The Cat and the King

 

Once upon a time, in the grand kingdom of Eldoria, there lived a mighty but lonely king named Alric. Despite his wealth and power, he found little joy in his life. His court was filled with advisors and nobles, but none could truly understand him.

One evening, while walking in the royal garden, he heard a soft meow. Looking down, he saw a small black cat with golden eyes staring up at him. It was thin and scruffy, yet it had an air of confidence. Amused, the king knelt and extended his hand. To his surprise, the cat rubbed against him and purred.

"You are bold," the king murmured.

From that day, the cat made the castle its home. The king named him Shadow and allowed him to roam freely—even in the throne room, where others dared not tread without permission. Shadow often sat beside the king during meetings, his tail flicking lazily as the court debated. Whenever the king was troubled, Shadow curled up beside him, a silent but understanding companion.

One day, a treacherous duke plotted against the king, hoping to poison him during a royal feast. Unaware of the danger, Alric reached for his goblet—but before he could drink, Shadow leaped onto the table and knocked the cup to the floor. The wine spilled, and the duke paled as the cup’s metal darkened from the poison. Guards rushed forward, seizing the traitor.

Realizing that Shadow had saved his life, the king lifted the cat in his arms and smiled—a rare sight to his court. "You may be just a cat," he said, "but you have proven to be the most loyal friend I have."

From that day on, Shadow was not just a royal pet but an honored guardian of the kingdom. And for the first time in many years, King Alric was no longer lonely.