Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: A Kiss at Knifepoint
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Cardinal Solon seemed to be the type who enjoyed strutting around the banquet hall with his chest puffed out.
“To think that the royals of Katia are specially gracing this occasion!”
He went around seeking out every distinguished guest, acting overly familiar with them.
But the concept of royalty differed between humans and the Lycanslope.
Roy didn’t bother pointing that out.
“Roy, you’re a prince?”
“Yes?”
When Juliet asked, Roy looked flustered instead.
Juliet tilted her head.
Did that mean Roy would one day become the Lycanslope Lord?
No, he had a brother, so probably not.
Behind Roy stood Nathan and Elsa, whose names she knew, along with three other clansmen she didn’t.
Were all Lycanslope so tall and strikingly handsome?
She had thought so when she saw them in the dark forest, but under the sparkling lights, it was astonishing.
Especially Elsa, with her wavy golden-brown hair cascading like a mane and wearing a halter-neck dress—she was dazzlingly beautiful.
“Hello, Juliet!”
“Hello, Elsa.”
Elsa greeted her brightly, so Juliet returned the greeting.
Come to think of it, two weeks ago on the night of Alje’s moon festival, she hadn’t gone back due to some urgent matter.
Juliet glanced sideways at Roy, who was standing beside her.
‘Did that matter get resolved?’
She had been worried because Elsa, who was always glued to Nathan, hadn’t been around, but fortunately, Elsa looked healthy.
“Hehe.”
“Why are you laughing, Elsa?”
“You smell delicious, Juliet.”
“...Woodberry?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“I told you last time.”
“Elsa...!”
Nathan gritted his teeth and dragged Elsa out by the arm.
Elsa had already emptied a whole bottle of wine by herself and was thoroughly drunk.
As Juliet watched the two of them go with a faint smile, her expression froze upon spotting someone.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Juliet excused herself from Roy and hurriedly followed that person outside.
In the well-manicured maze garden, impatient lovers were already enjoying secret trysts here and there. The person Juliet was looking for wasn’t immediately visible.
But Juliet had definitely seen them.
‘That face...’
A small figure in a white priest’s robe pulled low over the head. Hair with an orange tint.
It was definitely Dahlia.
“Ah...!”
Not watching her step as she looked around, Juliet stumbled over something.
A rose vine sprawled out before her eyes.
Even if she fell onto the rose vine, it would only leave scratches, but Juliet squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the impending pain.
‘...?’
Yet no matter how much time passed, the expected impact didn’t come.
Only then did Juliet realize she had fallen onto someone’s chest.
“Juliet.”
“...Your Highness.”
And of all people, it was the one she least wanted to run into right now.
“...Pardon me—ugh.”
Juliet thought Helene’s perfect outfit choice for the evening had been a mistake.
Thanks to the corset cinching her waist, skipping dinner had left her lightheaded.
She wanted something to grab onto to get up, but the only thing she could reach was the chest of the man in front of her.
Every time Juliet’s hand touched him, Lennox casually blocked it and asked leisurely,
“That wolf pup is ‘Roy,’ is he?”
He still remembered the name he’d heard a few weeks ago by Alje’s lakeside.
“Yes. That’s right!”
Juliet snapped back irritably.
“You like that pup?”
“Lennox!”
“Tell me, Juliet.”
“Did that wolf pup promise you a queen’s crown or something?”
Juliet stared blankly, thinking.
A queen’s crown? What was that?
More importantly, had this man always been so persistent?
“Answer me, Juliet.”
“...What are you doing here?”
Juliet didn’t answer and asked Lennox instead.
“You said it yourself.”
Lennox showed no intention of getting up, remaining still as ever. He wrapped an arm around her waist and smiled coldly.
“That you’d do as you please.”
“So I’m doing things my way now.”
“...Your Highness.”
Juliet couldn’t fathom why Lennox was acting like this here.
‘He doesn’t love me anyway.’
“Roy is just... a friend.”
Lennox sneered coldly at that.
“Who knows. Does that wolf pup think so too?”
The tips of his fingers brushed Juliet’s cheek. A cautious touch, as if handling something fragile.
“I’ve been thinking about it, you know. Why you’re acting this way.”
“...And?”
“Juliet, did you want to hurt me?”
Juliet clamped her mouth shut.
Did she want to hurt him?
Yes, she did.
Even when she resolved to leave him—the man who didn’t love her—and in that moment, she had thought it.
To shake him off, to leave even a trace in his memory. Even if it was anger, she wanted to linger in his heart.
“Answer me. Did you ever like me?”
Did she like him?
What kind of idiotic question was that?
Juliet smiled bitterly.
If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have stayed by his side for seven years. Not with the man who had killed her in her previous life.
“Your face.”
“What?”
“I liked your face.”
Because you’re so handsome.
Juliet shot back with a grin.
“That’s all.”
Her expression said she wouldn’t have stayed otherwise.
Lennox looked somehow hurt and stayed silent for a long while.
“...Still too soft.”
He muttered.
Juliet pressed her hand to the ground to get up again.
But Lennox yanked her arm, making her sit back down.
“What are—!”
She was about to shout what he was doing when Lennox suddenly shifted position, propping himself up.
Their fingers intertwined, laced together.
“I told you, Juliet.”
“...!”
“When the chance comes, cut off their breath.”
Juliet flinched at the cryptic words, trying to pull away, but she was already firmly caught in his grip.
“Stab me.”
With one hand, Lennox brushed aside Juliet’s fallen hair; with the other, he pulled her waist tightly against him.
“I’m about to kiss you now.”
So if you don’t want it, stab me.
At his blunt words, Juliet snapped to her senses.
At some point, a sharp dagger had been forced into her hand, gripped tightly in his hold.
“I taught you.”
Those words brought back a memory.
Back when they stayed in the North, Lennox had taught Juliet all sorts of things.
House Carlyle had many enemies, and she was his official lover of seven years.
So she had to be able to handle any situation targeting her.
“When the chance comes, don’t hesitate—stab. That’s how you survive.”
Among them was self-defense, like where to strike for the quickest, most efficient kill.
That was why Juliet couldn’t move easily.
In this position, any slip could really make blood spray.
“...!”
She unwittingly shoved Lennox away.
But he merely tightened his grip on her hand around the dagger and pulled her close, as if to say not a chance.
Then he pressed his throat against the blade.
They were so close she could count each other’s eyelashes.
“What are you—!”
Juliet panicked.
She couldn’t even pull her hand away to stop him. Any rash movement might really hurt him.
Even the hum of his magic sword felt threatening as it warned.
Toward Juliet, who was too shocked to breathe properly, he slowly brought his lips to hers.
As if the blade meant nothing.
Smack.
She felt the light touch on her lips. Juliet reflexively tried to push him away but hesitated at the familiar scent.
When she didn’t resist, the kiss deepened. Unknowingly, Juliet’s eyes fluttered shut.
A moment later.
Their lips parted.
Juliet panted raggedly, staring at Lennox in a daze.
Lennox grinned.
“One kiss from you for my life? That’s a bargain, isn’t it?