TWFLLYM Ch 13

A Tender Punishment (1)

[Roserikta] "This is bad."

She clicked her tongue in frustration.

[Roserikta] "The blanket tore."

While checking the pouch hanging from a branch, a sharp twig had pierced the fabric. She felt a snag, and before she could react, the blanket gave way with a sharp rip.

[Roserikta] "What now? The walk back will be a struggle."

The blanket, which had been functioning as an invisibility cloak, reverted to a mundane piece of fabric. She sighed, visualizing the long trek back to her bedroom.

[Roserikta] "I’ll have to wait until everyone is asleep to sneak back. Either that, or call Clobell to bring more Axaca powder. But I can't summon her without the powder in the first place. I’m stuck."

A headache began to throb behind her eyes. She checked the pouch; it was only half-full of Cantharis.

[Roserikta] "I’ll need to wait at least two more hours. Maybe it’s for the best. By then, the rest of the palace should be in bed."

She sank back down at the base of the tree, wrapping her arms tightly around her shoulders.

[Roserikta] "Ugh... it’s freezing now that night has fallen. I should have dressed warmer."

She pulled the tattered blanket tightly around her. In the distance, beyond the garden, the main palace began to succumb to the shadows.

[Roserikta] "The lights are still on. Does no one sleep in this place? Well, surely they’ll be out in two hours."

With a carefree shrug, she looked up at the night sky, intending to pass the time by counting stars. She remained blissfully unaware of the chaos currently erupting within the palace walls. Eventually, the silence of the night worked its magic, and her eyelids grew heavy.

[Roserikta] "I’m... so sleepy. I shouldn't close my eyes."

But two hours was an eternity in the dark.

[Roserikta] "Maybe just a short nap."

She estimated the time, closed her eyes, and drifted off. The search party found her exactly one hour later.

---

[Kalart] "..."

He clenched and unclenched his fists. A foreign sensation prickled at his fingertips, a tingling numbness that made his skin feel cold. Some would call this relief; others would call it rage.

This is strange.

To him, both relief and rage were equally foreign—as foreign as the numbness in his hands. Never in his life had he felt an emotion so raw, so vivid, and so sudden.

She’s safe. It wasn't a kidnapping or some other foul play. That should be the end of it. I should stop caring.

And yet, his mood remained savage.

[Eaton] "Your Highness. Should we wake her?"

Eaton’s voice was a mere whisper.

[Kalart] "...No. Leave her."

[Eaton] "Are you saying we should leave her here like this?"

He wasn't sure what he wanted. He couldn't let this go as if nothing had happened—not now that he had found her.

This could never happen again. He could never allow himself to feel this way again. The very thought of Roserikta vanishing...

...That is the problem.

He would not tolerate her disappearance. Decision made, he issued a quiet command.

[Kalart] "The rest of you may go."

[Eaton] "Pardon, Your Highness?"

[Kalart] "I will be the one to take her back."

[Eaton] "..."

Eaton studied his face, unable to decipher his thoughts. Kalart ignored him, stepping through the trees to sit beside the sleeping Roserikta. One of the royal guards nudged Eaton’s side.

[Guard] "I think he’s telling us to get lost, Captain."

[Eaton] "It certainly looks that way, doesn't it?"

[Guard] "Without a doubt."

Eaton nodded.

[Eaton] "Withdraw. One man stays with me to wait for His Highness outside the grove."

[Guard] "I’ll stay, Captain."

The guards retreated, their footsteps muffled as they vanished into the small forest behind the garden.

Roserikta only stirred when someone accidentally stepped on a dry branch.

[Roserikta] "...Hm? What...?"

Waking up, it was difficult to gauge how long she had been asleep. It was even harder to process the face looming over her, or why he was there.

[Roserikta] "Your... Highness?"

She blinked. As the blanket slipped from her shoulders and the damp night air clung to her skin, reality came rushing back. Something was very wrong.

[Roserikta] "How... how are you here?"

[Kalart] "I believe I should be the one asking the questions."

His low voice seemed to vibrate through the stillness of the night. To her, his words—which should have been a stern interrogation about why an injured woman was out here instead of resting—sounded as deep and evocative as the moonlight.

And just as cold.

[Roserikta] "I had to catch Cantharis. But why is Your Highness...?"

[Kalart] "Because I had to catch you."

[Roserikta] "..."

Perhaps it was that suspicious, moonlit tone, but his words felt heavy with a meaning she couldn't quite grasp.

[Roserikta] "I wasn't trying to run away."

Her voice grew small. A sudden, overwhelming sense of guilt washed over her.

Wait. This is odd. What did I actually do so wrong?

She had only come to the garden. Her only "crime" was not asking for permission first. Usually, a Crown Prince wouldn't care about the whereabouts of a single maid.

[Kalart] "Then what were you doing here?"

[Roserikta] "I was gathering Cantharis."

She pointed a finger at the pouch hanging from the branch.

[Kalart] "What is Cantharis?"

[Roserikta] "A type of beetle found in the forest. I need them to make a burn ointment."

[Kalart] "A burn ointment?"

[Roserikta] "Yes. For Sir Arad’s injuries..."

She trailed off. His expression and the glint in his eyes shifted from meaningful to downright terrifying.

[Kalart] "You walked all the way out here, with an injured leg, just to make an ointment for him?"

Her leg was actually healed, but that was a secret.

[Roserikta] "As I mentioned... he was hurt because of me. As a pharmacist, I have a responsibility to treat his wounds, Your Highness."

It was a small lie, but her intentions were pure. She hadn't expected the situation to spiral like this.

[Kalart] "Was all of this really for him?"

He let out a chilling laugh that felt like a sudden gust of night wind.

She couldn't understand why he was laughing—it was cold, cryptic, and frightening.

[Kalart] "How unpleasant."

Her hair fluttered, not from the wind, but because he reached for her ear. His hand, which initially seemed to brush her hair aside, moved to cup her cheek.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness. Why are you...?"

She instinctively pulled her shoulder back, trying to escape his touch.

[Kalart] "Do not move."

[Roserikta] "...Pardon?"

[Kalart] "Because if you do, I shall become even more unpleasant."

She felt as though she were sitting on a cushion of needles.

The Prince, his face a mask of cold fury, said nothing more. His hand showed no sign of releasing her cheek, and the distance between them was far too close.

[Roserikta] "I... I don’t understand why you’re acting this way, Your Highness."

Unable to bear the tension any longer, she whispered the words.

[Roserikta] "If coming to the garden without a word was a crime, then please punish me. I will accept it. But if it isn't that..."

She had to swallow hard to keep her voice from trembling.

[Roserikta] "...Then there is no reason for us to be here like this. There is no reason for you to... hold me like this..."

[Kalart] "I know. I am currently managing my displeasure."

It was an incredibly strange thing to hear.

It sounds like he’s saying his displeasure vanishes as long as he’s touching my face.

That was a serious problem. Every day, the Prince revealed a new side of himself. Regardless of what emotions those sides stirred in her, she didn't need to know them. She needed to fix her mistake and leave as soon as possible.

Maybe this is just a lingering side effect of the love potion. He isn't in his right mind. Let's just think of it that way.

Her heart hammered against her ribs. His hand on her cheek was hot, his breath was too close, and the intensity in his eyes—even as he spoke of displeasure—was overwhelming. She didn't want to remember any of these sensations.

If she were to fall for him, if she had to suffer through an unrequited love, it would be a nightmare.

[Roserikta] "Please let me go, Your Highness."

She gestured toward his hand with her eyes.

[Roserikta] "It’s very late. You should go back and sleep."

His reply came slowly.

[Kalart] "...I don’t want to let go."

[Roserikta] "If you don’t, I can't leave—Achoo!"

She quickly covered her mouth after the sudden sneeze. She had been outside too long. After falling into cold water yesterday and sleeping in the frigid night air today, a cold was inevitable.

[Kalart] "You must be cold."

[Roserikta] "Likely... yes."

The hand on her cheek finally vanished.

[Kalart] "Give me your hands."

[Roserikta] "Pardon?"

[Kalart] "You’ll need to hold onto my neck."

[Roserikta] "...What?"

She didn't even have time to be shocked. In the next heartbeat, she was hoisted into the air.

[Roserikta] "Why are you—Your Highness!"

He held her as one would hold a child. One arm supported her beneath her knees, the other wrapped around her back, pulling her chest against his.

[Roserikta] "Why are you doing this! Put me down!"

[Kalart] "I cannot. I know you cannot walk."

[Roserikta] "Even so, Your Highness cannot carry me!"

[Kalart] "And why not?"

Because I can actually walk. Because he is the Prince and I am a witch.

Because he was out of his mind due to a love potion, yet possessed a beauty that could bewitch anyone.

Because his words and actions made her heart race, even though none of it was real.

Because she didn't want to fall for him.

Because being held like this allowed her to hear his heartbeat. She could feel his breath and the warmth spreading from where their chests met.

Because it was terrifying. She was afraid she might fall for him, and she knew she shouldn't.

[Roserikta] "Because... you are the Crown Prince."

[Kalart] "Precisely. Which means I can do as I please."

She couldn't bring herself to wrap her arms around his neck. Instead, she clenched her fists tight.

[Roserikta] "I cannot handle this, Your Highness. This is... highly inappropriate."

[Kalart] "Then consider this your punishment."

It was absurd. She couldn't accept this, even if he called it a reward instead of a punishment.

[Roserikta] "How can this be a punishment?"

[Kalart] "It is a punishment because I say it is. As you said, I am the Crown Prince. Now, be quiet and stay still. Before I become unpleasant again."

[Roserikta] "..."

The rustle of her crumpled clothes against his sounded loud in the silence. To her ears, it sounded like the noise was coming from inside her own chest. Afraid he might hear it too, she ducked her head and held her breath.

Her face flushed hot. As her heated cheek brushed against his chest, he tilted his head.

[Kalart] "This is even more effective than touching your face. My displeasure seems to be vanishing."

By then, Eaton—who had been waiting at the edge of the grove—spotted them.

[Eaton] "Your Highness!"

Seeing Kalart carrying Roserikta, Eaton nearly fainted from shock. No matter how he looked at it, this wasn't just helping an injured person walk. He was holding her with such care and tenderness as if he were carrying a precious treasure.

The Prince had said she was the first woman he had ever wanted to hold. After today’s chaos, he had to conclude that the Prince was utterly blinded by this cat maid.

Is this even allowed? The difference in status…

No, never mind. His Highness knows that better than I do. He is a wise man; there’s no need for me to overstep.

He asked, half-resigned to the situation.

[Eaton] "It is a long walk, Your Highness. If you permit, I will carry her."

Kalart stopped in his tracks and scanned him from head to toe. Eaton didn't know what that look meant, but he felt he had made a grave mistake.

[Eaton] "Or, I could carry her on my back."

Kalart turned away and resumed walking.

[Kalart] "Unnecessary."

[Eaton] "Your Highness, it is quite far to the main palace."

[Kalart] "How unpleasant."

[Eaton] "...Pardon?"

His jaw dropped.

Unpleasant? Is he talking about me?

The question he didn't dare ask aloud was written clearly on his face.

[Kalart] "Stop overthinking and go retrieve the pouch from the branch. There are insects inside, so be careful not to lose them."

[Eaton] "Ah... Yes, Your Highness."

Thud, thud.

Kalart walked away. His stride was steady and elegant, as if the weight of another person were no burden at all.

[Guard] "Captain. Is it a good thing that we found her, or the opposite?"

The guard who had remained with him spoke up. He felt it was a question with no answer.

[Eaton] "We are in no position to gossip about the Prince’s private affairs. Watch your tongue."

The night was reaching its darkest hour. It was time for everyone to sleep peacefully beneath the silver moonlight.

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