TWFLLYM Ch 71

How to Be Together

It wasn't bad. The outfit prepared by the Head Maid was appropriate.

Despite Roserikta's initial nervousness at the mention of a banquet hall, the table was perfectly sized for two. The silver cutlery and the dishes were luxurious, but they didn't feel much more overwhelming than what she had experienced at Kiriyen. Most of the food was delicious and easy to eat.

As far as the meal went, it was quite enjoyable.

Kalart, however, was a different story.

What is wrong with him today?

He was so dazzling that her eyes felt like they might go blind. What had he done to himself?

Right. He said he was wearing new clothes. He mentioned changing his hair a bit.

No. It felt as if he had sprinkled some "Handsome Powder" over his entire body.

Well, he was always handsome.

Was this what it felt like to eat with a handsome man? She couldn't tell if she was chewing beef or her napkin. He was undeniably handsome.

[Kalart] "You seem to like the cake."

The realization hit her: she wasn't chewing beef or a napkin, but dessert.

[Roserikta] "......Oh, yes. It's very tasty."

[Kalart] "There is alcohol in it. You'll get drunk if you eat too much."

[Roserikta] "Ah, is that so?"

That sharp aftertaste came from the alcohol.

Crunch.

She bit down on a piece, and the sugar coating shattered with a satisfying sound.

[Kalart] "Do you like alcohol?"

[Roserikta] "Hmm...... I'm not sure. I don't usually drink. But I probably won't get drunk even if I do."

[Kalart] "Why is that?"

[Roserikta] "Because I'm a witch."

She gave a short laugh.

[Roserikta] "My grandmother said most witches are heavy drinkers. She claimed there isn't a drink under the moonlight that can make a witch drunk."

[Kalart] "Then I won't have to worry about you stepping on my feet."

[Roserikta] "Pardon?"

Kalart wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood up, and approached her. Dropping to one knee, he looked up at her and offered his hand.

[Kalart] "Will you give me the honor of a dance?"

[Roserikta] "Oh, my."

There was no way to refuse that hand. She took it, a mischievous look crossing her face.

[Roserikta] "Even if I'm not drunk, there's a high chance I'll step on your feet. Are you okay with that? I've never learned to waltz properly."

[Kalart] "It's fine. It doesn't have to be a waltz. No one else is here anyway."

They stood in the middle of the small hall—no audience, no music.

So that's why he called me here instead of the dining room.

His hand gripped hers gently, and his other arm pulled her waist close.

Only then did the weight of the dance sink in. Kalart leaned forward, inviting her to place her hands around his neck. Standing face-to-face, she was so close she could see even the tiniest shift in his expression.

[Roserikta] "Is a dance usually this close?"

[Kalart] "No. Usually, the hand goes on the shoulder."

He glanced at her hands wrapped around his neck.

[Kalart] "Holding the neck like this is a lover's privilege."

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

He definitely asked to dance just to do this.

How should she put it?

He's actually... cute.

She looked at this large, cold-looking man and thought he was cute.

So this is what dating is like.

[Roserikta] "This is a bit stran—......Whoa!"

He pulled her waist and swung her around in a full circle.

[Kalart] "What is strange?"

Her back arched. He leaned in as far as she leaned back. They were face-to-face, almost pressed together.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness."

[Kalart] "What about me?"

He supported her waist and pulled her upright. Her head felt like it was spinning.

So this is why people dance together.

[Roserikta] "Well...... You didn't seem like the type to keep a list of things to do once you got a lover."

Her body swayed as she followed his subtle movements.

The title of 'lover' made the close distance feel natural rather than awkward. This was the right distance for them.

[Kalart] "I don't have a list."

[Roserikta] "Then was the dance spontaneous?"

[Kalart] "Whenever I look at you, things I didn't know I wanted keep popping into my head."

She found him fascinating, too. For someone who claimed this was his first love, how did he always say the right things?

[Kalart] "And you?"

He spun her half a turn. He pulled her back, and she landed right against his chest.

[Kalart] "Do you have a list of things you want to do with a lover?"

[Roserikta] "I don't have...... Ah, there was just one. A long time ago. When I was a child."

She smiled, remembering the first line in her diary from when she was nine.

Kalart smiled back as if he could see her thoughts clearly.

[Kalart] "Can you tell me?"

[Roserikta] "You'll laugh."

[Kalart] "No. I want to hear it."

[Roserikta] "It's about the Laughter Mushroom syrup."

[Kalart] "You want to feed it to me?"

[Roserikta] "What? No, no."

She shook her head as if the idea was terrifying.

[Roserikta] "That's prescribed for patients with severe depression. It's a strong medicine, so we don't use it lightly. To make it, you have to pick Laughter Mushrooms first. But they are toxic, so they make your hands itch when you pick them. You can't wear gloves, either. They're tiny and translucent, so they'll crush if you aren't careful."

[Kalart] "And?"

[Roserikta] "So, I always wanted someone by my side to scratch my hands whenever they itched. My grandmother was strict about it. She’d say, 'What kind of witch makes a fuss over picking mushrooms?'"

[Kalart] "So you wanted a lover for that? At nine years old?"

[Roserikta] "Yes. I guess I thought a lover would do anything for me."

Suddenly, he kissed the bridge of her nose.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness?"

[Kalart] "......You kept smiling."

[Roserikta] "Pardon?"

[Kalart] "You looked so happy."

Her face flushed. She didn't fully understand what he meant by her looking "happy" in his eyes. No one would understand unless they shared his curse. Yet, she felt it. He liked her—deeply.

[Roserikta] "Speaking of my grandmother......"

[Kalart] "You must have loved her very much."

[Roserikta] "She was a magnificent witch. She knew every existing witch's recipe. She created half of them herself. She helped countless humans. She always taught me that a witch's medicine has a specific place where it must be used."

Kalart brushed her hair back from her forehead. This time, it felt like he was trying to comfort her rather than just touch her.

[Kalart] "I suppose that place was a human like me. Someone who desperately needs a witch's help."

[Roserikta] "Perhaps."

I believe this is the destiny the moon gave me.

He seemed to hear the words she kept to herself.

[Kalart] "So, when should we go?"

[Roserikta] "Where?"

[Kalart] "To pick mushrooms."

Her lips twitched. For some reason, she felt like she should return the kiss on his nose.

He looked so happy, suggesting they go pick mushrooms. She loved that expression on his face.

[Roserikta] "They can only be picked on the night of a full moon. Any other time, they're just ordinary mushrooms."

[Kalart] "Tonight happens to be a full moon."

[Roserikta] "You want to go now?"

[Kalart] "If we can."

He smiled, almost pleadingly.

[Kalart] "Can't we?"

He clearly had no idea how a witch traveled to pick mushrooms on a full moon.

[Roserikta] "Aren't you afraid?"

[Kalart] "Of what?"

[Roserikta] "Of becoming a witch."

She gave a playful laugh.

[Roserikta] "You’re saying you’ll do a witch's work. What if people mistake you for one?"

[Kalart] "No one will make that mistake about me."

[Roserikta] "How can you be so sure?"

[Kalart] "They’ll think I’m spending a happy time with my lover. It will be written all over my face."

[Roserikta] "You won't say that once you actually try it."

[Kalart] "Can't I try?"

This man has no fear.

She had tried so hard to hide her identity, yet here he was, perfectly fine because he was the Crown Prince. It was a bit annoying, but also cute. It seemed he really didn't mind her being a witch at all.

[Roserikta] "Fine. Then we’ll go the witch's way."

[Kalart] "Good."

[Roserikta] "Ah, change your clothes first. These are too big."

[Kalart] "They aren't big at all."

He narrowed his eyes. The blue dress she wore fit her perfectly, elegantly revealing her neckline.

[Roserikta] "The skirt is too full. There won't be enough room."

[Kalart] "Room for what?"

[Roserikta] "You'll see."

Broomsticks are usually for one person. It's going to be very cramped for two, Your Highness.

---

When they met again, Roserikta held a broomstick. It was the wild one that hadn't been fully tamed yet. Kalart looked at it with a hint of tension.

[Roserikta] "Get on, Your Highness."

She pointed behind her.

This man is crazy.

High in the night sky, she swallowed a sigh. Why hadn't she noticed when he gave her a ride on his horse? He had never shown signs of being a speed demon back then.

Kalart's stiff posture on the broom lasted only a moment. Before the wild broom could spiral out of control, she warned him.

[Roserikta] "It's very fast. Hold on tight. Oh, and make sure your cloak doesn't slip. This is an invisibility cloak. It's essential for flying."

He had looked nervous at those words, but once the broom picked up speed, he started laughing, just as he had in the carriage.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness. Aren't you afraid?"

Instead of answering, he asked if they could go higher or faster. Later, he even asked if they could fly upside down. He really had no fear.

Thanks to him, Roserikta flew so fast her cheeks stung from the night wind. Her skirt billowed wildly. Even while laughing, Kalart wrapped his arms around her to help keep her clothes in place.

The moonlight was soft like a song, and the wind was cool like the night. She could feel his excitement, matching the energized broom.

I’ve been flying with my grandmother since I was nine. Was it always this much fun?

[Roserikta] "We're going down now!"

She pulled back on the handle to slow down.

[Kalart] "Already?"

Already? We’ve been flying for over an hour.

[Roserikta] "We're almost there."

[Kalart] "......"

No reply. He clearly wanted to fly more. But she couldn't allow it. These mushrooms had to be picked while the full moon was up.

[Roserikta] "Do you see that white glow? Those are Lumarr trees. We’ll land right in front of them."

[Kalart] "The forest was closer than I thought. I didn't know."

It's not close at all.

He seemingly didn't realize how fast the broom had traveled.

[Roserikta] "Check the ground before you step off. Make sure you don't trip on anything."

[Kalart] "I understand."

Getting off a broom required some skill. When she stopped it at the right height, Kalart lightly pressed the end of the broom, shifted his balance, and landed gracefully.

Fine. I take back the part about needing skill. He's doing just fine on his own. If there were a witch's certification exam, he’d probably get a high score.

[Kalart] "Do you need a hand?"

[Roserikta] "I'm fine. A broom is different from a horse."

She stepped onto the ground and twirled her wrist to stand the broom upright. It was the move of a veteran who had landed a broom hundreds of times.

[Roserikta] "Good job today. But you seem to be getting faster and faster."

She patted the broom and leaned it against a Lumarr tree. Talking to the broom was part of the taming process.

[Kalart] "Can it get even faster?"

Seeing his eyes sparkle, she regretted saying anything.

[Roserikta] "......Probably, but do we need to go faster? We're fast enough."

[Kalart] "There's nothing wrong with more speed."

I think that's just you, Your Highness.

[Roserikta] "This is plenty."

[Kalart] "I'm not saying this isn't enough......"

That's exactly what you're saying.

[Roserikta] "It's enough."

She ignored his narrowing gaze and turned away.

[Roserikta] "We need to pick the mushrooms now. This is the best time for them."

Like a veteran witch who had done this dozens of times, she pulled out the bag she had prepared.

[Roserikta] "You're going to help me, right?"

[Kalart] "......As I promised."

He pouted slightly but obediently took the bag she offered.