TWFLLYM Ch 128

Side Story: Like the Moonlight that Colors Everyone

A bright giggle echoed through the quiet room.

[Roserikta] "Mmm……."

She opened her eyes, realizing she must have dozed off briefly. The faint sound of laughter made her sit up instantly.

[Roserikta] "Who is there……?"

Another giggle filled the air.

[Roserikta] "……Oh?"

Polani was wide awake. The baby stared straight at her with bright, clear eyes, then burst into laughter once more. She smiled back at her child and climbed out of bed.

[Roserikta] "When did you wake up, my sweet baby? You didn't even cry after waking up? How wonderful of you."

She lifted Polani gently from the cradle. However, the moment the baby's face pressed against her chest, she suddenly burst into tears.

[Polani] "Waaah! Uwaaa!"

[Roserikta] "Huh? Why are you crying all of a sudden?"

Flustered, she carefully lowered the baby back into the cradle. Polani's sobs immediately slowed to small hiccups, and a moment later, she smiled again.

[Roserikta] "How strange…… what exactly are you looking at?"

She stood by the cradle, examining Polani for a long time.

[Roserikta] "Are you smiling at the mobile?"

She tapped the mushroom mobile with her finger, making it spin. Red, yellow, and green mushrooms whirled around in a circle, yet Polani’s gaze was directed toward an entirely different spot.

[Roserikta] "This is strange……."

[Polani] "Awoo."

The baby babbled softly and turned her eyes toward Roserikta. When their eyes met, she smiled out of habit, and Polani mirrored the expression perfectly.

[Polani] "……Hing."

The joy lasted only a moment. After staring into Roserikta's eyes for a short while, Polani began to weep bitterly. Massive teardrops, hard to believe from such a tiny infant, fell down her cheeks as she sobbed.

[Roserikta] "What is wrong, my baby? Hmm?"

Roserikta reached down to hold her again, but Polani turned her face away sharply, crying out with even greater force.

[Polani] "Waaah!"

[Roserikta] "Oh dear…… why are you acting like this? Are you sick somewhere?"

She pressed a hand against the baby's forehead, but she felt no fever. Polani’s complexion remained pale and healthy, and no other signs of illness appeared.

[Roserikta] "Are you hungry? No, that makes no sense. You drank plenty of milk earlier."

[Polani] "Uwaaaa!"

[Roserikta] "Can't you sleep? Shall we go outside and get some fresh air under the moonlight? Would you like that?"

[Polani] "Aaaang!"

The crying only grew louder.

[Roserikta] "That isn't it either. Then what should I do for you? What do you need? ……No, listen to me. It isn't like Polly can understand my words anyway."

She sat down on the floor and began rocking the cradle gently.

[Roserikta] "Don't cry, baby. What makes you so sad?"

[Polani] "Hing, hing…… uwaa."

Listening to the soft wails, it sounded as if the baby suffered from a deep, sorrowful grief.

[Roserikta] "How odd. What could make our baby so sad? Your belly is full, the house is warm, and your mother and Clobell remain right by your side."

Because Polani’s crying had grown quite loud, Clobell woke up in the adjoining room.

[Clobell] "Yaaaawn…… What is going on?"

[Roserikta] "Ah, Clobell. Did she wake you up? Was it too loud?"

[Clobell] "The baby is crying, so of course I had to come out. Why did you wake a sleeping child just to make her cry?"

Roserikta scoffed at the accusation.

[Roserikta] "It was the exact opposite. Polani woke up on her own, and then she suddenly started crying."

[Clobell] "It’s all the same. She is crying because you failed to do something properly, throwing a tantrum."

[Roserikta] "Polani doesn't have a bad temper."

[Clobell] "My goodness, why do you twist my words like that? When did I say Polly has a bad temper? Our Polly is an absolute angel."

[Roserikta] "Is it right to call a witch an angel?"

[Clobell] "What kind of witch doesn't even understand a basic metaphor?"

Clobell trotted over with light steps.

[Clobell] "Why is our Polly crying? Are you crying because you woke up and didn't see me? Shall I sleep next to you?"

Clobell leaped directly into the cradle to comfort Polani.

[Polani] "Hing…… hiccup, hic."

Polani only wept more bitterly.

[Clobell] "Oh dear…… what is wrong with our baby? Why are you weeping so sadly? Did someone say something mean to you?"

Roserikta shook her head.

[Roserikta] "Even if someone said something mean, she is far too young to understand language."

[Clobell] "That is impossible. Grandmother Mazi stated that our Polly is a genius witch. She understands absolutely everything."

[Roserikta] "To be precise, she said she might become a genius witch. And that is a matter for the distant future. I will believe it once she actually starts talking."

[Clobell] "Are you really her biological mother? How can you be so harsh toward your own child? That is exactly why the baby feels so hurt. Why are you crushing our child's spirit?"

[Roserikta] "I am not being harsh. Because I am her mother, I simply maintain my objectivity. You and Grandma possess absolutely none of that."

[Clobell] "Hmph. Stop scolding our baby."

[Roserikta] "Goodness, stop trying to drive a wedge between a mother and her daughter."

[Clobell] "How am I driving a wedge between you? More importantly, what are we going to do about her crying? We need to soothe her and put her back to sleep quickly."

[Roserikta] "I know. I can't figure out why she is crying. The moment I try to hold her, she cries even louder."

[Clobell] "Oh dear, why is she doing that?"

They continued rocking the cradle in utter confusion until the night finally neared its end.

[Roserikta] "Aren't you going to sleep, baby?"

She reached out to lift Polani once more, and the infant let out a sorrowful sob.

[Polani] "Awoo, ah……."

[Roserikta] "……Huh?"

She froze.

[Roserikta] "What did you say, baby?"

[Polani] "Awoo, ah……."

[Roserikta] "Hmm?"

Polani extended her tiny hands, waving them in the air. The gesture looked exactly as if she desperately wanted to grasp onto something.

[Clobell] "What did the baby just say? What is wrong with her?"

Meanwhile, the sky outside the window grew pale with the coming dawn. Roserikta turned her head, watching the moon slowly fade from view.

A profound longing, which she had pushed aside while focusing entirely on Polani, rushed into her heart to take the place of the disappearing moon.

[Roserikta] "……We must go back."

[Clobell] "Huh? What did you say?"

Roserikta turned her attention back to the room. Polani, exhausted from her long crying spell, had closed her eyes and now breathed with small, rhythmic sighs.

[Roserikta] "She must have missed him."

That man. Her father.

Once the moon vanished, the connection to the other world severed. Roserikta knew Polani had wept because she refused to separate from him. There was a reason why the baby learned the word for father before anything else.

---

[Clobell] "Oh dear. Are we doing this again? Grandmother Mazi will cause a massive scene if she finds out. She expects us to stay until the baby takes her first steps."

Once Roserikta made up her mind, the packing proceeded rapidly. She neatly loaded their few belongings onto the childhood sled Kalart had used. Clobell helped with the tasks, though she kept voicing her disapproval.

[Roserikta] "Well, taking her first steps is only the beginning. Once she walks, Grandmother will tell us to wait until she starts talking. Once she speaks, she will insist we stay until she learns to read, because she needs to teach her the magical alphabet."

[Clobell] "Sigh, I suppose that is true."

Clobell knew exactly how Mazi would act. Yet, all of it aimed to benefit the child.

[Clobell] "Still, wouldn't it be better to stay here a bit longer? She is a witch, not a regular human baby. Witches need to absorb as much moonlight as possible during their infancy."

For that exact reason, Roserikta had initially planned to return only after completing the baptism and letting the baby grow a bit.

[Roserikta] "That is true, but……."

[Clobell] "Think about it carefully. Grandmother declared that our Polly is a genius. Early education is vital for a genius."

[Roserikta] "That is exactly why."

[Clobell] "Huh? What do you mean?"

[Roserikta] "It seems she already possesses more than enough moonlight energy."

[Clobell] "What? Grandmother hasn't said a word about that yet, so how could you possibly know?"

[Roserikta] "People say it is hard to tell when they are infants. Magic doesn't settle in their bodies yet; it constantly flows in and out. However, if the volume of that flowing magic is massive……."

[Clobell] "It means a great amount stays behind when it finally settles, right?"

[Roserikta] "Exactly."

She turned her gaze toward Polani, who lay in the cradle, staring wide awake at her busy mother. When their eyes met, Polani offered a bright smile.

[Roserikta] "Look at that. Doesn't it look like she knows exactly what I am doing right now?"

[Clobell] "Huh? How does it look like that?"

[Roserikta] "She cried so much yesterday, but the moment I resolved to return, she hasn't cried even once."

[Clobell] "Maybe she just felt like crying yesterday? Even babies can get suddenly gloomy."

[Roserikta] "That is not it. Like I said, why don't we discuss such matters after she actually starts talking?"

[Clobell] "She can do it because she is a genius."

The conversation circled back to the beginning.

[Roserikta] "Yes. Because she is a genius. What does it mean for a witch to be a genius? It means she will learn to control a massive amount of magic much faster than others."

[Clobell] "That makes sense."

[Roserikta] "Polani must have used magic yesterday."

[Clobell] "Huh? What did you say?"

Clobell's pupils dilated instantly.

[Clobell] "Does that even make sense? A tiny baby like her?"

[Roserikta] "It does, if she is a genius. Grandma told us that the first witch of Versaryl used magic from the very moment of her birth."

[Clobell] "Goodness. Isn't that a story from a terribly ancient time?"

[Roserikta] "Not to Grandma. She has been alive since that exact era."

[Clobell] "Wow. Our grandmother has been around for an absolute age."

Though Mazi remained so energetic that people often forgot her age, she truly represented a living history book for witches. Regardless, that was not the priority right now.

[Roserikta] "I think Polly detected him using her magic."

[Clobell] "Gasp! Really?"

[Roserikta] "Yes. Otherwise, she would have no reason to call out for her father out of nowhere."

[Clobell] "Wow! Our baby is a genius! She is talking already! But wait, why did she call her father first? She has a mother, a grandmother, and a cat right here!"

[Roserikta] "That is exactly why we must return. I believe it will be best for Polly as well."

[Clobell] "Then we have no choice. I understand. I will pack my things too."

Just as they finished packing every single item, Mazi arrived at the house. It was no coincidence; her witch's intuition had clearly guided her.

After a brief argument about whether they should leave, Mazi heard that Polani had used magic. In the end, she agreed to lend them the pumpkin carriage.

[Mazi] "You must return at least once a month. You know that, right? You must never miss the night of the full moon."

[Roserikta] "I understand, Grandma."

[Mazi] "If you forget, I will not let it slide."

[Roserikta] "You can visit us whenever you please anyway."

[Mazi] "An older woman must maintain her dignity. Safe travels, my sweet child. I will see you on the next full moon."

Polani offered a bright smile as if saying goodbye.

[Mazi] "Oh, look at her smiling. It would be nice if you cried a little at a time like this."

Though she spoke those words, Mazi spent a long time rejoicing, declaring that the baby's smiling face perfectly matched her own and looked incredibly adorable.

[Roserikta] "We will leave now, Grandma."

[Mazi] "Very well. If that human ever acts annoyingly, return here immediately."

[Roserikta] "Oh, of course. If we ever fight, I will come straight back."

[Mazi] "Good. That is the perfect mindset."

Finally, Mazi waved her hand with a warm, satisfied smile.

[Mazi] "Safe travels, my sweet children."

Roserikta leaned her head out of the carriage window and waved back.

[Roserikta] "Yes, Grandma. See you on the full moon."

[Clobell] "I will come back with her too."

[Mazi] "Yes, yes."

The large, round, yellow pumpkin carriage floated up into the starlight path. As the carriage slowly began to move, a window across the way at the imperial palace opened wide, as if someone had waited for this exact moment.

Roserikta tickled Polani's cheek gently.

[Roserikta] "He is watching us. See?"

Polani moved her neck slightly, as if offering a real answer.

[Clobell] "How amazing. It really seems like she knows everything."

[Roserikta] "I agree."

The pumpkin carriage traveled forward with agonizing slowness. Holding her child, Roserikta stared at the window that grew closer inch by inch.

---

Kalart waited for them, leaning his body as far out of the window as possible.

[Polani] "Awoo, ah!"

Holding the child for the very first time, Kalart turned to stone. He simply stared down at the infant, completely forgetting to breathe. Only when the smiling baby let out another loud shout did he snap out of his trance.

[Kalart] "Did she just say 'father'……?"

Roserikta wrapped her arms around Kalart's neck from behind the sofa.

[Roserikta] "Yes."

[Kalart] "How can…… no, can a baby speak this early?"

[Roserikta] "Polly is a genius, after all."

[Kalart] "Ah……."

He pressed his lips together tightly, remaining silent for a long time. Perhaps he found himself unable to speak.

Roserikta rubbed her cheek affectionately against the back of his head.

[Roserikta] "You waited a long time, didn't you?"

[Kalart] "……Mmm."

[Roserikta] "You don't have to wait anymore."

[Kalart] "……Mmm."

His responses came incredibly slowly. Roserikta listened to his delayed answers as if listening to a sweet melody.

[Roserikta] "I missed you."

[Kalart] "……Me too."

Within his heart, Kalart felt a distinct click, like pieces of a puzzle locking into place. A part of him that had been severed long ago finally found its perfect match, completely filling the empty void.

He tore his eyes away from Polani to look straight at Roserikta.

[Kalart] "Finally, it is finished."

Even without further explanation, Roserikta understood the deep meaning behind his words.

[Roserikta] "Yes."

With their child resting between them, the two shared a tender kiss while gazing affectionately into each other's eyes.

The moonlight shone brilliantly above, pouring down a lavish blessing upon everyone beneath the sky.

---

Unfortunately, whether Polani qualified as a genius witch remained a matter for the future. The following day, she addressed the Emperor, Elona, Arad, Eaton, the Head Maid, and the Chamberlain all by the same name: "Awoo-ah."

However, no one could dispute her genius in a completely different category.

[Belto I] "Oh, heavens. Does this child carry my bloodline? A baby this beautiful can't possibly exist anywhere else in the world."

Just as Belto I declared, Polani deserved the title of a genius based entirely on her looks. No one could resist falling completely in love with the beautiful baby whenever she looked up and offered a bright smile.

Within moments, every single soul inside the imperial palace found themselves colored by love.

Just like the brilliant moonlight that instantly colors the darkness the exact moment it rises.

※The End※