t h r e e

"I hear someone wants to learn swordsmanship?" Tybalt asks me.

"I do." I reply back.

"It is not something a female can master." He scoffs.

"Why the criticism, my brother?" Antonio asks.

"It is not an easy task to learn. Juliet won't be able to handle it." Tybalt justifies.

"You never know unless you try." I snap back.

"Who will teach thee?" He asks again with a triumphant smile.

"I'm certainly available for the escapade." Antonio smiles at me.

"Do it at your own risk, my brother. Best wishes to both." Tybalt rebounds.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Hold the sword with utmost respect." Antonio instructs me.

I try to imitate his posture as he shows me various movements to use a sword for.

When he first held out the sword for me, it was much heavy. It took me a long time to finally hold it steady. The entire of our afternoon was dedicated to learn the basic styles of sword fighting.

By the end of the afternoon, my limbs were sore. I couldn't move anymore. So I collapsed on the ground as soon as Antonio announced that our training for today is finished.

"Beloved sister, remember never to keep your sword on the ground. It symbolises defeat." He chuckles seeing me all tired.

I hand him the sword and he puts it back to its case.

Then he crouches by my side.

"We need to practice more so that you can prove to Tybalt that women can claim swords aswell." He says.

"I'll remember it. Thank you for today, Antonio." I smile back at him.

"I'll be proud when you defeat Tybalt in a sword fight." He replies.

That's when someone enters the practice arena.

It is Uncle Cynthius and Aunt Achillia , parents of Antonio.

"Be a more ladylike, my Juliet." Aunt Achillia says with disgust.

Antonio stands himself and holds his hand out for me like a gentleman. I take it and stand up, even though my limbs are exhausted.

"What a bad omen ! Forgive us, God." Aunt Achillia exclaims.

"What is it, my mother?" Antonio asks.

"Isn't it a bad omen that you have decided to teach a lady swordsmanship?" Uncle Cynthius explains.

"What is bad in it, father? I'm teaching my sister how to swing a sword in case she needs to use it for safety." He

opinionates.

"Who will marry her if she learns how to fight? Her marriage is doomed." Aunt gasps at her own remark.

"Someone who truly loves her." My brother answers.

I beam at his response.

"Juliet! " I hear Matilda's voice.

"I'm in need somewhere else at the moment. Please excuse my absence." I give all of them a small courtesy before heading out of the practice arena.

"What is it, Matilda? I'm pretty drained out." I ask her.

"I met a young man in the market. He wishes to take me out on a date!" She exclaims.

"That's great!" I rejoice with her happiness.

Matilda was always looked down upon by everyone in the house and outside. She was always compared with me. I stole her spotlight. At one point, her hatred towards me broke our sisterly relationship. Until Rosaline entered and explained her that together we were unbreakable.

And by rejecting the marriage offer today, I've strengthened our relationship.

"What to you plan to wear?" I question her.

"May I wear the dress Aunt Levona gifted you?" She asks expectantly.

"Absolutely! You'll look so gorgeous in it!" I compliment her, making her blush.

After hours of getting her ready, we finally match her attire to the one we imagine. And that makes her look stunning.

Wearing a long light green dress with half puffed sleeves and white gloves, she looks like a goddess. The white earrings and matching necklaces compliment her dress. The long black shoes give her an extra inch. Her hair, tied in a small bun, is adorned with white lilies.

"You look like goddess Aphrodite herself!" I praise her.

"Do I look better than you?" She asks.

I hesitate to answer that. She still compared herself to me.

"Certainly, my sister. Any man will fall for you the instant he sees your beauty." I smile at her.

"You look pretty, sister." Antonio comes in picture.

Unlike me, Matilda is Antonio's sibling. But we all have been raised within the Capulet mansion and hence our relation doesn't change our bond much.

"Do I get the opportunity to drop you off to your date?" He asks with a dazzling smile.

I wonder if he'll escort me to my date the same way if he finds out about my affair with Romeo.

"You do." Matilda answers.

I leave them and then return to my chambers. I don't realise when sleep engulfs me.

.

.

.

When I open my eyes the next time, the room is filled with darkness. My stomach growls with hunger. I skipped my lunch today due to the training.

I go downstairs to grab something to devour.

"Do you perhaps know where Matilda is?" Rosaline asks.

"I suppose on a date." I reply.

"Ahhh. I see. I pray this one ends well." She mutters.

"Greetings, my sisters." Tybalt comes in view.

"Good evening, brother Tybalt." I smile at him.

"How well did you spend your evening?" Rosaline asks.

Rosaline and Tybalt are siblings. Their relation is shown in how freely they converse with one another.

"Those bastard Montagues ruined my evening." He curses under his breath.

"What did you do this time?" I ask nonchalantly.

"What makes you think I did something? It were those Benvolio and Mercutio again." He exclaims.

"I hardly remember them being a Montague. Last time I heard, they were Romeo's friends." I reply.

"Pardon tell me, sister. How do you know they are Romeo's friends?" He eyes me suspiciously.

I take a sharp breath.

"Their stories are quite popular within the people." I come up with an excuse.

"Stories of clowns are also well know." Rosaline chuckles.

"Your humour has advanced, Rose." Tybalt joins in the laughter.

"How can you forget when Romeo was head over heels for me?" Rosaline mentions the story I had long forgotten.

"He was so obsessed with you even when you rejected him multiple times." Tybalt snickers.

"I feel bad for whichever lady who'll have to control his fantasies." Rosaline jokes around.

But it is no joke for me.

She is an year older than me while Tybalt is an year younger than me. I don't get the right to criticize her.

It is true Romeo loved Rosaline once. He sneaked into a masked ball held in our mansion to look for Rosaline. 'Till he laid his eyes on me.

We shared a dance that night.

Later we creeped out of the hall and talked under the night sky. When we returned back to the hall, his secrecy was exposed and he was asked to leave by my father.

I wonder if he still loves Rosaline.