Would it really be okay to just jump down? As Evelyn looked down at what seemed like a dizzying height from a cat’s perspective, she opened the mini-map.

She intended to confirm the Crown Prince’s exact location before moving. Fortunately, the red dot presumed to be the Crown Prince was blinking not too far from her.

‘Huh? Why is it getting closer?’

Just as Evelyn thought this was fortunate and was about to attempt to attract attention, knowing the Crown Prince couldn’t ignore animals, a sinister voice came from directly below her.

“These damn stray cats. Not content with the night, now you’re coming and going from the palace during the day too?”

Startled by the voice filled with deep resentment, Evelyn looked down. A man with freckles around his nose was glaring at her with narrowed eyes. Judging by his attire, he seemed to be a servant working at the palace. Unfortunately, he appeared to harbor a great grudge against stray cats.

Sensing danger, Evelyn tried to move away quickly, but a stone suddenly flew and hit the wall near her, bouncing off. Surprised by the sudden situation, Evelyn lost her footing. As a dizzying sensation of falling enveloped her, a dull pain struck her entire body.

Unable to even properly scream, Evelyn raised her head after landing in the palace courtyard. The world was literally spinning around her.

‘Damn. That really hurts.’

If the soft grass covering the courtyard hadn’t cushioned her fall, at least one of her limbs would have been broken by now. The pain was so intense that tears welled up in her eyes, but the problem now wasn’t just falling from the wall.

The petty servant, not satisfied with throwing a stone at her, was now walking toward her with gleaming eyes, holding a mop handle. His continuous muttering was an added bonus.

“The Empress has already ordered us to keep you lot away from the palace, making me stand guard without sleep. You filthy stray cats all need to be taught a lesson so you’ll never even think of setting foot in the palace again… Aaaaah!”

The mop flying toward Evelyn was intercepted midway by a large hand.

“This seems like an issue to take up with the Empress, not with that cat.”

“Who are you… Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

“So you’re the reason why cats haven’t been seen around the palace lately.”

The servant, who had been trying to pull back the mop irritably, recognized the owner of the hand and was terrified. Prostrating himself with his forehead touching the ground, he begged for forgiveness in a trembling voice.

“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness. The Empress mentioned she has difficulty sleeping due to the cats’ meowing recently—”

“When did I give you permission to make excuses?”

A cool breeze from somewhere gently ruffled Crown Prince Luinel’s platinum blonde hair. The Crown Prince’s violet eyes, reminiscent of violets, fell upon the servant filled with deep disgust. His cold gaze, mismatched with the May season where roses bloomed abundantly, fell upon the crown of the servant’s head.

Luinel, whose mood was beyond poor and seemed ready to sink into the ground, was just returning from a meeting held in the main palace. With the recent appearance of the Saintess leading to increased harmony between the Emperor and the High Priest, he, as the future emperor, was being summoned to various meetings.

‘Of all times for a Saintess to appear.’

His head was already about to explode from the underwater succession struggle with the Empress, and now the Saintess who suddenly appeared three weeks ago was scheduled to move into the palace soon. Moreover, the Saintess was apparently a former maid who had worked at the Margrave’s castle.

Although the manifestation of magical power varies from person to person, it was extremely rare for someone to suddenly manifest power after coming of age. Especially healers of the holy lineage, called miracles bestowed by the gods.

‘And it was the Saintess who discovered the dying Knight Commander in the forest.’

According to the High Priest, the Saintess, who was a maid, had been lingering at the back gate of the castle from early morning to receive ingredients. Then she happened to hear the screams and gunshots from the knights and headed into the forest. The High Priest described it as divine grace and a miracle, but Luinel thought differently.

‘Quite suspicious.’

Normally, people would run away upon hearing gunshots and beast sounds, not fearlessly charge into the forest alone. Moreover, it was vexing that she hadn’t immediately reported to the imperial palace after manifesting healing magic. However, since the High Priest, who had long served the patron deity Helios and was born with powerful abilities, had personally verified her, there was nothing more to dispute.

But the real problem arose when the Emperor recently decided to place the Saintess’s quarters in a separate palace close to the Crown Prince’s palace.

“When the Saintess arrives at the palace in three days, you, Luinel, will personally guide her. I’m thinking of holding a modest welcoming banquet in the evening with the royal family and high nobility, so you’ll also be responsible for escorting her.”

As much as he wanted to say “I refuse,” he held back when he noticed the Empress’s face across from him slightly crumpling. If he could make the Empress even slightly uncomfortable, it wouldn’t be difficult to tolerate this woman who might be a Saintess or a first-class magical beast.

Still, unable to shake his foul mood, he quickened his pace, only to witness a scene that fouled his spirits even further.

“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness. Please show mercy just this once… eek!”

He casually stepped on the back of the servant prostrated on the ground as he passed by, approaching the white cat crumpled near the wall. The unusually small cat watched him approach with perked ears.

Luinel slowly made eye contact with the wary cat—or rather, Evelyn—and smiled kindly with crescent-shaped eyes.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll treat your leg, so come here.”

Feeling somehow choked up at his gentle voice, completely different from how he addressed the servant, Evelyn managed to stand up despite limping. Perhaps because she had instinctively protected her head with her front paws when falling, her left front paw was swollen.

‘He really does love animals.’

It was fortunate that his character setting was that while he was colder than anyone to humans, he was at least warm to animals. If it had been the human version of herself being harassed by that servant instead of a cat, she could bet all of Nox’s affection points that the Crown Prince would have walked past without a second glance.

A languid smile spread across Luinel’s lips as Evelyn approached, swishing her pure white tail.

“A good child who listens well deserves a reward.”

Soon, hands as large as Nox’s and covered with calluses scooped Evelyn up and stroked her back.

“Meow!”

Seriously, how sensitive was this body that she could feel pleasure even in a cat’s form! Evelyn’s body trembled as waves of pleasure shot down her spine at the Crown Prince’s touch. Luinel looked puzzled at Evelyn, who seemed completely disoriented like a cat that had just sniffed catnip.

“Are you hurting somewhere else, too? I should take you to the palace and examine you properly.”

With a practiced touch, Luinel supported her hindquarters and turned toward the Crown Prince’s palace. He paid no attention to the servant who was holding his breath and swallowing his pain until the prince disappeared. Behind the Crown Prince, servants with expressions that said “His Highness is at it again” hurriedly followed.

In truth, this wasn’t the first time Luinel had rescued animals that had infiltrated the imperial palace. Although keeping animals in the palace had been prohibited since the Crown Prince’s cat damaged the Emperor’s favorite orchid, whenever animals accidentally wandered in or were injured, he would rescue and treat them before passing them off to nearby nobles. Since they were gifts from the Crown Prince, the nobles couldn’t refuse and had to adopt the animals with tears in their eyes.

Unaware of this poignant backstory, Evelyn’s attention was focused elsewhere.

‘What does one eat to develop such a broad chest?’