Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: The Nanny's Lie
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"Who?"
"Yes, from the Duke."
No way.
He had only just learned of the dire straits the House of Count Monad was in, after a full seven years.
To Lennox, the House of Count Monad had been nothing more than an abstract concept.
His lover was the lady of Count Monad, so naturally there must be a house somewhere in the capital. That was the extent of his thoughts.
Juliet had stopped by the count's residence every time she came to the capital with him, but Lennox had never once gone to pick her up.
The idea of a man who wouldn't bat an eye if his lover caught someone else's fancy suddenly concerning himself with family matters was absurd.
He would never bother with something so tedious.
Yet the old woman continued calmly.
"Didn't he send gold along with Lady Juliet's letter just yesterday?"
He hadn't...
"Lady Juliet said so. She said that though he was too busy to come with her this year, the Duke had made sure she could spend a bountiful New Year."
Lennox's eyes narrowed.
"She said everyone in the household was deeply grateful. It's an honor to meet you in person and pay our respects, Your Grace."
The blind old woman bowed her head once more.
Lennox pondered the situation for a moment.
But neither the old woman, who was Juliet's nanny, nor the young maid supporting her seemed to be lying.
That left only one possibility.
It was all something Juliet had made up.
"Juliet said that?"
Oblivious to the chill in his voice, the blind woman replied warmly.
"Of course. Our Lady Juliet is always talking about you, Your Grace. Just yesterday, she held me and went on for ages about how thoughtful you are, how gentle unlike the rumors."
Lennox had no reply.
He could guess why Juliet had told such lies, but he couldn't easily understand why she would go to such lengths.
Because the Juliet Monad he knew wasn't the type.
"Your Grace, please take good care of our lady."
The blind old woman bowed deeply and politely.
"She's so shy she doesn't talk much, but she's quite delicate inside. She thinks deeply and gets hurt easily. So please cherish her."
Lennox didn't respond. He simply stared at the blind woman.
This nanny must have known from the start that Juliet was lying.
After seven years as lovers, how could a man who had never once shown his face be a tender lover?
Yet Juliet had desperately defended him with those lies—not for his sake, but to reassure them.
Her pride was already wounded beyond repair, but she wouldn't have wanted to worry the precious people who remembered her childhood.
Lennox didn't care about his infamous reputation, but he had a vague idea of what people said about his lover.
Even without high society gossip, it was obvious.
The nanny and the count's household staff must have suspected. The lady's lover was a man notorious for being heartless and ruthless.
They must have worried about how she was being treated in the north, with nowhere to rely on as his lover.
And yet, the lady had clumsily lied each year to ease the old nanny's mind, and the household had pretended to be fooled every time.
Neither Juliet, who lied, nor the count's staff, who played along, were in the wrong.
Lennox thought for a moment.
Even when she stayed in the north, Juliet hadn't been the duchess, so she couldn't have had any personal funds to use privately.
Of course, she never lacked for food on the table or dresses and jewels, but that was all.
The problem was that Juliet had left behind every single gift he had ever given her.
With the count's residence in such a state, where on earth had she gotten the gold to preserve her last shred of pride?
Lennox stood in silence for a long while before he could finally turn away.
"The manor is in poor repair. I'll send hands to help."
***
"You're going to meet your husband, right?"
The stewardess girl who brought the black tea asked Juliet, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Her name was Enji.
Juliet simply gave Enji a faint smile.
On the ring finger of Juliet's left hand was a thin gold band. It was a plain silver ring with no ornaments or gems, but it was perfect for hiding her identity.
Right now, Juliet was pretending to be a young wife on her way to meet her husband.
"It seems your husband works at the eastern gate. I hear there are lots of good jobs there."
The friendly Enji took Juliet's silence as affirmation and chattered brightly.
Good thing I prepared a fake identity.
Juliet thought to herself.
Trains powered by magic stones were quite expensive.
Yet here was a young woman traveling alone in a single compartment, without even a maid. It was bound to draw attention.
The young stewardess seemed quite intrigued by Juliet. Still, she clearly didn't imagine the woman before her was nobility.
Then again, almost no nobles used the train.
The main passengers were wealthy commoners, especially merchants who needed to cover long distances quickly.
High nobles and clergy preferred gates, which consumed vast magic stones and costs.
They were the fastest means of travel, but outrageously expensive.
Moreover, you needed verified identification to use a gate.
With so few able to afford the train, the dining car where Juliet sat held only about ten people.
Dining car, indeed.
She wasn't sure where the kitchen was attached, but cooking inside the train was possible thanks to magic stones.
The selection was limited, but breakfast had been quite tasty.
Juliet had been surprised by the warm, freshly baked croissant.
After finishing breakfast, Enji brought Juliet a fresh pot of black tea.
"It's Rennu tea."
Juliet smiled softly, savoring the subtle aroma. The late Count Monad had loved this tea too.
Charmed by the scent, Juliet emptied her cup and asked carefully.
"May I have more?"
"Of course!"
Enji happily brought a whole new teapot.
When Enji returned from the kitchen with the teapot, she carried a faint, suspiciously sweet aroma.
The nutty butter scent tickled Juliet's nose, making her tilt her head.
"They're baking scones in the kitchen."
At the word "scones," the other passengers in the dining car perked up like meerkats.
"Just wait a bit, and I'll bring some."
Worth every penny, Juliet thought admiringly.
Even if it's expensive, I'm glad I took the train instead of a carriage.
With luxuries like this, she didn't mind paying.
And she liked that there weren't too many passengers.
Tap. Drip.
"Ah."
No wonder it had been overcast since morning—sure enough, as the train crested the mountain ridge, rain began to fall lightly.
"A typhoon coming?"
"What typhoon this season?
Just a passing shower."
Juliet, who had tensed and gripped her teacup tightly without thinking, sighed in relief at the conversation from the seats behind.
Just a passing rain, as they said.
Relaxed, Juliet gazed out at the raindrops pattering against the window.
Watching a rainy day in a lush green mountain from a train, sipping black tea.
Scones fresh from the oven soon to come—ah, perfection.
A sweet sigh escaped her at this rare peace.
There weren't many passengers on the train to begin with, and even fewer in the dining car.
"......?"
Yet Juliet suddenly felt eyes on her and looked up.
The unexpected culprit was right in front of her.
A baby, sitting two rows ahead, was staring at Juliet with wide, curious eyes.
So cute...!
Especially those soft, pudgy white cheeks.
Juliet bit her lip to stifle a laugh but couldn't hold it in.
When Juliet grinned at the baby, it beamed back and waved at her.
"Baa!"
"Oh my. Who keeps making you smile, huh?"
As the baby's mother in the front seat said that, Juliet quickly pretended to examine her teacup, bowing her head as if she hadn't smiled at all.
A baby.
It was something Juliet had never had in either of her two lives.
"......"
The smile faded from Juliet's reflection in the tea.
Actually, just once.
She had almost had one.
Almost at the end of her first life, right before she died.
Juliet in her first life had been, as now, utterly unremarkable, worthless.
But when her personal physician told her she was pregnant, Juliet felt like something special. Filled with hope that she could do anything.
It didn't last long.
"You don't need to marry to have a child, right? Lennox, if we had a baby—"
"No ifs, Juliet."
But all she got was cold dismissal.
"Don't you get it? Even if you get pregnant, I won't let you have it."
Not just because of those words, Juliet never held the baby.
Even in her second life, Juliet would occasionally mull over those cold words alone.
Juliet fiddled with her cooled teacup.
Thud.
Suddenly, the train jolted to a stop.
Realizing this, she looked out the window.
This train to the eastern gate stopped at several stations along the way.
Like picking up Juliet in the capital, it dropped off passengers at intermediate stops, loaded new ones and luggage, then continued.
It seemed to be picking up more here too.
As Juliet watched outside, a loud noise came from the rear cars, startling her.
Thud.
"It's loaded!"
Juliet glanced back discreetly.
Come to think of it, the last three tail cars were for luggage.
Must be some enormous cargo, whatever it was.
As Juliet thought this, a group of suspicious men in all-black clothes swarmed onto the train.
'......What?'
Juliet narrowed her eyes.