“From now on, I’ll take her to a veterinarian, so be aware of that!”

Bang!

For the second time just this morning, Caenian slammed the door as if he might break it.

“Sigh……”

Duke, left alone, clicked his tongue.

“Sir Potters!”

The second place Caenian headed was the imperial palace’s sword training ground. The knights who were training were startled by the emperor’s free-spirited visit. Potters, who had been observing a newcomer’s posture, ran over.

“Your Majesty! Has Bonobono caused another accident? Or……”

“No, I was just walking aimlessly because I felt frustrated and ended up here.”

“Pardon? What are you frustrated about……”

— Quack. (He says his insides are burning with jealousy.)

“With the rapidly changing international situation, I think our empire’s diplomatic policies need to be reorganized. No matter how much it’s international trade, it bothers me that the six western countries and three eastern countries are excluding only Delta.”

What did he say?

Suddenly we’re at a diplomatic summit?

Bestia opened her bill wide. Caenian’s behavior was clearly jealousy to anyone watching. His eloquent speech camouflaged it perfectly. Someone who didn’t know the inside story might be completely fooled by this attitude.

— Quack? (You don’t actually believe this, do you?)

Bestia quickly looked at Potters. She was curious about his reaction.

“I see, Your Majesty. You must have deep concerns.”

— Quack? (You idiot! You believe that?)

“That’s right. It’s bitter to see the small countries that the empire led to prosperity becoming close like brothers.”

“That’s certainly an understandable concern.”

Ugh! Clueless fool. Eating only chicken br*ast every day has finally…!

Bestia hit her chest with her wing. She glared at Potters who was seriously listening to Caenian’s words.

And then?

Wink. Potters quickly winked one eye. As if he knew everything, like he’s telling her to just trust him.

— Quack? (A genius?)

Bestia couldn’t continue speaking. It was shocking. His perfect social skills made her see him in a new light.

— Quaaa. (Wooow.)

Bestia raised her wings. The thumbs-up made by her small, insignificant wings was tiny, but its meaning was significant.

“I’m moved that Sir Potters understands my heart so well.”

“It is my duty as Your Majesty’s knight guard and the captain of the knights protecting this imperial palace, Your Majesty.”

“Good. Shall we move somewhere else? I have something I urgently want to discuss.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll guide you this way.”

Anyway, Caenian looked satisfied. Peace came to Bestia, and Potters held back his laughter.

The place where the two people and one duck arrived was Potters’ office.

— Quack Quack. (Even office sizes follow social rank, I see.)

Bestia nodded her head on top of the desk where paint was peeling in places. It was natural, of course, but it felt new to her. And suddenly she thought of the cottage.

— Quack…… (I didn’t even have a desk……)

Bestia, the adopted daughter of a poor elderly couple, used the dining table as a desk. Because of her poor environment, she studied fiercely.

So that Count Mayla, who had shown her kindness, wouldn’t be disappointed. To become the proud daughter of Garnet and Aesop.

— Quack Quaaack……? (I wonder how everyone is doing…… I miss them……)

She had forgotten because each day was so eventful. Her nose stung. Bestia lowered her head. Meanwhile, Potters opened his mouth. It was after he had seated Caenian in the place of honor.

“Your Majesty, if the seat is uncomfortable, we could go to Your Majesty’s office……”

“It’s fine, Potters. It’s been a while since I’ve been here too.”

“Haha, you’ve been so busy since ascending to the throne.”

“I haven’t had time to talk comfortably with you.”

“Yes, that’s right, Your Majesty.”

Caenian addressed Potters casually. A stable current flowed between the two men, built over a long period.

— Quack? (What’s this? These two?)

Bestia raised her head at the strange atmosphere, feeling the hand stroking her head.

“I remember when your father taught me swordsmanship.”

“Yes, I learned alongside you.”

“Thanks to that, I could indirectly experience the strong bond between father and son.”

“In my memory, there are only incidents of being hit on the head with a wooden sword. If you call that a strong bond… I’m honored, Your Majesty.”

Aha!

Bestia nodded her head. Come to think of it, Potters was among the youngest of Caenian’s people.

They must be around the same age?

“No need for such honor. I can tell your flattery is fake, Potters.”

“Haha… But Your Majesty. What is this urgent matter you mentioned?”

“Ah, Potters. That, hmm……”

“Is it a security issue?”

“No, not that.”

“Then what kind of……”

Anyway, the two men continued their conversation. Bestia sat in her place, receiving Caenian’s strokes.

— Quack. Quack. (The cushion is less soft. And it doesn’t have jewels on it.)

The cushion Potters brought was ordinary. Bestia licked her lips, seemingly disappointed. She had already become a duck with eyes raised to match the emperor’s standards.

“It’s about someone I know.”

“Pardon? Someone Your Majesty knows? What kind of person?”

“You don’t need to know that. Anyway, this person I know has a concern, so listen.”

“You want me to listen to the concern of someone I don’t even know the face of, Your Majesty?”

Isn’t it said that stories about “someone I know” are actually about oneself?

“Please tell me. I will listen carefully and consider it seriously.”

“Good. As expected of my loyal knight.”

— Quack. (Phew.)

Potters was quick-witted in this area. His experience in the imperial palace hadn’t gone to waste. He quickly straightened his posture and listened attentively. Caenian’s eyes shone with satisfaction. Bestia shook her head again.

“My… acquaintance introduced two people who didn’t know each other, but those two became closer without m… my acquaintance, and he feels jealous.”

“Ah. So your acquaintance became a social stepping stone. Your Maj… I mean, that acquaintance.”

“That’s right. Potters. What do you think? Does feeling jealous make one narrow-minded?”

The two men’s gazes were unnecessarily serious. Caenian was one thing, but even Potters listened attentively in his own way.

— Quack. (He acts better than Grandpa Chancellor.)

Bestia made her judgment from the middle. Judging from the questions and advice exchanged, it was immediately obvious who the acquaintance was.

That thing earlier was definitely jealousy. Right.

And being narrow-minded is also true. You know it well yourself, huh?

It’s embarrassing so you can’t even say it’s your own story?

The duck’s eyes narrowed toward Caenian. The emperor’s pathetic face was reflected in her blue eyes. It was a deeply troubled expression in its own way. Which made it even funnier.

“Hmm… I think it depends on how those two introduced people behave.”

“Oh?”

“If they deliberately exclude the acquaintance and interact just between themselves, then that’s problematic, isn’t it?”

“There’s a problem? Can I capture them and cut off their heads?”

— Qu, Quack! Quack! (I, I take back calling it pathetic! Now I see you’re a tyrant!)

When Caenian’s eyes lit up at the answer that there was a problem! Bestia jumped up from her seat. In the small duck’s mind, she saw the image of her and Duke’s heads being chopped off! Her yellow duck legs trembled. Her bright yellow webbed feet turned pale.

“Betty? What’s wrong?”

“Your Majesty, could Miss Betty be hungry?”

“Ah. That could be it. Come to think of it, we didn’t eat breakfast.”

“Haha. I thought so. You were preoccupied with the Bonobono incident, Your Majesty.”

“Yes. Sigh… that guy really……”

“But Your Majesty. Bonobono probably just wants to get along well with Your Majesty and Miss Betty as a trio.”

“What?”

— Quack! (You fools! It’s not about Bonobono, it’s about Grandpa Chancellor!)

Bestia quacked loudly once more. Both Potters and Caenian were fools.

“I don’t want to share Bonobono and Betty?”

Caenian was a fool blinded by jealousy.

“Ah… I, I see, Your Majesty.”

Potters was a fool who pretended to know but actually didn’t understand anything.

The two fools were on completely different pages. It was truly frustrating to watch from the side.

“Don’t you think it’s inappropriate for the empire’s emperor to share anything, material or otherwise, with anyone?”

Meanwhile, Caenian looked at Potters and tapped his temple. It meant think before you speak. Potters made an awkward expression. He scratched his forehead and looked at Bestia.

Is that not it?

Yes. That’s not it.

Damn. I see.

Their gazes met briefly. Bestia plopped down on the cushion. She wanted to see how the conversation would unfold. Potters cleared his throat with a fake cough.

“Haha… Your Majesty. That was a joke. Of course sharing is out of the question. You are the emperor of the Delta Empire, how could you share anything with anyone?”

“Exactly. That’s what I’m saying.”

Good. The first step was successful.

Potters’ expression improved slightly. He looked like he had regained his confidence. He opened his mouth again.

“That’s right, Your Majesty. So I was thinking, what about finding a mate for Bonobono? As Your Majesty well knows, primates are social animals.”

“Oh? Potters, have you been studying? Your knowledge of animals has increased?”

“Haha, for smooth communication with Your Majesty……”

“Didn’t you absolutely hate learning biology from Professor Muala?”

Caenian teased Potters with a grin, knowing that since childhood, Potters would have seizures at the mere mention of studying. As Bestia thought, the two men were around the same age.

“Ugh… Your Majesty. I can do it voluntarily, but I simply can’t when forced, as you know.”

“I know all too well. That’s why you wouldn’t practice swordsmanship when told to, but always stayed behind to practice later.”

“Your Majesty truly knows me well. I am a bit disappointed that you said you would assign Professor Muala to me despite knowing this……”

Despite their difference in status, the conversation flowed well. For Caenian, who had spent a lonely childhood, Potters was somewhat like a friend. Of course, they both clearly understood the wall between them, so their friendship didn’t develop beyond that.

— Quack. (They get along well.)

Bestia nodded. She quietly observed the man who had been burning with jealousy now smiling gently. Whether seen from the side, from the front, or looking up from his chest. His face was consistently handsome.

Thump thump!

Her heart started beating rapidly again.

* * *