"Miss Juliet, your mana level hasn't changed."
Ethelid thoughtfully grasped his chin between thumb and forefinger.
"It's exactly the same as before."
After speaking, he extended one hand forward—palm horizontal to the floor—and wobbled it slightly to clearly illustrate her mana's state.
Juliet had turned to the wizard immediately after the doctors proved unable to determine the cause.
But unfortunately, Ethelid's assessment also failed to explain her condition.
Initially, the quantity of Juliet's magical power had never been exceptional.
Quite the opposite—there was so little that, theoretically, it shouldn't have been sufficient even to summon butterflies at will.
Yet Juliet could freely summon them—not to mention control them.
That was why Ethelid had taken interest in her, observing closely from the moment they'd met.
He'd even considered that perhaps everything had been a fortunate accident until now. He found it quite natural that Juliet had eventually lost her butterflies.
But Juliet didn't agree.
"When I was in the interdimensional prison, I took the soul stone from Sebastian."
Juliet briefly explained what had transpired in the dollhouse.
From the dolls Sebastian controlled to the theft of the soul stone created from his sister's cremated remains.
"Well—perhaps that's the reason."
"Because of Xenovia's soul stone?"
"Yes. Magical and divine powers are diametrically opposed to each other."
"Even if I only used divine power through the stone?"
"I'm not certain about that."
Ethelid's serious expression shifted to uncertainty.
"We need to learn more about this girl named Xenovia and her soul stone. If she truly was as brilliant as claimed, then perhaps records exist somewhere—even though considerable time has passed."
Then he suddenly grinned mischievously.
"I believe you're the only person in this world who's dared to summon so many spirits directly in Lucerne's center."
His voice brimmed with genuine admiration.
This incident was unprecedented. He already knew that the incredible sight of hundreds of shimmering butterflies hovering above Lucerne was something he would never forget.
"Sir Ethelid, you just looked like a genuinely wicked wizard."
"What can I do when I feel exhilaration every time I imagine that thrilling scene?" Ethelid replied with a casual shrug.
Everyone knew about the confrontation between temple and tower—it had persisted for ages.
"It's equivalent to planting a fluttering flag in the middle of enemy territory!"
Of course, Juliet wasn't a sorceress and had no connection to the tower whatsoever. Yet he was correct in some respects—she had wielded magic in the Holy Land itself.
Ethelid knew plenty of mad wizards who would pay fortunes merely to witness someone deploy supremely powerful magic in Lucerne's heart.
"Miss Juliet, if you visited the tower, every wizard would queue just to see you. They'd tiptoe around you and offer the most expensive, exquisite delicacies."
"But isn't what they actually want to see the spirit capable of such feats?"
Except that spirit was actually a butterfly demon—and now she could no longer summon it.
When Juliet responded rather coldly, Ethelid's enthusiasm dimmed.
"Ah, well..."
"Are we finished?"
Ethelid opened his mouth hesitantly, meeting her eyes with slight embarrassment.
"Well... yes."
---
## — The Dragon Who Cannot Fly —
Juliet descended to the mansion's first floor with Ethelid after the examination concluded.
"Q?"
Onyx, who had been lounging in a chair before the living room fireplace, rushed toward Juliet the instant he spotted her.
He was so delighted that he began leaping and circling around her excitedly.
"Q!"
She hadn't seen him for an entire week. In that time, he'd certainly grown considerably. He was now quite large and heavy—more than could comfortably be held in one hand.
After brief contemplation, Juliet lifted Onyx and raised him just above her knees to test whether he could fly. He flapped his wings vigorously—but ultimately failed to achieve liftoff.
"Is it because he's still a baby? Or is he simply too small?"
"Miss Juliet, they're typically called hatchlings. Adults teach them everything."
"So it's because he lacks an adult dragon to train him?"
Or was it because he was the first dragon born in hundreds of years?
She also recalled that the place where she'd discovered Onyx was a long-abandoned dungeon, where his egg had lain neglected for an unknown duration.
*Perhaps he was born unhealthy from being in that dungeon so long?*
Regardless, while Onyx remained in Juliet's arms, he appeared supremely happy—as though this was what he desired more than anything in the world.
*Silly creature. You don't understand at all what's happening around you.*
Meanwhile, Ethelid—who seemed to have completely lost interest in Onyx, though he'd previously been fascinated—suddenly remarked:
"Don't worry. Even if he's discovered, everyone will soon decide he's not a great dragon but merely a winged cat, since he's no better than one."
The Terrarium incident had spawned rumors that a baby great dragon had been spotted within its walls.
Juliet found this circumstance mildly distressing.
"Perhaps it's a false rumor."
"Honestly, I don't know how it happened. But from what I witnessed, Sir Roy picked him up." Ethelid shrugged. "Hmm. How did he even escape?"
Juliet glanced at Onyx, who was fidgeting on her lap.
"Yes, indeed. How *did* you manage to get out?"
"Q...?"
Onyx suddenly rolled onto his back and displayed his belly, gazing at her with the eyes of an innocent lamb.
"Though this is merely rumor currently... if it doesn't fade even after some time passes, serious problems may arise."
This meant that even if she could resolve the butterfly issue, there remained a very real chance of encountering additional trouble.
"Who would've imagined wings are purely decorative...?"
After these words, Ethelid regarded Onyx for a prolonged moment with an expression of utter betrayal.
---
## — Unexpected News —
Just before dinner, Juliet received unexpected news.
*Clink!*
Silver cutlery clattered against a plate.
"...The Duke is in the capital?"
"Yes. Didn't you know?"
Ethelid, who was assisting with plate arrangement during table setting, asked with obvious interest.
Lennox, Duke of Carlisle, rarely departed the North. He spent fewer than a handful of days annually in the capital, attending only those events where his presence was obligatory.
"But why?"
"I don't know precisely what occurred, but he appears gravely ill. There are even rumors he might die... Miss Juliet?"
As Ethelid spoke, Juliet's complexion grew progressively paler.
Only when he noticed the transformation in her expression did he fall silent. For a moment, he'd forgotten she had been the Duke's mistress for seven years.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"Yes. I need... I'm sorry."
Juliet hesitated briefly, then apologized and sprinted up the stairs.
*What an idiot I am! It's so obvious! Why didn't I think of this immediately?!*
No matter how formidable he was, how could he possibly be unscathed after breaking through so many sacred barriers?
*But why did he do it...? Did he truly do that just to save me?*
Juliet rushed to her room to change.
Her hands trembled so violently she couldn't fasten her dress buttons properly.
*...It's my fault. He must be in terrible condition if he hasn't departed yet.*
Her heartbeat pounded so loudly it echoed through her skull, but she struggled to think clearly.
Only one thought dominated her mind.
*What if he dies?*
No. That couldn't happen.
*His body is far stronger than an ordinary person's. He won't die from something like this...*
"Juliet?"
"Oh—Roy!"
Hurrying down the stairs, Juliet collided with Roy.
"Um, Roy—I urgently need to visit someone..."
Roy caught Juliet's hand as she mumbled with pallid features. Meeting her gaze, he spoke calmly:
"Juliet."
"Yes?"
"Please calm yourself. Do you want me to escort you there?"
"Yes, please."
Juliet nodded agreement.
Shortly afterward, they climbed into the Montague family's carriage, which immediately departed.
Roy, who had been staring intently from the opposite seat at Juliet—who appeared utterly distracted—suddenly asked:
"Is this why you suddenly decided to go?"
"Hm?"
*Because of this? What does he mean?*
Roy blinked, as though confused by her puzzled expression, then continued calmly:
"Don't you remember? I mean what you said before losing consciousness in the Temple of Lucerne."
*"You must not be at odds with the temple."*
Those were the words she'd told Lennox shortly before losing consciousness.
*Oh God...*
Juliet's face turned ashen once more.