Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who's the Witch of Fate’s Great Call - Chapter 50
Kalynia grabbed his collar, shaking him desperately, begging him to open his eyes. But he didn’t stir, and in despair, she collapsed against his chest, gasping for breath.
“I can hear his heartbeat—he’s not dead…”
“……”
“I love you, Vylon. I love you. You wanted to hear me say it, didn’t you? I’ll tell you as many times as you want, so please, open your eyes!”
“Kalynia.”
Unable to watch anymore, Catherine approached, placing a hand on her back.
“No. He’s not dead! He’s alive, right here! Don’t leave me, Vylon. I love you…!”
“Kalynia, look up.”
“Get out of the way, Catherine! Why didn’t you stop Emily? How could you let her cast that curse?!”
Her sorrow turned to anger, directed at Catherine. She glared with tear-streaked, furious eyes.
“Wipe your tears and look carefully. He’s struggling not to laugh right now.”
With a sigh, Catherine tried to calm her down.
Kalynia blinked, and each time she did, the remaining tears fell from her eyes. As she slowly turned, she saw Vylon lying with his eyes closed but suppressing a smirk.
“There was no curse.”
“It was just an act.”
One by one, the sisters who had turned away to hide their expressions confirmed the truth. Kalynia looked at Emily, stunned.
“An act? But… he’s still not opening his eyes…”
“I was going to curse him, but everyone else was vehemently against it.”
Emily clicked her tongue.
Had she actually cast the curse, Kalynia would have resented her forever. Her sisters, sensing Emily’s lingering hesitation, had finally managed to persuade her to give up the idea.
“I give up. I’ve seen just how deeply Kalynia loves you, so enough, King Vylon.”
“…What a shame. Today I could have heard declarations of love that would last me a lifetime.”
Vylon, who had refused to wake no matter how much she shook him, finally opened his eyes. Sitting up, he casually wiped the blood from his chin.
Only then did Kalynia realize something was off. The curse of eternal rest only induced sleep—it wasn’t a curse that caused any physical harm. There should have been no reason for him to be bleeding.
“You… you deceived me!”
Not only her sisters but even Vylon had been in on the deception.
The tears that had flowed from sorrow now fell from anger. As her fists clenched and her body shook, Vylon pulled her into an embrace.
“I was moved by your sincerity.”
“Sincerity, my foot!”
Kalynia bit his shoulder fiercely in her fury. Even when he winced, exclaiming, “Ow!” she didn’t let go. She continued biting him, her anger unappeased.
Vylon asked for forgiveness but didn’t make any serious effort to stop her. It hurt at first, but as her grip softened, he could bear it easily.
For someone claiming to be furious, her form of “revenge” was rather cute.
“Didn’t I say he’s a bit of a strange human?” Catherine said to Emily, who still looked a bit dispirited, while pointing at Vylon, who was smirking even as he got bitten.
“Now that we know Kalynia’s doing well, let’s head back.”
At the mention of their family waiting, Emily sighed deeply.
“Take care. Be well.”
As the sisters said their goodbyes, Kalynia finally released Vylon’s shoulder and spoke up.
“You’re really leaving just like that?”
“You may not realize it, but we’re witches who just threatened the King and made him play along in a strange charade. We should get out of here while he’s still willing to let us go.”
Before the King changed his mind about letting them leave, they had to make a quick exit. Catherine shrugged.
Kalynia watched in a daze as her sisters left. It had been so long since she’d seen them, and with the unexpected events, she hadn’t even had a chance to have a proper conversation or say goodbye.
Was that really it?
A feeling much stronger than simple regret swept over her. This was different from when Catherine had left. She felt a sense of finality, as if she might never see her sisters again.
“At least… let me see them off…”
Kalynia tried to push away from Vylon’s chest to follow her sisters. He grabbed her arm, preventing her from rising.
“I’ll only see them off. Just to the castle gates.”
“No need.”
Vylon smiled and called to the witches as they were about to leave the audience chamber.
“Hold on, sisters-in-law.”
The six witches paused at the title, each of them turning slowly, their expressions far from friendly.
Why is he calling us? Did he still have something to discuss with them? The twelve wary eyes that turned back at him were full of suspicion.
“What would you think about all of you living together in the Snow Kingdom?”
He then revealed that this invitation, rather than the shoes, had been his true intention all along. The witches were visibly shaken by the bold offer.
“If you live here, you’ll always be able to see Kalynia. You could watch over her to ensure I don’t betray her or harbor any ill intentions.”
