A Royal Purr-suit

Previously

…As he made his way back through the narrow passage, the tapestry felt different. It was no longer a barrier, but a doorway. A doorway to a confrontation he could no longer avoid. He emerged into the familiar, gilded hallway, the scent of roses now tinged with the metallic tang of blood and betrayal. He was no longer just Bartholomew, the accidental heir. He was Bartholomew, the one who knew. And that knowledge, he realized, was a weapon. He walked with a new purpose, his tail held high, his eyes sharp, ready to face the serpent in the silk. The path ahead was fraught with peril, but for the first time, Bartholomew felt like he was truly walking his own.