Forgotten Juliet / 잊혀진 줄리엣

Chapter 103

Juliet’s previously radiant face instantly hardened.

Confusion flashed across her face.

She was surrounded by kind people. And in a place where the lady was watching closely, such a thing happened.

Before Juliet could turn to identify the impudent face, the music suddenly stopped.

Bang!

“Ah!”

The confused guests found Viscount Fusilli sprawled on the hall floor. And an unfamiliar man who had intervened.

“What is this madness! Do you know who I am…?”

Lying on the ground, Viscount Fusilli struggled to get up.

“Ah! Call a doctor! My ribs…”

He groaned, clutching his side.

However, the guests were no longer interested in the Viscount.

“Duke Carlyle…?”

“Wha-what?”

“Oh, the Duke!”

The most flustered was Madam Ilena.

“What is this madness!”

Madam Ilena was the only one in the room who knew of his presence beforehand. But she hadn’t anticipated that the Duke would suddenly draw his sword and threaten one of her guests.

“You have poor judgment, Madam.”

The Duke glared menacingly at her.

“He isn’t human just because he walks on two feet.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m saying I’ll cut that bastard’s throat.”

Eek!

Visount Fusilli was startled.

“Viscount! At least explain what’s happening!”

“Did the Viscount offend you in any way?”

Lennox didn’t respond.

The one who answered was Juliet, standing next to him.

“It was me who was offended, Madam.”

“Juliet?”

“Keep quiet.”

Lennox pulled her behind him. But Juliet ignored him and spoke to Madam Ilena.

“Just now… that… man touched my back. It was no accident.”

The crowd was abuzz.

The attention shifted to Visount Fusilli.

“Visount Fusilli! Is this true?”

“It’s not like that…”

Lennox was growing impatient.

He didn’t want the situation to devolve into the crowd gawking at Juliet.

Visount Fusilli started to babble.

“Ha! It’s the dress you’re wearing that’s the problem! You’re exposing your back; of course someone might accidentally touch it!”

The crowd murmured again.

Visount Fusilli seemed to have decided to argue that it was a mistake.

Lennox had no interest in listening to this nonsense any further. He didn’t think he needed to apologize to Madam Ilena either.

“So?”

However, Juliet, who had been silent behind him, pushed Lennox aside and stepped forward.

“So, it’s my fault for wearing this dress?”

“…Exactly! Madam Ilena, look! You always say that a lady should dress modestly!”

At this, Madam Ilena hesitated.

The conservative Madam had always warned her granddaughters against wearing revealing dresses.

Indeed, she hadn’t been too pleased with Juliet’s dress that evening.

“Well…”

But Juliet continued, unfazed.

“So, if I were dressed ‘modestly’, this wouldn’t have happened? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Well, of course…”

“No!”

At that moment, Emma, who had been silent in the crowd, rushed forward.

“Grandmother, I experienced it too! Visount Fusilli has been touching the guests all evening!”

Emma shouted with anger.

Madam Ilena was taken aback.

“Emma, is this true?”

“Yes! And Countess Monad is right!”

Emma asserted confidently.

“I changed my dress just as you ordered!”

Emma had to switch to a modest dove-colored dress that covered up to her neck, due to the Madam’s strict instructions.

“…I saw it too.”

“And come to think of it, the maids the Viscount dismissed recently…”

The crowd began to share their own stories and observations. The banquet hall turned into a heated debate.

“This is a conspiracy, My Lady!”

“Oh my…”

The Madam held her head as if she had a headache.

“Grandmother!”

The crowd was agitated.

Feeling like an exhibit on a stage, Lennox was getting irritated.

He wasn’t interested in resolving the quarrel in detail.

All he wanted was to deal with that bastard.

“Your Highness.”

However, as if reading his intentions, Juliet from behind grabbed his hand.

Taking advantage of his momentary hesitation, Juliet pulled on his arm.

“Follow me.”