Lady Love flicked her tail with pride.
"Okay, introductions completed! Now—Step Four."
Raj blinked. "Wait… there's a Step Four?"
Lady Love smiled dazzlingly.
"Obviously! Step Four is Makeover! Without makeup, how will our movie begin? Have you ever seen a film hero appear without it?"
Raj blinked. "Uhh… maybe in documentaries?"
Lady Love gasped in mock horror.
"Documentaries? Don't be ridiculous! Those don't even count as cinema."
She flicked her tail dramatically. "Now, tell me, Raju—who do you think will be your makeup artist?"
Raj stared blankly, his brain short-circuiting. "Uh… I don't know, ma'am."
"Don't stand there like a statue!" Lady Love said sweetly, her golden eyes glinting. "I'm waiting for your answer, darling."
Raj gulped and blurted nervously, "Uh… maybe the number one makeup artist in all existence? Since you always pick the best of the best?"
Lady Love's grin widened in delight.
"Correct answer, Raju! You're finally learning how this world works."
Her tail flicked proudly. "And because you answered so beautifully, I'll give you a gift later."
She clapped her paws. "Now, time for the grand introduction of our makeup artist! Everyone—introduce her!"
She puffed out her chest and closed her eyes dramatically as if posing for an invisible camera.
Mr. Hootsworth bowed his feathery head.
"She is the founder and Dean of Glamourheim Academy of Eternal Beauty, ranked number two across the thirteen skies!"
Fluffette raised her chin elegantly.
"She is the Originator of Makeup—the one who created beauty magic itself!"
Chonky Tabby, munching on cookies mid-sentence, added proudly,
"She's also the one who invented edible makeup powder—for emergencies when someone gets hungry during touch-ups. It tastes like strawberry!"
Raj blinked. "That… can't be real."
Mittens adjusted his red belt and crossed his paws.
"She's the one who personally taught Cinderella's Fairy Godmother how to do makeup. Without her, Cinderella would still be crying in a pumpkin patch!"
Raj stared blankly.
"You're… joking."
Mittens' fur puffed up, but this time he held himself back. "I'm controlling my anger. But only barely."
Finally, Luna fluttered forward with a twirl.
"And the one and only makeup artist is… my lovely, fabulous, glamorous aunty—Lady Love!"
Instantly, starry glitter began to fall from the sky.
A golden spotlight illuminated Lady Love as trumpets and drums exploded behind her like divine background music.
She stood there with her fur shimmering pink and gold, grinning at Raj with absolute pride.
"Of course it's me, darling! Who else could handle the sacred task of turning a donkey—oh, pardon—a darling protagonist—into a handsome racing horse worthy of romance?"
Raj just sighed. "I think I just felt my soul leave my body."
Lady Love flicked her paw. "Excellent! That means you're ready for transformation!"
Before Raj could respond, Lady Love snapped her tail.
"Luna, call Melody and Harmony! Tell them to get here immediately."
Then she addressed the rest of her crew like a true director.
"Everyone! We're about to shoot the Makeover Scene! Prepare your instruments and take your roles seriously!"
Immediately, chaos bloomed across the courtyard:
Mr. Hootsworth unfolded his gleaming golden drone, checking every lens and screw with serious focus.
Fluffette polished her camera until it sparkled like starlight.
Chonky Tabby pulled out his crystal soundboard, testing every echo (for once, not eating anything).
Mittens tested mini-microphones by kicking the air in perfect martial rhythm.
Luna dialed rapidly on her pink glittery phone.
Raj rubbed his forehead. "Ma'am, is it really necessary to film the makeover scene?"
Lady Love gasped dramatically. "Didn't you watch Cinderella? Or any Disney movie? Every great story has a makeover scene! If I want the best romantic comedy ever, we must shoot it!"
Raj muttered, "She's not wrong… I think."
Lady Love gave a satisfied nod, then handed him a golden packet. "Here. Eat this while we prepare."
Raj blinked. "Kaju?"
"Of course. You look weak. Eat before you faint mid-shoot.
Mittens, get him a chair!"
Mittens instantly produced a cat-shaped chair and placed it behind Raj.
Lady Love strutted off to inspect the set.
Raj sat down, still dazed, and opened the packet. The rich, buttery smell hit him. His stomach growled loudly.
He realized he hadn't eaten anything since morning. Slowly, he popped a kaju in his mouth.
The taste brought back a memory—his mother laughing softly as she handed him a small bowl.
"You can't dream on an empty stomach, Raju. Eat your kaju first."
He smiled faintly. "Guess even in another world, Mom's still right."
Suddenly, a golden light blazed from the sky. The entire courtyard turned gold.
When it faded, two cats stood in its center—both smiling serenely.
Their bodies were split down the middle: the left side pure black, the right pure white. Their eyes shimmered—one silver, one gold.
Lady Love gasped. "Melody! Harmony!"
She rushed forward and hugged them passionately before twirling around to face Raj.
"Raju, my dear, meet Melody and Harmony—my best friends and the most talented musicians in existence!
Today, they'll perform live piano and violin for your makeover shoot.
I'll even add this scene to the trailer! A live performance always attracts more viewers!"
Raj didn't reply. He just stared at the twin cats like someone who had lost all connection to logic.
Melody giggled.
"Sweetie, did you fall in love with us at first sight? You're not the first—it happens all the time. But you do look cute, standing there like a statue."
Harmony purred. "He's adorable, Mel. He's actually forgetting to breathe."
Melody leaned in close and smirked.
"Let my kiss wake you up, darling—just like in those Disney movies."
Before Raj could move, she kissed his forehead lightly.
Raj's cheeks flamed. He bowed his head, stuttering, unsure how a cat's kiss had made him blush.
Lady Love and Harmony burst into laughter.
"Oh, Raju, you're truly blessed," Lady Love teased. "Do you know how many people are waiting for a kiss from Melody?"
Before Raj could answer, a furious squawk echoed across the set.
"WHAT?!"
It was Mr. Hootsworth.
He zoomed toward them on his hoverboard, feathers flying.
"How could Ms. Melody kiss that donkey-faced boy?! I'm her number-one fan! I've attended every fan club meeting! And she's never even given me a wing-shake!"
He collapsed dramatically, covering his face with his wings.
"My golden heart… shattered forever!"
Melody, Harmony, and Lady Love all burst out laughing.
Lady Love wiped a tear from her eye.
"Oh, Hootsworth, darling… in the name of art, love strikes where it pleases."
Raj just sat there, glowing pink with embarrassment, surrounded by meowing laughter and flying glitter.
He muttered, "I don't even know if this counts as a rom-com anymore…"