The Cat Who Weeps in the Dark - Chapter 63

Ah. Wayne, her usual contact, must be lying low. In that case, it made sense that she hadn’t received any updates.

“It’s been a long time since the ceasefire. They can’t maintain this stalemate forever, so they must be taking some kind of action.”

“Then… does that mean the war could end?”

“Hard to say. I’m not sure yet. We’ll only know once the delegation arrives.”

Though the answer was vague, it was enough to plant a seed of hope for peace. Katie struggled to suppress the surge of emotion rising in her chest.

‘Don’t get your hopes up too much. If I expect too much, I’ll only be disappointed.’

But restraining her excitement was easier said than done. It had already been three years since she came to the Empire. Given her true identity, she couldn’t even freely send letters home.

But if the war ended, this long spy mission would finally be over. She could return and spend the rest of her days happily with her family.

‘Who will be in the delegation? Whoever it is, I hope I can meet them.’

If she was lucky, she might even hear news of her mother. If not, she’d at least like to hear about the current state of the kingdom or any stories from home.

Home. Just the thought of it made her heart ache with longing. For some reason, a lump rose in her throat, and she shouted more vigorously than necessary.

“Sir Cheche! Should we pick up the pace?”

“Sure! Let’s race to see who finishes ten laps first!”

Before he even finished speaking, Katie sprinted ahead. Behind her, Cheche’s voice rang out—”That’s cheating!”—but she paid no attention.

Perhaps it was the hopeful news. The pain that had been tormenting her just moments ago now felt completely gone.

* * *

“A delegation from the Kingdom of Chandara is coming.”

The visit from a former enemy—once almost an ally—sent ripples of excitement through the imperial palace of Isolium.

“They must be coming to discuss the war, right?”

“What other reason would those beasts have to come all the way here?”

No matter where one went in the palace, whispers about the delegation filled the air. Servants and attendants alike buzzed with anticipation, their hopes for an end to the war swelling.

The Empress, too, was looking forward to the delegation’s visit—though for entirely different reasons.

‘This time, I might finally be rid of that detestable creature.’

In her hand, she held a letter. Its surface bore the wax seal of a lion’s mane.

[I will fulfill the promise left unfinished ten years ago.]

Helion.

How much effort had she poured into eliminating him? By all rights, that stubborn brat should have died a decade ago in a foreign land, yet he clung to life, persisting even now.

But this was where it ended. The Empress had no faith in mercy, but she did have faith in the money she had sent.

“It seems the old lion has finally decided to earn his keep.”

This was a long-awaited opportunity. Over the years, she had sent countless assassins after Helion—though those were little more than perfunctory gestures.

Expendable tools, sent not with any real expectation of success, but simply because leaving him be would have gnawed at her.

The Empress rose from her seat and approached the window. Gazing at the setting sun in the distant west, she murmured:

“This time, I truly hope I can finally hold your funeral.”

All palace events fell under her jurisdiction. And she had been preparing for his funeral from the very moment she became Empress—no, even before that, from ten years ago.

A joyous occasion deserved a grand celebration. Helion’s funeral would be the most extravagant affair the imperial palace had ever seen.

* * *

The medical office in the Dawn Palace to the east remained brightly lit even deep into the night.

Seated at his desk, Wayne trembled violently, the letter clutched in his hand shaking along with him.

“W-what in the world…?”

Written on the paper was a short, brutal command—one he had never anticipated receiving.

A few days prior, Katie had warned him.

[There are suspicions of a spy in the Dawn Palace. There might still be surveillance around. You should be careful with your movements for a while.]

Wayne had immediately tried to send a warning back to the kingdom—that their cover might be compromised, that communications could be cut off, and that the kingdom should exercise extreme caution with any messages.

But Helion had tightened surveillance across the palace that very day. One wrong move, and Wayne could be branded a spy, dragged into the interrogation chambers. In the end, he had no choice but to stay silent, anxiously waiting to see if the kingdom would send any word at all.

And so, days of suffocating tension passed—until tonight.

Just as dusk faded into darkness, a bird tapped at the medical office’s window.

“I knew it…! No wonder it’s been eerily quiet, not a single message for so long.”

Wayne quickly scanned his surroundings before hurriedly opening the window and letting the bird in. The small creature carried a slender letter tied to its delicate leg.

He unfastened the message and released the bird. Then, the moment he unfolded the paper, his legs gave out, forcing him to collapse into his chair.

[Kill the First Prince.]