TWFLLYM Ch 79

The Vanished Cat's Eye (2)

[Klein] "I reorganized the imperial security as you instructed, Your Highness. I changed the patrol system from pairs to groups of three. No one may change their team members without a specific reason. This will make it easier to identify confusion if the Black Witch infiltrates. Furthermore……"

Thunderous tension filled Kalart’s study, which he used as his office. Mountains of documents rose precariously in every corner. Klein, the Imperial Secretary, had moved his entire desk into the room.

The presence of twelve tall, muscular senior knights made the air grow thick and heavy. Klein, unable to manage the piles of paper on his desk, eventually sat on the floor.

Despite the situation, he didn't complain. A plump, charming black cat sat at his feet, allowing him to pet her. In exchange, he offered a steady supply of beef jerky, dried cheese, and crackers he had hoarded in his cupboard.

[Klein] "A-and the Imperial Physician says he is studying the symptoms appearing in those who became the Black Witch’s agents. Lady Roserikta should join this effort, but I am delaying the request to avoid gossip until after her official appointment as an advisor."

[Kalart] "Is the appointment difficult?"

[Klein] "The Council of Elders supports you, so it is not hard. I sent the official documents and am waiting for their reply. We only need the approval of eight elders."

[Kalart] "Old men move slowly. Eaton, select eight knights and send the Royal Guard. Tell them to bring the replies back personally."

Eaton was busily calculating something with a splint on his arm. He was coordinating the Royal Guard’s schedule to match the new security system. Using his left hand instead of his broken right arm made the schedule look more like a child’s scribbles than a military document.

[Eaton] "Yes, Your Highness. I will do so."

He put down his pen and gave orders to the senior knight beside him.

[Eaton] "Choose eight men not assigned to patrol and send them here. Their destination is……"

Klein stepped in quickly.

[Klein] "Ah, I will provide the list of elders and the certificates to guarantee official business. It will take one hour."

[Eaton] "Good. Have them here in one hour."

[Senior Knight] "Yes, Captain."

Two senior knights left the room, and the office resumed its frantic pace.

[Kalart] "The Border Guard? Have they made contact?"

[Klein] "Not yet, Your Highness. Even the fastest route takes two days."

[Kalart] "The pursuit team?"

[Klein] "No word yet. I gave them the last known location of the Black Witch and told them to examine every inch of the area entirely."

[Kalart] "Tell them to maintain their distance. The Black Witch might strike back."

[Klein] "Of course. I warned them that the 'Rabbit' carries a plague."

'Rabbit' was the code name for their target. They used it to hide the Black Witch’s identity from those who didn't need to know.

Eaton, still sketching letters with his left hand, voiced a rare complaint.

[Eaton] "Where is Arad? In this emergency, he is nowhere to be found. Did you not send him to the capital quite a while ago, Your Highness?"

Arad’s task had been to find the link between the Imperial Family and the Countess, but that lost its meaning once her identity as the Black Witch became clear.

[Klein] "Now that you mention it, he has been out of contact for days. Did an accident happen?"

Tension splashed over the room like cold water. If an accident befell someone investigating the Black Witch’s past, only one cause existed.

[Kalart] "We must find him."

The senior knights bolted upright at his command.

[Knights] "Yes, Your Highness."

They had already lost one comrade at Count Gibero’s castle. They couldn't lose anyone else.

Fortunately, Roserikta entered Kalart’s study before a temporary search party formed. Had she arrived a moment later, his fellow knights would have likely beaten Arad senseless out of sheer relief and anger.

---

[Arad] "Your Highness. It has been a long time. You look wonderful."

Arad, having narrowly escaped a group beating, stood before Kalart. He had already finished explaining the long series of events that led to his return.

The two had much to discuss. The events at Count Gibero’s castle and the death of their comrade shocked Arad.

Meanwhile, the fact that Arad knew Roserikta’s identity before him still wounded Kalart’s pride.

Why is he always first?'

First with the burn ointment, then with showing off his muscles.

Though it was clear the muscle display was not intentional, that didn't matter to him. He scowled despite Arad’s compliment on his appearance, making Arad shrink back.

[Arad] "Ah, I suppose this was not the place for such talk. Forgive my lack of tact, Your Highness."

Arad bowed his head, looking discouraged.

Elona, guessing the meaning behind Kalart’s sharp gaze as he looked between Roserikta and Arad, patted the back of Arad’s hand.

We have to endure this for a while, her gesture implied.

[Kalart] "What does it mean that we can't find items to identify the Black Witch?"

Kalart withdrew his sharp gaze from Arad and turned to Roserikta.

[Roserikta] "There are too many variables. The timing doesn't clearly point to the Black Witch's involvement. We need to know exactly when the moonstones vanished from the market, Your Highness."

[Kalart] "So we need a proper investigation."

[Roserikta] "Yes, Your Highness."

[Kalart] "Klein. You handle that. Use whoever you need. You can order the Royal Guard or hire people privately."

[Klein] "Yes, Your Highness."

Klein sighed and nodded as the work continued to pile up. His only comfort was the groundless belief that Kalart would soon promote him to Chief Secretary and hire subordinates.

Kalart gestured to Roserikta. When she approached, he stood up and made her sit in the armchair he had occupied. He then sat on the edge of the table across from her.

[Kalart] "Did you sleep well? I heard you were busy all morning."

Roserikta wondered why he looked so handsome just sitting there. Perhaps it was his long legs; crossing them made him look relaxed and cool. Or perhaps it was the atmosphere of the study. A man at work always possessed a certain charm.

Everything about him was becoming a problem for her heart.

[Roserikta] "I made syrup because I didn't want the laughter mushrooms to wilt."

[Kalart] "Ah, good. You haven't forgotten your promise to sell them to me, right? What is the price?"

She smiled, remembering when they picked the mushrooms together.

[Roserikta] "You have no use for them. I will just keep them."

[Kalart] "I found a use."

[Roserikta] "Where?"

Kalart glanced at Arad, who stood awkwardly in the corner. His gaze clearly meant: I am going to force that guy to eat them all.

[Kalart] "Don't worry. I will follow the dosage."

[Roserikta] "No, it is too dangerous to sell that medicine by the bottle to a human."

He didn't give up.

[Kalart] "Could you not sell the antidote with it?"

He gripped her hand and gave her a coaxing look.

[Kalart] "Tell me. Two bottles mean double the price."

Does this man realize how he looks?

He seemed to know how handsome he was. He knew his face could get him anything.

[Roserikta] "……Stop seducing me."

She looked away from his face. Though she smiled, ignoring him took a great deal of effort.

[Kalart] "At least you recognize it as seduction. Though it doesn't seem to work on you."

He grumbled. She wished he wouldn't grumble with that face; it made her resolve weaken.

[Roserikta] "I said it because it does work. Regarding the moonstones……"

[Kalart] "Wait. What?"

She regretted saying it. She should have pretended not to notice.

Kalart gripped both armrests of her chair. She became trapped between him and the seat.

[Kalart] "Did you say it works?"

How could it not? Especially with a face like yours.

[Roserikta] "I don't think that is important right now, Your Highness. I want to go and investigate the moonstones myself……"

[Kalart] "No, it is important."

He leaned in close. His face was nearly touching hers.

[Kalart] "It is very important to me. If it works, should I coax you more?"

She leaned back, trying to avoid his face, but the back of the chair stopped her.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness…… I can't just sell dangerous medicine because someone coaxes me. That would make me an unfit pharmacist."

[Kalart] "See? It doesn't work."

He said those words, but his face drew closer. She desperately hoped he remembered there were many people nearby.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness. You are too close."

[Kalart] "That is a different matter."

[Roserikta] "There are other people here. And um…… You should coax me for things that can actually happen. Not for the laughter mushroom syrup."

[Kalart] "Then tell me what I can coax you for."

Was this his goal?

[Roserikta] "Medicine is out of the question. You lack knowledge about it, Your Highness."

[Kalart] "I accept that. What else?"

His gaze dropped from her eyes to her nose, then to her lips. No one in the room was innocent enough to misunderstand his blatant look. Even Eaton, who had zero romantic experience, swallowed hard.

Oh, honestly. Why is he like this?' He should choose the right time and place.

Unable to bear it, Roserikta raised her hand and pushed Kalart’s face away.

[Roserikta] "Later, Your Highness."

He smiled even as she pushed his cheek.

[Kalart] "When is later?"

He knew the answer perfectly well.

[Roserikta] "When…… we are alone."

[Kalart] "Then it is a promise."

He finally pulled back.

Roserikta fanned her face with her hand, trying to cool her reddened cheeks.

The knights of the Royal Guard watched the scene, thinking: Our Prince is so deeply in love with his first girlfriend that he sees nothing else.

Clobellina, chewing on beef jerky, clicked her tongue.

[Clobell] "I can’t stand this sickening sight. Who doesn't know they're dating? Why must they show off every single time? My appetite is gone."

She spat out the jerky. At that moment, Arad and Klein let out shouts that were almost screams. They had heard Clobellina’s voice clearly.

[Arad] "My goodness! It was true! Lady Elona! Clobell really can speak!"

[Klein] "Wow, kitty. You are so smart. Can you read, too?"

The other knights, not knowing what happened, looked confused or stared enviously at the two making a fuss. Most of them still felt guilty toward Clobellina because they had tried to hunt her for stew at Count Gibero’s castle.

Among those who didn't hear her voice, of course, was Kalart.

[Kalart] "Did Clobell just speak?"

Arad, forgetting his earlier intimidation, answered loudly.

[Arad] "Yes, Your Highness! She spoke human words perfectly! It is amazing!"

[Kalart] "……"

Kalart went silent and stared at Clobellina.

[Clobell] "What are you glaring at? You've ruined my mood. Stop being so obvious about your romance."

[Kalart] "Is it possible Clobell hates me?"

The three people who understood Clobellina’s words stiffened and avoided his gaze.

[Kalart] "Klein. Don't give her any more snacks."

Klein, who was about to give cheese to the cat, looked shocked.

[Klein] "What? No, Your Highness? Why so suddenly……"

[Kalart] "I am the only one allowed to give her snacks. Empty all the cupboards where you hide them."

[Klein] "But, Your Highness. The snacks are……"

The snacks aren't the problem, Your Highness is the problem……

The loyal official couldn't bring himself to say it out loud.

[Clobell] "Wow, look at his personality. Do you think that will make me like you? I’ll just stop eating your snacks."

[Kalart] "And Arad."

[Arad] "Yes, Your Highness."

Arad answered nervously, sensing his foul mood.

[Kalart] "Go and get the replies from the eight elders. All of them, by the end of the day."

[Arad] "Pardon……? From the elders? Which eight?"

This conversation had happened before Arad entered the study, so he had no idea what was happening. Kalart, of course, didn't care to explain.

[Kalart] "Depart now."