Chapter 2 (Part 2)

Mercutio appearing yesterday was truly a stroke of luck. Thanks to him, she could come up with this plan.

The decisive factor leading Romeo and Juliet to tragedy was Mercutio. From the moment Tybalt killed Mercutio, the wheels started rolling towards tragedy.

If Tybalt hadn’t killed Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet would have safely gotten married. That would have been terrible in its own way, but it was better than the worst. If it didn’t work out, there was even a way to divorce after William completed the script. As long as William didn’t include a sentence like ‘The two lived happily ever after without separating for a long time,’ it was possible.

Moreover, Mercutio hadn’t appeared in William’s story yet. That meant he was still free from the Masterpiece.

The emotions derived from the Masterpiece were all fake, but they were more vivid than real emotions. For someone who didn’t know the original like her, there would be no suspicion about sudden emotions. Considering that, a character that hadn’t appeared yet had a significant advantage.

Tybalt had already appeared, but his hostility was only towards people from the Montague family. Fortunately, Mercutio was the son of a lord. Except for being friends with Romeo, he had no connection with the Montague family.

It would be very difficult to make Mercutio and Tybalt friendly, but since there was no magic influence, it wasn’t impossible. And she would show William the friendly pair. So he couldn’t even imagine a development where Tybalt killed Mercutio. While at it, she should also meet William and try to charm him a bit more. It was a perfect plan.

Thus began the operation ‘Tybalt and Mercutio, Be Friends.’

* * *

If she were even slightly stronger than Tybalt, she would have grabbed him by the collar and dragged him to Mercutio.

“Tybalt, Mercutio seems like a really nice person. He has great loyalty to his friends. He seems like someone worth being close to.”

“Isn’t Mercutio Romeo’s friend? You know a person by their friends. If he’s loyal to someone like Romeo, then he’s worth knowing.”

“Tybalt, Mercutio seems like a very generous person. Even when I was rude, he accepted it graciously. I think it would be good for you to be friends with him.”

“If he’s lenient enough to accept someone like Romeo, that’s also a problem. You need to be firm when necessary.”

Such pointless exchanges happened several times. She was completely fed up. Tybalt, either didn’t have ears to listen or a brain to understand. To him, Mercutio wasn’t Mercutio but ‘that Montague’s friend.’ And he didn’t seem to have any intention of hearing or accepting any further explanation. Such a narrow-minded person!

She went up to her room and took out stationery. She wanted Tybalt, to know what his stubbornness had driven her to do. And she hoped he would regret it. She wrote the first line on the stationery.

[To Romeo]

* * *

“It’s magnificent.”

Tybalt, murmured with a tired expression.

“That’s the beauty of it.” 

She said soothingly.

They were at the National Gallery. Tybalt, had a weary face from the entrance. He had reluctantly followed her request, but his reluctance was evident. Well, art didn’t suit Tybalt, even in her eyes. He was a typical warrior no matter how you looked at him.

“Why are you looking around like that?”

“It’s nothing.”

Tybalt, nodded without much suspicion at her innocent face. She secretly sighed in relief.

There was a purpose in bringing Tybalt, to an art gallery that didn’t suit him. She glanced around without turning her head. Growing anxious as she didn’t see the person she had arranged to meet.

She had asked Romeo to come to the National Gallery. With Mercutio.

Of course, she didn’t expect them to naturally become friends upon meeting. Judging by Tybalt’s stubborn attitude, that was impossible. If Mercutio was with Romeo, the result was obvious without even looking.

To counter magic, the power of magic was needed. She came to the gallery to see the Masterpiece ‘Friendship.’ Or rather, to show it.

Every Masterpiece contains magic. The magic in ‘Friendship’ was as the title suggested. A sense of camaraderie would sprout between two people who viewed the painting together. She planned to show that painting to Tybalt, and Mercutio. Meeting Romeo was a dangerous adventure for her, but if the operation succeeded, she would gain results beyond the risk.

Of course, she didn’t think they would look at the painting amicably just because they met Mercutio at the gallery. Life wasn’t that easy. So more delicate manipulation was needed.

First, she and Romeo confirm each other’s position at the gallery.

Second, lure Tybalt, and Mercutio to ‘Friendship’ without being noticed.

Third, make them look at ‘Friendship’ simultaneously.

It was a simple operation. But execution was more difficult than expected. She was stuck from the start, unable to find Romeo.

“There’s a bug.”

Tybalt, murmured with a voice full of hostility. It was too grim a tone to have seen a real bug. No way. She followed his gaze with a sense of foreboding. As if planned, Romeo and Mercutio were there.

“A gallery where bugs enter. Displeasing. Let’s go back.”

Tybalt, turned to leave. She couldn’t end it like this. She hurriedly spoke.

“I want to look around the gallery.”

“You don’t have to visit the gallery right now.  Just being in the same space as that Montague is unpleasant. Let’s appreciate art next time.”

This time too, Tybalt’s stubbornness showed no sign of breaking. She decided to play her trump card.

“If you’re going back, go alone. I must see the artwork here today.”

He looked at her with undisguised displeasure. She met his gaze squarely. He sighed shallowly. 

Was the operation a success?

“Then look around alone. I’ll go back.”

Tybalt, turned and walked away. He was a rather generous to her, his cousin, to follow her to a gallery he didn’t like. But that generosity couldn’t overcome his hatred for Montague.

The operation was a failure. She walked towards Romeo. She didn’t want to meet him, but since she had called him for the operation, it was her responsibility to inform him of the failure and send him back.

“Romeo.”

“You called me first.”

Romeo replied with a face full of emotion at her call. She had to try hard not to openly harden her expression. The current Romeo was quite creepy. And she was greatly disappointed in herself for her heart racing despite that.

It was all because of the magic. She composed herself. It was impolite to ignore him after asking for a favor. If it were only Romeo, she wouldn’t have cared for politeness, but Mercutio was with him now.

For the operation ‘Tybalt and Mercutio, Let’s Be Friends,’ she might need Mercutio’s help anytime. It wouldn’t hurt to make a good impression. She struggled to smile at Romeo.

“Tybalt noticed. I’ll go back for today.”

“It’s not as easy as I thought. But Juliet, if it’s an obstacle to overcome for you, I’ll overcome it as much as I can.”

Don’t act up, heart. 

She was genuinely sorry for her heart. Why was it racing at such a cheap line! Romeo seemed to think this operation was a trial for their love. In fact, it was an operation to destroy that love. She sighed shallowly.

“What’s going on?”

Mercutio approached them, whispering. She put on an elegant smile as if she hadn’t sighed.

“Hello, Mercutio.”

Mercutio nodded with a reluctant face at her greeting. Well, Mercutio had seen her ignore Romeo and enter the mansion last time. It would seem strange for her to suddenly appear and talk to Romeo. She had no suitable excuse, so she smiled and kept her mouth shut.

“Mercutio, since we’ve met, let’s have Juliet join us.”

Romeo took the initiative while she remained silent. She had just said she would go back.

“No. I was just about to leave, so you two should continue.”

She spoke to Mercutio without even glancing at Romeo. Mercutio, caught in the middle, furrowed his brow as if in a dilemma.

“Juliet, don’t be like that…”

“Juliet?”

Just as Romeo was about to reach for her, someone called her name.

“William?”

It was William. He looked delighted, like a puppy greeting its owner. Each time they met, his gaze towards her became more fervent. She almost imagined seeing ears and a tail on him.

“What brings you here?”

“I came to seek inspiration because my writing wasn’t going well. I thought seeing some good artwork might stimulate me. What brings you here, Juliet?”

“She came to see me.”

Romeo interjected. William finally turned his gaze to Romeo, who was standing beside her. The smile that had been on his face began to fade. It was as if the vigorously wagging tail was now drooping.

“Juliet, would you introduce us?”

Romeo requested. His gaze was persistently fixed on William. She had no choice but to speak up.

“This is William. William Shakespeare. And William, this is Romeo Montague.”

“William Shakespeare, you say? Didn’t you say he just returned home not long ago? Are you close enough to call him by name already?”

Romeo bombarded her with questions. Burning with jealousy, Romeo didn’t realize how rude he was being.

“Hello. I’m William Shakespeare.”

William was the first to extend his hand to Romeo. Only then did Romeo realize his mistake and took the offered hand.

“I apologize. I’m Romeo Montague.”

As soon as Romeo finished his introduction, both men released their hands almost immediately, as if they couldn’t stand to be in contact any longer.