TWFLLYM Ch 77

Where You Belong

[Roserikta] "It is not that tasteless. And even if the flavor lacks, I have no choice."

She huffed with indignation.

[Kalart] "I mean, don't worry so far ahead. Clobell shows no signs of illness. She looks adorable."

Mid-sentence, he tilted his head and kissed the tip of her nose.

[Roserikta] "That is your opinion. And I believe your behavior is inappropriate. Why do you suddenly kiss me during an argument?"

[Kalart] "Because you looked angry."

[Roserikta] "Yes. I am trying to stay calm, but I feel my temper rising. So, you must not kiss me. We must conclude first."

Even if we talk all night, I will never agree that Clobell didn't gain weight.

[Kalart] "I know the timing is poor, but I have never seen you like this. I didn't want to restrain myself."

[Roserikta] "What does that……."

[Kalart] "So, let us forget Clobell for a moment and finish the kiss."

[Roserikta] "No, wait……."

[Kalart] "Shh."

What is he saying?

Confusion silenced her, and he instantly captured her lips.

[Roserikta] "N-no…… Mmm."

This feels wrong.

Suddenly, fingers slid through her hair and tickled the back of her neck in temptation.

The lips meeting hers pushed deeper, and the sound of the wet, heated kiss filled her ears.

Ah, this is unfair. I can't win a fight like this.

The hot, passionate kiss felt wonderful, but his hands caressing her body felt even better. Kalart touched her as if she were the first snowman he had ever built. He acted with caution, fearing he might ruin her, and with regret, fearing she might melt.

Roserikta felt like a snowman under his touch. Heat radiated from every point of contact.

I am melting. You make parts of me dissolve. You wash away the thoughts that kept me frozen until now.

The rule that she must not love a human man. The worry that the end must be sad. The fear of a future that has not happened yet. His touch melted those fears away.

[Kalart] "Do you know something?"

He spoke during a brief pause to catch their breath. He gently bit her lower lip and pulled. His breath against her nose felt ragged.

[Roserikta] "Know…… what?"

[Kalart] "When we kiss, your flavor changes."

[Roserikta] "What?"

Heat rushed to her cheeks before her mind could process his words.

[Kalart] "At the start, you taste like lemon tea."

His hand moved from her neck down her back.

[Kalart] "Sour and sweet. The sourness is stronger, but it feels perfect."

He swept the inside of her mouth with his tongue as if tasting a delicacy. A jolt of electricity shot to her fingertips, making her grip his shoulders.

[Kalart] "But as the kiss continues,"

He paused and pressed his lips against hers. He shifted his jaw slightly, adding weight to the kiss and making her skin tingle.

If kissing were a talent, this man is a genius.

She hugged him tighter, lost in the sensation.

[Kalart] "It becomes sweet. Only sweet. In those moments, you are……."

He moved his hand forward and gently stroked the front of her dress.

[Roserikta] "Mmm……."

A moan escaped her. Her eyes widened in surprise, and he immediately sucked her lips deep into his own.

[Kalart] "……You make such sweet sounds. I lose my mind."

He leaned forward. Roserikta, clinging to him, leaned back with him. Her head hit the cushion that previously supported her back.

Kalart exhaled a sigh, braced his arms on the floor, and let his lips slide down to her neck. She lay trapped beneath the weight of his body.

[Kalart] "Am I moving too fast?"

He whispered, his lips buried in the hollow of her neck. Roserikta raised one arm and let his smooth silver hair flow through her fingers.

[Kalart] "The Imperial Physician decided to stay. I intended to send him away if I couldn't persuade him, but he accepted the situation easily. He wants to be helpful. He showed great interest in your medicine. He might annoy you soon by asking you to teach him."

The topic seemed out of place, but Roserikta waited for him to continue, sensing a reason for this sudden change.

[Kalart] "Klein is handling other matters…… Ah, Eaton is recovering fast. He wants to thank you for saving his life. The others feel the same. Everyone knows you are indispensable to me. To me, that is,"

[Roserikta] "Yes, Your Highness."

[Kalart] "It brings me peace. The fact that you must be here, by my side. It feels as if you truly belong to me. In reality, the other humans and I owe you a debt. But I don't care about the reason. I just love that we are bound together. And I love that people know it."

They felt a terrifying sense of belonging to one another.

[Kalart] "I hope you feel the same."

He looked up to face her. His silver hair tickled her fingers as it slid away.

[Roserikta] "I, well……."

Her mouth felt dry, slowing her words.

I lack experience in romance, but I understand this.

She knew without words that he desired an act more intimate than a kiss. She felt it in his rising body heat, his coaxing touch, and his darkening gaze. She felt dizzy, as if caught in the same fever.

What should I say? Should I tell him I am slower and have more worries than him?

Her hesitation was brief.

[Kalart] "Don't answer now."

He left a deep kiss on her neck and lifted his head.

[Kalart] "Hearing a 'no' would break my heart. Tell me when your answer is 'yes'."

He pulled away and offered his hand. She expected him to pull her up, but he simply stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.

[Kalart] "No, ending it like this is too disappointing."

He lay down flat beside her. They lay side by side, staring up at the ceiling mural together.

Is this okay? I might think of him every time I look at this mural now.

[Roserikta] "Is the floor not too hard?"

[Kalart] "Entirely. I must order a new carpet. A softer one."

[Roserikta] "That sounds like a good idea. But what if people find it strange? They will wonder why we lie on the floor instead of using the bed."

[Kalart] "I will tell them my lover is not yet ready to share a bed."

I can see it. I can see the Head Maid's face.

[Roserikta] "You are not really going to say that, are you?"

[Kalart] "Well……. Is there any other reason?"

[Roserikta] "Oh, come now. That is not it. Well, um…… If we lie on the bed, the canopy blocks the view of the mural."

[Kalart] "Then you are saying we lay on the floor just to see the mural. But that is not the truth."

We lay here to kiss. A very deep kiss.

[Roserikta] "I like this, too."

Kalart turned his head to look at her profile. Roserikta turned to face him.

[Roserikta] "You can see the stars clearly on a moonless night. I often lay on the roof with Clobell to watch them. I taught Clobell the constellations."

[Kalart] "Ah…… That sounds wonderful."

[Roserikta] "It is similar to this. Watching stars is a small thing, but that is why I always do it with Clobell. It means we are close enough to share the small things."

[Kalart] "True. I don't do this with anyone else."

[Roserikta] "Exactly."

He smiled and pulled her head onto his arm. Roserikta rested her head there without hesitation. Her hand naturally settled on his chest. Time passed as her fingertips counted his steady, powerful heartbeat.

[Kalart] "I must change the mural. To a painting of constellations."

[Roserikta] "I like this painting. I like the wedding scene over there. The fairies were dancing."

[Kalart] "Ah, those were fairies? I thought they were birds."

[Roserikta] "They must be fairies that look like birds."

His curse affected even his view of the art. She felt a pang of pity while looking at the painting, which clearly depicted fairies.

When the curse breaks, his world will change entirely. I want to break the curse soon.

[Kalart] "I want to watch the stars with you on the next moonless night."

[Roserikta] "Let us do that."

[Kalart] "Promise me."

[Roserikta] "Yes, Your Highness."

As they smiled, sleepiness washed over them. They closed their eyes simultaneously.

A dreamless, deep sleep arrived. When Clobellina returned to the bedroom after eating her fill of Klein's snacks, the two were fast asleep.

The two didn't know that Clobellina clicked her tongue and brought a blanket to cover Roserikta.

The sight of a man, a witch, and a cat sleeping together was now familiar. As if everyone stood exactly where they belonged.

---

[Aldwin] "Did. You. Sleep. Well. Your. Highness."

The stiff voice of the Head Maid broke the morning silence. Kalart opened his eyes first. Aldwin bowed politely before meeting his gaze.

[Aldwin] "Good. Morning. Your. Highness."

It felt strange that "Good morning" sounded like "The most terrible morning in the world."

[Aldwin] "I am deeply sorry, but I couldn't allow you to sleep on the floor any longer. I had to wake you. Please understand."

[Kalart] "Ah…… did we fall asleep on the floor again?"

He dismissed her greeting with a wave and helped Roserikta up.

[Roserikta] "Mmm…… Your Highness?"

He laughed, finding her sleep-filled voice adorable.

[Kalart] "If you want to keep sleeping, why not move to the bed? Sleeping on the floor might make you more tired."

[Roserikta] "No. I must not oversleep. It ruins the day. And the Head Maid will come soon to wake……."

[Kalart] "Don't worry about that."

[Roserikta] "Why?"

[Kalart] "She is already here."

[Roserikta] "……What?"

That woke her up instantly. Roserikta bolted upright. The Head Maid's gaze burned with intensity before her eyes.

[Roserikta] "Oh, um……."

I don't know. What should I do in this situation?

There was no right answer. Roserikta decided to act casual since she had no excuse to make.

Technically, I did nothing wrong.

According to Lady Elona, the Imperial Family enjoyed freedom in dating before marriage. Roserikta suspected this was because Imperial members rarely left the palace, so their partners stayed with them.

The interesting part was the nobles’ habit of viewing a relationship with the Imperial Family as an honor. As a result, romances in the palace faced few restrictions and were sometimes scandalous.

[Roserikta] "Good morning, Head Maid. Did you sleep well last night?"

Aldwin bowed her head; her expression suggested she wanted to bite Roserikta.

[Aldwin] "Calling me 'Head Maid' is absurd, Lady Roserikta. From now on, call me 'Madam'."

She suddenly became very polite. But this is scarier.

[Roserikta] "I am not used to it yet. I will be careful."

[Aldwin] "Yes. And when you two are together, please don't sleep on the floor. The cold rises from the ground at dawn."

It was a reprimand: I don't care if you freeze to death alone, but don't do that to the Crown Prince.

[Kalart] "Ah, I was about to say that."

He spoke as he reached out to help Roserikta stand.

[Kalart] "I want to change the carpet. To a softer one."

Aldwin tried to calm her pale complexion.

[Aldwin] "Your Highness. No matter how soft the carpet is, the floor is not a bed. You should not sleep on the floor……."

[Kalart] "My lover is not yet ready to share a bed."

At his reply, Roserikta reflexively yanked his sleeve.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness! You promised not to say that."

[Kalart] "I don't recall agreeing to that. Was I not supposed to say it?"

[Roserikta] "That…… No."

She quickly searched her memory from last night and realized Kalart was right.

Yes, he never promised not to say it.

This man probably didn't even know why that statement was troublesome. She was the one who felt uncomfortable with the Head Maid, not him.

[Kalart] "Anyway, change the carpet. I want it done as soon as possible."

[Aldwin] "I will prepare water for your wash, Your Highness. Shall I bring it to this room?"

The Head Maid avoided a direct answer and changed the subject.

[Kalart] "No. I will follow my usual routine. Let her sleep more."

Roserikta shook her head quickly.

[Roserikta] "No, Your Highness. I am awake now."

[Kalart] "You don't need to match my waking time. You can sleep in as much as you want."

Roserikta glanced at Countess Aldwin instinctively.

Your Highness. You must not do that. The Head Maid is glaring at me.