Chapter 73 Montague & Capulet (5)
Juliet could not sleep that night.
The wedding dress, crafted from luxurious, shimmering silk, hung quietly against the cold stone wall, a poignant symbol of the delicate balance between hope and the harshness of reality. Flickering softly, the blue-hued aromatherapy candles cast dancing shadows around the room, creating an atmosphere thick with doubt, yet failing to provide warmth to her trembling heart. Outside, a gentle southern breeze whispered through the open window, carrying with it the fresh, salty scent of the ocean intertwined with the acrid tang of metal—a haunting reminder of the mine that loomed ominously nearby. As she peered intently into the mirror, Juliet's own reflection eluded her; instead, she was confronted by the ethereal visage of Vivienne Capulet, her mother, who had reemerged from the night two days prior, leaving behind a lingering presence filled with bittersweet memories.
In the hidden corridor of the eastern wing of Capulet Castle,
Juliet found herself ensconced in shadows, her heart pounding as she overheard a soft, echoing voice—a familiar melody from her past. The gentle timbre of her mother's tone wafted through the oppressive darkness, puncturing the still air like moonlight cutting through a dense fog.
"Let them marry, shall we? But once the mine returns to the Capulets—this marriage will symbolize the Montagues' defeat," her mother purred, the words laced with a menacing undercurrent that made the very stones tremble.
"If necessary," Lady Aurianne interjected, her voice sharp and resolute like the edge of a dagger, "we will force Juliet to be a widow within a week."
Juliet, concealed behind the cold, sturdy stone pillar, bit her lip until copper-tasting blood welled up, a painful reminder of the dread overwhelming her. The second voice, dripping with malice, belonged to Lady Aurianne, her mother's cousin—renowned for her lethal cunning and ruthless ambitions.
"And Romeo...?" she asked, curiosity mingling with dark anticipation.
"Will disappear. Just like the mine we will reclaim with the ancient glyphs. I have even paid The Red Miners to dig in from the eastern side," her mother replied with a chilling certainty.