20.2 The Princess Enchants the Witch (4)
Since she has to extract the moonlight from the water, Roze immediately returns to her dwelling.
It has to be top quality, thus, she focuses her entire being—to the point of completely ignoring Harij.
As Roze stirs her witch’s cauldron, she feels someone staring at her. She keeps stirring, pretending to ignore it. However, it’s a hard thing to do.
“I would prefer if you don’t stare too much.”
—my hands become shaky.
She can’t just tell him to go home. Because she doesn’t want that—if she orders him, “Go home.” That would go against her real intentions and would count as lying.
Witches’ number one rule; never lie.
Harij feels Roze’s seriousness and gently turns away.
The silence between them is unnerving, thus, Roze opens her mouth again.
“Your silence make me nervous. Tell me something—anything.”
“What a troublesome person you are…”
It seems that he can’t come up with a story.
Roze stirs the cauldron. The floating light is caught and is spun into the spindle.
“I’ve never seen witch’s magic before.”
“There’s no point in making a show out of it.”
Even though the jerk called her ‘troublesome’ just a moment ago, Roze still replies to him, although they don’t share eye contact.
“I see. Come to think of it, don’t you always know when a customer arrives, Roze?”
“What about it?”
“Is it because you always peep through the window?”
“You noticed?”
“Of course.”
The moonlight is being spun into a fine thread.
Roze skillfully gathers the light with her hands before threading it into the spindle.
“Although my eyes can see across very far distances just fine, it’s not only because of that… Ancestry magic resides in this area—one of them inside the bell outside. Whenever there’s a visitor—be it human or beast, it’ll never fail to ring.”
“So, you’re saying… you already know there are customers even when they are still on that shore across the forest?”
“…”
“Roze, are you listening?”
“Sorry. Cease the talk, I need to focus.”
“Oi.”
In the end, Roze’s reply comes after the work is done.
“…Sorry, what were we talking about?”
Roze tilts the spindle over a big glass bottle, pouring the fine thread made of moonlight. Harij becomes the spectator to the entire scene. He looks truly mesmerized.
“Thanks for reminding me that you have your own world.”
“No problem.”
“…So, will the bell ring regardless of the time?”
“Huh? Yes, why?”
“…No way, you’re saying it’ll ring even at this late at night!?”
“…Does a customer who stays until this late have any right to say that?”
This time, the one who’s amazed is Roze.
She didn’t realize it, either, that they’re this deep into the night. The day must’ve changed.
“Regardless of the time—morning, noon, or night—it’ll absolutely ring. Because customers usually visit this kind of place at night, my body is accustomed to waking up around this hour. I’m the only witch around here, after all.”
Harij, after being called out for staying this late, looks uncomfortable. However, he gradually turns stern.
“…In short, for years, you’ve been neglecting sleep?”
“I do sleep, you know. I just wake up earlier, is all.”
“That’s basically the same—you’ve been neglecting sleep.”
Harij groans and stands up from the chair. While she’s still amazed, he pulls her hand. Inside his large palm, her thin hand looks like a rose branch.
It’s the first time Harij—who’s a noble—displays such an uncouth behavior.
Then, he picks the still confused her up.
The Witch’s dwelling is a narrow place. The rooms are not separated. Her ‘bedroom’ is basically just a concealed space near the wall’s corner. It consists of just a small bed.
She’s carried to the place where Lau once sat.
Harij orders.
“Sleep.”
“Huh—!?”
He gently places her on top of the bed. However, the moment Roze tries to get up, Harij prevents her—
—by trapping her beneath his body.
She’s pinned between his elbows—which are both a protective cradle and a firm prison.
He’s right on top of her. She can no longer move easily.
Roze solidifies.
“—I’ll sleep.”
Harij’s unexpected behavior and her outrageous position leave her no choice.
“Every day, you’re dealing with ingredients that are potentially toxic. You have such a thin body because you don’t eat much. Now, you would also neglect sleep?”
Towards Harij’s frontal argument, Roze can only lower her eyes. It feels like at any moment, her forehead will touch Harij’s.
“B-but, a Knight’s lifestyle is basically like that, too!”
“I have colleagues that are ready to substitute for me at any given time—on top of that, I also have holidays. Unlike you, who always does everything alone—“
Harij stops talking. It seems that it has finally dawned on him—regarding their current position…
At such a close distance, Roze is staring straight into Harij’s eyes. She’s treated to her own reflection off Harij’s eyes:
The Witch, with her crimson hair, struggles to move her lips. Her eyes tear up, showing both surprise and confusion.
“…”
“…”
They keep their silence, which seems like the wisest decision at the moment.
A few seconds later, Harij slowly draws back, as if he’s in front of a ferocious beast.
So careful, as if the slightest slip of movement would tip the world’s balance and ruin its center of gravity.
Harij’s legs, which are on top of Roze’s bed, climb down to the floor.
Then, as if the destruction of the world had been avoided, they both exhale at the same time.
“…this might be the worst timing ever to say this, but, believe me—I won’t take advantage of a sleeping woman.”
“…I know that. I’m not worried.”
Roze nods tensely towards Harij’s words—which sound strange to her. There’s a slight movement on his temple, but it seems like he’s satisfied with Roze’s response.
“Well then—sleep. When a visitor comes, the bell will ring, right? Don’t worry, I’ll take your place and pick them up with the boat.”
She has a lot to think about;
Like, how can she fall asleep when he’s in her presence? How can she let herself be spoiled by Harij again? Harij surely is tired, after escorting Lau back—
—and, if she accepts his offer, here and now—what will happen from now on?
This night is special, with him alongside her. But, what about the other nights she would be spending alone?
Surely, no night would ever be the same again.
Surely, every night when she’s alone without him, would be excruciating.
“Stop thinking and sleep peacefully.”
Due to how secure his words make her feel, Roze can no longer retaliate and chooses to ride the boat to dreamland.
***T/N : O BOI. WHAT JUST HAPPENED.
how I expect some of my readers might react :
(…you, yes you, Gabe, I see you.)
Other than that–SHE HAS BEEN NEGLECTING SLEEP TOO!? FOR MANY YEARS?! COMBINED WITH POOR EATING AND DUSTY HOUSE?
mAGIC.
That’s the only reason she’s still alive.
Well that was something… will we arrive to the point that ML will body guard her 24/7 because he’s scared that someone might attack her? Mhhh…mhhhh… I mean….
Many thanks
OH BOYYY Is he going to be wathcing her sleep? THE CREEP lol What happened to his ‘gentlemanly habits’? COUGHCOUGH I guess all is fair in love and war.
I dont think so. i hope not
Lol, he is not going to stare at her for the entire night. He said that he will take over if there are costumers during the night..
ASK HIM TO SLEEP WITH YOU! AND I JUST MEAN SLEEPING!
insert Lenny face
insert pokemon bgm Wild Harij used pin down……A critical hit……It’s super effective…….some of your readers have fainted……
Honestly speaking I feel Harij is evolving from a gentleman to an accidental perv***
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and regarding your tl note I’ve got three things:
first: this is the face I made once I read my name in your tl note >>>> https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/772085929842772166/
second: I am John Cena so no, in exagerated deep voice ( I don’t know how to spell exagerated) YOU CAN’T SEE ME..
third: my reaction while reading this is actually closer to this
https://www.roblox.com/library/248961690/MLG-Thomas-Meme-Face-Thing
LOLOLOL that Thomas face is somehow worse than the pic i posted LOLOLOL
And who need school when you can already write comment as elaborate as this.
Hahahaha….that Thomas face is my usual face when I read scenes where Harij and Roze interact.
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BTW I forgot to add this earlier but when Roze said she knows that Harij will not attack her while she is asleep I felt there was a subtext saying that Roze is also fine if he did…….hahahahaha
Accidental pervert is a gentleman still-OMG HE INDEED EVOLVED DIDNT HE.
He probably started evolving after seeing Roze taking a bath….and considering his actions he may continue to evolve into a “not so accidental perv”
Realistically speaking, it is doable you know. An artist friend of mine lives just like that. The guy sleeps and wake up at ungodly hours every day. He’s physically almost fine, can’t vouched for the mental part.
…….what happened to his mental.
He’s fine. Just that sometimes I don’t know that we’re really talking in the same language.
Is his eating habit bad too
To say it politely, he has a super model body. Thin and Tall.
While the not so polite is emaciated. It’s not easy to live by only selling art. But he likes it, so what can anyone say.
Uwaah. What kind of art does he do?
Manga and Doujin sold at comiket.
I thought selling those kinds of things r supposed to be thriving!
Hmm, according to him printing cost and booth are pretty expensive. I don’t really know about the actual details.
Oh yeah. Dumb me forget to put those inside equation Lol.
Don’t worry. It’s kind of thing you don’t need to know to survive. lol
Wdyt is the priciest art equipment ><???
I have a friend in Animation/3D modelling who has Alienware and the Wacom tablet stand + 2 monitors. Probably around 20-30″+ screens.
That rig should be the most expensive thing I have seen in University.
Dayum. Jesus Christ. Omg. I couldn’t imagine the price.
Neither did I. I stop counting at the Wacom cintiq stand. It should be $1600 to $3000ish depending on the screen size. While mine was around $200 back then.
He sure is passionate huh???
And just a little slip it might have been a kiss on the lip.
omg i want a POV of harij Looking a Roze sleeping (?
Thank so much!