The Empress seemed to have decided upon an entirely new strategy the moment the Duke of Carlisle appeared at the palace.
She began attempting in every conceivable way to please and pamper Juliet—as though she had been a loving adoptive mother from the very beginning.
"I would prefer that you remain in my palace until you've fully recovered."
The Empress generously offered her the most luxurious guest chambers in her personal wing.
This sudden concern was rather burdensome for Juliet, but she eventually accepted the offer—partly because she bore some responsibility for the werewolf's intrusion into the imperial forest.
Fortunately, the thoughts of the Emperor and Empress did not appear to extend quite that far.
Roy and his companions had retrieved Graham and returned to the forest to administer punishment there. However, a considerable number of witnesses had observed just how intimately Juliet and Roy interacted.
While residing in the palace, Juliet resolved to comply with the Empress's requests.
Since she couldn't predict how her choices might influence her future, she thought it wiser to cultivate the best possible relationship with Her Majesty.
Having donned the gown selected for her by the Empress, Juliet entered the banquet hall and settled into a chair in the far corner—where the chandelier light fell slightly less brightly, creating a semblance of privacy.
Due to the day's upheaval, many guests avoided her, casting fearful glances from a distance. If she accidentally caught someone's eye, there were only two reactions: either they would hastily drop their gaze as though discovering something fascinating on the floor, or they would attempt an awkward smile—though all such smiles appeared equally strained.
*Well, that's not so terrible,* Juliet thought with private amusement, observing how people reacted to her presence.
"I beg your pardon, Countess Montague."
Juliet's thoughts were interrupted by sudden interest from a different category of guests.
"What?"
Juliet responded with unintentional curtness, startled when a young, dark-haired noblewoman—whose name she didn't know—addressed her.
But then, collecting herself, she smiled politely. She noticed that several other young ladies had gathered around her as well.
Encouraged by her smile, the dark-haired aristocrat summoned her courage and spoke again:
"Forgive me once more, Countess. Perhaps my question will seem impertinent, but… could you tell us how you know the young gentleman you spoke with this morning?"
Waiting for her response, the girls fell silent, their glittering eyes fixed upon her with rapt attention. Their company was somewhat intrusive—intruding upon her solitude—but Juliet sensed no malice behind their curiosity. Besides, there was nothing about her relationship with Roy that required concealment.
"He is my friend."
"Oh, truly?!"
"Being friends with a Lycan is simply *extraordinary*!"
Juliet glanced slyly at the young aristocrats.
It was a pleasant change to interact with them—she'd had precious little contact with people in this age group over the past several years.
Looking at these young women, whose eyes sparkled with pure, innocent curiosity, Juliet thought they seemed very sweet. They reminded her of herself at their age. So she decided to indulge their questions.
"Yes. We met during a train journey."
"Oh my goodness! How *romantic*!"
This was an entirely expected reaction.
"Ah—then perhaps you made a promise to be with him…?"
"No, I never promised anything of the sort—"
This exchange occurred around the time the conversation began veering in a direction Juliet would have preferred to avoid.
"So, no?"
Hearing a familiar voice, Juliet looked around. A strikingly handsome man stood motionless directly beside her, gazing down at her with a cold, unreadable expression.
"Your Grace."
Juliet greeted him politely, offering a slight smile.
"Well, it's time for us to leave…"
The girls who had just been chatting sweetly with Juliet scattered like herbivores confronted by a predator.
"Do you have business with me?"
"I merely wished to ask the lady for a dance."
Juliet looked into his impenetrable crimson eyes.
*The Duke of Carlisle? Dancing? What utter nonsense.*
Even the people standing nearby glanced around in astonishment upon hearing his words.
But then Juliet, slowly examining his attire, realized he was entirely serious when she noted how impeccably dressed he was.
Everything about him was flawless—save for the bandage wrapped around his left hand. In other words, he appeared to be a man who had meticulously prepared for this banquet.
*What on earth is this about?*
"What if I refuse?"
"If I were you, I wouldn't," he said without smiling.
It wasn't blackmail in the strictest sense. His manner of speaking remained quite polite—but Juliet suddenly felt profoundly uneasy.
"…Fine."
The last time she had danced with him had been years ago.
Juliet studied the man whose intentions remained utterly mysterious, wondering whether he would ignore a misstep and continue dancing if he accidentally stumbled.
Lennox disliked dancing before an audience—but Juliet had still managed to dance with him a handful of times.
In truth, he excelled at anything involving bodily control. He possessed exceptional command over his movements.
The music shifted to a slower melody as they approached the section of the hall where other aristocrats were dancing. Aside from the pleasant tune, the room had fallen silent—for the moment he addressed Juliet, cheerful laughter and animated conversations had died away entirely.
The gazes directed at them made her skin prickle as though pierced by a thousand tiny needles.
*How peculiar this spectacle must appear to others.*
"Answer me, Juliet."
But as soon as she took the first step after the dance commenced, she immediately regretted accepting his hand—unable to overcome her curiosity.
"Didn't the wolf cub promise you the position of queen?"
There was no avoiding an answer while in such close proximity to a man who stared at her intently, smoothly guiding her through the steps.
"This has nothing whatsoever to do with Your Grace. Therefore, you have no right to ask me such questions," Juliet replied icily.
"Oh, truly?"
Lennox arched one eyebrow with ironic amusement, then continued without a trace of humor:
"However, I don't believe anyone is permitted to speak so dismissively to the savior of their life."
"The savior?"
"Wasn't I the guiding light that appeared in your dark forest?"
It took Juliet a heartbeat to grasp what he meant.
"Ah!"
He was referring to the incident in the hunting grounds.
If not for him, it was impossible to imagine what might have befallen her in that snowy wilderness. Moreover, according to rumors, the palace guards had only located her *after* the Duke of Carlisle's arrival.
"So what do you truly want?" Juliet asked reluctantly.
"Contract extension."
Juliet could scarcely believe her ears upon hearing his demand. The next moment, she laughed aloud.
"You asked me to dance to discuss *this*?"
If he weren't holding her arm with one hand and her waist with the other, she would have turned and departed long ago. The purpose of this conversation was so absurd she didn't believe it warranted further attention.
"Hear me out," Lennox whispered, tightening his grip on her waist and drawing her closer. "If you extend our previous contract for a few additional months, I'll release you quietly when the term expires."
"Why would I need that?"
"…This way, you can obtain what you want."
"You cannot give me anything I want," Juliet said coldly.
"I don't believe that's true. Think about it."
*What could he possibly give me? A quiet separation?*
Juliet didn't quite comprehend his meaning.
"What happens if I refuse?"
"You shouldn't."
Then Lennox leaned closer and asked in a voice barely above a whisper:
"You don't wish to lose what's dear to you, do you?"
Juliet pulled away from his embrace and stood motionless, her porcelain-smooth forehead creased in a frown.
"Why do you persist in doing things you've never done before?"
*He's not a child. So why…?*
"Continuing this relationship between us is fundamentally wrong," Juliet whispered with a quiet sigh.
Lennox smiled faintly and replied with disarming casualness:
"Because you keep treating me like a child."
Juliet glared at him—but it was the most honest answer he could offer.
---
Lennox Carlisle had believed he understood the woman named Juliet Montague exceptionally well. For instance, when and how she laughed. Or the sweet sounds she made during moments of intimacy—sometimes resembling quiet sobs.
Seven years was a considerable span of time.
Someone's presence beside you for such a duration became natural enough to dull all interest.
So he had thought, having grown thoroughly accustomed to her constant proximity. He had also believed there was nothing more curious or interesting about her left to discover.
But his self-assurance had been violently shaken by her unexpected actions.
The woman who had fled after coldly deceiving him had proven to be an entirely different person. She was *not* the Juliet Montague who had stood beside him for seven years.
The moment Juliet ran from him, the emotion he experienced had been closer to *fear* than betrayal.
And then he'd finally been forced to admit: he knew precious little about Juliet Montague.
---
At that moment, the slow melody drew to a close, and applause erupted throughout the hall.
"Your Grace."
Juliet sighed softly and spoke in a soothing tone—as though addressing a stubborn child.
"Even if you insist, I have nothing to give you. And frankly, I don't understand what you want from me."
Her voice was remarkably gentle as she attempted to placate him.
"You also said yourself that a contract can only be concluded if there's something to exchange. So—"
"We *have* something to trade," Lennox insisted, taking Juliet's hand firmly.
Juliet regarded him with mild confusion, still uncertain what he meant. Just like now, Juliet frequently wore an expression that made it impossible to discern her thoughts.
"Is there?"
And there were often moments when she responded while looking at him with such a mysterious gleam in her sapphire eyes that it became impossible to predict what she might do next.
As she gazed at him calmly, he suddenly felt an unconscious unease—as though fearing the woman before him could vanish at any instant.
He could barely endure this burning sensation without immediately pulling her into his arms to confirm her physical existence.
"There is something you must give me."
But barely suppressing his inner thirst, Lennox bent low and pressed his lips to the back of her hand with the utmost propriety.
"Your Grace…"
"So you'd better not keep me waiting too long."
However, his crimson eyes—which gazed at her as he kissed her hand—were as disrespectful and domineering as ever.
A short while later, when Lennox gallantly escorted Juliet back to her seat and prepared to take his leave, he leaned slightly toward her and whispered in her ear, barely audibly:
"You know perfectly well I don't possess much patience."
---