TWFLLYM Ch 56

Change of Heart (1)

[Knight] "Ahem."

An awkward cough echoed through the small, ancient kitchen of Versaryl Pharmacy.

The knight, having followed them inside, felt like a clumsy intruder.

Before the old but tidy hearth, Kalart and Roserikta stood side by side, brewing tea. Though she could have managed alone, he insisted on helping.

When she turned toward the cupboard, he reached up and handed her the honey jar. Whenever she forgot her injured throat and tried to speak, he gently pressed his finger to her lips as a reminder.

The domestic scene felt strangely right.

Kalart had likely never seen a hearth before today, and this was certainly his first time in a kitchen. Yet, he moved with a natural grace, finding ways to make himself useful.

Whenever their bodies brushed or their eyes met, his usually stoic expression softened into something tender.

Each time a faint, barely visible smile touched his lips, her eyelashes fluttered.

Watching them was like admiring a painting of a peaceful afternoon. The knight felt so excluded from the picture that his embarrassment grew by the minute.

Just moments ago, he had burned with a mission to protect the Prince from a wicked witch. Now, in this tranquil atmosphere, he wondered what exactly he was supposed to be guarding against.

[Roserikta] "The water is boil—"

[Kalart] "Ah, leave it. I will do it."

He took the thick cloth from her hand.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness, this kind of work—"

[Kalart] "I told you not to speak."

He lifted the heavy kettle and filled the teapot.

[Kalart] "Am I doing this correctly?"

[Roserikta] "......"

She nodded.

She watched the man, who had likely never lifted a kettle in his life, move his hands with surprising skill, not spilling a single drop.

She felt a bit foolish for worrying he might burn himself. He wasn't a child, after all.

Still, the honor felt overwhelming. Why was he so determined to help brew her tea?

[Kalart] "I can't make medicine."

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

She stared at him, startled. He had spoken as if he could read her mind.

[Kalart] "You are hurt, and I have no skills in your craft. I only want to do something for you."

He spoke casually, but the sweetness of his words hung in the air.

He carried the full teapot to the table, where the cups and honey jar already waited.

[Kalart] "What else should I do?"

She shook her head, signaling they were finished.

He pulled out a chair for her.

[Kalart] "Sit, then."

[Roserikta] "......"

The sense of honor doubled.

As soon as she sat, Kalart gently pushed the chair toward the table. Keeping one hand on the wooden backrest, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

His actions were so natural that her shock was delayed. He acted like a lover enjoying a daily afternoon tea.

I can't understand this man. He makes all my resolutions useless.

His kindness made lying difficult. How could she look into those affectionate eyes and tell a lie?

[Kalart] "Is this enough honey?"

She had been lost in thought and realized he had taken over the preparation entirely. Seeing him about to pour the honey, she cried out in alarm.

[Roserikta] "That is too much!"

Her raspy, broken voice rang out loudly. At the same time—

Thud!

He flinched, losing his grip on the jar. The honey jar hit the table and shattered, sending a thick, golden pool spreading across the wood.

[Knight] "Your Highness!"

The knight rushed over. Roserikta and Kalart both sat frozen.

[Kalart] "......Ah, it's fine. I am not hurt."

[Knight] "Please step away, Your Highness. I will clean this up."

[Kalart] "There is no need. I can handle it."

[Knight] "No, Your Highness. Why must you do such things yourself? Leave it to me."

While the two men argued, Roserikta quickly cleared away the broken pieces.

[Kalart] "Don't touch—!"

Kalart tried to stop her, but she was already wiping the table with a cloth. She finished the task and nodded to show it was done.

[Kalart] "......Oh dear."

Fortunately, the teacups were unharmed. Roserikta went to the cupboard and brought out a fresh jar of honey. Her movements were swift and practiced as she transferred some into a smaller dish. Looking at the clean table, it was as if nothing had happened.

[Kalart] "I am sorry. I made a mistake."

[Roserikta] "It is fine, Your Highness."

Strangely, her throat continued to sting.

[Roserikta] "......"

She touched her neck and looked at Kalart. His expression had changed. The warm smile that had brightened his face while he lingered by the hearth had vanished without a trace.

Why does he seem different now?

His stiff expression sent a wave of unease through her.

Is it because my voice sounds different?

He had always liked her voice. That was why he treated her as someone special.

Ah. Will he treat me like everyone else now?

Instead of speaking, she used a spoon to stir honey into the tea. The sweetness dissolved into the hot water.

She pushed a cup toward Kalart and took a sip of her own.

The honeyed tea should have been delicious, but she tasted nothing. It felt as though someone had tied a heavy stone to her heart.

I knew this was fake.

She reminded herself. She had told herself dozens of times that his affection was just a lingering effect of the potion. She knew that once the curse broke, he would forget her. He would become a normal man and fall in love with a beautiful, noble lady fit for a Prince. She already knew all of this.

Then why did her heart hurt? Why did the pain feel deeper than the injury in her throat?

His face also darkened as he watched her.

[Kalart] "Are you in pain?"

[Roserikta] "......"

She shook her head. The words to say she was fine remained stuck in her throat. It felt as though her voice had been stolen.

[Kalart] "It seems worse than I thought."

[Roserikta] "......Yes."

Reality is so different from my expectations. I didn't know it would be like this. I thought I would be fine.

But she wasn't.

[Kalart] "Is there really no medicine? Will you never recover without it?"

No, I can recover. I have the magic powder.

But even if her voice returned and he smiled again, she wouldn't be able to look at that smile with the same heart.

She forced herself to shake her head.

[Roserikta] "I will heal. When the time comes."

Kalart frowned at her, his face looking more angry than stoic.

[Kalart] "I......"

Just then, a loud thumping noise erupted from outside the kitchen window.

As Kalart turned toward the sound, the commotion moved quickly and stopped at the pharmacy door.

Bang! Bang-bang!

[Gren] "Your Highness! Are you inside?"

The breathless voice sounded familiar. The knight turned to Kalart.

[Knight] "That is Gren, Your Highness. Something must have happened at the estate."

Gren was one of the guards who had stayed behind at the Gibero mansion.

[Kalart] "Go see."

[Knight] "Yes, Your Highness."

The knight ran to the door.

Moments later, a sweating Gren entered the kitchen, the scent of tea still hanging in the air. He brought news so shocking it was hard to believe.

[Gren] "Your Highness! Count Gibero is dead!"

---

After the Prince and Roserikta left for the medicine, a strange atmosphere had settled over the estate. It was subtle and hard to define, but something had shifted.

First, the Count’s condition worsened rapidly. He was already dying, but the change became visible. His hair fell out in clumps, and his weight dropped so fast that one could count his ribs and vertebrae with the naked eye.

The sight was so horrifying that everyone lost their appetite. The air grew heavy, and a strange lethargy took hold. No one wanted to do anything; no thoughts entered their minds. They were trapped in a sea of listlessness.

When the Count finally died, people felt no sadness—only a sense of the inevitable.

They had to inform the Prince. His trip was for the Count's sake, and the guards wouldn't let him waste his effort.

[Gren] "We drew straws to see who would come. I was the lucky winner, Your Highness."

In truth, everyone’s limbs felt so heavy that they had to resort to a lottery. Gren had forced himself to leave the estate. Remarkably, once he crossed the threshold, his mind began to clear.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, he had ridden like a madman.

Gren gulped down the water Roserikta offered and took a breath. He complained that his legs felt like they were falling off after the ride.

[Kalart] "The Count’s death is a pity, though expected. Since he died during my official stay, I must attend the funeral. Someone must go to the palace."

Whenever royalty left the palace, everything became complicated. As Kalart said, a death during a royal visit required their attendance and a formal statement from the Imperial family.

[Gren] "Ah, I forgot about that tradition. Then I will...... wait."

He stared at his empty cup.

[Gren] "Now that I think about it, why was there no mention of a funeral after the Count died?"

The Countess should have been leading the arrangements. But Gren realized he hadn't seen the widow since the Count passed away.

[Kalart] "What did they do with the body?"

[Gren] "I apologize, Your Highness, but I don't know. The guards didn't move it, so perhaps someone in the house......"

Gren tilted his head, looking confused. While at the estate, no one had even thought about the funeral.

[Kalart] "Surely there are servants to handle house matters."

[Gren] "Well, that is just it. I don't recall seeing any servants since we first arrived, Your Highness."

It was bizarre. No one had stopped to think it was strange that such a massive estate appeared empty of staff.

[Kalart] "Interesting. Is there something in that house that eats away at one's mind?"

Kalart mused to himself, but Roserikta believed it was a real possibility.

She is a Black Witch. That house must be under various spells.

The windows were covered, and the halls were filled with suspicious statues. The rooms were empty and cold. To keep the magic stable, there must have been a spell to dull the senses of those inside.

The Count’s body might already be a skeleton in a box, and no one would even notice.

They would all lose their minds if they stayed there any longer. They had to go back immediately.

Roserikta removed the apron she had worn while brewing tea.

[Roserikta] "We must go back. If you wait a moment, I will pack my things quickly—"

Kalart and the knight cut her off at the same time.

[Gren] "Wait, what happened to your voice?"

[Kalart] "No. You don't need to go."

[Roserikta] "Pardon, Your Highness?"

The other knight quickly yanked Gren’s cloak to keep him quiet.

The sound of Roserikta’s sharp intake of breath filled the silence.

[Roserikta] "Why shouldn't I......"

[Kalart] "The Count is dead, so he doesn't need medicine. There is no reason for you to make the trip. Stay here."

[Roserikta] "I can't do that......"

Shock stole her words.

Just as his expression had shifted earlier, Kalart’s attitude had completely changed.

This was the man who had insisted on accompanying her because he couldn't stand to be apart for half a day.

This was the man who used punishment as an excuse to keep her by his side.

Now, he was saying the exact opposite.