Chapter 3: The Half-Day Prince Resolves the Lunch Crisis! Is That Right? ...

“That idea is absolutely awful,” Lucas said for the sixth time.

Ashlin remained unmoved.

“How do you explain Ashlyn Bailey’s unexplained departure? So rude of her to refuse the King’s invitation to lunch! You’re just a country witch, Miss Bailey.”

Footsteps came from around the corner, and Lucas immediately slipped into Ashlin's blue cloak.

More accurately, it was Lucas's own cloak.

The visitor was a maid carrying clothes.

“Your Highness, you look very well.” She bowed deeply and said to Ashlin, “The King, Queen and Princess are waiting for you in the dining room.”

"Thank you," Ashlin nodded gently, speaking in her most noble tone.

She wasn't quite used to the boyish tone of her voice coming from her throat, and coughed a few times.

“I’m not usually this cold,” Lucas whispered a reminder. “I should give her a warm smile.”

Ashlin smiled slightly. The maid's face flushed slightly, and she left briskly.

“I hope you’ve thought this through,” the black cat said, popping its head out again after the maid had completely left. “What if you turn back after eating half of it? As far as I know, not many illusions last an hour.”

"Then let's say it's a prank and run away."

“How could I have ended up with a witch like you?” Lucas sighed. “Just play me properly, please.”

"To act out your flirting with all the maids?"

"I didn't!"

Ashlin laughed heartily, never having felt so powerful. She strode through the magnificent, gilded corridor, barely suppressing the urge to stare at the exquisite crystal chandeliers all morning, nodding politely to the guards and servants, even greeting the armor. A long, peacock-blue silk cloak swept lightly across her path, concealing her black cat tail.

It wasn't until Lucas reminded her that he had just recovered from his illness and should act even weaker that she restrained herself slightly.

The restaurant was a hundred times more luxurious than she had imagined. The marble-tiled floor was so smooth that she could see her own reflection: a tall, thin, dark-haired boy, but whose outline emitted a faint green glow.

Fortunately, it's not noticeable unless you look closely.

Golden patterns covered the entire room, and the walls were adorned with murals depicting goddesses of harvest or agricultural gods. A pure white tablecloth covered the long table, and bright yellow roses were arranged in an embossed vase; Ashlin could see the dewdrops on the petals.

The white bread on the silver platter was thickly spread with honey or butter, and next to it were several servings of smoked fish fillets and eel jelly—enough to last her a month. In the center of the long table sat a herb-roasted chicken, brushed with glistening egg yolk. In a golden goblet, wine shimmered beside a slender candle.

At the end of the long table sat King Nicholas de Verne II, his expression solemn. To his left sat Queen Gracia, gazing at him tenderly; to his right, Princess Elaine raised an eyebrow.

The princess's makeup was exquisite, and she bore a resemblance to Lucas. Her long, jet-black hair was elegantly styled in a bun, and her eyes were a lighter, icy blue than those of her mother and brother. Her sharply defined cheekbones, however, were strikingly similar to those of her father.

Ashlinn momentarily forgot her opening remarks.

“Lucas,” thankfully Nicholas II spoke first, “you’ve arrived.”

Ashley decided not to point out that it was nonsense.

“Yes, Father. Good morning.” She touched her chest and bowed slightly, “as well as Mother and sister.”

"Where is your witch doctor?" Elaine looked around, as if she thought Ashlyn Bailey was hiding beside the prince. "I heard she was in the palace yesterday."

“She…has something she must finish, concerning her teacher, and therefore has to go back first. I will convey her apologies.”

"We haven't had a chance to properly thank her," Queen Gracia said regretfully. "Please sit down, my dear child."

A servant pulled out the chair next to Princess Elaine, and Ashlin sat down with a slightly reserved air.

Nicholas II picked up a jewel-encrusted knife, cut off one of the roast chicken wings, and placed it on Queen Gracia's golden platter before cutting his own chicken breast.

Elaine waited until her father finished what he was doing, then gestured to a servant to add a spoonful of fish jelly to her plate.

"It's alright, eat up, eat more," Gracia said softly.

Ashlyn instinctively reached for the bread, only to feel a few hard slaps on her back from behind. Embarrassed, she pulled back halfway, picked up her knife and fork, and prepared to cut a piece for herself.

Unexpectedly, I was hit on the back again.

“The servant will give it to you,” Lucas reminded him in a very low voice.

Sure enough, Ashlin stopped in her seat, and a servant immediately came over to cut bread for her and spread honey on it.

Ashlin was so hungry that she didn't think twice and took a big bite, enjoying it immensely. The milky aroma of the bread and the sweetness of the honey were like a dream from heaven, softly entering her mouth.

The herb-roasted chicken was also the most delicious roasted chicken she had ever eaten in her life. The freshness of rosemary mixed with the richness of butter, and the aroma of the crispy chicken skin just kept popping into her mouth. She had really been tortured by Sanova's cooking for far too long.

She looked up and realized that everyone was looking at her.

"Are you hungry, little brother?" Elaine laughed. "Yeah, you haven't had a proper meal in two weeks, have you?"

“Yes, I’m sorry,” Ashlin said indistinctly, “It’s been too long since I’ve seen real food.”

Nicholas II kept staring at her, making it difficult for her to decide whether to eat or not, so she simply sat up straight and put down her knife and fork.

“This separation by life and death, son… has made me realize how important you are to me,” the king said earnestly.

Elaine started drinking wine.

“Yes, Father. I realize just as much how important you are to me.” Ashlin swallowed the chicken. “I love you all.”

Elaine seemed to almost spit out her drink.

“I wouldn’t say it so bluntly!” Lucas called out quietly from the table.

Elaine frowned and looked under the table: "Is it my imagination? Why do I hear a cat meowing?"

"Maybe my shoes slipped a few times on the ground," Ashlin said hastily. "It's nothing."

"Let's raise a toast to our dear Lucas's miraculous recovery!" Queen Gracia raised her glass. "To Lucas!"

"Homage to Lucas!"

Even the wine here is better than that from Foxtail Bend. Ashlin savored the feeling of the wine dancing on her tongue.

It's so cool to be the prince of Helian.

“Well then, Lucas, I’m afraid we need to get down to business today.”

"No problem, Father."

"First of all, how far have you progressed in your Latin and Elvish lessons?"

Ashlin's hand trembled, and she almost dropped her wine glass.

“Nicholas!” Gracia scolded, “He’s only just recovered from his illness, there’s no need for him to be in such a hurry to focus on his studies.”

“Ah. Learned… um…” Ashlin had never learned this before, “reading articles.”

“No, short sentence grammar,” the black cat muttered.

“Short sentence grammar,” Ashlin corrected. “Sorry, my brain is fried.”

What do you think?

"A waste of life," the black cat said dismissively.

“It’s a bit boring,” Ashlin said, quickly adding, “...Father.”

"Boring?" The king stroked his beard. "Then what suggestions do you have?"

“Fire the Latin teacher; he was worse than me,” Lucas said. “The Elvish teacher was alright.”

Ashlin tried to repeat his words in more polite language.

“That is a suggestion, very good, very good.” The king nodded. “You are a clever boy, Lucas… Although you may not be as good as your sister in martial arts and governance, you may be better in academic knowledge.”

Elaine rolled her eyes.

"Save your breath, Father! You know neither of us likes hearing your comparisons, do you?"

She smiled and clinked glasses with her father, then stood up briskly. "More than who's better, I'm interested in who can find the kitten in this room!"

Ashlin felt a chill. She felt Lucas immediately burrow deep into her cloak.

“I could hear very, very faint meows,” Elaine said. “There must be a cat that’s sneaked in.”

"How dare a cat enter the royal dining room?!" The king's face turned ashen. "Find it for me immediately!"

The servants sprang into action immediately, crawling under the table, lifting the tablecloth, grabbing vases, and even rummaging through the carpet in the corner. One guard even drew his sword, as if he were facing a chimera, not a kitten.

Ashlin felt Lucas tense up instantly beneath the cloak, which shifted slightly. A sharp-eyed servant glanced over.

She felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, constantly shifting her posture, her eyes darting around, and stiffly raising her already empty wine glass, pretending to drink.

Elaine squinted.

"I thought you had just finished your drink."

"Hmm?" Ashlin's eyes darted away. "Oh, right, I just noticed. Please get me some more." She gestured to the servant.

"Are you alright, little brother?"

"Me?" Her heart leaped into her throat, and she cursed herself for being stupid. "Of course."

"Your forehead is sweating, and your face is pale. Are you feeling unwell?"

“He has just recovered,” Queen Gracia said. “It’s normal for him to feel a little unwell.”

This was no lie; she was indeed dizzy and disoriented. The Queen's figure flickered in her eyes, like a phantom.

"Your illusion," Lucas whispered a reminder.

Yes. How long has she been here? Ashlin realized that if she stayed any longer, she would probably revert to her original form.

The servant scurried out from under the table like a mouse. "Your Majesty, we've searched everywhere, but there's no...cat..."

“Lucas,” Elaine raised an eyebrow, “either I’m dreaming, or there’s some green glow on you.”

Oh no, the illusion is about to wear off.

You've misjudged.

"So, I was just mistaken when your hair started turning blonde?"

Ashlin felt as if something had suddenly exploded in her ears.

"The sun is indeed quite strong today."

Just then, the black cat Lucas leaped out like a black shadow from beside her legs.

Ashlin stood up in shock.

"Quick! There it is!"

The servant shouted.

The black cat flipped over the chair, leaped onto the table, and darted past Princess Elaine's wine glass. The roast chicken nearly tipped over, and wine spilled half the tablecloth. Two servants tumbled together, dragging a bunch of yellow roses down, petals flying everywhere.

No one paid any more attention to "Lucas," who was glowing green and whose hair was gradually turning gold.

"Block the door! Don't let it get out!" someone shouted.

"Use the cover!" Another person, quick-witted as ever, grabbed the table lid and pounced.

Lucas dodged and weaved through a pile of silver cutlery, running across the tablecloth as he went, his tail almost getting covered by a plate.

"Oh, Sun God!" Queen Gracia exclaimed, retreating repeatedly.

Ashley was speechless, almost forgetting that she was a prince. She instinctively stood up to help, but restrained herself.

“A madwoman,” she murmured.

"Gotcha!" he shouted.

Lucas was completely wrapped in a silk napkin, with only his blue eyes showing, and his body was still twisting desperately.

A brief silence fell over the restaurant, the air thick with the scent of breadcrumbs, rose petals, and broken goblets. Princess Elaine's gaze darted between the black cat and Ashlin, flickering strangely.

Nicholas II's forehead veins throbbed. "This is outrageous!" he roared, slamming his fork on the table.

The servant carefully carried the black cat back to the dining table.

Elaine slammed her hand on the table and burst into laughter, drawing everyone's attention.

"Hey, Lucas! I was wondering why you looked like a different person. Turns out you've got a kitten."

"What are you saying?" Ashlin waved her hands frantically, then tried to cover the small portion of her blonde hair that had returned to normal. "I didn't."

“Don’t be nervous, bro!” Elaine shouted. “I guess you had no choice.”

"Is this true, Lucas?" Nicholas's eyebrows furrowed almost together.

Ashlin sighed, knowing there was no escaping it this time.

However, a new idea gradually formed in their minds that could help them leave quickly.

“It’s true.” She said, feigning dejection, speaking rapidly as if her voice was about to revert to that of a girl. “And he’s not a stray cat… he’s that witch’s, Ashlyn Bailey’s cat. She forgot him at the palace.”

To be honest, this is something she is entirely capable of doing.

“Lucas!” the Queen scolded. “You could have told me first.”

Nicholas de Verne II looked as if he would never smile again, his eyes hidden in the deep shadows of his brow ridges.

"Quickly return this black cat to the witch, lest it bring disaster to our family. I take back all the praise I just gave you, Lucas. As a prince of the Deville family, you are far too immature."

The real Lucas bared his teeth boldly at the king from inside the napkin, and Ashlin couldn't help but think that this was something he probably wouldn't do in his human form.

“Of course, Father. I wanted to tell you about this... but he's been clinging to me, and I haven't had the chance.” She said respectfully, picking up Lucas. “I'll take him with me now.”

“I’ll go with you.” Elaine patted Ashlin’s shoulder.

The princess's eyes didn't seem to indicate a willingness to refuse.

The illusion of the cloak remained. She must have looked utterly ridiculous: a commoner girl dressed in a prince's magnificent gown.

“Listen, Your Highness, I don’t know how to explain this…”

Elaine waved her hand.

"No need to waste words, I can guess what's going on. Haven't you wondered why only I heard the cat's meow? At first, I thought it was just normal cat meowing; but then I realized that I could understand some words. This means there was some human magic involved."

Ashlin stared at her. Indeed, the spell's effect wasn't to make Ashlin understand cat meows, but rather to create a linguistic link between the caster and the animal that ordinary people couldn't comprehend. Real cat meows were another matter entirely.

"You've also learned the magic of animal communication?"

"Yes, just a tiny bit, and I can only understand a few words." The princess nodded. "It's a story of teenage rebellion. The more my father hated magic, the more I wanted to learn spells to provoke him. Unfortunately, I really lacked magical talent. But I'm still not as rebellious as my dear brother."

Lucas meowed in dissatisfaction.

“I know you’re Mr. Bailey’s apprentice, and I also know this little guy is my brother.” Elaine slyly ruffled Lucas’s hair. “Hello, little kitty! Ah, I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”

"Get out of my way," Lucas said aggressively.

“I understand that word,” Elaine warned.

“Put me down too.” He patted Ashlin’s arm, but Ashlin remained unmoved.

“It’s all my fault.” The witch lowered her head. “I confused the healing spell with the black cat curse. Only Mr. Bailey has the ability to break the curse, but I don’t know where he is.”

The princess tilted her head back, put her finger to her lips, and seemed to be deep in thought.

A note from the author: