Chapter 24: The Jealousy Gambit

Karina was sprawled on her back, tangled in blankets that were so ridiculously soft she was fairly certain they were woven from actual clouds. For the first time since falling through that cursed university toilet, she felt genuinely rested. The terrifying rabid panther attack, the blood-soaked Panther King, the accidental naked peep show, it all felt like a distant, feverish dream.

She let out a contented sigh, reaching a hand out to blindly pat the nightstand for the glass of water.

"Good morning, host! Rise and shine! The sun is up, the birds are singing, and your husband’s obsession levels are stagnating!"

Karina’s hand slammed into the wooden nightstand, knocking the water glass over. It didn’t shatter, but water spilled everywhere, soaking the sleeve of her linen nightgown.

She squeezed her eyes shut, taking a deep breath. "Cheshire. If you do not materialize into a physical form so I can strangle you with my bare hands, I am going to find a way to magnetize your robotic brain."

Pop!

The little white robotic cat materialised and floated cross-legged in the air above her bed. "Violence is against the system’s terms of service, host. Besides, we have serious business to discuss! You’re on day seven of your transmigration, and King Leonidas’s obsession level is only at 4%! That’s barely a ’curious glance’! We need to accelerate the plot!"

Karina sat up, wringing out her wet sleeve with a scowl. "Accelerate the plot? I spent the journey being terrorized by zombie cats and dodging my husband’s eyes. I think I’ve done enough."

"Not even close!" Cheshire did a little mid-air backflip. A blue screen materialized right in front of Karina’s face, nearly blinding her.

[NEW QUEST UNLOCKED: The Jealousy Gambit]

[Objective: Befriend and charm Lord Rafael (Second Commander).

Make King Leonidas intensely, unhealthily jealous.]

[Reward: Authentic Italian Espresso Machine, and Lifetime Supply of Spicy Beef Instant Noodles.]

Karina stared at the screen.

"Rafael?" she said, narrowing her eyes in disbelief. "That slimy flirt? The one who kissed my hand and got his fingers chomped by my six-year-old son? You want me to befriend him?"

"Exactly!" Cheshire chirped, rubbing his little robotic paws together. "Nothing drives a possessive beast king crazier than seeing another male show interest in his mate! Rafael is charming, and he’s influential. If you play your cards right and engage with Rafael, Leonidas’s panther instincts will go absolutely feral! It’s basic psychology!"

"It’s basic stupidity," Karina muttered, rubbing her temples. "Rafael is a sleaze. I’d rather drink the spilled water off my nightstand."

"Think about the espresso machine, host," Cheshire whispered, his voice taking on a demonic, tempting cadence. "Real coffee. Not that muddy, roasted-chicory trash they serve in this kingdom. And the spicy beef noodles....just imagine it."

Karina froze.

Her stomach gave a treacherous rumble. She hadn’t had real, decent coffee since she arrived in this backwards fantasy world, and the thought of a steaming cup of espresso, followed by a steaming bowl of spicy instant noodles at 2 AM.....it was intoxicating.

She let out a defeated groan, falling back onto the pillows. "Ugh. Fine. Fine! I’ll play nice with the sleazy blonde. But if he tries to kiss my hand again, I’m letting Valen bite him a second time."

"That’s the spirit!" Cheshire cheered, doing a happy little spin. "I’ll be watching your progress! Don’t disappoint me, host!"

With a final pop and a shower of pixelated pink light, the annoying space-cat vanished.

Karina stared at the ceiling for a moment, mentally preparing herself to tolerate Rafael’s manufactured charm, when a soft knock echoed through the room.

"Your Imperial Majesty? May I come in?"

Karina blinked, the last remnants of sleep vanishing. "Come in, Sophie."

The door creaked open, and Lady Sophie peeked her head in. The young pink-haired woman looked absolutely radiant in the morning light, holding a massive garment bag over one arm and a silver washbasin in the other.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," Sophie said, slipping inside and kicking the door shut behind her. "I brought your necessities and your gowns."

"Thank you, Sophie," Karina said, sitting up and swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. "You didn’t have to carry all that yourself."

"Oh, it’s no trouble at all!" Sophie beamed, setting the basin down on a stand and carefully hanging the garment bag. "Actually, I also have a message from His Majesty."

Karina paused, one foot hovering over the plush rug. "Let me guess. He wants to annul the marriage again?"

Sophie’s eyes widened in horror. "Oh, no, Majesty! Nothing like that! His Majesty requests your presence, and Prince Valen’s, for a private morning meal in the solar. He... um.....he said it is time you dined together as a proper family."

Karina scoffed, dragging a hand down her face. Dine together as a family. Right. Because the man who spent six years ignoring his son and cheating on his wife was suddenly going to play happy house just because she stopped crying about it.

"And?" Karina prompted, raising an eyebrow. "I can hear a ’but’ in your voice, Sophie."

Sophie wrung her hands together, her hair bouncing as she nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. Lord Rafael also sent word that there will be a formal court dinner this evening. The panther nobility is very eager to formally welcome you to Shadow’s Edge. His Majesty expects you to attend at his side."

Karina closed her eyes. A private breakfast to play the doting father, followed by a formal court dinner to play the untouchable power couple.

Sigh. Hmm, hmm.

"I will be there," Karina said smoothly, opening her eyes and offering Sophie a reassuring smile. "And tell Lord Rafael I look forward to the formal dinner. Now, help me out of these wet clothes. If I have to play the perfect imperial wife, I need to look the part."

"Yes, Majesty!" Sophie chirped, her face lighting up with relief.

For the next twenty minutes, Sophie proved to be incredibly skilled, lacing Karina into a stunning, deep midnight-blue gown that perfectly matched the aesthetic of Shadow’s Edge.

When Karina finally looked in the mirror, she smiled. "Perfect," Karina murmured, turning slightly to admire the drape of the skirt. "Alright, Sophie. Let’s go find my son and face the Panther King."

They stepped out into the dimly lit stone corridor of the guest wing. The air in Shadow’s Edge was colder, and had a faint scent of mountain snow and pine.

Standing at the end of the hall, arms crossed over his chest and looking like a gargoyle, was General Aldric. His eyes immediately locked onto Karina, and he pushed off the wall, falling into step beside her as she and Sophie walked down the corridor.

"Your Imperial Majesty," Aldric greeted. "I hope you slept well. The King’s solar is in the eastern tower. I will escort you."

"Thank you, Aldric, and yes I slept well," Karina said, her heels clicking against the floor. "We’re going to grab Valen from his room first. The poor thing has been through enough, I’m not dragging him to breakfast without checking on him."

Aldric nodded respectfully. "Of course, Majesty. The Prince’s quarters are just down this hall."

They turned a corner, the heavy stone archways giving way to a slightly more ornate section of the wing. But as they approached the heavy wooden door of Valen’s room, Karina’s steps faltered.

The door was wide open.

Standing in the doorway was a panther beastwoman maid. She was young, with dark-furred ears pinned flat against her head in panic. She was nervously wringing a linen cloth in her hands.

Karina’s maternal instincts, honed over the last few days of fierce protection, immediately flared to life.

"Girl," Karina said, her voice losing all its previous warmth. "Why is the door open? Where is the Prince?"

The maid jumped, her orange eyes wide with terror as she dropped into a clumsy, trembling bow. "Y-Your Imperial Majesty! Forgive me! I came to prepare the Prince’s clothes for breakfast, just as Lord Rafael instructed, but... but..."

"But what?" Karina demanded, stepping past the threshold, her eyes scanning the empty, neatly made bed.

The maid swallowed hard, her voice shaking. "He isn’t here, Majesty. I... I haven’t seen him."

The hallway seemed to spin, and the cool mountain air suddenly felt suffocating. Karina spun around, her eyes lightning up with a terrifying, feral light that made even General Aldric take a step back.

"Where is my son?!!!!!"