TWFLLYM Ch 98

It's Not Useless (4)

[Eaton] "Oh, that's……."

He began to sweat again, despite having just dried his forehead.

Since the incidents at the Gibero Estate, he felt an unpayable debt to Roserikta. In truth, the entire Royal Guard—and the whole Empire—shared that feeling.

On top of that, Eaton carried the guilt of once trying to harm her personally. The weight on his shoulders was constant. He longed for any chance to atone.

Setting all that aside, he found it impossible to refuse this woman anything.

[Eaton] "Well…… His Highness has been quite busy with official business lately……."

[Roserikta] "Is he that busy?"

[Eaton] "The two of you haven't been…… spending time together like before……."

[Roserikta] "Ah."

So that's what it was.

From his reaction, she realized two things: first, Kalart had not informed Eaton of their little plan; and second, rumors in the Imperial Palace traveled remarkably fast. It had only been a few days.

Rumors that our relationship has changed are already circulating. This truly—no, this is undeniably a place where one must watch their words.

[Eaton] "It's only because His Highness is overwhelmed with administrative duties, so please don't worry. I mean it."

He repeated the same words over and over.

[Roserikta] "It's okay. I understand."

[Eaton] "Excuse me, but why are you staying in a place like this……?"

In his eyes, Roserikta looked like she was waiting desperately for Kalart to emerge from his office.

[Roserikta] "Oh, I'm waiting for my grandmother."

[Eaton] "Your grandmother?"

[Roserikta] "She's talking with His Highness right now. I'm curious about the result."

[Eaton] "Ah……."

A flicker of pity crossed his face. He clearly thought that since the relationship was strained, the family elders had finally stepped in.

[Roserikta] "Don't worry too much, Sir Eaton. Nothing bad will happen."

When she offered comfort instead, Eaton shook his head frantically as if overwhelmed.

[Eaton] "No, please don't say that. Why would I worry? I mean, it's not that I'm not worried…… No, no, of course there is absolutely nothing to worry about."

Roserikta realized how much he was trying to be considerate of her feelings.

Goodness. He really is a kind person.

[Eaton] "But if you are very concerned…… I will speak to His Highness myself."

His expression looked positively grim. He was prepared to risk everything to tell Kalart that he must not change his mind, even if it meant facing his wrath.

Clobellina patted the back of Eaton's hand.

[Clobell] "You're a good person. Remember that. If the Crown Prince loses his mind, speak up immediately."

Roserikta smiled at Eaton.

[Roserikta] "Thank you for caring. Though I hope there won't be a need for you to speak to him separately."

[Eaton] "The pleasure is mine."

Eaton, who had been nodding continuously, glanced cautiously toward the closed door.

[Eaton] "The conversation seems to be running long."

Her smile turned slightly ambiguous.

[Roserikta] "It might be better if it's long."

[Eaton] "……Pardon? What do you mean?"

It means Grandmother hasn't gotten angry enough to turn him into an ugly frog yet.

[Roserikta] "Dialogue isn't a bad thing."

[Eaton] "Couldn't it be a bad conversation?"

She spoke seriously.

[Roserikta] "Trust me. As long as a witch is talking, the situation isn't that bad."

[Eaton] "Then what happens when the situation becomes bad?"

[Roserikta] "Ah, that's……."

She was struggling to find a gentler way to explain when—

Click!

The firmly closed door finally opened.

[Clobell] "Grandmother! You're finished talking!"

Clobellina dashed forward. However, the first person to exit the room was Kalart, not Grandmother.

[Kalart] "You were here."

He strode over quickly and scooped Roserikta up from the windowsill where she was sitting.

[Roserikta] "Oh! Your Highness!"

Everyone except Grandmother Mazi was shocked.

[Clobell] "What's wrong with him? Is he trying to get back into our good graces now? Does he not want to be a frog?"

Eaton wondered for a moment what it meant to "become a frog," but decided it was best not to ask. Besides, being surprised took priority.

Were the rumors of their poor relationship just baseless gossip?

Even so, Kalart had acted like a completely different person for the past few days.

[Roserikta] "What did you two talk about?"

He stared at her with a beaming smile, oblivious to how others were looking at him.

[Kalart] "Good things."

[Roserikta] "Pardon?"

[Kalart] "There's no longer a need to lie. And,"

He lifted her with one arm, then reached inside his coat with the other hand to pull out a rolled piece of silk. It was actually paper backed with silk.

[Kalart] "The signature has returned to the vow."

After speaking, Kalart tucked the marriage oath back into his inner pocket.

That gesture strangely made Roserikta's heart flutter. The way he cherished the object and tucked it into his inner pocket felt unfamiliar yet sweet. Moreover, he didn't even show her the oath.

[Roserikta] "Had it disappeared?"

Grandmother must have done it.

[Kalart] "Mhm. It's fine now."

[Roserikta] "Didn't you take it out to show me?"

He shook his head with a smile.

[Kalart] "Not yet."

[Roserikta] "Why?"

[Kalart] "It might disappear again."

She let out a short, incredulous laugh.

[Roserikta] "It won't disappear just because I look at it. I don't even know how to use that kind of magic."

[Kalart] "Still, no. If you're that curious, I'll show it to you later."

[Roserikta] "When is later?"

[Kalart] "When we sign the marriage certificate."

By then, the oath would have served its purpose.

[Roserikta] "Just in case, you aren't going to show this oath to anyone else, right?"

[Kalart] "That is my intention."

[Roserikta] "Then what is the point of the vow?"

[Kalart] "The meaning lies in the fact that I possess it."

Goodness. What nonsense is he talking about?

He stared intensely at her and asked.

[Kalart] "There is nothing left now."

Her breath caught at those words.

She knew exactly what "nothing left" meant. It meant there were no obstacles left for their marriage other than blessings.

[Kalart] "Roserikta, the Witch of Versaryl. Will you marry me?"

[Roserikta] "Oh……."

Attempting to answer so suddenly triggered a hiccup.

As Roserikta nodded silently, Kalart patted her back.

[Kalart] "I’ll take that as a yes."

[Roserikta] "Pardon? No, I haven't said—hic!"

[Kalart] "You nodded, so that's enough."

[Roserikta] "That's not it, I—hic!"

[Kalart] "You weren't planning to say no, were you?"

He didn't stop patting her back as he gestured to Eaton, who was still sitting awkwardly on the sofa.

[Kalart] "What are you doing? Go and get some water."

[Eaton] "Oh, yes, Your Highness!"

Eaton finally snapped out of it and ran to fetch water. Then, Grandmother stepped out of the room.

[Mazi] "Tsk, tsk. Can't even solve a single thing like this."

She raised her staff and tapped Roserikta with the tip. Like magic, the hiccups stopped instantly.

[Roserikta] "Oh? It's gone."

[Mazi] "Of course. I’m the one who handled it."

Unlike Kalart, who couldn't stop laughing, Grandmother still looked displeased. She clicked her tongue as she stared at Roserikta's feet, which still hadn't touched the ground, and Kalart pulled her even closer.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness."

Feeling embarrassed, she whispered to him.

[Roserikta] "Please put me down. I think Grandmother is watching."

[Kalart] "Not yet."

[Roserikta] "Pardon?"

[Kalart] "I won't put you down precisely because she is watching."

Grandmother clicked her tongue even louder.

[Mazi] "Tsk! Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

Unable to contain her curiosity, Clobellina trotted over and rubbed her forehead against Grandmother's skirt.

[Clobell] "Grandmother. Why didn't you turn him into a frog?"

Grandmother gripped her staff tightly as if reconsidering.

[Mazi] "I wonder why."

[Clobell] "It's not too late. Why don't we just turn him into an ugly frog and all go to the Kingdom of Witches together?"

[Mazi] "I’ve wanted to do that a hundred times over."

Her sharp gaze turned toward Kalart. Facing an angry witch was a daunting task even for another witch, but Kalart remained calm. He seemed to be relying on the oath tucked in his inner pocket.

[Mazi] "But doing so would cause quite a headache."

She ground her teeth.

[Mazi] "How could a human be built like that?"

[Clobell] "Ah……. I think I know what you mean."

Clobellina tapped the top of Grandmother's foot as if offering comfort.

[Clobell] "He's the type of human who would cause a massive disaster."

The witch and the cat both agreed that Roserikta would be at the center of that disaster. The witch could guess what he might do if she opposed the marriage until the very end.

[Mazi] "That's why I didn't like it from the start, but ultimately, that's why I can’t oppose it."

Grandmother never liked how blind Kalart's devotion was. He was the kind of person capable of anything. Yet, that was precisely the reason Roserikta and Kalart were bound by the same thread of causality.

Because he was that kind of person, he fell under the Black Witch's curse, and for the same reason, he fell in love with the Witch of Versaryl regardless of the curse.

Because he is that kind of person.

Because he was that kind of person, he could look at Roserikta with such adoration, even with cursed eyes. Grandmother Mazi, who understood black magic better than any living witch, knew how impossible that was.

I couldn't oppose him because he is that kind of human.

Opposing him would have been useless anyway. Grandmother could guess that Kalart's sudden change in attitude had a hidden motive. Still, she couldn't help being annoyed.

How dare a mere human? A Witch of Versaryl. My precious child.

If Kalart had truly given up or changed his mind, she would have gladly turned him into a frog. However, as expected, he had never changed, nor had his desires.

It was time to step back. This was fated from the beginning. Grandmother Mazi never intended to give Roserikta anything other than blessings.

[Mazi] "Still, I can't help feeling uncomfortable."

Clobellina nodded at her words.

[Clobell] "Exactly. It's an eyesore."

Roserikta stepped out of Kalart's embrace and looked back at Grandmother.

[Roserikta] "I hope you won't be too uncomfortable, Grandmother."

Grandmother stroked Roserikta's hair and clicked her tongue.

[Mazi] "How could that be up to me? That human probably didn't go according to your wishes either."

[Roserikta] "Well…… that is true."

[Mazi] "Well, I won't oppose the marriage. Instead, keep one thing in mind."

[Roserikta] "What is it?"

[Mazi] "Ten months from now. When your baby is born, I must take that child to the Kingdom of Witches immediately. It's unavoidable if the child is to be baptized. I will bring the baby back once the baptism is safely finished and I’ve confirmed the child is healthy."

At those words, Roserikta gently squeezed Kalart's hand.

[Roserikta] "I can't go with you, can I?"

[Mazi] "If you can see the path, you can go, but humans are not allowed."

[Roserikta] "Ah…… I suppose so."

It was disappointing, but as Grandmother said, it was unavoidable.

[Roserikta] "Yes, I understand. I’ll follow your words."

[Mazi] "Good. Then I should be heading back now. I must go and find a spell to track down that Black Witch."

[Roserikta] "You're leaving already? It's only been a few days……."

Surprised, Roserikta grabbed Grandmother. Clobellina did the same.

[Clobell] "Why are you leaving? Stay and play with me more. Now that you've allowed the marriage, the Crown Prince will treat you well again."

Grandmother shook her head slowly.

[Mazi] "What would I do if I stayed longer? This place is stifling; it's no place for a witch. You're the strange one for thinking of living here forever."

Then, this time, Kalart took Roserikta's hand. Grandmother recognized why he grabbed it and clicked her tongue again.

[Mazi] "Anyway, I’ll call if there's news. Or I’ll just come. And you, human."

She glared at Kalart with sharp eyes.

[Mazi] "I have one more thing to say."

[Kalart] "Please, speak."

Come to think of it, his way of speaking to Grandmother had changed. According to Imperial etiquette, Kalart had no reason to use honorifics for anyone except the Emperor. Using formal language for Grandmother was the greatest respect the Crown Prince could show.

[Mazi] "There is something you must keep in mind."