Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: 1. The Reason for Breaking Up
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Lennox Carlyle was born as the heir to a prestigious family.
The Carlyle Duke's household, which ruled the North, boasted immense wealth and power, but it was a family rife with ceaseless bloody intrigue.
The boy born as heir was no exception.
The first time he killed a man, he was nine years old.
After his father, the previous duke, died, his greedy relatives mounted the young heir on a horse and chased him off to the battlefield.
The ragtag army fled almost immediately, and the nine-year-old boy lord vanished from the field.
Everyone thought so.
Until ten years later, when a man with red eyes returned at the head of an undefeated army.
The boy who had left the ducal territory returned as a war hero.
It was exactly a decade since his departure.
His army showed no mercy and effortlessly recaptured the North's ducal castle.
Yet no one dared question Lennox Carlyle's legitimacy or qualifications.
It wasn't just because of the Carlyle family's signature black hair and red eyes. It was because all the relatives bold enough to raise doubts had their heads severed by his hand.
From that day on, no one wanted to provoke the young Carlyle Duke. So it had been a very long time since Lennox Carlyle felt this irritated.
"What did you say?"
"I asked you to let us break up, Your Highness."
Lennox stared steadily at the woman before him.
Wavy light brown hair cascaded down her back, and her blue eyes sparkled with sharp intelligence. Even clad only in a thin negligee without any adornments, her posture was straight as a queen's.
After a brief silence, Lennox Carlyle smiled softly at her.
"Juliet Monad."
She was the official lover of the Carlyle Duke.
"Are you joking right now?"
Her demeanor might have cowed others under his chilling aura, but Juliet didn't flinch. Instead, she tilted her head, blinking innocently as if she had no idea what he meant.
"Of course not, Your Highness."
"Then cut the nonsense and say it again.
Something more believable."
"But I already said it. That's all I want."
Juliet's expression remained as calm as ever while she replied coolly. Like the still surface of a lake.
In contrast, Lennox's eyes darkened menacingly. It had only been three days since they left the North's ducal castle and arrived at the capital's residence.
As always, they had come to attend the New Year's banquet at the imperial palace.
The journey required passing through two gates, and it was a grand procession that included the duke's retainers and knights.
Juliet, known as the Carlyle Duke's lover, had accompanied him to the capital as well.
"I won't be a bother to you, Your Highness."
Just like seven years ago, Juliet had never been a nuisance to him.
She never begged for affection or attention, nor did she cling to him with tears.
That was the Juliet Monad he knew.
Not once had Juliet demanded something he couldn't give.
Until today.
And to pick this timing, right after leaving the North...
"Please let us break up."
She dared to say she was leaving him?
Lennox didn't know the exact reason, but he felt deeply displeased.
True to form as a man indifferent even to his own emotions—not to mention others—he had no interest in why he was angry.
But he needed to know why Juliet was suddenly acting out like a petulant child.
"What's the reason."
"Do I have to tell you the reason?"
"Juliet."
"You promised. You'd grant me anything."
"You call this worth mentioning?"
Unable to hold back any longer, Lennox grabbed Juliet's arm. At that moment.
Knock knock.
"Your Highness, it's Elliot."
A light knock interrupted the two.
"I'm sorry, but there's a guest downstairs."
The one knocking at the bedroom door was the duke's secretary, Elliot. Seizing the moment while Lennox hesitated, Juliet swiftly slipped from his grasp.
When Lennox turned back to her, she stood a good distance away.
Like a playful child, Juliet stepped back, clasped her hands behind her, and smiled at him.
"You—"
"Go on. Your guest is waiting."
Lennox glared coldly at her, but only for a moment.
It had been a while since leaving the North for the capital, and he had mountains of work piled up. He was scheduled to be busy all day.
In the end, Lennox said reluctantly.
"...We'll talk again this afternoon."
"Yes, later."
Juliet saw the duke off with a bright smile to the end.
Clunk.
But the instant the duke left the bedroom and the door shut with a thud.
Her smile vanished without a trace, and Juliet collapsed to the floor right there.
"...It's okay, it's okay. You did the right thing."
Left alone, Juliet buried her pale face in her hands and whispered to herself.
Her fingertips trembled faintly from the intense tension. Tears glistened precariously at the tips of her lashes. But even now, she couldn't afford the luxury of indulging in sentiment.
Steadying her breath, Juliet rushed to the dressing room without waiting for her maid.
**
Elliot, the duke's secretary, ran into Juliet coming out of the main residence as he returned from seeing off the guest.
Dressed neatly for going out, Juliet was just about to board the duke's carriage.
'This early in the day?'
"Are you heading out, Lady?"
"Yes, to the temple. I'll pray for your New Year's fortune too, Elliot."
"Thank you. Have a safe trip."
He had never said it aloud to anyone, but Elliot held this composed lady in high regard.
Juliet Monad was clever and quick on the uptake, yet she spoke little and was always cautious.
In truth, just the fact that she had endured as the Carlyle Duke's lover for several years made her worthy of respect.
She was the only one who had ever made an exception for the duke, who changed partners like gloves.
As Juliet was climbing into the carriage, she pointed at the flowerpot Elliot was holding.
"What's that?"
"Oh, this? A guest brought it as a visiting gift."
Marquis Roman, who had visited the residence at dawn, had left early in the morning, apologizing for the inconvenience with this flowerpot as a gift.
It was modest for a gift, but Marquis Roman was famous as an avid gardener.
For some reason, Juliet stared fixedly at the purple flower in Elliot's hands.
Wondering what was wrong, Elliot looked down at the pot and finally realized his mistake.
'...Oh no.'
Juliet Monad wasn't picky. If anything, she was mild-mannered and quiet.
Except for one thing.
For whatever reason, she utterly detested purple dahlias.
The hardy dahlias were common even in the North.
But because Juliet loathed them so much, purple dahlias were practically taboo in the North's ducal castle.
Elliot apologized immediately.
"I'm sorry, Lady. I'll get rid of it right away."
"No. Just leave it."
"Pardon?"
"It would suit His Highness's office well."
"Yes...?"
Elliot doubted his ears.
But Juliet smiled brightly, boarded the carriage for outings, and left.
Elliot stared blankly at the departing carriage before snapping to his senses.
'Miss Monad is acting a bit strange today.'
But Elliot didn't know yet. She wasn't the only strange one today.
Knock knock.
"Your Highness, it's Elliot."
"Come in."
Inside the office were the duke and two of the household's knights as well.
The two knights, standing with grave expressions for some reason, gave Elliot a cursory nod.
'What happened?'
Not only that, but papers were scattered messily on the table, and on one side sat a flat box that looked like a jewelry case.
Sensing the ominous atmosphere, Elliot quietly set the flowerpot he carried on the side table.
Sure enough, the Carlyle Duke didn't even glance at the flowerpot Elliot brought in.
Slouched crookedly in the armchair, the duke's gaze was fixed out the office window.
Elliot glanced toward the window and spotted one of the household's carriages leaving the residence.
It was the very one Juliet had taken for her outing.
"Elliot."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Elliot bowed politely, quickly reviewing the day's schedule in his mind.
He expected a question about today's agenda.
Thanks to the rare visit to the capital, tasks had piled up. But the duke's question was completely unexpected.
"Who's escorting Juliet right now?"
"Uh... It's Kane."
"Then bring Kane."
"Yes."
He answered reflexively, but Elliot was a bit surprised.
Why suddenly ask for the lady's escort? Was there a problem with the guard?
"And compile a report on Juliet's activities over the past three months. Have it ready by lunch."
"Pardon?"
"Where she's been, who she's met.
Every letter sent or received, without omission.
Understood?"
"But Your Highness, that's..."
Elliot's head snapped up.
This was a truly bizarre order.
Investigate Miss Monad's activities? Why not just ask her directly?
But as the red eyes turned coldly on him, Elliot quickly bowed his head.
"Do I need to say it twice?"
"No, no."
"I'll give you three hours. Out."
Thud.
In an instant, Elliot was chased out of the office.
Elliot stared dazedly at the harshly shut door before coming to his senses.
The duke hated wasting time and never gave meaningless orders. So why suddenly investigate her activities? Had Miss Monad done something gravely wrong?
'If I'd known, I should've stopped her from going out when I ran into her earlier.'
Clicking his tongue inwardly, Elliot quickened his steps.
It seemed a pleasant New Year was out of the question.