TWFLLYM Ch 29
- Feb 19
- 8 min read
A Day Under a Spell
[Roserikta] "Is something wrong with the Investiture Staff, Your Highness?"
The night remained so quiet that it seemed the brilliant moonlight had evaporated every sound.
At this distance, she could hear his every breath—steady, then pausing, then deepening with an unspoken intensity.
Fearing he might hear the frantic thundering of her own heart, she grasped at the first topic she could find.
[Kalart] "Wrong?"
He turned his gaze toward her, his eyes reflecting the silver moon. He had always been handsome, but tonight he appeared hauntingly surreal, almost too beautiful to be real.
[Kalart] "I wouldn't call it a problem—at least, not significant enough to break my promise to you. Are you worried?"
[Roserikta] "No, it isn't that...... It's just that you traveled such a long way. And......"
[Kalart] "And?"
His voice sharpened slightly as her words trailed off. His reaction wasn't born of irritation, but of an acute sensitivity to her every hesitation.
[Roserikta] "......They said you must stay for three days."
She worried her request had caused him undue trouble.
[Kalart] "It isn't a burden. The staff is here; I can retrieve it whenever I wish."
[Roserikta] "Then why stay for three full days......?"
[Kalart] "Because three days is all I have."
[Roserikta] "Pardon?"
[Kalart] "Anything more would have made matters complicated."
Just as he had reduced his entourage to a single carriage, three days was the maximum window he could secure without raising suspicion in the capital.
[Kalart] "Any longer, and you would have had to wait."
[Roserikta] "......"
Heat rushed to her ears.
His way of speaking was problematic. He spoke as if her waiting was a far greater tragedy than a Crown Prince riding for hours or leaving the Imperial Palace empty for three days.
He makes me feel more important than the throne. He makes me feel cherished above all else.
[Roserikta] "But you don't have to stay for the full three days."
The journey took a day; if they hurried, they could cut the trip to two days. He knew this well.
[Kalart] "The extra day is a gift."
[Roserikta] "A gift?"
[Kalart] "A gift you are giving me."
He stopped walking and turned, a vivid, striking smile dancing on his lips.
[Kalart] "I intend to spend that entire day by your side. Since I endured such a tedious journey, I believe I deserve that much."
[Roserikta] "......"
His words felt like a physical knock against her ribs.
She pressed a hand to her chest, which throbbed as if something had actually struck it.
He misread her wince of overwhelming emotion for pain.
[Kalart] "Do you dislike the idea?"
[Roserikta] "......No."
The answer burst out without hesitation.
One day.
If one day remained, she would have the sapphire by tomorrow’s end. Then, she could craft the antidote.
Assuming the potion succeeded, she only had twenty-four hours left to stand before this man and receive his melting tender gaze.
Then, it would end. Everything.
[Roserikta] "I...... would like it, Your Highness."
If it was only for a day. No—even if it was only for a day. She decided she would love him. She would gather every scrap of affection they shared during those hours and lock it away in her heart forever.
[Kalart] "I didn't expect that."
He murmured, his voice soft. His fingers trembled with uncharacteristic hesitation as they traced the curve of her cheek.
[Kalart] "I was busy squeezing out excuses, fearing you might refuse. You make it too easy. I almost feel I shouldn't believe you."
[Roserikta] "Your Highness, that's......"
[Kalart] "I’m not saying I don't believe you."
The hand tracing her cheek now cupped her face firmly.
[Kalart] "Give me an answer. During that one day, how much permission do I have?"
Her cheek burned against his palm.
The moonlight shone so brightly it felt like a festival had begun in the quiet garden.
[Roserikta] "Everything."
[Kalart] "......"
His hand twitched against her skin. She reached up and covered his stiffened fingers with her own.
[Roserikta] "Whatever you desire."
Whatever I desire. For the first and last time.
Kalart stood frozen for a long moment, appearing stunned by her surrender. Suddenly, he yanked her forward and crashed his lips against hers.
The kiss was desperate, pulling the breath right out of her lungs. Before she could process the suddenness of it, she was swept away by his intensity. Her every gasp was swallowed whole by him.
[Roserikta] "Wait...... slow......"
She managed to get a word out when he briefly shifted his weight, but it was futile.
[Kalart] "Later."
He was a man possessed. He gripped her face with both hands, biting her lower lip as if he had never heard the word 'slowly.'
[Kalart] "I will listen to whatever you want later."
But right now, don't stop me.
The rest of the words melted into the heat of their mouths, but she knew exactly what he was saying.
[Clobell] "Meow."
I should have followed them, even if it was a pain. I’m bored to death.
She let out a massive yawn. The room shared by the two cats was beyond quiet—it was desolate.
[Clobell] "Hey. Aren't you bored?"
She reached out and batted at the white cat’s tail.
The white cat, who had been resting its chin on its paws with closed eyes, flickered one eye open before shutting it again without a response.
[Clobell] "Oh, you rude little thing. Ignoring me when I’m talking to you?"
Thwap!
She put some weight into her paw this time. The white cat didn't even twitch a whisker, as if it felt no pain at all.
[Clobell] "You have a problem. Cats shouldn't be this antisocial."
The white cat continued its performance of sleeping.
[Clobell] "Hey, are you deaf?"
She approached its face and flicked its ear.
[Clobell] "I heard white cats sometimes have bad hearing. Are you a sick kitty?"
She felt a momentary pang of guilt for her previous rudeness, but the white cat simply turned its head away with a haughty sniff.
[Clobell] "This is weird. Are you sick, or just have a rotten personality?"
She tilted her head and nipped the white cat’s ear.
Usually, this was a declaration of war between cats; deaf or not, there should have been a reaction. But the white cat remained still, eyes closed, even as its ear was bitten.
[Clobell] "Huh? Doesn't that hurt? Even this?"
She bit harder. Still, the white cat made no sound.
[Clobell] "Whoa. This is totally creepy. Are you even a cat?"
Come to think of it, all the white cat did was occasionally blink or move its head slightly. It was more like an ornamental doll than a living creature.
Filled with suspicion, Clobellina shoved her butt onto the velvet cushion where the white cat sat. She used her full weight to push the other cat off.
[Clobell] "Let’s see if you stay still for this."
She effectively bullied her way into the center of the cushion. The white cat dangled precariously off the edge, its belly resting on the rim, but it didn't move an inch to save itself.
[Clobell] "You’re a real idiot, aren't you?"
She stared down at the pathetic creature. Then, her eyes landed on the glittering jewel necklace around its neck.
[Clobell] "Ooh, you’re wearing the good stuff, huh?"
She leaned in like a neighborhood thug.
[Clobell] "Can I try it on? I’d look great in that. I’ll give it back in a second."
Silence. She took the lack of protest as consent and reached for the clasp. The moment her paw touched the gems—
[White Cat] "HISS!"
[Clobell] "Gah! You scared me!"
The once-gentle white cat bared sharp fangs and let out a terrifying screech.
Clobellina, who was mostly a house cat despite her tough talk, recoiled in terror. She squeezed her eyes shut, fearing her throat would be ripped out.
[Clobell] "......?"
But that was it. The moment she pulled her paw away from the necklace, the white cat became docile again, as if the fangs had never existed.
She clutched her chest.
[Clobell] "Wow, what a psycho. I push you off your bed, and you don't care, but you flip out over a necklace? I wasn't going to steal it!"
The white cat returned to its expressionless state.
Clobellina swallowed hard and tentatively reached out again. But the second her claw brushed the jewelry—
[White Cat] "HISS!"
[Clobell] "Gah! Stop it!"
This time, she bolted to the other side of the room.
[Clobell] "Whew, I’m out of breath. You have a terrible temper. You should have warned me...... wait, what?"
A strange, eerie light flickered within the gems of the necklace before vanishing.
Her whiskers stiffened.
[Clobell] "What was that......?"
This was no ordinary cat.
[Countess] "So, it’s a witch’s cat. Tsk."
A wave of long black hair rippled as she clicked her tongue.
The woman—a beauty so alluring she could stop a man's heart—massaged her neck and frowned.
Anyone with a keen eye would notice her necklace was identical to the one worn by the white cat in Kyrien.
[Countess] "I must dispose of that thing first."
Countess Gibero pulled a silk cord hanging from her bedpost. A clear bell rang, followed immediately by the sound of frantic footsteps.
[Count] "My lady? You called?"
Count Gibero appeared. The Countess muttered a quiet insult.
[Countess] "Idiot. The bell rang because I called."
He didn't hear her. Even if he had, he likely would have just apologized and confessed his undying love for the woman who deigned to marry an "idiot" like him.
[Countess] "Come in."
[Count] "I—I’m coming!"
He wiped sweat from his brow before entering the chamber.
[Count] "What do you need, my love?"
[Countess] "The Chamberlain of Kyrien Castle."
She didn't even look at her husband as she spoke.
[Count] "Tell me what will make you happy."
[Countess] "I want to ask him a favor. In total secrecy."
[Count] "I shall see to it at once."
It was easy enough. He had already spent months helping her sneak cats into Trifolim Palace.
[Countess] "Remember: no one must know."
[Count] "Of course, my lady. Um, but......"
His cheeks turned pink.
[Countess] "What is it?"
[Count] "The kiss we promised...... may I?"
The Countess arched an eyebrow. The Count immediately waved his hands in a panic.
[Count] "N-no! Forget it! I forgot my place! It's fine, truly!"
[Countess] "......Hmph."
She looked down at the necklace resting against her cleavage.
[Countess] "Well, you are trying your best. Do this favor for me, and I’ll consider it."
[Count] "Oh! My lady!"
He collapsed to his knees by the bed, weeping with joy.
[Count] "I am the luckiest man alive!"
[Countess] "I’m sure you are."
A seductive smile touched her lips.
[Countess] "His Highness should know such happiness soon, as well."
The Count, caught in his own bliss, barely caught the mention of the Prince.
[Count] "My lady......?"
[Countess] "Oh. It slipped out."
She lifted a leg from beneath her silk gown. The fabric slid away to reveal a flawless, porcelain foot. She used her toes to lift the Count’s chin.
[Countess] "Forget I said it."
[Count] "My lady......"
His eyes glazed over. He looked like a man who wanted nothing more than to worship the foot before him.
[Countess] "You have to be a good boy if you want to touch me. Don't you?"
He nodded frantically. Satisfied, she withdrew her foot.
[Countess] "Go. Do as I commanded."
[Count] "Yes, my lady!"
The Count sprinted out as if he were on a holy mission.
The Countess wiped her foot where his skin had touched it, then stood and let her dress fall to the floor.
Walking with the lithe grace of a predator, she chose a new gown. She flicked her fingers, and the dress rose into the air, wrapping itself around her naked body.
She was no ordinary human.
[Countess] "Once that pathetic little half-witch finishes the antidote......"
She looked into the full-length mirror and smiled so sweetly it could rot the world.
[Countess] "Then, the Crown Prince will be mine."
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