TWFLLYM Ch 116

An Unfamiliar Face

Wow.......

Roserikta admired the woman silently, over and over. How could anyone look like that?

Princess Aika of the Grand Duchy of Iveton looked exactly like a female version of Kalart. The combination of brilliant platinum blonde hair and clear, bright blue eyes was dazzling. Even if someone claimed she was a witch, she would fit in perfectly. Her calm, cream-colored dress lacked any flashy decorations, yet it combined with her picture-perfect looks to reveal a bright, elegant charm.

She is stunning. I could lose track of time just staring at her.

She stared at Princess Aika, completely spellbound. Humans loved beautiful things, but witches held an even weaker spot for them. While a witch's standards of beauty differed somewhat from a human's, witches always showed endless generosity toward beautiful living creatures.

To be that beautiful....... Wait, hold on.

[Roserikta] "……."

She turned her head toward the seat beside her. She looked at Kalart.

Come to think of it, this was his first time seeing such a beautiful person, wasn't it? She was deeply curious. How had Kalart's world changed?

Thinking back carefully, he hadn't changed much since the curse broke. His expressionless face, once like a marble statue, had only softened a little.

Right now, what kind of face was Kalart making as he looked at Princess Aika?

Roserikta imagined him staring with a dead-serious face, completely focused on the Princess' features without blinking once, just like when he first saw the Black Witch.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness."

However, he was not looking at Princess Aika at all.

Roserikta brought her lips close to his ear and whispered.

[Kalart] "What is it?"

He smiled faintly and lowered his head.

[Roserikta] "Princess Aika."

[Kalart] "Mmm."

[Roserikta] "How does she look to you?"

[Kalart] "……I want to ask why you are curious about her first."

[Roserikta] "The curse broke. I'm curious how the world you see has changed since then."

Now that I think about it, I've never asked you first. It's quite strange.

Before, I was so desperate to break your curse. But once it actually broke, I forgot all about it.

Please answer me, Your Highness. How did your world change? How much did you change?

[Kalart] "I no longer feel disgusted when I look at people. I don't have to suppress my emotions or hide my expressions by force. It is quite pleasant."

[Roserikta] "Ah……."

How strange. Isn't this…… a bit too calm?

[Roserikta] "Then how does Princess Aika look to you?"

[Kalart] "She looks like a human with no flaws."

[Roserikta] "No, that's a bit……."

Did the curse not break completely?

How could he say that about such a beautiful person?

[Roserikta] "Your Highness. Are you certain the curse broke?"

She asked with a dead-serious face. Kalart squeezed her hand gently.

[Kalart] "I believe so."

[Roserikta] "No, think about it more carefully. If the curse didn't break entirely, the Black Witch might not be fully dead yet."

[Kalart] "I already told you how you have changed in my eyes."

He lifted the hand he held and brought it to his lips.

[Kalart] "Every single moment is a marvel. Beyond belief. Just like when I heard your voice for the very first time."

There were times he wondered what it would be like if her voice took human form. That form was exactly how Roserikta looked to his curse-free eyes now.

He had wondered back then, too. What would happen if he could see Roserikta properly? Her voice alone shattered his control; if he could see her as well, how far would he go?

[Kalart] "That is the problem. When it comes to you, I am not certain whether breaking the curse was for the better."

[Roserikta] "That is……."

She fell silent, stunned by his shocking words. He found her reaction even stranger.

Why did this woman not know? She had no idea how precariously he hung onto their relationship.

He still carried the marriage contract in his inner pocket. Since Roserikta was debating whether to leave for the Witch's Kingdom, a piece of paper had become completely useless, yet he couldn't let it go.

If you leave. Then what will become of me?

In this situation, Princess Aika's appearance lacked any value worth his attention. She was certainly more attractive than other humans. Kalart now understood that people's appearances varied greatly, as did aesthetic standards.

In that sense, Roserikta became the sole standard of beauty in his eyes. The Black Witch had definitely been stunningly beautiful too. However, external beauty didn't mean a person fit his standard.

[Roserikta] "I…… thought you would be a bit happier once the curse broke."

[Kalart] "I am happy. Because you did this for me."

He added the words calmly, then let go of her hand.

[Kalart] "But even before the curse broke, you were beautiful enough in my eyes. Making you appear more beautiful might actually be unnecessary."

She had broken his curse, but in another sense, she had ruined his eyes. Now, he might never find anyone beautiful unless it was Roserikta.

[Roserikta] "That……."

She parted her lips as if to speak, but then bit her tongue.

[Aika] "By the way, I heard the two of you were on bad terms lately, but that doesn't seem entirely true?"

Princess Aika cut into the space between them, interrupting their private whispering.

Nineteen-year-old Princess Aika was young and innocent. She treated others with natural ease, as if she had known nothing but love her entire life. Even a difficult question like this felt lovely rather than rude.

[Roserikta] "Where did you hear such a thing?"

Roserikta spoke before Kalart could. She did so out of sheer bewilderment. Being on bad terms with Kalart was something she had never imagined for a single second.

[Aika] "Everyone is saying it. When I arrived, the palace servants looked full of worry. I asked if His Majesty's grief caused it, but they said it was because of the Crown Prince. I was quite shocked too."

[Roserikta] "What?"

Her confusion deepened. This was no twisted rumor; everyone was genuinely worried. Roserikta turned her head and whispered to Kalart.

[Roserikta] "Did something happen without my knowledge? Why is everyone worried?"

To be honest, everyone except Roserikta knew the truth. Kalart couldn't bring himself to say that nothing was wrong. Something was wrong.

He was drowning in anxiety because he didn't know what conclusion Roserikta would reach.

The Head Maid had accidentally discovered that he tied his wrist to Roserikta's every night to sleep. Because the matter was incredibly sensitive, everyone kept quiet and suffered in silence.

[Kalart] "Our relationship didn't sour because of that."

He feigned ignorance and left a kiss on Roserikta's cheek.

[Aika] "No, wait. That means……."

Princess Aika chimed in again.

[Aika] "It seems Marchioness Martianan is the only one who doesn't know. Then, mmm…… is Your Highness the only one suffering from a broken heart?"

[Belto I] "Ahem, cough!"

The Emperor cleared his throat right on time.

[Belto I] "Princess, does the food not suit your taste?"

It was a polite way of telling her to shut her mouth and eat her food.

[Aika] "Not at all, Your Majesty. As always, the Empire's cuisine suits my taste perfectly. But you know my curiosity always outweighs my appetite. I am so curious about these two. What kind of person is the Marchioness to melt the heart of Crown Prince Kalart, who used to be called a living statue? Ah, actually, I am more curious why His Highness looks like a man facing a tragic farewell rather than a man in love."

[Roserikta] "……."

Clink.

Roserikta dropped her fork onto the table. In imperial etiquette, such a mistake was a massive insult, but nobody pointed it out.

Kalart casually placed his own unused fork next to her hand. Ordering the Chamberlain to bring a new fork would only confirm to the entire room that Roserikta had dropped hers.

[Roserikta] "Does His Highness…… really look that way?"

[Aika] "Yes. Isn't that why everyone is worried?"

She had no idea.

Roserikta recalled how Kalart had treated her over the past few days. Still, she couldn't tell. When she told him she needed to think, Kalart had answered as always: "If that is what you want."

Everything after that remained unchanged. His embrace, his kisses, his eyes dripping with affection, and the passion hidden behind them looked the same to her. Yet, other people saw something different.

I…… didn't know. Because I only thought of myself.

Her thought was both right and wrong. Kalart had hidden his true feelings perfectly whenever he stood before her.

[Kalart] "Since you came as a guest, fulfill your duty as one. Don't meddle in matters that don't concern you."

He spoke to Princess Aika. His tone was so cold it sounded like an order to stop eating and go home immediately. Princess Aika's cheeks flushed red in embarrassment.

[Aika] "What? Are you speaking to me right now, Your Highness?"

[Kalart] "You are young, so your ears must work perfectly."

[Aika] "I only spoke out of worry for the two of you……."

[Kalart] "The Princess' worry is entirely unnecessary."

[Aika] "No, how can you say it like that……."

[Kalart] "I am already doing more than enough worrying on my own."

The atmosphere in the banquet hall completely collapsed. The musicians, who had been lifting the mood with joyful music, suddenly slowed their playing as if the sheet music had changed.

[Belto I] "Ahem, cough. My stomach feels uneasy today, so I shall excuse myself first. Everyone, enjoy yourselves."

Belto I read the room and stood up. Since the Emperor had risen, no one dared keep their seat to finish the remaining food.

Thud.

Kalart dropped his napkin onto the table after wiping his mouth.

[Kalart] "Why don't we leave as well?"

He asked Roserikta.

[Kalart] "I will stay by your side if you wish."

[Roserikta] "……."

Roserikta couldn't utter a word. The expression on his face as he asked was the same gentle look she remembered. Every expression he had shown her since she asked for time to think was a lie.

---

[Elona] "I really thought you knew, My Lady."

Word of what happened at the banquet traveled incredibly fast. By the time Roserikta left the hall with Kalart and walked slowly back to her bedroom, Elona already knew everything.

Elona mumbled, her eyes red as if she were about to cry.

[Elona] "Of course, you looked full of worries too, My Lady…… but His Highness has been wasting away lately."

[Roserikta] "Sigh……."

Roserikta dropped her head low. She had been utterly cruel. How could she not notice that he was losing weight?

[Elona] "Princess Aika isn't just exceptionally sharp. All of us noticed it too."

[Roserikta] "Stop, please."

She spoke with a gloomy face, feeling as though she were taking blow after blow.

[Roserikta] "I know it's entirely my fault."

Elona's face brightened instantly.

[Elona] "Seriously? Then you won't worry about it anymore?"

[Roserikta] "No, that's……."

[Elona] "Ah, My Lady."

Tears filled Elona's eyes again, as if by magic.

[Elona] "I know saying this is incredibly disrespectful, but His Highness looks so pitiful. How could you not feel anything at all, My Lady?"

[Roserikta] "It's not like that."

She hadn't ignored his pain. She simply had no idea. Now that she knew, her heart ached terribly.

Why did he do that? Why did he pretend everything was fine in front of her?

At first, the bandage tying their wrists together while she slept had shocked her, but as it continued every day like a meaningless routine, Roserikta grew numb to it. She had even joked about it recently, asking what she should do if she needed to use the restroom at night. Kalart had simply smiled and offered to follow her with a candle.

So that wasn't something to smile about. It meant he was drowning in absolute anxiety.

[Elona] "Even if it's a one-in-a-million chance, if you decide not to marry him, My Lady…… His Highness will break completely."

[Roserikta] "……."

Saying he would "break completely" felt too polite. She needed to find words far more bitter and painful.

[Elona] "Oh, right. Princess Aika is returning to the principality tomorrow. Everyone is trying to keep it quiet, but she apparently wept loudly in her room. She claimed His Highness was incredibly rude. Honestly, she was the one who acted rudely first. At any rate, leaving right after arriving doesn't look good."

[Roserikta] "……."

As Roserikta remained lost in her own thoughts, Elona quickly finished brushing her hair. It was time to change into her nightgown.

[Elona] "His Highness will sleep in this room again today, correct? The Head Maid prepared a new nightgown for you."

Roserikta blankly let Elona slip the gown onto her body.

[Elona] "All done. I will go to the next room now and fill Clobellina's water bowl."

Roserikta didn't even notice Elona quietly tiptoeing out of the room.

I am not certain whether breaking the curse was for the better.

Kalart's words echoed continuously in her mind. Those words overlapped with something else he had said before.

If you are going to leave, I would rather you didn't break the curse.

[Roserikta] "Ah……."

She finally understood. She realized why he had forced a false expression for the past few days.

I want you to stay by my side without any force or obligation.

Kalart was trying his best to ensure his presence never felt like a burden or an obligation to her. He wanted her to reach a conclusion solely based on what her heart desired, completely free of any interference.