Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Crescent Moon Fortune
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Just because Duke Carlisle was accompanying her, Juliet could feel people's attitudes shift.
Especially the men who tried to act like they knew something.
From the moment the young duke appeared, Greenwood—Charlotte's husband—had been chattering nonstop about his own business ventures.
Juliet kept glancing worriedly at Lennox, whose expression was so icy it bordered on lethal, wondering what he might do to the viscount.
Misunderstanding Juliet's expression, Viscount Greenwood let out a laugh as if he were a good-natured fellow.
“Haha, my apologies. Business talk must be difficult to follow and boring for a lady.”
Juliet smiled brightly.
“It's fine. It wasn't anything particularly impressive anyway.”
“……I-is that so?”
“Yes. You have a real talent for turning simple stories complicated.”
He had merely droned on at length about how Marquis Guinness had recently made a fortune with magic stones.
Whether it was the magic stone mines or Marquis Guinness himself, Juliet knew far more than the viscount did.
Leaving Lennox amid those men, Juliet spent a thoroughly enjoyable time with the Charlotte sisters.
The tea party under the blooming flowering trees felt utterly romantic.
As the tea party was drawing to a close, Emma appeared clutching a book and offered to read their tea leaves.
It was a popular pastime among the younger set in the capital's social circles.
After steeping the tea, you interpreted the shapes left by the tea leaves in the cup.
With a serious expression as she flipped through the fortune-telling book, Emma interpreted Charlotte's cup.
“This looks like a pigeon, so Charlotte sister's baby will be a girl!”
“But Emma, this looks more like a puppy than a bird? A puppy means a boy…….”
“But I want a girl niece!”
It was more or less like that.
The interpretations were utterly subjective, forcing the shapes to fit, but as long as it was fun, that was all that mattered.
“I'll read yours too, Juliet!”
Emma cheerfully came to Juliet's side and peered into the tea leaves.
“This is a crescent moon! And on the right, a fish?”
Juliet peered into her own cup as well, and sure enough, there were tea leaves shaped like a crescent moon.
“The crescent moon means first love, and the little fish are……. Ah, I got it!”
After diligently rifling through the guidebook, Emma delivered the fortune.
“You'll reunite with your first love and have a baby and a happy family!”
Emma asked with sparkling eyes.
“But who is Juliet's first love?”
Juliet didn't fall for the obvious ploy.
“But that can't happen, Emma.”
Giggling a little at the clumsy interpretation, Juliet said,
“My first love was a man who said he didn't need children.”
“Why?”
“Well. But since he said there's no need to have them…….”
Looking up casually, Juliet saw Emma glancing with wide, surprised eyes toward where the others were gathered.
It was clear she was jumping to the conclusion that the man in question was Duke Carlisle.
Regretting the unnecessary remark, Juliet hurriedly added,
“No. That man is someone I can never meet again.”
So, it's not you, Your Grace.
Juliet denied it firmly.
“……My goodness.”
Judging from Emma's shocked reaction, her point had gotten across. Instead, Emma asked with a grave expression.
“Surely he's dead?”
Only then did Juliet realize Emma had interpreted her words in a slightly different way.
But what did it matter? This might actually be better for brushing off the slip-up.
“That man no longer exists in this world.”
Strictly speaking, it wasn't even a lie. Juliet had heard those words in her previous life, after all.
A teary-faced Emma whispered an apology.
“Juliet, I didn't know. I'm sorry for saying something unnecessary.”
“It's fine. More importantly, Emma, please keep this between us.”
It wasn't a story that would do her any good if people found out.
“Yes, of course…… Mom!”
As she answered, Emma jumped up from her seat in a panic.
Wondering what was wrong, Juliet turned around and locked eyes with the man who had been staring at her intently.
“Then, I'll be going now……….”
After glancing around nervously, Emma scurried off, and Lennox strolled over leisurely.
His sudden appearance from behind made Juliet tense up a little.
Did he hear?
Even if he had, she could always play it off.
But contrary to her worries, Lennox—who had been staring at her so intently it was uncomfortable—blurted out,
“Give me your hand.”
Bewildered, Juliet held out her hand, flinching slightly when his bare skin touched hers, his glove removed.
“You have a fever.”
“……You're right.”
She had felt a bit warm, but in truth, it was the lingering aftereffects of the butterflies having been reverse-summoned.
'So that's why my condition was off.'
As cool mana flowed into her, the heat gradually ebbed away. Juliet, who had been holding out her hand obediently, glanced at him.
Theoretically, skin-to-skin contact could stabilize mana flow. The more intimate the contact, the quicker the effect—that much was true. But at this point, what was there to be coy about?
Holding hands like this indefinitely, a sudden question crossed her mind.
“......”
In the past, a single kiss would have settled it, but like this, how long would it take?
Juliet debated whether to smile.
She couldn't spend the entire day like this.
As if reading her thoughts, Lennox slowly rubbed the inside of her wrist with his finger.
Feeling curious glances peeking at them from around, Juliet grew a little embarrassed.
“Your mana reserves aren't abundant, so they destabilize easily.”
“Who said that?”
The trading company's mage, Esselrida. She didn't have much mana, but strangely, it was always brimming just right.
“Just, someone mentioned it before.”
But somehow, it felt wrong to tell the truth. It seemed like rather intimate information.
“It's not that bad.”
“Pfft.”
Juliet burst out laughing at the generous assessment, and Lennox's eyes narrowed.
“Juliet!”
At that moment, a noblewoman in a bonnet over there waved cheerfully in greeting.
“See you later!”
“It's Charlotte.”
Juliet smiled brightly, waved back, and explained briefly.
“Lady Ilena's granddaughter.”
It was a short explanation, but Lennox understood. Juliet had mentioned Charlotte a few times over the past several days.
He found it a bit surprising that Juliet—who didn't make friends easily—had grown close enough to exchange casual greetings with her in just a few days.
He could see the woman named Charlotte carefully boarding a carriage, supported by her husband.
Only then did Lennox realize Charlotte wasn't alone.
“The eldest granddaughter who came to give birth?”
“Yes. The baby's due in spring.”
Juliet added with a bright smile,
“She'll be cute, won't she?”
Gazing at Juliet's profile, Lennox asked on impulse.
“Do you still want a child?”
After a brief surprised look, Juliet burst into laughter and shook her head.
“No. Not anymore.”
Even though it was the answer he had hoped for, his mood sank inexplicably.
Unknowingly, Lennox found himself watching Juliet's reaction.
“Why?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You like those things.”
Young, fragile, soft.
As far as he knew, Juliet couldn't pass by baby animals.
If they were pitiful on top of that, it was perfect.
Lennox remembered who had secretly cared for the orphaned snow fox kits that came down to the castle searching for food every winter.
Babies fit her criteria perfectly.
But Juliet let out an incredulous laugh.
She found it amusing how Lennox lumped all the cute baby animals she adored into 'those things,' and ridiculous that she had instantly grasped his hidden meaning.
“Just because you like something doesn't mean you can have it.”
Saying that, Juliet realized the man before her would buy anything if she so much as hinted she liked it.
She needed to explain further.
“So what I mean is, liking them doesn't mean I want to possess them all.”
Then Juliet furrowed her brow slightly.
“I don't want to talk about this anymore. Let's go.”
“……Alright.”
In the end, even after pressing Juliet until he got the answer he wanted, a corner of his heart felt unsettled.
Lennox now understood why he had been so desperate to win her favor over the past few days.
He had feared Juliet desiring something he couldn't give her.
Her butterflies had no effect on him, but if they showed him his worst nightmare now, he knew exactly what it would be.
'Sorry, I want a child, so this won't work. Goodbye.' And Juliet walking away.
So when Juliet said she didn't want children, he ought to feel relieved.
“My first love was a man who said he didn't need children.”
“He's someone I can never meet again.”
But now that he had heard those words, he had no idea what expression to make.