Forgotten Juliet

Chapter 74:

* * *

A moment later.

Hey, Juliet!

The door to the reception room swung open without a knock.

Walking briskly into the empty reception room was Teo Lebatan, one of the visitors.

Teo had chanced upon Juliet from a distance a while ago and had followed her.

He wasnt sure why she was dressed in the robes of a priest, but it was unmistakably Juliet. Teo, with his distinct red hair, looked around the room suspiciously and furrowed his brow.

What the? Where is she?

Where did she go?

You shouldnt just barge in like that, brother!

The guardian priest, who had been guarding the entrance, hurriedly followed with a shout.

I told you! This area is off-limits ugh!

True to his notorious reputation, the youngest son of the Lebatan family grabbed the pursuing priest by the collar and pushed him.

So, are you saying I was seeing illusions?

No, no His Holiness said that no one should disturb this place

The grabbed priest sweated profusely.

Theo suspiciously looked at the empty room again. However, he couldnt see any other exit.

Strange. He was sure he saw her go in here.

The sister might be elsewhere

How do you know whether shes my sister or not?

Pardon?

How do you know if shes my sister or not?

I I thought you said so

The priest evaded his eyes, embarrassed.

Hmm. Something seemed off, but Teo eventually left the reception room without finding anyone.

* * *

Nix appeared in Juliets dream.

Peep!

Nix seemed to be hinting that he was hungry as he chirped at Juliet.

I need to feed him.

Right. Nix!

Surprisingly, Juliets eyes fluttered open.

Huh?

She felt slightly dazed as she woke up.

Am I still dreaming?

When she opened her eyes, she saw a canopy attached to the beds ceiling.

A princess room?

If Juliet was ten, or perhaps fifteen years younger, she might have been thrilled. But even as a child, she never liked such childish, flowery pink lace.

Where is this?

Juliet tried to assess the situation.

For some reason, her entire body felt sore, as if she had exerted muscles she hadnt used in years and was feeling the aftermath.

She struggled and managed to sit up.

Looking around, it confirmed her first impression.

It wasnt a dream. The room was filled with dolls and furniture arranged neatly around the bed where she had been lying.

The bedroom wasnt particularly large, but it certainly looked like a place that had been meticulously decorated.

What is this

The last thing she remembered was returning to her room after a bath

Juliet tried to stand but stumbled.

Or she would have.

Clink.

!

Whats this? 

If it wasnt for the metal binding her ankle, shed say she was chained.

This item seemed utterly out of place in a room filled with girly things.

Lifting the bedsheet, she saw a chain connecting her left ankle to one of the bedposts.

If this was a joke, it was a cruel one.

Have I been kidnapped?

Was it about ransom?

Or some kind of revenge?

Considering the recent events at the auction, it could be the doing of the Marquis Guinness family.

But I was definitely in Lucerne, wasnt I?

Lucernes sacred city might be a small city-state, but it was a neutral territory that even monarchs of other nations couldnt violate easily.

Even if someone was an Emperor or king of another nation, in Lucerne, they had to obey the will of the Papal Court as servants of the goddess.

But who would kidnap someone from the Papal Court?

The answer to Juliets question came the next moment.

Creak.

Step, step, step.

Surprised by the sound, Juliet looked up.

Whats that?

There was a spiral staircase hidden in what she thought was an empty wall. Someone was descending from it.

Via?

The face that emerged along with the footsteps was a familiar one to Juliet.

But it was not anyone she had expected.

Rarely, Juliet just blinked in confusion, not quickly grasping the situation.

?

You woke up earlier than I thought, Via.

The man who greeted her with the worlds sweetest voice was Pope Sebastian.

Click.

Without any explanation, Sebastian unlocked the restraint tied around Juliets ankle.

Juliet felt the ankle that had been bound.

Although they sat side by side, she didnt forget to look at him with a wary eye.

Eat before it gets cold.

Sebastian pointed to the food on the table with a smile.

She was hungry, but she was a little hesitant to eat food she didnt know the contents of.

It seems there was a misunderstanding.

Juliet said cautiously while touching her throat. She wasnt sure what was put in the food, but it felt like a paralyzing poison.

Her voice was barely audible.

Youve mistaken the person.

Im not the Via youre talking about. I dont know who that is.

Juliet behaved calmly, as she had been taught in the case of being kidnapped. She refrained from provoking the kidnapper and stayed calm.

Why do you say that?

However, a smile spread across Sebastians face.

Via. Its impossible for me to mistake you.

Who is that?

Sebastians expression became ambiguous. Juliet had a bad feeling. She felt like she had gotten involved with something wrong.

This weird room and

But why?

Why?

Dont you like it? Should I bring something else?

Sebastian offered the steaming soup again.

Juliet thought it might be better to eat something for the time being. The situation didnt seem like it would resolve quickly, so she needed to regain some strength.

But the moment she reflexively reached for the bowl.

Thud.

A syringe was injected into her wrist.

The liquid inside was violet. It seemed to be of the same kind as what had been injected into the neck of a giant wolf on the train.

Dont worry. From now on, well always be together.

Sebastian looked down at Juliet with a disgusting face.

This crazy guy.

Juliet sensed it.

She had definitely been hit with an instant paralyzing poison.

Though Juliet cursed in her mind, it was of no use.

She couldnt speak or even move a finger. The only thing she could move was her eyes.

Juliet fell to her side and looked down at her attire.

A corset tightly wrapping her below the chest, the rustling fabric, lace added to the sleeves, and black Mary Jane shoes that looked well-preserved but had slightly worn tips.

Did I give you too much?

Sebastian, who had cruelly injected her, laid her down with a worried face.

Sleep well, Via.

Then he lightly kissed her forehead.

Alright, this just got even more creepy.

Juliet thought and lost consciousness.

* * *

When she opened her eyes again, fortunately, that crazy guy was not beside her.

Her arms and legs were no longer bound. How much time had passed?

Im hungry

It was a relief that the madman was gone, but in reality, the situation she was in was not fortunate at all.

The space she was confined in was a sealed room with no visible exit.

Juliet searched the room, but the only edible thing on the table was an apple.

Crunch.

As she took a big bite, she suddenly remembered.

Right, Nix.

What will Onyx do without me? Hes still a baby and wouldnt even know how to open a door.

Only Juliet and Helen, who had come in the same carriage, knew that Nix had sneaked in with her luggage.

And the night before the disaster, Helen had returned to Carcassonne.

Esherlids place was in a completely different building from Juliets room.

Before Helen left, she might have given a hint to Grey or Teo, but the chances werent high.

I need to get out quickly.

After satiating her hunger with the apple, Juliet decided to look for an exit once more.

However, shortly after, Juliet came to a temporary conclusion.

This is a dolls house.

Juliet murmured.