A LOVE WRITTEN IN ERROR

CHAPTER 6: A SECRET AND TENSION'S AT CALLUETE'S MANSION

Therona's city were half as silent as normal, that night following after the council's meeting. Long shadows extended across the streets, whispering of both new threats and long-standing grudges. The city had not paused despite the declaration of a ceasefire.

The sound of a guard's boots could be heard everywhere along a small passageway. Every resident was reminded that even a break in violence did not equate to peace by the faint scrape of a sword against a wall, whether they were aware of it or not.

Early morning, Juliet Calluete begins her day by conducting personal lessons for children aged 10 to 13 in the southern region. In these sessions, she imparts essential moral lessons and explores individual characteristics, drawing from her collection of psychology books. Her curriculum also encompasses various cultural aspects, literature, agriculture, and the historical laws established by previous kings that have shaped human existence.

"Miss Juliet, can I asked?" a little girl asked standing at the back.

"Yes, of course sweety... what is it?"

"I was born here, and living with my parents, I often wonder, what if I met someone from the north? If we became friends, would that be a problem for you?"

Juliet felt a chill run down her skin at the sound of her words. The warmth that had lingered in the room only moments before, seemed to drain away. Her fingers tightened around the edge of the table as her eyes slowly turned toward the doorway.

The guard stood just behind the door, rigid in his armor. For a heartbeat, he did not move. Then he cleared his throat once, as if it was to announce his presence without daring to interrupt, yet it rang loudly in Juliet’s ears.

Juliet straightened at once, schooling her expression into calm, though her pulse betrayed her. The guard’s gaze turned away from her, fixed instead on some distant point along the corridor, as if he, too, wished he were standing to anywhere else.

"Sweetheart, we’re all destined to find some friends out there, you know? I mean, in this life..." She stood up from the table and continued, "As long as we’re living in this world, our family and friends are like our shield or a ladder that helps us climb higher and tackle whatever challenges come our way. No matter what struggles we face, they’re always there for us... and they’ll be your strength."

Juliet nodded slightly, understanding the warning hidden beneath the courtesy. The secrets she knew, did not survive long within this room... and even a breath that spoken too freely could become a blade.

Another kids raise his hand, a young boy from her neighbor asked. "Do you think there will ever be peace in our country? As if we will choose love, instead of anger?"

"I will give you an example, like if you want to be a leader in this country, the first step is to earn respect, and love will naturally follow. When there's love, there's peace. Just like our parents, we sometimes hear them argue, but their love for the family and their kids, like you... shines through. They choose to respect each other’s words, which goes beyond just love. That’s why we refer to it as a "sweet home" in our lives."

"My parents love me a lot, and because of that, I want to spread that love to my friends too. It’s all about creating a peaceful vibe for everyone, especially before they head off to bed." a 10 year old young girl commented. Juliet knew her, she's one of the smartest student in her class even in her very young ages.

"Hey kids, it's really important to grasp just how powerful love can be. Don't let your anger take control of your feelings. Always choose to asked and understand each other... That's the important key for our lesson today. alright?"

This morning, Juliet's final words echoed in her mind as she wrapped up her class. She took a deep breath, almost as if the room was empty, devoid of the children who had been there just moments before. It felt like she was on the brink of waking up, as if the words of the little ones was somehow about her, stirring her from her hidden secret.

Juliet has a bodyguard during the day. Balancing her responsibilities at such a young age is really tough. Her parents are her teachers at home, and she’s incredibly obedient and a quick learner compared to her siblings. That’s why she’s the most trusted representative of the Calluete lineage, helping out her uncles and cousins in the south.

Even though the city rested under a fragile ceasefire, violence still lived within the Calluete mansion’s walls.

Juliet had barely crossed the threshold, when a blood struck her. Her breath caught, on the floor ahead, a maid lay crawling, her hands trembling, her back torn open with crimson streaks, fresh wounds from the count of whips her mother had ordered.

“Mother.. stop!” Juliet cried, her voice cutting through the room like a glass.

The maid whimpered, collapsing against the cold floor. Blood pooled beneath her fingers. Juliet stood frozen for a heartbeat, shock rooting her to the spot. This was her home. This was supposed to be safe.

“What happened here?!” she shouted, not only at her mother, but at everyone's present. The other maids stood rigid along the walls, head lowered. The guards remained stand straight and unmoving, they are both a silent witnesses to the cruelty.

Her mother turned slowly, her face hard as carved stone. "Her daughter stole our food.”

Juliet’s chest tightened. “What?” She scanned the room. “Where is her daughter?!”

No one answered. The maids’ gazes shifted toward the far corner. Juliet followed their stare, and her heart dropped.

A young girl, no older than ten, was bound to a post. Her wrists were tied with rough rope, her small frame shaking. A filthy scrap of cloth was stuffed into her mouth, muffling her sobs. Her eyes...wide with terror, locked onto Juliet’s.

“Guards!” Juliet commanded sharply. “Untie that girl. Bring her to her mother. Now.”

“And what do you think you’re doing?” her mother snapped, stepping forward. Her voice was fierce, offended. “This does not concern you.”

Juliet turned to face her, fists clenched. “Enough, Mother. She’s a child.”

“A child must be disciplined,” her mother replied coldly. “This maid allowed her daughter to steal. If we pass this, what happens next? More theft? More disobedience?”

Juliet shook her head, anger and disbelief rising together. “Discipline without mercy is cruelty. Punishing a starving child does not teach loyalty... it teaches fear.”

Her mother scoffed. “You speak of mercy as if it feeds mouths.”

Juliet stepped closer, keeping her voices lower this time. "Sometimes, theft isn't just about being bad, it's often a cry for help. As a mother, you understand the immense responsibility of keeping a child safe, and alive. As a mother, you know what that feels like"

For a moment, silence pressed heavy between them.

The guards hesitated, but then one moved forward and untied the child.

As soon as the cloth was pulled away, the little girl screamed and broke free, running unsteadily toward the bloodied maid. She fell into her mother’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably. The maid wrapped her arms around her daughter, shielding her small body that her own could absorb any further pain, meant to protect her child.

Juliet watched them, her eyes burning... not only with anger, but with a deep, aching pain that knocks her heart. She loved children fiercely. Their laughter, their innocence, their unbroken belief in tomorrow. No matter the cost, she would always stand between cruelty and the young one's, for the sake of the next generations.

She move forward, the sounds of her foot steps whispering against the floor, and faced everyone gathered in the hall. The echoes of raised voices still clung to the walls. This was her home...but today.. it felt like a battlefield.

Juliet drew a slow breath and spoke, her voice steady but threaded with emotion.

“To everyone here, I believe there is a lesson hidden within what my mother has done. She is right about one thing, you must know where you stand, and what choices you are making. We are all human. We fail. We hurt one another, often without meaning to. But each of us is capable of wisdom, of kindness, of growth.”

Her gaze moved from the maids to the guards, lingering on each face.

“Let us hold close what truly matters. Let us care for ourselves, and for one another... just as we protect the trust we claim to share.”

For a moment, the silence ruled inside the hall.

Then the maids lowered their heads. The guards followed, their silver builts with sword and guns softly clinking as they bowed in agreement. On the surface, peace had been restored.

But Juliet felt it... deep in her bones. The cruelty inside the mansion did not retreat. It only grew quieter.