Chapter 88
Chapter 88
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: The Second Prince's Proposition
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"That…… I didn't mean it that way, Lady Ilena."
"Is that so?"
As the man from moments ago cowered and apologized, Lady Ilena Lindberg's eyebrow arched sharply.
"Wait, aren't you the son of Baron Austin?"
"Y-Yes, that's right."
"I heard Baron Austin was caught cheating not long ago. Did your mother have nothing to say about family harmony?"
"…… I'll take my leave first!"
Suddenly called out on his family's scandal in public, the man scrambled to his feet and fled the salon.
Winter was a long and quiet season.
While young nobles held small salons here and there in the capital, there had likely been no major events for the seasoned noblewomen since the New Year's ball ended.
"I had no idea there was a salon like this."
"Young people are so clever—they come up with the most fun ideas!"
Lady Ravonne Viscountess had called in two of her friends, and they in turn had brought their own.
That was the very point of the Blooming Salon, but those who had planned to mock Juliet to their hearts' content could not hide their dumbfounded expressions.
Before long, control of the salon had naturally shifted to them.
"Property division……"
"You need solid proof……"
By the time the salon ended, the average age of the guests had risen dramatically.
"It's been so long since I got out like this."
"We should do this more often!"
After that, Juliet was not brought up as a topic again until the salon dispersed.
Amid the distinguished socialites chatting amiably, Juliet smiled quietly.
It was a display of the Monad Count household's enduring connections, as well as a subtle warning.
'This should be enough for now.'
Juliet smiled brightly.
Those who had been harassing the Monad Count household's servants were the very hosts of today's salon.
For the time being, they would not dare summon Juliet again or torment the household's servants.
If they mentioned the "abandoned woman" even once more, they would face the wrath of the noblewomen present.
Juliet slipped away from her seat.
As she did, before the room was fully cleared, she came face-to-face with someone who had been standing in front of her.
"You……"
Fatima glared at Juliet with resentment.
"Juliet Monad."
"Your Highness the Prince Consort."
"Do you know what you've done? You just ruined my first official salon!"
"…… Ruined it how?"
Juliet's brow furrowed.
"I have no idea what you mean."
Juliet gestured toward the large glass window where the guests were visible.
"They're all fine people. Befriending them will help you—it certainly won't harm you."
It was the truth.
The three noblewomen Juliet had invited were the sort anyone would kill to have as a chaperone.
They were not people young ladies could meet just because they wanted to.
But Fatima showed no sign of understanding.
"What are you talking about? That's exactly why you sabotaged me!"
"…… If I were in Your Highness's position, I would choose my friends more carefully."
Juliet said calmly.
If Fatima truly wanted to build connections befitting a prince consort, she should have distanced herself from those egging her on to host a salon for gossip.
Instead, she should have invited influential noblewomen like Lady Ilena.
On the other hand, Juliet thought it was just like Fatima not to.
"Well, our views on 'friends' do differ somewhat."
Juliet gave Fatima a pretty smile and a greeting before passing her by.
"Then."
As she walked away from the salon, Juliet thought coolly.
She was accustomed to handling everything alone.
She had been the same during her time in the North.
Juliet began walking lightly toward the palace entrance.
Then, as she strolled slowly through the well-manicured palace gardens, someone blocked her path.
"......?"
"Are you leaving now, Lady Monad?"
Juliet paused for a moment.
She eyed the man who had stopped her, a bit warily.
He was Cloph, the Second Prince, the emperor's second son and Fatima's fiancé.
Juliet bowed her head in greeting.
"I greet Your Highness the Prince."
'What could he want?'
Was he here for revenge because his fiancée's plan hadn't gone as expected, with her not meekly suffering humiliation?
Juliet thought quickly, her smile somewhat cold.
Ambitious, he kept Duke Carlisle's fame in check.
Juliet had a poor impression of him because he openly antagonized the duke while being too cowardly to confront him directly, instead projecting his petty resentment onto innocent Juliet.
But today's Cloph was a bit off.
He grinned broadly, clearly in a good mood.
"There's no need to be so formal, Lady Monad."
"…… It's Countess Monad, Your Highness."
Juliet corrected him coolly with a cold smile.
"Not Lady Monad."
Most people called Juliet Lady Monad, but in truth, she was the rightful Countess Monad.
She was the family heir, even without a formal succession ceremony.
"Ah, right. Of course."
Cloph seemed not to care much.
"But we'll be family soon. No need for formalities."
"…… Family?"
"You can think of me as your dear brother, Juliet."
What kind of creepy talk was this?
As Juliet's expression turned icy, the Second Prince said,
"Oh? Didn't Duke Carlisle tell you?"
The family physician summoned from the North could not hide his shock.
It had come to this.
In just a few days, the duke's condition had improved to the point of a monster rising from the grave—his recovery was miraculous……
"But Your Grace still can't see?"
Duke Carlisle's eyesight showed no improvement even after days.
"Is that a question?"
"I-I'm sorry."
The family physician bowed his head hastily.
"But outwardly, everything appears normal."
The corneas weren't damaged.
There were no visible symptoms, making treatment difficult.
"If this persists, you could lose your sight permanently."
Unlike internal organs, the eyes could suffer irreversible damage once injured.
"Blindness!"
Elliot, who had been listening silently, felt faint.
No wonder he had holed up in his bedroom.
Why hadn't he said his vision was gone?
"No, there must be some way!"
Forgetting himself before his lord, he raised his voice.
The Carlisle ducal house had many enemies, and if this got out, they would swarm from all sides.
'If something happens to His Grace because of this……'
Elliot thought anxiously.
The duke's condition was being kept under strict secrecy.
Only four people knew: Hardin standing guard outside, the duke himself, the physician, and secretary Elliot.
"…… But you said it was Lucerne's holy barrier."
The physician, who had some knowledge of magic and holy curses, said cautiously.
"Even high priests couldn't resolve this easily. First, we need to identify the exact nature of the reflective curse."
"This is ridiculous……"
Unlike the dejected Elliot, Lennox Carlisle's expression showed little change.
He asked calmly, as if discussing someone else.
"So, if we pinpoint the curse's type, it can be lifted?"
"In theory, yes. Or…… we could break it the same way the barrier was broken."
Just as the holy barrier had been shattered, so too the curse—with greater power, whether magic or curse, could be dispelled.
Lennox's fingers lightly tapped the armrest.
"But forcing the curse to break could cause side effects."
"Damn it…… Figure it out."
His sharpened nerves frayed with his limited vision.
Lennox shoved back his chair with a sigh and stood.
Elliot sighed as he summarized the situation.
"Anyway…… keep this quiet. It must not leak out. Understood?"
But the family physician wasn't listening to Elliot.
"......?"
The physician couldn't tear his eyes from the duke standing in one corner of the bedroom.
Flutter.
With the examination over, Duke Carlisle had draped a white shirt over his bare torso.
The physician gazed at the magnificently sculpted body—like a masterpiece carved by a devoted sculptor—with a mix of admiration and unease.
Duke Carlisle particularly hated anyone touching his body and refused even personal attendants.
Yet he frequently returned with sword wounds, making him a tricky patient; even the physician hadn't seen his body often.
Elliot found it absurd.
Even a fellow man couldn't look away from the sight.
But at that moment…….
Bang.
"L-Lady!"
The floor below suddenly grew noisy.
"What's that?"
"I'll go check."
Elliot rushed out.
Wondering what was happening, the physician peered out the window.
Someone was running into the mansion.
"…… Lady Juliet?"
The uninvited guest was a face the physician knew well.
"Damn it."
At the same time, Lennox cursed.
Duke Carlisle, with only a shirt over his bare upper body, crossed the bedroom with somewhat unsteady steps and a curse.
He jerked his head toward the door leading to the small drawing room and barked.
"Out."
Hide……
Or was it out?
"Y-Yes!"
Understanding the intent, the physician quickly hid in the drawing room.