The Cat Who Weeps in the Dark - Chapter 27

This was an utterly annoying situation. Now that it had been revealed there was a spy in the Dawn Palace, Katie had no choice but to seriously consider her next steps.

‘I need to relay this to Wayne.’

In principle, spies were not supposed to know about each other. This was to ensure that if someone’s identity was exposed, they couldn’t reveal information about others under interrogation.

But Wayne was an exception. Strictly speaking, he wasn’t a spy himself—rather, he served as a liaison, connecting the spies scattered across the Empire with the Kingdom’s homeland.

In other words, if his identity were exposed, it could lead to every spy in the Empire being uncovered.

Even putting that aside, Katie wanted to save him.

When she had first arrived in the Empire, knowing nothing, when she had faced her first heat with no idea how to handle it—Wayne had helped her countless times.

Even beasts recognize kindness. Turning her back on someone who had aided her in difficult times was not the way of a beastfolk.

‘The problem is how to make contact.’

Katie gnawed at the edge of her thumbnail. Helion had ordered the escort knights to monitor the eastern palace. With watchful eyes everywhere, making a careless move now would only invite unnecessary suspicion.

‘For now, I’ll observe the situation. Moving immediately would be too obvious—I’ll wait for the right moment.’

And fortunately, that “right moment” arrived sooner than expected.

“You mean the medical examination records?”

“Yes. I could get a new one here, but the results would take too long. It’d be simpler to retrieve my previous records.”

After some time had passed and familiarity had grown, the senior knights, including Cheche, had begun speaking casually to her. Given her age and rank, it was only natural.

What Cheche requested were her medical records. Since she was being reassigned, a new personnel record card had to be prepared. For Katie, who had been waiting for an opportunity, this order was not just welcome—it was downright fortuitous.

“I agree that would be best. I’ll go retrieve them right away.”

There could be no more perfect excuse to seek out Wayne. Concealing her excitement, Katie saluted briskly before swiftly leaving the palace.

Today was a fortunate day for Katie in many ways. When she arrived at the Dawn Palace, Wayne was the only one in the infirmary. There couldn’t have been a better opportunity to relay a confidential message.

Katie took a seat and handed Wayne a piece of paper she had prepared in advance.

[There are suspicions of a spy in the Dawn Palace. There may still be watchers around even now. You’ll need to be careful with your movements for a while.]

While Wayne read the note, she made sure to exchange meaningless pleasantries to mask any suspicious silence.

“It’s been a while, Wayne. How have you been?”

“Quite well. I heard the news, Dame Katie. That you joined His Highness Helion’s royal guard. Congratulations.”

Wayne picked up a pen from the desk and began writing his reply beneath Katie’s words.

[We’ll have to be cautious about communications with the Kingdom for now. And the incoming medicinal supplies as well.]

Incoming medicinal supplies. Katie’s expression darkened as she recalled that her estrus cycle was approaching again.

“By the way, what brings you here today?”

“Ah, I came to retrieve my medical records. They said I need to submit new ones since my assignment changed.”

[Does that mean you won’t be able to get suppressants anymore?]

Wayne nodded, confirming the other reason for her visit. His worried eyes scanned her complexion, and he sniffed slightly—as if detecting the scent of hormones that signaled her nearing heat.

[How did you manage your last estrus cycle? You came for medicine once, but never returned after that.]

Katie hesitated, unable to bring herself to write immediately. It hadn’t been intentional, but by chance, she had ended up relying on Helion’s help.

Still, she didn’t particularly want to admit that in front of a fellow agent of the Kingdom.

[I handled it alone.]

[Then it seems you’ll have to do the same this time.]

For some reason, a bitter feeling welled up inside her. She clenched the pen tightly before exhaling and setting it down.

Alone. Just the thought made her face burn, but there was no other choice. With surveillance now in place at the eastern palace, it would be difficult to visit Wayne again. And if incoming shipments were being inspected, there’d be no way to smuggle in suppressant ingredients from the Kingdom.

‘Should I just be grateful that what happened with Helion that day was a blessing in disguise?’

She didn’t want to consider it a blessing, but the situation left no choice. Thanks to that dizzying experience, Katie had learned how to endure her heat—realizing penetration wasn’t strictly necessary. Just touching herself there was enough.