TWFLLYM Ch 93

Climbing is Always Hard, Your Highness

[Mazi] "Such high-quality black is rare."

She spoke in a noble tone, followed by words that were anything but noble.

[Mazi] "If I asked for them, would you give them to me? Both of them, of course."

[Kalart] "I will. In exchange, you will perform the baptism for my child."

His answer came without a second of hesitation.

His nonchalant nod remained unchanged, so it took a moment for the humans—already intoxicated by the witch's charm—to process the transaction that had just occurred.

[Klein] "Excuse me, Your Highness......? What did you just say......?"

Klein tilted his head, blinking. Only then did Eaton and Arad sense that something had gone terribly wrong.

[Arad] "Your Highness......? Did I hear that correctly?"

[Eaton] "What did you say you would give her?"

Kalart ignored their useless reactions.

[Kalart] "When should I deliver them?"

[Mazi] "......"

She studied Kalart before answering.

[Mazi] "I see you are in earnest."

Clink.

The teacup she had held for a long time finally settled onto its saucer.

[Mazi] "But I don’t like it at all. No, actually, that's why I hate it. Humans being blind to witches is one thing, but this is too much. I oppose a human like this."

[Kalart] "No matter what you say......"

He stopped mid-sentence, struck by shock.

As the teacup moved away, Mazi revealed her full face—or rather, the face she now wore. She had transformed into an elderly lady.

[Klein] "Huh? No, wait, huh? How did......? Eh?"

Klein stammered, his mind spinning. Until a second ago, he believed he had met the most beautiful woman of his life. He had decided to fall in love at first sight and woo her, witch or not.

Arad and Eaton stiffened. When Kalart mentioned the word 'witch' earlier, it hadn't felt real. Now, they felt it in their very skin.

The Lord of Merve was a witch.

Eaton, who had once been a 'Black Agent,' felt like biting his tongue. He couldn't understand how he had let his guard down so easily.

The witch, now in her grandmotherly form, picked up her teacup again, unbothered by the sudden shift in the atmosphere.

[Mazi] "The tea is fine. I shall stay here for a while, so prepare the same tea during my visit."

The situation defied logic. Arad, trying to read the room, finally spoke up.

[Arad] "Pardon my intrusion, but for what reason do you intend to stay in the Imperial Palace?"

[Mazi] "Three reasons."

She counted them on her fingers.

[Mazi] "First, Raquelman promised that anyone from the land of Idarion would always be treated as a guest of honor. Second, even without that promise, I have a use for the Imperial Crown Prince. Third, even if I had no use for him, this is the time when he must work hard to change my mind."

All three reasons sounded foreign. The promise of the first Emperor, Raquelman I, was ancient history, but why did the Crown Prince need to impress a witch?

[Arad] "Why is that the case?"

[Mazi] "I think you should hear that from the person involved. It's a bit much to introduce myself at this age. Isn't that right, Rosie?"

When the old lady called out to Roserikta so naturally, Kalart's head whipped around.

Creeeeak.

A small door beside the fireplace—one no one knew existed—opened.

Roserikta walked out with an awkward expression. Elona followed behind her, clutching Clobellina.

For some reason, Roserikta held a broken door handle in her hand.

[Roserikta] "You knew I was here?"

[Mazi] "How could I not? Come here."

The witch's voice turned miraculously sweet as she called for her.

As Roserikta moved toward her, Kalart stepped in, blocking her path.

[Kalart] "You don't have to obey her."

He seemed to be worrying without knowing who the Lord of Merve actually was.

Roserikta stood on her tiptoes and patted his cheek to reassure him.

[Roserikta] "It's okay, Your Highness. She isn't dangerous. Just...... her way of thinking is very much like a witch."

[Kalart] "Is she a witch connected to you?"

She glanced at Mazi, nodded slightly, and answered.

[Roserikta] "Yes, Your Highness. She is my grandmother."

His brow furrowed in shock. It wasn't an exaggeration to say he had never been this flustered in his life.

[Kalart] "Didn't you say...... your grandmother had passed away?"

[Roserikta] "Yes. She isn't the grandmother who died, but her sister. I only recently found out about her myself."

The seating shifted. Grandmother Mazi and Roserikta sat side by side, with Elona standing nearby. Kalart sat opposite them, though he looked as if he still couldn't bring himself to relax.

[Kalart] "When?"

[Roserikta] "Literally, just a while ago. I fell asleep for a moment at Sir Hailey's jewelry shop. I met Grandmother Mazi then."

[Kalart] "Ah......"

He shook his head as if to clear the confusion.

The sight before him finally sank in. Roserikta and the witch, sitting together, looked affectionate and happy. Seeing that, he had no choice but to believe the 'grandmother' claim.

Clobellina flicked the tip of her tail and greeted the witch.

[Clobell] "Hello, Grandmother Mazi. I am Clobellina. It is a pleasure to meet you."

It was the first time anyone had heard the cat speak so politely.

[Mazi] "Oh. So you’re Clobell. You’re quite cute and plump."

[Clobell] "It is an honor. May I rub my forehead against your hand?"

[Mazi] "Do as you wish."

As the witch offered her hand, Clobellina began purring loudly, rubbing her head against it in a frenzy.

[Roserikta] "Don't be too indulgent with Clobell, Grandmother."

When she spoke up, the witch laughed gently.

[Mazi] "What's wrong with it? This child is just as happy to see me as I am to see her."

[Roserikta] "If you spoil her too much, she’ll become arrogant and won't listen to me."

[Clobell] "Purrrrr. No. I am a very good cat. Rosie is slandering me."

[Roserikta] "Clobell. Slander?"

[Clobell] "Purrr. You’re scary, Rosie. Why are you glaring at a kind and gentle cat like me?"

[Roserikta] "When did I ever glare at you?"

[Clobell] "My heart is so fragile that even a look from you terrifies me."

[Roserikta] "Ugh, Clobell. At least wipe the lies off your mouth first."

When she tugged at the tip of her tail, the cat almost hissed, but immediately went back to acting cute, clinging to the witch's sleeve.

[Mazi] "Look at you two. Just like children."

The witch's personality seemed to have flipped entirely; she only laughed softly. Her attitude toward Roserikta was nothing but warm.

Watching this made Kalart feel strange. It was a happy scene, but he felt a prickle of discomfort.

[Kalart] "I would like to ask about the baptism."

He cut through their shared happiness.

[Kalart] "Is the offer to take my eyes as payment still valid?"

[Roserikta] "There is no need for that, Your Highness."

She said firmly.

At those words, peace finally returned to the faces of Klein and Eaton.

In truth, while Roserikta had been eavesdropping from the servant's passage, she had been so shocked by the request for Kalart's eyes that she accidentally ripped the door handle off.

It was absolute nonsense. Just because someone was a witch didn't mean they had such gruesome tastes. Human body parts weren't edible; they were just grotesque.

She guessed why Grandmother had said it, but her heart had still dropped. She had almost fainted in that cramped space.

Wait, where did I put that handle? Ah, Lady Elona took it.

But why did Grandmother have to scare him like that?

[Roserikta] "You never intended to take them from the start, right, Grandmother?"

[Mazi] "Hmm......"

The witch sipped her tea, pretending not to hear.

[Kalart] "Then the baptism?"

[Roserikta] "That......"

Don't worry, Your Highness. Grandmother saw the stork arrive before I did. That's why she found the moonstone to melt the ice—to save the baby and me.

Before she could reassure him, Grandmother suddenly stood up.

[Mazi] "Which room will be mine? Clobell, will you lead the way?"

[Clobell] "It would be an honor! I will lead you to the bedroom I use!"

Clobellina leaped down from the sofa. Elona quickly hurried to her side.

The Lord of Merve, the third king of the Witch Kingdom, was likely the most prestigious guest Trifolium Palace had ever hosted. Elona was already vibrating with excitement at the thought of serving such a guest.

[Mazi] "Rosie. What are you doing? You’re coming too."

[Roserikta] "Me too?"

Roserikta's eyes darted around. She had been about to tell Kalart not to worry. It seemed Grandmother was being mischievous.

[Roserikta] "I think I need to talk to His Highness a bit more. He must have many questions."

[Mazi] "If that's the case, I shall be the one to speak."

She turned sharply to face Kalart.

[Mazi] "There is no need to worry about Rosie's child. That child will be born a witch and raised as one. This means it doesn't matter whether a human man is the father or not."

[Kalart] "That child is mine as well."

[Mazi] "No. That is only possible once you marry Rosie."

[Kalart] "We have already completed our marriage vows."

[Mazi] "Is that what you think?"

The witch wore a different kind of smile now—the smile the highest witch reserves for humans.

[Mazi] "Then you should check again. I’ll warn you now: marrying a witch of Versaryl as a human is no simple task."

She took Roserikta's hand.

[Mazi] "Let us go, Rosie."

[Roserikta] "Grandmother. Right now......"

[Mazi] "Hurry. Don't leave me alone in this strange human space."

Roserikta felt a strong sense that the witch was intentionally separating her from Kalart, but she couldn't be stubborn here.

It seemed Kalart hadn't crossed the 'mountain' just yet.

[Roserikta] "Yes."

She rose, feeling as though she was conceding half a step to move one step forward later.

[Roserikta] "Then, Your Highness. I will take Grandmother to her bedroom."

Fortunately, Kalart was quick-witted. He understood that the 'mountain' she mentioned was Grandmother Mazi. And he understood he had to climb it.

[Kalart] "I will give orders to ensure her stay is comfortable. I hope you enjoy your time with her as well."

[Roserikta] "Thank you, Your Highness."

Just as Kalart took Roserikta's hand to bring it to his lips in farewell......

[Mazi] "Rosie."

She slipped from his grip like a gust of wind.

[Roserikta] "Grandmother?"

She called out, startled. She hadn't pulled her hand away herself; Grandmother must have used magic.

[Mazi] "When a witch is with child, human energy is the worst thing for her. Always maintain this distance."

[Roserikta] "Is that true?"

[Mazi] "Of course."

That sounds like a lie.

As far as she knew, witches were gifted liars. It was likely because the nature of magic resembled a lie. Dealing with the invisible and creating what didn't exist was, in a way, deceiving the laws of nature.

Just as Roserikta could lie without a single quiver of her eyelashes, so could her grandmother.

[Mazi] "Remember. This is the distance."

The distance between her and Kalart was now six paces. Those six paces suddenly felt like the furthest distance in the world.

[Mazi] "Now, let us go."

Grandmother. You’re bullying him on purpose, aren't you?

She understood the intent, but she couldn't take Kalart's side. Doing so would only make her lose favor with her grandmother.

[Roserikta] "......Yes."

She left a pitying glance for Kalart before leaving the audience chamber with Grandmother.

---

[Arad] "I—I brought it, Your Highness! Huff, huff."

Arad ran in, drenched in sweat. In his hands was the box containing the marriage contract Kalart had Roserikta sign in the carriage on the way to the jewelry shop.

[Kalart] "Give it to me."

Kalart snatched the box from his hands.

Click!

The lid flipped open, revealing the contract inside. The moment he unfurled the scroll, his face paled.

[Kalart] "......Damn it."

Thud!

The box hit the floor.

[Eaton] "Your Highness......"

While Eaton called out in concern, Klein quickly leaned down to pick up the contract that had fallen with the box.

[Klein] "This can't be."

In the space where two signatures should have been, only Kalart's remained.

[Klein] "I clearly saw Lady Martianan's signature there when I checked it......"

The contract, now missing a signature, was undeniably void.