Chapter 388: The Golden-Eyed Stranger

Chapter 387: The Golden-Eyed Stranger

Lyria’s POV

I smiled down at the cat, my fingers continuing to stroke its soft black fur.

It remained perfectly content, its eyes half-closed as it purred beneath my touch. There was something almost absurdly peaceful about it, considering that only moments ago it had regarded Phineas and Kathryn as though it intended to do them considerable harm.

Phineas, meanwhile, appeared entirely unable to reconcile what he was witnessing.

He stared at the cat, then at me, and then back at the cat.

"How, precisely, are you accomplishing that, Your Highness?"

"I d-do not k-know," I replied.

Phineas regarded the animal with the wary respect of a man who had already been firmly rejected by it on two separate occasions.

"I confess I find that rather remarkable."

Kathryn adjusted her cloak.

"As do I."

The cat opened one eye in Kathryn’s direction, regarded her with evident indifference, and closed it again.

I suppressed a smile and gathered the creature into my arms.

"Perhaps," I said, lowering my voice, "we ought to r-reserve our c-conversation for when we are s-safely behind the d-doors of my p-rivate chambers."

Phineas inclined his head immediately.

"Quite right, Your Highness. Forgive me."

He gestured for us to proceed.

We continued through the corridors in silence.

When we finally reached the door to my chambers, Brayden stood at his customary position outside. He straightened at once upon seeing us, though his gaze settled almost immediately upon what I was carrying.

"How—" He stopped himself. He cleared his throat and bowed his head. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I merely wished to enquire how the cat came to be in your arms."

Phineas gave a quiet laugh.

"I should very much like to know the answer to that myself."

He shook his head.

"I cannot account for it. The creature appeared in the corridor, rejected both Kathryn and myself with considerable enthusiasm, and then permitted Her Highness to lift it as though it had been waiting for her specifically."

Brayden looked at the cat with a frown, though he said nothing further.

He simply opened the door to my chamber and stepped aside.

I entered, with Kathryn following closely behind.

Phineas stepped forward at once, his hands outstretched.

"Allow me to take the creature from you, Your Highness. You have had a rather eventful evening and—"

The cat hissed.

Phineas stopped immediately.

The creature’s body had gone rigid in my arms, its fur rising in a sharp line along its spine.

Brayden gave a quiet chuckle from the doorway.

"It seems the animal has not revised its opinion of you, Phineas."

Phineas sighed.

"Apparently not." He glanced toward Brayden. "Perhaps you might fare better."

Brayden raised an eyebrow.

"I rather think so."

He extended a cautious hand nonetheless.

The cat hissed again, its fur bristling, and Brayden withdrew the hand at once.

A brief silence followed.

Phineas broke it with a laugh.

"It does not like you either."

Brayden folded his arms.

"Clearly I shall have to endure the disappointment."

I stroked the cat once more and it settled comfortably against me, its eyes drifting half-closed again.

I looked between the two men.

"I believe the c-cat has made its p-preferences quite c-clear."

Phineas inclined his head.

"Indeed, Your Highness."

"I s-should like some t-time alone with K-Kathryn, if you p-please."

The amusement left Phineas’s expression at once.

"Of course, Your Highness."

Brayden bowed.

"As you wish."

Neither man questioned the request. They stepped outside and Phineas drew the door closed behind them with a quiet click.

Kathryn turned toward me, her expression thoughtful.

"Forgive me, Your Highness, though I must confess I am rather curious. Where, precisely, did that cat come from?"

I glanced down.

The creature was looking up at me with those peculiar golden eyes.

"We s-saw it outside one n-night," I said. "It was s-sitting beneath my w-window."

I stroked beneath its chin and it pressed into my hand.

"We have n-not yet been able to i-identify its owner."

Kathryn gave a soft chuckle.

"I rather suspect the matter of ownership has already resolved itself."

I looked at her.

She gestured toward the cat.

"It appears to have identified its owner, Your Highness."

I smiled faintly.

"I d-do not think it b-belongs to me."

The cat promptly rubbed its head against my arm.

Kathryn raised an eyebrow.

"It appears to disagree."

I could not help smiling at that.

For all its hostility toward everyone else in the room, the creature had been remarkably and consistently affectionate toward me from the moment it appeared.

Kathryn’s amusement faded after a moment.

Her attention returned to me with purpose, and I understood at once that the subject had shifted.

"I shall do everything within my ability to help, Your Highness."

Her tone was quiet. There was firmness behind it.

I understood what she meant. She could not promise that my mother would recover. But she could promise to try.

That was enough.

I nodded.

"T-thank you."

She inclined her head.

"What herbs have the palace physicians ordinarily administered?"

"Crushed m-moonpetal root, s-silverthorn resin, and d-distilled frostbloom e-extract," I replied without hesitation. "T-they are administered t-through a h-ypodermic syringe."

Kathryn nodded slowly.

"I see." She considered this. "Those herbs are not inexpensive."

"I k-know."

Kathryn’s expression softened.

"Nevertheless, I shall see that they are obtained."

She spoke as though the matter were perfectly straightforward, as though cost were merely an administrative detail rather than a genuine obstacle.

"It is an inconvenience," she said simply. "It is not insurmountable."

I lowered my gaze.

"I d-do not know how to t-thank you."

"You need not."

Kathryn moved toward her satchel and checked its contents with practised efficiency.

"I shall ensure the treatment is obtained and administered appropriately. In the meantime, do not alter anything concerning your mother’s care without consulting me first."

I nodded.

"I w-will not."

"And Your Highness?"

I looked up.

Kathryn’s expression was stern.

"Do endeavour not to acquire another injury before I return."

"I d-do not intend to."

"I have heard that assurance before."

A faint smile touched her lips.

"Goodnight, Your Highness."

She bowed, then turned and slipped quietly from the chamber.

The door closed behind her and silence returned.

I stood there for a moment, looking at the door.

Then I looked down.

The cat had settled comfortably against me, its head resting near my arm, its golden eyes fixed upon my face.

Watchful and patient.

Almost unnervingly so.

I stroked its head gently and lowered myself onto the edge of the bed.

"It seems it is j-just the two of us t-tonight," I murmured.

The cat gave a soft, pleased sound.