Chapter 12

- Juliet?

However, the room was empty.

Lennox's gaze, rushing into an empty room, stopped at the chest of drawers. It was wearing a necklace, flickering slightly in the dark.

Then he saw a blue butterfly quietly flying around the room, shining with bright light.

The moment he discovered Juliet's butterfly, Lennox immediately realized what had happened.

At the same time, this guess made his blood colder in his veins.

- Your Serene Highness!

A group of knights who were late after him stopped in front of the door wide open.

Lennox silently took a paper cutting knife from the dressing table.

Shurch.

The knife he held in his hand immediately pierced the wings of a butterfly, which was spinning opposite the mirror, nailing it to the dressing table.

The blue butterfly quickly waved its wings as if it were a living creature, and soon crumbled blue pollen, disappearing without a trace.

- Damn it...

The servants who also hurriedly followed him looked embarrassed when they saw that the room was empty.

- But, my lord, we definitely saw Miss get out of the crew when she returned to the mansion.

- Yes, I definitely saw Miss go up to this room on the second floor, right after she came back... Oh, my God!

At the same time, when the butterfly disappeared, the servants under the influence of the illusion were released from it and finally belatedly realized the whole situation.

They must have really seen Juliet come home.

However, from the very beginning, it was only a magical trick.

The servants hurriedly shut their mouths and now watched the Duke's face.

Although this was often forgotten because she very rarely used her magical gift, Juliet Montagu had very unusual abilities.

Besides, they were of elite rank.

However, Lennox, despite the turmoil surrounding him, focused on only one point.

He started thinking in a completely different direction.

Since when has she become stronger?

Juliet's abilities were best known to him.

The visual illusion sent by a demon from another world made her chosen one see different visions.

Although it was a rare ability, she still had its own limits that prevented her from reckless use of this demon.

As far as he knew, Juliet could only use it on one or two objects at a time.

Juliet's ability was powerful enough to fascinate people, but she also consumed large quantities of mana and had a restriction for use in public places.

So she could easily deceive the coachman, but it wasn't enough to charm the rest of the people who were in the house at the same time.

However, Juliet somehow succeeded in it and was able to escape from him.

The conclusion was obvious. Juliet was just hiding her growing abilities from him.

She laughed openly at me, daring to deceive me in such audacious way.

When did you start planning your escape?

- We were told that Miss wasn't in the Montagu mansion.

The butler reported quietly after he had established contact with the liaison.

Lennox looked passionately at the wooden chest of drawers on which the necklace was lying.

It was the same necklace he gave Juliet this morning.

This decoration, left here in the most visible place, made a specific meaning.

In addition to him, there were also other jewelry and luxurious dresses in the elegantly furnished room, which he gave her during the time they were together.

All these things looked intact, and a person who didn't know she had escaped at first glance might seem like she was just away for a while.

Suddenly, a question surfaced in his thoughts.

Even if she managed to fool the servants of the mansion, how could she spend Kane, who was the Master of the Sword?

How did she manage to deceive Kane's eyes?

- Kane.

- .... Yeah.

- Did you eat or drink anything with Juliet?

- Huh?

Kane was puzzled for a moment by the Duke's unexpected question, but then he remembered the afternoon tea party.

- During the day, I drank tea with Miss...

- You've been drugged.

Loud laughter.

Lennox couldn't help laugh when he saw a funny expression of his proud subordinate's face.

Among the guards assigned to Juliet, he was the only Master of the Sword.

And Juliet's abilities did not affect either the swordmasters or the high priests.

For this reason, she gave a drug to someone she couldn't use her butterfly on. A well-calculated dose of this drug helped her bypass this obstacle.

In addition, the escort assigned to her was only to ensure her safety, not to prevent her from escape.

Rough and straight Kane wasn't one of those who loved alcoholic beverages, but she still found a way to get close to him.

- I'm very sorry. I have no excuse for this mistake...

Kane shook his head guiltyly after he realized the situation.

However, Lennox Carlisle's anger was directed at only one person.

- Apparently, you were very determined.

The sound of his quiet sinister laughter was heard in the silence of the room.

He didn't wonder why Juliet did that anymore.

He didn't even imagine when or how much she had already planned it.

From buying a silfium, about which she didn't tell him anything, to hiding the fact that her butterfly skills have increased. She hid all this from me.

With each new guess, his anger inflamed more and more.

None of those present dared to raise their heads, feeling the cold fury of Duke Carlisle.

After a while, anxious Elliott carefully opened his mouth without looking at his master's face.

- Mr., maybe I should call the head of the city guard?

- No.

It won't work.

Just as Juliet knew him well, Lennox knew her very well.

She could hide as long as she wanted.

Moreover, today is the day of celebration of the new year, so the search will not be easy because of the crowds of people outside gathered to look at the fireworks.

Juliet seems to have been planning this piece for a very long time with an escape. She must have calculated the time very carefully.

Departure from the North to the capital to attend the New Year's banquet is a perfect time, as during this period a large number of people gather in the city to see the celebration.

However, Lennox was sure she was still in the capital.

During this hectic period, you can hide well, but at the same time the number of ways to escape is limited.

Although it's only a matter of time when Juliet will try to escape from the capital.

He could also block all the ways from the capital by mobilizing his troops, but in this case Juliet will just hide even deeper.

And if she decides to hide, then she may be lost to him forever. Thanks to her ability, she will be able to hide her traces without much trouble and hide as much as she pleases.

- What should we do, Your Serenity? - Elliot asked carefully.

Lennox Carlisle raised his head and looked at him.

- Maybe she hasn't left the capital yet.

Lennox grabbed the necklace she left.

When he squeezed it in his hand, the stones came into contact from afar with a melodic sound.

Then the corners of his lips rose and a predatory smile appeared on his face.

- I'll personally do it. I'll definitely find her.

He wasn't going to let Juliet go so easily. She had to understand.

He could also be quite persistent if he wanted something, just like her.

- I'll find her by any means. It doesn't matter whether they're dirty or not. Only one thing matters. No hair on her head should suffer, she should be in perfect condition.

He'll never let her go, even if it was what she wanted.

*****

Bums!

The appearance of uninvited guests who dared to break into the sacred temple in the middle of the night was very noisy. Armed men in black armor did not even seem to be going to hide the identities behind this blasphemy invasion.

Hearing the noise, the chief priest of the capital temple ran into the main hall.

- What are you doing?! - The head of the temple shouted furiously, trying to stop the intruders.

However, his formidable appearance disappeared, because of his hat, which moved to his side in a hurry and now barely held on to his head.

- How dare you... how dare you go into the holy place with your weapons in your hands...?!

- The introduction is too long.

As soon as the priest ran into the main hall, he immediately saw the main culprit managing these barbarians. The man sat on the altar and looked calmly at the newly arrived head of the temple.

It was none other than the Duke of Carlisle, who certainly didn't need to give his name.

The majestic view of the Duke of Carlisle sitting on the marble altar was so impressive that, looking at it now, you could think that this altar was nothing but a throne, although it had no jewelry on it.

- I want you to leave this place immediately, otherwise I'll let the emperor know!

- You know it's useless.

The priest instantly closed his mouth.

Of course, he knew that.

The imperial family was powerless against him, they themselves were concerned about the influence and power of Duke Carlisle, so they had been looking at him for a long time.

And even if the temple asks for help, the emperor is likely to calmly ignore this request.

In addition, unlike other high-ranking aristocrats, the Duke of Carlisle did not maintain relations with the temple.

In fact, the temple was very interested in the Duke who ruled the northern territories, as it was the largest lands in the Empire.

It was a huge area, in the bowels of which a huge amount of gold was hidden.

However, the northerners, including members of the Carlisle family, were the most wicked unbelievers.

They were never interested in religion, and no luxurious temple was built on their lands, let alone collect donations for him.

In addition, the relationship between the Carlisle family and the temple was completely destroyed when Lennox became the next Duke.

He closed all temples in the North soon after he received the title.

The high priest, of course, reacted violently to this and excommunicated the Duke of Carlyle from the temple.

Excommunication from the temple meant that no priest would give his blessing if he ever wanted to marry, in other words, without it he could not marry.

In addition, he threatened not to bless his heir, who will someday be born to him.

Of course, Duke Carlisle didn't even listen to him. A man like him, who has never indulged in his desires, has never even thought about marriage.

Duke Carlyle, who was not afraid even of the emperor, naturally was not afraid of these threats, but except for them, the high priest had nothing else to threaten him.

And now the priest, who stood before this powerful man, decided to give up further objections, after which he turned to him.

- So what do you want, Duke?