At the banquet room, guests were all having a conversation about Serene who was keeping her head down. She was really regretting coming here and all she wanted to do is go home but she felt like giving up to her fate. Her new ears can hear the conversations of the guests and knew that they were talking about her.
"That's Prince Lune's bride." One guest commented.
"She has lovely fur." Another gushed.
"And such delicate paws." Another compliment.
If Serene was a cat, she would be flattered but she wasn't. She wasn't even sure if she was human either.
Yuki was serving the guests some wine before looking towards Serene with a sympathetic look before walking off to serve other guests. She wished that she could do more but she can't without help and hoped that a miracle would happen soon. A chef came to Serene in hopes to cheer her up.
"I hear you don't care for mice but I bet you can't resist my juicy, raw fish huh?" The chef said in a friendly voice while setting down a plate of fish in front of her.
Serene just looked at it blankly as new tears just welled up in her eyes. The king was watching Serene and thought of a way to try and cheer her up.
"I'm not sure she's enjoying herself." Cat King said as he observed how Serene was acting.
"Sire." Natori said.
He turned to Natori, who was bowing his head.
"How about some entertainment?" He asked as Natori glanced at him.
"Excellent suggestion." He said and motioned for Natoru to begin.
Natoru went to where the performers were and signaled the musicians to start playing. When the music started, the first act came on. One of them bounced a ball and a cat jumped on top of it and quickly balanced themselves as he was thrown an umbrella which they caught and they finished the act. The guests were all amused and enjoyed it as they clapped. Cat King grinned in enjoyment and turned to Serene to see her reaction but she was still down as tears fell down her eyes as she was crying softly which didn't pleased him.
"Not entertaining enough." Cat King ordered as Natori nodded and Natoru sent the second act.
The next act was a male and female cat as the performance was like in a circus called a dagger throw. The board turned to reveal the female cat tied to it and the male cat have squids for daggers. He threw them one by one, missing the female cat until one accidentally cut the strap on her neck which made her yelped in surprise and shock and covered her chest. The guests, even Cat King and Natori all stared in dumbfounded shock as the female cat ran to the back of the other performers in embarrassment. The male cat turned to the king and grinned in nervously. King Nicholas didn't need to answer or say anything as he sliced the fork across his neck and two cats quickly came in and carried the cat towards the window and threw him out. Every guest gulped in fear and worry but Serene didn't give her surroundings any attention as she played with the tail of her fish while the chef watched in confusion.
"Next!" Cat King ordered but was growing annoyed and frustrated.
The next act was a cat who performed a dance of comedy but the guests all just gave pointed or blank expressions while Serene just looked at her new paws. The performer made someone laugh but the king was not amused and his eye was even twitching that he dropped his fork. The same two cats came in and took the laughing cat by the arm before tossing him out the window as the guests were getting a bit nervous.
"Whoever's next, better not stink! Got it?!" He shouted angrily and it made Serene to flatten her new ears against her head in disdain.
His shout made the rest of the performers nervous on who will go next as they slowly backed away in fear only for a pair of boots appeared as a masked and mysterious cat confidently stepped forward. He was wearing a metal mask which hid his identity. The mysterious performer was wearing a black long sleeved blouse, black pants, his sleeves and neck have white cuffs on them, gloved hands, a metal mask, boots, a navy cloak and a blue hat with a feather.
A few moments prior, Baron was able to find an entrance to Cat Paw's Lake and was able to snatch a disguise. He was watching the performers while inwardly wincing at how the two performers seemed to be angering the king. He was putting his metal mask and hat on when he heard the king shout.
"Whoever's next, better not stink! Got it?!"
He took that as his cue to come out and walked out from behind the rest of the performers with a confident and careful stride as he walked to the table.
Current scene...
The mysterious performer walked to the table of the king and stopped in front of it as he looked at the figure in confusion.
"Your Majesty, I promise you that I will make the young lady smile." The mysterious performer said.
Natori was suspicious of him as he leaned on the king since they didn't know him but maybe he could entertain the princess.
"Shall we try him?" Natori whispered as the king was rubbing his mustache.
Cat King was suspicious of the performer as well but if he can make or at least amuse Serene, he'll let him.
"Sure. Why not?" Cat King said.
The mysterious figure walked towards Serene which made her look up gloomily to see someone in a mask and fancy clothes like a musketeer and she could feel his eyes staring into hers.
Baron felt his heart break at the sight of tears in Serene's eyes but he couldn't help but be in awe of what she looked like as a cat. Her thin fur was a pure snow white color with dark ears. But he couldn't ponder on it for long.
"Excuse me. Would you... care to dance?" He asked politely as Serene looked at him.
"Oh, um, I'm a meow-sy dancer and I can't dance." Serene said before covering her mouth.
The sudden meow made Serene panic and held her head.
"Oh! No! Now I'm even starting to talk like a cat!" Serene panicked.
A gloved hand reached out towards her which made her pause and look up to him in confusion. Something about this cat seemed strange but it was so familiar as well.
"Just trust me." He spoke in a low tone in a gentle and reassuring tone.
Looking between the hand and the mysterious performer, Serene hesitantly accepted his offer for a dance while putting a dainty paw on his hand. The musicians looked at each other but they all shook their heads since they didn't know what to play only for an elderly cat to start playing and the other musicians sat down to let him play the music. The mysterious figure guided Serene into a waltz and Serene couldn't keep her eyes off her dance partner as the guests all watched in wonder as Natori whispered something to the king.
"Well, she seems to be entertained now." Natori whispered in amusement.
That made the king scoff as the servants watched from the sidelines as the mysterious performer tipped Serene into a dip as they got back to dancing. Serene was mystified by the waltz, music but most of all her dance partner as more new memories flashed through her mind.
"You're such a great dancer." She heard herself compliment the person who was dancing with her.
"Thank you, my lady. You are quite graceful." The person chuckled as his emerald green eyes shined warmly as he led her into a dip.
"Are you alright, Miss Serene?" Her dance partner suddenly asked.
That snapped Serene out of her trance as she looked at him.
"Yes, I am, kind sir." Serene said shyly as he chuckled softly.
"You are quite graceful for someone who can't dance." He smiled softly in a teasing tone which made her smile lightly as a blush decorated her cheeks.
He spun her around as they continued dancing.
"And you are quite the dancer." She suddenly said in a teasing tone as well.
This made Serene blinked as she looked at her dance partner.
'This feels and sounds familiar... Like I danced like this before... But yet I've never felt like this before... Maybe life as a cat wouldn't be so bad...' Serene thought wistfully while staring at her dance partner.
But that thought made Serene grow whiskers and she let out a gasp of shock and fear but then her mystery dance partner did something.
"Careful, Serene. Don't lose yourself." He suddenly warned her as she looked at him in surprise.
"Huh?"
That made Serene blinked and looked at him in surprise. His voice... It sounds so familiar. Could it be?
"Believe in who you are and to remember who you are." He told her as he guided her in a spin as the dance was getting more familiar. And familiar.
The king was busy drinking his drink to even notice what's going on. The mysterious performer then looked down at Serene and a pair of familiar warm emerald green eyes made her eyes widened in shock and hope filled her heart.
"I said so before, didn't I?" He said with a warm smile.
"Could... Could it be..." Serene gasped quietly as he nodded slightly as a smile appeared on her face.
The ears of the Cat King twitched and stood up when he suddenly caught an unfamiliar scent.
"Stop right there, pal!" Cat King shouted which made everyone turn to him in shock.
The music abruptly stopped with Serene and the mysterious performer in the middle as the king looked at the figure in suspicion.
"You're not from my kingdom, are you? Exactly who are you?!" He demanded as Serene almost quivered in fear but a slight squeeze of her hand made her look up to him.
The mysterious performer smiled at Serene as he took off his hat and tossed it to the floor as everyone watched on in anticipation.
"How rude of me. I should have introduced myself." He said smoothly.
He then looked at Serene again as he started to slowly take off his mask.
"I am exactly who I appear to be." He said as he took off his mask.
When he took off his mask, Serene almost forgot how to breathe as her heart did a 360. Smiling warmly down at her was him! He quickly turned around and looked at the king.
"I am Baron Humbert von Gikkingen and I have come for Serene!" Baron declared as every cat all gasped in surprise.
Serene was so overjoyed by this that she threw her arms around him in relief as Baron couldn't help but smile at her.
"Humbert!" She cried out in joy and relief.
"He's so cool!" Natoru shouted in awe.
"He is handsome." Natori admitted while looking at him in surprise but it irked the King.
"He can't have her! Seize them!" Cat King ordered angrily.
A fight started as guards started pouring in the room. Baron put a protective arm around Serene in order to shield her away from their attackers. The guests all started running away in a panic as one of the guards threw ninja stars at Baron and Serene.
Baron deflected them off with his cape and threw his mask at the guards which they backed up on with yelps. The mask hit the jug which shattered it and the jelly slid down with Muta who got up.
"I'm stuffed." Muta groaned.
"Ah! It's hideous!" The two servants cried out in fear and ran away.
Serene was more than relieved to see that he was okay as Baron just smiled.
"I'm so glad you're alright, Muta!" Serene exclaimed.
Muta quickly realized the situation and quickly got up to help.
"Uh oh." He muttered.
"Give me back my daughter-in-law!" Cat King angrily demanded but his bodyguards quickly held him back and started to drag him away.
"Quickly, get His Majesty to a safe place!" Natori told them.
"Don't let him get away!" Cat King shouted.
The king was taken somewhere safe with Natori following as the guests all ran to the exit.
"Emergency exit for all guests right here, please. Thanks. Enjoy your day." Natoru announced while waving the guests over to the exit.
Baron and Serene quickly avoided the weapons being thrown at them and they got on the table. The guards took out their weapons and were about to attack if it wasn't for Muta tackling them.
"Out of my way!" Muta shouted.
"Way to go, Muta!" Serene smiled as he got up.
"I just lost my balance." He said as he started to run.
Muta got up with some guards chasing after him as the two watched them before a voice behind them spoke.
"Over here."
They looked to see Yuki hiding by the table and quickly jumped down and hid with her.
"Yuki, it's you." Serene said in relief as Yuki smiled softly at her.
Yuki turned to Baron.
"I'm so thankful you were able to arrive in time to save Miss Serene, Baron." Yuki said as she took off the maid hat off her head.
Baron's ear twitched at this in confusion. How does she know who he is? Have they met before?
"Do we know each other?" He asked curiously but Yuki shook her head.
"Many of us here know about you and your bureau." She explained.
"Yuki, I'm such an idiot. I should've left when you told me to. Now look at me." Serene blamed herself as she felt her ears lowered sadly.
"Listen. If you leave here by dawn, you can still turn back into a human or return to your true form." Yuki advised her as that perked her up a bit.
"I will?" She asked hopefully but the last part caught Baron's attention.
'True form? What did she mean by that?' He thought curiously as he glanced at his client or friend.
Yuki went over to the end of the table and opened a secret door much to their surprise.
"This will get you outside the castle." She told them as Baron hummed. This would make getting outside of the palace a lot easier.
"Perfect." Baron nodded before Serene remembered their third party.
"Wait. Where's Muta?" She asked as Baron turned to her.
Baron peered over the table they were hiding behind and saw Muta hanging on a chain and swinging back and forth as guards chased after him before turning to Serene who got out of her gown and was wearing her clothes from before.
"Hmm. He'll be fine. We just need to get you home." Baron told her as she nodded.
"Yes." She said as she started to crawl through the passage.
Baron quickly changed out of his disguise and changed into his normal attire and followed. What Serene didn't expect was that it was actually a slide and she almost fell forward if it weren't for Baron grabbing her by around the waist and they both slid down it with Yuki sliding down behind them.