TWFLLYM Ch 125

Side Story: The Reason It's Okay to Fight

[Clobell] "It has been a massive amount of time since we last did this. Haven't you spent every single day being completely lazy lately?"

The Crown Princess' bedroom transformed into a witch's kitchen for the first time in a long while. Using her magic, Roserikta changed the shapes of ordinary kettles and teacup sets into a witch's hearth. Her body felt slightly exhausted, but the sudden rush of excitement made her completely forget her fatigue.

[Roserikta] "Hey, don't call it lazy. Just say I focused entirely on my prenatal care."

She twisted her wrist gracefully like a seasoned witch, mixing ingredients inside the hearth. Wanting to set the perfect mood, she even changed into her old workshop clothes. Putting on the pointed hat that witches always wore made her feel as though she had returned to the tiny cottage in the Witches' Kingdom.

[Roserikta] "Besides, you worked hard on my behalf."

[Clobell] "Oh, I have been absolutely thrilled lately. My magic skills improved a massive amount."

[Roserikta] "Yes, yes. I can tell just by looking at you. You have absolute talent, Clobell."

[Clobell] "Ahem. Of course I do. I am a witch's cat bound by fate to the witch of Versaryl!"

They took turns casting spells, testing all sorts of new recipes.

[Roserikta] "There is a dream-invader spell in that book, right? Could you read that part for me? What are the ingredients?"

[Clobell] "Wait, isn't that dark magic? Did you bring a dark magic book here too?"

[Roserikta] "I borrowed it from Grandmother Mazi. Basically, dark magic is simply a distortion of regular magic. The more I study it, the more I reach that conclusion. Dark magic merely uses human life force instead of the energy of the moon."

[Clobell] "And it only places curses."

[Roserikta] "Yes. So, we just need to reverse the distorted part."

The two shared conversations back and forth with excitement, gradually completing a new recipe. Working together was several times faster and more productive than working alone. Roserikta realized once again why a witch and her cat always remained paired together.

[Roserikta] "Now, if we just breathe healing magic into this…… Ta-da!"

She flicked her finger over the hearth, where a dark green liquid bubbled violently.

[Clobell] "Should I help too? Whfff!"

Clobellina blew a handful of Axaca powder from her position beside the hearth. Instantly, the green liquid turned into a clear, transparent shade resembling a sapphire.

[Roserikta] "Look, Clobell. It feels like a complete success, doesn't it?"

[Clobell] "I don't know. It looks good on the outside. But shouldn't we feed it to someone to know the real effects?"

[Roserikta] "Hmm. Then should I give it to him right now?"

[Clobell] "Look at you. Your personality shifted completely after becoming a real witch. In the past, whenever you made medicine with a new recipe, you used to worry yourself to death over potential side effects."

[Roserikta] "Oh, that is an old story. I am a real witch now. Hmm…… since the color turned out so beautiful, should I make it into candy?"

[Clobell] "No way. When would you even finish making candy? Mixing sugar, boiling it down, and letting it harden is far too tedious."

[Roserikta] "I can just use magic."

[Clobell] "Wow. You can already use magic for that? Isn't that transformation magic? That is a third-tier spell!"

[Roserikta] "You aren't the only one with talent, you know."

She grinned, moving her wrists smoothly through the air. The space around her hands sparkled brightly, just like when they scattered the Axaca powder. Soon after, a popping sound echoed from inside the hearth, like corn popping over a fire.

[Clobell] "Is it done?"

A knock sounded at the door, perfectly on cue.

Knock, knock.

[Kalart] "May I come in?"

[Clobell] "Oh. He knew. He came here to ruin our fun."

Clobellina knew Kalart far too well. Thanks to that, Roserikta was also steadily learning how to understand him.

[Clobell] "Should we hide this? No, just don't open the door."

[Roserikta] "That will only grow the seeds of suspicion. Come in, Your Highness! Ah, but you must enter alone!"

[Kalart] "Understood."

Entering alone meant he needed to be careful not to reveal her identity to anyone else. Kalart dismissed the Royal Guard and the attendants before stepping into the room by himself.

The altered landscape of the bedroom greeted him. Recipe books scattered everywhere, along with various herbs and tools, created an entirely unfamiliar atmosphere. Yet, surrounded by all these strange things, Roserikta and Clobellina blended into the scene perfectly as a part of it.

The two looked entirely joyful and happy. They laughed and moved, sharing words that he didn't understand.

Instinct took over. Kalart walked forward with rapid strides as if he might break into a run, and wrapped his arms tightly around Roserikta.

[Roserikta] "Oh, Your Highness! Why so suddenly……."

[Kalart] "Because you look far too happy."

Without me. All by yourself. I still remember the day you left me sometimes. It makes me want to constantly check whether your happiness genuinely belongs here.

[Roserikta] "In fact, I was having a wonderful time. I just finished making a new medicine. Clobell studied magic incredibly hard lately, so she provided immense help. Right, Clobell?"

Clobellina shrugged.

[Clobell] "Ahem. I am naturally excellent at everything. Give me a task, and I finish it in an instant."

[Kalart] "……I see."

Since he showed no intention of letting her go, Roserikta raised her hands and wrapped them around his neck.

[Roserikta] "Did you perhaps come here to tell me not to make medicine for Lord Rayden?"

[Kalart] "I intended to. ……I worried it might strain your body."

[Roserikta] "What a pity. You are already too late. As I mentioned, Clobell helped me well, so it finished incredibly fast."

[Clobell] "None of you can survive without me! Serve me with absolute respect!"

Deeply proud of herself, she climbed up Kalart's clothes and perched on his shoulder.

Roserikta looked at Clobellina's face right in front of her and let out a disbelieving laugh.

[Roserikta] "Come down, Clobell. With your weight, His Highness will suffer from muscle pain tonight."

[Clobell] "Oh, the Crown Prince is strong, so he is perfectly fine. Besides, muscle pain is not a deadly disease, so what does it matter? You can just apply bruise medicine. Didn't he say he actually prefers being in pain?"

[Roserikta] "Hey, how can you bring up something from so long ago?"

[Clobell] "It's not like ten or twenty years have passed. Besides, people don't change easily."

Watching Roserikta and Clobellina bicker back and forth, the anxiety that had bubbled inside Kalart just moments ago slowly died down.

Roserikta was a witch, not a regular human, and that remained an unchangeable fact until the day they died. He needed to accustom himself to the reality that she was a witch, rather than falling into anxiety and impatience over every little thing.

[Kalart] "A weight like Clobell is perfectly fine. Besides, she lost a significant amount of weight lately."

Finding an ally, Clobellina grew even more arrogant.

[Clobell] "Did you hear that? You scolded me and acted like a demon just because I gained a little weight. You should take this chance to reflect on your actions."

[Roserikta] "If I hadn't made up my mind to be strict, you would be rolling around instead of walking by now."

[Clobell] "Look at her harsh words. So wicked. As expected of a real witch."

[Roserikta] "Wicked? Take it back. Everything I did was entirely for your own good."

[Clobell] "Hmph. You gave me tasteless grass that even rabbits wouldn't eat, and now you claim it was for my own good?"

[Roserikta] "What is wrong with boiled broccoli!"

[Clobell] "Go ask a rabbit. No matter how foolish they are, they won't eat the grass you give them. It has to be at least edible."

[Roserikta] "They would eat it gladly."

[Clobell] "Stop arguing. I won't fall for it."

[Roserikta] "You are the one arguing. I should go and ask them myself. If the rabbits say they love broccoli, you are in big trouble."

Driven into a corner, Clobellina rolled her eyes, pressed her body flat against Kalart, and let out a miserable whine.

[Clobell] "Meeeoowww……. Please take my side. Don't you think Rosie is being exceptionally wicked today?"

The anxiety that made Roserikta feel distant vanished completely. Kalart knew he had to respond with absolute caution between a witch and a cat. A single mistake might earn him the lasting hatred of one of them.

[Kalart] "Wicked doesn't suit her. My wife is the most fair and wise person I know."

[Clobell] "Wow, look at him taking her side. And get your words straight. She is a witch, not a person."

[Kalart] "However, she does overdo her worrying sometimes. Especially when it concerns you, Clobell."

[Clobell] "Ah, that is true. What is wrong with my body anyway? Cats are supposed to have some fat to look plump and cute. If I weren't this cute, would the humans here love me so much? It's entirely because of my cuteness."

Though room for disagreement remained, Kalart quickly nodded.

[Kalart] "Of course."

Now it was Roserikta's turn to protest.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness. Didn't we go through this before? You mustn't spoil her. She is fully grown now. A three-year-old cat has already passed adulthood in human years."

[Kalart] "It remains a fact that Clobell is cute. And she doesn't feel heavy at all."

[Roserikta] "I expressed concern for your well-being, Your Highness."

[Kalart] "Of course I know. However, I prefer that you show your concern differently."

Perched on Kalart's shoulder, Clobellina waved her front paw.

[Clobell] "Exactly! Worrying about him is enough; why drag an innocent cat into this!"

By this point, Clobellina no longer mattered to Kalart and Roserikta.

[Roserikta] "Then how exactly am I supposed to show concern for a shoulder trapped under a heavy cat?"

[Kalart] "My shoulder is fine. So, worry about something else."

[Roserikta] "Like what?"

[Kalart] "Like not making unnecessary medicine."

Roserikta narrowed her eyes.

[Roserikta] "Do you believe my medicine is unnecessary?"

[Kalart] "If it is medicine intended for an unnecessary human, then yes."

The reason this conversation didn't escalate into a massive argument lay in the fact that the two had learned to understand each other deeply during their time together.

[Roserikta] "I thought so too at first."

Well, Roserikta never expected Kalart to welcome the fact that she was brewing a potion for Lord Rayden. Knowing this allowed her to speak openly.

[Kalart] "And?"

[Roserikta] "I realized that unless we cure the root cause, nothing will change. Even if Lord Rayden returns to his country now, he can come back at any time, can't he?"

[Kalart] "……True."

[Roserikta] "Then it is better to cure him before sending him away."

[Kalart] "Your words imply that the young lord of Iveton lingers around you because he suffers from some illness. Is that correct?"

[Roserikta] "Mmm…… to put it simply, yes. He responds to my song because he has an unhealed wound somewhere. At first, I tried to ignore it, but ignoring it wouldn't make the troublesome matter vanish."

Even without examining it deeply, she spoke the truth. The young lord of the Iveton Grand Duchy could return at any moment. He would find an excuse somehow. Each time that happened, Kalart would have to remain on high alert, watching how the man lingered around her.

[Kalart] "You are right."

[Roserikta] "See? Then please agree with me on the other matter too. Clobellina places a strain on your shoulder."

That was false, but he had no intention of arguing further. Kalart made an offer.

[Kalart] "What if I don't mind? You can just apply the bruise medicine for me."

[Roserikta] "I refuse."

[Kalart] "In that case."

He reached behind his neck and grabbed Clobellina.

[Kalart] "You need to come down, Clobell."

Clobellina resisted, scratching at his collar.

[Clobell] "Let go of me. You are all working together. Not a single person takes the cat's side here. This place is absolute hell."

[Kalart] "I feel sorry that I can't take your side right now. Instead, I will tell you something useful. I decided to grant a special bonus to Klein."

[Clobell] "What does that matter to me? You aren't giving it to me."

[Kalart] "It means his pockets will become heavy. If you have anything you need, now is the perfect time to speak to him."

[Clobell] "Oh, really?"

She leaped down to the floor instantly.

[Clobell] "He is at least a human I can consider an ally to cats. Since you shared good news, I will let you off the hook today. I am going to see him now."

Clobellina dashed away.

[Roserikta] "Clobell!"

Roserikta called out to her, but it was useless. Clobellina was a cat who would shamelessly claim she suddenly went deaf and heard nothing at all.

She looked at Kalart, shaking her head.

[Roserikta] "I told you, this is a bad idea."

[Kalart] "No, it's fine."

[Roserikta] "What if she gains even more weight?"

[Kalart] "Think about it. Even after she found out about Klein's cupboard, Clobell didn't gain any more weight. In fact, she is slowly losing some. From what I see, it's because her physical activity increased."

[Roserikta] "Oh?"

Hearing his words, her eyes widened.

Her activity increased……?

Come to think of it, that makes sense. The imperial palace is massive, after all. The ceilings are exceptionally high too. In the beginning, Clobell panted with exhaustion after climbing the curtains just once.

[Kalart] "That is why I am saying this. If you keep worrying about Clobell, we can just order Klein's snack cupboard moved to the detached palace entirely. Then she will have to walk for thirty minutes just to eat a single snack."

[Roserikta] "Oh……? Is there such a method?"

He spoke the absolute truth. She smiled brightly, patting the back of his hand.

[Roserikta] "That is a wonderful idea, Your Highness. Absolute genius."

[Kalart] "I am glad you agree."

The conflict came to an end. The newly married couple practiced how to fight and make peace exceptionally fast every single day.

---

As expected, love possessed a way of making everyone happy. Except, of course, for one miserable human making empty efforts to come between two lovers.