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***

Clarissa finally got close to the thing which remained hidden. Suddenly it jumped out.

Clarissa jumped back as well

And both she and Dante screamed in shock.

Next they looked at each other and started to laugh.

It was just a cat.

" Is this how you're going to protect me? "

" But you got scared too. " he said, giggling.

She narrowed her eyes at him. " I don't get scared. " she said in a serious tone.

The child tried to face her with a serious face, but he couldn't keep it up for long and started to laugh again.

It made Clarissa angry. No one had ever mocked her so openly.

" Dante, that is enough! Gentlemen do not laugh like that. "

" Sorry, " he said, trying not to laugh again. He looked at the cat studying it. He had never seen a cat with purple eyes before. It sat at a corner, licking itself and staring at them in an arrogant manner.

Clarissa, who had been studying the cat as well, scoffed.

" Who do you think has the cat? " Dante asked curiously.

" It looks like a stray. " Clarissa said, taking Dante's hand in hers. " It looks like it has fleas. "

For a second, it seemed like the cat paused and narrowed it's eyes at her but that couldn't be possible. That would mean the cat understood what she'd said.

She ignored the crazy thought. " It's time for your lessons. "

As they walked towards the palace, the cat followed them. " Go away you ugly flea bag. " Clarissa said, shooing it away.

But the darn thing wouldn't leave. It sat back on its paws staring at her.

She wondered if she should just kill it. She brought out her sword to threaten it but Dante thought she was actually going to kill the cat.

He jumped in front of it. " Please don't kill it! I will send it away. "

She didn't tell him that she was only going to scare it. Instead she scowled at the cat which seemed to be smirking at her.

This time she was quite sure the thing was smirking. She thought killing the cat wouldn't be such a bad idea.

But she saw Leonard coming from afar.

She grabbed Dante's hand and strode towards him.

" Leonard, please have some palace guards get rid of that rodent. " she said heatedly.

He looked at the cat which looked like no rodent to him. " As you wish. " he said, walking towards it.

Before he could take another step, the cat ran away through the hedges and was soon seen climbing the fenced walls of the palace.

Leonard found it a bit odd as most cats were known to be scared of heights. Then again, there were a few exceptions.

Clarissa was less concerned about it and called for her cheetah. " Mari! "

Soon enough the beast came speeding towards her. On arrival, it licked her fingers seeking her affection. She scratched it behind its ear and the cheetah almost seemed to purr.

It then licked Dante's face. The child would have giggled but it was extremely scared of the beast. He had seen it several times around the palace but he feared being eaten by it.

" You can touch her if you want. She won't bite you. She only attacks to protect me or if I order her to. " the princess said, bending towards the tiger.

The child was still scared but he always believed whatever the princess told him. So he gently placed his hand on the tiger which leaned in even more.

He loved how the fur of the cheetah felt in his hand and continued to caress it. He rubbed Mari affectionately and soon hugged her but was quick to move away in case the cheetah found his neck to be quite delicious.

Clarissa placed him on top of the tiger and climbed behind him. At first, he was scared but soon got used to sitting on it.

They took off at an unexpected speed that scared Dante at first but soon he started to enjoy the feeling of the breeze in his face and the way they dived and leaped off the ground. Almost like they were one with the cheetah.

He laughed, enjoying himself immensely.

The cat continued to stare after them even when they had gone a far distance. At long last, it climbed back down from the fence and moved towards the palace.

***

Clarissa and Dante got back from their ride an hour later.

It had been long since she last went riding on Mari. She was glad to have had that time with her.

She excused the young boy to his room to bathe, have a change of clothes and then rest before his evening lessons.

She went to her room to do the same. Her maids and guards had waited for her arrival and when she entered the palace grounds earlier, they were back to following her around and making sure all her needs were met.

At the time of evening, when she was sure the child would have had his evening meal, she went to fetch him herself. She had decided they would use the library in the east wing of the palace. It was more likely to be quiet and void of servants.

She knocked on his door expecting him to open it up but it remained shut. She thought perhaps the child had not heard her. She knocked a second time but there was still no reply. Instead she heard what sounded like whispering. Who could the child have been talking to that would keep him from answering the door?

" Has anyone gone into this room? " she asked the guard closest to her.

" No, my lady. "

She found this extremely suspicious.

" Dante, open this door right now. " she said calmly.

The door opened to a nervous looking child. " Your highness, I apologise I did not hear you knocking at first. " The child was looking anywhere but at her.

Something was not right.

" If you did not hear me knocking, how did you know I knocked? " She asked, stepping into the room.

" Uhmm...a guess? " he replied, not quite sure.

The child moved backwards towards his bed.

" Dante, remember I hate liars and those who keep secrets from me. What are you hiding? "

" No... nothing " he stammered in a quiet voice.

Just then the princess caught sight of something moving within the mattress.

" What is that? "

Author's note

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