Sitting, Juliette glances at her reflection on vanity’s mirror and sighs. She has not changed out of the formal gown since morning after entering this room. The room she is supposed to call hers.
For the world, Juliette is the daughter of Lord of Northern State, fiancée of Crown Prince, Edward. And right now, she is the envy of thousand of maiden girls and married women across the country, having a luxurious life most people can only dream of. Yet, Juliette considers herself even lower than a poor country girl.
For all Juliette cares anyone can have her life, she just wants to be with her Lucifer, the one who lost his job at her father’s mansion thanks to Juliette. He took the blame of breaking a precious vase to save her from their ruthless punishment. It was post that incident that Juliette met him outside mansion for first time with the purpose of apologizing, but was held captive how charming and lively he was outside the old uniform.
Juliette gradually fell for him as their meetings didn’t stop with her apology and then the nest Juliette knew Lucifer became her entire life. And now her life is ripped apart for him cause-
“Lady Juliette.”
A voice from behind snaps Juliette out of her musing. She looks up to see Highness Edward’s reflection on the mirror.
Juliette calms her nerves and turns around with a fake smile on her lips.
“If highness wished to meet Lady Juliette, he should have called instead her instead of causing yourself trouble.”
Crown Prince smiles in reply, though, not from happiness but from catching the forcedness in Juliette’s words. For Edward, he really didn’t want this alliance but after seeing Juliette’s obvious displeasure their past formal meetings it only pierces him more each time he sees her in pain, knowing that somehow he is the reason behind her lifeless. He doesn’t exactly know how, though.
“Lady Juliette, you not need to be so formal with me. I just wanted to check on how you are doing... Since, even though you are in your birth city, you are still quite far from your maiden house. You seem quite unwell, though”
Juliette’s heart breaks even more hearing Highness’s kind words. Juliette knows that they have overwhelmingly kind Crown Prince but to have it directed to her like that is only making her guiltier. Juliette is already guilty for sufferings and tortures her father, Lord of North, gave Lucifer and his parents. Yet, that guy loved her.
Now, Highness Edward’s kind is increasing her guilt of hiding her true emotions from him. She is his fiancée but Juliette knows she can’t love him even after having so much respect for him in her heart.
“Highness is worried over nothing. I for most part am only tired from so many things changing at once.”
Not convinced in his heart, Edward still nods acting to take up her excuse.
“On my way to your room, I actually met one of the gatekeepers. He said someone asked to send this letter to you.”
Crown Prince’s words avert Juliette’s attention to the rolled piece of paper in his hands. Juliette walks over to Highness with an abstract idea of the writer.
Stopping one, or maybe two steps back Juliette extends her hand.
Edward gives her the letter, confused over her silence and eagerness. Near grabbing the rolled paper from Highness’s hand, Juliette quickly unfastens the string keeping paper rolled and begins reading it silently in Dusk’s light coming from the balcony.
Juliette
Love... I am sorry. But I need to go, far-far away from your life. Don’t doubt my love for I love you, like I breathe, naturally and for most part involuntarily.
Nevertheless, we are sky and land these may love each other and yearn to one whilst staring at each other. But it is a sad truth, a mere artisan’s son and Lord’s daughter can never be together.
Juliette, I want to fight for you, for us. Yet, I am leaving without even seeing you as you are a kind, pure and generous soul who deserves to be our equally loving Crown Prince’s bride.
May all your sorrows be exchanged with the happiness of my hundred lives... Congratulations on official engagement with Highness Edward.
Lucifer
Letting Lucifer’s words sink in, Juliette unconsciously traces his name on the letter.
A sob escapes her lips.
Then other and then another...
Forgetting she isn’t alone Juliette makes over her way to the trunk holding her belongings. Juliette takes out a small vial of poison from a small box in it and stops herself from shedding another tear.
Juliette wanted to drink the content of the vial when the pressure to get into the marriage alliance reached its peak. Though, the very same day her father threatened her that he will Lucifer if she doesn’t agree for the alliance. Lucifer’s family was already hostage in the basement of the mansion and Juliette was the audience of the tortures on them, who begged daily to let them go.
That day was the last she saw Lucifer, as Juliette’s father threatened Juliette as a man of his kept the knife on Lucifer’s neck. And Juliette gave in to her father’s demand.
Emptying the vial in one go, she gives in to her wish of ending her life.
If the parting with her lover, the one she loves if for forever without even seeing him one last time to live off it, then Juliette finds it better to end such forever and the pain at once.
Under a minute, Juliette ends on the floor with tightly shut eyes, blood coming out of her lips and the Lucifer’s letter clutched in her hands.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
