Chapter 22

- Deal?

- Yes.

Even in the dark, she saw the corners of Lennox' lips rise. And although an outside observer would decide that he just smiled, Juliet knew perfectly well that this was not the case.

There was an ironic grin on his face now.

However, Juliet did not lose heart and continued quite calmly.

- I will be useful to your Serene Highness.

Juliet took a step, carefully approaching him.

Lennox's eyes, sitting leaning his back against the couch, were lower than Juliet's, so she looked at him from top to bottom, being in a better position than him.

- Useful?

- Yes, as you can see, thanks to them.

As soon as Juliet finished, the butterfly wings twinkling in the dark flashed brightly.

She did not even imagine that the key her father had, the purpose of which no one knew anything about, would turn out to be an artifact. Apparently, in her past life, her parents also died because noble aristocrats tried to take possession of it.

But Lennox still replied coldly:

- I don't need a person who doesn't know how to use his strength.

Despite the cold words, Juliet did not retreat. She took another step towards Lennox.

- I'll learn how to use them. If only you could teach me...

- Why do I need it?

Lennox frankly mocked her.

- I don't have a hobby to teach women I don't even know.

- ...

Instead of answering, Juliet took another step. Now the distance between them was close enough for both of them to touch each other if they wished.

- But you haven't even heard my conditions yet.

- I don't think if I hear them, it will have any meaning.

- Yesterday you told me to stop using mana, but I don't know what it means...

Then Juliet's left hand touched the back of the sofa right next to Lennox.

- Can you teach me that? - Juliet asked barely audible.

*****

Five days after this conversation.

Juliet was sitting in the corner of the banquet hall in the imperial palace.

- Oh my God, Miss Montagu!

Of course, there was nothing else in the capital that spread as quickly as rumors.

The "Friendly" secular society, having learned about what had happened, naturally rushed to console the unfortunate daughter of the deceased Count of Montagu, who remained alone.

- This is the deepest loss for all of us. I grieveve with you!

- You must have a broken heart...

All this, as usual, began with spiritual participation and easy interest, but later flowed into an inevitable stream of outright pity.

[Everyone is worried about you. Are you coming to the party on the last day?]

A few days ago, Fatima sent a letter to Montagu's mansion.

Naturally, Fatima's letter, in addition to the question, will come to Juliet's banquet on the last day or not, contained a few rather banal words of sympathy, although not too sincere.

However, when Juliet came to the banquet, she couldn't even talk to her. Moreover, she became very curious what kind of people did her friend mean by mentioning them in her letter under the word "all"?

- I think it's unworthy. Her parents died so suddenly, and she, instead of mourning them, decided to attend a banquet.

Because as soon as people moved away from her, after expressing their usual condolences, they immediately began to talk about her in the spirit of a standard cliché.

Today was the last day of the bell ball.

In the end, Juliet visited only the first and last day of this seven-day bell banquet.

Usually on the last day of the ball, a wreath of blue bells was of paramount interest to guests, but today everything was a little different.

It seemed that none of those present were interested in who would eventually become the owner of a wreath of bells.

Since the main topic of the conversation was, of course, Juliet Montagu, who was sitting alone in the corner, who, instead of dancing, received condolences from the guests.

Six days ago, it was the first day of the blue bell banquet that began.

However, it seemed to her that the day when she left this place with her parents was already in the distant past. Although she was surrounded by the same people in luxurious clothes as then and the place was the same.

With the exception of Lennox, Juliet also told the head of the capital guard about what had happened. But he just said:

"We can't arrest Baron Gaspar, based on your testimony alone."

Baron Gaspard naturally fiercely rejected all unfair accusations against him in his opinion. And just as in the past, he referred to his alibi, which was a confirmation of his words.

After all, there was no connection between the murder of Juliet's parents and the involvement of her uncle in this incident, on whose orders those scoundrels did so.

- Oh, I heard that the Count's old enemies did it.

- Yes, most likely it is. After all, the bodies of the count and countess were too disfigured to be viewed without shudder.

- But how could their daughter survive then?

- It is quite possible that something happened there that we don't know about.

The people around her didn't even make any effort to speak quieter.

- Oh, that's just terrible. What kind of bastards could do that?!

- By the way, I heard that the guards found her in one of the provincial brothels...

According to the official version, the place where Juliet was found was in front of her house. An escort of the knights allocated by the Duke to accompany her took her directly to Montagu's mansion.

But, of course, the rumors were maliciously distorted and inflated.

- Otherwise, how could she survive?

- I can't believe it! So she was able to go so far, just to survive? Incredible!

- Miss Glenfield, you agree with that, don't you?

Those who openly cursed Juliet suddenly turned their attention to Fatima Glenfield, who kept her mouth shut all the time.

- Oh, you know, it's...

Fatima, who suddenly attracted everyone's attention, was confused not knowing what to say.

Since people around her constantly asked her to contact Juliet, she wrote a letter to her friend and invited her to today's banquet.

However, she was very embarrassed when she had to talk about Juliet.

- Don't worry and tell us about her. I heard you were close to the daughter of the Montagu family.

- Well, I wouldn't say we were very close to her!

Her voice sounded so loud that Juliet involuntarily looked at her.

And then, she saw Fatima hastily hiding behind the column when their eyes met.

But Juliet was no longer what she used to do, so she didn't feel anything.

It even seemed to her that the part of her soul that was responsible for her feelings had broken somewhere.

And now it didn't matter to her whether these people spread malicious gossip right next to her or not. She didn't even feel angry.

Juliet sneaked at the big clock hanging on the other wall of the banquet hall.

The ball officially ended at midnight.

The clock hands now showed 11:30.

The only thing that interested Juliet at the moment was whether Duke Carlisle would send someone or not?

It's been five days since Juliet returned to her mansion, but there has still been no news from Duke Carlisle.

"If you agree to be with me, then send your man to me on the last day of the Blue Bells celebration.

That's what Juliet said goodbye to him.

"Maybe it will even be for the better if he doesn't come."

If Lennox Carlisle refuses her request, his man will not appear here.

"However, there is no reason to worry yet. If that happens, all I have to do is escape."

Just as she somehow managed to avoid him all this time.

We will find a new way to survive. All I need is...

No, wait, and what should I do next, after all this?

Juliet was confused.

What should she have done if she couldn't avoid the miserable existence that was in her previous life, no matter how much she fought?

And while she was deeply immersed in her thoughts, she did not notice how the ballroom instantly subsided.

Top. Top. Top.

Then in the middle of the banquet hall, immersed in silence, there was a sound of firm confident steps of a man who, having passed through all the guests, stopped right in front of her.

Juliet did not even immediately realize that the pulsating headache that tormented her all evening suddenly disappeared as soon as he was next to her.

- Excuse me, Miss Montagu.

Hearing a quiet voice, Juliet raised her head and stared shocked at the man who had spoken to her.

- ..... Your Serene Highness?

The red-eyed man stood in front of her on one knee and looked her straight in the eyes.

- Can I ask a merciful lady to wish me luck?

Juliet was confused for a moment because she didn't expect to hear these words from him. It was a ridiculous situation in which Grand Duke Carlisle delivered a children's greeting in accordance with the rules of the Blue Bells banquet.

Then her lips echoed these words.

- ..... Let the splendor of the forest shine only for you.

Then the red-eyed man smiled broadly.

- Well, hello, Juliet.

This man had an incredible ability to control the atmosphere around him only thanks to his appearance.

And Juliet, without even looking back, already knew that all the views of the guests in the banquet hall, where the coffin silence now stood, were aimed at her.

Because of these views, her skin seemed to punish.

- Why...?

Feeling strong pressure, Juliet was somehow able to open her lips, but she didn't know where to start. Meanwhile, Lennox grabbed her by the wrist in the blink of an eye while she was stationary.

His lips lightly touched Juliet's back of palm, and then he stepped back, but before he left, there was a loud sigh among the audience.

Juliet looked at her wrist. It flaunted a wreath of bright blue flowers, neatly tied like a bracelet.

- That's how it's customary to do, isn't it? - Lennox muttered quietly.

None of his actions were wrong, he performed the whole ritual according to the rules of etiquette of this ball.

Entering the banquet hall, he must have first of all snatched a wreath of the flowers of a bell from the servant's hands.

In fact, few guests followed the rules of etiquette for this banquet. And in most cases, even just knowing the words of greeting was already considered a great achievement.

Affectionately stroking the flowers on her wrist, Juliet whispered:

- I thought I would be rejected.

- Why?

- You don't like to be bothered.

Lennox narrowed his red eyes by looking at her. However, Juliet did not notice it because she was sitting with her head down.

Lennox held out his hand to her.

- I think this play is already enough. Let's get out of here.

But Juliet looked at his hand and shook her head.

- I can't walk because of my ankle.

- How did you get here?

- There's that man...

When Juliet pointed to a servant standing on the side, Lennox slightly frowned his eyebrows. Then, having somehow misinterpreted her words, he muttered something like curse.

The next moment, he picked up Juliet in his arms and headed for the exit from the hall.

- I didn't mean you to help me.

However, now it was a little late for this amendment.

Juliet clearly saw expressions of deep amazement on people's faces behind his broad shoulders. She even seems to have seen Fatima's embarrassed face, who was watching her at that moment.

Then slowly blinking, Juliet intuitively felt something that instantly made her body colder.

At that very moment, she said goodbye to her childhood and former life forever.