Hi!
Thank you very much for reading, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

And as always, thank Quanktumspirit for supporting me with the reviews and PM. (and the patience xD)

Enjoy!

PS: Forgive me if I have errors in this translation, remember it is not the best xD

Chapter 4: Not all shiny things are gold.

Puss had received orders from the king to care for the integrity of Princess Dulcinea on his tour of various kingdoms, obviously she persuaded her father to choose him.

He was happy since he is practically all the time with her, can share the time together and that gave him a small hope of having a chance. This helped things and forgot that nonsense of what had happened to the thief, was a confusion ... a mistake. He would go back to the kingdom and take care of her, just him, it was personal and he would not tell anyone.

-Really? And for how long do you go? Joey asked between interested and surprised. The orange cat nodded.

- I don't know, they did not tell me anything about that - he replied.

Now his friend looked worried, it was more than clear that Puss had feelings for the princess, he feared that he was very excited and ended up very hurt.

-What's going on? asked Puss.

-If I tell you, will not you be mad? - He answered immediately and seriously.

- I won't say anything - he replied, rolling his eyes.

- Be careful, don't think that being long with Dulcinea will give you some chance - advised his friend.

- I'll just do my job - Puss defended, trying to deflect the subject. His almost brother; since he considered him like this, Joey is not a fool and knew when he was trying to hide information ... Puss knew he never liked Princess Dulcinea - Well, I have to go, in an hour we will go - said to Joey.

- Goodbye and take care of yourself - he replied.

Puss arranged the last things and went straight to the palace. When he got there he discovered that he was already arranging the chariot, he was disappointed because he would not go with Dulcinea if he did not go on a separate horse, like an escort.

He received all the indications and warnings from the King's right hand. At the minute Dulcinea approached, precious as always but he was surprised that she ignored him and just climbed into the carriage.

Kitty accompanied Claire to do the shopping that morning and then they visit the little patient to see how he was evolving, it was a slow recovery but it was good to know that every day the little one looked better.

-Hey ... And since when do you go out with…him? - Kitty asked. - I have a right to know ... as you kept me secretly a few details - she joked.

- Oh, I know that! - She said with a stew - Not long ago, that is to say, I meet with him a while ago since the altercation of the protest passed but as a couple a few weeks ago - she answered.

"He looked for you?" She asked again interestedly.

- No, I was the one who looked for him ... I was turning his attitude that day and wanted answers ...

- You risked a lot! - Kitty scolded.

-Yes, yes! But nothing happened! - she tried to reassure her - In the end I discovered that he hates all this crap of the kingdom but can't leave the Guard since he needs to live ...

- I want to ... believe you, but I'd like to talk to him - Kitty wanted to leave things clear to see if she could detect a lie.

Her friend sighed, there was no case convincing her ...

- If you'll let it go, I'll talk to him, there will be no problem - Claire finally said.

- It's for your own good. Can you imagine if he's spying? I just want to make sure nothing happens - added the blue-eyed cat.

- Okay ...- she said with resignation. - Noah and Carlos will come today so Joey will be around.

-Good to hear that - Kitty said.

Surely, they would come to plan the escape and if they had, Joey "as supportive support" would come well.

Puss and Dulcinea had arrived at the first kingdom where they received them very well with a ceremony that included dinner and dancing. The princess just now spoke to him after so long.

- I need you to stay close to me - she ordered - Once the event is over you can have a free time, but not for long, since I'll miss you so much - she tempted.

Sometimes he wondered if she was bipolar or something like that because she could not understand why she had been ignoring for some time and now she was talking or flirting. For example, during the trip not even she greeted and now the princess did this.

The only thing that occurred to him, perhaps she was embarrassed to speak to him in front of her circle in the castle or with her peers ...

He just nodded with a smile, did not have much to say.

-What's wrong? Why don't you say anything? - She asked, pretending to be hurt.

- I'm just tired riding for a long time - he excused himself.

- Mmm - she said, not caring much, and he was lost as he watched her. - Well, with that, you'll be encouraged - she said, and headed for the castle.

The truth is that it wasn't like that ... Puss discovered why she did this tour.

She was looking for candidate to marry, in his face ... The princes approached her to talk to her, they offered to dance, gifts, walks around the place. And she responded to everyone with subtle flirtations and laughter.

And had he thought he'd have a chance? Pff

It felt like they were marking their spot. It was not easy to have to observe everything from a distance where he kept the balance of watching and giving her privacy.

That clearly hurt him a lot, he could not do anything if he was a simple guard. Having to look at those scenes was so ... harmful ... it was as if they were slapping him in the face. It made him want to close his eyes ...

Her other question was Why did she choose him for that? If she blatantly flirted with him when they were alone and now she was doing this ...

If only he had known that his trip would consist of this ... he would have immediately rejected the offer for any other excuse. He was clear that he was her subordinate and that he must obey, but he wasn't a masochist either.

And this was just beginning ... "Taking care of her" from a safe distance, she had to accompany and see the walk of the great gardens of that palace. Dulcinea chatted happily with her companion, exchanged one look at another, one laugh at another ...

After enduring an entire afternoon, they finally got a free moment. He used to walk and know the surroundings, even he did not have much encouragement so that after a while he went to the room that was assigned to him.

Joey managed to escape that day to be able to meet Claire and the rest of the group. He waited anxiously for that day of escape to come, he could not stand to live with so many injustices of the kingdom ...

He was glad that Claire had crossed into his life if he didn't ... honestly he would not know what to do. He began to take affection for her as he began to join her until the confidence between them grew and she told him her stormy past, that her family had abandoned her believing that their dignity would go to hell for having someone like that…for those "flaws." He saw her so unprotected that he felt the need to care for her even though Claire no longer cared.

There was something mocking Joey about when and how to tell Puss about this and future plans he didn't like hiding affairs from his best friend ...

Once he got safely to the boarding area and before he could greet his girlfriend, Kitty stepped between and turned to him.

- May I have a word with you? - The female cat asked neutrally. Joey looked at Claire in surprise and she just rolled her eyes.

- I'm sorry, I tried to convince her but she's very stubborn - said the two-colored cat. He smiled suspected where the thing was going.

- Yes, of course - he finally answered.

They both went to the side to talk in private, the cat was still suspicious and he noticed that Joey was taking this quietly.

- How do I know you're not a kingdom spy? What is your interest with Claire? - Kitty asked, getting to the point.

- I assure you I'm not on the side of the kingdom, if that were so we would have attacked this place a while ago ... I know it's hard to believe, but it's true - he explained - As for your second question, nothing more than caring for her and loving her.

- You had better be like that - the dark female cat warned.

- I wouldn't be able to hurt her - he said. - I'm sorry for what happened ... and my intentions aren't bad. I also want to escape from here and if I have to avoid some future attack, I will.

- What do you mean by a future attack? - She asked interested.

- Rumors that appeared- he replied. - I think it would be because of the last protest.

-What?! Why?! - She asked again, angry.

- Really I don't know, they don't tell us many things - he replied, annoyed by the situation. What fault do these people have? - I have always been of the idea that they let you go but we don't have weight in decisions.

Kitty worried about that because the possibility was that it would be a surprise attack as it was when she lost her parents. She hoped this was just a rumor.

- I'll let you know in time - Joey said. - And Kitty…I just want to support you. I really love Claire...

The female cat exhaled ... for now he did not show anything that made him suspect even so she would have him between eyebrow and eyebrow.

- Only I ask you to be careful, especially you, that someone will not follow you - said the cat.

- Don't worry about that, you'll see - said the two-colored cat.

Claire, seeing that her boyfriend had finished talking to her friend, she plunged lovingly into his neck making Joey laugh.

- Did the psychosis go away? - Claire asked.

- Fuck you - Kitty replied, her friend sticking out her tongue.

- Noah and Carlos will arrive at midnight - said the female cat.

- Let's ask something while we wait - Joey said.

- Umm ... we don't have any money - Claire said sorrowing, even though she was her boyfriend, she did not want it to look like she was benefiting of him. Joey frowned at her.

- Obviously I invite Claire ... don't worry about that - she said and gave him a loving kiss.

Puss woke abruptly, it was almost midnight. He got up immediately thinking something had happened. But it was Dulcinea.

For the first time he did not want to be near her, he did not want to suffer any more ...

The princess came up with a smile.

- I need your services - she said charmingly.

-What is it about? - He said disinterestedly.

- I want you to take me to the main bridge of the palace now - she said.

Surely he would find himself sneaking in with one of her potential "fiancees". And what could he do? Nothing, just quiet, observe and pretend as if it did not affect him.

- All right - he agreed.

Silently they went to the stables, mocked the caretakers easily allowing them to get a horse.

Dulcinea knew the way and pointed to Puss. Once they got there, it confirmed what the orange cat had suspected. There was a prince waiting for her, accompanied by a maid. He was very surprised that he treated his people well as they chatted nicely. That stranger turned around.

He couldn't believe the resemblance he had with that thief, had similar features but she didn't have that white spot on his chest and his eyes were opaque.

This didn't help to forget that slip, it caused that he felt strange things and was confused more. He had been distracted and didn't notice that the princess was catching his attention. She was asking him to go away for more privacy.

Both servants took their distance (Dulcinea had also sent the Prince's companion away). Puss preferred to stay behind some trees, he don't want to observe the painful scene.

To his surprise, the female cat approached him.

-Excuse me ... Can I accompany you? - She asked softly.

- Yes, go ahead, no problem - he answered.

- I know it will be awkward but ... I couldn't help noticing that you stared at me ...- she said quietly.

Oh crap…

He hesitated before answering.

- It's just ... you reminded me of someone I knew ... but I need to forget - he answered truthfully.

- Did she hurt you? - She asked.

- No ... it's complicated - Puss replied. - It's a mistake.

- Is a mistake to love someone? I don't think so - she said.

Unintentionally the orange cat had found someone; even if she was a stranger, so that he could relax a bit to talk about the issue that was affecting him.

- Well ... she's a thief ... I've met her a couple of times and whenever it happens ... it's hard to ignore that something is formed in the environment. It has happened that I'm close to capture her but that something causes me not to do that ... It isn't right ... I belong to the Royal Guard of the kingdom and it is against my principles and it is within my obligations to capture her, even more so if she belongs to that "class" - he hated the derogatory term - I must put aside this nonsense.

- We don't choose who to fall in love with - she said. Puss shook his head, it's impossible, this isn't falling in love, not at all, just a passing nonsense. - What do you mean by the class? The plebeians are supposed to be free to choose from - she said.

-In our kingdom there is discrimination, those who have black hair according to the King are "marginalized" they consider that they dirty "his blood" - said Puss - In fact I was surprised to see you with the prince being a plebeian.

- It's because there's no such stupidity here, that clean blood are outdated thoughts - she said, surprising herself with what she heard. - Even I'm the prince's best friend. There is no such discrimination here, they try to improve things for people in need.

-With these thoughts your kingdom will prosper- said Puss happily, at least in this part of the country, try to solve the problems instead of enlarging them.

- Thank you - she said with a smile. - And your problem, it's complicated but if it makes you feel better try to forget her - she said not very convinced since she saw how it affected the guard. Yes is true, she was a thief but she wasn't going to judge her less with what she had just heard about that kingdom - But ... Can I give you a warning? Things aren't what you think they look like and I mean your attraction to the princess - she said.

He opened his eyes like a plate.

- You've got a mess in there - she said. - I saw you in the afternoon, you didn't look so good.

- Great, I'm an open book - he said flatly. This made her laugh.

- I understand you have your duty, but think about it a little ... sometimes the less you have the more - said the female cat philosophically.

- Thank you so much for listening - Puss said.

- You're welcome - she replied with a smile.

Then they chatted about other topics while waiting for the meeting to end. When it happened, they said goodbye.

Puss escorted Dulcinea to her room and before she entered, the princess kissed her cheek very close to his mouth as the last time and then stroked his cheek provocatively.

The Royal Guard was static, couldn't help feeling emotion and he smiled slightly.

She winked and before she closed the door she said,

- Don't flirt with that vulgar one, you're mine.

Wait.. What?

Honestly he was't understanding...

He walked thoughtfully to his room, he was surprised how she acted and it was confusing him, that is, at any moment she ignores it as if it mattered nothing and in another instant, she was impudent.

Was not she supposed to be looking for a suitor at her level?

What if she felt something for him and did not express herself because it wasn't allowed?

Would it be a good idea to wait for this tour to end and speak directly to it?

At least he could hold that hope.

But for Puss this hope went as fast as it came, unfortunately for him the later days did not pass very well. He had to continue to endure scenes and many of them were compromising. It made him feel lousy, as if he was worthless, every day he felt worse. Jealousy could barely tolerate them, he was depressed every day that passed.

He was suffering a lot ...

Only he wanted to get home soon and be able to continue with his life in a normal way, work and fulfill his duties, avoid the princess at all costs and above all catch the thief.