Forgotten Juliet

* * *

While treasure hunting was in full swing at the Northern Duke’s castle, Lennox was not far away at a conference. Those in attendance were mainly the lords of old families, and after their formal meetings, they chatted aimlessly.

“Grandfather!”

From the end of the hallway, a young child came running. Among them, Duke Carlyle was the youngest. Among the older lords, some brought their grandchildren out of love.

“My daughter is indeed adorable.”

“You don’t know how cute my granddaughter is.”

Everyone looked endearingly at them.

Watching this, Lennox felt strangely.

“When you have children, you’ll understand.”

“…”

He remembered a young dragon resembling his childhood face when he was with Juliet in the castle. Of course, it does something a bit cute, but it flaunts as if it’s extraordinary.

“Let’s go back.”

“Yes.”

Inside the carriage returning to the Duke’s house, he habitually took out a small pocket watch from his pocket.

The gold watch with a long chain was secretly crafted by him without Juliet’s knowledge.

Click.

Upon opening the cover, on the other side of the watch was a small portrait.

Round, gentle eyes and distinct facial features depicted a child of about five years old.

Lennox smiled unknowingly. It was a portrait of Juliet’s childhood, which he forcibly obtained.

When the baby dragon could transform i

to a human, it was also revealed that Juliet had carefully kept a portrait of her childhood. When Lennox found out, he insisted on seeing his portrait too, in the name of fairness. Juliet was somewhat bewildered, but in the end, he achieved his goal.

It was one of the family portraits left in the Monad Count’s house, depicting five-year-old Juliet in her mother’s arms.

Lennox secretly ordered an artisan to craft something he could carry around, and the skilled artisan presented him with the watch.

-I hope you’re happy too.

With a warm satisfaction, Lennox kissed the watch.

By the time Duke Carlyle returned to the castle, it was already midnight.

“Your Highness! You’re back?”

Assuming Juliet would be asleep, Lennox paused. The atmosphere in the castle, from the servant Elliot to others, was peculiar.

What happened?

“Where’s Juliet?”

“She’s waiting in the living room.”

“…”

Something was off.

Lennox didn’t ask further and headed to the reception room.

“Juliet.”

“Ah… you’re back?”

Juliet, leaning on the couch, greeted him with a smile. Contrary to his worries, Juliet was in simple indoor clothes and smiled gently.

“Nothing unusual happened in the castle.”

“But the atmosphere felt chaotic.”

“Oh, that.”

Juliet told him about the discovery of a room hidden in the northern annex during his absence. Inside, they found portraits and records seemingly left by Eleanor Carlyle.

Juliet’s softly explaining voice comforted him.

“But in doing so, we had to damage the wall.”

“The wall?”

“Yes. The room at the end of the third-floor corridor.”

Juliet hesitated, watching for his reaction, and Lennox grinned, seemingly understanding why she was being cautious.

“Did Milan tell you?”

“Yes.”

Juliet seemed to feel sorry for him.

-Make sure it’s not visible again.

It wasn’t exactly a secret that the ancestral Duke viewed his son as an eyesore.

‘Really the worst.’

He chuckled inwardly, finding it endearing that Juliet sympathized with him even in such situations.

“But?”

“Sorry… For breaking the wall.”

Juliet probably wanted to say, ‘I’m sorry to see your childhood was like that’ or ‘That’s why your personality is like that.’

But Lennox just laughed and hugged Juliet.

“Juliet.”

“Hm?”

“Shall we paint a portrait to hang in the hall?”

“…A portrait?”

Juliet looked suspicious.

In typical noble houses, it was common to paint large portraits to hang in the hall whenever a child was born or when there were changes in the family composition.

The Carlyle house was an exception to this tradition, and Lennox had even thought of it as a pitiful tradition until recently.

However, after seeing the proud older nobles, he wanted at least one decent portrait.

“Yes, with that guy included.”

Lennox glanced at the baby dragon, who had fallen asleep softly in front of the fireplace.

He truly wanted to do so, especially after seeing the ideal family portrait hanging in the Count Monad’s house. Just like the gentle and benevolent Count and Countess with their only daughter, young Juliet, they might have looked quite like a decent family.

When Juliet didn’t immediately nod in agreement, Lennox, growing a bit anxious, asked again.

“Don’t you like it?”

“I do. I do like it, but…”

For some reason, Juliet, hesitating whether to smile or not, moved away from his embrace.

“Um, how about waiting a bit longer?”

“Wait for? What?”

“Can we do it in eight months?”

…Eight months?

“Why specifically-“

He almost asked, ‘Why specifically eight months?’

But luckily, he was a tad bit sharper this time.

No way.

Seeing his hesitation, Juliet grinned broadly.

“Yes, that’s right.”

It then dawned on him.

Lennox noticed that Juliet, laughing in front of him, looked fairly pale.

Though she appeared calm, her smile seemed forced as she tried to hide her anxiety, and her hands were clenched tightly, turning white.

‘Ah.’

For a moment, everything went white.

This crazy situation. Of course, it’s because a baby will be born in eight months.

Simultaneously cursing himself internally, he pulled Juliet into his embrace.

“Juliet.”

“Yes.”

“I’m, I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For being-“

Such an irremediable, pathetic guy. Darn, now it seems he’ll have to be more selective with his swearing.

His confusion wasn’t the important issue. He should have first tried to understand how Juliet felt waiting for him alone.

“When did you find out?”

“The day before yesterday. I felt a bit off, like I had a cold, so I called the doctor.”

That explained the unusual atmosphere at the castle.

“Juliet, I-“

He wanted to say something.

But he didn’t know if he should apologize for forgetting to take his medicine or if he should apologize first for being consistently clueless.

In the meantime, Juliet laughed without any warmth.

“…You can just tell me honestly.”

“What?”

She hesitated, trying to gauge his reaction.

“I’m happy about the baby, but you never seemed interested. So, if you dislike it…”

“How could I not like it?”

He looked at her incredulously, pulling her shoulders close.

“How could I dislike our child? Especially if it’s a daughter resembling you.”

She tilted her head.

“How do you know it’s a daughter?”

“…I just know.”

In truth, it was more of a subconscious utterance.

But after saying that, he felt a peculiar certainty. A certainty that their unborn child would be a daughter resembling Juliet.

“I guess our child’s name will be Lily?”

Juliet, after a brief silence, laughed in relief.

“Did I tell you I wanted to name our baby Lily? Really?”

“Yes. A long time ago.”

“Really? Why can’t I remember?”

That was because it was from a time much earlier than Juliet suspected.

“Of course, if you prefer another name, that’s fine.”

Any name was acceptable.

“If you don’t want to pass on this family name, that’s fine too-“

“Lennox!”

Juliet laughed lightly, looking incredulous.

“It’s fine.”

“…”

“You’re kind, so you’ll be a good father.”

Lennox realized he’d heard this before.

Back then, he was an absolute scoundrel. But because of Juliet’s words, he had tried hard to present himself better.

“So, we’ll get along just fine.”

Juliet said with a bright smile.

“…Yes.”

He gently embraced Juliet.

While he still didn’t think he was fit to be a good parent…

It felt truly alright whenever Juliet smiled.

“I’ll try my best.”

Whether in the past or now, only one person could sway him with just a word.