TWFLLYM Ch 45

The Moment a Lie Is Needed (1)

[Crow] "This is a frightening matter. If a black witch lives here, she will surely bring harm to our forest soon."

She asked a question.

[Roserikta] "Has anything happened before? Anything that might reveal a black witch?"

[Crow] "No. Nothing unusual caught our attention. It is possible, perhaps she only arrived here recently."

If a black witch used magic to stay young forever, she had to move constantly to avoid suspicion.

[Roserikta] "That makes sense. Tell everyone to be careful. A black witch doesn't just hide quietly and then vanish."

[Crow] "I agree. We can't rely on guesses. I will seek help from my kin to track her past. We must know her previous deeds to predict her next move."

[Roserikta] "That is a great idea. If you learn anything, will you tell me?"

The crow nodded with dignity.

[Crow] "Of course. Witches belong to the forest kin. In times of crisis, we must act as one."

[Roserikta] "Thank you. Also, one more thing."

She had another request. She needed him to deliver a letter to Lady Elona to obtain the moonstone.

[Roserikta] "Please handle this. It is for the stone."

[Crow] "I will do my best. I should hurry."

[Roserikta] "Yes. Staying here too long invites trouble."

She handed over the small, rolled parchment and bowed politely to the crow.

[Roserikta] "May this friendship last forever under the moonlight."

[Crow] "May care keep it from ever rusting."

The crow took the letter in his beak and took flight. His massive wings spread wide, and he quickly vanished into the distant sky.

[Clobell] "That is a relief. Having the Great Crow on our side feels good. He even brought an eagle earlier. He is a powerful bird."

[Roserikta] "He is."

She felt glad, yet a weight pressed on her chest.

[Roserikta] "But I used all the Axaca powder. I can't use magic without it. It feels like I lost my weapons."

[Clobell] "Yikes. That is a problem. Do you have any left at the pharmacy?"

[Roserikta] "There is some at the shop. I need to go back for it. The problem is how to get there."

Timing was an issue as well. Even if a path existed, she couldn't leave now. She refused to leave Kalart alone with a woman who was clearly a black witch.

[Roserikta] "What should I do?"

[Clobell] "Can't you just tell him? We are suffering just to break his curse. He would be grateful and help us."

Roserikta's face turned serious.

[Roserikta] "Absolutely not. I would have to reveal that I am a witch. Who would believe a normal person recognized a black witch?"

[Clobell] "Ah. I see your point."

[Roserikta] "Yes."

That was the problem. A dangerous presence stood right beside Kalart, but she couldn't speak the truth plainly.

She sighed.

[Roserikta] "No broom, no powder. I have to face a black witch with my hands tied. This is so unfair."

Clobellina's fur stood on end as the gravity of the situation hit her.

[Clobell] "Should we run away now? Honestly, I would understand if you fled."

Of course, Roserikta had no intention of running. She would do whatever it took to keep Kalart safe.

[Roserikta] "I will find a way."

She clenched her fists.

[Roserikta] "It's fine. I even created a cure for that dangerous love potion. My grandmother's recipe helped, so only half the credit is mine, but I am still a capable witch. I can break a curse made of black magic."

[Clobell] "Are you sure?"

Clobellina shook her head, looking doubtful.

[Roserikta] "Clobell. Don't drain my energy like that. I am being very serious."

[Clobell] "I know. I wouldn't joke with a black witch around."

[Roserikta] "Good."

[Clobell] "But I still worry."

[Roserikta] "Worrying helps nothing."

She brushed off her skirt as if dusting away useless thoughts.

[Roserikta] "Let's go back to the room and think. We need to get back before Sir Eaton notices we are gone."

[Clobell] "Right. The Captain will lose his mind if he finds out."

[Roserikta] "I agree."

Roserikta and Clobellina crept down to the fourth floor.

---

An unexpected scene met them. Chaos swirled in front of her door. The Royal Guard looked frantic, and Eaton's face was white with shock.

[Roserikta] "Oh no. We were caught."

[Clobell] "Oops. What now? Let's say we went to the bathroom."

[Roserikta] "Hmm...... that won't work. They barred the door. Acting like I just went to the bathroom will only make us more suspicious."

[Clobell] "Right. I forgot that."

Roserikta didn't feel guilty about escaping. The fault lay with Eaton, who had locked her up without explanation the moment they arrived at this strange castle.

[Roserikta] "But if they make an issue of it, it will be annoying. If they move me from a room to a prison, I'm stuck. Especially without a single grain of powder."

[Clobell] "Exactly. So what do we do?"

They hid to observe the situation.

Eaton wasn't just panicked because Roserikta was gone. He had followed the Countess' orders to lock her up. She expected to win Kalart easily, after which Roserikta wouldn't matter.

But the plan failed. After leaving the Countess' room, Kalart immediately sought his cat and the maid. The guards tasked with finding her were confused when Eaton admitted she had "escaped." He insisted he had been guarding the door the entire time.

[Guard] "Captain. Did the Prince order you to lock her up?"

This was news to the guards. Before arriving at the Gibero estate, the Prince and the maid seemed very close. Everyone knew they had traveled together in the carriage.

Eaton remained silent.

[Guard] "Why aren't you answering? Did you lock her up without orders? Why would you do that?"

Eaton still couldn't speak.

Roserikta noticed his extreme distress. Listening to the conversation, she began to understand his plight. She whispered to Clobellina.

[Roserikta] "Something is wrong, isn't it?"

[Clobell] "What?"

[Roserikta] "The Captain's behavior."

[Clobell] "He has been weird since the start. Why lock up innocent people?"

[Roserikta] "It wasn't his choice."

[Clobell] "What do you mean?"

[Roserikta] "If he was involved in the carriage accident, he must be working with someone in this house. But the Captain is incredibly loyal. Would such a man plan an accident that could hurt the Prince? Even now, he could just lie. He could say he never locked us up or that the Prince ordered it. But he is speechless."

[Clobell] "Maybe he is just bad at lying?"

[Roserikta] "Exactly. Why would such a man commit a crime he can't even cover up? Anyone would notice this clumsiness."

[Clobell] "Maybe because he's the boss and thinks no one will talk back?"

[Roserikta] "I don't think so."

Roserikta was right. As Eaton stood there with a tight jaw, Arad and the other knights pressed him.

[Arad] "Captain. Speak. Did she do something wrong?"

[Eaton] "No, she......"

[Arad] "Then why lock her up? Without orders? Without telling the Prince?"

[Eaton] "Because...... the Countess wanted it......"

[Arad] "Captain!"

The mention of the Countess turned the air to ice.

A Royal Guard Captain couldn't say such things. Their duty was to protect the Imperial Family alone. They obeyed no one else. Following the orders of a noble over the Prince was an act of treason.

[Arad] "What are you saying? Please don't tell me you put the Countess' wishes above the Prince's. I want to believe you didn't mean that."

Eaton looked beyond panicked—he looked lost.

[Eaton] "My priority is loyalty to the Prince...... but if the Countess wants it, I must follow."

[Arad] "Captain!"

She couldn't stay hidden any longer. She nodded to Clobellina.

[Roserikta] "I know what happened."

[Clobell] "What?"

[Roserikta] "The Captain is under a black magic spell."

Eaton's confusion came from the collision between his unshakable loyalty and a powerful dark spell he couldn't defeat.

[Clobell] "Is that why he locked us up?"

[Roserikta] "The Countess clearly doesn't want us near the Prince."

[Clobell] "Yikes. Then what? Will he keep trying to lock us up?"

[Roserikta] "That will be hard now. The other knights caught him."

The atmosphere darkened. As Eaton continued to mention the Countess, Arad drew his sword.

[Arad] "Captain, please. Deny what you just said. If you don't, we must follow regulations, arrest you, and report you to the High Judge. I ask again. Did you follow the Countess' will instead of the Prince's and lock up his favorite maid without cause?"

[Eaton] "I...... I......"

His pupils shook. Another knight stepped in to stop Arad.

[Knight] "Wait. We should find the maid first. If she really escaped on her own, the Prince......"

[Arad] "Then find her. But we can't delay reporting him. A change of heart in the Captain of the Guard is the greatest threat to the Empire."

Arad raised his sword.

[Arad] "I will count to three, Captain. Answer before I finish. One."

[Eaton] "I, I......"

[Arad] "Two."

[Eaton] "The Prince...... as the Countess wishes......"

[Arad] "Three."

[Eaton] "The Countess......"

Three passed too quickly. Arad closed his eyes and leveled his blade.

[Arad] "Captain. Hand over your sword. Tie him up. Someone go inform the Prince."

Clobellina tapped Roserikta with her tail.

[Clobell] "Are we safe if they take him? ......Hey, where are you going?"

Roserikta walked toward the guards and Eaton.

This wasn't right. She couldn't watch this happen. Even if Eaton had become dangerous under the spell, she couldn't leave him to this fate. Treason was the highest crime.

She had once fed the Prince a mysterious potion and faced the same risk. Kalart had wiped the slate clean for her, but Eaton wouldn't be so lucky. Too many people knew, and no one would believe black magic caused his betrayal.

A prison cell and a trial would be the end of him.

[Roserikta] "Oh? What is everyone doing here?"

She kept her voice steady and acted naturally.

[Guard] "What......? Where did you come from?"

The guards were shocked. So was Eaton. Roserikta glanced at him, then looked at Arad and told a lie—a lie with the kindest intentions.

[Roserikta] "I just came from the bathroom. Why are you all at my door? Did the Prince send you?"

[Arad] "The bathroom? Is that true?"

[Roserikta] "Yes. Clobell needed to go. Cats must use the litter box at least once a day."

Clobellina snorted in disbelief.

[Clobell] "Meow? Why blame me? Don't humans poop, too?"

Roserikta didn't feel sorry. Human etiquette often avoided certain topics, and Clobell was a smart enough cat to understand that.

That's how it works, Clobell. Witches and cats help each other.

Arad still looked confused.

[Arad] "How did you leave the room? The door should have been locked."