Chapter 5

Klaus said it without even blinking.

Was acting unpleasant every other day his goal for the year or something.

Michaela trembled, unable to even continue speaking from humiliation, but Klaus remained calm.

“I punished my subject because there was fault. Unless you wish to receive an exile order from the Empire, withdraw.”

The small blonde girl lifted her chin even higher.

“If rumors spread that you exiled me, countless nations would rejoice at the idea that the alliance between Kella and Grayhin has broken. The Elso Empire would be first among them. Do as you please!”

The quill pen in Klaus’s hand came to a stop.

It was a bad sign, but I had no choice but to root for Michaela.

Klaus, you imprisoned Tobi?

Seriously?

Just then, Lucas appeared from the direction of the audience chamber.

He pretended it was by chance, but he must have been listening the whole time.

“Your Majesty, I happened to overhear and couldn’t ignore it. Surely you wouldn’t damage the meaningful alliance that His Majesty Argyle has worked so hard to build over a careless remark.”

Michaela turned a furious gaze toward him.

“Was this your doing? Do I look like a joke because I married into a lesser nation? Even if I became the Queen of a smaller country, I am still the First Princess of the Bismarck family! I permitted it, so this is an insult to me!”

Lucas firmly shut the heavy door to the Emperor’s quarters.

“Hael, the priests of Favia sent a letter. They say they won’t take back the attendant we already appointed as an Imperial caretaker under some flimsy excuse.”

“What?”

“Recently, the priests have been defying imperial authority more often. To set an example, and because Mari needs a caretaker, I had him detained for now. Technically, the attendant was also at fault. Still, for Mari’s sake, he’ll be released soon. There’s no need to make a scene.”

Michaela looked between Lucas and Klaus, her face growing red.

“Y-Your Majesty, if there were such circumstances, you should have told me in advance…”

Thankfully, Klaus picked up his quill again.

“It is true that the sacred creature fell ill while he was away without properly handing over his duties. Why should I bother explaining something so trivial.”

Michaela pouted.

“Mari fell ill because of me. Please don’t punish others for it.”

“Leave. I feel like granting King Argyle an extra fertile territory for taking in such a troublesome nuisance.”

Klaus said that without even lifting his gaze from the documents.

Michaela raised her shoulders as if she was about to flare up again, but then seemed to think better of it.

Instead, she folded her hands neatly over her blue dress and pleaded.

“Please release Tobias within a day. I want him to see that Mari is truly recovering.”

Lucas nodded in place of the Emperor and led Michaela outside.

Phew, that startled me too.

Like Michaela said, Tobi really needs to come back today.

Just as I began to doze off again in relief, Klaus’s tired voice spoke.

“Lump. Not having a younger sister is a great blessing.”

Yeah, Klaus…

But I’m even more thankful I don’t have an older brother like you…

* * *

After many twists and turns, Tobi finally returned to my side.

“Meow, meow!”

I wanted to welcome him with all my heart, but I was still too weak to even jump.

Tobi approached with teary eyes and lifted me into his arms.

“Oh my goodness, Lady Mari. How did you become so thin in just two days. I should never have left…”

Tobi himself looked worn out too, his eyes sunken and dark.

“Meow!”

Overcome with emotion, I licked his cheek, and he flushed.

“Thanks to you and Queen Michaela, I was released so quickly. So if anything were to happen to you, I’d be as good as dead. You must stay healthy.”

I never imagined that another life would become tied to this tiny cat’s life.

At the very last moment, I should definitely not test jumping from the third floor.

“I’ll ask Chef Britta to make porridge with salmon. You need to regain your strength.”

As expected, I needed Tobias.

All this time, Michaela had been so worried that she kept giving me only milk, and my stomach couldn’t handle it.

While Tobi went to the kitchen, I lay quietly by the fireplace in the audience chamber.

On a day this cold, what was there even to hunt, yet Klaus always went out hunting in the mornings.

Maybe he just couldn’t control his restless nature unless he ran wild across empty fields.

What a temper…

While complaining about Klaus in my head, even though he wasn’t there, I fell asleep again.

How much time had passed?

The fragrant smell of salmon porridge reached my nose.

When I opened my eyes, Tobi was carefully fanning a bowl of porridge in a ceramic dish.

What a good kid.

If I were human, I’d pat his head five hundred times.

But suddenly, a voice broke our peace.

“It likes warmth, so why are you cooling it down. Just give it as it is.”

“Y-Your Majesty…”

Klaus, you’re back?

Did you catch anything at least?

A servant who comes back empty handed is the worst.

I snorted and looked up at Klaus, then froze.

He wore a blue cloak with silver trim and a silver gray fur draped over it, along with dark gloves and boots. To me, he looked like a god of the hunt.

He should be a model, not an Emperor…

Under a deep sea colored beret with a white feather, his dazzling blonde hair swayed.

I stared at it, mesmerized, and when I finally met his gaze, those beautiful blue eyes were looking at me steadily.

Why are you staring like that, it’s making me uncomfortable…

Then, for some reason, Klaus approached all the way to the fireplace, and I flinched backward.

But unexpectedly, he picked up the bowl of porridge.

As I stared blankly, he placed the steaming dish in front of me.

“Eat. You need to eat to recover.”

Your Majesty, why are you suddenly acting like you care?

Can’t you see the steam coming off that thing? It’s hot!

I backed away, shaking my head.

His voice dropped slightly.

“I said eat.”

Of course, Klaus was never someone who understood moderation.

As I looked back and forth between the steaming bowl and Klaus, a final warning came.

“It’s an imperial command.”

An imperial command…

Tobi’s face turned pale for me.

Poor Tobi had just been thrown into a dungeon overnight…

“Y-Your Majesty…”

I know, Tobi.

It’s too scary to say it’s too hot…

I feel the same…

In the end, I couldn’t become a cat that disobeyed an imperial command and touched my tongue to the hot porridge.

This is all for Tobi… but still…

Ow, it’s so hot!

I almost jumped in shock, but Klaus, unaware, asked in a somewhat gentler tone.

“Is it good.”

I-I don’t know…

It’s too hot.

I looked up at him uncertainly, trying to read his mood.

For some reason, his usually cold blue eyes seemed a little softer today.

“Good. You’re eating well.”

Klaus hesitated, then slowly reached his hand toward me.

W-what is it?

I flattened myself nervously, and his hand paused and withdrew.

Tobi lightly touched my head, as if holding back laughter.

“You can just gently pet her like this, Your Majesty. It’s fine.”

At that, Klaus suddenly stood up as if startled.

I almost knocked over the hot bowl in surprise.

As I glared at him in annoyance, the Emperor raised his voice instead.

“There’s nothing to gain from touching a beast for no reason!”

Who said there was?!

I finally snapped back.

“Yaa-ong!”

Ignoring me, Klaus stomped off back into his quarters.

What is wrong with that guy?!

* * *

Since the Emperor cared that much, there was no need to list how much effort the palace staff put into taking care of me.

After about a week of being thoroughly nursed back to health, I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night after falling asleep early.

My whole body felt refreshed, as if everything had returned to normal.

When I stretched my front paws, every joint felt light and flexible.

That part was great.

I tried to fall back asleep, but that’s when the problem started.

I couldn’t sleep at all, and my heart pounded for no reason, making it impossible to calm down.

What is this now?

As I wandered around the Emperor’s quarters, I finally realized.

I want to hunt.

…What?

Im Mari, have you finally lost your mind?

It was a terrifying thought.

Yeah, definitely terrifying.

But before I knew it, my steps were already leaving the Emperor’s quarters.

I’m doomed… I think I’m about to catch a mouse.

I don’t think I can…

Getting out of the room was easy.

I had already figured out how to climb along the window frame into the corridor and leave the audience chamber.

After that, I used the servant passage that Chef Britta used when bringing me food.

I leaped down each step, each one taller than me.

But when I reached the kitchen, I suddenly heard whispering voices.

“…serve it while she is with the Princess?”

The voice wasn’t unfamiliar.

I was about to pass by without thinking, but what I heard next froze me completely.

“It will only cause the woman to lose the child in her womb or become infertile. It won’t endanger her life. Either way, it benefits us. It will appear harmless, so no one will suspect poisoning.”

“What about the Prime Minister who’s always glued to her side?”

“I heard he has a severe nut allergy. If we sprinkle nut powder, he won’t even come near it.”

Are they targeting Klaus?

They’d have to be insane to go after the Emperor.

I wanted to at least see their faces, but the kitchen door was tightly shut.

I wanted to squeeze through even the smallest gap, but soon their footsteps faded away.

Why is my first night hunt as a cat this ominous?

In the end, I quietly turned back and returned to the Emperor’s quarters.

The animal like excitement from before had completely cooled, and now I was actually worried about Klaus.

Why am I worrying about him?

…But they clearly said poisoning.

It was deep into the night.

The Emperor would be asleep, not eating or drinking anything, but I couldn’t shake the anxiety.

Suddenly, courage welled up inside me, and I headed toward his bedroom.

He told me never to come in, and if I got caught, I’d probably get yelled at.

I’d be lucky if he didn’t jump up and point a sword at me in the dark.

Even so, my foolish steps didn’t stop.