Now Served With Tea!

It’s been about a week since I returned home after Janice Lias kidnapped me in a bid to manipulate my beloved Prince Valentine. Strangely enough, things fell back into rhythm peacefully. Nothing too exciting has happened, just how I like it~!

Naturally, Ms. Layla had been fired. My Val had ordered to have her tried for stealing his royal cat, however, someone paid her bail. She’s not allowed on palace property, but it’s a wonder who got her out. I, like many others, have my theories. Unfortunately, that information is classified, so it remains a mystery with an unspoken truth.

Ok, fine, it’s Janice. I just KNOW it is, that girl needs her lackey. Or maybe not, I don’t actually know how close the two were.

Speaking of, no one’s heard a peep about Janice since the incident. I’m not sure if the maids know– not sure how many people Val’s told about this, but the whispers about Janice have died out. That’s what Yancy told me, at least.

Yes, Yancy. Her apprenticeship has yet to begin properly, though she’s meant to meet with the royal mage, Lucas, on Monday. She’s gracefully replaced Ms. Layla as if she never existed, now accompanying Mrs. June whenever I need tending to. It’s unsurprising that she’s good at caring for a cat, she has many back at home. It’s become more common now, but Yancy will suggest to Mrs. June to take a break elsewhere or to go run an errand while Yancy tends to my needs. During that time, Yancy will talk to me and let me in on recent gossip around the palace.

“It’s funny. It’s like Layla never existed, none of the maids will speak her name.” She told me. “Janice is also a sore spot, since she talked to many of them, and now they’re forbidden from contacting her at all. Someone got fired yesterday when Ms. Heather found out she was still in communication with her.”

I’m glad everyone else came to the same conclusion as I did, no longer approving of Janice as a potential partner for Vallie. I can’t shake the worry she might still stir trouble, though.

After all, there was still her brother to worry about.

Since they agreed to be friends again, or rather give Val a second chance to mend their friendship, Val has been glued to his phone. I’m trying SO hard not to be jealous, but Marius is stealing my precious Valentine time!! Val continues to type away on his phone around me, idly jiggling a cat toy in front of me. Come on, man! At least act like you’re paying attention! I huff, deciding to leap onto the bed next to him and make myself at home on his pillows.

It seems that was enough for him to put the toy down and flop on his back next to me, eyes glued to his phone. It just so happens to be the perfect angle for me to eavesdrop on what kind of conversation they’re having that he can’t turn away from.

On the screen, the most recent image is of… me?! It looks like he took it while I was staring up at him all grumpy because he wasn’t paying attention just now. It’s followed by a string of heart emojis and a text of Val calling me cute. Marius sent back a cat emoji, telling him I look grumpy and to play with me properly.

Ok, I can’t be as mad anymore. At least he was thinking of me.

Val huffs out a laugh, the hand holding his phone dropping to his chest as he turns his head to look at me.

“Sorry, I got a bit distracted there, didn’t I?” He says, his good mood evident in his tone. “Would you like it if I read to you before bed tonight?”

“Meow!” It came out more excited than I realized, making Vallie chuckle next to me as he gets up.

“I knew you would.” He says, browsing his bookshelf. He picks out a book I recognize as the one we started earlier in the week. “I don’t mean to get so side tracked. I guess I’m getting a bit carried away with being friends with Mari again.”

He plops back down onto the bed, making me bounce a bit from the impact. Val stares down at the book’s cover, titled Just Say So with a painting of a handsome man and a beautiful woman posing for an imaginary camera on the cover. He runs his hand across the cover, seemingly getting lost in his thoughts.

“...I wonder how this will go. I’m terrified of messing up again, even though I’ve steeled my resolve not to speak negatively of him in any context. I’m so certain I won’t, so why… Do I feel like I’ll still end up hurting him?” He sighs, opening the book to where the bookmark was carefully placed. “...I guess for now, I’ll just enjoy his company as I did before.” His voice lowers, like he doesn’t want me to hear what he says next. “I hope that will be enough…”

Val takes a deep breath before turning his attention to the book, beginning to read out loud to me. I stare not at the book, but up at him.

I’m not sure if he is aware of his dear friend’s feelings for him, but I know mere “friendship” will not be enough for Marius at some point. I just pray Marius won’t make Val hurt over it.

…

“Good news, Princess! Mage Lucas told me the mana inside my body was impressive and offered me the apprenticeship!” Yancy tells me after Mrs. June leaves the room. Brush in hand, she runs it down my fluffy, white coat as she tells me about her meeting.

“I was so scared. I know His Highness said he isn’t cruel, but his appearance was… intimidating.” She shudders, recalling the moment she met him, no doubt. “But in the end, he was kind to me. He complimented me on my potential, asked about what I knew and what I hoped to learn under him. Mage Lucas really did his best to make me feel comfortable.”

I meow back up to her in response, seeing her smile down at me.

“Maybe one day I could master a spell that lets animals speak human languages. It shouldn’t be as hard as turning animals into humans, right?” She giggled, adjusting me in her lap. “I hope you’d let me try it on you. If you don’t want to appear human in front of His Highness, maybe you could at least speak with him as a cat.”

I stare back up at her, unable to respond. Yancy is the only one who knows I was a human in my past life, only to be reborn as a cat in this one. She knows how I feel about Val knowing the truth. But she also knows Val’s desire to know what I’m thinking. I suppose I wouldn’t mind being able to talk to him for a little bit. A cat talking likely wouldn’t shift Val’s perception of me as much as me appearing as a human in front of him would.

“Either way, Ms. Princess.” She sets the brush aside, turning me to face her with a smile on her face. “I’ll be here for you, too. You’re in good hands being with His Highness and Mrs. June. I hope you don’t mind me joining them.”

If I could laugh, I would. She’s being sentimental, even though I barely did much to earn such feelings from her. Yancy reaches out and boops my nose with a finger, before placing me back on the floor.

“All done!” She says, proudly. “Oh, and don’t worry. I’m making good on my promise to you. I’ve already got an idea of something I can do to help His Highness have some fun, maybe even befriend him!” Though her eyes are sparkling, she wilts a bit. “It’s something I think you would enjoy too, actually. Though you can’t go as a cat, I wish you could. It’s a book fair of sorts in the town square. Maybe we can think of a way you can join us?”

Her hand comes up to her chin, frown etched into her face.

“If you don’t wish to go as a human it would be harder though. Hahh, I wish you could come!”

Gosh, it really does sound like fun! When was the last time I went to something like that?! My previous life, maybe as a child or teen. Once I started work, there wasn’t time. Though… I’m unsure how I feel about letting her turn me human again.

The more we use that spell, the more likely it is that Val will find out the truth.

I don’t want that. Ideally, we’d never use that spell again.

But GOD I really wanna go and leave the palace for a while!! Go outside and socialize! Something I never got to do in my past life!

I let out a heavy SIGH, shaking my head. No no, I simply can’t indulge. I flick my tail and trot away, leaping onto the pillowed ledge of the window to stare outside. Yancy seems to take the hint and packs up.

“I shall see myself out, Princess. Mrs. June and I will be back around dinner time to serve you!” She announces, pushing the cart carrying the messy dishes from my lunch out of the room.

When finally left alone, I glance back around the room. The bubbling envy in my chest needs to be stamped down; the allure of being able to return to a human form like the one I had before is tempting. But I meant what I said to Yancy. Vallie doesn’t need “Lana”, he needs “Princess” and that’s all there is to it.

Though my heart is heavy, I steel my resolve, staring out the window at the vast sky kept beyond.