Chapter 3

At Klaus’s not even funny remark, everyone burst into laughter.

With a cat’s incredible hearing, I eavesdropped on their voices and let out a scoff.

Anyone listening would think this place had amazing weather!

It’s freezing to death!

After watching enough, I went back to the audience chamber and settled down by the warm fireplace.

Where there used to be just a rug, now there was a basket I often used.

Inside was soft fabric padded with fluffy stuffing, and whenever I curled up into a ball in it, I instantly got sleepy.

Nya, seriously…

Being a baby kitten is just too sleepy…

* * *

“Kyaa, what’s this?”

A high pitched female voice tried to interrupt my deep sleep.

I pretended not to hear and stayed curled up, but then a glove decorated with pearls, unpleasant to the touch, began stroking my back.

“Oh my, it’s a baby kitten… Brother, how did something so fragile end up by your side? I thought the only creatures you kept were bears and hunting dogs as big as bears.”

I opened my eyes slightly and saw Klaus looking rather displeased.

Worried I might get caught in something, I quickly shut my eyes again, and Lucas stepped in like a spokesperson.

“It’s a sacred creature from the Temple of Favia. When it first entered the audience chamber, it performed rune divination and guessed His Majesty’s lunch menu.”

Oh man, Lucas…

This cat’s conscience is killing me!

“Oh my! Even though it’s this young? It looks like it hasn’t even been born for a few months!”

At the Queen’s delighted voice, I slowly opened my eyes again and observed her.

The small Queen looked at Tobi beside me with sparkling eyes and asked.

“Are you the one taking care of the cat? How long since it was born?”

Tobias answered politely.

“It’s about two and a half months old, Your Majesty.”

“Does it sleep like this all the time? Can it jump, perhaps?”

I quickly gave in to the Grayhin Queen who questioned me like a child.

I’ve lived to twenty six, after all. I’m weak to kids.

“Purr.”

I deliberately made a sound and got up, and for once, I got to see an audience cheering with full enthusiasm.

“Kyaa, it’s so cute!”

Of course, to me, the Queen was even cuter.

I stretched my front paws forward, arched my back proudly, and flicked my tail toward her.

Even if I could never see the future, I blinked my eyes, which were said to be the most beautiful in the Empire.

Michaela cried out as if she might collapse.

“Brother! C-can you give me this cat?”

What?

I’m grateful you like me, but if the weather there is worse than here, I don’t really want to go!

Fortunately, Lucas stepped in.

“Your lovely Majesty, Queen Michaela, we cannot send a sacred creature of the temple outside the Empire.”

“Tch, son of the Walter ducal house. If you’re going to call me Queen, at least use proper honorifics.”

“I don’t even use honorifics with Emperor Klaus.”

Michaela seemed embarrassed by his answer.

Instead of replying, she turned sharply and reached both hands toward me.

I calmly entrusted myself to her careful touch.

With a blush on her cheeks, Michaela asked Tobi again.

“What is this baby’s name?”

Huh?

Come to think of it, my name is Im Mari, but I’ve never heard a name for myself as a cat.

Do I not have a name?

Tobi answered.

“It hasn’t been named yet, so at the temple, we simply called it Sacred Creature, Your Majesty.”

“Sacred Creature? To not even give such a pretty baby a name, the Herera Imperial Palace is as cruel as its master!”

Whoa…

This lovely Queen Michaela looked like she was ready to risk her life over a cat’s name.

As expected, Klaus strode forward.

“I had no time to name a lump of flesh that could be fed to the black bear at any moment.”

As always, he had a talent for freezing the entire atmosphere.

Michaela hugged me tightly as if I would be dragged to the bear enclosure at any second.

“Your Majesty, please never say such blasphemous things again. The Goddess Favia will not forgive you.”

Lucas stepped in again and poked at my conscience.

“Of course. We can’t feed a fortune telling cat to a bear.”

Michaela stood firm against the two men and declared proudly.

“I will name it Mari.”

Mari?

That’s my name!

Startled, I perked up my ears, and Klaus slowly repeated.

“Mari?”

“Actually, I met a wandering oracle during my journey. They said that if I went south, I would meet a benefactor named Mari.”

Wait, really?

But what’s an oracle?

“If we consider south from Grayhin, that would be here at the Herera Palace. So I wondered if you had taken a liking to some foreign princess. Or perhaps even a maid. But of course, that couldn’t be the case. So as a consolation, I’ll name this new family member Mari.”

I was the only one thrown into shock and confusion.

Klaus immediately mocked his sister.

“You believe those wandering oracles? They’re all frauds. The prophecy of a sacred cat might be more reliable.”

Uh, no…

That cat divination is your friend’s trick… everyone knows except you.

Whoever that oracle is, I kind of want to meet them…

But a benefactor? Me?

“But I can name it Mari, right?”

Michaela insisted more stubbornly than expected.

At last, Klaus shrugged.

“Do as you wish.”

Then Queen Michaela suddenly grabbed the hem of her skirt and bowed deeply to her brother.

Everyone’s eyes widened at the sudden gesture, and her small lips parted, her sweet voice flowing out.

“My only blood relative and the sun of Kella, Your Majesty, will you swear to safely protect the sacred creature of the Temple of Favia that I have named?”

She had acted like a playful girl the whole time, but her sudden shift was flawless.

Yet I seemed to be the only one truly shocked.

While the other nobles smiled as if watching a cute child’s antics, only Klaus let out a deep sigh.

“…I swear.”

“Please swear it properly.”

It hadn’t even been an hour since his sister arrived, but Klaus already looked exhausted.

He let his shoulders drop for a moment, then immediately drew his sword from his waist.

Shing, the sound of the blade sliding against the sheath echoed.

I almost fainted from shock, though that was just me.

The Emperor held the sword upright before his chest, the tip pointing toward the ground.

“Klaus von Bismarck, Emperor of Kella, swears before the Queen of Grayhin. I will protect the sacred creature of the Temple of Favia as I would protect you.”

Maybe he was just going through the motions because he was too annoyed to deal with his sister.

Even so, Michaela’s eyes filled with tears of joy.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Clang.

Klaus sheathed his sword again.

Without missing a beat, Michaela turned to her husband, King Argyle.

“Dear, you heard that, right? Emperor Klaus has sworn to protect the sacred creature of the Temple of Favia.”

Wow, no wonder she’s Klaus’s sister.

Now that I look at it, Michaela is no joke either.

She just forced the Emperor to swear to protect a cat’s life, with a foreign king as witness.

Thanks to that, I gained both a name and life insurance.

Realizing the situation, the King of Grayhin smiled awkwardly.

“Of course. Under Emperor Klaus’s rule, even the smallest creature in the Kella Empire will be safe.”

Safe? Me?

For the first time since becoming a cat, I felt real relief.

And if it was all thanks to Michaela, how could I not be grateful?

I burrowed into her arms and rubbed my face against her, acting cute.

“Kyaa, Mari! Stop!”

No, if it makes Michaela happy, I can keep this up all night.

I purred and licked her sleeve, and her smile shone brighter than the sun, melting my heart.

I think I’m going to like her a lot.

Smart Michaela, I won’t forget this kindness!

* * *

Poor Tobi had been stuck in the imperial palace because he couldn’t entrust me to anyone else.

After witnessing firsthand the Emperor’s brutality in saying he’d feed me to a bear, it was only natural.

Though the palace staff adored me, they were all busy with their own duties.

Then Michaela appeared, who had nothing particular to do and adored me greatly, so Tobi finally asked to step out.

“I’ve sent letters to the priests, but I’m uneasy that there’s been no reply. It’s not far, so I’ll be back in a day or two after gathering some personal belongings.”

Michaela’s eyes sparkled instead.

“Can I sleep with Mari?”

“Cats are nocturnal, so they often wake up at night and make noise. If you leave it in the audience chamber, Your Majesties will be more comfortable.”

He was young, but very clever.

At Tobi’s wise refusal, Michaela pouted.

Not wanting to upset my kind Queen, I circled around her and leapt onto her shoulder in one go.

“Kyaak, Mari!”

As expected, Michaela brightened immediately and asked proudly.

“Tobi, does Mari act cute like this with you too?”

Quick witted, Tobi shook his head with a serious expression.

“Not at all, Your Majesty. Lady Mari is always dignified like a goddess in front of me.”

Pfft.

I couldn’t laugh as a cat, which was a shame, but Michaela lifted her chin in satisfaction.

“Meow!”

I gave Tobi the best farewell I could manage.

He was the only one who felt like family in this world, but I didn’t have much time to feel sad.

Lavish banquets, special meals, and desserts that I would have been honored to even see as a human kept coming nonstop.

All the palace staff who had lived with a workaholic Emperor were delighted, and for me, who wanted to try as many things as possible, it was the perfect chance.

Could I turn human this week?!

* * *

“Mari, do you want to try this?”

Throughout the meal, Michaela kept setting aside small portions of food for me, but it was far too much for a kitten’s stomach.

Still, I couldn’t help but taste at least a little, just in case the method of becoming human was related to food.

The meal was long, and my belly had long since become round and full.

For dessert, chocolate was served.

Chocolate exists in this world too?!

My eyes sparkled at the sight of chocolate for the first time in ages, and Michaela burst into laughter.

“This? Do you want to try this?”