TWFLLYM Ch 83

When "No Way" Becomes "Indeed" (1)

[Aldwin] "You know it, so why do you act like—! No, never mind. Just remember this. The Crown Prince of the Kriye Empire is a magnificent man who deserves your deepest respect. His beauty is brilliant, and he is the most eligible bachelor in the entire Empire."

[Roserikta] "Yes……"

How strange. She's telling me things I already know.

[Aldwin] "Once you are ready, we will go to the third-floor dining room. His Highness will eat his breakfast there today. I have prepared a meal for two."

[Roserikta] "Oh, did the Prince invite me to breakfast?"

[Aldwin] "That isn't…… Hmph. Let’s go."

She avoided the question and hurried Roserikta along instead.

[Roserikta] "Wait, let me wake Clobell and bring her. She needs to eat, too."

[Aldwin] "How can you be so dense!"

Her sudden outburst startled Clobellina, who jumped out from under the covers.

[Roserikta] "……Madam?"

The Head Maid forced herself to calm down. The more she watched this cat maid, the less she looked like a witch. She didn't even seem to have a hidden plan. A real witch could never be this slow-witted.

She ground her teeth and glared at Roserikta. The Prince burned with longing, yet this oblivious woman had no idea what it meant. She only cared about being careful and keeping her distance. Because of that, the Prince’s face grew darker every day, and the Head Maid’s heart felt like it was turning to ash.

Who do you think you are to make our Prince suffer?

Why do you hold back so much? Why even date him if you’re going to act like this!

[Aldwin] "……Leave the cat. I will see that she is fed."

[Roserikta] "But Clobell might want to come."

[Aldwin] "The third-floor dining room has no seats for cats."

She cut her off and grabbed Roserikta’s arm.

[Aldwin] "Let’s go. The food will get cold."

This is very odd.

As the Head Maid dragged her out, Roserikta turned back toward the bed.

[Roserikta] "Clobell. Are you okay eating alone?"

[Clobell] "Meow."

Don't worry about me and just go. I can't even think about food this early. I'm going back to sleep.

[Roserikta] "Oh, well……. I'll be back soon."

[Clobell] "Meow."

Eat a lot.

Thud!

The Head Maid shut the door the moment Roserikta stepped out, as if telling her not to look back.

It’s so strange. Should I ask why she's doing this? She probably won't give me a straight answer even if I do.

With those doubts in mind, she arrived at the unexpected breakfast.

---

[Kalart] "This is a surprise."

He smiled as soon as he saw Roserikta.

[Kalart] "I felt bad about asking you to join me for breakfast at this hour."

He hadn't invited her before because he didn't want to force her into his busy morning routine.

[Aldwin] "Lady Roserikta woke up very early today, Your Highness."

The Head Maid intercepted the answer before Roserikta could speak.

[Aldwin] "Perhaps she wanted to see you as soon as possible."

[Roserikta] "……Pardon?"

She looked at the Head Maid with wide eyes.

After lying to Kalart, the Head Maid pulled out the chair directly next to him at the eight-person table.

[Aldwin] "Please sit, Lady Roserikta. Don't keep His Highness waiting."

Is it imperial etiquette to sit side-by-side for breakfast? I don’t think so.

Roserikta hesitated and looked at Kalart. He was busy sending a silent signal to the Head Maid.

[Kalart] "Thank you."

Kalart realized exactly why the Head Maid ignored the usual rules. Her face turned red with pride.

The Prince thanked me! What an honor.

Unaware of the scheme, Roserikta finally sat down since Kalart seemed to approve.

The chairs were incredibly close. Their shoulders almost touched.

[Roserikta] "I think it might be too cramped for you, Your Highness."

She tried to move her chair away.

[Aldwin] "No. It is perfect as it is."

The Head Maid quickly gripped the back of the chair. Roserikta glanced back at her.

What is this? Is she sitting us this close so she can catch me breaking etiquette?

[Kalart] "Yes. It’s perfect."

Kalart even took her side.

This man trusts the Head Maid too much.

Well, she did raise him like a mother, so it makes sense. I’ll just have to be careful myself.

[Roserikta] "If you say so."

She sat stiffly, trying to keep her shoulder from touching his. Hunching her shoulders made her quite uncomfortable.

[Aldwin] "Give me your hands."

The Head Maid held a pitcher of water and pointed to the finger bowl. To reach it, Roserikta had to move closer to Kalart. Their sleeves brushed, and her eyes met his.

This feels like a trap.

Just as the thought occurred to her, the Head Maid started nagging.

[Aldwin] "Lady Roserikta. Your posture is poor. Straighten your back and square your shoulders."

It’s not my posture! It’s because the chairs are stuck together!

Instead of stopping the Head Maid, Kalart placed his hand on Roserikta’s back to help her sit up.

[Kalart] "Sit like this."

I’m not sitting like this because I don’t know how!

Roserikta leaned in and whispered so only Kalart could hear.

[Roserikta] "The Head Maid is acting strange. I think we should be careful."

[Kalart] "How so?"

[Roserikta] "I think she’s trying to find a reason to scold me……"

The Head Maid pushed in from Roserikta’s left, cutting her off.

[Aldwin] "Excuse me."

She claimed she was pouring water into the bowl, but she pushed Roserikta aside to do it.

Roserikta’s body leaned sharply toward Kalart. He didn't miss the chance and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

[Kalart] "Try this."

He already held a fork with a small quail egg dish. The egg, decorated beautifully with sesame seeds, ham, and cheese, popped into her mouth before she could react.

[Kalart] "Is it good?"

[Roserikta] "Mmph, well……"

Now is not the time, Your Highness!

Roserikta looked at the Head Maid in a panic. Just as she feared, the Head Maid stared at her with a terrifying expression.

Actually, the Head Maid was trying to signal. The Prince fed you himself, so thank him already! But Roserikta understood it as total disapproval of the situation.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness, you shouldn't……"

[Kalart] "Here. You have something on your face."

Some sauce had touched the corner of her mouth. Kalart picked up a napkin, but then he shook his head and pulled her shoulder closer.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness?"

[Kalart] "Do you remember?"

[Roserikta] "Remember what?"

[Kalart] "When we ate together at Kiriyen Castle."

To be exact, they hadn't eaten together; they had helped Clobell eat. Kalart had used that as an excuse to feed Roserikta.

[Kalart] "I wanted to do this."

Instead of the napkin, he used his lips. His tongue swiped the sauce from the corner of her mouth.

[Roserikta] "……Your Highness!"

Before she could express her shock, Kalart pressed a quick kiss to her lips.

[Kalart] "It's strange. Doing this makes me feel even hungrier."

He calmly ate a quail egg himself.

[Kalart] "I feel like I could eat anything."

[Roserikta] "……"

Conscious of the Head Maid behind her, Roserikta sat frozen in silence.

It was a pity. If she had turned around, she would have seen the Head Maid smiling with absolute joy.

Oh, our Prince always had such a small appetite and was so picky.

But now he says he can eat anything!

For that reason alone, she forgave everything. She would have been happy even if Kalart had sat Roserikta on his lap and fed her with his bare hands.

[Aldwin] "I will bring the next course."

The Head Maid turned and left the room. Her happy expression vanished the moment she turned away.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness."

She moved her chair away immediately.

[Kalart] "What is it?"

He pouted his lower lip in dissatisfaction. She shook her head vigorously.

[Roserikta] "You can't do that."

[Kalart] "Do what?"

[Roserikta] "You shouldn't forget etiquette in front of the Head Maid."

[Kalart] "Why?"

Despair filled her face.

This man has no idea why I’m in trouble.

True, the Head Maid only scared her. But she couldn't exactly tattle and say the Head Maid was bullying her.

[Roserikta] "Just…… because. Please keep your distance from now on."

[Kalart] "But……"

He started to speak, but went silent. He hadn't forgotten that he was still waiting for Roserikta’s answer.

They were lovers now, but Kalart believed it had happened because he had been persistent.

He still felt like he was in the weaker position, and he had to work harder to win her heart. He shouldn't force her to do things she asked him not to do.

[Kalart] "I understand."

His appetite, which had been so strong a moment ago, vanished instantly.

Kalart left most of his food untouched, which triggered the Head Maid’s fury.

---

I can't take this anymore.

It had been three days since she last saw a plate that was more than slightly touched. The Head Maid felt her mind go blank with rage.

How can she be so clueless?

The Prince said himself that he was hungry. If his mood changed that fast, it means that dense cat maid upset him again!

Since then, even when they sat at the same table, the Prince kept a wide distance and never touched her.

No kisses followed under the guise of cleaning her face, and his smile of pure happiness disappeared. Instead, he lost his appetite.

I won't allow this. Not to our Prince. He hasn't lost his spot as the Empire’s best bachelor since the day he was born in Trifolium Palace twenty-eight years ago!

Crack!

She gripped a plate too hard. A crack appeared in the fine, gold-rimmed porcelain.

[Aldwin] "……I won't let this go today. Absolutely not."

She made a vow. Today, she would teach that dull human a lesson. Both she and the Prince had reached their limit.

Her suspicion that the cat maid was a witch had long since faded. Instead, she had a burning determination to make her a proper partner for the Prince.

---

Night fell.

[Roserikta] "Pardon?"

She blinked. She couldn't understand what she just heard.

[Aldwin] "Are you deaf? Why are you pretending you didn't hear me?"

The Head Maid replied coldly.

[Aldwin] "Things have turned out this way, so just accept it. I will take care of everything so you won't be uncomfortable. Just prepare yourself."

Prepare myself for what?

Roserikta still couldn't believe what the maid said.

Apparently, an accident happened in Kalart’s bedroom. For unknown reasons, water was leaking from the ceiling. Because of that, the bed was soaked. Since the Prince couldn't use a wet bed, he had to sleep in the Crown Princess’s bedroom tonight.

When Roserikta doubted her, the Head Maid showed her the wet sheets as proof. It didn't look like the water had leaked from a ceiling; it looked like someone had soaked them on purpose. Her suspicion grew.

[Roserikta] "What do you mean, 'prepare myself'……?"

The Head Maid’s choice of words was incredibly suspicious. Even if Kalart had to sleep in this room for some reason, did it really require "preparing herself"? It wasn't the first time he had stayed over. The Head Maid surely knew that.

Ignoring Roserikta’s small protest, the Head Maid dressed her in a silk robe, brushed her hair, and left. Before she disappeared, she left one final, suspicious greeting.

[Aldwin] "I hope you have a night that is anything but quiet. No one will be waiting nearby tonight. I certainly won't help you wake up tomorrow morning. I will arrange for breakfast to be served in your room, so don't worry about a thing."

What does she mean by a night that isn't quiet?

Before she could ask, the Head Maid turned and hurried away.

[Roserikta] "This is…… so strange. Don't you think so, Clobell?"

At some point, Clobellina had also vanished from the room. Roserikta had no idea that the Head Maid had carefully used Elona to lure her to another room with snacks.

[Roserikta] "Clobell is gone, too. This……"

A strange chill ran down her neck. Her skin felt itchy against the silk pajamas, as if they were full of loose threads.

No…… surely not?

No way. The Head Maid would never do that.

With eyes full of doubt, she looked around the bedroom where Kalart was forced to stay.

The bed had fresh, sweet apricot-colored sheets. Flower petals were scattered across it. Her pajamas were thin, and candles burned instead of oil lamps. Everything was different from usual.

But the most different thing was Kalart, who arrived a moment later.