her waist if he reached out.
But Lennox couldn’t move.
A bad premonition—and the meaningful smile on Juliet’s tear-stained face—froze him in place.
“But that’s not me.”
Looking directly into the man frozen in place, Juliet’s lips curved perfectly into a smile.
“Lennox, I told you before. I didn’t steal anything. That wasn’t a lie.”
Instinctively, Juliet realized she was holding the knife.
Her lover was the wealthiest, most powerful man in the world.
The only chance to leave an indelible mark on a man who could not be shaken or hurt—was now in her hands.
She placed her hand on her empty lower belly.
“Because this isn’t your child.”
Juliet smiled brightly, telling one final lie.
