FJ 2

Chapter: 2

1. The Reason for Breaking Up

Lennox Carlyle was born as the heir to a prestigious family.

The Carlyle dukes, who ruled the North, boasted immense wealth and power, but their lineage was stained with endless bloody conflicts.

The boy born as heir was no exception.

When he first tasted blood, the young Carlyle heir was only nine years old.

After the death of his father, the former duke, greedy relatives had forced the young heir onto a horse and sent him to the battlefield.

The ragtag army soon fled, and the nine-year-old heir disappeared from the war.

Everyone assumed that was the end of him.

Until ten years later, when a man with crimson eyes returned, leading an undefeated army.

The young heir, who had left the duchy, returned as a war hero.

It had been exactly ten years.

His army showed no mercy, swiftly reclaiming the duke’s castle in the North, and the vassals eagerly pledged loyalty to the rightful master of the Carlyle house.

During this process, no one could question Lennox Carlyle’s legitimacy or qualifications.

It wasn’t just because of the Carlyle family’s characteristic black hair and red eyes. Any relatives who might have dared to doubt him had already had their heads severed by his hand.

Since that day, no one wished to provoke the young Duke Carlyle. So it had been a long time since Lennox felt such irritation.

“What did you say?”

“I asked you to break up with me.”

Lennox stared blankly at the woman in front of him.

Her long, wavy light brown hair and clever, sparkling blue eyes. Even wearing only a simple negligee without adornment, her posture was regal.

After a short silence, Lennox Carlyle smiled gently at her.

“Juliet Monad.”

She had been the official lover of Duke Carlyle for the past seven years.

“Are you joking right now?”

Despite the threatening tone, Juliet did not flinch. She even tilted her head innocently, blinking as if she knew nothing.

“That’s not true, Your Grace.”

“Then say it again. Make it sound more convincing.”

“But I’ve already told you. That’s all I want.”

Juliet’s expression, answering calmly, was as serene as always, like still water.

In contrast, Lennox’s eyes grew fierce. It had been only three days since they had left the northern duchy and arrived at the capital in his mansion.

As every year, they had come to attend the New Year’s banquet at the palace.

The journey required passing through two gates, and the procession was large, including the duke’s retainers and knights.

Juliet had accompanied him to the capital.

“I won’t bother Your Grace.”

For the past seven years, Juliet had faithfully kept that promise.

She did not beg for affection or attention, did not cling to him in tears, nor demand explanations for difficult matters.

That was the Juliet Monad he knew.

With delicate features and a pale, slender frame, her face looked as elegant as if she had stepped out of a temple painting. Her personality was calm.

Without trying to curry favor, Juliet moved as smoothly as the tongue in her mouth.

A man with a difficult and easily bored temperament sometimes found her fascinating.

Sometimes Juliet seemed to know him better than he knew himself.

Looking back, it had been this way from the very first meeting. As if she had known him for a long time, she distinguished precisely what could be intruded upon and what could not be asked.

Thanks to that, Juliet never asked for what he could not give.

Until today.

And yet, the very moment they left the North, she said,

“Please break up with me.”

She was leaving him?

Lennox was irritated without even knowing why.

As a man indifferent to others’ emotions, and even his own, he didn’t care why he was angry.

He only thought he needed to know why Juliet suddenly acted stubbornly like a child.

“What’s your reason?”

“Do I have to give a reason?”

“Juliet.”

“You promised. You said you’d do anything for me.”

“You’re really saying that now—”

Unable to hold back any longer, Lennox grabbed Juliet’s arm.

Then, there was a knock.

Knock knock.

“Your Grace, it’s Elliot.”

A light knock interrupted them.

“I apologize, but there’s a guest downstairs.”

It was the duke’s secretary, Elliot. Juliet took advantage of Lennox’s brief hesitation and quickly freed herself from his grasp.

When Lennox turned back, she was standing a distance away.

Like a playful child, Juliet stepped back, clasped her hands behind her, and smiled at him.

“You—”

“Go. Your guest is waiting.”

Lennox glared coldly at her, but only for a moment.

Having left the North for the capital after a long time, he had a mountain of work awaiting him. Even without Juliet, his day would be busy.

Reluctantly, Lennox withdrew.

“…We’ll talk this afternoon.”

“Yes, later.”

Juliet smiled brightly until the end as she saw him off.

Clatter.

However, the moment the duke left the room and the door closed with a sound, her smile vanished without a trace. Juliet collapsed to the floor as if she had been drained of energy.

“…It’s okay. I did the right thing.”

Alone, Juliet buried her pale face in her hands and whispered to herself.

Her fingertips trembled from tension. Tears glistened precariously at the tips of her eyelashes. Yet she had no time to indulge in sentimentality.

Steeling herself, Juliet ran straight to the dressing room without waiting for a maid.

The Carlyle family secretary, Elliot, ran into Juliet while returning from seeing off a guest.

Dressed neatly for an outing, she was about to board the duke’s carriage.

‘So early?’

“Going out, Miss?”

“Yes, I’m visiting the temple. I’ll pray for Elliot’s New Year fortune as well.”

“Thank you. Have a safe trip.”

Though he had never spoken it aloud, Elliot highly respected this calm young lady.

Juliet Monad was intelligent, perceptive, quiet, and prudent.

In fact, just surviving as the duke’s lover for several years earned her respect.

She was the only exception to a duke who replaced partners almost daily.

Juliet stopped by the flowers Elliot was holding.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, this? A visitor brought it as a New Year’s gift. A newly cultivated variety, I hear.”

The Marquis Roman had visited the mansion early in the morning and left a modest potted plant as a gift.

The gift was simple, but the marquis was a well-known gardening enthusiast.

For some reason, Juliet stared intently at the purple flowers in Elliot’s hands.

Only then did Elliot realize his mistake.

‘…Oh no.’

Juliet Monad wasn’t a difficult person. She was, in fact, easygoing and unpretentious.

But there was one thing.

For some reason, she seemed to detest purple dahlias.

Dahlias, hardy and common in the North, were removed from the castle because of Juliet’s strong dislike.

Elliot quickly apologized.

“I’m sorry, Miss. I’ll remove them right away.”

“No, leave them.”

“Huh?”

“They’d look good in His Grace’s study.”

“…Huh?”

Elliot couldn’t believe his ears.

Juliet smiled and boarded the carriage, leaving.

Elliot stared after the carriage, then shook his head.

‘Miss Monad is acting strangely today.’

But Elliot did not yet realize that she wasn’t the only one acting strangely.

Knock knock.

“Your Grace, Elliot.”

“Come in.”

In the study were knights of the Carlyle household, standing with serious expressions.

‘What’s going on?’

The table was littered with documents, and a flat box resembling a jewelry case sat nearby.

Sensing a tense atmosphere, Elliot quietly placed the potted plant on a side table.

As expected, the duke didn’t even glance at it.

Reclining in his chair, the duke stared out the window.

Elliot glanced out and saw the Carlyle carriage leaving the mansion—the one Juliet had taken.

“Elliot.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Elliot responded respectfully and quickly ran through today’s schedule in his mind, expecting questions.

With so many tasks accumulated after the long journey to the capital, the duke asked something unexpected.

“Who is escorting Juliet right now?”

“Uh… Kane, sir.”

“Then summon Kane.”

“Yes.”

Although he answered reflexively, Elliot was slightly surprised.

Why ask about her escort all of a sudden? Was there a problem?

“And compile Juliet’s movements over the past three months.”

“…Yes?”

“Where she went, who she met. Every letter exchanged, without exception. Understood?”

“But Your Grace, that’s…”

Elliot raised his head sharply.

This was an unusual order. Investigate Miss Monad’s activities? Why not ask her directly?

But the duke’s crimson eyes glared at him coldly. Elliot quickly bowed.

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

“N-no.”

“You have three hours. Go.”

Bang.

In an instant, Elliot was forced out of the study.

Staring at the harshly closed door, Elliot regained his senses.

The duke hated wasting time and never gave meaningless orders. But suddenly ordering an investigation—had Miss Monad committed some grave mistake?

‘If I had known, I would have stopped her from going out earlier.’

Clicking his tongue, Elliot hurried.

It seemed the joyful New Year greeting was already ruined.