Love Amidst Wars

thirty-six

One week later, the days went on as usual. Juliette's current morning routine was rushing down the stairs and checking if there were any letters from the Duke for her. One of the maids smiled and handed her the envelope, Jake's name written on it.

As Juliette took it and headed to the living room, she was surprised to see her parents in there, both had worried expressions on their faces. Viscount William sighed and placed the newspaper he held on the coffee table.

"Dad, what's wrong?" She approached him and took a seat on the sofa.

"Some terrorists bombed the plaza during the light festival."

"Are they announcing war then?" Lady Jane finally spoke and worriedly took the newspaper to read it again.

"We'll have to wait for the palace's orders."

Juliette clenched the letter she was holding and thought for a while in silence, "Dad, if there's war then what should we do? Where can we hide? What if–"

"You shouldn't bother your mind with this. I'm sure the royals know what to do."

"Jules, why don't you pluck some roses for me? I want to replace the flowers in the vase," her mother forced out a smile, expecting her daughter to leave.

Juliette obeyed and left the room before standing outside against the wall, eavesdropping on her parents' conversation.

"Don't you think the reason they called our soldiers for an expedition is to lure them there so that they can invade the kingdom?" Her mother's voice could be heard.

"We don't know for sure. We just have to wait for the imperial orders–"

"Stop turning a blind eye on this matter, William. When you were arrested for something you didn't do, the palace didn't even help you or give you a chance to speak the truth. What makes you think they're going to care about this matter as long as it doesn't harm them?"

"Whatever it is, if this matter gets more serious, you have to run away with Juliette."

"Then what about you?"

"I'll go to the palace and assist the King and the royal knights."

"Don't burden yourself helping those people who betrayed–"

Juliette took a few steps back away from the living room, feeling her chest getting heavier and heavier.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Jake walked through the forest, next to the prince as they were followed by the soldiers behind them. Private Johnny cleared his throat before calling for the Duke, "Your Grace."

Jake hummed in response, still focusing on the pathway through the forest. Johnny took a deep breath before saying, "I've got recent news from the soldiers who were in the kingdom. A group of terrorists bombed the plaza during the light festival."

Jake and Jay both turned to look at the soldier in unison, their eyes widened. "What about Juliette?!" Both of them asked in sync.

"She was nowhere to be found at the festival so I'm assuming she didn't go. Approximately one hundred people got injured and two hundred people died during the incident. The palace has not released any information or orders yet."

Private Ethan sighed before raising his hand and saluting, "Forgive me for interrupting Your Highness. But I have a feeling that we are sent to this country for an expedition so that they can invade and take over our kingdom."

"Johnny and Ethan, I want you to go back to the kingdom and handle the issues there. And Johnny, can you visit Viscount William's manor to make sure the family's okay–" Jake ordered but his words immediately got interrupted.

"Don't make me laugh. Juliette doesn't need you to check up on her. Who are you to decide that?" Jay snapped.

"At least I care about her. What about you? Your parents have been awfully quiet despite your people getting bombed and injured at the festival."

The fellow soldiers watched the Duke and the Prince fight, awkwardly standing and looking at each other.

"She doesn't need you to take care of her!" Jay shoved Jake aggressively, losing his temper.

"Learn how to take care of your people first before caring about one specific person!" Jake lunged a punch at the Prince's face.

"Your Grace!" Johnny pulled Jake away from Jay.

"Let me go! I need to teach this scumbag a lesson!"

Ethan was about to approach the Prince to stop the quarrel when he accidentally stepped on a weird item buried in the ground. "Ethan?" Johnny called with widened eyes.

"Is this... a landmine–"

Before the soldier could even finish his sentence, the landmine exploded, catching everyone off guard. Everyone flew back and some even fell unconscious due to the concussion they had from hitting their head hard on the ground.

Johnny coughed out before rushing to the now unconscious soldier, "Ethan! Wake up!"

Ethan's lower body was amputated due to him standing so close to the landmine as it exploded. Jake limped towards the two soldiers and sighed, holding Ethan's face to detect any signs of breathing.

"Johnny, leave him be. He's dead."

"No! I... He can't be dead."

"Listen to me! We might have been deceived by this country's military order! We have to continue our journey or we might not even make it out alive and go home! Now pull yourself together or die together with Ethan," Jake spat angrily before standing up and continuing his journey through the forest.