TWFLLYM Ch 11

The Beginning of Jealousy

[Arad] "Pardon? What was I... well, the ladder broke, so..."

For some reason, his tongue felt tied. He couldn't tell if the Prince’s piercing blue eyes were merely a gaze or a sharpened blade.

Seeing him struggle to answer, Roserikta—who felt a growing sense of guilt—stepped in.

[Roserikta] "No one could have caught me in time. No one knew the ladder was broken. It’s not the knight’s fault, Your Highness."

She tried to stand, using the chair to support her injured leg.

[Roserikta] "He did his absolute best to protect me. He even suffered burns because of—oh!"

The chair, unable to take her full weight, slid sideways. As she stumbled, Arad quickly caught her by the waist to steady her.

[Arad] "Are you alright, my lady?"

[Roserikta] "Ah, yes. Thank you once again, Sir Knight."

She looked at Kalart, hoping the misunderstanding was now cleared.

[Roserikta] "It was just like this a moment ago, Your Highness. Except for the part where the hot water spilled."

[Kalart] "...Just like this."

However, his face did not look like that of a man whose misunderstandings had been cleared. Without even realizing it, his eyes were fixed on Arad’s hand, which was still supporting her waist.

I understand he was helping her so she wouldn't fall. Any knight would do the same. But did he have to hold her by the waist? He could have grabbed her arm or even just her sleeve.

...No, that wasn't it. Arad shouldn't have even touched her arm. It wasn't that Kalart wanted to see Roserikta tumble to the floor. Rather...

I wish I had been the one to catch her.

Yes, that was it. Having reached that conclusion, he strode between the two of them and snatched her from Arad’s arms, pulling her into his own.

[Roserikta] "Yo—Your Highness?"

[Arad] "Your Highness?"

[Clobellina] "Meow?"

Everyone except Kalart was stunned. The man responsible for the shock remained composed, looking down at Roserikta.

[Kalart] "Where are you hurt?"

[Roserikta] "My ankle... No, please put me down. I can stand on my own, Your Highness."

[Kalart] "Your ankle?"

Then, something even more bewildering happened. After placing her back in the chair, he knelt on one knee before her and lifted her foot.

[Kalart] "It’s swollen."

Thud!

Arad was so startled that he stepped back and hit the back of his head against the wall.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness!"

Panicked, she tried to push his hand away.

[Kalart] "It looks quite serious. You won't be able to walk for a while."

[Roserikta] "No, it’s not that bad..."

[Kalart] "Arad. Go and fetch the palace physician."

[Arad] "Uh, yes... I mean, understood, Your Highness."

A flustered Arad rushed out of the Princess' bedroom, still shirtless.

Come to think of it, he was a patient too, and the burns exposed to the air were stinging painfully, but that didn't seem important right now.

The Prince, who hadn't spared a glance for a woman in twenty-eight years, had just unhesitatingly embraced a woman and held her ankle.

Oh my god.

Arad covered his mouth with his fist. He felt that if he didn't, some incredibly irreverent words might escape his lips.

---

[Kalart] "Does it hurt?"

[Roserikta] "..."

They were alone. Strangely, she found she couldn't bear the weight of that fact. It was different from yesterday.

Last night, they had shared a room, but it hadn't felt like this. Now, her face was burning so fiercely she thought she might go crazy.

He held me. Just like that—bam! Like he was snatching me away. This is definitely strange. Beyond strange!

Clobellina seemed to notice why Roserikta was in such a state of shock.

[Clobellina] "This is weird. He doesn't even seem to notice me right now. Is this allowed? Has the medicine worn off already?"

Furthermore, he was still kneeling before her chair, examining her swollen ankle. Carefully. Tenderly.

Tenderly? That’s impossible. This man is the Crown Prince. The one everyone calls a stone statue.

And why did his face have to be so handsome while he checked her injury?

It is said that beautiful things dazzle the eyes and shake the heart. The Prince was doing exactly that.

Ah, I can't take this. I should just close my eyes.

She bit her lip hard.

Let’s think about the burn ointment recipe. Five roots of Hebori herb, a handful of Nepenthes leaves, and a bit of dried Cantharis...

Seeing that she closed her eyes with a heavy frown, the Prince asked a question.

[Kalart] "Is it very painful? Or does it hurt when I touch it?"

[Roserikta] "...No, Your Highness."

The problem wasn't the pain; it was how awkward she felt.

[Kalart] "Then why are you scowling like that?"

[Roserikta] "That’s... because I was trying to remember the recipe for a burn ointment. I haven't had a reason to make it lately, so the memory is a bit fuzzy."

[Kalart] "Do you intend to make a burn ointment?"

[Roserikta] "Yes. The knight suffered severe burns."

His next words felt suddenly cold.

[Kalart] "There’s no need for that. The palace physician will handle it."

There was a slight misunderstanding in those words.

She stared at him, her expression looking as if her pride had been wounded.

[Roserikta] "I may not be a physician, but I am a pharmacist, Your Highness. I do not make medicine that would bring shame to the name of a pharmacy passed down through generations since my great-great-great-grandmother’s time."

[Kalart] "...You misunderstood me."

He met her gaze.

[Kalart] "I wasn't saying I doubt your medicine."

[Roserikta] "I trust the palace physicians are among the best in the Empire, but my medicine will also be of help."

He watched her firm face as she displayed her stubbornness as a pharmacist. His fingertips twitched. For some reason, it looked like the gesture of a man struggling to resist the urge to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

[Kalart] "What I meant was that you don’t need to worry about him."

[Roserikta] "I can't do that, Your Highness. He was hurt because of me. As a pharmacist, I cannot just stand by."

[Kalart] "Then I suppose I should get burned, too."

[Roserikta] "...Pardon?"

Her face went blank for a moment.

Why would he say he should get burned?

Does he mean... he wants me to make medicine for him?

[Clobellina] "What is he even talking about?"

Clobellina, who had wandered over at some point, tapped the floor with her tail. It was the way a cat focused when something surprising or interesting happened.

[Kalart] "Make the burn ointment then. And save your concern for then, as well."

[Roserikta] "..."

While she was busy chewing over the meaning of those words, the palace physician arrived.

[Physician] "Your Highness. I heard you summoned me."

[Kalart] "Enter."

[Physician] "Yes."

The door opened, and the physician entered, his long white beard trailing elegantly.

---

Do not walk for a week. Keep the ankle wrapped in towels soaked in hot water. Drink sage tea with honey before bed.

That was the prescription the physician gave her. In truth, she didn't need any of that; a bit of Axaca powder would have healed it. But since her injury was now known far and wide, she couldn't just get better in a single day.

[Clobellina] "Look at this mess."

She hopped onto the bed where Roserikta was leaning back.

[Clobellina] "You have to pretend to be in pain on purpose. How frustrating."

[Roserikta] "I really am in pain. Can't you see the swelling?"

[Clobellina] "Is it really pain if you can heal it instantly? You’re being dramatic."

[Roserikta] "It hurts until it’s healed."

Roserikta, who had been staring at her recipe book as always, snapped the book shut.

[Roserikta] "But you’re right. There’s no reason to be in pain for nothing. Clobell, go and bring me the bottle of Axaca powder."

[Clobellina] "What if that Prince guy comes back and starts fiddling with your ankle again?"

[Roserikta] "He wasn't fiddling with it. He was just looking at it closely."

Clobellina snorted derisively.

[Clobellina] "If he was just looking, why did your face turn so red?"

[Roserikta] "What? No. Who said it turned red?"

[Clobellina] "A cat’s eyes can't be fooled."

At those words, her cheeks grew even warmer. A red face was never a good sign. It could be from embarrassment or anger, but the emotion she felt when thinking of him was neither. It was the sound of her heart beating faster and faster.

No, but what am I going to do even if my heart is racing?

He’s the Crown Prince. If it weren't for the love potion, he’s someone I would never have met in my entire life.

And he was someone she had to leave entirely once the potion was dealt with, ensuring they would never meet again.

She covered her cheeks with both hands and pushed Clobellina with her uninjured foot.

[Roserikta] "Just go and get the Axaca powder."

[Clobellina] "Wow. A human hitting a cat. How can you hit me while making me work?"

[Roserikta] "Enough talk."

[Clobellina] "Tsk."

Mumbling to herself, Clobellina hopped off the bed. Just as she opened the wooden trunk with her paws and took the bottle of Axaca powder in her mouth, a knock sounded at the door.

[Clobellina] "Ugh, why is everyone so obsessed with coming in here?"

She dropped the bottle and slipped into the trunk.

[Roserikta] "Who is it?"

[Elona] "It’s Elona. The Head Maid sent me."

[Roserikta] "Yes, please come in."

It was Elona, the maid, who had helped Arad with his clothes earlier.

[Elona] "She told me to assist you with the compress."

Her eyes widened.

[Roserikta] "The Head Maid? I thought she hated me."

Elona, who had entered carrying a kettle of hot water, dry towels, and a basin, gave an awkward smile.

[Elona] "...She does."

[Roserikta] "Ah, right. That makes sense."

[Elona] "But His Highness ordered it."

[Roserikta] "I see."

Elona approached the bed and began preparing the compress. She placed a towel under the injured leg and laid a hot, damp cloth over the ankle.

[Elona] "Is it too hot?"

[Roserikta] "It’s fine. I feel like I’m being pampered. Thank you, Lady Elona."

Elona nodded slightly and then asked out of the blue.

[Elona] "But you’re not really a witch, are you?"

[Roserikta] "Pardon?"

For a moment, she felt her heart drop. She tried to hide her surprise as she asked back.

[Roserikta] "Why would you say that?"

[Elona] "Because the rumors are everywhere. Since His Highness is acting so strangely."

So the talk had spread that far.

She clicked her tongue inwardly and chose her answer carefully.

[Roserikta] "I’m not sure how he’s being strange."

[Elona] "Well, he really is strange. His Highness was always a fair man, but he never treated any one person as special. Calling the palace physician for a sprained ankle and ordering the Head Maid to assist with a compress... He’s never done anything like that before."

[Roserikta] "Isn't that just because I’m using this room?"

Elona nodded vigorously, as if that was exactly the point she wanted to make.

[Elona] "It’s not."

[Roserikta] "What I mean is, this room is right next to him. So, I’m naturally more visible to him than others. Since he is a fair man..."

She paused, intentionally emphasizing the word 'fair.'

[Roserikta] "He might worry just as much if any maid or cat were in pain. If he knew someone else was hurting, he surely would have ordered the same thing."

[Elona] "Is... that so?"

[Roserikta] "I’m certain of it. I just happened to be near him by chance."

[Elona] "Hmm."

Elona tilted her head doubtfully but changed the subject. In any case, her main interest wasn't Kalart.

[Elona] "As long as you’re not a witch, that’s fine. That’s what I was curious about."

And she thought she knew why Elona had asked so bluntly.

[Roserikta] "By the way, is Sir Arad alright?"

If she were a witch who had enchanted even the Crown Prince, Elona was likely worried that Arad had fallen under her spell, too.

Furthermore, since Arad had thrown himself in harm’s way and suffered burns to protect her, her identity must have seemed very suspicious.

[Elona] "No. He’s not alright."

She let out a long sigh.

[Elona] "He won't even be able to do his swordsmanship training for a while. Every time he moves his arm, his clothes rub against the burn, and it hurts him terribly..."

[Roserikta] "Oh dear."

Tears even welled up in Elona’s eyes.

[Elona] "The physician says there’s no specific medicine for burns and that it will take a long time to heal. Even if it does heal, he said it will leave a large scar. I don’t know what to do."

Elona wiped her eyes with her sleeve. She was clearly a kind-hearted and good person. Even though she was curious about the rumors, she had come to help with the compress, knowing the Head Maid would dislike it. It was something to be grateful for.

She wanted to repay this kind lady. And it wasn't a bad idea to make an ally in the palace.

[Roserikta] "Lady Elona."

She took the edge of the blanket and pulled it toward Elona as she spoke.

[Roserikta] "I am a pharmacist. I know how to make an ointment that works very well for burns."

Elona’s face brightened instantly.

[Elona] "Oh my god. Really?"

[Roserikta] "Yes. But I need some ingredients. Could you possibly get me what I need?"

She nodded with all her might.

[Elona] "If it’s something I can get."

[Roserikta] "If you get the ingredients, I’ll make the ointment for you. Then you, Lady Elona, can be the one to apply it to him."

[Elona] "Oh."

She blinked in surprise.

[Elona] "Is that really alright?"

[Roserikta] "You helped me with the compress. Consider it a small token of my gratitude."

Roserikta smiled brightly.

Witches' medicines were known to be expensive, but that wasn't always the case. They would give them away for free to humans they liked.

That was the privilege of being a witch. Witches didn't consider emotions to be "free" like humans did. Kind and lovely emotions were a more than sufficient price.

[Roserikta] "I’ll make it with Achillea herb. When you apply the ointment, warm it in your palm first; it will release a lovely scent. That scent has the effect of helping someone feel more favorable toward the person applying it."

[Elona] "Heavens. There’s such a thing? If that’s the case... oh my."

Her eyes sparkled, and then her face suddenly turned red.

[Elona] "Then you mean you know? That I... for Sir Arad..."

[Roserikta] "I saw how much you were worrying about him. It made me think that he is very lucky to have gained the heart of such a kind and beautiful lady."

[Elona] "Oh, stop it."

She covered her face with both hands, looking flustered. The face of a pure young woman in love was lovely even to a witch’s eyes.

[Elona] "Tell me what the ingredients are. I’ll make sure to get them."

After Roserikta told her what she needed, Elona changed the towel one last time and left the room.

Now, it was time to use the Axaca powder to heal her leg.

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