It was a course of action that was enough to change his body and personality.

Everything was the same as in the past, except Romeo. Of course, Rosaline, who had returned to the past, had also changed, but it wasn’t like her entire life had changed like that.

“It was strange.”

Juliet said, with the end of a cigar cut. As she inhaled and exhaled, the unpungent smoke filled the room. Drinking and smoking expensive cigars was one of Juliet’s few hobbies.

“Even the day he brought you, he was a little too much. It was strange for someone who was just worried.”

For the half a day that Rosaline had lost consciousness, Romeo had been pacing the hallway like someone parched. Even when the doctor said he would take care of her, he stayed, refusing to leave.

“Since I saved her, I will just check if she’s breathing properly and leave.”

It was a harsh tone for a request, but it felt like he was pleading for a moment, so she had left it alone. In reality, he was one of the cheapskates who had tried to do something to Rosaline.

“He’s going back to the capital soon, so he was probably trying to have fun with a naive lady before that. Or he was using you to try and extort money from me.”

Montague wasn’t poor either, but no matter how much money there was, it always felt insufficient. Juliet looked at Rosaline and said firmly.

“Anyway, tell me if he bothers you again. I will formally protest to Montague, no matter what, with or without the banquet.”

“No, Miss. I already sent a return gift.”

Rosaline just smiled at her look of ‘already?’

“I forgot to mention it. Sir Montague was satisfied, so you don’t have to worry about it anymore.”

“Really? What a great thing did you give?”

“A sincere apology. He saved my life, and I guess he didn’t like that I was so wary.”

“My goodness, he acted like he was going to take everything out of the pockets. He was just a self-righteous idiot. I thought he would stick around like a leech.”

“It’s a good thing.”

It was a lie. Just a lie made by her, hoping Juliet would lose interest in Romeo.

It was easy to lie to Juliet. On the day her mother punished her, even if she had been hit, she had lied to Juliet with a calm face. What was more difficult than lying was the problem of dealing with Romeo right now.

It would be nice if he would just lose interest, but if he didn’t die or disappear on his own, an appropriate response was needed.

While her worries deepened, Juliet crushed the cigar in the ashtray and went to bed, stretching out her body.

“I’ll still hold the banquet. If Montague and Capulet keep fighting like this, they will really kill each other.”

Being reminded of ‘death’ made Juliet’s body, which had been cold without her knowing, suddenly come to mind. Rosaline felt her fingertips lose their strength, as if she was about to collapse at any moment.

She wanted to cling to him and go with her until Romeo returned, but Juliet was saying that she couldn’t even travel.

Would Juliet believe the nonsense that she had returned from the future where she died? Not only would she not believe it, but she would consider her strange. Rosaline’s hands, tidying up the ashtray, trembled. She glared at her wrist and asked without showing it.

“Miss. Are you going to invite Sir Montague to the banquet?”

“You mean Romeo? I’m going to invite him, but there’s a good chance he won’t come.”

Juliet said, almost closing her eyes.

“You don’t know because you’re not interested in the rumors, but it seems that he went to participate in the Western Expeditionary Force without telling the head of the Montague family. He was fourteen at the time.”

“…The nickname ‘sly’ doesn’t suit him.”

Rosaline said, as she lit a match to the candle placed on the silver tray after tidying up the cigars and glasses. The room was softly tinged with crimson. Juliet murmured, looking at the candle that resembled the dusk.

“Hmm. Isn’t it because he neglected his family affairs? I heard that he left all the work of his successor to his younger brother.”

Rosaline involuntarily giggled. It wasn’t because she was amused, but rather a smile caused by anxiety and impatience. Romeo was originally diligent and cheerful. He had boasted to Rosaline that he could be a good husband to her, and begged her not to become a priest. She remembered that because she didn’t hate that appearance.

She approached Juliet, who was lying down, with the silver tray on which the candle was placed. Sensing her presence, Juliet closed her eyes and grinned.

“Don’t worry, Rosaline. If he comes, I will never let you meet him.”

“I’m not worried.”

“Yeah. But you should still be careful…”

Rosaline tucked away a few strands of Juliet’s black hair, who had completely fallen asleep, and kissed her forehead. She vowed not to throw away another chance given by God, no matter who Romeo was.

Perhaps, because Romeo had changed so much, Juliet might not feel any special feelings for him now. However, she couldn’t let go of her heart at all because she knew love that comes suddenly.

Romeo was still on the borderline.

He is unpredictable now. But what was certain was that Romeo’s gaze was entirely on Rosaline.

‘I just have to get through this banquet.’

After this banquet, Juliet was going to go on a long trip with her fiancé. In the past, it had been ruined because of Romeo, but this time it would be different. Rosaline took out a letter from her bosom. It was a letter that had been in its place without a seal in the afternoon.

[Interest is added to the debt. Didn’t your master teach you?]

The sender was not written, but it was certain that it was Romeo. The somewhat rough handwriting contained only short content.

[I’ll see you at night.]

Rosaline stared blankly at the letter and blew out the candle she was holding. With a whoosh, darkness came. Only the vibrant moon outside was sketching Rosaline’s cheek.

* * *

The Capulet mansion had many vines.

The green leaves attached to the outer walls and the garden filled the space and produced purple flowers. Similar-colored flowers were scattered in the place where Juliet and Romeo had died.

Rosaline leaned on the balcony and looked at the wall where the vines were particularly thick. Thanks to Juliet’s favoritism, Rosaline was using a small, but private room with a balcony. Juliet wanted to give her a bigger room, but due to the nanny’s strong opposition, she received a room in the annex, which was almost adjacent to the mansion’s wall. The annex, where there were no servants or mothers, was a place where only silence remained.

She clutched the thin blanket on her shoulder in the familiar silence.

“Rosaline.”

Rosaline was not surprised by the low voice that came from the other side. Rather, she raised her eyes and met Romeo, who was crossing the wall. He was surprised that she was waiting on the balcony, and smiled at an angle, then jumped over the railing.

He landed on the balcony silently and strode toward Rosaline. As soon as he drew near, a smile curved his lips.

“It seems like you were waiting for me.”

“…Because you said you would come at night.”

“Anyway, you were waiting.”

She had never felt that the balcony was small, but she couldn’t move an inch when he entered. There was only a distance of about a step between her and him. As the moonlight, hidden by the clouds, slowly shone on Romeo, she met eyes that were like night.

She had felt it before, but his inorganic eyes toward her were never friendly. At first glance, he seemed to hate her. Was it because he was a Montague and she was a Capulet?

No… somehow it seemed… that he hated her more than just because of the family.

“Did I write where I was going?”

Her train of thought was broken as he broke the silence.

“…You said you’d find me. So I just waited in a convenient place.”

“Knowing I would come.”

He took a step forward, as if driving his prey.

“You’re waiting for me here.”

His toes suddenly came between her feet. As Rosaline flinched, he poked her shoulder with his index finger.

“In the middle of the night, without fear.”

Rosaline wanted to retort that it was him who had no fear. The fact that he could deliver a letter to her with no sender meant that, unless he had bribed a servant, he must have snuck into the Capulet estate just like he was doing now.

But she couldn’t be prickly in a state where she couldn’t be sure of his feelings for her. He was just like hot oil that could jump anywhere. He stared at Rosaline’s lowered eyelids and tilted his head slightly, then fixed his gaze on Rosaline’s chin.

“It healed cleanly.”

He muttered so that it was barely audible and moved away again.

Rosaline involuntarily relaxed and slightly lowered her shoulders. He leaned on the railing, giggling.

“Since you ignored me after taking a debt, I won’t say it’s impolite in the middle of the night.”

“I was late because I was wondering what you wanted.”

“So, it seems that you’ve been thinking about me all the time.”

Since that wasn’t exactly wrong, Rosaline didn’t deny it. He smiled, stretching his thin lips.

“Even your excuses are sweet, so I can’t even get angry.”