Bestia pouted her yellow bill. She swallowed her words because Duke was next to her. Just then, Caenian suddenly picked up Bestia.

─ Quack! (You startled me!)

“Betty, I really like you.”

─ Quaack! (Are you crazy!)

Bestia was horrified. The duck’s face, rubbing against the emperor’s cheek, turned bright red.

─ Quaaack!

At that moment, a loud duck call was heard. Everyone’s gaze shifted to one place. From far away, a duck flew in and landed majestically on the emperor’s table, puffing up its chest feathers.

─ Quack? (The sound of a duck?)

Bestia’s eyes widened. The duck that came close to her was enormously large. Moreover, it seemed to be a real duck as it couldn’t communicate.

“Wh-What’s this?”

“This is a wild duck living in the imperial garden, isn’t it?”

“R-Really?”

“But that duck……”

─ Quaaack!

“I believe it’s a male……”

“It seems to have fallen for Betty, Your Majesty.”

“What? How dare it covet the emperor’s companion duck!”

Caenian’s eyes rolled at the servants’ words.

─ Quaaack!

And at Caenian’s words, the male duck raised its voice. It seemed to be issuing a challenge. It spread its wings and flapped them. It was a duel request.

“What an insolent and arrogant duck! Are you not satisfied with living and enjoying the imperial garden?”

─ Quaaack!

“Oh my. Look at this? It even defecates on the emperor’s picnic table?”

The atmosphere swung between heaven and hell. Caenian glared. The poop left by the male duck was quite large. What on earth did it eat? The smell was also terrible.

─ Quack. Quaack….. (I’m a beastman. You fools……)

Bestia shuddered in Caenian’s arms. She looked at Duke, but he turned away. The fight between the male duck and the emperor was their business.

The servants, Duke, and Potters all took a step back.

“What do you know about Betty to covet her!”

─ Quaaack!

“What? Ducks should be with ducks? Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think our Betty would suit a lowly duck like you?”

─ Quaack!

“There are plenty of female ducks in the garden over there. Go and take care of them! You’re already polygamous, yet so greedy!”

No matter what anyone said, the fight between the duck and the emperor was serious. More surprisingly, they seemed to understand each other. Bestia narrowed her eyes.

What’s this? He couldn’t understand a single nuance of my words. Why can he communicate with that duck?

Was it anger? Jealousy? Disappointment? Bestia was overwhelmed with indescribable emotions. What happened to calling her his soulmate? She was annoyed that Caenian communicated better with a male duck he just met today.

─ Quaaack!

“How dare you raise your voice! I am the emperor of this empire! Hey! Take this duck away immediately! We can’t communicate!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

It’s strange to try to communicate with animals in the first place.

Caenian ordered the duck’s confinement. He was in the middle of a staring contest with the male duck. As soon as the servants grabbed the duck, the huge bird struggled with both wings held.

─ Quack! Quaack!

“Where are you looking! Don’t you have any manners?”

The duck kept quacking. Even then, it didn’t take its eyes off Bestia. As flames sparked in Caenian’s eyes, he covered Bestia with his hand so the male duck couldn’t see her.

“We’ll send it far away from the lake, Your Majesty.”

“We’ll make sure it never comes near the lake again, Your Majesty.”

The servants quickly offered solutions. They indicated they would move immediately upon permission. Caenian snorted.

“No. We need to set an example. Take it to the palace. For tonight’s dinner–”

Caenian paused mid-sentence. His gaze turned to Bestia. He firmly pressed where he assumed her ear holes would be with his thumb and index finger.

“We’ll have roast duck. After the meal, hang the bones where the ducks can see them well. Tell them that any duck harboring ill intentions towards Betty will become roast duck from now on.”

It was terrifying political intimidation. He was certainly the son of Ruvan III. The servants gulped. Even the male duck didn’t cry at this moment.

─ Quack? (What’s going on?)

Only Bestia, who hadn’t heard anything, blinked her eyes. The male duck disappeared quickly. Only then did Caenian remove his hand.

“Phew. It was a tough duel.”

─ Quack? (Was it?)

“Were you very surprised? Don’t worry, Betty. I’ll protect you.”

Smooch!

“Eek!”

“G-Good heavens……”

“Your Majesty, such……”

It happened in an instant. Caenian, who was feeling good, kissed Bestia. To be precise, the emperor of an empire put his lips on the bill of a lowly duck. Everyone froze. Multiple pairs of eyes shook greatly. Sounds tinged with shock were squeezed out from here and there.

“What. Do you have a problem with me liking this duck?”

“N-No, Your Majesty.”

“W-We’re just envious, Your Majesty.”

“Th-That’s right. We’re envious of Your Majesty’s affection……”

“You all should wake up from your dreams.”

We weren’t even dreaming.

Everyone, including Duke, kept their mouths shut. It seemed he took their made-up words seriously.

Your Majesty is surprisingly naive in some aspects.

When they say there are no bad people among animal lovers, it’s not for nothing.

The servants exchanged glances. It was a way of communication learned from long years in the palace. Duke, watching this, quietly nodded.

─ Qu-Quaack….. (Th-This is troublesome……)

Only Bestia looked distressed. It was already uncomfortable being a beastman. Now with the emperor’s favor added, it was even more so. What if she couldn’t turn into human form?

Am I going to become the first duck empress?

─ Quaack! (This is weird!)

It was an excessive delusion. Even after knowing this, her heart fluttered. Bestia couldn’t look at Caenian’s face properly. She was embarrassed.

“Your Majesty, shall we serve dessert?”

“Dessert? Ask Betty. Betty, would you like to have tea time with me?”

At that moment, a servant who had been quiet spoke up. It was the one who had been standing holding food all this time. Caenian immediately asked Bestia.

─ Quack. (Umm.)

Bestia looked down at her feet. The paper with various words written on it was wide. Consonants and vowels were carefully written. If she wanted, it was possible to make sentences. Suddenly, an impulse arose.

Should I ask to be sent back to the village where I was found?

She wanted to go home. She missed Garnet’s embrace. She wanted to see Aesop’s kind face.

─ Quaack….. (But……)

Bestia looked at herself. A small white duck. Here was a duck beastman, not a human. Moreover, she had been noticed by the emperor in her human form and hadn’t been able to clear up the misunderstanding.

In other words, it was obvious that if she returned in this state, he would think she had run away. Then, wanted posters of her would be put up all over the empire in an instant!

─ Quack….. (Sniffle……)

Thinking about the bleak future made her depressed. Bestia hung her head low.

“Betty?”

Caenian’s eyes sharpened at this sight. The duck that had been lively until just now was deflated.

What’s wrong? Is she not feeling well?

His brain, deeply infatuated with the duck, worked quickly. He checked if he had said anything wrong. If he had missed anything. Later, he even checked the surrounding temperature and wind direction. But there was nothing he could guess. It was natural.

“Betty, what’s wrong? You’re a duck capable of expressing your thoughts sufficiently. I’m curious about what you’re thinking.”

─ Quack….. (I……)

Caenian gently lifted Bestia’s head with the tip of his index finger. The duck’s bill that had been pointing down was raised. Their gazes intertwined with her small blue eyes.

Hair red like burning flames. And in contrast, pitch-black eyes. Refined yet deep features.

Bestia could see her own reflection in his black eyes.

A duck with a yellow bill, white feathers, and blue eyes.

─ Quaack. (I feel even more depressed.)

A few days later.

“Your Majesty, it seems we need to give Betty some deworming medicine.”

“Oh! How wise. Bring it here.”

“I’ll take her to the veterinarian. Don’t you have to attend the state affairs meeting soon, Your Majesty?”

“You are also a key participant in the state affairs meeting, Chancellor.”

“My legs are aching……”

Duke trembled his thin thighs. It was an unsightly act that looked like a chicken dance. Caenian narrowed his eyes.

“I’ll finish the state affairs meeting in 10 minutes. Bring her back within that time.”

“Yes. Of course, Your Majesty.”

─ Quaack. (Rushed administration.)

Caenian handed over the duck with a suspicious look. Thus, Duke took Bestia to his office.

─ Quack? (Where’s the medicine?)

“That was a lie. Transform.”

─ Quaaack?! (I can’t transform!)

Flash!

“Ah! It didn’t work when I tried!”

Bestia turned from a duck into a human with Duke’s help. She was still unable to control her ability to change her appearance using others’ family heirlooms.

“Now that you’re human again, let’s go.”

Duke hurriedly started walking. He had to see Caenian before he went to the state affairs meeting. After the meeting, he had to take Bestia, transformed back into a duck, to the audience chamber. There was a lot to do.

“Ugh… Grandfather Chancellor. The clothes are too heavy.”

“Your original clothes were too light.”

But unlike him, Bestia was concerned about something else. Her feet wouldn’t move in the dress that was twice as heavy as her original clothes.