The Space Spoon novel Chapter 74

Cato stood before the door to the throne room, her heart beating fast. A fancy servant told her and C1313 to wait there until King Gurst was ready to receive them. The two guards standing in front of the door, the same ones who had let them pass through the palace grounds, and then escorted them here, were staring at her with their dull eyes.

Having her cover blown wasn't a concern. After years of concealing one's actual identity, one becomes used to this possibility. Cato seemed fully human now, and she would pass any test that wasn't rigorous enough to reveal her hidden skin foldings.

Her pointy ears were tucked inside a pocket under her hair. The retractable claws hibernated under her human nails, just waiting for an opportunity to scratch like a normal kitty. Her tail, because she had one, was neatly hidden along her spine. Apparently, the creator of the Ferali knew beforehand that they would need to hide from society.

C1313’s stiff posture, motionless like the guards, made Cato feel even more unease. Her robotic crewmate looked even more lifeless than ever.

Cato leaned toward C1313 and whispered, “Are you alright, C1313?”

The static teal eyes flickered to the left and right. C1313's gaze shifted to Cato. "Yes, thank you for asking. To make the time go quicker, I paused a few processes and went into a semi-sleep state. I got bored."

“Me too,” Cato whispered before resuming her previous straight position.

A few moments after they had this delightful conversation, the door opened. The same fancy servant appeared once again.

“You’re welcome to enter. King Gurst of Northern Beridian will receive you now.” He bowed and stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter.

Not in Cato’s wildest dreams did she dream of being welcomed with a red carpet. The throne room was so long that the actual throne looked small, not bigger than Tejeda’s spoon, at the other end of the chamber.

Cato swallowed and began going down the red carpet, followed by C1313. The space was likewise lofty, with a high vault and a row of columns on the left and right, forming arched alcoves with floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside, Hisadha, the dynamic metropolis, gleamed under the light. Beyond it, there were woods and fields for as far as the eye could see. Above everything, a blue sky with white fluffy clouds arose.

The image was beautiful and calming, yet it had the opposite effect on Cato. On the route to the palace, she saw an olive sky with white and violet streaks over her head. Something was off about what she was seeing through the windows.

She was now near enough to the throne to get a glimpse of the monarch. Gurst, while being long beyond his youth, was far from a skittish and feeble old guy. His hair and beard were white, but his eyes were ageless, and he had no wrinkles save for a few faint horizontal lines on his forehead.

“What winds bring you here?” His deep voice demanded an answer, but Cato hesitated. The way he phrased the question along with his tone had baffled her for a moment there.

“There are no winds in space,” C1313 responded calmly while Cato’s eyes enlarged.

Before the Ferali could come up with something to cover C1313’s blunder, King Gurst smiled and said, “If I were to show you winds in space, would you remain on Beridian as a member of my harem?”

“Yes.” C1313 gazed at him. “Despite my calculations and an improbability factor, you managed to show me the impossible. According to our deal, I must remain on Beridian as a member of your harem. I agree.”

“Ha!” the king burst out. “I love when I win bets, get women, and acquire unique items. Today, I did all three in one go.”

Cato shook her head in disbelief. "This must be discussed with our commanding officer."

Gurst touched his bracelet. “Upload scenario: Throne Room.” The large chamber reappeared, and the king sat again in his luxurious chair. “I am a king, and this woman is a free woman, right? Why does she have to ask permission from her captain to remain with me?”

“King Gurst, our captain is–”

A door creaking open reverberated throughout the room. The sonorization of the place was top-notch. Even a fly couldn’t pass unnoticed. The further away from the throne, the louder the sounds became.

“Oh, my dear.” The king rose and went toward the lady who had just came in.

Black, luxurious hair flowed straight over her shoulders. Chin held high as a forced smile curled the corners of her lips. The glorious dress fit for a queen was something Cato had never seen before, not even in the stories she heard as a child. The ruffles touched the floor, making her look like she was floating toward them. It took Cato a few seconds to gasp and mutter under her breath, “Shayla.”