I Am Currently The Object Of The Emperor's Fervent Admiration - Chapter 23

The dance with Caenian was different from what she had learned at the academy. It had a more restrained elegance. It was also much more intricate than the excited steps students would take among themselves.

And her conversation with Caenian was more interesting than she had expected. It was different from the frustrating times when she was a duck. The emperor she met as a person listened well to her words. That point was so moving it was good. It seemed there was more pent-up resentment from her time as a duck than she had thought.

“How strange. When you become an adult, you’ll have more responsibilities. Yet you look forward to that.”

“Yes. I like those responsibilities.”

“Why? Do you have a man you’ve promised to marry?”

“What? No. I don’t, Your Majesty. Even if I find someone I love, I don’t think I’ll be able to marry.”

By now, the dance was nearing its end. Caenian and Bestia spun in place with their arms lightly linked.

“Why? Because your family is gone?”

“No. Because I…”

Because I’m a duck beastman.

As they spun facing each other, Bestia mumbled her words. Her gaze also dropped down. It was difficult for a woman from a poor family to marry. It could happen, but it often felt like being sold off. For the family’s livelihood, without love.

Moreover, she was the empire’s only duck beastman. For her, a poor and lonely duck beastman, love was a luxury. Bestia, feeling suddenly gloomy, took a deep breath.

“I have very high standards.”

“What?”

It was after about five rotations. Bestia smiled brightly. She also gave the delayed answer.

“I mean my standards for men are so high that ordinary noble men don’t satisfy me, Your Majesty.”

It was a joke meant to hide her sad feelings, in her own way.

But…

“You don’t know your place. Is that why you’re still sixteen?”

Caenian took it seriously. His expression was cold. The once soft atmosphere froze. Bestia was flustered.

“Ah, I was just jok-“

“What conditions must one meet to satisfy your eyes? Are you in any position to judge and score someone?”

“No, Your Majesty. I was just…”

“Daughter of a fallen noble. No matter how much favor the Chancellor has shown you, you’re just a woman with half a name. Do you really not know that the probability of someone rejecting you is higher than the probability of you choosing a partner?”

Bestia’s face hardened at Caenian’s words. His words were true. The empire’s order revolved around men. In a class society, women were the weak. Even if they had abilities, there were no opportunities to use them. It was clear discrimination.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I know that.”

“You know?”

After catching her breath for a moment, Bestia opened her mouth. Unfortunately, she was a victim of discrimination. She was someone who couldn’t even get the opportunity to learn because she had no money and no family. And now she knew she was a beastman. It meant the probability of being shunned and persecuted was even higher.

“Yes. I know that, Your Majesty.”

The woman with nowhere else to retreat decided to confront the issue of her place. Even if Caenian got angry and sent her to prison. She wanted to say this part no matter what. It was because of Garnet and Aesop. She wanted to protect their efforts to send her to the academy.

“The only things a woman can choose are dress fabrics and types of tea. Moreover, as Your Majesty said, I’m a woman who has lost her family.”

“So you’re not unaware of your place.”

“Of course not. But Your Majesty, even someone like me has dreams. Dreams that can be had infinitely even without money or family. Is that wrong?”

There were only a few measures left on the music sheet. As everyone watched the two with bated breath, Bestia expressed her thoughts. It was a bold straightforward statement. It was also a rebuke. Bestia didn’t stop there.

“Your Majesty said you wish for the well-being of the empire’s people and harmony with beastmen. But is that only limited to families with names?”

“What…?”

“Does it mean that citizens of the empire like me, who have nothing, shouldn’t have dreams or hope?”

The polite question Bestia uttered pierced Caenian’s heart. Their movement stopped in the flowing melody. Since Caenian didn’t move his feet, Bestia had no choice but to stay still as well.

With his hand on her waist, and hers on his chest. For a moment, they remained like that, unable to untangle their gazes locked in mid-air, waiting for what would come next.

“…You.”

“I am Betty, Your Majesty.”

The silence was broken by Caenian. Bestia raised her name at the low call.

“Yes, Betty. Your expression is very clear. You’re really similar to my duck Betty. I wonder if it’s a characteristic of those named Betty.”

“Please observe closely if you see another Betty, Your Majesty.”

“Ha.”

She boldly retorted with a near-sarcastic remark. The third exclamation burst from Caenian’s mouth.

Meanwhile, seeing the two people standing face to face, the onlookers began to murmur again. The musicians also pondered whether to continue their performance, which was nearly over. Duke and Potters were equally curious.

“What is His Majesty talking about with that woman right now?”

“Sir Potters, do you think my old ears would hear better than yours?”

“But Chancellor, you’re a beastman.”

“Oh, please!”

Duke snorted. He glared at Potters, who seemed to regard beastmen as some sort of sound amplifier.

“I can’t hear!”

“Really? Truly?”

“Of course! If you’re so curious, why don’t you cut off my ears with your sword and attach them to yourself.”

“Come on. Why would you say such a thing? How would you live without ears?”

“Why couldn’t I? One can live without ears too.”

Duke lifted his chin. As if to tease, he even covered both ears with his hands. Potters waved his hands dismissively.

This old geezer is quite the exaggerator.

The thought was clearly visible on Potters’ face. Duke twitched his eyebrows and pretended not to see it. He could hear whispers as he perked up his ears towards Bestia. It was the conversation between Caenian and Bestia.

“Our first meeting was quite unusual, and I’ll have to keep a close eye on you from now on.”

“Please forgive my rudeness then, Your Majesty. I made a huge mistake because I was surprised by something.”

“What were you surprised by? Did I say I had no hands, or no feet…?”

The conversation that resumed after a beat was gradually entering a lull. Bestia took a deep breath at Caenian’s question. Thinking of her behavior in Memorial Hall made her spine tingle.

Zap zap. A faint electric current was felt from the small orb in her chest. She felt like she might turn into a duck if she stayed here any longer.

“I will tell you about that at our next meeting, Your Majesty.”

Bestia hurriedly ended the conversation. At that moment, the musicians’ performance also ended.

“You dare to promise a next time to me, the Emperor. Are you that confident about your life in the imperial palace?”

Now all that remained was the evaluation. Caenian, who had returned to the imperial throne, stared at Bestia. He also looked at Duke, who had somehow come to stand beside Bestia.

“Chancellor, you’ve brought a woman with a character that has never existed in the imperial palace before.”

Caenian addressed Duke among the two.

“Despite her character, she has a wealth of knowledge and serves excellently as my errand runner and assistant, Your Majesty.”

“Ho. Is that so? In what ways does she help?”

Despite her character?

Bestia glanced at Duke. She pouted at the words that could be either an insult or a compliment.

“She is helping me organize the history of beastmen, Your Majesty.”

“The history of beastmen? I don’t recall ordering the Chancellor to do such a thing?”

The conversation continued even though she just wanted to know if she had passed or not. Bestia endured, suppressing the tingling of the orb. It would be rude to interrupt the dialogue between the Emperor and the Chancellor.

“Yes, actually, I was researching it on my own… and recently, after seeing the special duck Your Majesty brought…”

“It’s Betty, Chancellor. My duck has a name, so call her by it.”

“Yes, yes. After seeing Betty, I’m also investigating the correlation between animals and beastmen.”

Caenian corrected Duke’s words while looking at Bestia, who had lowered her head. He noticed the yellow crown of her head flinching. She seemed bothered by having the same name.

“Oh ho. That’s a good hobby, Chancellor. So what is that woman doing? She’s only sixteen, so her knowledge can’t be that deep, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. She’s observing animals.”

“Animals?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Her family went completely bankrupt, so she had no home tutor. She became interested in her surroundings and apparently has extensive knowledge about animals.”

Lies flowed smoothly from Duke’s mouth. It seemed that age wasn’t just a number after all.

Bestia inwardly whistled. She didn’t like that Caenian had called her a ‘woman’, but she held back. She was grateful that at least no modifiers like ‘crazy’ or ‘slow-witted’ were attached.

“Even so, what could a sixteen-year-old girl know?”

“Your Majesty, the author of 『A Guide to Raising Ducks at Home for Duck Owners ver.1』 that you read recently is none other than Miss Betty.”