Chapter 103
Chapter 103
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: The Incident at the Recital
-----------------------------------------------------------------
***
Lennox laughed in disbelief.
'You sly old woman.'
He was currently at the recital hosted by Lady Ilena Lindberg.
Most of the people, including the orchestra, were clustered on the lower floor of the hall.
Lady Ilena, who was busy, had insisted on detaining him when he announced he would be leaving for the south that night.
'I've brought an excellent musician, so you must listen before you go,' she urged persistently.
She even proposed that if he didn't want to be seen by others, she would keep the second floor open so he could listen quietly.
The Duke of Carlisle had no interest whatsoever in music or art.
But he thought it wouldn't hurt to stop by briefly and check on Juliet before departing.
However, shortly after the performance began, Lennox realized that tonight's event was no mere music appreciation concert.
This was a stage the lady had meticulously prepared.
Lady Ilena glanced once toward the railing where he leaned, then spoke to Juliet standing beside her.
"Come here, child. There are many fine gentlemen I'd like to introduce you to."
With that, she pulled Juliet along, weaving through the crowd.
Though billed as a recital, the music took a backseat as she busily paraded Juliet around, making introductions.
Whether due to the change in venue or the different company, Juliet's face appeared more relaxed than usual.
In a vibrant halter-neck dress that boldly exposed her back, draped with a shawl, Juliet drew plenty of attention.
She seemed in high spirits, beaming sweetly and graciously accepting the greetings from the eager fools crowding forward.
"You are dazzlingly beautiful, just as the rumors say."
"I never dreamed Lady Ilena would introduce someone like you."
Watching this convivial scene from afar, Lennox felt his insides twist.
On reflection, that was always how it had been. Juliet was the type who easily won over strangers.
Had she not been the Duke of Carlisle's mistress, she would have lived in a far brighter, warmer world.
"This child is like a grand-niece to me. You know—the one from the House of Count Monad..."
"Of course. What an esteemed family."
"Indeed. It's high time this girl found her match."
Pleased to see Juliet surrounded by admirers, Lady Ilena chatted amiably with those nearby.
And as if putting on a show, she cast another sidelong glance up at the second floor where the duke stood.
Lennox was dumbfounded by the sly old woman's transparent scheming. It was so blatant it nearly made him laugh.
He barely restrained the urge to pluck out the eyes of the fools raking over Juliet so shamelessly.
There was no upside if Juliet realized he was here.
He wasn't so idle as to take the bait from such provocation.
His plan was to leave her safely in the south, confirm she was faring well, observe a little longer, then depart.
"Ahem."
But in the next instant, the laughter died.
One of the fools encircling Juliet feigned reaching for a champagne glass while slyly groping her bare back.
Juliet's beaming smile froze in an instant.
A puzzled look crossed her stiffened face.
She was surrounded by ostensibly kind people—and this, right in a spot where the lady watched closely.
.
"Ahem...!"
But before Juliet could turn to identify the scoundrel, the music cut off abruptly.
Crash!
"Aaack!"
The bewildered guests suddenly spotted Viscount Fusili sprawled on the hall floor. And a stranger who had barged in from nowhere.
"Wh-what is the meaning of this! Do you even know who I—!"
The viscount flailed, struggling to rise.
"Ow! D-doctor! My ribs...!"
He clutched his side and groaned.
But the guests had lost all interest in the viscount.
"Duke of Carlisle...?"
"Wh-what?"
"No, the duke!"
Lady Ilena was the most flustered of all.
"What is the meaning of this!"
She alone had known of his presence in advance. But she never imagined the duke would suddenly draw his sword and threaten one of her own guests.
"Your judgment is sorely lacking, my lady."
The duke glared at her ferociously.
"Not everything that walks on two legs qualifies as human."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I'll sever that bastard's head."
Eek!
Viscount Fusili recoiled in horror.
"Duke! You must at least explain what this is about!"
"Did the viscount commit some rudeness against you?"
Lennox offered no reply.
It was Juliet, standing at his side, who answered.
"The one who suffered the rudeness is me, my lady."
"Juliet?"
"Be quiet."
Lennox pulled her behind him. But ignoring him, Juliet addressed the lady directly.
"That man just groped my waist. It was no accident."
The crowd murmured.
All eyes turned to Viscount Fusili.
"Viscount Fusili! Is that true?"
"Th-that's not..."
Lennox's irritation began to boil over.
He had no desire to create a spectacle where stunned onlookers whispered and eyed Juliet anew.
Desperate for an excuse, Viscount Fusili sputtered nonsense.
"Ha! It's her fault for wearing such a dress in the first place! With her back exposed like that, how could my hand not brush against it by accident!"
The murmurs grew louder.
Having collected himself, the viscount doubled down on claiming it was a mistake.
Lennox had no patience for such drivel. He saw no need to seek Lady Ilena's permission.
"So?"
Yet Juliet, who had stayed silent behind him, shoved Lennox aside and stepped forward.
"My fault for daring to wear this dress?"
"....Exactly! Lady Ilena, behold! You've always said a proper lady must wear 'modest attire'!"
Lady Ilena faltered at his words.
The conservative lady had always strictly enforced modest dress on her own granddaughters, forbidding anything too revealing.
Truth be told, she had inwardly disapproved of Juliet's gown that evening.
"That's..."
But Juliet pressed on, unruffled and measured.
"So you're saying if it had been 'modest attire,' none of this would have happened?"
"N-naturally..."
"No!"
At that moment, Emma burst from the crowd, where she had been stifling her words, and scurried forward.
She rushed to her grandmother's side and blurted it out.
"Grandma, it happened to me too! Viscount Fusili's been groping guests all evening!"
Emma cried out in righteous fury.
Lady Ilena recoiled.
"Emma, is that true?"
"Yes! And Lady Monad is absolutely right!"
Emma fumed.
"My dress! I changed into the modest pigeon-gray one you ordered, just as you said!"
Under the stern Lady Ilena's glare, Emma had been forced to switch into a prim, high-necked pigeon-gray gown right before the recital began.
"....I saw it too!"
"Come to think of it, the maids that viscount dismissed recently..."
Guests began sharing their own sightings and rumors. The recital hall transformed into a hotbed of indignation.
"Th-this is a frame job, my lady!"
"Good heavens..."
The lady clutched her head and staggered, as if overcome by a headache.
"Grandma!"
The crowd buzzed.
It was all starting to feel like some tawdry stage show, and Lennox's annoyance peaked.
He had zero interest in drawn-out debates over right and wrong.
All he craved was to hack off that bastard's limbs and display them.
"Your Highness."
But as if peering into his very soul, Juliet seized his hand from behind.
Seizing the moment of his surprise, she tugged his arm.
"Come with me."