Chapter 8

Klaus only lowered his head slightly to acknowledge the greeting, but Michaela stood and moved aside, giving up her seat.

The whole exchange was so natural that it was almost surprising.

The girls had kept their promise.

But the most dangerous moment was when Klaus was with Michaela.

Those unknown enemies were only targeting the two of them, and had no intention of harming King Argyle or Lucas.

So I stayed firmly by Klaus’s side.

Emma sat gracefully beside the Emperor, smiling sweetly.

“The winter is deep. Won’t you be relocating the palace to Luella Palace near the Viche Territory?”

Klaus didn’t even glance at her.

I swear he probably didn’t even notice the huge emerald decorating her hair.

“I have never moved the court since ascending the throne. It’s too troublesome.”

“I only ask because deer can still be hunted in Viche.”

As Klaus’s expression darkened, Michaela quickly stepped in.

“His Majesty only recently hunted deer as well. Still, if Viche Territory is that warm, I would like to visit someday.”

“If permitted, I would like to invite you along with His Majesty Argyle.”

Emma skillfully sliced venison and placed it onto Klaus’s plate, then served Michaela as well.

I looked suspiciously at the meat for a moment, but the table was too high to see properly.

I stretched my neck to peek closer, but since Emma also ate from her portion, I left it alone.

Hmm, nothing’s wrong.

I was barely enduring the meal while yawning when Klaus suddenly lowered a plate under the table.

Michaela’s eyes widened.

“Your Majesty, if you give just any food to the sacred creature…”

“I only gave a bit of cheese.”

Klaus glanced toward Tobi, who was seated far away, and the boy quickly rushed over.

“Did you call for me, Your Majesty?”

“Is it acceptable to give cheese to the sacred creature?”

“Yes, it should be fine.”

After Tobi stepped back, I licked the chunk of cheese Klaus had given me.

Whoa! My eyes widened.

This cheese was amazing!

I licked the plate clean, and Lucas laughed.

“I didn’t know our little cat had something she liked this much. Stop before it upsets your stomach.”

When I came to my senses, even Klaus was looking at me with a faint smile.

Before I could feel embarrassed, I sensed another gaze.

When I turned, Emma was looking at me with a bitter expression.

Hey, Your Majesty.

You should give her some too… I feel bad now.

* * *

It was obvious to anyone that Klaus had no interest in Emma whatsoever.

Even so, Michaela brought her friend back to the audience chamber again.

“Your Majesty, Emma can play the lute. Would you like to hear her?”

“Oh, shall we listen?”

The answer came from Lucas, not Klaus, but it was such a familiar sight that it didn’t feel strange anymore.

After all, the Emperor wasn’t even looking at Emma.

However, her performance was better than expected.

Dressed entirely in shimmering green, she looked like a forest fairy playing music.

The heavy atmosphere of the audience chamber brightened with her lively melody, and when she finished, everyone applauded, including Lucas.

Everyone except our Emperor, whose fingers seemed as heavy as stone.

“That was impressive. Did you study under a tutor?”

As expected, Lucas was the one who asked.

Emma answered him while standing and facing Klaus.

“Yes, I begged my father many times before he allowed it. Viche Territory can be quite dull.”

At that moment, the chamberlain, Baron Pensler, entered.

It wasn’t unusual for the chamberlain to come and go, but it was the first time I saw someone acknowledge him personally.

Without even waiting for Lucas’s response, Emma smiled at him.

“Uncle!”

Huh?

Ah, so she was his niece?

Now that I looked closely, their red hair was similar.

After bowing to the Emperor and Prime Minister, the chamberlain turned to his niece.

“Emma, have you pleased His Majesty during your visit?”

The chamberlain usually moved like an extension of the Emperor but rarely spoke.

So hearing his voice properly felt unusual, yet strangely familiar.

Where had I heard it before?

While I was lost in thought, Emma blushed and replied.

“I am doing my best, Your Excellency.”

The chamberlain briefly checked Klaus’s expression.

Naturally, the Emperor didn’t look particularly pleased.

When had he ever looked pleased anyway?

Then I remembered how he had laughed loudly last night, and a chill ran down my spine.

Ugh…

Just then, a servant entered beside the chamberlain carrying a tray.

“Your Majesty, milk wine made with nuts.”

Nuts!

My eyes widened.

At the same time, I realized the chamberlain’s voice sounded similar to what I had overheard in the kitchen days ago.

Was it just my imagination?

On the tray were several glasses along with the bottle, and the chamberlain personally handed a glass to Klaus.

Lucas quietly stepped back.

“Haha, I’ll pass…”

Judging by his expression, his allergy must be real.

I watched Klaus anxiously as he held the glass.

I needed to rush in and knock it over right now.

If I did that, I might be thrown out of the audience chamber, maybe even the palace.

But getting kicked out wouldn’t kill me.

So Klaus’s life mattered more than my place here.

As I paced nervously at his feet, he suddenly set the glass down.

The drink that might have been poisoned now rested calmly on the table, and my pounding heart eased slightly.

Whew, that was close.

But in the next moment, Michaela picked up the glass, and my luck ran out.

The Queen raised it to her lips immediately, and I had to gather every ounce of courage in my tiny cat body and leap at her.

I couldn’t let a sixteen year old queen become infertile.

A drug that destroys one organ wouldn’t be harmless to the rest of the body either.

“Kyaa, Mari!”

The purple milk wine spilled all over Michaela’s yellow dress.

I didn’t even think about whether it might burn her.

“Gasp, Sacred Creature! How could you…”

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“Mari! Why would you suddenly jump like that?”

Amid all the overlapping scolding, Klaus said nothing.

There was no time to think.

In the chaos, I quickly jumped onto the table.

I knocked over Klaus’s glass and toppled the bottle in an instant, the sound of liquid splashing filling the audience chamber.

The air turned cold and silent.

“I-Is this…”

Tobi grabbed me and held me tightly as he fell flat before Klaus.

“I-I’m sorry, Your Majesty. The sacred creature is still young and must have acted out in mischief. Please show mercy just this once…”

I could feel Tobi’s body trembling.

Ah… once again, my punishment would fall on him.

What if he received a severe punishment?

I never intended to sacrifice Tobi to save Klaus.

To me, Tobi’s life was just as precious, maybe even more so.

But I was probably the only one who thought that way.

Klaus didn’t look at either of us.

He only stared at the milk wine dripping onto the carpet as if he couldn’t believe it.

When he didn’t respond, Lucas spoke sharply for the first time in a while.

“Tobias Meyer. If it is your duty to discipline the animal, then you deserve punishment for today’s incident. Stop causing a disturbance and take it away at once.”

Even that seemed like mercy to Tobi, as he bowed repeatedly.

I’m sorry, Tobi.

I’m so sorry…

I resolved that if he was thrown into the dungeon again, I would stay with him this time.

Cradled in his arms, I left the audience chamber.

After passing the guards, Tobi began to run.

As if someone might take me away if he stopped, he didn’t hesitate for even a moment.

The paintings along the corridor blurred past my eyes.

Before long, we reached his small room.

He set me down on the rug and collapsed to his knees.

“Sacred Creature, why would you do such a thing? Do you want to see me die?”

My head lowered on its own before the crying boy.

I’m really sorry…

“Whatever punishment you receive, I won’t be safe either. Why did you do it…”

Yeah… maybe I shouldn’t have interfered.

What should I do…

A tear fell from Tobi’s face onto the floor.

I approached him and rubbed against him with a small whimper.

He gently stroked my head once, then composed himself.

Wait… don’t make some strange resolution too…

But the next moment, Tobi spoke firmly like a martyr.

“That’s right. This is all my fault. I failed to properly teach the young sacred creature, so I will accept the punishment.”

“Meow!”

As he stood up abruptly, I tried to follow, but he shoved me back into the room and slammed the door shut.

“Meow! Meeeow!”

My cries echoed uselessly in the small room.

There were no windows, no escape.

Was he going alone to beg for forgiveness?

Ah, poor Tobi.

Unfortunately, I had no lips or tongue to explain the truth.

When would I ever figure out how to turn human?

Would I ever figure it out at all?

Scratching desperately at the wooden door, I could only pray that Klaus would forgive Tobi.

* * *

After a long time, the chamberlain came to fetch me.

“You damn cat. To spill such expensive liquor.”