TWFLLYM Ch 23
- Feb 9
- 8 min read
To Suffer Longer
[Elona] "I know of one. A sapphire of that magnitude resides right here, in the Crown Prince’s Palace."
She met Elona behind the staircase leading to the basement of the dining hall. Tucked away beside the dining room fireplace, a small, hidden door opened into a passage used exclusively by the maids—a perfect sanctuary for a clandestine meeting.
[Roserikta] "It is here in the palace?"
Fortunately, Elona possessed a vast knowledge of gemstones; her relatives served as the royal jewelers.
[Elona] "It sits atop the staff His Highness held during his investiture ceremony. The handle is quite ornate, and the sapphire embedded at its center should fit your needs perfectly."
[Roserikta] "I see...... is that so?"
[Elona] "I am certain of it. But why do you need a sapphire? Since you want such a specific size, it cannot be a simple matter of vanity."
She weighed her words. Explaining that she required the sapphire’s purifying properties for an antidote would sound far too much like witchcraft.
[Roserikta] "No, it is nothing like that. I simply heard a stone of that size existed and found it hard to believe. I was curious to see if the rumors were true."
[Elona] "Ah...... I suppose that makes sense. A commoner would rarely encounter such a colossal gem."
She accepted the excuse with a nod. She possessed a genuinely pure soul. Arad had found himself an excellent match.
[Roserikta] "How is Sir Arad faring? Did the burns leave a scar?"
[Elona] "Oh!"
A blush crept up her neck.
[Elona] "He healed perfectly. Once the blisters subsided, new skin grew back as if by magic. He says the pain has vanished entirely. He cannot stop praising the efficacy of your medicine."
[Roserikta] "Your devoted care likely did more for him than the salve. The medicine matters, but the hands that apply it matter more."
[Elona] "I wish my knight understood that as well as you do."
Despite her words, her radiant expression suggested Arad understood perfectly.
[Elona] "If you are so curious about the gem, why not ask His Highness? Ask him to let you see it. I suspect he would grant you anything you asked for."
Roserikta waved her hand dismissively.
[Roserikta] "No. Knowing it exists is enough. Seeing it would only overwhelm me."
[Elona] "Hmm...... you lack greed. If I were in your position, I would have asked His Highness for a thousand things by now."
She felt a sharp pang of guilt. Kalart had indeed offered her anything she desired on more than one occasion. She wondered if the rumors among the maids had worsened.
[Elona] "Everyone is talking about how you cured his cold. The court physician predicted he would suffer for days. Now, everyone is dying to know just how potent the remedies from Versaryl Pharmacy really are."
Ah, so that is the rumor.
Relief washed over her, though she kept her expression neutral.
[Roserikta] "I heard His Highness couldn't even swallow when the court physician arrived. In that state, there was little the physician could do."
[Elona] "Stop being so humble!"
Elona nudged her arm like a close friend. A small, involuntary smile tugged at her lips.
[Roserikta] "It is the truth. I am glad His Highness took the medicine well."
[Elona] "If you say so. But has he mentioned a reward? It would be appropriate. Didn't he give you a gift last time for the laceration ointment?"
The news of their trip to the lake had evidently leaked as well. What transpired there remained a secret, however.
[Roserikta] "I merely provided the medicine I had on hand. A reward seems excessive."
[Elona] "What are you talking about? If the Prince offers a reward, you must take it! The court physician would have accepted it in a heartbeat. It isn't just about the money—receiving a gift from the Imperial family is a massive honor!"
She only smiled and shook her head. Elona sighed in frustration, clearly realizing that arguing was futile.
[Elona] "Fine. It breaks my heart to see you miss out, but what can I do if you aren't interested? Was that all you wanted to ask?"
[Roserikta] "Ah, one more thing."
She retrieved a tin of cream infused with Akalea candles from her pocket.
[Roserikta] "I noticed your hands looked chapped last time. Please apply this before you see Sir Arad."
While the heavy labor fell to others, the kitchen maids still suffered from dry, cracked skin. For a young noblewoman in a new romance, damaged hands were no small concern.
[Elona] "Oh, my!"
She beamed, her mouth hanging open in surprise.
[Elona] "I don't know if I should keep accepting these things from you."
[Roserikta] "I rely on your help constantly, Lady Elona."
She pulled Roserikta into a brief embrace, pressing her cheek against hers—the highest sign of gratitude permitted to a noble lady.
[Elona] "Thank you, Roserikta."
[Roserikta] "You are most welcome."
They exchanged warm goodbyes and parted, each returning to their respective duties.
Silence gripped the Prince’s study. Discomfort fueled the quiet.
When Eaton woke this morning and heard of Kalart’s recovery, he expected to find the Prince wearing a satisfied smile.
The knight assigned to watch the Cat Maid reported that she hadn't returned to the Crown Princess' chambers until late in the night. Surely, the two had shared an intimate evening.
He hoped the Prince’s brooding would end and the cold would be a thing of the past.
The reality was far bleaker.
Instead of looking refreshed by his recovery, shadows haunted Kalart’s eyes.
[Eaton] "Your Highness......"
He dismissed the other knights and spoke tentatively.
[Eaton] "Does something...... still trouble you?"
[Kalart] "The same thing. Do not concern yourself with it."
How can I not concern myself when you look like that?
He thought, his own expression sinking into gloom.
[Eaton] "I understand the...... Cat Maid visited you yesterday......"
He struggled to find the right words. He wanted to beg the Prince to explain the problem so he could actually help.
Oblivious to his subordinate's loyalty, Kalart threw out a single sentence.
[Kalart] "She left too soon."
[Eaton] "......Pardon, Your Highness?"
[Kalart] "If I had stayed in bed longer, she would have stayed by my side."
[Eaton] "......"
So the Cat Maid had indeed visited and cured his cold, but that wasn't enough for the Prince.
[Eaton] "If you wish for her presence, you could simply...... summon her."
[Kalart] "I suppose."
[Eaton] "You have no external appointments this morning. Shall I call for her now?"
[Kalart] "The result would be the same. I would burn with desire for her, and she would move heaven and earth to resist it."
[Eaton] "Oh......"
Eaton fell silent.
Had something happened yesterday? He thought their relationship had improved.
[Kalart] "Something is wrong here."
Kalart rubbed his chest, right over his heart.
Ah...…
Eaton realized. This wasn't a lingering cold. The Prince suffered from lovesickness, a malady no cough syrup could touch.
[Eaton] "Your Highness, I...... well, my own experience is limited, but I have heard that emotions move at different speeds for different people. Some are fast, others are slow."
Kalart stopped rubbing his chest and turned to stare at him.
[Kalart] "Go on."
[Eaton] "Well, perhaps Your Highness is faster, while the Cat Maid is...... slower. It is a possibility."
[Kalart] "Hmm."
Kalart furrowed his brow, deep in thought.
[Eaton] "People like that usually need to see someone often for feelings to sprout and take root."
[Kalart] "And if she finds my presence uncomfortable?"
Eaton grew serious.
[Eaton] "Your Highness. Who would dare find you uncomfortable?"
[Kalart] "She would. Precisely because she cannot refuse me."
Refusal didn't always require words. Whether she set a firm boundary or merely took advantage of his weakness as a patient, the message was clear: no. It soured his mood.
The saying about a cornered rat biting a cat rang true; he felt like biting something himself.
[Eaton] "Even if that is the case, perhaps it is still just a difference in speed. Keep her close as much as you wish. If you treat her with kindness during that time, surely the relationship will progress?"
[Kalart] "Is that so?"
He drifted into contemplation.
Eaton’s logic held merit. He had fallen for Clobellina the moment he saw her at the Grand Ball. The seeds of affection had sprouted and grown into full-blown love in an instant. Even he considered himself slightly mad.
With Roserikta, he had recognized her voice first, and the emotions followed. Now, those feelings had bloomed into something far more massive.
Wanting to possess that beautiful voice was a thing of the past. Now, he hungered for the warmth that voice carried. He craved every touch, every glance.
Recognizing that hunger made him realize how greedy he had become. He was a man starving for a woman, salivating at the mere thought of her.
He didn't know if this was what others called "love." But he knew one thing for certain: Roserikta did not share this feeling.
He needed time. Time for her hunger to grow. Just as he had nourished his obsession by listening to her voice, she needed something to feed her emotions.
[Kalart] "That was advice worth following. I shall do as you say."
He pushed his chair back. Eaton spoke quickly.
[Eaton] "It is an honor, Your Highness. Shall I tell her to come to the study?"
[Kalart] "No. Go and tell her that I am coming to her."
[Eaton] "......"
Eaton marveled at the Prince’s consideration; he was even saving the girl a walk. It made the situation even more tragic.
Why was the Cat Maid making the Crown Prince suffer like this?
[Eaton] "As you command, Your Highness."
He decided he might have to investigate the reason himself. If this continued, the Prince would waste away to nothing.
She had just finished organizing her recipe for the antidote when the news of the Prince’s arrival reached her.
[Roserikta] "If I have the sapphire, I can finally attempt the antidote."
She had just shared the news with Clobellina. Now, she scrambled to tidy the bedchamber. She hid the recipe book and medicine vials inside her trunk and shook out the curtains, which were covered in cat hair.
[Roserikta] "I am glad to see your cold has passed, Your Highness."
Facing Kalart was no easy task. She had hoped that tidying the room would also tidy her chaotic emotions from the night before, but it was a futile effort. She still found it difficult to meet his eyes.
She held out a well-groomed Clobellina toward him. A morning's worth of brushing had left the cat's fur glistening from ears to tail.
[Kalart] "Hello, Clobell."
He greeted the cat, making eye contact. Clobellina flicked her tail in acknowledgment, but nothing more.
[Kalart] "I didn't come for Clobell today."
[Roserikta] "......"
[Clobell] "Meow?"
The tail stopped mid-flick. She clutched the cat, her expression tight with unease.
[Kalart] "I came to reward you for curing my cold."
[Roserikta] "Your Highness, that is not neces—"
[Kalart] "......and I used that as a pretext just to be near you."
[Roserikta] "......"
While she stood speechless, Clobellina clicked her tongue.
[Clobell] "You were right. He’s gotten much worse."
[Kalart] "Think carefully about what you want as a reward. I will wait here until I have an answer."
He sat on the sofa by the fireplace, settling in for a long wait.
[Kalart] "Don't just stand there. Sit anywhere. That is an order."
She swallowed a heavy sigh. This man had no idea what he was doing to her.
[Roserikta] "I have an answer for you now, Your Highness."
His lips thinned at the immediate response.
[Kalart] "......I didn't expect that. Do you find my presence that unbearable?"
[Roserikta] "I need a sapphire. Specifically, one the same size as the stone on your investiture staff."
The answer was as baffling as it was swift—at least to someone unaware of her true motives.
[Kalart] "That would be useless to you. Only the Crown Prince can wield that staff; you couldn't even sell the stone."
[Roserikta] "I do not intend to sell it for money, Your Highness. If you would allow me to use it for a short time, I would be grateful......"
[Kalart] "If that is what you want."
She nodded without hesitation.
[Kalart] "It is yours. I will have it brought to this room."
A weary shadow crossed his face. His attempt to spend time with her had been met with yet another form of rejection.
Eaton had told him to be kind, but he didn't know what to do when she refused even his kindness.
Should he pour everything out? Until she grew weary? Until she lacked the strength to refuse him?
He gripped that obsessive thought and asked again.
[Kalart] "Is there nothing else?"
[Roserikta] "Pardon?"
[Kalart] "Anything else you desire. Aside from the gem."
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