CH 2

Juliana Hariens.

She is a wizard who belongs to the Tower of the Wizard Organization and the sole daughter of Duke of Hariens, one of the only three who form the pillars of the empire.

Long gold-colored hair. Bright golden-colored eyes with thick eyelashes, a sharp nose, red luscious lips, and flawless skin.

She was both brilliant and skilled enough to graduate from the Academy of Magic as second place.

She joined the wizard organization shortly after graduation and started work, currently receiving one month vacation as a reward from the organization.

Enjoying a prosperous and abundant life like this, she thought that her life would flow flat as always.

But, what’s happening here?

“Ah, Robert… When are you going to marry Juliana?”

Juliana blinked absent-mindedly.

Today is a special day, since she had started dating Robert for six years.

How come Rosa, her close friend, and her fiancé were together, when she sneaked into his mansion to give him a surprise visit?

“Wait a little bit more. When I become Duke, I will make you Duchess. I’ll make you my duchess once I get what I want.”

“Do it quick, I don’t want to wait any longer.”

The two of them, her fiancé and her friend, were together. It also seemed like a very inappropriate relationship considering he was her fiance and she, her best friend. Robert and Rosa had betrayed her.

Laughter escaped Juliana’s mouth at the same time as she finally realised.

She staggered  back while clutching herself, her mind shattered to pieces.

“Until when do we have to keep our relationship a secret?”

“Don’t worry, Rosa. First of all, if the marriage goes as planned, likewise the Duchy will be handed over to my hands…… But you would have to endure until then.”

Juliana clenched her fist at the unbelievable sight.

Robert was her first lover, and at the same time was her promised betrothed.

She liked him.

Juliana did her best without telling a speck of lie to him, even if he, who seemed to have offered the whole world to her at first, had changed after the engagement. She gave him clothes, money and even her heart, but the end result was like this.

She wasn’t sure since when he had been doing this kind of crap behind her back. As a result, Juliana’s entire body shook at the fact that all her efforts ended up only to be made fun of by a scum who was aiming for the duke.

Originally, he would have to enter the family as a son-in-law at the same time as they became betrothed, but it was a good thing that Juliana entered the academy which caused the wedding to be delayed.

What a waste of time she had spent on this piece of scum to live in wealth and honor until now. It’s obvious that she was crazy to trust him. When his shell was peeled off, Robert turned out to be no better than the world’s trash.

“Haah.”

A laugh escaped her mouth. 

Rosa… Just how much had she cherished her? Like a real sister. She threw off the white dress and Robert’s gift.

The white dress that she threw and the shirt she had brought for Robert as a gift was all prepared by herself.

Feelings of sorrow as well as betrayal were momentary. However, her anger was deep.

With an expressionless look, Juliana walked toward the both of them, who were still glued together.

At the sound of footsteps approaching, they looked up at the same time, just to see Juliana.

“!!!!”

Robert, who visibly stiffened, pushed Rosa away from him as if he was throwing her aside.

With a crash and a loud noise, she rolled down. Rosa, who fell disgracefully, raised her head. Rosa’s face, which was both surprised and frightened, gradually turned pale.

She had tumbled down the bed with a thud and crashing sound. 

“You want the title of duke?”

“Juliana, let me explain everything! It’s a misunderstanding, this is…”

Robert’s face was filled with embarrassment.

“Misunderstanding?”

She asked again. What she just saw and what she heard was a misunderstanding…?

“Yes, so this was all… This, this b**ch, she seduced me!”

Robert pointed his finger to Rosa. Rosa’s eyes widened while she gathered clothes to cover her body. Rosa hurriedly seized Juliana’s trouser as her face turned deadly pale.

“Huh, no, Julie. Believe me……I couldn’t help it…I’m innocent.”

Juliana looked down at Rosa with a cold stare as she pleaded with tears.

The cunning figure who was talking to Robert and desiring for the duchess’ position disappeared in a flash.

“Did you approach me for the title from the beginning?”

“Julie, don’t do this! It’s a misunderstanding!”

“So, this is a misunderstanding?”

“Yes, it’s all a misunderstanding. Let me explain, please…”

“Shh, you’d better shut up before your mouth would be threaded through by needles.” Juliana said with a cold look.

“Well, i-it was a mistake…! Please, you used to be sweet Juliana, come back to me, yes? This is unlike you…”

Juliana had always endlessly kind to her own people. Perhaps because she had only shown her good nature so far, both of their faces turned deadly pale by her cold expression.

“Really? I can’t believe it’s not like me. Who do you think I am?”

A smirk naturally appeared on her mouth. How dare they plot against her. 

No, how much confidence does he have to himself if this all looked easy to him….?!

“Ju-Juliana……I’m, I’m sorry.”

Rosa was on the verge of tears when she called out Juliana’s name.

“Keep begging me and saying sorry. But I won’t forgive you.”

“Julie!”

“Don’t call my name. Let’s break up here.”

Juliana announced their breakup shortly but firmly. Robert had a stupid look on his face, as if he didn’t understand yet.

“No! Please forgive me. I’ll be good, okay?”

Robert, who became aware of the meaning of her words belatedly, raised his head. Juliana still stared at Robert with an impassive face.

The only daughter from the house of Duke Hariens.

“Don’t think you would be safe after trifling with me, the Wizard of the Tower.”

If Juliana turned around, it meant that the duke would turn with her in an instant as well. 

Robert hurriedly reached out and tapped Juliana’s hand.

“Get your dirty hands off me. I won’t ask you why you did this when it was already over.”

Juliana dusted her clothes and spun around. She could hear Robert calling her name from behind. She tried to ignore it while moving her trembling legs out of the room.

She didn’t want to be in Robert’s mansion even for a moment longer.

It felt like his existence itself was denied by his betrayal. Her pride has been hurt, ashamed, and her heart ached. But the obvious fact that she almost got married to that lousy scum was giving her even more goosebumps.

“Whew, the more I think about it, the more I will get a fever.”

She didn’t calm down entirely even when she was in the carriage.

She couldn’t believe everyone had almost got duped by a man with such impure intentions.

Suddenly, a thought slid by her mind that he might have gone somewhere and settled a debt in the name of the duke. In the midst of her thoughts, the carriage quickly headed to the house of Duke Hariens.

***

“Madam, you came back early.”

Mary, the exclusive maid approached her when Juliana entered the room.

“Marie, where is my father?”

“The Duke is in his Office.”

“Is that so? Alright.”

Juliana immediately moved her steps toward her father’s office. She had broken off her marriage as she pleased, however she wanted to report to her father about this first.

As she stepped forward with big strides, she finally stood in front of Duke Harien’s office. 

Knock knock. 

Julieta knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Juliana walked into the office after getting permission from the duke inside a moment later.

“Father.”

“Juliana, what happened’?”

A welcome look radiated from Duke Hariens’ face.

“I have something to tell you.”

“Sit down.”

Both of them sat on the couch. Juliana calmly brought up what happened today. Duke Hariens listened quietly about Robert’s relationship with Rosa and the cancellation of their engagement.

“That’s why you broke off your engagement?”

“Yes, Father.”

Putting aside the process of breaking up the marriage, she broke the engagement between the families with her emotion at that moment. 

The corners of Duke Harien’s mouth twitched when Juliana also used the word “father,” which she rarely used, with the fear of being scolded for doing something for no particular reason.

“Yes, good job.”

“Is this alright…?”

“It can’t be helped. I accepted him because he was the second son of a marquis who was worthy to be in our family. However, on the contrary it seems that his actions have demeaned our family status. I’ll find another son-in-law.”

“Yes, Father.”

Before leaving, Juliana left the room with a request to see whether or not Robert had owed anything in the name of the duke.

Robert and Rosa.

She was glad to know their true selves now. She didn’t have to know how they had been strutting around arrogantly during the time when she was away at the magic academy.

If they have committed a crime, there will always be a judgment on it.

When Juliana came back to the room, Marie was standing in front of the firewood. In front of Marie was a pile of letters and invitations.

There were quite a lot of letters and invitations in front of her.

“Young Lady, there will be a masquerade ball held at Earl Geriona tonight. What do you want to do about this?”

What?”

“A masquerade ball…”

Juliana’s eyes twinkled in interest.

***

A grand masquerade at Earl Geriona.

A golden haired woman who was wearing a red mask quickly skimmed through people inside the banquet hall. Her eyes shone keenly inside the mask.

“…Haah.”

Juliana bit her lower lip hard. The reason why she wanted to come to the masquerade ball in the first place was that she was feeling quite impulsive.

One night flings used to happen secretly in high society. But Juliana never had such a secret love affair because she was already engaged.

She’d entered the Academy of Magic when other young girls were busy dating and preparing for marriage.

She might end up marrying someone like this.

Juliana went to the masquerade ball suddenly with that thought in mind, but she hardly found someone that reached her standards.

Meanwhile, Juliana was agitated when the memory of her fiance and best friend rose to the surface again.

“Haah, bad XXX.”

Juliana spat out a cuss. She barely managed to calm the rising anger within her and gulped down a couple sips of wine that moistened her lips. The sour and bitter taste spread through her mouth.

Juliana placed her hands on the table as she staggered, feeling tipsy. She had long crossed her usual drinking capacity out of anger. It has been a while since her face has turned this red.

Juliana stumbled out of the banquet hall only to head toward the terrace.