TWFLLYM Ch 39

Black and White (1)

[Clobell] "My mood is sour. This tastes like betrayal."

The return trip carried the same passengers: one human and two cats.

The white cat remained silent inside its lidded basket, just as it had during the arrival. However, the moment the carriage door clicked shut, Clobell spoke up to seize the initiative.

[Clobell] "Isn't this ridiculous? The roles of host and guest have flipped entirely."

[Roserikta] "What has?"

Roserikta settled into her seat, smoothing the fabric of her skirt before looking at Clobellina.

[Clobell] "Look at him. No matter what medicine the creature fed him, I was his first love. Now he ignores our history. Wow, how can love be so fickle?"

Roserikta let out a short snort.

[Roserikta] "Clobell."

[Clobell] "Why use that tone? You'll frighten a cat."

[Roserikta] "You should be frightened. Come here. Lie down. You need a scolding."

She twitched her tail and retreated, letting out a thin whine.

[Clobell] "Meow... No, wait...... Wow, this is unfair. Shouldn't you ask what happened first?"

[Roserikta] "Unfair? Is that all you have to say? I thought something terrible happened to you."

I cried while clinging to him, certain that an accident had occurred. And then we kissed...... No, I must stop thinking about that.

[Roserikta] "Regardless, this is your fault."

[Clobell] "I don't know what happened. You know me. Do I go around scavenging for food like a glutton? Only street cats do that."

To be fair, she lived on the streets once and still possessed those habits. Roserikta had even installed a large lock on the kitchen cupboard for that very reason.

[Roserikta] "Clobell."

Seeing that Roserikta would not back down, Clobellina shook her head vigorously.

[Clobell] "It's the truth! How would I know where the storage room is in a castle this massive? I'm telling the truth, I swear."

[Roserikta] "Then why were you there?"

[Clobell] "I don't know! I...... you said you were returning the clothes, so I just lay on the bed to take a nap. But......"

Here, her memory grew fuzzy. Clobellina tilted her head, trying to recall the events before she opened her eyes.

[Clobell] "Something smelled delicious while I slept. I think I followed the scent while half-asleep...... maybe?"

[Roserikta] "Then you went there on your own feet."

[Clobell] "Wait! Stop! Am I a dog?"

Roserikta narrowed her eyes.

[Roserikta] "What does that mean?"

[Clobell] "Cats have good noses, sure. But think. I fell asleep in the bedroom. Could I really smell food from a storage room that far away?"

[Roserikta] "Hmm?"

Roserikta's expression shifted. Detecting the change, Clobellina nodded her head repeatedly.

[Clobell] "I told you. This is very unfair."

[Roserikta] "Hmm......"

If Clobellina spoke the truth, the situation was indeed strange. Most importantly, the distance between the bedroom and the storage room was vast.

The bedroom sat on the third floor of the East Wing, while the storage room occupied the basement of the West Wing.

Even a human would need over ten minutes to walk that distance. Clobellina, who knew they were about to leave, would not wander that far just for a snack.

Furthermore, another detail made no sense.

[Roserikta] "Clobell. You said you fell asleep in the bedroom, right? And you have no memory of going to the storage room."

[Clobell] "That's right."

[Roserikta] "That means someone moved you while you slept."

[Clobell] "Exactly."

[Roserikta] "And you never woke up?"

[Clobell] "Huh?"

No animal possessed hearing as sensitive as a cat. While they could sleep anywhere, they woke at the slightest sound or presence. Clobellina was no exception.

[Clobell] "You're right. That shouldn't be possible."

[Roserikta] "Was your sleep really that deep?"

[Clobell] "Impossible. You said you'd be back soon."

[Roserikta] "I agree."

Her brow furrowed as she turned serious.

[Roserikta] "Then falling asleep in the first place was strange. Think, Clobell. Did anything odd happen before you drifted off?"

[Clobell] "Something odd...... something odd...... Let me see...... Ah!"

Her eyes widened. She tapped the carriage seat with her tail.

[Roserikta] "What is it, Clobell?"

[Clobell] "That thing moved!"

[Roserikta] "That thing?"

She kicked the basket containing the white cat with her front paw.

[Clobell] "Hey! Get out of here! What did you do to me?"

Her behavior was so aggressive that Roserikta had to pull her back.

[Roserikta] "Wait, Clobell. Calm down and talk to me. What did the white cat do?"

[Clobell] "Let me go. I told you this creature was suspicious. I saw it move from its cushion right before I fell asleep."

Thump! Thump!

Even as Roserikta held her, the kicking continued. The white cat inside the basket remained silent, as usual.

[Roserikta] "Clobell, stop bullying it. How exactly did it move?"

[Clobell] "It dragged its long fur toward me and...... our eyes met! Then I......"

[Roserikta] "Then you?"

Unfortunately, her memory ended there.

[Clobell] "I don't know after that. I think I fell asleep?"

[Roserikta] "Hmm...... then you aren't certain. You might have just seen it while you were drowsy."

[Clobell] "No! This creature is strange!"

Thump!

She kicked the basket with all her strength. Her chubby paws looked soft, but her kicks actually carried quite a sting. Roserikta hurried to scoop her into her arms.

[Roserikta] "Clobell. Just wait. I understand you think it's strange, but you have no proof."

[Clobell] "Ugh! Why are you so soft-hearted!"

Held tight, she meowed in frustration. At that moment, Kalart approached the window.

[Kalart] "Clobell seems angry."

[Roserikta] "Ah, Your Highness......"

He sat tall on his horse, pulling the reins to slow his pace with effortless grace.

The sight dazzled her. By reflex, Roserikta's cheeks flushed pink as she met his gaze.

It's because of the kiss. It wasn't planned.

Until the day before, she had prepared herself mentally, so she could pretend to be fine. But what happened in the basement...…

Oh, what do I do? I need more time. Time to prepare to forget.

Kalart stared at the blush on her cheeks as if he wanted to reach out and touch it.

[Kalart] "Did you finish the scolding?"

[Roserikta] "No. There is room for interpretation."

[Kalart] "Room for interpretation?"

[Roserikta] "Clobell says she is innocent. She claims she didn't do it on purpose."

He gave a strange smile and shook his head.

[Kalart] "Fascinating. You speak as if Clobell is a person. Can you actually converse with her?"

[Roserikta] "Oh......"

She realized she had lowered her guard too much around the Crown Prince.

A suspicious pharmacist who talked to a black cat looked exactly like a typical witch. If she nodded now, she would basically be confessing.

I must be careful. Extremely careful.

Did I already forget? This man saw me take Clobell away on the night of the banquet.

That alone invited enough suspicion. She didn't need to add more.

[Roserikta] "Clobell is very clever. When I scold her for something she actually did, she usually takes it quietly. But......"

[Kalart] "When she is innocent, she resists. Like now."

[Roserikta] "Yes, Your Highness."

Whether he believed her or not, he changed the subject without further comment.

[Kalart] "Are you finished talking with her?"

[Roserikta] "Yes, Your Highness."

[Kalart] "Then may I join you? I wish to spend the return journey with you."

Heat rushed to her cheeks, forcing her to fan herself with her hand.

This man...... he has developed a new habit. The habit of catching me off guard. This is dangerous.

[Roserikta] "Yes, Your Highness, you may enter. This carriage belongs to you, after all."

[Kalart] "Stop. I don't need a list of reasons. Your permission is enough."

Tap, tap.

He knocked lightly on the roof. On that signal, the driver stopped the carriage. Soon, he climbed inside.

The interior, which had felt hollow and spacious with one human and two cats, suddenly became a suffocatingly narrow space.

---

[Clobell] "Hmph......"

Thump, thump.

The sound of her tail hitting the seat grew louder. Her brow furrowed with clear disapproval.

[Kalart] "Clobell still seems angry."

Sitting beside her, Kalart tilted his head slightly as he spoke.

In the carriage designed for two people to face each other, the cats sat together on one side while the humans sat on the other. Given the size of the carriage, this arrangement was entirely unnecessary and illogical.

As a result, the cats had enough room to swing their tails without touching, while the humans bumped shoulders every time the carriage swayed.

Kalart sat back, casually crossing his long legs in the cramped space. Because of this, Roserikta found it difficult to even suggest moving to the opposite seat. To do so, he would have to uncross his legs, and asking such a favor from the Crown Prince felt daunting.

[Kalart] "Didn't you finish your talk?"

Because they sat so close, the fine hairs on her ears trembled every time he spoke. His low, whispering voice felt less like speech and more like a lingering, suggestive touch. Every time his breath brushed her skin, Roserikta felt as if he were stroking her with his hands.

Please, get a grip.

There was definitely a problem. The kiss in the basement was the source. Something had crossed a line in that moment. For him, and for her.

[Kalart] "I asked you a question."

He leaned in, filling the brief silence. His face was now even closer. If she turned her head without thinking, their lips would brush.

[Roserikta] "Ah, Your Highness. I was just thinking......"

[Kalart] "About what?"

[Roserikta] "......"

About you. About the meaning of that kiss. And the fact that we crossed a line.

Why don't you ask me anything? Anyone else would be curious and suspicious.

Why does the lust you show feel more like unconditional affection?

She couldn't say those things, so she simply stiffened her shoulders.

[Roserikta] "It was...... nothing important."

[Kalart] "I would prefer it if you were thinking of me."

Her heart skipped a beat. It felt as if he were reading her mind.

[Kalart] "I think of you so often it would shock others."

[Roserikta] "That......"

She looked down and fiddled with her skirt.

She only needed to say it wasn't true, but lying to the Crown Prince grew more difficult by the second.

I'm usually good at lying. I can do it without batting an eye. But I can't do it now.

[Roserikta] "I...... can't help but think about it. Since Your Highness is......"

[Kalart] "Since I am what?"

[Roserikta] "......Since you are sitting so close."

He paused for a moment, then laughed.

[Kalart] "In that case, I should stay even closer."

[Roserikta] "What?"

He wasn't joking. He moved even closer, pressing his body against hers. She was now practically pinned between the carriage wall and him.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness!"

[Kalart] "Think. Think of me more."

He grinned again, and her heart hammered against her ribs.

Fearing her heart might leap out of her mouth if she spoke, she instinctively covered her face with her hand.

[Kalart] "Ah, that is a problem."

[Roserikta] "......"

[Kalart] "It reminds me of our kiss yesterday."

With half her face hidden, her eyes darted around in panic.

Kalart watched her fluttering gaze, then slowly tilted his head and pressed his lips firmly against the back of the hand covering her mouth.

[Roserikta] "Ah......"

Her eyes stopped darting and went wide.

Kalart moved his lips against her skin, just as he had during their kiss. She watched the way his lips parted, the subtle movement of his tongue, and the way his jaw tightened, making his throat prominent.

What is this......?

She forgot to breathe.

Why is this so...... sensual?

[Clobell] "Look at these two."

Clobellina's voice snapped her back to reality just as she felt her resolve slipping—just as she almost pulled her hand away to wrap her arms around his neck.

[Clobell] "Tsk, tsk. This is a mess. If you like it that much, just do it. Why bother covering your mouth?"