After Helen departed, Juliet turned to examine her reflection. A small, thoughtful smile curved her lips.
It felt like an eternity since she had dressed like this. The sensation was strange—almost foreign.
And no wonder. Just recently, she had been sleeping beneath open skies, huddled in a tent beside a crackling fire. Now she stood in the center of a boutique that rivaled the finest establishments in the capital, draped in an expensive gown and adorned with beautiful jewelry.
However, Juliet declined the emerald necklace the shop offered. Instead, she fastened a pearl strand around her throat—a keepsake from her mother.
The small silver key hanging from it didn't spoil the effect in the least. If anything, it appeared deliberately chosen, an intentional accent.
The finishing touches to her unusual ensemble were a beautiful tiara studded with bright rubies and lustrous pearls, which the girls placed carefully upon her head, along with a matching set of earrings.
By the time the boutique employees completed their work, Juliet had dozed off slightly, allowing them to select her evening makeup without input.
The staff smiled with quiet satisfaction and gently shook her shoulder.
"Miss, we're finished."
They wheeled a large, full-length mirror toward her.
Juliet's eyes widened as she beheld her reflection.
Before her stood a stunningly beautiful woman with chestnut hair swept into an elegant updo. The luxurious crimson dress embraced her figure so perfectly that she seemed to captivate with every glance.
When Juliet blinked in confusion, the beauty in the mirror blinked back—equally surprised.
A touch of red stained her lips. Smooth, barely visible lines traced her eyelids like brushstrokes from a master artist, lending her eyes an enchanting depth. A delicate flush warmed her cheeks, bringing life to her complexion.
"Not too bad, yes?"
*Not too bad?*
Juliet thought the boutique employees either severely underestimated their abilities or were being impossibly modest.
Looking at herself now, she could scarcely believe it was her own face.
*If I had to recreate this myself every day, I don't think I could manage it.*
She had always preferred a neat, elegant appearance over anything flashy or flamboyant. But honestly, that preference had never stemmed from personal taste—she simply hadn't believed such styles would suit her.
Now, Juliet was prepared to admit that perhaps her judgment had been fundamentally wrong all along.
Still feeling vaguely unsettled by the woman gazing back at her, she raised one hand and gently touched her face.
The scattering of blood-red rubies adorning the tiara and earrings shimmered beautifully with the slightest movement.
"You are so beautiful."
A quiet, familiar voice reached her from behind—filled with unmistakable awe.
"Roy!"
When Helen had mentioned that "someone" would arrive to escort her, Juliet hadn't imagined it would be him.
Two weeks had passed since their last meeting.
"Hello, Juliet." Roy smiled tenderly and extended his hand toward her. "I've come to escort the beautiful lady to the banquet."
---
## — At the Temple Entrance —
At the same time, Theo stood guard at the main entrance to the Temple of Lucerne's banquet hall.
Helen had given him strict orders: do not leave your post for a single moment until you've met Juliet. She worried constantly about her niece's safety.
"Well, where the hell is she?"
The moment Theo growled his impatience, he witnessed a peculiar sight.
*Hm?*
A familiar white-haired man from the Lycan tribe was approaching the banquet hall—with some woman on his arm.
"...What the hell is this son of a bitch doing?!"
Theo's anger flared so hot he cursed aloud.
*This is exactly why the wolf shouldn't have been entrusted with this task!*
He had never trusted them. Not for a moment.
*Instead of accompanying Juliet, this bastard dares to show up with another woman?!*
Theo waited for them to draw closer, preparing to deliver several "kind" words. But as the distance closed, he found himself suddenly struck dumb, every thought evaporating from his mind.
The werewolf's companion was such a magnificent beauty that it was impossible to look away.
Gazing upon her, it seemed as though a crimson flower bud had somehow, miraculously, transformed into a human being—departing the world of blossoms to walk among mortals.
That was the impression this woman made.
Meanwhile, the couple strolled calmly into the banquet hall while Theo watched with stunned eyes.
"...Who *is* that woman?"
Although Juliet possessed considerable strength of character, surely if she discovered that the man courting her had arrived with another companion—especially one so stunningly beautiful—she would feel deeply insulted. She would be upset.
*What should I do? Not tell her? But she'll find out anyway... Perhaps offer my sympathy?*
Theo stood paralyzed by anxiety at the entrance.
"Theo? What are you doing out here alone?"
Ethelid, who had arrived at the banquet earlier and was now wandering about with nothing to do, emerged from the hall.
"Never mind that—listen, that bastard Roy arrived with a companion—"
"You mean Juliet?"
"What?" Theo's confusion deepened at Ethelid's unexpected words.
"Roy was escorting Juliet. Didn't you see?"
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm absolutely certain that wolf pup just walked in with..."
His voice trailed off.
*Wait. Could that woman really have been...?*
"That's impossible!"
Theo bolted into the banquet hall, shock written across his face.
---
## — The Terrarium —
In Helen's absence—she had been forced to return to the guild office due to pressing business—Ethelid assumed the role of guardian for both Juliet and Theo at the banquet.
"Welcome to the Terrarium."
Father Solon greeted their group with noticeable condescension.
The Terrarium was a stunning temple structure. The round, high-ceilinged building—constructed from soft, ivory-colored marble—was vast in scale and served as the primary reception hall for honored guests.
At first glance, the space reminded Juliet of a colosseum.
"We have been eagerly anticipating our precious guests this year," Father Solon continued, rubbing his hands together with evident satisfaction.
Leaning slightly toward Juliet, Theo murmured in a voice only she could hear:
"This man delivers the exact same greeting every single year. Does he genuinely seem happy to see our faces?"
Juliet glanced at him. Father Solon had introduced himself as Bishop Sebastian's first assistant.
*But somehow...*
His demeanor was so self-important, so condescending, that he might as well have been the bishop himself.
In his hands, he clutched a small purple book.
At first, Juliet assumed it was holy scripture. When she inquired, he explained that it was a precious registry of the most generous donors that year—the forty-eight families.
Theo's expression made it abundantly clear that he didn't consider these people particularly devout—merely wealthy individuals with more money than they knew how to spend.
"And this year, I am especially proud to introduce you to another lost lamb."
"I don't know who it is," Theo muttered cynically under his breath, "but I'd wager they're responsible for the temple's dramatically increased income."
The term "lost lamb" signified the arrival of a new believer.
Most families donated annually, as the Lebatans did, but the roster of forty-eight chosen families could shift if someone appeared with a particularly substantial contribution.
"Oh, you simply must come and greet our newest guest!"
Father Solon, practically vibrating with excitement, led them deeper into the banquet hall.
In the center of the lavish space, beside a towering window, stood a man.
The instant Juliet saw this "lost lamb," understanding crashed over her like a wave. She knew immediately who Father Solon meant—and why he spoke of the newcomer with such glowing enthusiasm, why he was so eager to make introductions.
A tall, imposing figure with black hair and crimson eyes stood motionless, watching their approach with a languid, predatory gaze.
"Our honored new guest—the Duke of Carlisle!"
---
## — The Bishop's Welcome —
Shortly after, a man dressed in magnificent vestments of white and scarlet entered the banquet hall with majestic steps.
Bishop Sebastian.
As he began to deliver his solemn address, Juliet stood with her eyes fixed firmly on the floor. Not a single word of his speech reached her ears.
*This is a lie. I must be going mad.*
The reason she refused to look up was simple.
Every time she raised her gaze, she was met by red eyes that had not stopped watching her for a single moment.
*Why is the Duke of Carlisle here instead of returning to the North...?*
Of course, Juliet wasn't the only one unsettled.
Even as the bishop spoke, excited murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Every guest present was deeply shocked by this unprecedented situation.
Anyone could attend the celebration if properly invited—that was the established rule.
*But you've never attended such events before. Why are you here...?*
Gathering her composure, Juliet lifted her chin slightly and met his eyes with what she hoped was an expression of perfect indifference.
He made no effort to avoid her gaze. He simply continued watching her—openly, unabashedly.
Then confusion overwhelmed her entirely.
She observed as his attention slowly shifted from her face to Roy, standing at her side. A mocking grin spread across his features, as though he found something deeply amusing.
As though he were laughing at her.
"Welcome to Lucerne. May all our esteemed guests be granted the light and protection of Efreet."
When the bishop's welcoming address concluded, thunderous applause filled the hall.
Juliet turned her head to join in—and flinched in surprise.
*What was that...?*
For a fleeting instant, she could have sworn she met Bishop Sebastian's gaze.
*Perhaps I imagined it?*
Despite his benevolent appearance, numerous mysterious rumors circulated about Sebastian, the new Bishop of Lucerne.
"The whispers about him are quite contradictory," Ethelid murmured suddenly, his eyes fixed on the bishop.
After a brief pause, he added:
"Moreover, I've heard that since this man rose to power, many people have gone missing. Others have died under... mysterious circumstances."
It was impossible to guess his age from appearance alone.
Yet the new bishop seemed remarkably popular among the faithful.
"Your Holiness! May you live a thousand years!"
"Your Holiness, please—a toast!"
"Yes, please! Honor us with a toast!"
By conventional standards, his face could certainly be called handsome.
But as Juliet studied him, she felt nothing beyond a creeping anxiety—its source unclear even to herself.
Whatever his true age, he must have been older than he appeared. His face seemed impossibly young, almost preserved. Or perhaps it was his eyes—like glass beads, flat and unreadable—that stirred such keen unease within her.