Chapter 4: The Witch Who Became a Mannequin

 

 

 

Chapter 4: The Witch Who Became a Mannequin

 

“GYAAAAAAAA!”

Once upon an early morning, when the sun had yet to rise, Rose’s scream echoed through the halls of the Azm mansion.

The Witch’s robe fluttered, making a loud rustling noise unlike anything heard from it before.

“Oof!”

Rose raced right by the butler, Safina, who was walking down the hallway.

She was blue in the face and sweating profusely as she ran with a wide stride. Never before had she run for her life as she was doing right now. Desperately moving her legs with everything she had did nothing in the face of cruel reality.

“Waaaah?!”

Rose was easily caught by Harij, who had chased right after her. She floated in midair like a cat held by its scruff.

Rose directed an imploring look toward the stunned Safina, clinging to the sliver of hope that he might help her.

But sadly her cry for help didn’t reach him. Because Safina turned his attention to the document he was holding, muttered, “Let’s see…next on the schedule is…” and hurried away.

Harij, carrying Rose over his shoulder, continued briskly down the hallway. Legs and arms swinging, she stared after Safina’s departing back in the fleeting hope he might turn around… But alas, he disappeared around the corner without looking back.

Apart from the current situation, Harij had begun treating Rose like his sweetheart ever since they had both made it clear they loved each other.

Not to say that she wasn’t his official sweetheart before, but he had been right in pointing out that Rose hadn’t entirely caught on to what that meant. To her, loving Harij had become a normal piece of her life over the years, but the same didn’t apply to being loved by him. Knowing he had the same feelings for her wasn’t tantamount to actually experiencing it in the flesh.

Harij, who was hardly reserved when it came to touching her before, had increased the level of intimacy between them a hundredfold since the so-called Sukiyaki Incident.

However, he always respected her boundaries, as two playing cats might, so their contact was limited to sweeter, gentler forms. Every time they held hands, when their feet brushed under the table, when he played with her hair—she felt unbelievably loved as much as she did tickled pink with embarrassment.

But Rose didn’t have even the slightest, faintest idea that this cozy, comfortable, child-friendly version of showing love was built upon Harij’s imperious self-control.

BANG!

The sound of the door closing put an end to Rose’s escape from reality. Harij had kicked the door shut after silently returning to his room with her on his shoulder. Once he released her, she hastily fled. However, running too fast turned her legs to jelly, and she fell onto the floor not far from where she started. And yet, not only did Harij not help her up, but he drew closer to her while emanating an intimidating aura. Rose managed to crawl to the exit but was caught before she could get out the door. Harij slammed his hands down on both sides of her on the floor.

“Eep!”

It was the perfect threat. Even a bandit leader would have put the squeeze on her in a nicer way.

Trembling and too afraid to look at Harij, Rose felt something warm and terribly soft touch her neck. She turned into a statue the moment she realized it was his lips on her skin. She let out a cry when his hot breath tickled her ears.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! It was my fault. Please forgive me! I’m sorryyyy!”

∴ ∵ ∴

ROSE had woken up at the same time that morning as she had every other day.

She got out of bed in the best of spirits after having a lovely dream. For some reason, her feet just naturally carried her to a certain door. This door connected Rose’s and Harij’s bedrooms. Harij may have given her this room in anticipation of their future as husband and wife. No words could express how delighted she was to sleep in adjoining rooms with him.

Rose unlocked the door and opened it a crack. Through that small opening, she stole a peek into Harij’s room—he was already awake.

“You’re up?” He looked at her, surprised. He was sitting at his desk writing something.

“Yes.”

“What’s wrong? Did you need something?”

“May I come in?”

Rose’s question faithfully revealed their changing relationship.

Whenever Harij used to ask her if she wanted to come in, she was afraid of how her answer would affect their relationship. Only now did she understand why Harij staunchly refused to enter her room. After all, she had been dragging her feet by announcing she would stay at his mansion as a houseguest and witch rather than as his fiancée.

“…Yeah. Come in after you cover up.” Harij gave permission in a gentle voice, the corner of his lip quirked up.

Rose quickly retrieved a shawl from her room and returned to his. Even though he knew she was coming, she minded her footsteps—as if her presence there was supposed to be a secret from others.

“Good morning. Would you mind if I come closer?”

“I don’t mind.”

Rose approached Harij’s chair. She was careful to not get too close—after all, he might’ve wanted some privacy regarding what he was writing. However, Harij leaned to the side, letting her see.

“I was writing a letter to announce our marriage.”

“Must be tough if you know a lot of people. You don’t have to be at work yet?”

“Yeah, I still have a while before I have to leave.”

“I see.”

Silence followed. But Rose didn’t hate this kind of natural quiet.

“I was planning to tell you later, but a guest is coming tonight.”

“Then I should leave for the evening.”

“No, stay.”

Harij was asking her to stay when she’d offered to leave; she’d assumed his guest wouldn’t be pleased to be in the same house as a witch.

Safina managed many of the affairs of this estate, which involved human customs she didn’t understand. As such, Rose believed she served no purpose in entertaining guests when she was not the lady of the house yet.

“…You want me…here for it, too?”

She came certified as someone estranged from social etiquette. Not to mention, she was a shy shut-in who needed more time to come out of her shell. Indeed, if only he had informed her ten days in advance, she would have been mentally prepared to socialize.

“It’s someone you know.”

He better not mean it’s that rude prince again. Rose grimaced, but Harij didn’t elaborate. He seemed to think that, like a typical young lady, Rose would be pleased with visitors.

Well, I would be overjoyed if they were a client with deep pockets. Rose kept that comment to her thoughts alone. She twirled her light-pink hair around her fingers—which reminded her she hadn’t combed her hair yet. Only realizing that now, she circled behind Harij as she ran her fingers through her locks.

She found herself unconsciously drawn to his broad back as she stared at it, and she leaned against it without a second thought.

He felt as warm against her as he had in her dream. A silly grin spread on her lips unseen.

“…Rose?”

If he were to turn around, Rose would fall—as such, he probably didn’t dare make even the slightest of movements. Harij’s voice sounded terribly puzzled, with a touch of embarrassment. Finding it funny, Rose started laughing, her shoulders shaking.

“…You’re in a good mood.”

“I had a good dream.”

“What was it about?”

“The time you carried me on your back, Sir Harij.”

She was talking about the first time she visited the city with him.

He had carried her back to the hermitage after she fell asleep on the carriage ride home from a day of getting too excited about everything. It was on that day she had decided to move in with him after seeing the way he interacted with the townspeople and how they lovingly addressed him as Sir Harij.

“I was really happy about it. It had been so long since someone carried me that way.”

“…Who else carried you like that?” Nervous tension ran through Harij as he asked. Rose rested her head against his back.

“My grandmother.”

“…I see.”

He sounded both a little relieved and horribly drained at the same time. But Rose paid it no mind.

On top of the fantastic dream she’d had, his back felt preciously warm, nostalgic—and most of all, within her reach. Rose had obtained bliss like no other. How could she not be over the moon about it?

Rose turned so her chest was pressed against Harij’s back to better twine her arms around his neck. Without noticing how stiff Harij had become, she whispered into his ear in a dreamy, heady voice.

“May I touch you some more?”

∴ ∵ ∴

THOSE were the words that had ignited their frantic game of cat and mouse, which resulted in Rose’s loss in the form of Harij pinning her to the floor.

“Wai— Hand! Hand! Hand! Your hand… Your hand is…!”

“My hand is right here.”

“Your hand is inside my clothes! It’s going under my clothes!”

The more she struggled to escape, the worse it backfired on her.

The nefarious hand touching her leg radiated warmth; she could feel it on her bare skin. She angled her neck to see what in the world was happening—and was appalled to find her legs exposed to the open air.

Her usually dependable skirt, which always covered her legs down to the ankle, had suffered a complete and utter defeat. After gaining the upper hand against the dress, Harij’s coarse palm caressed her unprotected leg.

Sometimes their thighs bumped into each other when they sat down together, but she had never felt the warmth directly before.

Harij’s rough, calloused fingers tickled Rose’s soft skin, bringing her pleasure. The flush of excitement and the tingling sensation coursing through her made her dizzy, nearly drawing out a moan.

“You’re the one who asked to touch.”

Harij’s hand worked its way up her leg. When he began stroking a sensitive, risqué area, Rose let out a cry more pitiful than a lamb sent to the slaughter.

“Aaaaaaaah! Th-This isn’t what I— Wai—”

She ached from his touch and began sweating from everywhere on her body.

Seemingly titillated by her sweat, Harij buried his face in her neck and inhaled deeply of her scent.

“Eep!” she cried, petrified as his tongue explored her nape.

Things were set on an incredibly dangerous course.

The atmosphere was unlike anything that had come before. The tight reins he had been keeping on his self-control seemed to snap all at once. In the wake of Harij’s onslaught, Rose waved the white flag of surrender with all her might.

“I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

Rose could only cry and shout over this unexpected turn of events.

“Rose.”

He spoke in a deep, rumbling baritone that pleasured even her ears in her confusion. Delicious shivers raced from the sensitive skin on her ears down to her back.

“I won’t do anything scary.”

“N-N-N…b-b-bu…mm…ngh…w-wh-wha—”

She couldn’t even pronounce words anymore. Harij cupped her cheeks in his hands, locking gazes with her.

“Do you really want me to stop?” he asked in a breathy voice. Heat surged through her when she noticed how moist his perfectly shaped lips were.

“You’re too cute… I love you so much. Please.”

His lips pressed against her cheek because of the position he held while talking to her. They lingered there, teasing her. Pleasure coursed through her for the hundredth time. Her whole body shivered.

“Rose.”

Her skin absorbed her arousal, gaining a tingling numbness.

Hearing him call her name in that heady, pleading voice put an end to her thinking. She didn’t even understand why she was so against going forward with this in the first place.

She stared at Harij through misty eyes. His own burned with the same passion they’d had right after he drank the love potion.

Rose opened her trembling lips. “…Um, ah, oka—”

Harij suddenly moved off her just as she was about to give permission. He approached the window with agile strides and looked down.

“…Does he have clairvoyance or something?”

The romantic mood completely dissipated. Reluctance to accept reality and a hint of disappointment entered his suddenly tired voice.

Rose utterly failed to follow the sudden shift in his behavior. Propping herself up on her elbows, she stared at Harij, her lips slightly parted.

Harij turned around and noticed the way she was lying. He slowly approached her with a wry smile. She took his hand and stood. Then he kneeled before her and fixed her disheveled skirt.

Rose’s cheeks turned pinker than a peach as she recalled what they had been about to do. She sure stayed in that dumb position for longer than necessary. Harij must have guessed she was disappointed it ended there and that she was entirely clueless about how to act in these situations. Ashamed she didn’t even have half a mind to fix her clothes, Rose hung her head. His hand stroked her hair, and he planted a longing kiss on the back of her ear.

“…Let’s head downstairs. We have a guest.”

∴ ∵ ∴

“BOY, am I sorry. I can’t believe I got our appointment wrong by half a day. Did I surprise you by arriving early?”

“It isn’t a problem. If I may interrupt, I want that item over here and the other one placed on top of the sideboard…”

Harij handled their sudden visitor with nonchalance. The attendants Tien brought with him bustled in and out of the room carrying large packages behind them.

An unexpected guest had arrived at the usually serene entrance to the Azm mansion. It was none other than the merchant Rose often did business with—Tien Công. He had taken up the mantle of acting like Rose’s older brother—and, at times, her guardian.

Tien had to be the guest Harij had mentioned would be coming that evening. Only Rose was surprised by his sudden visit, as Harij seemed ready to welcome him. But because he chose to intrude so early in the morning, Rose was forced to send a servant to her hermitage in her stead.

For a merchant to come before the sun had even finished its ascent into the sky could only mean one thing—he did it on purpose, to surprise Rose. She glared at him, for he had indeed succeeded at that.

Just recalling what she had been about to do when Tien interrupted them plunged Rose into an awkward, inexpressible mood. She had never experienced it for herself, but she assumed this must be how teenagers felt when they were caught making out by their parents. To distract from her antsiness, she directed her attention and annoyance at the luggage being brought inside.

“You aren’t going to claim this is the remainder of my dowry, are you?” she remarked in the sour voice of a pouting child.

“While I have a great deal of interest in you and love you like family, neither of those reasons is enough for me to be giving this much away for free. Besides, I told you last time that I prepared the majority of your dowry with the money entrusted to me by the Great Witch while she was still alive.”

Tien had definitely mentioned that before, but she thought he was exaggerating. The witches’ secret potions sold for exorbitant amounts, but the ingredients also cost an arm and a leg. Witches profited big and lost big.

Rose never wanted for anything, but her life with her grandmother was a far cry from anything that could be called luxurious.

She wholly doubted her grandmother was capable of preparing such a large dowry.

Or could it be that her grandmother lived so frugally because she knew Rose would end up alone in the not-so-distant future? To support Rose even after she was gone?

Thinking about her grandmother sank Rose into melancholy. Every time she realized how much her grandmother sacrificed for her, she was overjoyed, but it also filled her with regret, as she was forced to acknowledge how poorly she treated her in return, in the way all teenagers rebel against their elders. Now, as a more mature adult, she could never make it up to her.

“Someone’s in a pouty mood… What? Did I possibly intrude just as things were getting good between you two? But you need to save your chastity for your wedding night, you know?” Tien whispered in her ear, dragging her out of her pensive thoughts and earning a hard stomp on the foot in return for his crass remark.

“…Are you ready to head into the parlor?”

Tien stopped clutching his foot in a deliberate show of being in pain and followed Harij to the parlor. Rose trailed behind Tien. They had apparently finished carrying in the large stacks of items from the wagons. Now dresses, fabrics, and shoes hanging from partitions and hangers were being brought into the Azm mansion parlor.

“Oh, I’m sorry, but can you move that fabric somewhere out of direct sunlight? Those accessories, too.”

“Do as he says.”

Harij immediately deferred to Tien’s wishes. As of this morning, Rose thought Harij’s attitude toward Tien had softened considerably since last time. They seemed to have been communicating without her knowledge. Harij had once even said he wouldn’t accept a single present from Tien, but somewhere along the line, he seemed to have come to acknowledge the other man as a part of Rose’s family.

“I carefully selected every piece with you both in mind but ended up bringing a lot of variety because I want you to be absolutely satisfied.”

The two men confidently wove their way through the room cluttered with so many goods there was barely an open place to step.

“Variety is good… Rose, come over here, too.”

Beckoned by Harij, Rose hopped from spot to spot as she worked her way through the limited openings in the items begging to be picked, and finally settled on top of the couch. Tien opened a catalog in front of her, the exotic accessories on his sleeves glittering under the lights as he did.

As a merchant who traveled the world hawking his wares, Tien often dressed in clothes so gaudy they stung the eyes. At times he looked younger than Rose, while at others, he looked much older than her, which she attributed to his ethnicity, which was rare in these parts.

“This particular design popular in the western nations would look stunning on Rose.”

The design catalogs piled up like a mountain as he laid them out on the table.

“She should pick whichever design she likes best.”

“Brides always care about their groom’s tastes. What are yours, Harij?”

She thought this might be the case, but it appeared they really were here to discuss tailoring clothes for Rose. But she had already received more dresses than could fit in her closet from Harij and Tien. She gulped and began preparing her escape when Harij plopped down on the couch beside her.

“Do you have any preferences?”

“Me…?”

Realizing her escape plan was botched, Rose glanced around the room. What in the world should she choose from the sea of dresses and endless waves of fabric? The stress of the situation, coupled with Harij’s close proximity, caused her to break into a sweat.

“I have no idea…how to answer that…”

Rose still didn’t even know why Tien had suddenly visited on this day.

Harij and Tien had her stand, since she would only glare down at the design catalogs, and they commenced holding different fabrics up to her as if she were a living mannequin.

Her only job: to be perfectly still. Today has been filled with nothing but exhausting ordeals from the wee hours of the morning, she thought, her gaze drifting out the window where she noticed blue had painted over the formerly purple sky. Quite a lot of time had passed since Tien’s arrival.

“…Oh? Sir Harij! Shouldn’t you be getting to work soon?”

“I switched my schedule to work in the afternoon today, so we have plenty of time.”

I hope he didn’t switch just for this!

They draped a lapis lazuli–blue fabric over her right shoulder and a periwinkle fabric over the left while she was busy being flustered over Harij’s schedule changes.

“Don’t you think bright pastel colors suit her best?”

“Elegant colors suit her well, too.”

“I know Rose is concerned with standing out too much in a crowd, but dark colors make her look old. A rosy-cheeked bride shouldn’t look like she’s going to her own funeral.”

“Hey! That’s rude!” Rose quipped, unable to let Tien’s insult pass. But he didn’t even acknowledge her interruption.

“I recommend these colors over here: rose red, chartreuse green, saffron…”

“Don’t you think the parrot green is easier on the eyes…?” Harij responded.

Rose squirmed away from the brightness reflecting off the striking bolt of cloth Tien held up.

“You don’t have to decide everything today, but you should pick out your fabric sooner rather than later.”

“Ugh,” Rose groaned. She had a harder time fighting back when he worded it like that. It was always like this between them. She didn’t know how Tien pulled it off, but he’d manipulated her into wanting to decide this instant.

“Just one?”

“That’s it. Though you’re welcome to pick as many as you like.”

She pressed her lips together and looked around the room. Tien’s personal recommendations aside, he’d made sure to also bring a variety of colors and fabrics. Rose didn’t know how or what to choose, but one bolt of cloth kept drawing her attention back to it. It was the color she felt most comfortable wearing.

“…I like that one.”

Rose pointed to a pitch-black fabric reminiscent of the nighttime lake in the dead of winter.

“Of course it comes back to that.” Tien glanced in Harij’s direction, seeking his approval, though he seemed not at all surprised or bothered by her choice. “Are you all right with her picking that color?”

“Absolutely,” Harij responded without a moment’s delay. He had no issues with anything she decided for herself.

“It’s not a bad choice. The fabric has a glossy finish, which will look stunning under the lights. Black dresses also have the double meaning of ‘I will never be dyed in the color of another.’”

“You like your superstitions, don’t you?”

“I am a merchant, after all. Besides, a black wedding dress is perfect for a witch.”

“…What’s a wedding…dress?”

Harij and Tien were rendered speechless by Rose’s genuine question. Tien showed his astonishment in the most exaggerated way.

“…How could I have failed you so? I should have made sure to better instruct you in the basic ways of the world.”

Rose was giving Tien the evil eye, as he still hadn’t let up on treating her like a child, when Harij spoke up, his voice concerned.

“Rose, do you know what a wedding ceremony is?”

“Marriage requires a special kind of ceremony to become official, right?”

Witches didn’t marry, and forest animals didn’t hold wedding ceremonies.

Rose had always thought weddings were simply where you made a vow to become family—she severely lacked knowledge regarding matrimony in general.

“That’s right. People are invited to attend this special ceremony. A gorgeous dress like this one is needed for the occasion. Naturally, you can’t wear a robe over it.”

“Heh.”

So that’s how it works. Rose nodded along with Tien’s harmless explanation. He had picked up a formal gown to show her, one with a considerable lack of fabric to cover the shoulders and chest. It was completely different in design and purpose from the simple garb Rose usually wore to disguise herself as a village girl.

“…Wait, what?” Rose finally put two and two together during the brief silence that followed. “Wear this without a robe? Who will? You can’t possibly mean me?” she asked, with the extra implication that they couldn’t possibly expect her to wear it.

Harij and Tien both gave big nods.

“…Haha.” A dry laugh spilled past her chapped lips.

“……”

She took another good, hard look at the dress Tien brought over. Silence was her only answer. A muscle in her jaw twitched.

Rose was a witch. Witches didn’t dress for appearances’ sake. Thus, Rose felt a greater sense of shame than normal for dressing up. She couldn’t even bring herself to put on rouge. Should a day ever come when she overhears someone comment, “What’s that witch scheming by making herself look pretty?” her humiliation would surely shatter, piercing her in the heart and killing her for good.

“Please,” Harij said in a tight voice. “This will be the first and last time I ask you to wear a formal gown. So please do it for me.”

He was serious.

“Is a glamorous dress that vital to a wedding ceremony?”

“It is—but when it comes down to it, I just want to see you wearing one, Rose.”

Harij was laying bare his true feelings, silencing Rose once more.

Of course Rose wanted to gladly wear the dress the man she loved implored of her. But her discomfiture reigned supreme.

Tien had just mentioned people would be invited to the ceremony. They would surely wonder, “What’s that witch’s problem, dressing so seductively? Did she enchant him?” She was well aware she was no beauty and absolutely did not want people thinking she was trying hard to become one.

“Mmmmm…”

“I will make it worth your while if you wear it. Ask anything of me in return.”

Rose lifted her head. Making a trade was something she could agree to.

“…I can ask for anything at all?”

“…As long as it’s within my power.”

This time Rose seriously contemplated his request. She placed her greatest desire and the ridicule of others on her internal scale. The balance tipped all the way to one side without ever swaying.

“…All right. It is a promise, then.”

Rose was a witch. Keeping promises was the foundation of a witch’s existence. If the deal was mutually beneficial, this witch was broad-minded enough to overlook earth-shattering humiliation.

“Really? Do you already have something in mind?”

“Yes,” Rose said flatly.

“Go ahead and ask. That way, I can prepare it.”

Rose faltered when Harij put her on the spot. It was too embarrassing to say out loud.

She glanced at Tien. He pretended not to be listening to them, but he so was. Rose knew it.

“Not now…”

“Why?”

“It’s not just us…,” she mumbled.

Harij froze when he saw the expression on her face. Red tinged the sides of his ears, and he cleared his throat.

“…All right, if that’s what you want. Let’s discuss it next time we’re alone—”

“Harij, I hate to interrupt when you’re anticipating something good, but I’m fairly positive you can hear her out now.”

See! I knew he was listening! Rose glared at Tien, who only grinned back. Damn fox! She cursed him in her thoughts.

“…What is it you want?” Harij asked, his expression instantly shifting from hopeful to sullen.

“Now?”

He expects me to say it now? Rose was at a loss for words.

“Tien is… Tien is here, so…”

“What does it matter if I’m present? You probably just want him to get you some exotic bug’s leg or rare bird’s tail feather, right?”

“No way. I wouldn’t waste this opportunity to ask him to get me something money can buy. I simply wanted Sir Harij to don his full knight’s attire for—”

Rose clapped her hands over her mouth. She just blurted out her request in the heat of the moment. Telling Harij was embarrassing enough—saying it in front of Tien was a serious gaffe. He was sure to tease her senseless with it.

She chose to ignore him for the time being and look at Harij instead. Harij returned her look with a grim expression.

“…Is it too much to ask?”

Rose fell in love with him when she saw him for the first time in his knight attire. And she fell in love with him all over again in the same clothes during Billaura’s bridal procession. It was her fervent wish to someday see him dressed like that up close. But it was not as if she had a reason to visit him at the palace, and even if she did go, how far would she make it before the other knights apprehended her on charges of being a suspicious witch?

In return for her wearing a gown, she requested he wear his formal knight attire. She didn’t think it an inappropriate exchange, but the look on Harij’s face made her wonder if he wasn’t permitted to bring those clothes home.

Prepared to be disappointed, she waited for his verdict. Harij tottered over to her and—pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Oomph!”

“…You’re too cute.”

“Ueee!” Rose yelped again. She pounded on his back to signal she needed air and was finally released from his hold.

“So cu—”

“You will never hear me say it again, okay?!”

With both hands, Rose sealed his lips from spouting more nonsense. Harij looked more satisfied than ever.

“I will make it happen for you.”

“You absolutely must.”

“…Are you guys always like this?”

Rose had never heard Tien sound so uncomfortable before.

“You’re a lucky man, Harij. You have the Witch’s love. Last time I made a deal with her, I got stuck with plucking 666 fleas off a cat by hand.”

Rose’s gaze pierced Tien from under her hood.

“Go home, Tien. I picked a fabric. We’re done here, right?”

“No, he doesn’t need to leave. You can discuss the design with him some more. I have to head out soon,” Harij said, putting his arms through the sleeves of the jacket Safina—who had appeared out of thin air, it seemed—held out for him. “Do whatever Rose wants for the dress. Safina, take care of things while I’m gone.”

“As you wish.”

Harij left the parlor with long strides. He was probably heading to work. Rose hurried after him.

“…What’s wrong?” Harij turned toward Rose with a puzzled expression when he heard her quick footsteps behind him. “Did you have more you wanted to say?”

“Yes. I wanted to see you off to work if that’s okay.”

“…I see. Sure,” Harij said in a quiet voice with a slight nod.

Rose had never seen Harij to the door like this before. There was so much she was uncertain about, her feet just naturally brought her here.

“Also…about the dress… Is there anything specific you would like to have done?”

“No. You can tailor it to your exact preferences.”

“Then is there anything I should absolutely avoid doing?”

“You don’t have to worry about anything like that, either. I’m sure Tien will speak up if you make any culturally offensive choices. He won’t do anything to put you in a bad spot. He’s here to help you.”

Rose’s thoughts lingered on the time Harij became so jealous he told her not to accept gifts from other men. She assumed everything was all right now that the misunderstandings had been resolved, but…she decided to make sure, just in case.

“Is it really all right for me to decide with Tien?”

“Yes. He knows more about the most popular fashions and trends than I do.”

“Not in that sense, um…because Tien is a man?”

No matter how she phrased it, she thought she would come across sounding overly self-conscious and somehow found herself framing it in the most embarrassing way possible.

“…I would never strip you of your family after already making you leave the forest you call home.”

Strictly speaking, Tien wasn’t family. But if that’s how Harij chose to view him, Rose saw no need to correct him.

“Thank you. Having him is a huge help, because I’m not even sure where to begin deciding on these things.”

“I gave up most of the social obligations required of a nobleman when I became a knight, so our guests will only be relatives and close friends. Don’t think too hard about pleasing anyone but yourself.”

“I’ll do that, then. Have a good day at work.”

Harij came to a complete halt as Rose waved to him. He turned around right as he was about to leave through the front door and looped his arm around Rose’s waist, pulling her close.

“…Don’t you think your fiancé is entitled to a goodbye kiss when you see him off?”

Rose flattened her lips into a straight line. Heat rose to her face as she recalled that morning.

“A-After the wedding ceremony, sure. You said you would wait until after…,” she rasped. She had no idea why waving goodbye struck a chord with him, but Harij’s sexy beast mode had switched back on.

It took being pinned under him earlier for Rose to thoroughly learn just how tempted she was by Harij—and how weak she was to him in all manners. She couldn’t resist him at all.

But being swept away with the mood wouldn’t do either of them any good. Harij groaned before her stubbornness as if he had just swallowed a bag full of sour grapes.

“…You will pay for this later.”

“That is a line typically used by people who work in the underground when they are trying to threaten someone who reneged on payment—it is absolutely not something you should say to your beloved fiancée.”

At least now Harij was no longer trying to steal her lips. He gently lifted her hand and slowly intertwined each of his fingers with hers so their palms were pressed together. Rose’s lips trembled.

“Wh-What are—”

“Anything goes as long as I don’t kiss you on the lips, right?”

He brushed off her hood and dropped his lips to the top of her head. Meanwhile, his thumb massaged ticklish circles into her palm. Unable to resist the enjoyable sensation, she called his name.

“Sir Harij!”

“What?”

“Your hand is—”

“Only holding yours. That’s normal.”

It is? Does the rest of the world consider this kind of touch normal? As Rose mulled over his comment, Safina came back inside to check on what was keeping Harij.

Seeing his master in an embrace with his lover, the experienced butler withdrew to stand beside the door, his expression perfectly composed.

This butler is too skilled at reading the mood! He never interrupts when I need him to!

“S-Sir Harij!”

“Not ready to stop yet.”

“Not that! Mr. Safina just… Mr. Safina just wa—”

“You just think you saw him.”

As if! Rose had clearly seen him enter the room with her own two eyes.

Harij finally relented and freed her from his embrace after she started smacking him on the back.

“Then how about you send me off with words instead of a kiss? What loving words do you have for your fiancé?”

I forgot how much of a piece of slug poop this man can be.

Rose gnashed her teeth loud enough to hear them chatter as she glared up at Harij. He didn’t seem the least bit terrified of her angry face.

“You don’t know what to say? Then I’ll just have to teach you.”

Not wanting to lose, Rose uttered a single letter. “I…”

“…I?”

“I eagerly await your quick return,” she managed to sputter as she pulled her hood down past her chin. The next second, she was caught within his strong arms again.

Apparently, that was the correct answer. Rose buried her face in his chest and inhaled that scent of his that she loved so much.

I’ll stay up late to welcome him back home tonight, she thought as she rubbed her forehead against his chest.

Rose returned to the parlor where Tien was waiting only after she couldn’t see Harij riding off to work on his horse anymore.

“Welcome back. Your newlywed life seems to be more enjoyable than I expected—what a relief.”

“We aren’t newlyweds yet.”

“Hahaha.”

Tien looked as if he had more to say, but Rose’s scrunched-up nose stopped him. Mona stood beside the open door in Safina’s absence.

“You must be getting tired. Let’s take a break.”

“Tien… I’ve changed my mind about you—you’re the greatest right now.”

Tien was an angel for suggesting a break just as she was burning out from using her brain for things she usually didn’t think about.

Mona immediately reacted to the word break and prepared them tea. She also brought out the apple muffins Tien must have given her beforehand.

Rose thought the muffin would crumble in her mouth, but her teeth were met with a spongy texture. The more she chewed it, the chewier it became, fascinating her with its sponginess. She ripped off a piece with her fingers, and it pulled cleanly away.

She stared at the broken-off portion and gulped—it looked so inviting.

For a long moment, she debated whether to start from the tiny piece or to just sink her teeth right into the muffin. This was a divine dilemma to have.

Honeyed, golden apple slices poked out. Their tenderness was evident from a mere glance.

After a moment’s hesitation, Rose sank her teeth into the muffin. This time, she could feel the tenderness of the fruit. Sponginess and tenderness waged war in her mouth, satisfying her teeth with a texture bomb. The smell of butter and the sweet-and-sour apple on her tongue sent Rose to heaven and back.

“Since when did you become so fond of sweets?” Tien asked, surprised after watching her reaction with fascination.

Cheeks stuffed like a squirrel, she contemplated his inquiry.

Her interest in sweets—or rather, food—developed during her interactions with Harij. His visits delighted her. Eating sweets also delighted her.

The two became synergetic, granting Rose excessive amounts of joy.

“Since it makes you so happy, I’ll come with more next time.”

Until now, her life as a witch had been devoid of joy. She would get up in the morning, take care of the fields, go into the woods, gather ingredients, make her secret potions—basically, instead of living, she was just existing. She did what she needed to do, and that was basically it.

Because that was how she had been taught to live—because that was how the life of a witch should be, as far as she knew. To Rose, that was what it meant to be the Good Witch.

Tien seemed very fond of Harij for changing her outlook on life. His foxlike eyes twinkled.

Rose made short work of the muffin and savored the crumbs left on her fingers.

“I didn’t expect you to eat so many, but it’s reassuring seeing you with a hearty appetite. Glad I didn’t have to force them down your throat,” Tien commented, sounding relieved after watching Rose voraciously devour the treats.

It was such a drastic shift in tone, Rose felt inclined to ask, “What are you talking about?”

“Some of my customers have collapsed recently.”

“Illness? Poison?”

“It doesn’t seem to be anything extreme like that. It always happens suddenly, when everyone is drinking wine or relaxing. The oddest part: once the doctor rushes in, the symptoms have already taken care of themselves.”

“Heh.”

Many of Tien’s customers stood in positions of power and had the ability to change the very fate of this kingdom.

A hand reached out beside Rose while she was listening. Mona was trying to clear away the empty plates. Rose turned to the side to stay out of her way. Mona bowed her head, her face stark white, and hurried out of the room with the gathered dishes.

“She seems awfully terrified of you.”

“It’s rare for someone not to be scared of a witch—although she appeared more skittish than usual. Maybe she thought a witch and merchant were scheming how to destroy her country together?” Rose suggested with a light shrug, snatching up another muffin off the table.

“Maybe the sudden heatwave is getting to people.”

“People don’t rot in the heat like apples do.”

“It’s common sense in the southern nations not to stay out in the sun too long.”

Rose’s eyes sparkled with this new tidbit. As she was someone who never left home, Tien had been her constant source of information. He always brought her a new stack of books whenever he returned from a long journey peddling his wares.

“What are the symptoms—”

“Okay.” Tien flashed a foxlike smile. Rose shuddered. “Time to get back to work—we can return to this topic after we decide on your dress.”

Trembling, Rose mumbled, “Uh-huh.”

∴ ∵ ∴

A month had passed since Tien came with a store’s worth of items to show them.

As it turned out, the dress, the veil, the shoes, and the jewelry were all decided that day. He was the most annoying man whenever he acted the part of her older brother, but she could depend on him when it came to his trade.

The wonderful thing about him was that, despite his numerous suggestions, Rose was always the one with the final say. She was left feeling satisfied with every choice, while her selected items had far better taste than if she had gone at it alone.

Measurements had already been taken, and the dress was coming together without a hitch.

After thoroughly learning about what a wedding entailed, Rose realized she would be more pitiful by the end of winter than a sheep being auctioned off. It was like a bad joke for a scrawny witch to receive God’s blessing for her marriage before the people while dressed in a noblewoman’s finery.

But it wasn’t all bad—she would get to see Harij in his full knight’s attire in return. She was beside herself with excitement for that day to come.

∴ ∵ ∴

THE mailbox closed with a bang. Rose locked it with the key hanging from her neck and rowed the boat to the hermitage. She fiddled the door open while staring at the letter she had retrieved.

“…L?”

The sender’s name consisted of a single initial. That wasn’t all too strange for a letter sent by a client—only a fool would write their full name on correspondence meant for a witch.

Rose kicked the door shut behind her, ladylike manners be damned, and sliced open the letter. The envelope was far too cute to be used for requesting a witch’s services. A sweet and flowery fragrance wafted from the envelope, which had finely detailed notches added to look like the edges were trimmed with lace, and dainty flowers had been painted on the stationery. The colorfully detailed flowers were all types that bloomed in the summer. They were not the wildflowers found growing deep in the forest, but rather the fragile blooms grown in a nobleman’s garden under the tender love and care of a gardener.

What kind of crazy person would spray perfume on a letter addressed to a witch using such expensive and high-quality stationery?

Disturbed, Rose removed the paper from the envelope, her jaw dropping as she began reading the letter.

Dear Noble Witch of the Lake,

The flowers coloring the garden are swaying in the slight breeze. How have you been these fine days, Beautiful Witch of the Lake?

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your tremendous help the other day. Please forgive me for thanking you not in person, but through letter instead. Due to unforeseeable circumstances, I had no choice but to refrain from visiting you. I will come again at a later date to greet you—I promise it.

I cannot thank the Goddess enough for our chance encounter, though it involved meeting you when I was not at my best. Every time I catch a glimpse of the clear moon, my thoughts return to that day when I met the beautiful and graceful Witch for the first time, and my chest burns with longing all night long. Our encounter was the most joyous, wonderful, and fantastic moment of my life. Every time I close my eyes, I vividly recall your awe-inspiring presence and refined bearing.

If you are the brilliantly shining moon, then I wish to become the star that glows beside you. Nothing would make me happier than for that to come to be.

You are the radiance that illuminates the everlasting darkness, the heavenly umbrella that blocks the rain and the wind, the undulating sea of benevolence, the mellow spring ice—

Eyes rolling, Rose quietly folded the letter up. Five more pages of poetic language unlike anything that had ever been sent to witch’s hermitage continued after that.

For some reason, it brought to mind a dreadful illness coined “chuunibyou” in a faraway land. The symptoms were: suddenly having multiple personalities, left hand tingling, the growth of a third leg—it was said to be a terrible disease that only a handful of children of a certain age suffer.

“…It must be that girl.”

At least she knew the sender’s identity—no question, it was the muddy girl who had fallen into the pit the other day.

She unfolded the letter once more and quickly scanned her eyes over it. Once she confirmed it wasn’t a request letter, she slid it between some books on her shelf.