“Is this the weight of status?”

“That’s right. From today, you are the daughter of the aunt of the niece of my friend from the eastern region.”

“Why is it so complicated?”

“It can’t be helped, can it? We can’t reveal your true identity. Let’s just say your family has fallen into ruin.”

Duke shrugged and gestured to the daughter of the ruined family to move.

“Ugh!”

Bestia took a step. Her face crumpled at the unfamiliar weight of the clothes.

“Come now, don’t make duck noises when you’re human.”

“I didn’t make a duck noise!”

The cumbersome dress skirt kept getting stepped on. Bestia felt wronged in many ways. She had been excited when Duke rescued her from Caenian’s hands, but not anymore.

“By the way, Grandfather Chancellor, what should I say my name is?”

Bestia whispered softly when they arrived in front of the audience chamber. Duke twitched his white eyebrows. After a moment of silence, he slowly opened his mouth.

“Call yourself Betty.”

“Wh-what? B-B-Betty? But that’s my duck name?”

Bestia almost screamed. She almost jumped up in a way that didn’t match the palace etiquette she had roughly learned.

“That’s right. That’s the important part.”

Despite Bestia’s intense reaction, Duke remained calm. He seemed to have something in mind. His confidence was evident as he stroked his chin.

“Wh-what’s so important about it?”

“If you have the same name as the duck he adores so much, won’t he look at you more favorably? The image of human Bestia is quite terrible, after all.”

“The image of human Bestia……”

Duke’s words were right a hundred–no, a thousand times over. Bestia immediately became gloomy. The words she had heard a few days ago flashed through her mind. Caenian had judged her as slow-witted.

Before that, he had called her a crazy woman. It wasn’t something the top student at the academy should hear. An image overhaul was desperately needed. It was a matter of pride.

“Alright. I’ll surpass duck Betty as human Betty.”

Bestia clenched her fist.

* * *

Two days before Bestia stood in front of the audience chamber. A village on the outskirts of the capital was in an uproar. It was because a missing person had appeared after the New Year’s Parade had passed.

The missing person was, as we all know, Bestia.

“Grandma Garnet! Grandpa Aesop! Has Bestia not come home today either?”

“She hasn’t, Shushu.”

“She’s not the kind of child to do this… Running away because we didn’t let her go see the New Year’s Parade alone……”

As soon as the morning sun rose, Shushu came to the cottage. It was an informal move for a count’s daughter. In the first place, becoming friends with Bestia, who had no title at all, showed her character… Anyway, Garnet and Aesop shook their heads at her visit.

“Hmm… The village patrol might have found out something overnight. I’ll go to the village.”

“We should have gone together. Honey. It’s all our fault.”

“I’ll go look for Bestia with Crusoe!”

Garnet covered her face with both hands. Her shoulders trembled finely. Her tear ducts, which hadn’t dried up despite crying all night, burst again. Aesop hugged Garnet and patted her back.

Shushu, who had been watching the pitiful sight of the elderly couple, opened her mouth. Her violet eyes sparkled. Her hair, the same color as her eyes, swayed every time she nodded.

“Crusoe? You mean the second son of Viscount Watt?”

“Yes! Crusoe is the best in deduction at the academy. Although Bestia is better in all other areas.”

Crusoe, whom Shushu mentioned, was also one of Bestia’s best friends. The top three spots at the academy were always taken by them.

“Deduction skills… But even the village patrol said they would contact us if they found anything, and there’s been no news, Shushu.”

“Oh, really? Nothing at all?”

“Yes. Whether Crusoe can find out what even adults couldn’t……”

“Ah. Honey!”

Aesop was pessimistic. He had stayed up all night. It was because he didn’t know when the village patrol would bring any news. Until dawn. Although he hadn’t received any news.

“I’ll ask my father to assign our own people separately! He’ll surely allow it!”

“Oh, Shushu… Your words are kind, but that would be too much of a burden for this old man.”

“Come on. What burden? Our family is the only count’s family in this village. I’ve learned that looking after the villagers is a quality of nobility.”

“Such a kind child……”

“And, I was the one who suggested to Bestia that we should watch the New Year’s Parade. I’m at fault too. I’m sorry.”

“Ho ho. No, Shushu. Don’t think like that.”

The reason Shushu was so enthusiastic was guilt. She hadn’t slept well. After all, she had persuaded Bestia to watch the New Year’s Parade and then come to her house. How could she sleep comfortably?

“I’ll send someone as soon as I find anything. Don’t worry and stay at home. If you leave, you might miss a message!”

Shushu, who had been momentarily gloomy, quickly raised her voice. If even she became dejected, it would be over. She couldn’t let the atmosphere plummet.

“Alright, Shushu. We’re counting on you.”

“Shushu. Please find our Bestia.”

“Yes! I’ll definitely find Bestia.”

The elderly couple nodded at Shushu’s demeanor, which swung between brightness and sadness. It was like grasping at straws.

“Crusoe. Did you bring a magnifying glass?”

“Yes. What about you, Shushu?”

“I brought a notebook and pen. Detective Crusoe and Assistant Shushu. I’ll make sure to write down everything you say.”

“What’s that about?”

“You’re better at deduction than me. I can’t even escape the room on an escape game within the time limit every time.”

Shushu was confident. Crusoe’s dumbfounded face was reflected in his clear purple eyes. Brown curly hair, cheeks with a few freckles. And golden eyes.

“Alright. Write it down well beside me. We’ll need to look at it later.”

“Great!”

The second son of Viscount Watt sighed deeply and took out a large magnifying glass from his pocket.

“Bestia must have gone to see the New Year’s Parade.”

“You think so? But Grandpa Aesop and Grandma Garnet told her not to go alone.”

“But they were both busy, weren’t they? Bestia probably thought it would be okay to go for a short while.”

“Hmm… They said she couldn’t even stay over at my house.”

“She probably wanted to meet you to talk about that. Anyway, we had agreed to watch the New Year’s Parade together. Bestia would have thought she should keep at least one of the two promises.”

“Crusoe, why do you know Bestia’s thoughts so well?”

“Huh? Th-that’s……”

My lovely Shushu. By observing you, I naturally learned about the characteristics of people around you.

The hidden voice of his heart echoed in his chest. Crusoe turned his head. He couldn’t bring himself to say that he knew all her thoughts too.

“It’s here. The place where we were supposed to meet.”

“Oh? That’s right! We were supposed to meet here. But she didn’t come until the parade ended.”

Shushu quickly fell for Crusoe’s change of subject.

“She must have come this far for sure.”

“Yeah, I think so too.”

“What on earth could have happened?”

“Bestia isn’t the type to just wander off or be dragged away……”

Shushu and Crusoe looked around. The main street, less crowded than during the parade, was lined with street vendors.

“Given her kind and simple nature, she probably……”

“Oh? C-Crusoe! Look at that!”

When Crusoe was muttering while stroking his chin, Shushu pointed at one of the street vendors.

“What is it?”

“Those boys! The handkerchief they’re holding! That’s Bestia’s!”

“What? How do you know that’s Bestia’s handkerchief?”

“Don’t you know I’m Bestia’s best friend? The red flower embroidered in the corner is Grandma Garnet’s favorite embroidery pattern!”

“What? Are you sure?”

“Of course! How many times do you think I’ve seen Bestia’s handkerchief! The flower was so pretty that I even asked Grandma Garnet to make one for me!”

The boys their age put down the yellow handkerchief on the counter. It seemed they were trying to sell it, not buy it. Shushu dragged Crusoe over there.

“Hey, old hag. Do you buy items too? How much can you give me for this handkerchief?”

The young pickpocket said in a rude tone.

“You guys! I can buy it for a high price.”

“Wh-who are you?”

“Wh-what? Who are you?”

The two scruffy boys looked back. Their eyes were fierce as they looked at Shushu and Crusoe.

“Me? I’m the young lady of Count Mayla’s family.”

“Eek! A-a noble?”

“A-a real noble lady wants to buy this?”

“Yeah. I can buy it for a high price. But! You have to tell me how you got this handkerchief. How about it?”

Shushu lifted her chin. She was showing two silver coins. The boys exchanged glances.

“F-fine! But we can’t talk here. Follow us!”

The deal was made. Two silver coins were more than what their boss had told them to get. It was a chance to pocket some extra money.

“We weren’t there that day… The older guys who were there……”

In a deserted alley, the four put their heads together. The whispering continued for a while. Shushu, whose eyes were getting bigger and bigger, suddenly stood up.

“What? A duck?”

“Shushu! Your voice is too loud!”

“Is what you just said true? The woman they were going to teach a lesson turned into a duck? And this handkerchief was there?”