Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: An Unforgettable Scent
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The dining car was in complete chaos from the previous day's commotion.
The other passengers seemed terrified, as Enj whispered that they were all holed up in their cabins.
"Here, eat this too."
Juliet watched Roy polish off his bowl with gusto before sliding over her own plate of egg dish.
Roy sat across from her as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and even as they finished their meal and savored their tea, the dining car remained empty.
Thanks to that, they were the only ones enjoying a leisurely breakfast.
"What happened to those people?"
"Those people?"
"The ones who kidnapped you."
"Ah."
Roy paused for a moment before answering.
"Hmm... well."
Roy smiled faintly.
"Kitan and the others took them away and tied them up. I don't know what happened after that."
Of course. There was nowhere to run on a moving train.
Juliet wasn't particularly interested in other people's business, but she was quite curious why a guy like him had been kidnapped.
"Then where did the other people go?"
"The people?"
Instead of explaining, Juliet shrugged lightly.
Roy's face took on a slightly troubled expression, as if he'd understood.
"Ah... Kitan got angry."
Juliet caught on immediately.
Among the people who had come to fetch Roy yesterday, that massive bear of a man must have been Kitan.
He always made a scary, unpleasant face whenever he saw her, which made Juliet quite uncomfortable around him.
"Why?"
"Because I said I wouldn't go back."
It was a severely abbreviated explanation, but Juliet understood this time too. She felt a bit absurd and scanned him up and down again.
'Ah, so you're a runaway teenager?'
It all made sense now.
She recalled Kitan and his group frantically searching for "Young Master Roy." Despite his first impression, he seemed to be a young master from a noble house.
"Why don't you want to go back?"
"Because I broke my third brother's neck."
"...You have brothers?"
Juliet was a little flustered by the cheerful response but managed to keep her composure.
Third brother, no less—perhaps he was the precious youngest son of a large family.
Nod, nod.
Roy nodded while sneaking a glance at Juliet's reaction, but she was too busy recovering from her surprise to notice.
'No, wait, how old is he then?
Twenty?'
Why hadn't she noticed earlier? She'd been too distracted by his face, but Roy had a boyish quality to him somewhere.
"Hmm, still, wouldn't it be better to go home? Your parents must be worried..."
His parents must be strict. Since it was none of her business, Juliet said something appropriately nice.
"Juliet."
"Hm?"
"Would you... like it if I went back?"
Why ask me something like that?
Juliet was momentarily bewildered.
She knew she wasn't the type to be particularly kind to others.
To begin with, she had her hands full just managing her own life.
'But he's just a kid.'
And he'd found her hairpin for her, he was handsome enough to please the eyes, and he seemed like a good kid. His first impression hadn't been great, but still.
So, there was no reason she couldn't say the kind words he seemed to want to hear for once.
"Hmm, so why did you fight with your brother?"
"Because he teased me for wanting something... that I couldn't have."
"If you want something, you should just take it, right?"
"......Really? You think so?"
"Yes. And go home too."
There was only one thing you could say to a runaway teen, after all.
'Don't worry your parents and go home to make up with your brothers, young master.'
Juliet answered kindly, going out of her way. At that, Roy, who had been watching her intently from across the table, broke into a wide smile.
"Yes, then I'll do that."
Juliet had no idea at the time what consequences her offhand words would bring.
The train's final destination was Akten, the largest castle in the east.
That had originally been Juliet's destination as well. When people referred to the eastern gateway, they usually meant Akten.
But after the uproar, many passengers couldn't bear to stay on the train a moment longer.
When the train arrived at the intermediate station of Roadel, the fed-up passengers and the injured poured out in a mass exodus.
And Juliet was among that crowd.
"Injured! Over here for the injured!"
The other passengers were busy retrieving luggage or tending to the wounded.
Juliet, who only had a single light travel bag, slipped out of the chaotic station with ease.
Having discarded her torn veil, she walked a short distance from the station before glancing back.
She could see the train just pulling away.
Standing still and shading her eyes with her hand, Juliet watched the receding train and murmured.
"For some reason, I feel a little sorry."
Parting without even a goodbye.
But come to think of it, they weren't close enough to exchange farewells, were they?
Ah, but those amber eyes really were beautiful. Staring into them felt dangerous, like she'd fall completely under his spell and let him devour her liver and all.
But instincts shouldn't be ignored.
'Probably a beastkin.'
That was her gut feeling.
Of course, he'd acted all docile and good around her, like a puppy wagging its tail in front of its owner.
But she couldn't let her guard down just because a big strange man was being friendly.
Juliet frowned slightly.
The most uncomfortable part was that he was immune to her illusions.
(That one. Makes me feel bad.)
Normally, the butterflies should have been too excited to understand words when agitated. But exceptionally, they clearly expressed their displeasure.
Unfortunately, Juliet agreed with them.
On top of that, there were more than one or two suspicious things about him.
'He definitely had no restrictions as a wolf.'
That's why she could summon the butterflies and release him through the whole process.
But right after, in human form, she couldn't. The butterflies were forcibly dismissed, showing strong resistance.
'He's just confusing me for no reason.'
Juliet grumbled inwardly.
At first, she hadn't easily connected the massive wolf with the suspicious man.
Lycanthropes—commonly known as werewolves—were famous for their pride, and Juliet had never seen one in person despite her two lifetimes.
Swordmaster or high priest, she didn't know exactly.
But that alone made him plenty dubious.
So, no thanks to getting tangled in anything troublesome.
'He's not some little kid; he'll find his way home just fine.'
He had plenty of people there to fetch him, after all. Juliet turned away.
She shrugged once and kept walking.
Clackety-clack.
Roy stood by the door, gazing into the now-empty cabin.
Aside from the slightly open window, it was so neatly tidied that it was hard to believe someone had been using it just hours ago.
"Young Master Roy."
Kitan, who had appeared from behind before she knew it, interrupted his thoughts.
"We must go now."
The loyal Kitan spoke with a hint of urging, but Roy didn't blame him.
It was impressive enough that Kitan hadn't wrinkled his nose at the stench.
Kitan was an excellent member of the forest tribe. For them, with senses dozens of times sharper than humans', the odor emanating from this place must be unbearable.
Humans were all like that.
Wherever they went, they left behind foul smells that provoked the disgust of the merciful and great tribe.
Truly, they were a vile, foolish race unworthy of the slightest pity.
Romeo Baskal had agreed with that sentiment just yesterday. They didn't deserve mercy or even to be left alive.
But just a few hours ago, he met a human who wasn't repulsive for the first time.
Clearly human, yet instead of reeking, she had a soft, sweet scent that was unbearably alluring.
A body fragrance so tempting that he could barely resist sinking his teeth into her pale nape right then and there.
He knew what it meant.
Any member of the forest tribe would know the meaning of this phenomenon.
Roy stared down at his empty palm before lightly clenching and unclenching his hand.
Within the tribe, he was treated as half-baked. The only one who hadn't awakened.
But Roy didn't care.
Among his siblings born from the same womb, he was the youngest and the strongest. His brothers feared him, and his father rejected him.
Awakening allowed one to meet a mate. Imprinting on a partner was a moment every tribe member longed for.
Until now, Roy had thought it all foolish. Awakening, mates, imprinting—they were all unnecessary.
But...
"So this is what it feels like."
Roy smiled faintly.
Forgotten Juliet