You Are Gentle, But You Don’t Love Me - Chapter 12

Time Reversed: Six Years Ago

The summer of Juliet’s sixteenth year, she attended the first soirée of the season in Rogudoro.

Although she had participated in various gatherings before, it was her first time at the opening summer soirée. This was her debut appearance at a banquet hosted by another noble family after her formal debut into society.

Yet, Juliet was hiding behind a pillar in a corner, unnoticed by anyone.

“Go and talk to her.”
“Why don’t you try?”

She half-listened to the chatter of three or four men standing nearby.

“Who were you staring at like you were mesmerized?”
“Who were you staring at?”

They were unfamiliar faces—neither sons of Rogudoro nor branches of Arborea. Juliet guessed they must be men from Gallura.
A single name kept coming up in their conversation.
“Do you think she’d pay attention to someone like me? The famous Lady Rosalyn Calliary herself.”

Rosalyn Calliary.

“Who knows? Maybe she’ll find you charming.”

“A beauty like her? The future heiress who will inherit the entire Calliary Duchy?”

The men weren’t the only ones talking about her. It seemed like half the people in the hall were discussing Rosalyn.

“Well, yeah, you’re definitely not up to her standards.”
“You didn’t have to say it so bluntly! I’m already well aware…”
“Stop dreaming, man.”

Juliet nonchalantly brushed off their conversation.
Rosalyn had always been that way. Her dazzling golden hair and vivid blue eyes captivated people instantly. Her lively complexion and cheerful laugh drew people toward her as effortlessly as the sun pulls its rays.

“Hey! Are you talking about me?”

“Uh… what?”

“Standing around like mice in the corner, whispering about who’s pretty and whatnot—it’s annoying!”

“S-Sorry…”

Even her bold and often reckless words, which sometimes caused others to frown, were considered part of Rosalyn Calliary’s charm.

“Why don’t you come over here and talk openly?”

“W-What?”

“Don’t hide in the back. Step forward and praise me to my face.”
The summer sun burns fiercely without hesitation.

“Who knows? Maybe I’ll find you quite endearing.”

Hot sunlight may make people squint, but eventually, they step out of the shade to bask in its warmth. Rosalyn Calliary was just like that sun.

“But where’s Julie?”

Her voice, loud enough to echo across the hall, momentarily silenced the crowd. Yet, she paid no mind to the gazes fixed on her, grumbling instead. Someone asked her in a curious tone,
“Julie… you mean?”

“My sister, of course!”

Juliet heard everything yet shrank deeper into the shadows behind the pillar.

“Oh, the second daughter of the Calliary Duchy?”
“I haven’t seen her…”

This was nothing new. Juliet had grown accustomed to such moments—people too busy talking about Rosalyn to notice Juliet’s existence.

“She’s new to Rogudoro. Where could she be hiding?”
From a young age, Juliet knew her place. As a grown woman, she had become a lady who still knew her place.

People often compared the Calliary sisters, calling Rosalyn the sun and Juliet the moon. But Juliet knew the truth: compared to Rosalyn, she was neither the moon nor a star.

“At best, I’m a cloud drifting near the sun… or perhaps the shadow it casts.”

Her pale brown curls, her brown eyes, her thin frame—described kindly as delicate, but in truth, a little dull. Her face seemed perpetually vacant.

Even her appearance seemed destined for obscurity, as though she were born to be someone else’s shadow.

“If only I could truly become a shadow, I’d escape notice entirely.”

Concealed in the shade, Juliet pondered such thoughts.
“If only I could sneak out of this hall unnoticed…”

But then, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Found you.”

“…Rosie.”

It seemed she wouldn’t succeed today either.

No matter where Juliet hid—an empty drawing room, a small attic she secretly claimed as her hideout, or behind the bushes in the courtyard near the waterway—Rosalyn always found her.
Like a ghost, Rosalyn always tracked down her little sister, hidden from the world’s eyes.

Smiling radiantly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she would say,
“Come here, Julie.”

And she would draw Juliet into the light.

“Let’s go together.”

Standing in the bright glow of the chandelier, Rosalyn extended a hand to Juliet, who remained in the shadows. After a brief hesitation, Juliet took her hand.
“Ah!”

She was pulled forward suddenly.

The dazzling chandelier light poured over her as Rosalyn embraced her tightly, laughing brightly.

“My beloved sister, I’m so glad you’re here with me. Tonight will be the best night of my life.”

Engulfed in her sister’s warm embrace, Juliet felt an unexpected surge of emotion and wanted to cry.
“Ah, Rosa, so this is where you’ve been.”

Romeo, who had been following Rosalyn with a confused expression, finally noticed Juliet and sighed in relief.
“Juliet looks like she’s suffocating.”

“Oh, stop interrupting! We’re in the middle of an emotional moment here.”

Despite Romeo’s complaint, Rosalyn let go of Juliet reluctantly. Juliet stepped away from her sister’s arms and took a deep breath, facing Romeo.

“Thank you.”

“No, Juliet. I’m just glad to see you here.”
“…Yeah.”

Romeo Arborea. He smiled gently as he lightly tapped Juliet’s shoulder.

The cool touch of Romeo’s hand left a faint chill where it lingered, his naturally colder body temperature always noticeable.

“Ah, this song—it’s the Saltarello! Julie, let’s dance!”
“How can two girls dance together?”

“Why not? It sounds fun. You’re a great dancer, Julie.”
“I’m not—wait, stop pulling me.”

Juliet sighed deeply, shaking off Rosalyn’s overly enthusiastic hand.

“I’ll pass. You two go dance instead.”

Romeo, who had been struggling to handle Rosalyn’s boundless energy, sighed in relief.

“But Roro’s terrible at the Saltarello.”

“And so are you, Rosie.”

“Don’t call me that!”
“It can’t be helped. Let’s go, Roro!”

“Haah.”

As the brief commotion subsided, the musicians deliberately struck up an even livelier tune. The fast-paced melody filled the grand hall, and people resumed laughing, chatting, and dancing.

Yet the center of attention remained unchanged—Rosalyn, who had rushed to the dance floor the moment her favorite song began, and Romeo, reluctantly following her lead.

“Excuse me, miss?”

“…Yes?”

“Would you honor me with a dance?”

“Oh, no, thank you… I’m a bit tired.”

Some men belatedly gathered the courage to ask Juliet for a dance, but she politely declined each of them.

They probably didn’t even want to dance with me in the first place, she thought.

They just couldn’t leave someone standing idly by herself.
“I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine.”

After turning down a few dance invitations, Juliet stood at the edge of the floor, quietly watching Rosalyn and Romeo.
Every time Rosalyn twirled with his hand in hers, her golden curls sparkled as they caught the light. Even as she stumbled over the steps, she burst into laughter, looking utterly delighted.

A faint smile touched Juliet’s lips as she watched them.
“Don’t you know? The jealous sister trope—it’s like something out of a storybook.”

“No, I heard it really happens…”

The maids often gossiped about wicked women who envied their beautiful sisters.

But Juliet had never once envied Rosalyn.

She was far too lovable for that. Too radiant to ever inspire jealousy. Comparing herself to Rosalyn didn’t even cross Juliet’s mind.

But…

When had it started?

When had Romeo Arborea fallen in love with Rosalyn Calliary?
“Ow! Rosie!”

“Sorry, sorry!”

Rosalyn had accidentally kicked Romeo’s shin and was now apologizing profusely. He grumbled but wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her.

“Please, your shoes are ridiculously hard.”
“Imagine how I feel wearing them!”

“Then why didn’t you wear something else…?”
The tips of Romeo’s ears flushed bright red.

At some point, this had become routine—Romeo’s ears turning red every time Rosalyn grabbed his hand, his face unsure and flustered in her presence. His gaze held a warmth reserved only for her, utterly different from how he looked at anyone else.
“Rosie.” A nickname no one else used, one he had created just for her.

Juliet had noticed it all. She had realized his feelings long before anyone else.
And she understood.

People were drawn to Rosalyn’s outward beauty, but her true charm lay in her radiant soul. Romeo, who had spent more time with her than anyone, knew this better than anyone else.
Of course, he would fall in love with Rosalyn Calliary. It was inevitable.

…But still.

“Ahaha!”
“This is priceless.”

Sudden laughter erupted behind Juliet. Rosalyn had attempted an overly ambitious move and nearly slipped, pulling Romeo down with her.

Instead of being embarrassed, Rosalyn sprang to her feet and extended her hand to Romeo, who had gone bright red as he lay sprawled on the floor.

Romeo hesitated for a moment before taking her hand, only for Rosalyn to mischievously let go again, causing him to slip once more.

“Hahaha!”

Rosalyn laughed heartily, clearly enjoying herself. After a while, she once again offered her hand to Romeo, who, despite being teased, accepted it.

This time, Rosalyn didn’t let go.

Hand in hand, they resumed their dance as the lively music reached its crescendo, filling the hall with its infectious rhythm.

By the time the song ended, Juliet was no longer in the hall.