3. Not Being Abandoned

After spending time at the temple, Rosaline didn’t meet Romeo. Keeping her request for time to think, he didn’t come looking for her arbitrarily or send letters, but his words about having no patience remained like an afterimage, refusing to leave.

Finding a way not to be abandoned in just over a week was difficult. Even after a lifetime of effort, hadn’t Juliet sent her away and her mother hated her?

While she pondered thus, the day of the banquet arrived.

The central hall of the Capulet residence, as splendid as the royal castle, was transformed into a ballroom. Beautiful flowers of various colors peeked out here and there, and dozens of employees moved busily for the banquet to be held that night.

Fortunately or unfortunately, only the Montague lord and his wife, their daughter Angela, and the veiled royalty attended the banquet.

In other words, Romeo didn’t come.

‘Is he going to let it pass like this?’

After the banquet, Juliet would soon leave with her fiancé, and Romeo too would be summoned to the royal castle. He said he had no patience, but had he already grown tired?

She wished he really had grown tired, but an anxiety that wouldn’t fade warned her like instinct. As long as Romeo Montague existed, each day would be like thin ice on a winter lake.

To be honest, he was exceptionally talented at making not only her but others anxious. Because he, the eldest son of Montague, didn’t attend the banquet, showing disrespect to both Capulet and the royalty who accepted the invitation.

“That fellow is always like this, so don’t be disappointed, Capulet.”

But the royalty in question laughed heartily and said.

“Even on the battlefield he had less manners than a stray dog. No, even a stray dog would be like a fine knight before him.”

The royalty, who seemed a hundred times kinder than Romeo, was none other than the fourth prince, the half-brother of the crown prince, and one of the crown prince’s closest confidants. Having participated in battle with Romeo, he led the Montague and Capulet banquet with perfect sociability and courtesy.

“I thought it would be good if the two families’ reconciliation was achieved through marriage, but I’m thankful it’s not. The lady of Capulet is far too precious. That fellow isn’t even worthy of being a kept man.”

At the prince’s mischievous joke, Angela, Romeo’s younger sister, laughed loudest and most delightedly, and Lord Capulet and his wife also burst into laughter. As if the relationship between Romeo and the prince was quite close, they seemed to regard it as showing off their friendship rather than an insult. Thanks to the prince, the banquet proceeded smoothly.

“But Your Highness. Why is my brother not even worthy of being a kept man? I don’t want to admit it, but at least his appearance is striking.”

As if just remembering, Angela raised her eyebrows and asked. Then the prince shrugged.

“Usually a kept man should have a skilled manner about him, but that fellow is utterly clueless. Worse than Benvolio even.”

“……Clueless?”

“What good is looking like an angel? He doesn’t know how to speak kindly and only knows how to k*ll brutally. He asks if he smells strange and looks for perfume. After going around wearing it, he gets angry at me asking if I gave him such a thing.”

“Good heavens…… don’t tell me my brother has a woman?”

The prince just smiled ambiguously. His gaze swept over Rosaline, who was in the corner with other attendants.

“Well, Tybalt, you tell us.”

The prince smiled brightly and called to Tybalt across from him. The reason he called so familiarly was that Tybalt had also participated in the last religious war. Beyond being acquaintances, Tybalt, the prince, and Romeo seemed to have fought together.

“I can’t imagine that fellow having a woman. Ah, Lord Montague. I don’t mean to insult your son. He’s a finer knight than anyone.”

At Tybalt’s careful words, Lord Montague smiled as if it was fine and raised his glass. Then the prince joined in and raised his glass together.

“Just as Tybalt says. A finer knight than anyone. Enough to covet! That’s why I came all the way here.”

Even at the excessively broad smile, Montague maintained a consistently humble attitude. Tybalt, who had been watching them quietly, lifted his empty glass and opened his mouth quietly.

“Rosaline?”

Rosaline, who had been waiting behind, came forward and poured the wine. She felt his gaze sweep across her cheek but didn’t bother to meet it. Tybalt, whose smile had faded, offered a small greeting.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

“Yes, young master.”

He was a kind man then and now, resembling Juliet. He suddenly lowered his head and met Rosaline’s eyes.

“I heard you became an official priest, yet here you are pouring wine.”

“I haven’t been assigned yet.”

“Juliet said you’d go somewhere good.”

“Yes, somewhere excessively good. I think I’ll go to the capital.”

She withdrew the bottle and drew a smile.

“So my pouring wine for Capulet is something to be grateful for.”

“Did your mother tell you to say that?”

Tybalt smiled back at her.

“Let’s finish our greetings later, alright.”

Since this behavior of his was nothing surprising, Rosaline nodded slightly and stepped back. Tybalt, returning to his serious expression, changed the subject.

“More importantly, Lord Montague. Have you heard the news circulating lately?”

As if waiting for this question, the prince also looked at Lord Montague. After pondering briefly, Lord Montague sighed and asked Juliet’s understanding.

“It seems we should dismiss the people.”

“Of course. Rosaline? Take everyone and wait outside for a moment.”

At Juliet’s command, Rosaline and the other attendants moved outside the banquet hall.

Rosaline found this situation only strange. Originally Tybalt would grind his teeth at Montague, and as soon as he encountered Romeo in the banquet hall, they would fight with killing intent.

But much had changed with Romeo participating in the religious war. Their comradeship ran so deep that he forged friendships with both the prince and Tybalt, and instead of fighting, they addressed each other with easy familiarity.

Perhaps the discord between the families had ended early, and the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet might disappear.

She didn’t know whether to be relieved or anxious that another incident might erupt.

“The butler will guide you to the hall where the ball will be held.”

While she was anxious, the banquet ended and a ball began with a waltz, inviting the young ladies and young lords of Valher. Standing blankly in a corner, Rosaline watched Juliet dancing the first dance with the prince.

Fair white skin and a green dress that matched devastatingly, perhaps the most beautiful mistress in the entire country. When Juliet Capulet briefly met her eyes, she drew a smile.

With that one smile, her crushed heart eased somewhat. A foolish, pathetic heart.

Thinking positively, since neither would die and part eternally, occasionally seeing each other and sharing friendship and affection wouldn’t be bad.

Her mistress would surely come to see her.

‘I’m really no different from a dog.’

As she let out an empty laugh at her situation and looked at the splendid hall, she noticed a man standing in the dim area behind the brilliant dancers. Though his form wasn’t clearly visible, the long silhouette vaguely resembling a hunting dog was familiar.

No way.

“Rosaline.”

“Sir Tybalt?”

At the gentle call, her narrowing eyes widened round. Rosaline hastily arranged her expression and greeted Tybalt. His black curly hair and blue eyes, exactly like Juliet’s, dulled Rosaline’s shyness.

She lowered her head slightly and wore a smile.

“How was the banquet?”

“It was good. Juliet worked hard. I wasn’t uncomfortable even being with those Montague people.”

He scratched his chin and raised the corners of his mouth as if embarrassed.

“Miss Angela, who will be the next head of Montague, was also cheerful, unlike her brother.”

He closed his mouth briefly, seeming to think of Romeo. Tybalt drew a smile with a strange expression and met her eyes.

“By the way, you came looking pretty today, Rosaline.”

Though there was always attire for attendants to wear at balls or banquets, Rosaline wore the outfit Juliet had given her. A dark blue dress that matched Juliet’s beloved green, with a simple design that exposed the neck and followed the body’s silhouette with blue silk.

“Thanks to Miss, I get to wear something like this.”

“Then shall we dance after so long? It’s a waste to just stand there.”

Tybalt extended his hand.

“I know there’s no law saying priests can’t dance.”

Rosaline hesitated. Because her mother hated even her exchanging greetings with Tybalt, she reflexively felt resistance.

But at the same time, rebelliousness rose. The young master was simply a person full of goodwill, not someone Rosaline could ensnare as her mother’s terrible delusion suggested. Couldn’t they at least dance?

Thinking the cause of this unprecedented rebelliousness was Romeo, who had said useless things, Rosaline took his hand.

A gentler, warmer touch than Romeo’s enveloped her and led her to the center of the hall. Just before the music started, they stood facing each other and chatted.