Chapter 45

"Father!"

Just then, April came hurrying toward Jan's party from some distance away.

The ladies-in-waiting who had followed her caught sight of the Emperor and hastily gathered their skirts, bowing their heads low.

"Oh, April. What brings you here?"

"I left the window open and Kkami got out, so I came looking for it."

She smiled, stroking the little black kitten cradled in her arms.

April, who had been downcast for some time over the matter with Christine, looked brighter now — all thanks to this black kitten. According to her ladies-in-waiting, she didn't let it out of her sight from morning until night.

Jan wasn't fond of cats, but he'd decided to look the other way for as long as it helped his daughter find her footing again.

"But is something wrong with its leg?"

A white handkerchief was tied around the kitten's leg.

"It climbed a tree and…