TWFLLYM Ch 114

New Beginnings

[Kalart] "I am sleeping here as well."

His tone was firm.

[Kalart] "I have the right to do so."

He even claimed his rights. According to the marriage vow Roserikta had signed, he was correct. Kalart held the legal power to make such a demand.

[Roserikta] "......If you say so."

She eventually cleared a spot beside her on the bed. To do so, she had to nudge Clobellina, who slept soundly against her side.

[Clobell] "Hiss! What are you doing to this narrow bed!"

Waking abruptly, Clobellina flared her temper.

[Roserikta] "Sorry, Clobell. Just bear with us. Besides, this bed isn't actually narrow."

[Clobell] "How can you say that? I am used to sleeping across the whole space. Now it feels like a coffin."

Kalart spoke up as if he had been waiting for the chance.

[Kalart] "Then you should use my bed, Clobell. You have my permission at any time."

She snorted.

[Clobell] "Don't act like you're doing me a favor. I know exactly what you're doing. You just want to be alone with her."

[Kalart] "I will reward your wisdom tomorrow."

[Clobell] "Don't even think about being stingy. Whatever you give, it better be a lot."

[Kalart] "Understood."

[Clobell] "Hmph. Then sleep well, you two."

She hopped off the bed without a hint of regret.

Roserikta watched the cat trot out of the bedroom, then shot a side glance at Kalart.

[Roserikta] "What do you plan to give her tomorrow?"

[Kalart] "Anything she wants."

He pulled back the covers and motioned with his eyes.

[Kalart] "Lie down. Let me cover you."

She slipped under the blanket. Sleep pulled at her heavily. Looking back, the day had been exhausting. She felt as though she could sleep for an entire week.

[Roserikta] "I think I will sleep late tomorrow. If your back hurts, you must wake me."

[Kalart] "I will."

The moment her head hit the pillow, her eyes closed.

[Kalart] "Sleep well."

[Roserikta] "You too, Your Highness."

She fell into a deep slumber, completely unaware that Kalart had no intention of sleeping. He stared at her intensely, his gaze never wavering. He remained that way until the morning light broke.

---

[Roserikta] "Mmm......"

Just as she predicted, she woke up very late. The sun sat high in the center of the sky.

[Roserikta] "Ah, I slept so—......Huh?"

She tried to stretch, but a tug on her left arm stopped her. She turned her head.

[Roserikta] "What is this?"

A bandage bound her arm to Kalart's right wrist. While she slept, he had apparently unwound the bandage on his hand to tie them together. Since he had used only his left hand, the knots were a tangled mess. Paradoxically, the mess made it even harder to untie.

[Roserikta] "Why would he do this......?"

The absurdity left her speechless. She considered waking him to ask, but she stopped. Dark circles bruised the skin beneath his eyes. Though the curse had broken and he should be celebrating, he looked exhausted, as if he carried all the world's worries.

He's actually sleeping late. I think this is a first.

She had no idea that Kalart had only just closed his eyes after watching her all night.

I should just untie this myself.

The moment she moved her hand to pick at the tangled knots, his eyes snapped open.

[Kalart] "......No."

[Roserikta] "Your Highness? Are you awake?"

[Kalart] "No, not yet."

He spoke the contradiction with clear, sharp eyes. He stared at her like an obsessed scientist studying a rare specimen, his fingers tightening around the bandaged wrists.

[Kalart] "Leave it like this. Until I wake up."

[Roserikta] "I can't move at all if we stay like this. Besides, why did you do this?"

[Kalart] "Because I feared you would leave while I slept."

Oh, honestly. What is wrong with him?

[Roserikta] "No. If I were going somewhere, I would tell you."

[Kalart] "Don't even suggest such a possibility."

His voice was so firm it sounded cold.

[Roserikta] "Are you angry with me?"

[Kalart] "......No."

He continued to stare at her without even blinking.

[Roserikta] "Then why are you looking at me with such a scary expression?"

[Kalart] "Do I look scary?"

[Roserikta] "To put it simply, yes. You are glaring at me like this."

She strained her eyes, imitating his fierce gaze.

[Kalart] "That is because you are so beautiful."

The unexpected answer made her jaw drop.

[Roserikta] "What?"

[Kalart] "I am trying to see you better."

[Roserikta] "......"

Right. Since the curse broke, he hasn't really looked at anyone else yet.

Accepting this logic, she nodded, though she still tugged gently at the bound arm.

[Roserikta] "I'm glad you're not angry. Regardless, I want to get up now, so please untie this."

[Kalart] "Sigh."

He let out a short breath and sat up.

[Kalart] "Then I will get up too."

[Roserikta] "You should sleep more. Your eyes look exhausted. Red veins are streaking them."

[Kalart] "I can't sleep alone."

[Roserikta] "Why not?"

[Kalart] "Because I might miss it while I'm asleep."

The moment you finish your decision.

Roserikta understood the unspoken words in his eyes. She raised her bound left hand and covered his right hand.

[Roserikta] "As I said, I won't leave without a word."

[Kalart] "As I said, I can't miss a single moment."

He pulled her right hand toward him with his free left hand.

[Kalart] "Besides, sleep is impossible anyway."

[Roserikta] "No, it isn't. You can sleep."

[Kalart] "It's a waste. To sleep when such a sight is right before me."

He maintained eye contact as he pressed his lips to the back of her hand. The action was so solemn that she lost her voice. He looked at her as if she were the most precious masterpiece in existence.

He definitely needs to go look at other people soon.

[Roserikta] "Then let's compromise."

She pulled her pillow back and rested her head.

[Roserikta] "I will sleep a little more, so you sleep too. But when we wake up next time, you must untie my wrist."

[Kalart] "That sounds fair."

He finally smiled and rested his head on the edge of her pillow. They lay face-to-face, incredibly close. The feeling was unexpectedly wonderful. She no longer had to worry painfully about what his gaze meant, or the agony he might feel.

[Roserikta] "Being like this, I think I understand why sleep feels like a waste."

[Kalart] "I'm glad."

He whispered as he kissed her cheek.

[Kalart] "I want you to know more about what I think when I look at you. Then, perhaps you won't think of going elsewhere."

Mmm...... that sounds a bit threatening.

[Kalart] "At the same time, I wish you would never know. If you knew the full depth of my thoughts, you might find them frightening."

I already think they are a little frightening.

But in reality, she felt no fear at all. Roserikta smiled and kissed his cheek, just as he had done to her.

[Roserikta] "No. Whatever your thoughts are, I know you won't do anything I hate."

He sighed.

[Kalart] "Don't test me too much. The thought of replacing this bandage with a locked chain nearly drives me mad."

Perhaps I was better off not knowing that part.

[Roserikta] "......But you won't do it."

[Kalart] "I wouldn't be so sure."

[Roserikta] "You won't."

Because you have always been this way.

Even when he spoke of becoming a tyrant, he did so while tenderly pressing his cheek against hers.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness."

[Kalart] "What?"

She used her hand to cover his eyes, which were scanning every inch of her.

[Roserikta] "Go to sleep."

[Kalart] "......I don't want to."

[Roserikta] "Patients need sleep. You have to heal quickly."

[Kalart] "If I am sick, wouldn't that give me an excuse to keep you here?"

[Roserikta] "I want you to get well soon. Then I can ask you to hold me more. Right now, I'm afraid your wounds will open, so I have to be careful even when I hug you."

A silent smile spread across his lips.

[Kalart] "For that reason, I will do my best to heal quickly."

[Roserikta] "Good. Now, go to sleep."

She closed her eyes as well. She hoped that when she woke, his wounds would be magically healed.

Soon, the deep, steady breathing of the two sleepers filled the quiet bedroom.

---

Ends led to beginnings. As the chaos following the Black Witch's death settled, new changes took root.

[Clobell] "Ugh, stop crying. It's not like the dead come back to life."

The first change involved the relationship between Clobellina and Belto I. Strangely, she was favorable toward the Emperor. Her liking went beyond the fact that he was the Emperor.

[Belto I] "Ah...... A fairy cat has come to comfort my grief. Come here. Come and fill the warmth I have lost."

[Clobell] "I've felt this before, but why is your tone so greasy? I'll listen just this once."

Though she grumbled, she hopped onto Belto I's lap. The Emperor felt the heavy, cozy warmth on his thighs and marveled with genuine gratitude.

[Belto I] "Only you understand my heart. How can you be so kind?"

[Clobell] "I was always good, smart, and kind. Because I'm a fairy cat. Well, you aren't a bad person either. You listen to everything I say."

She liked that he believed her words without question. Kalart, even when affected by the love potion, was never an easy opponent. But Belto I was different. Clobellina instinctively knew the Emperor would be a massive help to her future palace life.

[Belto I] "Is that so?"

He stroked her, a sorrowful expression clouding his face.

[Belto I] "Am I not a bad person? Then why is no one left by my side? Everyone leaves so abruptly."

[Clobell] "Stop talking nonsense. I don't know about the Empress who died first, but I know that Baroness. If she had stayed, everyone here would be dead, and the Empire would be ruined. Be glad she's gone."

[Belto I] "Haha...... You speak such painful truths with such affection."

He rubbed his cheek against her small head. Normally, Clobellina would hiss in disgust, but she remained still and let him.

[Clobell] "Cheer up. Good days will come eventually."

[Belto I] "Yes...... A fairy cat has come to me, so this must be a good day. Don't you agree?"

[Clobell] "Don't state the obvious. But aren't you hungry? I want some dried cheese. That white cheese."

[Belto I] "Oh, is that so? Then I must comfort your small hunger. Stay right there. Is anyone outside!"

He shouted for an attendant. Clobellina purred, thinking her dream palace life was finally beginning. Perhaps the good days were already arriving.

---

[Roserikta] "My goodness, why didn't you say anything!"

The Head Maid was also among those injured during the false rage brought by the black powder. She had apparently fought with the Chamberlain, though neither remembered why.

The Head Maid had thrown a vase, and the Chamberlain had swung a candlestick. They only regained their senses after smashing several vases and silver candlesticks.

The Head Maid had a sprained wrist and a scraped knee. She hadn't been hit; she had tripped while chasing the fleeing Chamberlain.

Roserikta only learned of her injuries late in the afternoon. She noticed it by chance when the Head Maid poured tea with her left hand.

Shocked, she snatched the teapot away. As a result, the Head Maid found herself sitting in a chair while Roserikta rolled up her skirts.

[Roserikta] "The bruising is severe. It must have hurt to walk."

She expressed genuine concern as she spread a thick layer of ointment over the bruises. The Head Maid's complexion turned pale, then red, shifting rapidly.

[Aldwin] "This is...... Please, stop. I can't...... allow this."

[Roserikta] "Stay still. You are still in your prime, Countess, but you are not like the youth. Wounds don't heal as fast as they once did. An injury ignored now can become a chronic illness later in life."

She brushed aside the Head Maid's protests and finished the treatment thoroughly. By the time she applied medicine to the sprained wrist and wrapped it in a splint and bandage, significant time had passed.

[Roserikta] "It's a relief. It's a deep bruise, but the kneecap is fine. If you are careful with your wrist for a few days, it will improve quickly. I'll give you some painkillers in case it hurts too much to sleep tonight. Take one spoonful before bed."

Roserikta brought a bottle of painkiller from a medicine cabinet the size of a wardrobe. This beautiful rosewood cabinet was another of Kalart's gifts. He had clearly hated seeing her pull medicine from a trunk under the bed. To be honest, it was the most useful gift he had given her.

[Aldwin] "May I...... ahem, may I really take this?"

Her voice cracked, so she cleared her throat.

[Roserikta] "Of course. I have plenty of painkillers, so don't worry. If you doubt the effect, ask Sir Arad or Sir Eaton."

The painkillers from Versaryl Pharmacy were exceptionally effective. Roserikta took quiet pride in her nearly side-effect-free medicine. Everyone who tried it gave glowing reviews.

[Aldwin] "It is not that...... No, never mind. I accept it with gratitude."

The Head Maid hesitated as if she had something vital to say, but she eventually kept it to herself and simply thanked her. Roserikta found that sufficient.

[Roserikta] "You don't need to attend to me today or tomorrow. I will ask Lady Elona. Please, rest well."

After a moment's pause, the Head Maid bowed her head deeply.

[Aldwin] "I understand. Thank you, Your Grace."

[Roserikta] "Yes. Please, go on."

[Aldwin] "Then......"

As the Head Maid reached the door, she suddenly turned back.

[Aldwin] "The child you two will soon have...... I am sure they will be very beautiful."

The comment felt sudden, but the sentiment behind it was clear. Roserikta knew it was her own way of saying thank you for the care.

Pouring her own tea, she gave the Head Maid a bright smile.

[Roserikta] "Thank you. I hope so too."

[Aldwin] "I am certain of it. I look forward to it very much. Good day."

The Head Maid bowed again and left the room. Compared to when she first arrived at the Imperial Palace, the change was massive.

[Roserikta] "The tea is delicious today."

New beginnings were not bad at all.