Chapter 3 (Part 1)

William was truly a bad guy.

Before she even got up in the morning to meet William, something knocked on the balcony door. When she drew back the curtains, she saw small pebbles flying and hitting the door. Calming her strange unease, she opened the balcony door and went outside.

“Romeo?”

And as always, her ominous premonition was correct. Below the balcony in the backyard, Romeo was picking up small pebbles.

“Juliet, you came out.”

Romeo, having discovered her, approached the balcony with open arms. Seeing his exaggerated gestures and fervent expression, it was clear that the content of the play was progressing. Supporting her thoughts, her body moved to the balcony railing and leaned against it, regardless of her will.

“Juliet, as the conflict between the Montague and Capulet families intensifies, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to meet you. Juliet, I wish I could be with you forever.”

“Romeo, if your love is truly sincere, if you love me more than the Montague family, promise me.”

“I’ll promise anything you want. Sincerity, eternity, what else should I promise?”

Contrary to her touched heart by Romeo’s immediate response, her mind was desperately racing. 

This scene, could it be the one I was thinking of?

“I’ll send someone in three days. If you think of marrying me, let me know where and when the ceremony will be. If you do that, I’ll throw my entire fate to you and follow you anywhere in this world.”

Ah. Her body was eagerly shouting, but goosebumps were rising in her mind. She felt like her whole body was about to twist. 

What was I trusting to throw my fate to that guy?

“Juliet. I swear.”

As Romeo finished speaking, she sensed a presence from the opposite side of the garden. Romeo left without taking his eyes off her until the last moment.

It was a disaster. Her wish for William to write a little slower was too diligent to be fulfilled. William was truly a bad guy.

Calming her mind, she headed to William’s house late.

Thinking positively, she had three days of leeway. She had no intention of getting engaged to Romeo. In that case, she had to find a way to break the Masterpiece or change the story within three days. Breaking the Masterpiece was one thing, but William was the one who could change the story.

“Juliet, welcome.”

Upon arriving at the Shakespeare residence, William welcomed her. Considering the cold receptions she had faced before, she felt like she might cry tears of gratitude.

He naturally guided her to his studio. Come to think of it, whenever she visited his house, the purpose was always his writing. To be guided to the studio instead of the drawing room upon arrival, it felt a little embarrassing as if her intentions were transparent.

“Come to think of it, we couldn’t look around the gallery last time. Let’s go together next time if we have the chance.”

Feeling awkward, she brought up a topic he might like, and his eyes sparkled.

“I’m available anytime. Let’s set a date when you’re free.”

“Alright. It’s our first date, isn’t it?”

At her playful remark, William’s face turned red in an instant. Seeing that dramatic change made her feel embarrassed.

“A d-d-date? A date is when a man and a woman who like each other meet!”

“I like you, William, but don’t like me?”

Seeing him excessively flustered, a mischievous feeling arose. She wasn’t doing this to trouble William, but because she needed to win him over to survive. She attached a random excuse and questioned him.

“Of course, I like you, Juliet, but that’s, like admiration, not in a strange way… Not that I dislike you, Juliet!”

And William showed an amusing reaction, more than enough to give her change. The more he flustered and denied, the more certain his feelings for her became, making it both embarrassing and endearing.

“I don’t have desires beyond my means!”

But what he said was becoming increasingly strange.

“I hope you meet the gentleman who suits your best and becomes happy, Juliet.”

He said that with sincere eyes. 

Was he serious?

It was clear that William liked her. He called her name after seeing her when wearing ‘The Lovely Person.’ Even if not, his attitude towards her left no room to doubt his feelings. If asked, ninety-nine out of a hundred people would say so. The remaining one would be someone seriously oblivious.

“Really.”

But now, a very slim possibility was emerging. The possibility that William himself might be that one person.

“Juliet, you should meet the most wonderful gentleman in Vernerk and be happy.”

It was like a lie. Every time he looked at her, he seemed like he was wagging a non-existent tail. Even now, with such fervent eyes, he was looking at her.

William hadn’t yet realized that he liked her.

* * *

She read William’s notes in the studio. There was a page filled with disorganized notes, as if he was organizing ideas, with traces of pen marks crossing out what he had written. If there was a plot summarizing the latter part, it would be great. However, his script was cut off at the part where she and Romeo promised marriage in front of Friar Lawrence. She could only smack her lips in disappointment.

“William, do you have any plans in three days?”

She decided to put aside the plan to change the story. The promise of marriage was already written. It was almost impossible to change this content.

But it was just an engagement after all. Romeo and Juliet wouldn’t end up getting married anyway. The only thing hurt by this would be her mental state from having to promise marriage to Romeo. She could sacrifice that for the greater cause. Although it would be quite distressing.

“If it’s three days later, I have no plans. Shall we go to the gallery then?”

“No. There’s somewhere I’d like you to accompany me. If you’re available, I’ll tell you then.”

She intended to use this engagement to make William realize his feelings.

Until now, she thought William was someone who wrote about the romance of others, not the person he liked. It was a strange taste, but it wasn’t a problem she could solve. The only thing she could do was to make him like her more than his taste.

But William was merely admiring her. No, he was mistaken that it was just admiration. If so, the solution was simple. Make him aware of his feelings. It was much simpler than trying to seduce him or devise various schemes.

She would make William a witness to her engagement ceremony. Even William, who was quite oblivious, would realize his feelings to that extent.

When he believed he was friends with Romeo, he was certainly aware of his feelings. Otherwise, he couldn’t have made such a tragic expression. Whether it was due to jealousy of Romeo or because the situation seemed impossible, it was unclear. Although the realization disappeared along with the vanished memories, with the right catalyst, William could fully realize his feelings again. Moreover, if things went well, there was a possibility of gaining another advantage.

“Whenever you call, Juliet, I’m always welcome.”

William smiled gently. It was a smile that somehow pricked her conscience.

“Then shall we meet in three days?”

“No, William. Could we meet again tomorrow?”

“What?”

William asked back as if surprised. But there was a condition that had to be met to succeed in this plan.

“This time, let’s really look around the gallery together.”

That the next content wouldn’t be written. At least, that the original content wouldn’t be written.

In the original, the scene following Romeo and Juliet’s engagement is the duel between Tybalt and Mercutio. And the outcome of that is Mercutio’s death. If it goes further, Tybalt would die, and Romeo would become a murderer. Escaping from the Masterpiece was, of course, the most important thing. But she couldn’t just sit and watch the situation escalate to that extent. If there was a life she could save, she had to save it.

And for that, she planned not to leave William’s side for the next three days. No matter how much Shakespeare admired her, he wouldn’t write while meeting the lady he admired!