Chapter 39
Why is he here again?
I looked at the Crown Prince, ready to hiss at any moment.
“I greet the Star of Callenia.”
“How is palace life, Lady?”
“Thanks to Her Majesty the Empress’s grace, I am living peacefully.”
“I see. Nothing has changed here.”
He only glanced into the greenhouse without entering.
Following his gaze, Eloise also turned to look.
Even in midwinter, flowers of all kinds were blooming — it was a breathtaking sight.
The greenhouse was several times larger than the duke’s and looked like another world entirely.
Eloise looked back at the Crown Prince. His dull green eyes sharpened, as if searching for something far away.
“I’ve heard this was a place Lady Michelle cherished.”
“It was the only place my mother liked in the palace.”
“She would’ve liked it even more if Lady Lonsbleu had tended it.”
“Marie is for me to handle. I’d prefer if you didn’t concern yourself.”
They were actually conversing decently — until Eloise’s hand trembled at his words.
Calling his mistress by a pet name in front of his fiancée, and telling her not to meddle?
If you considered the mouth that uttered such karma, even Marianne was pitiful.
Reading it in a novel and experiencing it firsthand were worlds apart.
“Then treat Marianne well… Your Highness.”
The words slipped out too fast, and she hastily tacked on honorifics. His brow had already arched, but instead of rebuking her, he just stared and sighed.
“It seems you must be suffering greatly, Lady.”
“These days, it’s my joy.”
“Didn’t you say you were only watching over it for a while?”
“Isn’t that the same as Your Highness’s Marie?”
It felt like a thunderclap without lightning. Cold wind blew between them, and a storm could break out any moment.
If it did, only a frail cat and some nearby servants would end up dead.
“Eloise, too much cold wind is coming in. All the pretty flowers might die.”
“You’re right. Since it’s mine now, I must take care of it.”
When I pointed out the greenhouse door was still open, she finally stepped fully outside.
Once a maid closed the door, Eloise locked it with the key she’d received from the Emperor.
Then she held the key up deliberately before the Crown Prince.
“I won’t let anything of mine be taken away again.”
“…‘Taken away,’ you say.”
“Well then, I have pressing business. I’ll take my leave, Your Highness.”
Even after Eloise descended the steps with a perfect bow, the Crown Prince stood there unmoving.
The knights, as if waiting, opened the door of a carriage.
The winter sky past noon was nothing but dreary gray.
As Eloise boarded the carriage, she raised her voice on purpose.
“Sir, to the Prince’s Palace.”
“Yes, my lady.”
No doubt the Crown Prince heard her.
Eloise’s meaning was clear: You go play with your mistress. I’ll go play with your younger brother.
If only Eloise would grow distant from the Crown Prince and closer to Marcel…
Even with the wind whipping my fur, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Hehe.”
Instead of waiting for them to get closer, shouldn’t I just make it happen?
If Eloise and Marcel came to like each other, the Empress and the Monclaire couple would handle the aftermath.
“Lizette. Do whatever you want, just don’t get hurt.”
My laugh must have made her uneasy, because Eloise stroked me while giving that warning.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
When we arrived at the Prince’s Palace, Marcel, Étienne, and Dr. Payson came out to greet us.
Marcel extended his hand to escort Eloise.
Taking advantage of that moment, I slipped out of her arms and landed on the ground.
“Lizette.”
“Dr. Payson said exercise is good for one’s health.”
At her sharp glance, Dr. Payson gave a weak, awkward smile and nodded.
Looking closer, he seemed out of breath, as if he’d rushed over.
As I stared curiously, Marcel apologized to Eloise.
“Sorry for calling you here in such a hurry. The doctor had urgent business, so I moved up the schedule.”
“Me?”
The doctor’s bewildered face made it clear Marcel was covering for Étienne’s lie.
Étienne avoided everyone’s gaze, and Eloise seemed to have noticed from the start but pretended otherwise.
“Then I’m glad we were able to save His Highness’s time.”
“Well, Father is certainly a busy man.”
I followed behind Eloise and Marcel into the palace.
Their gentle chatter was nice to hear, especially compared to how stiff Eloise had been with the Crown Prince.
I turned to the sulking Étienne beside me.
His lie must still be weighing on him — he was quieter than usual.
“Don’t they look good together?”
“Yes.”
Even whispered, he caught my meaning and agreed.
If we launched an “Eloise & Marcel Romance Operation,” he would surely help.
Hoping our second plan would succeed, we entered the reception room.
I hopped onto the table that had basically become my examination stand, and Dr. Payson examined me seriously.
“Your mana has stabilized. I was worried yesterday when it kept fluctuating.”
That pain I felt earlier had me concerned, but now I felt relieved.
Étienne’s mana seemed to have helped. Maybe beastman mana resonated better with cats?
“Dr. Payson, does this mean she can return to the duke’s estate now?”
“Well…”
“No. Until the reason Lizette can speak becomes clear, she should stay in the palace. Elo— Lady.”
Marcel almost said her name but corrected himself.
Busy as ever, he set down the papers he’d even brought to the reception room.
“Your Highness.”
At her displeased tone, Marcel quickly shifted.
“Payson, aren’t you hungry? Stay for tea.”
“I think I’d better go — it seems there are urgent matters I wasn’t told about. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Sensing the chill, Dr. Payson hurriedly packed up and fled the palace.
Once only the three of us remained, Eloise’s mood grew icy.
“Your Highness, you don’t intend to keep Lizette here forever, do you?”
“Ha ha, if the Empress’s Palace is uncomfortable, you may stay here instead…”
“I know how busy you are. Why not send Dr. Payson to the duke’s estate instead? While he does checkups there, you can call upon him if you need.”
For Eloise to speak so much, and so directly, was rare.
Clearly, constant clashes with the Crown Prince had pushed her patience to its limits.
She’d seemed fine during lessons at the Empress’s Palace, so the cause was obvious — him.
Knock knock.
“Your Highness, I’ve brought refreshments.”
“Come in!”
Just then, a servant arrived with a trolley, and Marcel’s face lit up.
The reception room quickly filled with a sweet aroma.
On the table were ivory pudding, fluffy soufflé, chocolate custard, plus scones and sandwiches — all of Eloise’s favorites.
I’d thought only Sophie knew of her sweet tooth.
“You must’ve had a hard time with Father. Well done.”
Marcel cut a sandwich in half and set it before her.
She sighed softly but accepted it without protest.
Étienne quietly cut the beef set aside for me and slipped it under the table.
That’s why setting an example matters.
“You must be hungry. Eat.”
His low voice held warmth.
I rubbed my head against his calf, making him jump in surprise.
He’d reacted the same back when I’d shown affection in the palace before.
“Thank you, I’ll enjoy it.”
The steak tasted different in every place I’d stayed.
At the duke’s, it was juicy; at the Empress’s Palace, tender and melting; here at the Prince’s Palace, the flavor was rich and meaty. At this rate, I’d become a steak connoisseur.
“I can’t finish this alone.”
Eloise pushed the remaining half sandwich back to Marcel.
He smiled faintly and picked it up again. Out of all these snacks, why that one?
There was another kind of sandwich, too! The more I watched them, the more fascinating their relationship became.
Clearly, the only solution was to marry them off. Then the palace and the duke’s estate would naturally become my domain.
“Hehehe.”
“You’re laughing very strangely.”
“Hehe. It’s fine. Right now, I’m an ambitious kitty.”
Étienne sighed, but I didn’t care.
Even if Marcel left the palace after marriage, it would still be rich marrying richer — an upper-class tycoon!
Dreams do come true.
