A few days later in Ruby Hall.

“Your Majesty, I’ve brought Betty.”

“Chancellor, must you take Betty away every day under the pretext of health checkups?”

The empire’s chancellor had started taking the duck from the emperor four days ago. It was because she needed to occasionally appear in human form.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to see Betty for a long time? If you share her with me for 20 minutes each day, you could live with Betty for 20 years, Your Majesty.”

— Quack? (What? Does that mean I have to stay a duck for 20 years?)

Duke smoothly countered Caenian’s words. His lies were growing day by day. Bestia was placed on the floor. Everyone’s gaze turned to the small white duck.

Sparkle sparkle.

They all looked expectant to see what cute behavior she would show today. Naturally, the duck’s chin lifted.

— Quack. (Ha, really. Do you all like me that much? This is what I live for.)

She flicked the lace cape on her back with her small wing. Exclamations of “how cute” erupted from everywhere. The duck, quickly becoming conceited, twirled in place. Again, squeals were heard from all around.

Ah— the taste of this attention!

It’s thrilling. Always fresh. Attention is truly the best!

“Betty, those cute behaviors are only for me to see. Come here, shall we?”

— Quaaa. (Ugh… I’m coming, coming!)

But Caenian interrupted. Bestia made a disgusted face. She lifted her duck feet and walked with big strides. Caenian was far away.

Wait, what expression am I making right now?

After taking just a few steps, she stopped abruptly at this unexpected concern. Her blue eyes blinked. Lately, she’d been having strange thoughts. Being human, then being a duck. With her confused identity, she worried about things she didn’t need to.

Whatever. I’ll just smile.

Bestia decided to wing it. After hopping onto Caenian’s outstretched palm, she smiled.

“Betty! Are you smiling at me!”

“Oh! Your Majesty! This is the first time I’ve seen a smiling duck!”

“My goodness… a duck smiling!”

— Quack? (This feels strange?)

People went wild again. Exclamations burst out from everywhere. Bestia was enveloped in a strange feeling. She felt good. Just then, Caenian started gently scratching under her chin.

— Quack……? (Th-this feels good……?)

Grin.

The tip of her yellow bill lifted slightly more. Her eyelids also closed a bit more. Quack… she unconsciously let out a sound of laughter. Of course, it was a duck’s cry.

“How can she be so cute.”

“I think I’ll raise a duck too.”

“Want to go to a duck farm together?”

“Oh my. I’d love to.”

The smiling duck captivated everyone’s attention. A companion duck syndrome began to sweep through the imperial palace. Caenian’s shoulders rose high. He already had the face of someone in love.

Even if you choose one from hundreds of ducks, it won’t be as good as Betty.

His chest swelled with pride. Caenian lifted Bestia up like he’s showing her off. He made eye contact and spoke.

“Betty, what exactly did the Chancellor do for you besides health checkups that makes you smile like this?”

— Quack. (What did he do, you ask.)

“If I ask the Chancellor, he’ll just say something about his family again.”

Caenian continuously stroked Bestia. That touch was full of love. Honey dripped from his eyes too.

“Even with such hints, you won’t tell me. How mean, Chancellor.”

Of course, this didn’t apply when he sharply turned his head to glare at Duke. After speaking curtly, Caenian quickly looked back at Bestia. It was his determination not to miss any of her cute behaviors.

“Anyway, I don’t know why your mood has improved, but I think I know what I did wrong.”

— Quaaack? (You know what you did wrong?)

“I carelessly put you, who is so noble, in my pocket. That was my mistake.”

— Quaa? (Just now? And you’ve got it wrong?)

“I should have known you’d be uncomfortable… A true companion should understand everything just by looking at the eyes.”

— Quack! (There’s anger in my eyes right now!)

“So I ordered a custom bag made just for you quite some time ago, but I don’t know why there’s no news of its completion.”

— Quack…… (Sigh. What are you talking about now……)

Bestia quickly gave up. As expected. She was the fool for expecting a normal conversation. The duck enthusiast thought and concluded as he pleased. She wished he would give her a board like at the banquet. Preferably one with curse words written on it.

— Quack! (I’ll just stand here!)

An excited Bestia shouted quack! She stood up and slapped Caenian’s palm with her duck feet. Her wings trembled as she fumed with accumulated frustration.

“Oh, Betty. Your foot-stomping is so energetic! Seeing you so happy makes me feel good too.”

— Quack! (Ha!)

Am I going to die of anger at this rate!

Bestia seriously predicted.

「Emperor Caenian’s picked-up duckling. Here lies one who died of anger.」

A small grave appeared in her mind. Since Caenian cherished her, he would surely er*ect a tombstone.

What if he doesn’t?

Then he has no conscience.

— Quack? (You will, won’t you?)

Bestia, who had been thinking and talking to herself, looked up at Caenian. Their eyes met. His handsome face was full of smiles.

“Betty, I’ll do anything you want.”

— Quack? (Oh?)

What’s this? What’s going on?

It seems like we’ve connected after almost a hundred attempts? Is this a coincidence?

A miraculous thing happened. Just then, the audience hall attendant bowed his head.

“Your Majesty, there is a request for an audience. However, they are two minors without a family head accompanying them.”

“What? Without a family head accompanying them?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“They lack basic manners. Whose children are they?”

Caenian responded without even looking. His hand didn’t rest for a moment. The duck’s head was about to be flattened.

“They say it’s Count Mayla’s young lady and Viscount Watt’s young master.”

— Qu, Quack!? (Sh, Shushu?!)

“Count Mayla? Has he raised his child with such poor manners?”

“Your Majesty, they are… those children from before.”

Potters interjected in the conversation between the audience hall attendant and Caenian. It was a matter he had already let go of. But his sincere desire to help the children remained. Thinking he should fulfill his responsibility in this way at least, he continued speaking, risking punishment.

— Quo? Quo? (Eh? From before?)

One duck who didn’t understand the flow of conversation blinked her large eyes.

“Are you still involved in that matter?”

“No, Your Majesty. Absolutely not. It seems they still haven’t found their missing friend.”

— Quack! (That’s me!)

Caenian asked with a smile. Bestia didn’t notice the cold blade hidden in his eyes. Potters spoke with a rigid, disciplined posture.

“Even the village patrol couldn’t find her. They say it’s unclear whether it’s a runaway or kidnapping, and they’re asking for help, Your Majesty.”

Shushu came looking for me!

Did she come knowing I was here?

Bestia was restless. Her mind was complicated. She sat down and stood up several times on her duck-exclusive chair.

— Quack! (Did he come to ask for me back? No, he wouldn’t know I’m a duck beastman, right? What is it? What’s going on? Has something happened at home!)

Various hypotheses flashed through her mind. Her body heated up with anxiety.

Flap flap. Bestia instinctively flapped her wings. The small, insignificant wings cut through the air.

“I see. But there are clear rules in the palace. Attendant. Inform them of the proper procedure for requesting an audience and send them back.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The conversation ended while the duck was still flapping her wings. Caenian, who had gathered his solemn gaze, lowered his head.

“Betty, what’s wrong? Do you want to go to the garden?”

His neatly folded eye corners were completely different from before. In his gaze toward the small, cute duck, there was no weight at all.

— Quaaack! (Not the garden, home!)

“Wait, Betty. The sun is blazing right now. I’m worried your small body might collapse from exhaustion, so please understand.”

Caenian saw Bestia’s behavior as a tantrum and tapped her head with his fingertips as if soothing her. That was the end of it.

“Sir Potters, so about the new armor?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll report on that.”

He was the emperor. It meant that while his enthusiasm for the duck was important, he also needed to attend to his imperial duties. Potters immediately spoke in line with those duties. Bestia was about to collapse from frustration.

— Quaaack! (Something must have happened at home! I need to go right now!)

The sunlight coming through the magnificent stained glass was indeed hot. But that wasn’t important to Bestia. Even if she turned to ash under the sun’s rays, she needed to meet Shushu. She needed to hear why she had to look for her so desperately that she made an improper audience request.

Grandma Garnet! Grandpa Aesop!

I hope nothing’s wrong!

— Quaaa……! (Sob……)

Bestia cried sorrowfully. Only now did she realize who she was. Before being a duck beastman, she was the adopted daughter of Garnet and Aesop. They had taken her in and given her a new life. Even if she became a wanted criminal hated by the emperor, that fact wouldn’t change.

— Quack! (I shouldn’t have stayed in the palace just to save my life!)

I shouldn’t have been intoxicated by the taste of attention here!

Belated regret washed over her. The sixteen-year-old girl cursed her short-sightedness. At some point, while saying she would go home, she had started enjoying life in the palace. Intoxicated by the taste of being revered as an extraordinary duck, she had spent her days just eating and playing.

Without even thinking about the people who were worried about her!

— Quaa…… (I’m a X. A bad X……)

Tears formed in drops around her blue eyes. The faces of Garnet and Aesop flickered before her.

‘Bestia, is that your friend?’

Duke silently mouthed the words. It was after he had understood all the quacking with his beastman hearing.

Nod nod. Bestia bobbed her duck head.