TWFLLYM Ch 95

It's Not Useless (1)

[Kalart] "No."

The word slipped out before he could stop it. The sudden rejection proved he possessed an unexpectedly conservative nature. Her eyes widened in panic.

[Roserikta] "Do you hate the idea?"

[Kalart] "No, it is not that...... The proposal is my responsibility."

[Roserikta] "Hmm...... Must it be so? I wanted to keep my promise."

[Kalart] "It must."

He gripped her shoulders.

[Kalart] "It absolutely must."

[Roserikta] "Why? It is just a proposal."

[Kalart] "That is......"

Countless thoughts rushed through his mind. He pictured the King of the Witch Kingdom, who despised him. He imagined the Chamberlain and the Head Maid, who held far more conservative views on imperial marriages than he did. The gossiping Royal Guards crossed his mind, along with Klein, who had cried while drafting the contract and declared he would watch to see how the proposal unfolded.

No, those matters held little importance. The core issue remained that Roserikta had already done too much for their marriage. He couldn't let her propose as well. He had done nothing for her yet. This posed a severe problem for him.

[Kalart] "Wait for me."

[Roserikta] "For what?"

[Kalart] "I will prepare it properly."

She chuckled.

[Roserikta] "Hmm...... However, Grandmother will remain the same in the meantime."

[Kalart] "That is included. In the proper preparations."

She tilted her head.

[Roserikta] "You want to change her mind? That will take a long time."

[Kalart] "Am I being greedy?"

[Roserikta] "As I told you, humans and witches share a complicated history."

[Kalart] "But I refuse to let you shoulder anything other than blessings. Even if her hatred for humans is unavoidable, I will not let her oppose your marriage to me."

His words held a promise to surround her only with good things.

[Roserikta] "Are you saying you will propose when Grandmother gives her permission?"

[Kalart] "That is my intention."

Then I will give you only good things too, Your Highness.

[Roserikta] "Do as you wish. I will wait."

He traced the corner of her mouth, caressing her smile. Her changed expression clearly caught his attention.

[Kalart] "Then help me."

[Roserikta] "How?"

[Kalart] "How do I win a witch's favor?"

His firm resolve radiated from his face. Roserikta grew serious in turn.

Indeed...... What should we do to change Grandmother's mind?

---

Flowers and jewels proved useless. Kalart's daily morning gifts stuffed the bedroom to the brim, but Grandmother ignored them completely.

[Mazi] "Tsk, tsk...... How one-dimensional. If witches liked jewels, humans would have none left by now."

[Clobell] "I like them. We can sell jewels to buy expensive things."

Beside her, Clobellina swished her tail and rubbed her cheeks against a diamond necklace. Black fur snagged on the gold chain linking the diamonds.

Roserikta sighed quietly.

I must tell him to stop sending gifts. This is causing a reverse effect. If flowers and jewels are useless, what about food?

[Roserikta] "Grandmother, the weather is lovely today. Shall we have afternoon tea in the garden?"

The bedroom scenery mirrored yesterday's. Extravagant boxes wrapped in ribbons and flowers piled high, while flower baskets and new trunks occupied every empty corner. Clobellina enthusiastically shed fur onto the newly laid plush carpet before the fireplace. Elona busily arranged Kalart's flowers into vases.

Grandmother Mazi sat on the window sofa, lazily basking in the sun. Roserikta placed a small table opposite her and read a spellbook. Whenever she slowed down upon encountering a difficult passage, Grandmother caught on instantly and offered precise advice.

It would be a peaceful time if Grandmother and Clobellina didn't scoff every time a gift arrived.

[Mazi] "Oh my. You want to read a spellbook in the garden?"

[Roserikta] "I can rest during tea time."

[Mazi] "I doubt it. It will only give the humans a spectacle to gawk at."

She now understood Grandmother's way of speaking.

[Roserikta] "Are you worried His Highness might have prepared something?"

[Mazi] "My, your intuition has improved."

Clobellina rolled over to the table.

[Clobell] "She has no intuition at all. Do you agree, Grandmother?"

[Mazi] "Of course I do."

Roserikta poked Clobellina's plump backside with her toe.

[Roserikta] "Clobell. Will you keep talking bad about me in front of Grandmother?"

[Clobell] "Cut me some slack. Think of how frustrated I have been. I have nowhere else to complain."

[Roserikta] "Do you think I have nothing bad to say about you? Shall we start with the mustache you burned off?"

[Clobell] "Aw, what are you talking about. When did I do that. You are showing your temper just because Grandmother is here. I am a small, fragile cat and I am terrified."

[Roserikta] "Lying comes so easily to you now. Didn't you say you were a fully grown three-year-old cat?"

[Clobell] "Three is still the age to play with rattles. Wah-wah."

Dumbfounded, she slammed the thick spellbook shut.

[Roserikta] "I can't listen to this anymore. Come here, Clobell. Let us have a private chat between contractors."

[Clobell] "Hmph."

Clobellina leaped up and fled to the top of the curtain rod.

[Roserikta] "Will you come down? I will withhold your dinner."

[Clobell] "Ah, I am perfectly fine because many people feed me besides you these days. Speaking of which, did you think I forgot how you used food to boss me around? I remember everything. How much weight did I even gain for you to nag me so much about it? Thinking about it still makes me miserable."

[Roserikta] "You...... Come down this instant."

Roserikta ground her teeth.

[Clobell] "Would you come down if you were me? Do you think I am as dense as you?"

[Roserikta] "You are arrogant because you have people taking your side lately, but how long do you think that will last?"

[Clobell] "Now you are threatening me. It is not like you will return to the pharmacy right away. Can you even go? Leaving the Crown Prince behind?"

[Roserikta] "Ugh, why are you acting so infuriating today?"

Grandmother rested her chin on her hand, leisurely watching the bickering witch and cat.

Roserikta huffed, pausing the argument. The grandmother beckoned with her hand.

[Mazi] "Keep going. This is highly entertaining."

Roserikta turned her head and gave the grandmother a resentful look.

[Roserikta] "Grandmother."

[Mazi] "That is how witches and cats are. No matter how they meet, they always find their mirror image. That is why you fight every day."

Both of their faces fell flat.

[Roserikta] "We look nothing alike!"

[Clobell] "That is impossible! I am absolutely adorable!"

[Mazi] "See. You are exactly alike."

They vigorously shook their heads as if they had heard something offensive.

Knock, knock.

[Countess] "Marchioness Martianan. May I enter?"

It was the Head Maid's voice. Roserikta approached the door instead of the busy Elona.

[Roserikta] "Yes. Come in."

Click.

The door opened. The Head Maid entered, carrying a glossy black box on a red velvet cushion.

[Countess] "His Highness sent a gift. He worries our esteemed guest might grow bored."

[Mazi] "Hmph."

Grandmother scoffed without fail.

[Mazi] "Another useless gift."

[Roserikta] "Grandmother."

Roserikta called out instinctively.

It was a pointless worry. Even if the Head Maid harbored a grudge against her words, she could do nothing to the third witch of Versaryl. Furthermore, the Head Maid had no intention of holding a grudge.

[Countess] "Do you find anything lacking? If so, please tell me. I will assist you to the best of my ability."

The Head Maid's overly polite attitude shocked Roserikta anew.

No. It is overflowing. The problem is that it overflows with useless items.

Anyway, why did the Head Maid transform into a completely different person? Ah, I don't dislike it. I am just astonished.

[Mazi] "There is no need for that."

Grandmother spoke with an unenthusiastic tone today. The Head Maid stood with utmost courtesy, yet she ground her teeth silently.

[Countess] "Please don't hesitate to tell me."

[Mazi] "My words will not fix it. It is not something that can be corrected overnight."

[Countess] "Pardon my insolence, but does that mean our Crown Prince possesses flaws that need correcting?"

Growing annoyed, the grandmother waved her hand.

[Mazi] "Where in this world will you find a perfect human? You may leave."

[Countess] "......"

Fwoosh.

A burning wick roars inside the Head Maid's eyes.

[Countess] "Forgive my extreme insolence, but I consider our Crown Prince to be one of those flawless humans. Even if he lacks nothing, please notify me immediately if anything troubles your mind. I worry misunderstandings might arise due to the different customs between the Imperial Palace and the outside world. Please excuse me."

She handed the box to Roserikta with a rigid, flawless posture.

[Roserikta] "Ah, thank you. Countess."

[Countess] "You are welcome. The thanks belong to His Highness. I will retire now to prepare the refreshments."

[Roserikta] "Yes, Countess."

[Countess] "Please rest well."

The Head Maid marched out of Roserikta's room with precise, measured steps.

Elona approached, holding a half-trimmed flower.

[Elona] "What is the gift this time, Lady Roserikta?"

[Roserikta] "I wonder."

[Elona] "Can you open it now?"

Grandmother clearly had no interest in the gift. Roserikta opened the box herself.

[Elona] "Oh my, how pretty."

Kalart had sent a chessboard crafted from ivory and jewels. It measured only the size of a palm. The pieces matched the board's dimensions, making it an exquisite ornament.

[Elona] "Look at this piece, Lady Roserikta."

She pinched the King and placed it on Roserikta's palm.

[Elona] "Does it not resemble you, Lady Roserikta?"

[Roserikta] "Ah, really?"

[Elona] "It does. The Queen here has a cat's face. It is Clobell."

[Roserikta] "Aha. You are right. It is Clobell."

[Elona] "His Highness ordered it made for you. It is a precious gift."

[Roserikta] "Indeed."

They were the only two delighted by the gift.

[Mazi] "How much did they waste making a toy like this? The human mindset. Tsk, tsk."

Grandmother criticized it as expected, prompting Clobellina to feign disinterest.

Roserikta smiled bitterly, closed the box, and placed it on the table.

His Highness spent money and earned more disapproval today. What should I do about this?

At this rate, we won't get married even after the baby is born. We need a proposal to get married.

Knowing the difficulty of the situation, Roserikta fell into deep thought. A clue presented itself shortly after.

---

[Elona] "Wow......"

The cozy private room attached to the Crown Princess' bedroom transformed into a fairy tale space.

The Head Maid, who promised to prepare refreshments, had arranged a small banquet instead. Unfamiliar pastries and cakes bloomed like flowering trees on tiered plates.

[Clobell] "Uh, this is extreme......"

Clobellina widened her eyes.

[Clobell] "Are they telling us to eat sweets until we die. This is massive."

Elona marveled at the twelve different teapots lined up, then burst into giggles.

[Elona] "The Head Maid made a firm decision. Even for the Imperial Family, I have never witnessed a tea party like this."

Roserikta glanced back at Grandmother and lowered her voice to ask Elona.

[Roserikta] "Did His Highness send this?"

She worried Kalart's gift would face rejection once more.

[Elona] "I believe the Head Maid prepared this herself."

Elona replied in an equally quiet whisper.

[Roserikta] "The Head Maid?"

[Elona] "She got furious earlier. Because of Grandmother's words."

[Roserikta] "Ah......"

Roserikta recalled the sound of the Head Maid grinding her teeth.

[Roserikta] "She prepared all this because she was angry?"

[Elona] "She felt insulted, so she had to show off even more. It is very like her. Plus, the Head Maid can't tolerate the reality of His Highness being rejected as a marriage partner. She will roll up her sleeves and do whatever it takes to make your marriage happen."

[Roserikta] "Oh......?"

Now that she thought about it, she had experienced something similar. The Head Maid had once cried out in frustration, asking what exactly the Crown Prince lacked.

Ah...... So that was it.

Roserikta finally understood why the Head Maid had personally decorated the bed. And why she acted like a completely transformed person.

She didn't change as a person. She just changed her perspective.

Wait a minute. Then does that mean Grandmother also......?

Grandmother offered no words of praise, yet she still picked up a cookie and fed it to Clobellina. The sight cemented Roserikta's realization.

Yes. Let's do it.

She nodded to herself.