Chapter 1 (Part 3)

“It’s truly a beautiful ball. The Capulet family’s taste is indeed impressive.”

“You flatter me.”

Miss Rosaline looked around with sparkling eyes. Her face, which she had shyly lowered to hide, was completely filled with a pale expression.

Her mother’s enthusiasm was indeed impressive. It seemed she had displayed all the Masterpieces she had collected over the years in the hall. Thanks to that, the hall was filled with all sorts of magic. It was indeed a beautiful sight, but she had become a little tired of the splendor.

“Speaking of Masterpieces, it reminds me, have you heard that Mr. William Shakespeare has returned to Vernerk?”

Her face stiffened involuntarily at the unwelcome name. She quickly composed her expression and showed an elegant smile.

“Yes. We invited him to this ball, but it seems he had some busy matters. It’s really unfortunate. However, even his letter of refusal was so beautiful that I thought, indeed, a writer is different.”

Although she had known Shakespeare for less than a week, she replied as if she had heard of his fame for a long time. In social circles, a certain amount of facade was essential.

“Oh my, I really want to see him at least once.”

“But what does Mr. Shakespeare have to do with Masterpieces?”

She had never heard that Shakespeare had completed a Masterpiece. If he were a writer capable of completing a Masterpiece, she would have known, even if he had been in another country.

“There’s a rumor going around that Mr. Shakespeare might complete a Masterpiece with his next work.”

“Wow, that’s impressive.”

The response that came out like reading a book was not intentional. However, she sincerely wanted to avoid rain or lightning in a play modeled after her. That would truly be a real 4D theater experience.

“Oh, I have a dance appointment for the next song, so I’ll be off.”

Rosaline bowed slightly and left. It was time for her to meet her dance partner as well. 

But a dance appointment? Romeo wasn’t supposed to be here today, was he? 

She tilted her head in wonder.

Rosaline was Romeo’s lover. And one of the original characters she had not yet shaken off. The original story begins with Romeo meeting Juliet after being rejected by Rosaline.

Every time she saw Romeo and Rosaline together, she felt a strange sense of peace. As long as those two kept meeting, her life would be safe, she thought. And that couple had been steadily meeting for three years, serving as her nerve stabilizer. She vaguely thought they would eventually get married, despite countless small quarrels.

“Juliet, here you are.”

A familiar voice came from behind. It was the second original character she had not shaken off.

“Tybalt.”

Tybalt was the decisive character who led Romeo and Juliet to ruin. Yet the reason she couldn’t ignore him was simple.

“Aunt said you’d be here.”

It was blood. Just as she couldn’t discard the Capulet name, she couldn’t cut off Tybalt Capulet either.

Ah, relatives. 

Her curiosity about Rosaline’s dance partner was finally resolved. It was quite common for a woman without a lover or fiancé to dance with family or relatives. Although Rosaline had a lover, he couldn’t be at this event either.

The music changed, and a waltz filled the hall. Tybalt extended his hand to her. She lightly placed her hand on his. Tybalt skillfully led her.

In his appearance while dancing, there was no trace of his usual lively demeanor. However, seeing his passionate movements as if he couldn’t make a single mistake, it seemed that a person’s character always showed in some way. She moved her feet busily to follow him.

Her vision spun along with the twirling movements. As her sight filled with the dazzling magical ornaments, she began to feel a little dizzy. Something fixed her gaze amidst the rapidly spinning scenery. Someone was moving stealthily near the terrace.

“Romeo?”

He was someone who shouldn’t be here. If they hadn’t sent an invitation, it meant her mother’s resolve not to let Montague people into the mansion was quite firm. She looked at him with a bewildered gaze.

“What?”

Tybalt, who had been focused solely on the dance, suddenly turned his fierce gaze. She realized her mistake only then. But it was already too late. Tybalt had already stopped dancing and turned his head towards where Romeo was.

“It’s incredibly rude to sneak into a party uninvited.”

Tybalt began to walk towards Romeo. His demeanor was fierce as if he was about to hit him. It was an excessive reaction, no matter how you looked at it.

The reason for not inviting the Montagues wasn’t due to any particular tradition or grudge. It was just her mother’s sudden stubbornness. Yet such a reaction. No matter how hot-tempered Tybalt was, it was certainly excessive. And that excessive reaction overlapped with the original Tybalt.

While she was contemplating, he was getting closer to Romeo. She tried to shake off the thought that crossed her mind. She had to stop Tybalt first. There was no greater embarrassment than having the host cause a disturbance at a ball with guests present.

“Tybalt, wait a moment!”

“What is it, Juliet? If it’s not urgent, let’s deal with that uninvited guest first and then talk.”

“Are you thinking of using violence? You haven’t forgotten there are guests, have you?”

Only then did Tybalt’s steps halt.

“Father is talking with the guests over there. Go help him. I’ll go to Romeo.”

“Juliet, I can’t let you handle him alone.”

“If both of us go, we’ll only draw attention. Please, go.”

Tybalt looked displeased but began to walk in the opposite direction. Watching his back as he walked towards their father, she also turned and started moving.

There was only one reason Romeo would come here. Rosaline. Without her, there was no reason for him to come to a place he wasn’t invited. Would anything significant happen just because they spent a night apart at a ball? It was truly a love of the century.

She muttered all sorts of complaints inwardly as she approached him. It was the moment when seven years of effort to avoid him shattered into pieces.

Romeo, who turned his head just in time, spotted her. She pointed towards the balcony, making sure he saw, and walked away without looking back.

Before long, Romeo entered the balcony. His response was more compliant than expected. For a childhood friend who had ignored him for seven years to call him, albeit not with words but with gestures, and for him to follow obediently. Well, he was a trespasser now. He wasn’t in a position to ignore the homeowner’s call.

She raised her head to say something sharp. She really didn’t want to get involved with him. She truly didn’t want him intruding into her life like this.

“Romeo.”

But when she raised her head, his expression was peculiar. He was looking at her with an enchanting expression as if he were bewitched by something.

“Juliet.”

He called her name in a low voice. A chill ran down her spine.

“Would you dance with me?”

He continued. And she realized. Something was definitely going wrong.

‘What about Rosaline?’

She tried to convey her refusal.

“Yes, I’d love to.”

But words of acceptance came out of her mouth.

She tried to push his hand away. But she was already holding his hand. Her body wasn’t listening to her. She had a very similar experience recently.

Even while thinking of something else, her body moved diligently. She and Romeo moved their bodies to the faint music coming from beyond the balcony. His gaze on her was excessively intense.

“I came because I missed you so much, Juliet.”

It was truly a sudden remark. They weren’t in a relationship where they would miss each other. Maybe with Rosaline. But once again, her body betrayed her will.

She watched herself blush shyly from a third-person perspective. It was as if she had seen something unsightly, and her body shivered. A shot of her and Romeo. It was beyond cringe-worthy; it was terrifying.

Indeed, this scene was actually horror itself. Romeo sneaking into the ball and Juliet having a secret meeting with him. It was a very familiar prelude to a tragedy.

“Juliet, are you here?”

Tybalt’s voice came from outside the balcony. She hurriedly hid Romeo. Romeo held her busy hands and looked at her with a deep gaze.

“I was rude because I missed you. I hope it won’t be long before we meet again.”

After finishing his words, Romeo briefly kissed the back of her hand and jumped over the balcony railing. This was the second floor! She didn’t have time to stop him. A low thud was heard. Her legs felt numb. It was pathetic to risk one’s life for style. Besides, falling with a thud was not stylish at all.