Chapter 5 (Part 7)

The Montague mansion was filled with people. It seemed as if all the residents of Vernerk were gathered there. It was indeed the funeral of a noble family that divided the territory. She was quietly impressed.

“Juliet.”

A voice called her name. It was a call she had become so familiar with that she no longer needed to turn around to recognize it. She nodded a greeting to William and turned away again.

Showing affection with William in a situation where the Montague lord could notice her at any moment wasn’t a good choice. Her name was in Romeo’s will. More precisely, the words ‘A life without Juliet is no longer worth living’ were written in his will.

In such a situation, seeing Juliet flirting with another man, regardless of his son’s wishes, wouldn’t make the Montague lord inclined to reconcile with the Capulets.

Understanding her intention, William soon left. But she could feel the dejected aura behind her, like an abandoned puppy. A peculiar mix of laughter and a sigh escaped her lips. I’ll have to console him later.

As she tried to compose her expression, the Montague lord finally appeared before the people. His appearance was so haggard that it was hard to believe he was the same grumpy man she had seen at the trial a few days ago.

After saying his farewell to Romeo and expressing gratitude to the mourners, he paused. The Montague lord’s gaze landed squarely on her. His face clearly showed he didn’t want to see her. His eyes were filled with resentment towards her and guilt that overshadowed it all. Yet, he didn’t look away from her. Slowly, he spoke.

“Romeo’s death was all my doing.”

The mourners murmured at the Montague lord’s words. Without further explanation, he continued.

“My son’s death resulted from the feud between the Montagues and Capulets. Despite the Capulet lord’s proposal for reconciliation, I stubbornly refused, and the greatest responsibility lies with me.”

The mourners seemed curious about why Romeo’s death was due to the feud between the two families, but no one could ask him. Only her father seemed to sense something, his face hardening.

“I hereby formally request reconciliation with the Capulet lord.”

A tingling sensation ran up her spine. The plan had succeeded. It was the first perfect success she had tasted since the Masterpiece began. She turned her head away from the Montague lord, feeling laughter bubbling up. But that was a mistake. A scene was etched into her view as she turned her head.

A beautiful woman, biting her lip and staring straight ahead in black mourning clothes. Her eyes were filled with tears that never fell. It was Rosaline. Romeo’s true lover.

A feeling of wanting to escape welled up. She finally bowed her head. Laughter no longer came.

“I accept the reconciliation.”

Her father’s low voice filled the hall. Thus ended the feud between the Capulet and Montague families.

* * *

The atmosphere at home was heavy. Since returning from the funeral yesterday, it seemed her mother had realized her relationship with Romeo. She was now the center of attention, a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment.

She had shut herself in her room to avoid the sympathetic gazes of others, but that seemed to have only increased the sympathy. A breakup due to family opposition followed by a lover’s suicide. There was plenty of reason to pity her. But this would all end today.

Tonight, Romeo would come back to life. She both wished for the end to come quickly and felt anxious about the passage of time. The revived Romeo would wait for her at the promised place. And she wouldn’t go. She had not the slightest intention of eloping with Romeo.

But she couldn’t help but be concerned. Betrayal was waiting for him, whom he believed to be his lover, after coming out of the coffin. She felt unexpectedly like a notorious villainess.

“Young Lady, are you alright?”

The nanny, who had been watching her restlessly, cautiously spoke. She awkwardly smiled and nodded.

“Could you bring me a cup of tea?”

The nanny left the room, still observing her. It was already getting dark. Even if she left now, she wouldn’t make it to the meeting time with Romeo.

She tried to calm her body, which kept wanting to look towards the terrace window. The nanny soon returned with the tea. She took a sip. It was unavoidable. Romeo was necessary for the reconciliation of the two families, but she didn’t love him. The promise and everything else had been a lie from the start.

“Nanny, could you also bring some sweets?”

“Eating sweets at this hour isn’t good for you.”

The nanny scolded her while leaving the room. As soon as the nanny closed the door, she stood up. She grabbed a coat and went out to the terrace.

She didn’t know what she was thinking. She still had no intention of leaving Vernerk with Romeo. But at least she wanted to apologize.

She tore down the curtain and tied it to the terrace railing. Holding the curtain tightly, she climbed over the railing. Then she let go. Her toes tingled. She forced her eyes open, which had closed involuntarily. Carefully, she climbed down until her feet touched the ground. She started running.

She couldn’t tell the whole truth. Even if she apologized, it would be a story filled with lies. But she still wanted to say sorry. It was the least she could do for someone who got caught up in everything without knowing anything.

She couldn’t tell the truth, but she had to say that her feelings had changed and that she couldn’t follow him. She had to tell him to go home. She couldn’t let him wait all day for someone who wouldn’t come. Even if what moved him was a false emotion.

She ran without stopping. Finally, she saw Romeo waiting for her.

“Romeo.”

She called his name, suppressing the breath that had risen to her throat. Romeo turned to her with a bright smile. She pushed him away as he tried to embrace her. Then she delivered the words she had prepared. That she no longer loved him. That she couldn’t go with him. Romeo’s smile vanished in an instant.

“Go home.”

She turned her back on him. If she didn’t leave first, he wouldn’t leave.

“Juliet, I still love you.”

Romeo’s reply came from behind her. It was truly sad.

* * *

The news of Romeo’s revival spread through Vernerk even faster than his death. Fortunately, the Montague lord didn’t do anything petty like retracting the reconciliation because his son had come back to life. It was a relief. She took a sip of tea, murmuring words of relief inwardly.

She was in the middle of a tea time with William, who had visited the Capulet household as her fiancé.

“Now it’s really all over.”

William murmured. Perhaps no one was more relieved at this moment than him. The problem caused by his writing was finally resolved.

“Young Lady, the lord is calling for you.”

As she was enjoying a rare moment of leisure, the nanny urgently sought her out. She looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“My father? Did he tell you to call me even though he knows there’s a guest?”

“Yes. He asked you to come as soon as possible.”

Though it was hard to understand, she nodded. William, who had been listening to the conversation, was preparing to leave.

“William, I’m sorry. I’ll visit you next time.”

“I’ll come to see you next time as well.”

To her apologetic words, William replied with a smile. She also smiled back slightly. At some point, it had become natural for him to come to see her. Would she end up marrying him like this? A question she had never considered filled her mind.

“I have brought the Young Lady.”

Before she knew it, she was in front of her father’s study. She cautiously entered the room. Her father, seeing her, put down his pen.

“Juliet. You were meeting with William Shakespeare?”

Her father asked an unexpected question.

“Yes. He is my fiancé, after all.”

At her answer, her father looked at her with a dark expression. Then, as if hesitating, he moved his lips. For her father to hesitate was unusual. She increasingly couldn’t predict what he was about to say.

“If you wish, I will proceed with breaking the engagement with William Shakespeare.”

“What?”

After a long hesitation, her father said something she had never considered. Ignoring her surprised reaction, he continued.

“The Montagues and Capulets have reconciled. You can now marry someone you desire.”

She was a step late in realizing what her father was trying to say.

“If you wish, you can marry Romeo as much as you want.”

The problem was that not ‘everything’ had been resolved yet.