The pickpocket, terrified of being caught by him, immediately dropped the coin purse and ran away. Romeo, who had separated from her as if he’d never been close, bent down and picked up the purse.

“Whose territory?”

Perhaps because his head was tilted up, his fair face under the hat was clearly visible. He was completely shameless, with no trace of his earlier reddening. Rosaline muttered thanks and secured the money tightly. To get caught on a day like this.

Rosaline cursed the unlucky day and quickened her pace. He followed and asked as if displeased.

“Where on earth are we going?”

“We’re almost there. It’s over there.”

The place Rosaline pointed to was a tavern with no floors and a long area. As they pushed through the crowd and got closer, the smell of alcohol, tobacco, stale oil, and thoroughly cooked meat mixed and wafted from the open windows. At the smell that could never be called pleasant, he seemed thoroughly displeased.

“The place you were coming to was just a tavern?”

“Tavern or wherever, what does it matter? It’s not important… hm.”

Rosaline, who had unconsciously taken a deep breath, coughed slightly at the terrible tobacco smoke mixed with aphrodisiacs. Perhaps because she was used to always holding it in front of Juliet, no loud sound came out. After collecting her breath, she continued.

“It’s not important. Anyway, I’ll keep my promise. I have something to pick up, so wait here.”

Romeo’s eyes, which had been scanning the interior through the open window, turned cold.

“I’ll follow you in.”

Before even hearing an answer, he approached behind Rosaline. From behind, it looked like a kissing posture, so whistling sounds to tease the lovers came from the window. Rosaline whispered while pulling her cloak down further.

“It’s a tavern belonging to the merchant guild under Capulet.”

“So?”

Even though she’d said enough for him to get lost, he was immovable. Romeo was absolutely not an oblivious man. He just had no intention of listening to Rosaline. She glared at him.

“Meaning the tavern owner knows my face. If strange rumors spread……”

“Does it make sense to go in without a weapon or guard?”

He approached one more step as if he’d open the door right away. Eventually his thigh touched Rosaline’s body. Trapped between the door and his body, she couldn’t even avoid him. Romeo spoke threateningly.

“Do you want scandal rather than rumor?”

“…Fine. But you have to stay quiet……”

“Gladly.”

His hand overlapped hers on the door handle. Before Rosaline could stop him, the handle turned and opened. Her back was pushed by Romeo’s chest and before she knew it, they’d entered the tavern.

The terrible smell of alcohol, metallic scent, and tobacco mixed with aphrodisiacs attacked her nerves along with frivolous laughter. Rosaline felt briefly dizzy, but since they’d come in, she didn’t want to hesitate in the tavern. She collected herself and quickened her steps toward the counter.

“Miss Rosaline. Long time no see!”

The tavern owner, who had been moving busily at the bar, immediately recognized the cloaked Rosaline. Rosaline also returned the greeting with a slight bow.

“Mr. Homan.”

Homan briefly set down the cup he was wiping and came over the long table. His movement was smooth as if he wore winged shoes. He didn’t forget to excuse himself to several customers on the way.

“Oh my, you’re not alone today.”

Homan hesitated briefly, seeing Romeo standing a few steps behind. He seemed wary, probably because Romeo was tall and his face wasn’t visible.

“He’s a guard. Miss assigned him to me.”

“Ah! I was always worried about you coming alone anyway.”

At the casual lie, he brightened and approached closer.

“I didn’t know you were concerned, thank you.”

Rosaline barely managed to smile, but anxious about Romeo behind her like lightning that could strike at any moment, she wanted to leave this place immediately.

“The item I mentioned before……”

As she tried to take out gold coins from the purse at her waist, Homan’s gaze wouldn’t leave.

“Mr. Homan. Is there another problem?”

“No, somehow……”

Homan tilted his head to examine Rosaline’s face hidden in the cloak. The Rosaline he knew was consistently blunt with an uninteresting impression. But now not only were her cheeks flushed, her reddened eyes revealed various emotions she hadn’t fully swallowed.

Her completely changed impression was……

“You seem somehow angry.”

Homan lowered his head and whispered quite familiarly. Though he was naturally friendly, he was also very interested in Rosaline, a close associate of Juliet Capulet who would soon be the owner of the merchant guild. Perhaps because of their shared black hair, rumors that she was Juliet’s relative were also openly circulating.

But since she showed no openings, they barely exchanged greetings, yet today she clearly showed signs of being flustered. Judging it an opportunity to get closer, he gestured at the tall man standing behind her and brought up unnecessary words.

“If the guard made things difficult for you, Miss Rosaline……”

The moment Homan took one more step toward Rosaline, a dark navy-blue cloak filled Homan’s vision. Romeo, who had taken his place in front of Rosaline soundlessly as usual, spoke coldly.

“Just give us what we’re here to pick up.”

In a voice with almost no inflection, he took out three or four gold coins from his pocket and placed them on the counter. Gold coins. Whatever the item was, it was more than enough.

Though he should have been displeased by the arrogant manner of speech, Homan turned pale and went inside the counter. Even if he’d cursed with his eyes, it was strange that he’d move from just that one remark when he’d been working in taverns for years.

She wasn’t the only one who found it strange, as several gazes gathered. Flustered, Rosaline grabbed his cloak and tried to stop him.

“Romeo, I told you to stay quiet……”

The words didn’t continue to the end. His fiercely sunken eyes were clearly angry. Rather than being scared of him, Rosaline was puzzled, unable to understand what exactly displeased him so much and made him angry.

“Better than staying quiet and getting taken advantage of like a fool.”

“Taken advantage of, who……”

“Here it is.”

While they bickered, Homan quickly brought out the item. It was a wooden box about the length of a forearm. Without even opening the box to check, Romeo received it and tucked it under his arm, then grabbed the dumbfounded Homan by the collar and pulled him up.

“My master and I were never here today. Understood?”

Homan nodded at the intimidating force. Romeo released him and walked past Rosaline toward the entrance.

No, on his way to the entrance, he reached out again to a man who’d been sitting and smoking constantly. This time, instead of grabbing his collar, he pinched the end of the cigarette between his thumb and index finger and extinguished it as if picking up something dirty.

“Seems like it has opium mixed in.”

When the man tried to stand up with a viciously distorted expression, Romeo pressed down on his shoulder with one hand. Though the man’s build was larger than Romeo’s, he was pinned down as if pressed by a giant, only able to bulge his veins. He opened and closed his mouth as if flustered, then soon began to turn pale.

“If you don’t want to die.”

Romeo muttered with his elbow dug into the man’s back.

“Keep your mouth shut until that woman and I leave.”

Romeo’s pupils moved slowly, scanning the surroundings. Only when not even breathing could be heard around them did he leave the tavern.

In the awkward atmosphere as if a storm had passed, an irritated voice broke the silence.

“Why did you just take it?”

It was a companion at the same table as the man Romeo had dealt with. When his companion reproached him, the man didn’t argue back but muttered, terrified.

“No, our eyes met, but my body wouldn’t move. Really.”

“Say something that makes sense! You were just scared.”

“You crazy bastard, I’m telling you it’s not……!!!”

As though a fight would break out soon, Rosaline quickly escaped the tavern while no one was paying attention to her. As soon as she left, the sound of a table collapsing and bottles breaking rang out. Romeo was leaning against the wall where the tavern entrance was visible, looking at her just like when they’d met this afternoon.

Confirming the box nestled obediently under his arm, Rosaline passed him and said.

“Follow me.”

Absurd, ridiculous, yet funny. Though it shouldn’t be surprising, she didn’t have the presence of mind to question him right now. She had to walk, if only to organize her thoughts.

Their final destination wasn’t here anyway.

* * *

Father Laurence smiled gently at the flowers placed on the altar. It must have been left by Rosaline. After offering morning prayers, she would place violets from the garden on the altar.