TWFLLYM Ch 52

Look Only at Me (1)

Roserikta ignored the Black Witch's taunt. Instead, she studied Count Gibero on the bed.

The Count would not last three days. Death was a certainty once the Black Witch targeted a soul. The only question was the timing.

The man before her looked nothing like the person she saw yesterday. Overnight, his life force vanished, leaving only skin and bone. Over half of his grey hair had fallen out, making his scalp resemble a winter wheat field after a poor harvest.

This is too strange. Anyone would find this suspicious.

A disease that turned a man into a living corpse in a single day was unheard of. Roserikta expected a witch who had lived in hiding for years to be more careful. Yet, this woman openly drained his life.

Did she have a reason? Roserikta glanced at Kalart's profile.

Is it because of him?

Perhaps the witch decided to kill her husband quickly because his existence hindered her pursuit of the Prince.

Roserikta didn't know the witch acted out of desperation to heal an old wound from a Versaryl witch. She only sensed a frantic urgency in the woman's actions.

The thought of Kalart being the reason soured her mood. It felt as though the Black Witch had stolen something precious from her.

It feels awful. No, my heart aches.'

Kalart sensed her gaze and turned his head to meet her eyes. At that moment, a voice intervened.

[Countess] "Tell me. What can you do for a dying human?"

Her smooth, beautiful voice slithered between them like a snake.

[Countess] "No medicine works at this stage. Or do you plan to sprinkle some of your glittering powder?"

[Roserikta] "......!"

Roserikta's eyes widened. "Glittering powder" referred to the Axaca powder used by the witches of Versaryl. The Black Witch knew exactly who she was.

How did she realize it?

Recognizing a witch by the moon's energy was one thing, but knowing she came from Versaryl was another.

Only one conclusion remained: the Black Witch had been watching her. Perhaps through a white cat or some other familiar.

I can't let my guard down for a second. She might already know about the love potion.

[Countess] "Why no answer?"

[Roserikta] "His complexion is grave."

She chose her words with care. She faced a witch of unknown power while her own secrets lay exposed. A single mistake meant total failure.

[Roserikta] "I regret to say the Count has little time left. I have never heard of a disease that progresses this fast in one day. Did he have a pre-existing condition?"

[Countess] "Are you asking me? I know nothing about it."

[Roserikta] "......"

She expected the denial. The witch could hardly admit she spent the night feasting on his life.

[Roserikta] "Then I can't provide a cure. I don't know the nature of the illness."

[Countess] "Then stop lingering and leave."

[Roserikta] "I can at least ease his pain."

She still had the sleeping draught she gave to Eaton last night. It was a potent sedative. With a few extra ingredients, it functioned as a strong painkiller.

[Roserikta] "He will pass peacefully, as if dreaming. If you allow it, I wish to prepare a painkiller for him."

She addressed Kalart, not the Countess. It was a clever move. By putting the choice in Kalart's hands, she robbed the Countess of the chance to refuse.

[Kalart] "I should be the one asking for your help, not the other way around. Do as you wish."

[Roserikta] "Thank you, Your Highness. I have one request."

[Kalart] "Speak."

[Roserikta] "I need materials for the medicine. I have nothing with me, so I must visit my pharmacy. It is closer than the Imperial Palace. It won't take long."

[Kalart] "The pharmacy......?"

His face twisted.

[Roserikta] "Yes, Your Highness."

[Kalart] "......"

He remained silent. His thoughts locked his jaw tight.

To be honest, he had been in a wonderful mood until a moment ago. He saw Roserikta's face turn pale when she entered the room. Her eyes had fixed on his hand—the hand that held the Countess' fingers just a second longer than necessary before he pulled away.

For whatever reason, Roserikta clearly hated seeing him touch another woman. It mirrored his own irritation when Arad showed off his muscles to her.

He had released the Countess' hand slowly on purpose. Roserikta watched and bit her lip.

If we were alone, I would offer my own lips for her to bite instead.

But his good mood vanished instantly. He understood her need for materials, but the idea of her leaving his side felt wrong.

Despite his own lack of emotion regarding the Count's death, her dedication to a hopeless patient moved him.

He was weak for this side of her—the warmth and kindness she offered the suffering. He imagined that even if he approached her broken and ruined, she would clean his wounds with that same gentle face.

Yet, that kindness triggered a savage desire within him. He wanted her compassion for himself alone. He wanted to be her only patient.

You don't need to heal anyone else. You don't need to look at anyone else. If you need a patient, I will stay wounded for the rest of my life. Just look at me.

Fortunately, he knew these thoughts were insane. He didn't say them aloud. He was still controlling himself. He could even tolerate her helping Eaton or others, as it was the very trait he loved about her.

But now, she wanted to leave him. For a stranger she didn't even know before the carriage broke.

[Kalart] "......"

His lips twitched. This was different from treating a patient. The destination—the pharmacy—disturbed him. It was the place she truly belonged. She was only here because he used her "crime" as an excuse to keep her.

To his ears, her request to visit her home sounded like a desire to leave him forever.

[Kalart] "Treating the Count is fine. Use whatever medicine you need. But I will not allow you to go to the pharmacy."

His voice turned cold as he tried to hide his unease. He surprised himself with the harshness of his tone.

Roserikta blinked, her lips parting in shock. Because his vision blurred her features, he sharpened his other senses to read her.

Is she angry because I was cold? Because I refused a simple request?

[Roserikta] "May I ask why? Why do you refuse?"

Her voice dropped an octave. Kalart had grown used to the music of her speech—the high notes of excitement, the low tones of calm, the tremors of laughter. He memorized every variation. The current drop in her voice carried confusion and worry.

He felt like a villain. His own mood sank.

I don't want to ruin your mood. I love the sound of your voice when you are happy. If you knew how beautiful your laughter sounds to me, you would forgive me.

Damn it. But you can't leave me. I won't allow it.

[Kalart] "You seem to have forgotten your situation. Don't think you can move about as you please."

[Roserikta] "......"

She bit her lip again. It looked painful now.

[Roserikta] "I can't make the medicine without going to the pharmacy, Your Highness."

[Kalart] "Make it with what you find here. You did the same for Eaton."

[Roserikta] "This is different. I need different ingredients."

[Kalart] "So, you insist on going?"

[Roserikta] "I won't sit by while someone suffers. I beg for your permission, Your Highness."

[Kalart] "What if I refuse?"

Kalart stepped forward, his boots thumping heavily on the floor. Her face seemed to crumple as the distance closed. It mirrored his own internal state, and he hated it.

No, I hate that I am the one making her look that way.

[Roserikta] "If you fear I will run away, you have no reason to worry. I only want the ingredients. I will be back quickly."

[Kalart] "The time doesn't matter. I will not allow it, regardless."

[Roserikta] "Your Highness, why......?"

Unable to understand his refusal, she gestured toward the Count on the bed.

[Roserikta] "Can't you see how much pain he is in?"

[Kalart] "I can't. To my eyes, a face in pain and a face smiling look the same. I only know he suffers if he screams."

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

That was the reason for his indifference. If he judged the world by what he saw, he would go mad. It was easier to feel nothing. His coldness was a defense mechanism for survival in a distorted world.

[Roserikta] "But Your Highness, just because you can't see it doesn't mean the patient isn't suffering."

[Kalart] "Do you think I don't know that? I may not feel it, but I have been taught. I know a Crown Prince should pretend to be merciful in moments like this. I know, but I still refuse."

[Roserikta] "Why......?"

[Kalart] "Because you don't understand."

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

He felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he looked at her confused face.

[Kalart] "You don't understand why I hate the thought of you leaving my side."

[Roserikta] "......?"

[Kalart] "If you must have those ingredients, send someone else. I will allow that. But you are not going."

[Roserikta] "......"

She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. Her eyebrows knitted together. She clearly didn't understand a word he was saying.

Kalart gave a sharp, pained smile.

Why don't you know? I have never hidden my feelings from you. Why are you always standing there—in that place where you claim to know nothing of me?

[Countess] "Just let her go."

The Countess' voice cut through the tension. Her eyes were sharp, and her face flushed with hidden rage.

[Countess] "It's just medicine. It doesn't matter if we have it or not. Send her away already."

The moment the Countess spoke, Kalart spun around. His body blocked Roserikta from the woman's sight. He stood like a shield before her.

[Kalart] "Don't interfere. I am speaking with my person."

[Countess] "Your person?"

[Kalart] "There is a limit to my patience for your behavior, regardless of your rank. Hold your tongue and step back."

[Countess] "Ha. Are you speaking to me like that, Your Highness?"

[Kalart] "If you have ears, you heard me."

Her hand trembled with shock.

[Countess] "You can't do this. No, you can't do this to me. How could you......"

[Kalart] "I can. I am the Crown Prince, and you have no right to be rude to me."

[Countess] "How......"

The sound of grinding teeth filled the air. This was likely the first time the Black Witch had ever been spoken to this way by a human man.

Roserikta looked between Kalart and the Countess in total shock.

What is happening? What is going on?

The Countess glared at her with eyes like cold blades. It made Roserikta's skin crawl. She felt a sudden urge to hide behind Kalart's back.

She paused, confused by her own instinct.

Wait. Is this right? He was just smiling and holding another woman's hand a moment ago.

Why does he feel so reliable now? This is really strange.