Prince Yushir walked with a heavy step as he made his way down the street. His head was bowed and his eyebrows knitted together. “I have done all I could to guarantee she returns. . .” he murmured to himself. “Now I can only wait.”

“What weighs so heavily on the mind of the prince?”

The voice startled Yushir from his reverie and he jerked his head up. Lady Shian stood in front of him with a basket hung over her arm. An elegant silken blanket covered the top.

He shook off his morose humor and offered her a smile. “Good morning, Lady Shian. What brings you this way?”

She laughed. “The same as you, I imagine. We are both going to visit Dadan, are we not?”

The pair stood at a crossroads and Prince Yushir glanced to his right at the street. “Yes, I had planned on seeing him today.”

She swept her free arm toward the street. “Then shall we go together?”

“I would be honored,” he replied, and the two of them set out side by side.

“Have you seen Dadan much this past week?” Shian inquired.

Yushir shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. I have been busy making preparations for His Majesty’s grand gala. The guest list has become an extensive work in its own right.”

Shian studied him with a coy smile. “I have heard His Majesty is planning this gala for more reasons than to meet the current leaders of the clans. There is even a rumor going around that the demon king will be in attendance.”

“You need not put much faith in rumors, Lady Shian,” he assured her as he cast a curious look at his companion. “I am sure you have not had much time to yourself, either, preparing the empty palaces for their arrival.”

Shian rolled her eyes and sighed. “Unfortunately, you are correct. I have barely had time to myself and so I am late in bringing Dadan these.” She lifted the cloth cover and revealed a platter topped with the stolen chocolate. “I had hoped he would visit me and try them there but it seems he is preoccupied himself.”

Yushir had to suppress the urge to snatch one of the delicious treats. “Those are the chocolates left behind by Lady Roberts, are they not?”

The corners of Shian’s lips twitched downward and her eyes flashed with an icy light. She tossed the cloth back over the goodies. “Just the same, though you do her too much honor by referring to her as a lady.”

“A mere of habit,” he countered as his fingers continued to twitch. “Have you been able to figure out how the sweets are made?”

“No,” came the curt reply. “It seems the recipe has died with her.”

Yushir lifted an eyebrow. “You sound very certain she has perished.”

Shian fidgeted beneath his cunning gaze. “Well, I am not certain but what else could have happened? She was unfamiliar with our world and could hardly use any magic, much less the protective kind. I am sure she fell in with some trouble and we shall not hear from that traitor again.”

Stolen story; please report.

By this time the pair had reached the gates of Dadan’s palace and Shian quickened her pace. Yushir gladly let her lead the way as he studied the back of her head with curious thoughts floating inside his mind. She sounded so sure about the end of Lady Roberts. I wonder. . .

Speculation would have to wait. They arrived at the entrance to the majestic palace hall and Puren met them in the doorway. He bowed his head but his face was wrought with worry.

“What is the matter, Puren?” Yushir asked him as the pair stopped in front of the servant.

Puren’s eyes flickered over his shoulder. “It is His Lordship, Your Highness. He has not been himself since the cat died.”

“Not been himself because of a dead cat?” Shian scoffed with an added bonus of a sneer. “Surely you jest, Puren.”

He shook his head. “I wish that I were, Lady Shian, but he hardly eats and I do not know if he has had any sleep since that night.”

“Well, lead us to him at once,” Shian insisted.

Puren bowed his head and guided them through the halls. Their path took them into the western garden where the incident had occurred. A faint chill ran down Shian’s spine as she recalled her last visit to the garden. Her nighttime call hadn’t improved her relations with Dadan in the slightest, even with the cat removed from the picture.

Damn that lying vendor! she grumbled to herself.

Dadan lounged on a bench that overlooked the steps. Puren had scrubbed the stones clean and repaired the minor damage to the grass. It was as if nothing had ever happened, and yet. . .

“Good morning, Dadan,” Shian greeted him as the duo strolled up to the bench with Puren standing back.

Dadan’s attention was focused on the steps and he acknowledged her greeting with only the slightest nod.

Shian bit her lower lip and held out the basket. “I have brought you something to comfort you.” She slipped a hand into the container and drew out one of the bars of chocolate. “I believe you once showed quite an interest in these. You may have the whole basket if you so wish.”

Dadan turned his head and his eyes fell on the bar in her hand. His pursed lips tightened and he returned his focus to the steps. “You may leave the basket on the ground.”

Shian’s crestfallen face spoke a thousand words. She stepped closer to him and grasped the basket handle to hide her shaking hand. “Have I offended you in some way, Dadan? Why do you not give us your attention? Why do you stare at the steps with such intensity?”

Yushir set a hand on her bent arm. “I think for the time being you should leave, Lady Shian.” She opened her mouth to protest but he shook his head. “I will see to him. Trust me.”

Shian reluctantly allowed him to slip the basket off her arm. He offered her a gentle smile as he nodded at the doorway into the palace. She bit her lower lip and cast one last longing gaze at Dadan. Tears pooled in her eyes and she spun around and fled from the garden.

Yushir watched her go with a mix of emotions. He pitied her but only so far as one would pity a child too spoiled to see they weren’t welcome.

The prince returned his attention to Dadan and set the basket on the ground. “What is the matter?”

“Nothing,” came the bland reply.

Yushir turned his nose up and scoffed. “‘Nothing’ would be you and I playing chess, not you moping out here in the gardens staring at the spot where the cat was killed.”

“Then let us play chess.” However, Dadan didn’t move from his spot.

The prince crossed his arms over his chest and knitted his eyebrows together. “Why do you mourn for this cat so vehemently? She was your pet for less than a week. It has been longer since she passed than the days you knew her.” Dadan didn’t so much as twitch. The prince stepped in front of him, blocking his view of the steps. “I only want to understand why this cat was so important to you, Dadan. Will you not confide in me? Or perhaps in Puren? He, too, is worried about you.”

Dadan rolled his eyes over to Puren who bobbed his head. “Very much so, My Lord.”

The great lord studied the pair for a long moment before he slipped his legs over the side of the bench. “I will worry you no longer.”

A look of pure relief appeared on Puren’s face but Yushir was than pleased. “That does not answer my question about your infatuation with the feline.”

Dadan stood and strolled past his consternated friend. “Shall we play chess or not?”

Yushir pursed his lips but Puren practically danced behind his master. The prince reluctantly followed with his curiosity unsatisfied.