The Imperial Audience Chamber's Throne Room and the Emperor's Secret Weakness
The heavy iron door creaked with a piercing scream as it swung open.
The sound was so loud it felt like a colossal beast yawning its jaws wide, and I couldn’t help but flinch and tremble.
The view beyond the threshold was more overwhelming than any words could describe.
The long crimson carpet stretching endlessly ahead resembled a river dyed with blood, flowing like a stream toward the throne. At the ceiling, the enormous chandelier hung with hundreds of eyes, staring down at us.
On the golden throne cast from pure gold sat the owner of the empire, Emperor Karsion.
Silence.
He said nothing.
His silver hair, as if dusted with frost, and those deep blue eyes like abyssal oceans. He simply propped his chin on his hand and looked down at us, yet the entire audience chamber felt dominated by him, as if it had been evacuated by an absolute being.
I could barely breathe.
It was on a completely different level from the pressure KaiLian and Demian had exuded. It wasn’t just killing intent; it was the aura of a true sovereign that created a vacuum around everything.
Whoa... this really is the final boss.
I pressed myself tightly against KaiLian’s chest. Her heart was pounding so violently that it could be felt through her clothes. I smelled her sweat.
She was shaking right now.
Even the underworld tyrant known as her was nothing more than a terrified child in front of the mountain that was her father.
Clack, clack.
KaiLian’s shoe heels echoed thunderously in the empty audience chamber. We stopped directly beneath the throne at the designated spot.
“You have come.”
Emperor Karsion’s mouth opened. His voice, low and resonant like that of a cave, vibrated through the air.
“Crown Prince, and Third Princess.”
His cold gaze swept slowly over us. Wherever it landed, I felt as if my skin was being sliced. And finally, it stopped on me, nestled in KaiLian’s arms.
“And... that is the white beast of rumors.”
His brows furrowed slightly.
It wasn’t simple curiosity. Clear hostility. That look was as if he were seeing something he absolutely should not have allowed inside the palace.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” KaiLian replied, raising her head stiffly.
Her voice didn’t tremble, but I knew she was forcing the words out while desperately suppressing her fear.
“This child’s name is Blanc. He... he is my family.”
“Family?”
The emperor let out a scoff. It was venomous.
“The princess has finally gone mad. Calling monsters and the like family. How low will she drag the imperial prestige?”
Emperor Karsion tapped the armrest of the throne with the tip of his finger. The rhythmic sound pressed even heavier on the silence of the audience chamber, like the gavel of a judge delivering a death sentence.
“Beasts of the north are naturally cunning and cruel. Right now they pretend to be harmless little ones to appease humans, but someday their true nature will come out and they will bite your throat. No, I suspect he has already bewitched you and clouded your judgment.”
“No!”
KaiLian shouted fiercely, her words piercing through the fear. It was a desperate cry.
“Blanc is different! He is the only one who takes away my headaches and gives me peace! Father... father never did for me what this child has done!”
Oh no.
I had crossed the line.
Emperor Karsion’s eyes turned sharp in an instant. The air around the throne began to churn ominously. Demian, standing beside him, went pale and hurriedly stepped forward.
“Your Majesty! Princess KaiLian is still young and may have spoken out of turn...”
“Enough.”
Emperor Karsion’s quiet command silenced Demian. The air in the audience chamber froze. The imperial guards along the walls tightened their grips on their spears, tense.
“Headaches... I know you suffer because of that damned blood. But having a dangerous beast in the palace, right next to your private quarters, does not justify the reason.”
Emperor Karsion began to rise from his throne.
He started down the steps.
Thud, thud.
Every step of his armored boots made KaiLian’s body jolt. The pressure was like a mountain collapsing. The closer he came, the harder it became to breathe.
“Hand him over.”
He approached right in front of KaiLian and extended his hand. It was white and large, yet that hand could twist my neck anytime it wanted.
“I will personally dispose of him.”
“No...!”
KaiLian stepped back hastily, shielding me behind her. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“I can never give him to you. Even if I die, I will never give him! If you want to kill Blanc, then kill me first!”
“It is an imperial decree. Do you intend to defy it?!”
“Father...!”
Emperor Karsion’s roar filled the entire audience chamber. The chandelier on the ceiling shook slightly.
Demian grabbed his sword.
“Kyaa...!”
If you draw that, it’s treason!
KaiLian’s shoulders shrank. She trembled violently from fear, yet she refused to let go of me.
I could feel her limits approaching. If she held on any longer, she would truly be in trouble.
I couldn’t let this continue.
I judged the situation coldly.
Emperor Karsion was serious. He was about to take me by force if necessary. Although KaiLian was resisting, she was still young and weak in the face of absolute imperial authority. If we held out any longer, she would get hurt too.
I had to step in.
Big sister, I’m sorry. I’ll take care of this for just a second.
I pushed KaiLian’s arm away and jumped down to the floor with a leap.
“Blanc!”
KaiLian screamed in a torn voice. Demian’s eyes widened in shock.
But I didn’t stop. I walked steadily toward the emperor with a thump-thump.
Everyone held their breath. A tiny baby tiger walking boldly toward the empire’s absolute ruler, not fleeing at all. It was an absurd sight.
Curse? Monster? Don’t joke around.
I stopped right at the emperor’s feet.
Up close, he was even more gigantic and intimidating. The killing intent emanating from the gaze I looked down on made my fur stand on end. Any ordinary beast would have peed itself and fainted by now.
But my nose couldn’t be fooled.
The smell coming from the emperor’s body.
Very faint, but unmistakably one that my sensitive nose detected.
This is... the highest-grade catnip perfume? It seems like it was just sprayed recently.
Underneath, a faint, greasy, and rich smell. This is dried codfish. Not just any codfish, but a premium snack that has had all its salt removed and dried to crisp perfection.
My conviction was certain.
This guy, pretending to be a monster hater on the surface, a dignified emperor on the outside... but behind it all, he’s pulling a fast one?
A monster hater couldn’t possibly have snacks in his pocket.
I tapped the hem of Emperor Karsion’s golden ceremonial robes with my paw.
Meow~
Hey, Emperor. Smells good from me, right? I’m your daughter’s butler.
Emperor Karsion’s eyes widened.
A beast daring to touch the emperor’s body.
The imperial guards would have thrown their spears right through me without a second thought. But I didn’t stop. I went even more boldly.
I rubbed my body against his legs and wrapped my tail around his calf. That was the ultimate move of the leg-entwining technique, designed to maximize the sensation of soft fur.
“You, you little—!”
Emperor Karsion tried to back away in surprise, but I clung stubbornly. I stuck to him like glue, weaving between his legs in an eight shape and rubbing my body all over him. Take a look at my soft fur’s flavor.
And I lifted my head to meet his eyes.
As big and glossy as possible.
I fired a moist, clear gaze.
Kyuu?
How is it? Still not giving up? Honestly, you’re adorable. Say it already.
You want to be stroked by me too, don’t you?
“......!”
Emperor Karsion’s lips trembled.
His downward gaze fixed on my pink nose, my twitching whiskers, and my soft, fluffy front paws that felt like a cotton ball.
He clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly. The internal war between his innate great desire and the dignity he had to maintain as emperor was clearly raging inside him.
Just a little more. He was almost there.
I decided to deliver the finishing blow.
I flopped backward onto the floor right there. My white belly was exposed defenselessly, and I stretched all four legs into the air, kneading the empty space with a paw-motion. The pink jelly of my paw pads was shamelessly revealed.
Miya-nyang~
Tiger pride? White tiger dignity? Screw that. Right now this is a survival issue. I was going all-in as a cat.
Dead silence.
The silence was suffocating.
Demian’s mouth hung open. KaiLian forgot to stop her tears and stared blankly. The tips of the imperial guards’ spears were shaking.
“Hup.”
An odd sound escaped Emperor Karsion’s mouth. Not a scream, not a roar, just a rapid gasp of breath.
He quickly covered his mouth and coughed awkwardly.
“Cough! Cough! This, this audacious beast... daring to block the emperor’s path.”
His voice trembled slightly. It wasn’t from anger. It was from the muscles in his throat convulsing as he desperately held back a laugh he wanted to let out, no, a heart-meltingly cute feeling he wanted to die from.
He glanced sideways. Too many eyes were watching. The crown prince, the princess, the chamberlain, the guards...
With a stern expression, he pretended to scold me and bowed his waist.
“Get out of the way. Don’t let fur get on my clothes.”
But instead of pushing me away, his hand slipped in very secretly, very quickly, and precisely to scratch the spot right under my chin.
Scratching, scratching...
......?
That was too fast. Even I couldn’t recognize the speed.
It was faster than a master cutting down a fly. The skill of scratching exactly the area I liked and withdrawing was not something anyone could do in a day or two. This had to be at least a decade of experience as a butler’s hand.
“Mmm...?”
He straightened his back as if nothing had happened. But his eyes were already those of a man who had been chosen.
“However... upon examining the state of this beast’s fur, I see it is quite well cared for. No fleas, it seems... For this one time only, I shall grant you special pardon.”
Everyone in the audience chamber wore stunned expressions at Emperor Karsion’s declaration.
Just one minute ago he had been threatening to dispose of it. The momentum that threatened to stain the floor of the audience chamber with blood had vanished, and now he was praising the fur and granting pardon?
“Your Majesty? What does that mean...”
Demian asked, unable to understand.
“Demian. This emperor is fine with it. How could you question it? It is to show my magnanimity.”
Emperor Karsion shot Demian a glare. Demian stepped back, bewildered.
Emperor Karsion looked back at KaiLian, still standing blankly.
“KaiLian. If that is truly what you wish... then I shall allow you to keep him at your side for a while.”
“Y-Your Majesty? Really?”
“One!”
He raised his index finger and emphasized it. His eyes shone with an intensity more serious than ever.
“Every morning, you will report to me directly on this child’s health condition and any unusual matters. For monitoring purposes. Understood? You must bring him every single day, personally. If you miss even one day, I will dispose of him immediately.”
......Monitoring? What?
He just wanted to see me every morning.
Moreover, personally bringing him meant he clearly intended to touch me himself. This old man is more serious than I thought?
“Ah... yes, yes! I understand, Your Majesty! Thank you!”
KaiLian bowed her head in gratitude for saving me, without a clue why. She didn’t even have time to doubt why her father was acting like this suddenly.
Emperor Karsion nodded satisfied, turned to return to his throne.
“And the Crown Prince who dared to draw his sword in front of the emperor shall remain.”
“Yes...”
The crown prince’s face turned pitch black in an instant.
Right, I’ll knead your paws when you return alive.
I stuck my tongue out.
He had never planned to dispose of me in the first place.
The emperor’s back, ascending the stairs with a dignified expression, somehow looked joyful. If he had a tail, it would probably be wagging.
I ran up to KaiLian and hugged her tightly.
KaiLian, her legs giving out, sat down on the floor and hugged me with all her strength. Her warm tears soaked my fur.
“Kung...”
Breath, breath... I can’t breathe...
“I’m so glad, Blanc... I’m really glad... I thought I would lose you too...”
As I licked her tear-soaked face, I looked up at the emperor sitting on the golden throne.
Our eyes met.
He was still propping his chin on his hand with a stern expression, but he gave me a tiny wink, as if no one could see.
See you tomorrow, kiddo.
His eyes were saying exactly that.
Imperial throne room mission complete.
With that, the biggest obstacle to my palace healing life disappeared. No, I had created a giant, sturdy, and possibly the most troublesome backer in the empire.
From tomorrow morning onward, a meeting with the emperor would be waiting.