Louis sat impatiently in the carriage. Larry was sprawled on the seat next to him.

"Are we there yet?" Larry whined.

"No, we're nowhere near. Now, would you be quiet?" Louis scolded. "This is the twelfth time you have asked in the past ten minutes."

"I can't believe you counted."

"I didn't but the fact that that number sounds credible makes me wonder how I can stand being stuck in here with you."

"Because you love me!" Larry teased and pawed at Louis' arm. Louis rolled his eyes.

"No, I don't!" Louis knocked Larry off the seat. Larry clawed at the seat to prevent herself from falling.

"I know cats always land on their feet but that was rude!" Larry shrieked. Larry hopped back onto the seat. "Perhaps you've given too much love to Harry that there isn't any left for me."

"I told you not to talk about Harry." Louis glared at the cat.

"And I told you that I wanted both of the pillows on the bed." Larry shot back.

"I did give you both of my pillows," Louis said matter-of factly, "And when I got more, they became yours too."

"I'm glad we're agreeable on this." Larry meowed, grinning widely. "Hey, what's that behind you?"

"I'm not falling for that one." Louis ignored her as she leapt across his lap and onto the ledge of the open casement that was Louis' only window to the outside world in the carriage.

"Check it out." Larry murmured. "Are those mines?"

Louis peered out the aperture. Not far from the carriage, there was a cave-like opening. The mine cart had been derailed off the tracks and was crashed against a tree. "Stop the carriage!" Louis instructed the coachman. The horses and the carriage came to a halt. The footman opened the carriage door. Louis stepped out, with Larry resting on his left forearm.

As Louis moved towards the mine cart, a hand reached out and grabbed his arm. He turned around and glared at the footman. The footman released his arm immediately. "Sorry," the footman apologised. "Your highness, I would not go in there." The footman cautioned Louis not to go any closer.

"Don't care what he says. I want to look around." Larry said before breaking out of Louis' hold. She landed on her paws and darted into the mine, past the 'DO NOT ENTER' signs with the words painted in bolded red words.

Louis ignored that footman's warning and chased after Larry. Louis ducked under the wooden plank that blocked the entrance. Louis was engulfed in the darkness of the abandoned mine. There is the faint sound of water dripping echoing around. A small sliver of light crept into the mine. Even at the mouth of the mine, Louis could see pieces of gold in the walls of the cave.

Louis' heart raced in his chest. His footsteps reverberated as he walked. He squinted as he looked into the darkness, searching for Larry. He could not even hear her footsteps even though his own rang in his ears.

"Larry, come back!" Louis called out for the cat, "Here, kitty kitty!"

"Ew, don't call me like that." Larry popped her head up from a mine cart she found. "Look at all this shiny stuff."

"Didn't you read the sign?" Louis rebuked.

"I'm a cat. Why would a little kitten like me learn to read?" Larry asked rhetorically.

"You're no longer a little kitten," Louis informed, "And the sign says that we should not enter."

"And yet, here we are! Calm down, Louis. What could happen?"

"If curiosity hasn't killed the cat, it's going to." Louis muttered.

"I heard that!" Larry scolded. "Don't jinx me." Louis grumbled under his breath as he picked the cat out of the mine cart.

"Calm your kits. You have nine lives." Louis said.

"Do not ever run away from me like that again." Louis reprimanded Larry as they walked back into the carriage. Larry did not respond. The door was shut. They were on the road again. There was a few minutes of silence. Louis grew suspicious.

"You're awfully quiet." Louis observed that Larry had not spoken. He noticed that her cheeks were puffed out slightly. "What's in your mouth?" Louis questioned. Louis reached out to grab Larry. She dodged him.

"Spit it out!" Louis ordered. Larry refused to comply. Louis threatened, "Spit it out now or I'm giving you another bath when we reach Vaelle. You really enjoyed the one you had before we left Ariak."

Larry hesitantly opened her mouth. Something shiny and yellow falls out of Larry's mouth. Louis picked up the metal. "Ew," He remarked as he realised it was covered in cat saliva. Louis scrutinised the piece of metal.

"This is gold." Louis stated. "Did you take this from the mine?"

"No, I can make gold with my mouth." Larry said sarcastically. "Of course, I took it from the mine and it's mine. Give it back." Louis returned the gold to her, warning her not to keep it in her mouth in cased she choked.

"I don't understand." Louis aired his thoughts. "Vaelle had lots of gold in the mine that's left untouched. Why do they want our gold when they have gold of their own?"

"How would I know?" Larry asked, pushing the piece of metal around between both her front paws. "How long more till we get there? Maybe you can ask them."

"Oh yes, that is not absolutely rude at all." Louis remarked sarcastically. He proceeded to say in a mocking tone, "Hi, I'm Prince Louis from Ariak. Pleasure to meet you. Why do you want to take what's mine when you have your own? Pun intended."

"That was my pun!" Larry mewled.

"Well, too bad. Cats aren't supposed to make puns. I'm using your pun now."

"That's appropriation."

"Who cares?"

"When did you get so rude?"

"Since I met that boy you never seem to shut up about."

"Oh yes, blame Harry. You won't even say his name?"

"I don't like that name."

"Anymore." Larry added.

"Whatever floats your boat." Louis stared out the window as the carriage moved through Vaelle to their castle.

A couple of hours later, they arrived. Vaelle's castle was evidently bigger than Ariak's. Considering the number of wars they have won and the amount of money the country has, this was not unexpected.

The carriage door was opened. Louis entered the castle and Larry followed behind. In the palace, Louis met with an all-too-familiar face. Green eyes looked at him. Brown curls framed the face that greeted him with a smile.

"Good afternoon, Modeste." Louis greeted. "What are you doing here?"

"I work here now. By the way, King Stephen, Queen Diane and Princess Danielle are waiting for you in the throne room." Modeste informed.

"Classic Modeste. Always rushing me off to places." Louis teased.

"Your majesty, it would be much appreciated if you could hurry along." Modeste said.

"Oh right!" Louis started walking in the direction Modeste led him. "By the way, thank you for dropping hints about Harry but you couldn't have told me more explicitly?"

"I made a promise to keep his secret. I tried to be a good friend, even if he didn't really like me." Modeste uttered. Her eyes trailed onto the floor. "Is that Harry's cat?" Modeste asked, taking note of the black feline animal walking with them.

"Not anymore. She's mine now. Her name is Larry." Louis told Modeste.

"Larry?" Modeste raised an eyebrow.

"Louis and Harry merge into Larry. It was Harry's idea." Louis said.

"Corny." Modeste commented.

"I know."

Louis walked into the throne room. He bowed to the king, the queen and the princess and greeted them all individually to show respect.

"Prince Louis, I have received your father's letters and I am not pleased with half of the mines' revenue." King Stephen stated firmly.

"Your highness, my trip here today was not about the discussion on the mines nor about my father. I will put it simply so as to not waste anymore of your time." Louis took a deep breath before saying, "I wish to marry your daughter, Princess Danielle."

Princess Danielle, who had appeared to be bored out of her mind before, broke out of her dazed and suddenly seemed interested in the conversation. "Sorry, what did he say?" Danielle whispered to her father. "He wants to marry me?" Stephen nodded at her.

"I will consider it and discuss this again over dinner." Stephen declared. "Danielle, would you like to show Louis to his room?"

"Yes, Daddy." Danielle chirped.

"Your bags should already be in the room, waiting for you." Stephen told Louis. Louis nodded.

Danielle walked next to Louis. Her dark brown hair bounced as she walked. "So, you like me?" Danielle asked.

"Yeah," Louis murmured.

"I like you too." Danielle said, leaning into Louis' chest. She pulled his arm over her head such that it draped across her shoulders.

"Oh, is this your cat?" Danielle bent down and swept Larry off her paws. Danielle gushed, "She's adorable. What's her name?"

"Larry." Louis stated.

"Oh, I didn't know it was a boy."

Louis sighed quietly. He was going to have to explain why 'Larry' is a perfectly suitable name for a female for the billionth time. Harry just had to name the cat Larry. Louis wished Harry had named the kitten a more gender-neutral or feminine name, like Laurel or Laura. Every time someone new meets Larry, they will ask about her name. Louis was sick of it.

Louis smiled. "No, she is a female."

"Then, why did you name her Larry?" Danielle asked.

"Why can't I name her Larry?

"That's a boy's name."

"Well, the cat likes her name so I think I will leave it."

Danielle giggled. "Oh, you're silly." She shoved Louis playfully.

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Hi there! Did I surprise you with two updates today?

I think I'll start posting twice since the chapters are shorter than the previous book. Idk. We'll see how it goes.

Do you think Larry is an acceptable name for a female cat?

Do you think Louis will like Danielle? How much will he like her/not like her?

Do you think King Stephen will allow Louis to marry Danielle?

Remember to vote and comment. Have a wonderful week ahead! :)