Chapter 4. The Emperor’s Jealousy

The next morning, the sunlight brightly illuminated the emperor’s bedroom.

— Quack…… (Mmnya……)

— Kihit?

Bestia, lost in dreamland, smacked her lips. Every time her yellow bill moved, a gap appeared. Bonobono, who had been watching this quietly, inserted one of his fingers into that gap.

— Quack…… (Omnomnom……)

Munch munch. The duck unconsciously sucked on the black finger. At the slightly salty and somewhat firm sensation, Bestia opened her eyes. Bonobono’s face came into view. Her mind snapped awake! She woke up in the ape’s arms. That was the current situation.

— Quaaack! (Oh my! What are you doing!)

— Kihihik!

— Quack! Quaaack! (Save Bestia! Bonobono is trying to eat this duck!)

Her heart nearly dropped with shock. Bestia struggled in Bonobono’s arms.

— Quack! Quack! Quack! (Hey! Emperor! Caenian! He kidnapped me!)

She was more than awake—she felt like her soul might leave her body. She called for Caenian with a raised voice. After a while, rustling sounds came from the bed.

“Mmm… Betty… Your crying is so loud… Are you hungry? Huh? Where did you go?”

— Quack! Quack! Quack! (Here! I’m here! He kidnapped me! Waah!)

— Kiihii!

Her voice became hoarse from crying so much. Bestia’s eyes welled up with tears. Meanwhile, Bonobono handled Bestia roughly. It wasn’t gentle caressing, but rough handling. It couldn’t even compare to how Caenian stroked her.

— Quack! (Waaah!)

“Oh no! Bonobono! When did you take Betty!”

— Kihit!

— Quaaack! (Yesterday! I heard the sound of the door opening right before I fell asleep!)

“Ha! I see you opened the lock and got out again. You really… Did I raise a beast or a person?”

Caenian clicked his tongue. Deep furrows formed on his heavily wrinkled brow. Brushing back his disheveled red hair, he was in the same state as yesterday. Meaning his upper body was bare.

— Quack…… (Put some clothes on……)

Bestia covered her eyes with the tips of her wings. Yesterday she was too tired and just let it slide, but now was different. His firm chest and abs caught her eye. Even when she tried not to look, her gaze remained fixed. So she just decided to look.

— Quack. (It’s not like I’ll become like him by looking.)

“Sigh… Bonobono, give Betty to me.”

While Bestia was lost in contemplation, Caenian reached through the bars. He tried to take out the duck that Bonobono was holding.

Slap!

“Would you look at that? You dare hit me?”

— Kihihit!

— Quack? (You want to become a roasted ape?)

Bonobono slapped Caenian’s hand. It meant ‘go away.’ At the same time, he held Bestia more tightly in his arms.

— Quack! (I can’t breathe!)

Bestia quacked in the black fur of the ape. The distinctive animal smell was strong.

— Quaaack Quack! (When I was in the emperor’s arms, there was only a nice fragrance!)

Her blue eyes turned toward the bare-chested man. Her fixed gaze wouldn’t move. It wasn’t because she enjoyed looking, but because she missed that fragrance.

I’m absolutely not making excuses, just saying…

“Bonobono, stop being ill-mannered and hand over Betty quickly, will you?”

Caenian roughly opened the cage door and blocked Bonobono’s path. He was afraid the ape might run outside with the duck.

— Kiihit!

“Oh? Now you’re hiding her behind your back?”

— Quack! (I can’t see the chocolate abs!)

Bonobono mocked Caenian. As if challenging him to try and take her, he moved his arm. Bestia let out a quack!

— Quack! (It smells like butt!)

Since a bonobo ape’s arms are particularly long, that was roughly Bestia’s position. Without needing to explain further… I think everyone can guess. Bestia held her breath. She was about to choke.

“Bonobono! You are thoroughly disrespecting the emperor right now. That duck is my companion duck. Hand her over this instant!”

— Kikihiik!

— Quack! Quack quack! (Put me down right now! I can’t breathe! I’ll… die at this rate!)

Human, beastman, and animal all raised their voices in competition. At the loud noise, servants from outside the door rushed in.

“Y-Your Majesty! What has happened!”

“Has an assassin infiltrated! We were worried, so we took the liberty of entering despite the impropriety!”

“Oh my! Please dress yourself properly at once!”

“I will prepare clothing immediately, Your Majesty.”

The servants bowed their heads as they spoke. Some who assessed the situation moved quickly. Potters also arrived after hearing the commotion.

“Your Majesty! What is the matter?”

“Sir Potters! I asked for a new cage for Bonobono long ago!”

“You mean the quadruple-locked cage? Didn’t you order it and then reject it for being too excessive?”

“…Did I?”

“Yes. You did, Your Majesty. And if you ask the knight guards to procure a cage……”

Are they supposed to melt down their swords and shields to make one?

Potters trailed off and opened his eyes wide. Caenian frowned as he caught the meaning in that gaze.

“Why do you always ask if I want something melted whenever I say anything? Ugh, really.”

Should I melt your mouth?

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I will order its production immediately.”

This time Caenian spoke with his eyes. At his fierce glare, Potters quickly bowed his head.

— Quack? (Excuse me. You haven’t forgotten about me, right?)

Meanwhile, Bestia stifled her cries. Bonobono was now openly kneading her.

Duck knead knead. Duck knead.

“Damn it. Bonobono, will you stop touching her and let Betty go now?”

“Wait, Your Majesty. Is that white ball of fluff that Bonobono is holding Miss Betty?”

“Sir Potters, are you just noticing now?”

Caenian sighed. The nuance was that Potters should assess the situation more quickly. In the meantime, maids dressed Caenian. Bestia licked her lips.

“Betty, you’re also feeling parched? So am I. My insides are burning up.”

— Quack? (That’s not it.)

“Anyway. Bonobono. Hand over Betty now.”

The human and animal faced off. Caenian glared at Bonobono. Behind him, Potters also hardened his expression.

— Kihiik!

— Quack! (Ouch!)

When Caenian extended his palm, Bonobono gripped Bestia even more tightly. It was clear he had no intention of handing her over.

“Oh dear……”

“Bonobono might get kicked out at this rate.”

“I wonder if he’ll end up like the male duck from last time……”

“Shh.”

The maids who were watching quietly each added a comment. Potters looked back and cautioned them. When it came to ducks, no one knew where Caenian’s anger might flare. Just yesterday at the banquet, the princess of the Kingdom of Runda had been driven away.

That woman, who suspected the emperor’s companion duck of being a beastman and accused them of having a strange relationship, would never be able to set foot in the empire again.

“Your Majesty, may I humbly offer a suggestion.”

“Ha, Sir Potters. If you say something absurd, you know what happens, right?”

“N-Not at all. In my opinion, it seems like the animals are trying to bond and get along well, so perhaps you could watch for a moment, Your Majesty.”

“What?”

Potters stepped forward to mediate. The continued standoff showed no progress. Caenian snorted. Pointing at Bestia with his finger, he opened his mouth.

“You call that bonding? Can you say that even after seeing Betty’s pale white face, Sir Potters?”

— Quack! (That’s right! Bonding my foot!)

“Pardon? Miss Betty is originally a white duck, so how can I tell……”

“Sir Potters, if you’re not going to help pull Bonobono out right now, close that mouth.”

“Yes, sir.”

Potters promptly shut his mouth. After pulling out Bonobono, he too might be pulled out, after all. Caenian looked Potters up and down. His displeasure was evident.

— Quack. (Help me quickly.)

“Sigh. Now, Bonobono. Getting close to each other while excluding the owner isn’t right. Well, I can accept that. Bonobono. Betty is a duck I picked up from the street. You have no right.”

— Kihii!

Bestia, who had been waiting for rescue, urged him on. As if his sincerity had gotten through, Caenian tried to placate Bonobono.

Of course, it wouldn’t work.

“What are you taking care of? You’re always busy sleeping during the day. Hand over Betty right now! Betty is my companion duck!”

— Kiit!

“Oh? Look at this? Where do you get the nerve to curl your lip and get angry? I raised you so indulgently, and now you’ve completely lost your manners!”

Caenian also raised his voice at Bonobono’s fierce resistance. Eventually, he even clenched his fist tightly.

In truth, if he used force, this little commotion would be resolved immediately. However, he was not only an emperor but also an animal lover. His principle was that violence should be the last of last resorts.

“Sigh. I have no choice. Bonobono. I know what you’re weak to.”

— Kiihit?

So, Caenian decided to throw bait to the ape who wouldn’t listen to reason.

“Here. Gold coins. The shiny gold coins you love so much.”

When Caenian held out one gold coin, Bonobono’s eyes widened. Apparently interested, he stuck his face forward.

“How about it? Want to trade Betty for one gold coin?”

— Kit!

“You refuse?”

Bonobono sharply turned his head. It meant one coin wasn’t nearly enough. Caenian made an incredulous face. The highly intelligent ape knew the value of currency. And he also understood that the duck’s value was higher than that currency. A frightening ability.

“Ha! Alright, fine. Two. I’ll give you two, Bonobono.”

— Kiit?

Caenian added one more like he’s being generous. Bonobono quickly raised his hand. Three black fur-covered fingers jabbed the air.

“What? You want three?”

The ape made a deal with the empire’s emperor. His twisted lips were full of composure.

— Quack? (Are you crazy?)

Bestia opened her bill wide in surprise. The air froze. Her enlarged blue eyes turned toward the black ape.

Tell me honestly. You’re a beastman, right?

I think you should properly inhale the temple’s incense too.

Feeling her suspicious gaze, Bonobono looked at Bestia. After snickering, he flicked her yellow bill. Bestia bit roughly. She tried to bite him but missed by a hair’s breadth.

— Quack! (He hit me!)

Bestia cried toward Caenian. It meant that his companion duck had been hit, so he should scold the ape quickly.

Of course, first save me. Quickly…