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Chapter: 18
Even now, the key-shaped pendant was unbelievably intricate for something so small.
Why did Curie Monad tell me to keep something like this so carefully?
Lost in thought, Juliet spoke up.
“You know… when I was little, I used to secretly play with this and got scolded by Father. Do you remember?”
Count Monad smiled gently. The image of his young daughter tiptoeing around the mansion with the necklace vividly came back to him.
“I do.”
Back then, young Juliet believed that somewhere in the mansion there must be a tiny door that fit this key perfectly.
So she carried the key around and searched every single room in the house, trying to find a matching door.
Her reasoning had been simple.
The key was three hundred years old, and the history of the Monad estate was also three hundred years old.
But no matter how much she searched, she never found a small door that looked like it could be opened with the key.
Even now, it was far too elaborate to be merely a piece of jewelry—it truly felt as though there had to be a door somewhere that it could open.
“Perhaps it wasn’t made to open a door in the first place,” Count Monad said.
Juliet tilted her head.
“If it’s not for opening a door, then what kind of key is it?”
“Well, who knows? Why don’t you try to find its purpose yourself?”
Count Monad smiled warmly.
“It’s yours now. If it’s you, I’m sure you’ll find the answer.”
However, the very next day was the opening of the summer ball, so both Juliet and Count Monad completely forgot about the necklace.
Better known by its nickname, Dear Bluebell, the Azure Stag Banquet was held in late summer.
Compared to the winter New Year’s Ball or the autumn Debutante Ball, it was smaller in scale, but the Azure Stag Banquet—hosted every year by the Empress Dowager—had a charm all its own.
The banquet lasted seven days, and any man or woman who had passed their eighteenth birthday received an invitation. The person who received the most flowers during the event earned the honor of wearing the Bluebell wreath.
In truth, it was also an important occasion for parents attending as chaperones to seek potential marriage partners for their children.
Juliet, too, was busy from early morning, being called here and there.
The skilled maids of the Monad household braided Juliet’s long light-brown hair together with white flowers and secured it with pearl ornaments.
Juliet wore her mother Lillian’s altered dress—a pale blue, airy gown that accentuated her waist and was perfect for the cool late-summer weather.
She loved the repaired dress. Countess Monad, who had secretly been disappointed that Juliet refused to have a new dress made, looked proud instead.
“My goodness, you look like a fairy!”
The dignified Count Monad smiled gently at his daughter, praising her in the highest compliment he knew.
“You look just like your mother.”
The count’s carriage arrived at the banquet hall right on time. As soon as they stepped down, the cool night air brushing against their skin felt refreshing.
Although her nominal fiancé was supposed to greet her, Juliet paid no mind and entered the hall arm-in-arm with her parents, who accompanied her as chaperones.
The banquet hall was magnificent, decorated with stag-shaped trimmed trees and softly glowing lights scattered throughout.
Because the dress code was relatively free, many people wore extravagant outfits, and quite a few even donned masks like at a masquerade.
The early scent of sweet osmanthus unique to late summer nights and the sound of insects made everyone feel exhilarated.
“Juliet, why don’t you come over?”
“Come greet the adults properly.”
Yet what made Juliet happiest was simply the fact that her loving parents were alive and standing beside her.
Enjoying the cool air brushing her cheeks, Juliet couldn’t stop smiling.
Her painful previous life felt like a distant dream.
If the suffering of her first life had been the price she needed to pay for today, then it had been more than worth enduring, she thought.
After dancing a few times and returning to her seat, Juliet noticed a girl in a striking pink dress.
“Hi, Fatima!”
“Oh… ah, hi, Juliet?”
Even the way Fatima stared at her dress in surprise felt pleasant.
Juliet spent the evening chatting, laughing, and dancing lightly with others.
Watching her tall father and her mother—her red hair elegantly pinned up—dancing together in the distance, Juliet wished this peaceful moment would last forever.
A gentle happiness, as if everything would go smoothly, welled up from her heart to the tips of her toes.
That was, until a man who happened to be the Empress Dowager’s nephew stepped forward, brimming with arrogance.
“May I introduce an honored guest.”
Tapping his glass with a silver spoon, he drew everyone’s attention and gestured toward someone just entering the hall.
“Duke Carlyle.”
Clink.
At that moment, the champagne glass in Juliet’s hand fell to the floor—along with her heart.
“Oh my—Miss Monad!”
Juliet, pale as a sheet, quickly bowed her head and begged forgiveness.
Of all places, she had drawn unnecessary attention right beside the Empress Dowager.
“I—I apologize. Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness.”
The Empress Dowager was displeased by the young lady’s disruption, but distinguished guests were watching.
“Are you all right? You’re not hurt, are you?”
Startled attendants rushed over and began clearing away the broken glass.
“I’m sorry. My hand slipped.”
As Juliet repeatedly apologized with her head bowed, the Empress Dowager could no longer scold her.
Reprimanding a trembling count’s daughter would not make for a good scene.
“It seems Miss Monad isn’t feeling well. It would be best not to push yourself.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Juliet fled the scene, and only after she was far enough away to feel safe did she lift her head.
He didn’t see me. He couldn’t have seen me.
The black-haired young duke who commanded everyone’s attention was now detained by the Empress Dowager.
“Y-your Grace, let me explain the rules of the ball.”
The attendant, trembling under the Empress Dowager’s urging, began explaining the rules, looking rather pitiful.
“This bouquet…”
In the midst of his long explanation, the attendant absentmindedly placed a small bouquet into the man’s hand.
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
The handsome man asked as if he couldn’t believe his ears, his expression bored.
Watching him from afar, Juliet tried to calm herself.
Though it lasted only a brief moment, when their eyes met, memories she had buried resurfaced as if by a lie.
The voice that laughed softly while kissing her playfully—and the memory of being cast into the abyss overnight.
Yet as Juliet stared blankly at the tall man’s back from afar, she noticed something different from her memories.
When they had met in her previous life, she had been twenty-five. Now she was eighteen.
That meant Lenox Carlyle was about seven years younger than the man she remembered.
His ink-dark hair and refined features were the same, but the raw, untamed air around him—less polished—felt unfamiliar to her.
…I’m overreacting.
The emotionless red eyes that brushed past her lasted only an instant.
But why? What changed?
The capital, located in the southwest of the continent, was so far from the Carlyle territory that one had to pass through two gates to reach it.
As the great northern duke, he usually visited the capital only for the New Year’s Ball.
Busy as he was, Juliet had found it easy to avoid him simply by staying away from that event.
Until now.
So why today? What had changed?
“Juliet?”
“Mother.”
“Why are you sweating so much… my dear, are you all right?”
The countess followed Juliet outside after she abruptly left the hall.
“You don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell?”
“I’m fine. I just need to rest a little—”
Juliet tried to smile and reassure her, but before she could, she noticed a familiar carriage standing near the entrance.
“Father?”
“Juliet.”
The man standing in front of the carriage bearing the Monad crest was her father, Count Monad, with one of their household servants beside him.
“Dear? What’s going on? Why is one of our servants here?”
“It’s nothing, Lillian.”
“My lady! Miss! This is terrible—there’s been a break-in at the estate!”
As Count Monad tried to reassure his wife and daughter with a smile, the servant interrupted in tears, then quickly shut his mouth under the count’s sharp glare.
“Cassius, what do you mean? A break-in?”
“It’s probably nothing. Juliet, you stay here with your mother.”
“No, I want to go too. I want to go home.”
Though Count Monad didn’t want to ruin his daughter’s first summer ball, Juliet felt relieved instead.
Any excuse to leave this place was welcome.
Before her father could say more, Juliet quickly climbed into the carriage.
The carriage carrying the family swiftly left the imperial palace.
Rumble.
The clear weather from moments ago darkened rapidly. Heavy clouds gathered ominously.
After traveling for some time—
The Monad estate was located on the outskirts of the capital, and the carriage entered a deserted forest road leading to the mansion.
“A break-in all of a sudden…”
“I’ve contacted the capital guard. They’ll arrive soon. Nothing seems to be missing.”
The count and countess exchanged worried words, but Juliet sat silently, her face pale.
“Just in case, it might be best for you and Juliet to stay elsewhere for a few days.”
“All right. Were there any injuries?”
“I don’t know. We’ll check once we arrive—”
That was when it happened.
Hiiiiiih!
The horses pulling the carriage screamed sharply and reared up.
Before anyone could even register that something was wrong—
Crash!
The carriage flipped completely over. Juliet struck her head hard.
And then, she lost consciousness.
