“No matter how much I read, one volume isn’t enough. Well, shall I start preparing for the banquet?”

Caenian also sighed. It was a similar yet different kind of sigh.

— Quack? Quaaack? (Me too? I’m a duck, I can’t dance, what would I do there?)

Caenian picked up Bestia and rose from his seat. As he left the office, the attendants quickly followed.

— Quack. (This is crazy.)

Exactly four hours and eight minutes later. Bestia was in the Diamond Hall, the banquet venue. She stood on a cushion wearing a chiffon dress that fit her body perfectly. Of course, she was still in duck form. It was weird.

— Quack quack. (I look strange, but you look handsome.)

In contrast, Caenian was in the most splendid form she had ever seen. Bestia glanced at him.

“Your Majesty. You look much healthier than when I saw you at the Lorencia G5 conference.”

“Delta Empire’s prosperity appears as bright as Your Majesty’s clear countenance.”

“I thank you for the mango export agreement you made with our Berna recently. I’m pleased that exchanges are becoming active again, Your Majesty.”

Distinguished guests from various countries of the Lorencia continent each said a word. It was right after Caenian’s congratulatory speech ended.

“I’m pleased to see you all here. I hope your schedule until tomorrow will be filled with joy.”

Caenian smiled his business smile. He also shook hands with his well-wishes. The atmosphere couldn’t have been better thanks to his informal behavior.

— Quack. (It’s chaotic.)

Except for Bestia. Music constantly echoed, mixed with murmurs. The sensitive hearing of a duck, more acute than a human’s, was overloaded.

— Quack. (My ears hurt.)

Bestia turned her head and buried it in her back. It was a habit that came naturally after spending so much time as a duck.

“Oh my.”

“What is that?”

The guests’ attention turned to the white ball of fluff. It was a natural flow since the duck-exclusive chair was next to Caenian.

“But Your Majesty, what is that duck?”

“We were also curious. Perhaps……”

“No, it’s not a duck for eating.”

Caenian sharply cut off the last person’s words. He anticipated what would be said based on past experience. Indeed, his prediction seemed correct as the other person made an embarrassed expression. Caenian carefully picked up Bestia.

Caenian cut off the last person’s words. Based on his past experience, he anticipated what would be said. Indeed, his prediction seemed correct as the other person made an awkward expression. Caenian carefully held Bestia.

“Her name is Betty. She’s my companion duck. I saw her in danger on the road and rescued her.”

“A companion duck?”

“Weren’t ducks meant for food?”

“Oh my, Your Majesty, you’ve gone ‘ducking.'”

“‘Ducking’? Princess Haruel of Lunda, what does that mean?”

Most people were dumbfounded by the mention of a companion duck. Everyone except Rika Harael from the Kingdom of Runda. The woman with ulterior motives for Caenian didn’t miss the opportunity. She caught the man’s attention by uttering an unfamiliar word. Caenian turned his gaze to Rika.

“My, don’t you know?”

“Not at all.”

Rika smiled as if she had been waiting for this moment. Her red eyes, contrasting with Caenian’s appearance, sparkled.

“In our Kingdom of Runda, we shorten ‘picking up stray ducks on the road’ to ‘ducking,’ Your Majesty.”

“Does Runda keep many ducks as companion animals?”

Rika stepped forward and continued. The woman who had been inconspicuous until just moments ago suddenly became the center of attention.

“Rather than keeping them as companion animals, we domesticate them as house ducks. Runda borders the sea to the east, so we have many sea ducks, Your Majesty.”

“So in the end, they’re livestock raised for meat and eggs.”

“That’s right, Your Majesty.”

Her glossy black hair, neatly braided, shone. Her eyes, like rubies embedded in her face, looked only at Caenian. She briefly glanced at Bestia, but that was all. At least until Bestia raised her head.

— Quack. (Keeping my neck bent is tiring too.)

After a short while, Bestia lifted her head. Having her head tucked against her back was quite tiring, and the bent neck made breathing uncomfortable.

The round ball of fur wiggled, and pop! A duck head appeared. Blue eyes sparkled on the small head. And they immediately met Rika’s eyes.

— Quack! (Oh my!)

Bestia let out a quack at the sight of those fiery red eyes.

“Oh my! The duck’s eyes are blue?”

“They really are!”

“I’ve never seen a duck with blue eyes before.”

“Is it a beastman?”

“A duck beastman? Weren’t duck beastmen extinct?”

Starting with Rika’s comment, everyone stared at Bestia’s eyes. After everyone had their say, the conversation suddenly fell silent, as if cold water had been poured on it.

Beastmen and extinction.

The dark past formed by these two words came to mind. Caenian felt the same. Naturally, the former emperor’s tyranny came to mind. The emperor’s previously gentle face hardened.

— Quack? (What’s with the atmosphere?)

Bestia looked back and forth between Caenian and the people. The current in the vast hall split in two.

— Quack? (I feel uneasy for some reason.)

A cold wind blew among the royalty, including Caenian.

A spring breeze wafted among the nobles who were busy dancing or chatting among themselves.

— Quack…… (I don’t know……)

A sigh escaped. Bestia shook her head from side to side. Her head also throbbed, causing her wings to rise involuntarily.

Tap!

A woman narrowed her eyes at the sight of the duck pressing her fluffy wing against her forehead. It was Rika.

This duck. It really does seem to be a beastman.

Rika was a woman who controlled beastmen with her eyes and ears. Combined with her frequent experience with ducks, she could make an accurate judgment. Regardless of who mentioned the extinction of duck beastmen, here was one right in front of her. She was certain.

“Your Majesty’s companion duck is a rare treasure. Even for me, who has seen countless ducks in Runda, this is the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful duck.”

Rika didn’t mention the word “beastman.” It was intentional. Caenian clearly had his reasons for reacting so seriously.

Perhaps to avoid controversy that would arise from keeping a beastman by his side. Or maybe he had a unique preference and felt love for animals rather than humans.

“Princess Harael of Runda. Indeed, you speak like someone who knows ducks. Betty is special. Not only are her eye colors rare, but she also understands human speech and can express her thoughts.”

“I see, Your Majesty. Is that special quality why you treat her so preciously? Bringing her to the banquet, making clothes for her to wear. Even the fabric of the cushion the duck sits on looks luxurious.”

“You observed well. I plan to make Betty the mascot of Delta. I haven’t announced it officially yet.”

Caenian responded to Rika’s words as if nothing was wrong. There was no benefit in showing his displeasure. After all, he couldn’t get angry after gathering everyone to strengthen relationships.

In any case, the past was the past. The former emperor’s actions were impossible to hide even if he wanted to.

“In our Delta, we haven’t officially announced a flower or animal that symbolizes the empire yet. So I’m taking this opportunity to gauge the timing slowly.”

Caenian added another comment with a relatively relaxed face. It meant that this occasion served as a preview and pre-announcement of the mascot.

“So your intention is to naturally integrate her by bringing her to such a public place, Your Majesty.”

“You understand precisely. I hope you all will look favorably upon the companion duck who will be with me for my entire life.”

When Rika sharply grasped his meaning, Caenian showed a pleased expression. But Rika’s face hardened. Especially at the mention of a lifelong companion.

What? Is he really in that kind of relationship with that duck beastman?

This was the moment when Rika’s red eyes, which had been captivated by Caenian at his birthday banquet five years ago, grew even redder with jealousy.

“…I see, Your Majesty.”

“Indeed, Princess Harael.”

“But Your Majesty. I’m concerned that bringing such a young animal to crowded places might raise issues of animal abuse. I dare say I’m worried.”

“Princess Harael. Do you think our Betty would be afraid of people? Our Betty has even joined me in the New Year’s parade. I appreciate your concern.”

“Ah… concern… Yes. I see.”

The woman who should be sitting beside Your Majesty is me!

Rika, whose issue wasn’t concern but displeasure at seeing him with the duck, trailed off. She felt suffocated by the words she couldn’t bring herself to say. Her lips twitched with a spasm. She quickly opened her fan to hide it. Fortunately, no one seemed to have noticed.

However…….

— Quack. (Why does that woman look like that.)

Bestia saw it. Rolling her blue eyes around, she got a general sense of the situation. People are typically dull about their own affairs but perceptive about others’.

The only daughter of King Harael likes Caenian!

Bestia was also the first to know that Crusoe liked Shushu. And now she was certain. That Rika Harael had feelings for Caenian. But she didn’t realize that Rika had immediately identified her true nature.

— Quack quack. (He is handsome, I have to admit. It’s understandable.)

Nod, nod. Bestia, who knew one thing but not the other, looked at Caenian. His appearance certainly had enough plausibility to make someone fall in love. If she hadn’t turned into a duck, she might have felt the same.