Chapter 215: Epilogue 5


    Throughout the winter, the baby foxes Juliet devotedly cared for grew healthy and strong.


    As their growth was noticeable day by day, one day, the grown-up foxes stoppeding for food.


    Juliet seemed somewhat saddened by this.


    [Will theye back?]


    No.


    [No.]


    Lennox, who answered casually as usual, realized Juliets disappointment only after seeing her expression, and quickly tried to make amends.


    [Instead, perhaps other baby foxes wille by next winter.]


    [Other foxes?]


    [Theres always snow foxes freezing to death in winter. The orphaned ones will be hungry.]


    []


    For a moment, Juliets blue eyes, which had brightened up, quivered as if hit by a shock.


    He was embarrassed, not understanding what mistake he had made in his words.


    [Its okay if they donte. I hope they live happily with their mother.]


    Juliet, who spoke earnestly, stood up from her ce and began walking around the yard.


    Lennox slowly matched her pace and nced at Juliet.


    Her pale cheeks were still rosy due to the cold wind, a far cry from the frightened girl he had encountered initially who seemed as if she could die of fright at any moment.


    A sense of satisfaction secretly crept up on him, making him smile slightly.


    Lennox had neatly wrapped up his mansion work in the capital and was contemting other matters.


    Perhaps shed like it if he restored the long-gone counts mansion to its original form. But it was still a distant thought.


    As the long winter ended and the frozennd in the north began to thaw gradually, slight changes started to appear in the daily routine of the Ducal house.


    With the arrival of spring, he found himself with more free time.


    Then, he started pondering a problem he had never thought of before.


    [What?]


    [What do you usually do?]


    [Me?]


    [What do you do when Im not around?]


    He was curious about how Juliet spent her time when he wasnt around.


    From his perspective, being raised in the north, there didnt seem to be much leisure for a youngdy to indulge in at the Ducal house.


    Juliet tilted her head.


    [Just, either take a walk or read books in the library.]


    Library. He frowned without realizing it.


    He realized btedly that on the library table Juliet freely used, a marriage proposal letter from the capital had been ced. Although Juliet hadnt dug into anything.


    <i>Maybe she just needs a corner to get attached to.</i>


    He wondered whether he should buy a kitten.


    An uninvited guest arrived at the Dukes mansion that afternoon.


    [Youre really indifferent, Your Highness.]


    The middle-aged noblewoman with a friendly demeanor was named Urs Mott.


    [My God, how could you not step into the capital even once throughout the winter?]


    Lennox Carlyle didnt trust even his closest blood rtives.


    Instead, he had nted eyes and ears all around the Empire, and Urs was one of those spies.


    [Thanks to that, the Emperor has started to grow suspicious of your activities.]


    Urs whispered with her voice lowered.


    Being a skilled doctor herself, and with her act of picking up talented war orphans during her travel across the Empire, nurturing them, and sponsoring impoverished artists, Urs was a highly reputable and renowned person.


    Thanks to that, despite being ofmon birth, there was no ce in the Empire Urs couldnt step into, from the Empresss salon to the high-nosed Dukes house, making her an excellent source of information.


    [Is that youngdy the rumored Nightingale?]


    [What?]


    [The rumors are rampant even in the capital. They say that the Duke of the north has been enchanted by a low-born sweetheart.]


    Lennox furrowed his brows.


    [Thats astounding.]


    [Youve neglected managing your reputation. You should have been prepared for this.]


    Urs rolled her eyes.


    Its a human nature that if you throw them something appealing to chew on, theyll gnash their teeth on it while looking down upon it satisfyingly.


    [But this year, you neither attended the masquerade, nor gave them any scandal to chew on.]


    It was Urss scheme to purposely advise him to date a primadonna who stood on the grand theater stage, as she held a significant share in the theater.


    Whether he took the advice or not.


    [I was busy.]


    Losing interest in any further reputation management, Lennox answered indifferently.


    He was just starting to get annoyed at the thought of Juliet being the subject of peoples gossip.


    [You must really like her, huh?]


    Lifting his head at the unexpected statement, Lennox met Urss meaningful gaze.


    [But Your Highness, Nightingales are curious and impetuous, they die easily.]


    [What do you want to say?]


    [Even if they engage in lovely acts, if you cage them in mockery, theyll suffer and die. Theyre not an easy bird to tame.]


    Urs advised ominously.


    [So be careful. If you dont treat her gently, youll regret it.]


    * * *


    Initially, Lennox intended to brush Urs off casually.


    [My God, a wardrobe without even proper outdoor attire?]


    But after calling a tailor, getting measured for clothing, and fussing over for days, Urs cajoled Juliet into having a bunch of dresses made.


    [This is the trend in the capital these days.]


    []


    Throughout the winter, the only attire he saw on Juliet was pajamas or in-patterned dresses that were almost like pajamas.


    But the moment he locked eyes with Juliet, who was awkwardly fiddling with her half-tied up hair in a red dress, he changed his mind.


    [How is it?]


    [Do as you wish.]


    And thus, Urs became a guest at the Dukes mansion.


    Contrary to concerns, Juliet seemed to like Urs.


    [It would be nice if thedy stayed for a long time.]


    Even in his absence, it seemed Juliet had a good time.


    She was so joyful that he felt a bit heartbroken.


    About two weeks like that.


    Suddenly, he discovered that Juliet, who went out with Urs, didnt return even as the evening approached.


    [Juliet?]


    [She went to the theater in Dover with Madam Urs.]


    [Since they attended the Night of Sponsorship, they would return before nine]


    Lennox got anxious the moment he heard that.


    It was fine for Juliet to enjoy her leisure time without him, as she seemed happy, but this was unexpected.


    Moreover, Night of Sponsorship.


    There would be individuals like Urs who purely enjoy theater, but such asions inevitably harbored people soaked in vanity, ignorant and boastful.


    Lennox didnt want Juliet mingling amongst the northern nobles who liked to show off without knowing much, keen on meddling in others affairs.


    He knew how vulgar these nobles could be towards anyone they found slightly weaker. He disliked the idea of imagining her surrounded by drunken people.


    [Shall I send someone to fetch her?]


    [No. Ill go myself.]


    He hurried towards Dover.


    Carriages crowded near the theater due to the post-y sponsorship event. Lights and tables were scattered around in the outdoor garden.


    However, the scene that caught his eye as he stepped into the garden wasnt what he had anticipated.


    <i>ng!</i>


    [You, you vulgar!]


    The sound of something breaking followed by a small shriek was heard.


    A seemingly drunk young man was rolling on the ground, clutching his head.


    [How dare, do you know who I am!]


    His head must not have been entirely clear as he struggled against the servants trying to help him up.


    The shards of ss scattered on the floor and the young man shouting at the servants suppressed others from intervening.


    The target of the mans vulgar tirade was a woman standing a little distance away.


    [You lowborn, seems like being seen by a Duke makes you something-]


    Calmly standing there and quietly taking in the foul words, the woman remained expressionless.


    Juliets hand caught Lennoxs eye and he felt a cold rush.


    Drops distinctly different from wine, blood drops were falling from her lowered right hand.


    He saw nothing else.


    [Ahh!]


    [Juliet.]


    The kicked man clutched his head and shrieked, but he didnt care.


    The woman, who had been pale and looking at the floor, lifted her eyes and saw him.


    Juliet didnt seem surprised upon seeing him. He wasnt interested in how this situation unfolded.


    [Clear it.]


    He took Juliet by the shoulder and led her out of the garden without paying any heed to the whispers around them.


    [Your Highness!]


    Madam Urs, who had followed them out, halted at the sight of Lennoxs fierce gaze.


    Only then the theater owner hurriedly rushed over.


    [Y-Your Highness! Is there anything you need?]


    [Call a doctor.]


    Instead of heading back to the castle, he instructed to call a doctor and found an empty waiting room inside the theater to seat Juliet.


    Examining Juliets cut hand was the priority.


    [Give me your hand.]


    [Its fine.]


    Juliet rolled up her sleeve and pushed him away gently as he inspected the wound.


    She spoke calmly.


    [I broke the ss.]


    [What?]


    Juliet showed a faint smile with her pale face.


    As she said, she had only cut her palm a little, the wound was shallow. Fortunately, there seemed to be no other injuries.


    [Why did you break it?]


    [Just, felt like breaking it.]


    []


    Lennox regretted his silly question.


    Hadnt he seen that punk pour out insulting words at her just a while ago?


    Had he been a bitte, it might have been Juliet rolling on the floor.


    He tried to keep his calm and asked.


    [What did he say?]


    [What?]


    [Tell me what that bastard said. Every single word.]


    He intended to make the man pay for the words he had thoughtlessly spat out.


    He had been concerned about this part since Urs mentioned reputation management.


    He didnt care much, but he didnt want Juliet to hear about him through others.


    He wondered what Juliet had heard about him.


    [He didnt say much.]


    [Juliet.]


    Juliet, who had been expressionless all along, stared at him and suddenly burst intoughter.


    [He said I am pretty.]


    Lennox didnt understand why she suddenlyughed, not until Juliet continued speaking.


    [Having a submissive and obedient look, he called me a mindless toy that fits your taste perfectly.]


    His fingers turned cold. However, Lennox couldnt tell whether it was his fingers or Juliets, who was quietly looking at him.


    [If I dont want to be quickly tired of and discarded like others, itd be good to act a bit smarter, he said.]


    Juliet, who had been softly speaking all along, grinned, her cheeks lightly twitched.


    [Because the Duke tires easily, doesnt he?]


    It was the first time he had wished she would cry or argue back.