Chapter 4 (Part 2)

So far, many things had happened according to what William wrote. And this was the first time he noticed that.

In fact, she hadn’t paid much attention to William’s reaction to the events that occurred. It was a magic that didn’t even allow saying his writing was a Masterpiece. There was no way he would notice that what he wrote matched what happened in reality. She thought there must be some kind of magic involved.

And that assumption was somewhat correct. William didn’t feel any incongruity about her engagement to Romeo. So why did he suddenly,

“Miss Capulet, you have a visitor.”

A sudden voice snapped her out of her thoughts. William’s butler was calling her.

“A visitor? For me?”

This was William’s house. Why would there be a visitor for me? 

Before she could finish her question, a familiar figure emerged from behind the butler.

“Young Lady, what are you doing here at this hour without saying anything! I was worried.”

It was the nanny. Her face was slightly pale, probably because she had run out without saying anything in her haste.

“I’m sorry. I was so distracted that I forgot to tell you.”

“Let’s go back quickly. If the master finds out, it’ll be a big problem.”

Unable to resist the nanny’s urging, she hurriedly left the Shakespeare residence. Even in the carriage on the way home, her mind was not settled. On the contrary, she felt increasingly confused.

Reality had begun to diverge from the original. It was a very hopeful story. Because if she followed the original, all that awaited her was death. An inevitable sense of anticipation welled up inside her. Perhaps she had taken a step away from death.

But on the other hand, it also meant she had lost a reliable compass. The story she knew could no longer serve as her guideline. She had no complaints about the current situation. It was what she had wished for. But now she had to walk with her own thoughts and strength.

What would happen next? 

A mixture of strange anticipation and anxiety filled her.

“A trial?”

Her mother nodded at her surprised question.

“Since there was a sword fight in the domain, it’s only natural. Besides, one of the injured is the Lord’s son.”

It made sense. Come to think of it, in the original, Romeo was put on trial for killing Tybalt. Since both Mercutio and Tybalt were dead, Romeo, as the only survivor, was banished from the domain as punishment.

But this time, everyone survived. That meant Tybalt, who injured Mercutio, couldn’t avoid responsibility either.

“Then what will happen to the Capulet family?”

And behind Tybalt stood the Capulet family. No one was unaware that the essence of this fight was ultimately a dispute between the Capulet and Montague families. At her question, her mother shook her head with a troubled expression.

“We can’t know yet. That boy should have controlled his temper. I don’t know why he got involved with the Montagues and caused such a fuss. I don’t think they’ll openly disadvantage the Capulet family, but…”

Despite her grumbling, her mother’s face was full of worry. The atmosphere in the mansion was also strangely subdued.

“When will the trial be held? Since Tybalt is unable to move, there should be some time, right?”

If there was time, she planned to do something in between. At least she could gather information.

But her mother shook her head again.

“The trial will be held this evening. They said to send a representative for those who can’t move. It seems the Lord is very angry.”

This evening. There was too little time. It was already afternoon, so it was tight to prepare and leave now.

“There isn’t enough time to prepare.”

“Are you planning to attend?”

Her mother asked, looking puzzled. She nodded vigorously. She couldn’t let the story progress without her anymore. Until now, she could find out what happened without seeing it, but not anymore.

“Then you should hurry and get ready. Leave with your father later.”

“Is Father going too?”

At her question, her mother gave her a look as if asking what kind of obvious thing she was saying.

“Don’t you remember that your father is the head of the Capulet family?”

Her mother was right. Since the Lord could punish not only Tybalt and Romeo but also the Capulet and Montague families, it was unthinkable for her father not to attend.

“He decided to attend the trial as Tybalt’s representative. It’s much more reassuring than if Tybalt went himself. In a way, it feels fortunate that the trial is being held quickly. Tybalt isn’t a bad boy, but he does have a bit of a quick temper.”

Every word was true. If they held a trial with Romeo and Tybalt in the same place, a second war might break out in the courtroom. She nodded in agreement and went up to her room. She had to hurry to be ready in time.

It had already been seven years since she came here, but it was her first time visiting the courthouse. It was only natural if one lived as an ordinary citizen. Adding the condition of being a wealthy family’s young lady, it was no exaggeration to say it was a place she would never be associated with in her lifetime.

The courthouse wasn’t as large or grand as their mansion. But the mere name “courthouse” carried a sense of intimidation. She hid behind her father as they headed into the courtroom. Fortunately, her father’s back was broad enough. Though it was a sight as unfamiliar to her as the courthouse itself.

Her father was the type of person whose thoughts were hard to discern. He was taciturn and spoke little, but sometimes made surprisingly bold decisions. Her mother said that’s what she liked about him. It was quite a twist for her that the person he loved most was her mother, with that iron mask-like face.

Upon entering the courthouse, her father seated her in the observer’s seat. Then he stood as Tybalt’s representative before the Lord. She saw Romeo standing there, unharmed. He was the only one among the parties involved in the fight to attend the trial directly. Beside him, for some reason, was Romeo’s cousin, Benvolio. Mercutio’s representative was someone she hadn’t seen before. It seemed the Lord had sent someone suitable in his place since he had to attend as the judge.

The Lord, standing at the podium, knocked the gavel. The courtroom fell silent in an instant.

“Let the person who can explain the circumstances come forward.”

At the Lord’s words, Benvolio stepped forward.

“Yes. I witnessed the whole situation.”

She wondered why Benvolio was there, but it seemed he was attending as a witness. Come to think of it, Benvolio was present in the original scene where Mercutio and Tybalt quarreled.

“Then let me ask you. Who stabbed Mercutio?”

“Tybalt. Mercutio fell to Tybalt’s sword.”

“Then who stabbed Tybalt?”

“It was Romeo. However, Romeo only intended to stop the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt.”

What a biased witness. From the start, Benvolio was a relative of Romeo. In modern times, he wouldn’t even be allowed to testify. Moreover, the judge was the father of one of the parties involved. Even to someone like her, whose knowledge of law was limited to high school ‘Law and Society’ classes, this trial seemed absurd.

In this strange situation, her father remained silent. After several rounds of debate, her father was finally given the opportunity to speak.

“Head of the Capulet family, please share your thoughts.”

After a brief pause, her father spoke in response to the Lord.

“Although the injured parties are Mercutio and Tybalt, I believe no one here is unaware that the root of this conflict is the discord between the Capulet and Montague families.”

There was a murmur in the room. It was an incomprehensible statement. As her father said, no one here was unaware of that fact. However, the reason no one mentioned it was because both the Capulet and Montague families were present.

Both were well-known noble families of Vernerk, with wealth beyond measure. Even the Lord hesitated to make enemies of both families simultaneously. If her father hadn’t spoken, no one here would have dared to accuse the Capulet and Montague families.

Thus, her father’s words were not typical of a head of a family. Everyone waited, puzzled, for her father’s next words. Sensing their anticipation, her father paused until everyone was more focused. Then he spoke again.

“Therefore, how about cutting off the root of this sin through reconciliation between the Capulet and Montague families?”

The murmur grew even louder than before. Reconciliation between the Capulet and Montague families. It was something no one here had expected.

However, if her father desired reconciliation, now was the perfect timing. Standing beside her father as a representative of the Montague family was not the head of the Montague family, but Romeo. And whether her father knew it or not, Romeo was the one who most desired reconciliation with the Capulet family. Of course, the reason was her.

Moreover, standing before her father was the Lord. Once Romeo accepted reconciliation here, the Lord would be a witness to that.

Thus, even the head of the Montague family couldn’t easily break that promise. Just as dealing with both the Capulet and Montague families was burdensome for the Lord, dealing with the Lord and the Capulet family simultaneously was challenging for the Montague family.