TWFLLYM Ch 59

Money Is No Substitute for Love

[Arad] "Lady Elona."

He stroked her cheeks, his touch filled with regret.

[Arad] "Please understand that this involves the safety of the Crown Prince. I want to tell you everything."

She suddenly cut to the heart of the matter.

[Elona] "Hmm. Doesn't Roserikta already know?"

His eyes widened at the unexpected remark. Though he was startled, Elona loved his honesty. He could never hide a secret; his face revealed everything.

He wouldn't even be able to flirt with someone else. Everything shows from head to toe. I adore everything about him.

[Arad] "What? How...... how did you know? Did she tell you beforehand?"

[Elona] "I received a letter."

She pulled Roserikta’s letter from her apron pocket. The letter only contained a polite request for Moonstones due to an urgent situation. Yet, she linked Arad’s business to Roserikta because they had been in the same place with the same person.

One plus one equals two. Did he think I couldn't figure that out?

[Elona] "But one thing was odd. My room is on the third floor, right? Someone tapped on my window in the middle of the night. I almost fainted. When I opened the window, this letter lay there. I still don't know how it was delivered."

He patted her back to comfort her.

[Arad] "A crow probably delivered it. Since it's a black bird, it stayed hidden. Or perhaps it was a bat. You don't need to be afraid."

His tone was so natural that Elona almost nodded along. But a bird delivering letters was not natural at all.

[Elona] "Pardon? A crow? A bat?"

[Arad] "Yes. Ah, you really don't need to worry. They are both on our side. Oops!"

He finally realized his mistake and shut his mouth. But it was too late.

[Elona] "Sir! What are you saying? Crows and bats are on our side? Did you eat moldy bread at the estate? Are you seeing things?"

[Arad] "No, it's not that......"

[Elona] "This is terrible. No, no. There's no time. Sir, come with me to see the palace physician. Your sanity might still be intact. Good heavens!"

She grabbed his arm to pull him away, making Arad jump.

[Arad] "No, no! I am perfectly sane."

[Elona] "Don't lie! You are talking nonsense about crows. How is that sane?"

[Arad] "No! It’s not like that!"

[Elona] "They say crazy people don't know they are crazy. Don't worry about me. My love isn't weak enough to shake just because you are a bit unwell."

She bit her lip and made a vow.

It's okay. Mold poisoning is common. Though it causes madness, some people recover. It’s fine. He’s young and healthy. He’ll get better soon.'

But despite her resolve, tears filled her eyes.

[Elona] "It's okay, Sir. You can recover. Let's go to the physician."

[Arad] "No, Lady Elona."

He let out a sigh and wiped her tears with his thumb.

[Arad] "I didn't eat moldy bread. I am not delusional."

[Elona] "Then why talk about crow couriers!"

[Arad] "Because it’s the truth."

[Elona] "What?"

As she prepared to cry again at his deepening symptoms, Arad shook his head quickly. He had no choice. He had to tell her the truth. A knight must never make a lady cry.

[Arad] "The truth...... is actually this."

He steeled his heart and confessed the truth about the Countess and Roserikta.

---

[Elona] "Good heavens. My goodness."

She listened to Arad’s shocking story, losing track of time.

[Elona] "I don't know what to believe first. So Roserikta is a real witch, the Black Witch is the evil one, and she is the new wife of Count Gibero?"

Most shocking of all was the fact that the Crown Prince might be under a curse.

[Elona] "Mercy...... So that’s why His Highness ignored everyone all this time."

He watched her reaction nervously as she stood with her mouth agape.

[Arad] "Lady Elona. Considering the affection I’ve shown you, please don't misunderstand the cat-maid. She is a witch, but without her, we wouldn't have known about the Prince's curse. She only wants to help His Highness......"

[Elona] "What on earth are you talking about?"

Her voice grew sharp. Arad flinched and reached out to her.

If Elona misunderstood, it would be a disaster. He hadn't been fooled by a witch’s lies; he had joined forces with her to protect the Prince.

[Elona] "Misunderstand? Do you see me as such a petty person that I can't accept a friend?"

[Arad] "Pardon? No, I didn't mean......"

[Elona] "I know Roserikta is a good person. Well, a witch, I should say. Either way, she wouldn't do anything to harm the Prince. Above all, she is my dear friend."

[Arad] "Ah, is that what you meant? I thought......"

[Elona] "You sound as if you know her better than I do. I care for my friend more than you ever could."

He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

[Arad] "I am glad then, Lady Elona."

[Elona] "Well, I am still shocked. To think she told you first. I am the friend here."

Arad felt that Lady Elona cared more about her friendship with the cat-maid than the national crisis, but he felt relieved regardless.

[Elona] "Then, asking for the Moonstone is to face the Black Witch?"

[Arad] "Yes. I heard the Moonstone reveals her true form."

[Elona] "Oh my. Then I must tell them to hurry. I'll tell them to get the best quality, regardless of the cost."

[Arad] "If it’s about money, I have savings I can contribute, Lady Elona."

Elona, who was actually a wealthy daughter, cut off his offer immediately.

[Elona] "Don't even dream of it. Do you think I lack the money for a single gem? Tell her she doesn't need to pay."

[Arad] "I only meant that I wanted to help."

[Elona] "Give me other kinds of help, then. I have plenty of money."

Arad looked at her with admiration. Her generosity toward a witch surely came from her secure and wealthy mindset.

I certainly chose the right partner.

[Arad] "How can I help you?"

[Elona] "I can't leave the castle, so help my friend Roserikta. And...... do some heavy lifting."

Arad gripped his sword hilt. As the chief knight, he took great pride in his skill. He believed no one could match him except Eaton.

[Arad] "Understood, Lady Elona."

[Elona] "And kissing me like earlier would be a great help too."

His eyes lit up.

[Arad] "Like earlier?"

[Elona] "Yes. Lifting me like...... Oh."

Before she could finish, Arad grabbed her waist and lifted her. Elona closed her eyes sweetly and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Even with the Black Witch's threat looming, her lover felt incredibly reliable.

After receiving the letter from Elona, Arad left the palace for the jeweler.

---

His backside burned as if it might fall off. The knight suppressed a groan, measuring the remaining distance to the estate. He wanted to beg the Crown Prince to rest for ten minutes, but he endured for his honor.

Or he tried to.

[Knight] "Oh!"

The sound of movement behind him forced him to stop his horse. He turned and saw Eaton’s arm, which he had tied securely, hanging out and bumping against the horse.

[Knight] "Your Highness! The Captain has awakened! I will stop for a moment!"

Trying to hide his joy, the knight jumped off his horse.

[Kalart] "Eaton is awake?"

Kalart turned his horse and approached. The knight untied the rope and asked Eaton.

[Knight] "Captain? Are you with us?"

[Eaton] "......"

Unfortunately, Eaton hadn't regained consciousness. His body had simply shifted.

[Knight] "Oh, dear. Forgive me, Your Highness. I must have misjudged. I thought I tied him well......"

The knight flustered and tied Eaton again. This time, he pulled the rope hard to ensure it wouldn't loosen.

CRACK!

A sickening sound echoed from Eaton’s right arm.

[Knight] "What?"

Looking at the limp arm, the bone had clearly snapped.

[Knight] "Oh, no! How could this happen......!"

The knight’s face turned pale. He hurriedly grabbed the broken arm to set the bone.

Kalart’s expression also changed.

[Kalart] "Breaking an arm just by tying a rope? Is that even possible?"

It wasn't normal. And if it was Eaton, it made no sense. He was a swordsman. His bones should be twice as strong and his muscles three times tougher than a normal person’s.

[Knight] "I...... I really don't know, Your Highness. How this happened......"

The knight looked like he wanted to vanish into the ground. Kalart realized it wasn't the knight's fault.

[Kalart] "Roll up his sleeve."

[Knight] "Pardon, Your Highness?"

[Kalart] "I need to see his body."

The knight rolled up the sleeve, careful not to touch the broken bone. Even then, Eaton showed no sign of waking. It was questionable how he could fail to feel the pain of a broken bone, regardless of the drugs.

[Knight] "Ah......!"

As the sleeve bared the arm, the knight cried out. The limb looked withered, like a dry twig. It looked ready to snap in a light breeze. Losing weight so suddenly was bizarre. For a swordsman like Eaton, who trained every day, it was impossible.

[Knight] "Why is he like this. The witch must have done this, Your Highness!"

His face turned red with rage. The knight looked ready to return to the pharmacy and strike Roserikta down.

[Knight] "Permit me, Your Highness! I will go and get the cure from the witch! How could she do such a wicked thing to a royal guard?"

[Kalart] "No need."

[Knight] "Your Highness!"

[Kalart] "She didn't do this. And I told you not to speak the word 'witch' out loud."

The knight shouted in frustration.

[Knight] "Forgive me for forgetting the order. But how can you be so sure!"

[Kalart] "If she could use such magic, she wouldn't have used a laughing mushroom in the first place."

Kalart dismounted and opened Eaton’s clothes. It wasn't just the right arm. His entire body had wasted away as if something had sucked the life out of him.

[Knight] "But Your Highness, that is only a guess."

Kalart pointed to the rest of Eaton’s body.

[Kalart] "There is someone else like this. Don't you remember? What Gren said. Count Gibero ended up like this and died in a day."

[Knight] "That is......"

The knight shook his head again.

[Knight] "Couldn't that also be the work of the witch. I mean, the cat-maid?"

[Kalart] "Why?"

[Knight] "Pardon? Well...... I’ve never heard of such a disease. It looks more like a witch's curse than a sickness."

[Kalart] "There must be a reason. What does she gain by killing Count Gibero and Eaton?"

The knight was at a loss for words.

[Knight] "Well...... because witches are inherently evil creatures."

[Kalart] "So she killed them for fun? In a way that draws attention to her work?"

[Knight] "......"

His argument was based on weak logic. But as a royal guard, he couldn't let it go easily.

[Knight] "What if they realized her true...... no, her identity? That would give her a reason to kill them, Your Highness."