Chapter 3

Lune continued to walk down the many halls of the castle later on that evening as his father wanted to tell him something. And when he reached the throne room he walked inside and greeted his father with, "Good evening Father, now what was it that you wanted to speak to me about?"

The longhaired Cat King just grinned at his son as he replied, "Oh Lune, I'm glad that you returned to the castle earlier today because tomorrow night there will be a ball held in your honor."

"A ball held in my honor?" The Prince asked, confused as to what was going on. However, all he needed to do was to look at his father's face as he realized what he was planning as he added, "Father, you're trying to get me to marry someone aren't you?" When his father nodded answering his question Lune found himself becoming a bit irritated as angrily ended with, "How many times must I tell you Father, I will marry when I find the right woman."

To this the Cat King jumped out of his throne and shot back with, "I don't think you get it do you, son? I want to see you and your wife have some grandchildren before I die!"

"I understand that Father, but I refuse to marry a woman that I have just met!" Lune snapped back, as he stood his ground.

The half cat prince then was surprised when his father began to laugh as he asked, "And just what is so funny, Father?"

"What's funny is that you say that when I heard about what happened to you earlier today." The Cat King answered, making his son gasp. A grin then appeared on his face again as he added, "And besides maybe this young lady...what was her name again Haru?" The Prince nodded as his father ended with, "Well, if you go through with this ball then maybe this Haru girl will show up."

The shorthaired prince thought about that type of thing happening as he mentally told himself, "Perhaps, Father is right. If Haru were to come to the ball then this would give me a chance to get to know her better. And then in turn she would know me better." He then broke out of his thoughts and replied, "Alright Father, I will go through with the ball. But only for the single reason that Haru may show up."

"Good." The King said back, as he then sat back onto his throne. But before his son left the throne room he added, "Oh, and by the way the invitations will be sent out to all of the homes tomorrow afternoon."

The prince just nodded in respond as he then walked out of the throne room and headed towards the outer gardens to clear his mind. And to think about the brunette who had saved his life.

ooooooo

That following morning Haru was now washing the floor to the main room as she sighed when she heard her stepsister Louise sing while her stepfather played the piano and Hiromi played the flute. She then touched her cheek grateful that Baron had gotten rid of the small claws that had been on her face yesterday. Speaking of the cat figurine Haru looked over and smiled at him as he stood against one of the chair legs that was across from her. He just smiled back at her and tipped his hat to her as she then went back to washing the floor. Her mind then began to wonder as she told herself, "It was so odd, but when Baron got rid of the marks that were on my face I noticed that he had this deep concern in his eyes that I know I've seen before. I just can't remember where..."

She was broken out of her thoughts though when there was a knock on the left front door as someone said, "Open in the name of the Cat King."

Haru put down the wet clothe and walked towards the door and opened it as she asked, "Yes?"

The dark brown and tan mixed half cat smiled at her as he handed her an invitation and replied, "This is an urgent message from His Majesty."

As the half cat walked away Haru did a small curtsy as she said, 'Thank you." She then shut the door and looked the envelope over as she made her way towards the stairs.

But before she went up there Baron walked towards her as he asked, "So Haru, what does the King's message say?"

"I'm not to sure what it says, Baron." The brunette replied, as she looked it over one more time. She then started to make her way upstairs as she added, "But maybe they won't mind if I interrupt the "music lesson"."

Hearing this caused a light chuckle to escape the Cat Creation's lips. And as the young woman continued to walk upstairs Baron took this chance to follow her through the inner parts of the estate.

ooooooo

As Renaldo continued to play the piano so too did Louise continue to sing. That is until Hiromi accidently got her finger stuck in one of the holes of the flute. And while she tried to get it out she unknowingly was striking her sister's chin and throat making her sound even worse. Louise then could not take it any more as she stopped singer and glared at her sister as the short haired brunette then got her finger free and was about to start to play again. But before she could her half cat sister quickly grabbed the instrument away from her and hit her over the head with it as she shouted, "You're so clumsy! You did that on purpose!"

"No i didn't!" Hiromi shot back, as she grabbed her flute back and hit her sister back in retaliation.

Renaldo at this point and time had stopped playing the piano and soon became annoyed with his two bickering daughters as he said, "Hey, alright that's enough. Now how many times do I have to tell you two to use self control?"

The two just glared at one another and turned away with their arms crossed as the large white cat just smiled and started to play the piano again. But before he could there was a knock on the door which caused him to slam his fingers onto the keys as he turned and shouted, "What?" When the door opened to reveal Haru though he soon became enraged as he added, "Hey Chicky, how many times do I have to tell you to not interrupt-"

"But this just arrived from the palace." His stepdaughter interjected with, as she showed the three the envelope with the royal seal on the back of it.

"From the palace!" Both Louise and Hiromi said at the time, as they ran towards the brunette.

Seeing this caused Haru to gasp as she let them take the letter from her as the two then began to argue over who was going to read it. Renaldo just grabbed the letter from Hiromi's hand and said, "I'll read it...geez."

The large white furred half cat then began to read over the letter mentally to himself as he stated, "Well, what do you know. The Cat King is holding a ball in honor of his son, Prince Lune." Both of his daughters quickly became excited as they said the prince's name while their father went on with, "And it says here that by royal command every madam is to attend."

"Why that's us!" Louise exclaimed, as she put a hand on her chest. Her sister then batted her eyes as she added, "And I'm sure that one of us will be able to get his attention."

Haru then took a few steps forward as she asked, "So does this mean that I can go too?"

"Ha, her dancing with the prince?" Her half cat stepsister mockingly asked, while she tried to hold in her laughter at the thought.

"I would be honored to Your Highness, but you wouldn't mind holding my broom for me would you?" Her other stepsister also mockingly asked, as she raised her flute a little bit in the air.

Both of the brunette's stepsisters then began to twirl in place while linked arm in arm while their father just let a smirk form on his face. Haru would not give up though as she took a few more steps forward as she shot back, "Hey, why can't I go to the ball?" Hearing this caused both of her stepsisters to stop what they were doing while her stepfather just gave a confused look as she continued with, "And besides it says that by royal command every madam is to attend."

From up above the fireplace Baron looked down at the brunette with a proud smile on his face glad to see that she was starting to stand up for herself as the large white furred half cat replied, "Hmm, you know what Chicky, you're right. I don't see why you can't go to the ball." Not believing that their father would say this both Louise and Hiromi lightly gasped and looked at one another as he went on with, "That is if you get all of your work done."

Hope then showed in the young woman eyes as she said, "Don't worry I will, I promise."

"And if you can find something suitable to wear." Renaldo added, as he turned to face her a little bit.

As Haru made her way to the open doorway she said, "Well, I'm pretty sure that I can find something." And once she had reached the door she then began to close it as she ended with, "Thank you, Stepfather."

Baron then took the chance to follow her from the inner wall again as both of Renaldo's daughters march up to him with displeased looks on their faces as Louise asked in shock, "Father, do you just realize what you just said?"

"Hey, calm down I did say "if" didn't I?" The white furred half cat asked, as he then began to chuckle. Soon after followed by his two daughters.