TWFLLYM Ch 75

Another Parting (1)

Kalart sent more than just the clothes for today.

[Elona] "Oh my."

A complete renovation transformed the Crown Princess's bedroom, where Roserikta stayed. From the bedsheets and pillowcases to the curtains, wainscoting, and decorative wall sconces, everything changed.

[Elona] "Wow, this looks like embroidered silk from Ailen! To make cushion covers out of this! I only heard about it. It is so beautiful."

Roserikta knew nothing about Ailen's embroidered silk. She had no idea why cushion covers made from it held such value. She merely assumed Kalart kept himself very busy while she slept.

[Elona] "I never knew His Highness possessed such overflowing affection! I spoke the truth. A late romance is frightening. When did he prepare all this?"

As if waiting for this exact moment, he finished the renovations while her original bedroom sat empty during her slumber in his room. People would call this meticulous planning. Or perhaps quick thinking.

[Elona] "Lady Roserikta. Do you like it?"

[Roserikta] "Um…… I think it is very beautiful."

[Elona] "I have never seen a room decorated so beautifully either."

She stroked the smooth, new curtains and giggled.

[Elona] "No wonder. About the Head Maid earlier. I wondered why her face turned pale while bringing the dress, but it must be because of this room. Did you see it too, My Lady?"

[Roserikta] "Ah, ha……."

The Head Maid's expression, suppressing deep anger, remained too vivid to deny.

[Roserikta] "He doesn't need to do so much all at once. Shouldn't I tell His Highness that?"

[Elona] "Oh, what are you saying? Over something like this. His Highness is the wealthiest bachelor in the Empire. This is merely the beginning."

[Roserikta] "That is why some people grow uncomfortable. Like the Head Maid."

[Elona] "The Head Maid will get used to it. What else can she do? She can't stop him."

The two exchanged smiles. Elona beamed with excitement, while an apologetic awkwardness washed over Roserikta. She decided she must ask Kalart not to torment the Head Maid too much.

Meanwhile, Elona discovered a new item.

[Elona] "Oh my. Look at this! It is a rocking cradle. This cradle must be for your baby…… No, that is too early. Is it Clobellina's bed?"

Roserikta nodded quickly. A baby. That went too far.

[Roserikta] "I believe so."

[Elona] "But I don't see Clobellina. Didn't Clobellina sleep in His Highness's bed with you yesterday?"

[Roserikta] "No. Clobell already fell asleep back then. But really. Where did Clobell go?"

Knowing the cat despised crowds of strangers, she likely hid somewhere when the servants came in to decorate the room.

[Roserikta] "Clobell. Where are you? Are you not in this room?"

The cat had grown accustomed to the palace and could wander around freely. Even at the pharmacy where they lived together, Clobellina used to play, go out, or nap as she pleased, only appearing at mealtime.

[Roserikta] "Will she come out when hunger strikes?"

That hit the mark.

Creak.

[Clobell] "Wow. What is all this? Did I come to the wrong room?"

Speak of the devil; Clobellina pushed through the door gap with her forehead.

[Roserikta] "No. This is the right room. Where did you go?"

[Clobell] "I went looking for Mung. Where did it go? I haven't seen it since yesterday. But why did the room change?"

[Roserikta] "It is a gift from His Highness. You haven't seen Mung since yesterday?"

[Clobell] "The Crown Prince is funny. When he liked me, he only gave me cookie crumbs, but he acts so generous only to you. I feel sad. This is cat discrimination."

Elona stared with wide eyes as Clobellina meowed in annoyance.

[Elona] "Oh my. Do you really talk to the cat? It just sounds like cat noises to me."

Clobellina lifted her head sharply and stared at Elona.

[Clobell] "What is up with her? Why does she speak like she knows everything? Did she find out, too?"

[Roserikta] "Yes. Sir Arad told her."

[Clobell] "Oh my. Why does a knight have such a loose mouth? Then do we not need to kill her either?"

[Roserikta] "Clobell. Don't talk about killing people so easily."

Elona's face turned pale.

[Elona] "Can a witch's cat kill people?"

Realizing her mistake, Roserikta scooped Clobellina into her arms.

[Roserikta] "No. She just talks like that. Do you want to formally introduce yourself to Clobell? Now, Clobell. This is Lady Elona. The very special human who offered friendship to a witch first."

[Clobell] "Whoa. Is that so?"

She stared at Elona with newfound interest and tapped the back of Elona's hand with her front paw.

[Clobell] "Nice to meet you. I am the witch's cat, Clobellina. You can call me Clobell."

[Elona] "……Ahhh!"

She screamed. Surprise overwhelmed her in a good way.

[Elona] "I can't believe it! I heard the cat speak! I understood the cat! Me!"

Forgetting her dignity, Elona looked ready to jump up and down.

[Elona] "Clobell, Clobell! Do you understand me too? Can I converse with cats now? Does that mean I became half-witch, too? Huh?"

[Clobell] "You are too noisy. Of course not. Humans and witches are different species. I just spoke to you since we formally introduced ourselves. A witch's cat can do this much."

[Elona] "Oh my, oh my. You even know I am noisy. You are so smart. How is this possible?"

[Clobell] "Cats are naturally smart."

[Elona] "I can't believe it. This is so wonderful."

She grabbed Clobellina's front paw and shook it vigorously.

Roserikta marveled at how someone could lack prejudice to such a degree. Finding a talking cat, merely wonderful, proved Elona's extraordinary nature.

[Clobell] "Cats are naturally wonderful. But my arm hurts. Let go now."

Clobellina grumbled and pulled her arm free. Still, considering her personality, she endured it quite well.

[Roserikta] "Then we should look for Mung. Since when did it disappear?"

Clobellina licked the front paw Elona had held and answered.

[Clobell] "Yesterday, after you went to eat with the Crown Prince, it played with me for a long time. Then we fell asleep together, but when I opened my eyes, it vanished."

[Roserikta] "Ah, is that so?"

Roserikta worried that whoever cleaned the room might have mistaken it for a clump of hair and thrown it away.

[Roserikta] "This is a big problem. We must find it quickly."

Elona buzzed with immense curiosity once again. In truth, she would likely react this way every time.

[Elona] "What is Mung?"

[Roserikta] "It is complicated to explain…… but it is like a small, cute dust doll."

[Elona] "A dust doll?"

[Roserikta] "It is alive, though."

[Elona] "Oh my! Is the doll alive? Oh my, oh my."

Ordinarily, hearing about a living doll would conjure more ominous thoughts.

Explaining further felt like a waste of breath.

[Elona] "If such a cute thing went missing, that is a big problem. Let's go find it right away. Ah, wait. The Head Maid said she would come soon to check on dining etiquette. She called it checking, but she definitely intends to use it as an excuse to nag you. So tell her to just wait. A big emergency happened."

Roserikta doubted the Head Maid would agree, but she shared the sentiment that finding Mung took priority.

---

[Clobell] "Ah, what is this? I already searched everywhere. Can't I rest a bit?"

[Roserikta] "Then Clobell, will you handle the Head Maid?"

[Clobell] "No way. Someone just carry me. Mung is young, so how anxious must it be losing its way in this unfamiliar place? Of course, I must step up."

Clobellina quickly scrambled up Elona's skirt.

[Elona] "Oh my. Are you letting me hold you? Oh my, thank you."

[Clobell] "Don't get touched over every little thing. Just hold me securely."

[Elona] "Got it, like this. Oh my, I am holding the talking cat. Oh my."

She would definitely keep getting touched over every little thing.

[Roserikta] "Let's go then."

The two people and one cat left the Crown Princess's room, which looked like a massive, beautifully decorated gift box. They encountered a maid on their way and left a message that they would empty the room due to various circumstances.

Later, rumors circulated that the Head Maid shed tears, unable to contain her rage upon hearing the news.

---

[Physician] "His condition worsened suddenly. What do you mean?"

The Imperial Physician received a sudden summons just as dawn approached. Adhering to his decades-long theory that sleeping late promoted the best health, the Imperial Physician splashed cold water on his own head, forced himself awake, and sprinted to the Royal Guard's quarters.

The person whose condition rapidly deteriorated was Baronet Eaton, the Captain of the Royal Guard. Upon arriving at Trifolium, he possessed a clear mind and spoke well. However, he gradually fell ill and cannot even lift his body.

Because of this, His Highness also forgot about sleep. Rumor had it he enjoyed a small banquet with his recently announced lover. Since the banquet ended late, he stayed awake and rushed over immediately upon hearing of Eaton's illness.

The Crown Prince's clean face showed no fatigue, but it looked incredibly sharp. Since Eaton served as his most cherished subordinate, his worry ran deep.

[Physician] "I apologize, but I can't give you an answer either, Your Highness. Didn't Sir Eaton merely break his arm? I personally confirmed yesterday that the broken arm received excellent treatment. I can't comprehend how it suddenly became a fatal disease overnight. I have never heard of a broken arm causing such a condition."

[Kalart] "……This drives me insane."

Phew.

Kalart let out a sharp sigh and collapsed onto the bed where Eaton lay. He swept his dry hands over his face. Though not a witch himself, he could guess why Eaton ended up like this.

[Kalart] "Are you saying human medicine can't cure this?"

[Physician] "Hmm? No, Your Highness. What do you mean?"

The elderly Imperial Physician momentarily thought aging caused him to hear hallucinations.

[Kalart] "Exactly what I said."

The moment forcefully reminded Kalart of the Black Witch's true nature. Humans remained insignificant before her power. When the slender woman's hand gripped his neck, he couldn't resist at all.

It remained a horrific experience. Ignorance bred helplessness, and the unknown bred fear. He had to face such evil again someday. Could he safely protect the woman he loved when that time came?

A profound, bottomless dread engulfed Kalart. He feared his own helplessness might force him to wait for Roserikta to save him instead.

[Kalart] "……How terrible."

He shook his head. His silver hair crumpled between his fingers. He disliked the idea, but he had no choice but to rely on Roserikta once more.

[Kalart] "Someone go to her. Tell her about Eaton's condition and ask for her help."

[Guard] "Yes, Your Highness."

The Guard standing nearby bowed with a heavy expression.

However, that became unnecessary.

[Roserikta] "You said it is here?"

[Clobell] "Huh? Why would Mung come here? This place clearly has no food."

[Elona] "Oh my, how fascinating! You pinpoint exactly what you want like this! Oh my!"

Surprisingly, Roserikta's voice echoed through the Royal Guard's quarters.

---

[Clobell] "What is going on? Why is he suddenly like that?"

Roserikta wanted to ask the same thing.

[Roserikta] "He wasn't like this just yesterday."

She had no time to marvel at the perfect coincidence of her arriving right as Kalart prepared to send someone for her. She examined Eaton, whose skin had turned a dull ash gray, just like Count Gibero right before his death.

His life force has not returned. He must have lost too much. Too much to refill.

[Kalart] "Is it the same disease as the Count?"

He clearly remembered Count Gibero's appearance as well. Roserikta nodded with a grim expression.

[Roserikta] "Yes."

[Kalart] "Is there no way to reverse it?"

[Roserikta] "As of right now."

She bit her lip.

[Roserikta] "Unlike the other knights, Sir Eaton suffered from that disease for far too long. He showed signs of temporary recovery, but that was a facade."

The Imperial Physician interrupted.

[Physician] "What exactly is that disease? Didn't Sir Eaton just break his arm? Did he show other symptoms?"

Before answering, Kalart and Roserikta exchanged glances.

We should keep it a secret, right?

That would be better. It might get troublesome if too many people know.

Their glances roughly conveyed this meaning.

[Roserikta] "An unknown fever swept through Gibero County. Count Gibero passed away from the same illness."

[Physician] "Huh…… A fever, you say? Does a fever exist that reduces a person to this state?"

[Roserikta] "Unfortunately, yes."

The Imperial Physician shook his balding head.

[Kalart] "What if we eliminate the cause?"

Kalart spoke abruptly. He meant to ask if killing the Black Witch would solve it.

[Roserikta] "That remains uncertain, Your Highness. I must investigate further."

[Kalart] "But the Count died less than half a day after reaching this state. We lack time."

The Imperial Physician, still failing to grasp the situation, asked a question.

[Physician] "Are you saying this bizarre fever has a definite cause? Then we must find the cure starting from there."

[Roserikta] "A cause exists, but it vanished."

[Physician] "Hmm? What do you mean by that?"

Roserikta looked at Kalart with troubled eyes. She couldn't tell the Imperial Physician the truth, nor could she order him to leave so they could discuss secrets. That would look incredibly suspicious.

What should we do, Your Highness?