TWFLLYM Ch 101

Return of the Black Witch (2)

Kalart turned and stared at the young woman walking into the hall. She was the widow of a baron. She moved with a calm, elegant air.

Kalart noticed that while her face appeared distorted and ugly to his eyes, she possessed a strangely beautiful voice.

[Neira] "A marriage vow? This differs from what you promised me."

[Belto I] "……"

The Baroness walked gracefully toward the throne. The Emperor opened his arms to welcome his lover, looking as though he intended to pull her onto his lap. Neira shook her head slightly, rejecting his offer.

[Neira] "Your Majesty. People are watching."

[Belto I] "What does that matter? In Shana, you always stayed in my arms."

[Neira] "We were alone then, Your Majesty."

The Emperor narrowed his eyes and bit his lip.

[Belto I] "No. It is not much different now. Come here."

The Emperor forgot his dignity in front of his son and tried to kiss her, but Neira pushed him away with her fingertips.

The Emperor looked at her white fingers with desperate, restless eyes. Neira stared back at him with a cold gaze.

[Neira] "I believed Your Majesty was a faithful man who kept his promises. I'm deeply disappointed."

[Belto I] "Oh, don't say that. You're being too harsh."

Belto I wore a gloomy expression, looking as though he might cry.

[Belto I] "I didn't know about this beforehand…… and Kalart's point makes sense. A child born without a marriage will become a bastard."

[Neira] "Your Majesty gives no thought to my situation."

[Belto I] "What do you mean?"

Belto I widened his eyes, acting as if he were the victim. Neira leaned in close without actually touching him and lowered her eyelashes.

[Neira] "I mean what I will suffer here in the future. If the Crown Princess gives birth, won't that child become the first Imperial grandchild? Even if I have a child, people will treat it like an eyesore. How could my child even be born safely?"

[Belto I] "Mmm……"

Belto I lost his words and licked his lips.

The Empire was peaceful enough that the throne could remain empty for months without issue. A bloody political war like the one his lover described had never happened here, and it didn't seem likely to happen in the future. However, he had no evidence to argue against her. He turned to his son.

[Belto I] "Hmm…… what do you think?"

[Kalart] "There is nothing to think about. My marriage is more urgent than worrying about a child that doesn't even exist yet."

The Emperor nodded and stroked the back of his lover's hand.

[Belto I] "He's right. That's a matter for much later, so can't we think about it then?"

[Neira] "Will you only take your son's side regardless of how I'm treated? My heart aches, Your Majesty."

The woman pulled her hand away without mercy. When his hand met empty air, the Emperor's lips trembled in panic.

[Belto I] "No, it's not about how you're treated…… I haven't even introduced you yet……"

[Neira] "The Crown Prince's words already make my future clear. I didn't come this far expecting to find such sadness by your side. I should return to my late husband's estate."

Neira stood up from the Emperor's side.

[Belto I] "No, wait! Don't go! Neira! My pigeon!"

The Emperor jumped up and grabbed her.

[Kalart] "Pigeon……?"

Kalart's face twisted in a deep frown. He didn't want to know why someone would call a person a pigeon, though he supposed if it were Roserikta, he might understand. Regardless, that wasn't the point right now.

[Belto I] "How can a person be so cold! How can you say you're leaving so easily? You can't do this……"

The Emperor held his lover's hand, his eyes brimming with tears. Kalart expected his father to act this way, but seeing it in person felt unpleasant.

[Neira] "If you don't want me to leave, please think of me more, Your Majesty. I didn't come to the palace to be a living flower."

[Belto I] "I understand, I understand. That marriage! I'll just do mine first!"

[Neira] "But you said you couldn't."

The Emperor squeezed out exactly three and a half tears, turned his head, and shouted at Kalart.

[Belto I] "It has come to this, so my wedding is more urgent. You step aside."

Kalart crossed his arms.

[Kalart] "I can't do that."

The widow named Neira stared at Kalart. Initially, he thought her eyes were a common green, but now they glowed with a strange purple tint.

---

[Aldwin] "Goodness. This is no small matter."

[Elona] "Exactly, Marchioness Martianan. You must take this seriously."

Roserikta's room was crowded. A banquet to welcome the Emperor's return was approaching. The Head Maid and Elona worked frantically to dress her for the event.

The Head Maid was busy with banquet preparations, but she forced herself to help Roserikta personally. She had a reason.

[Aldwin] "The Chamberlain was in the hall and heard it with his own ears. The Emperor said he must marry first, even if it means the future baby becomes a bastard. Baron Lafitte was furious, wondering how a person could act like that."

Elona's face flushed red with anger.

[Elona] "Heavens. How can he say such things so boldly? That woman must be a commoner at heart. I heard she was some baron's widow, but what does that matter? Her thoughts are so vulgar."

The Head Maid agreed. She didn't want such a low-minded person entering the Imperial family, which was currently filled with dignity and warmth.

[Aldwin] "She's willing to turn the Prince's child into a bastard just for the sake of her own unborn child. I can't forgive this. And, Marchioness."

[Roserikta] "Yes, Countess."

[Aldwin] "I don't think I can forgive you either. Why didn't you tell me such important news about the baby?"

[Roserikta] "Oh, that……"

Because Kalart mentioned the baby to the Emperor, it was no longer a secret.

[Roserikta] "Well…… it's still very early. I didn't think I was at a stage to speak about it yet."

[Aldwin] "What does that matter? A woman's instinct about a child is sharper and more frightening than anything else. If you are sure, then it is true."

[Roserikta] "I see."

She marveled at how the Head Maid had become so entirely supportive of her.

[Aldwin] "You've saved me from a great worry. Ever since the Prince reached adulthood, my biggest concern was when I would see an Imperial grandchild. You've erased that worry in an instant."

The phrase "in an instant" felt embarrassing.

[Roserikta] "Well…… I didn't expect it either. I was quite flustered."

I was so shocked that I even ran away. Thinking about how I sat by the lake and cried all day still makes me dizzy.

[Aldwin] "That's understandable. You two aren't married yet."

[Roserikta] "Mmm, right."

The real reason for her panic differed from what the Head Maid imagined, but she couldn't explain that.

[Aldwin] "Regardless, that Baroness is out of the question."

The Head Maid pinned a diamond brooch—one Kalart had previously tried to give Roserikta—firmly into her hair.

[Aldwin] "I can already tell how the Imperial family will fall apart with someone like her. His Majesty really has no eye for people."

The Head Maid had many complaints about the Emperor.

After the Empress died, the Emperor stopped eating for a while before he began wandering outside the palace. During that time, the young Crown Prince grew up lonely, never knowing a parent's love.

Since the Head Maid knew nothing of the curse, she believed the Emperor's neglect was the reason Kalart became known as the "Stone Statue."

Now that the Prince had finally found a woman he loved and was expecting a child, the Emperor was causing trouble instead of giving his blessing.

[Aldwin] "I will never watch the Baroness marry before you. Keep that in mind and stay strong, Marchioness."

Stay strong and do what, Countess?

[Aldwin] "First, establish your dominance tonight. The Emperor is merely a figurehead. Power shifted to the Crown Prince long ago. Don't be intimidated. Set the wedding date."

She spoke with grim determination. Roserikta worried slightly if the Head Maid should be making such political statements.

[Roserikta] "It feels like I'm heading into a fight."

The Head Maid grabbed her shoulders and leaned in close. Roserikta flinched at her intense attitude.

[Aldwin] "Yes, Marchioness. That's exactly what I mean. You must fight."

[Roserikta] "But the Baroness is the Emperor's……"

[Aldwin] "You must fight for the baby in your womb. Think about it. Do you want the baby to be born a bastard?"

Of course not.

[Roserikta] "No. Of course not."

[Aldwin] "Good. Face her with that mindset."

Elona chimed in from the side.

[Elona] "Exactly. I'll help you no matter what, so make sure she never has such vulgar thoughts again. How dare she threaten our baby!"

Hearing them both, Roserikta felt a spark of fighting spirit.

They're right. The Baroness is playing dirty. I'm the one in a rush here. Why did she suddenly appear and cause this? Fine. I'll accept the challenge.

[Roserikta] "I'll do my best."

[Aldwin] "I believe in you."

Ultimately, the Head Maid's advice was necessary. The Emperor's new lover was indeed an enemy that needed to be fought.

---

[Elona] "Lady Roserikta. His Highness has arrived. It seems he wants to walk you to the banquet hall."

As the dressing neared its end, Elona announced Kalart's arrival with a bright smile.

[Roserikta] "Now? Isn't it a bit early?"

It wasn't just a bit early; it was far too early. An hour remained before the banquet started.

[Elona] "It is, but maybe it means he wanted to see you sooner?"

[Roserikta] "Haha."

She laughed out loud. That sounds like him.

[Roserikta] "Is everything finished? I'll go out then."

[Elona] "He said he's waiting in the next room. You can go through this door. I'll bring Clobell to the banquet hall later."

[Roserikta] "Okay. I'll see you at the banquet."

Roserikta headed toward the small room next to her quarters. It was a gallery room filled with paintings, once used as an audience chamber for the Crown Princess.

Click.

The door closed behind her. Only two wall lamps beside the fireplace lit the room. Since the curtains remained closed, the room stayed quite dark.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness?"

She looked for Kalart. He was nowhere to be seen in the deep shadows cast by the furniture.

[Roserikta] "Has he not arrived yet?"

She decided to wait on the sofa near the fireplace.

[Roserikta] "Ugh…… this is hard."

The long, heavy dress made it difficult to sit down alone.

[Roserikta] "What should I do? If I force it, the dress will wrinkle. I'll feel bad for the people who worked so hard to dress me."

She decided to just stand. But as she leaned her back against the sofa, a sound reached her.

Creak.

A small door opened. Like other rooms, this one had a hidden door covered in wallpaper.

[Roserikta] "Oh……"

Her body suddenly tilted backward.

[Roserikta] "Ah!"

In the blink of an eye, Roserikta vanished into the secret passage behind the door.

---

[Roserikta] "Who……!"

[Kalart] "Shh."

[Roserikta] "……Your Highness?"

[Kalart] "Yes. Stay quiet."

[Roserikta] "……"

She stared at Kalart, whose face was barely visible in the darkness.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness. I hate to say this, but you know you shouldn't startle a person who is expecting a child, right?"

He nodded heavily, looking deeply apologetic.

[Kalart] "I know."

[Roserikta] "You must be even more careful if the pregnant person is a witch. Witches can be unpredictable. Luckily, I can't use magic without my powder, but if I were a real witch, you might have turned into a frog just now."

[Kalart] "My mistake. But I tried to let you know it was me as quickly as possible."

[Roserikta] "No, you shouldn't have played such a prank in the first place."

[Kalart] "It wasn't a prank."

He looked back at the closed door and lowered his voice even further.

[Kalart] "I was worried someone might be eavesdropping."