“Grandma Garnet! Grandpa Aesop!”

Bestia safely arrived home. It was after changing carriages twice with the gold coins Bonobono had given her as travel money.

“Betty! Is it really you, Betty?”

“Good heavens. Betty! Where on earth have you been!”

Garnet, who embraced Bestia, shed tears. Aesop had a stern face. Seeing his bloodshot eyes, Bestia’s eyes also grew hot.

“I’m sorry… Something happened.”

“What kind of thing would make you worry your family like this!”

“Child. Did you want to go to the New Year’s event that badly? Grandma is sorry. I didn’t know you would run away because of that……”

“Grandma, Grandpa. There’s something I want to ask.”

The family reunion quickly turned into a sea of tears, but Bestia hurriedly composed her emotions and opened her mouth. Tightly holding the transparent bead given by Grandpa Chancellor, there was something she needed to know.

A long time after Bestia began speaking, the two elderly people bowed their heads deeply.

“We’re sorry we didn’t tell you earlier.”

“But it was for your sake. If it became known that you were a beastman, you would have been in danger.”

“Even though the emperor has changed, we thought that was still the case, so we couldn’t leave you alone.”

“Let’s keep the fact that you’re a duck beastman as our secret, Betty.”

“We don’t want to lose you, our beloved one.”

Aesop and Garnet were honest. They said they had done their best to raise Bestia to protect her as a beastman. Bestia could instinctively tell that there was not a hint of falsehood in their words. Her heart felt heavy.

“Betty, when we found you, this necklace was beside you.”

“The bead attached to the necklace is a freshwater pearl.”

“A pearl?”

“Yes. A very precious gem. We kept it thinking it might help find your parents.”

At that moment, Aesop handed the necklace to Bestia. Bestia couldn’t continue speaking. The freshwater pearl was the same size as the bead Duke had given her.

Zing—

The moment she fixed her eyes on the freshwater pearl, she felt something. It was a silent greeting. The heirloom of the duck beastmen greeted the last remaining descendant.

“…Thank you.”

The tears she had been trying to hold back burst forth again. Bestia tightly gripped the necklace in her hand. Garnet approached and warmly embraced her.

“I’m sorry, child. Did you run away because we deceived you?”

“No.”

“Then why did you suddenly disappear? No, don’t tell me. It’s enough that you’ve returned. We’re just sorry.”

The tears wouldn’t stop at the gentle voice. Now, it was Bestia’s turn to tell the truth.

“I was with His Majesty the Emperor.”

* * *

“Bestia! Where are you!”

“Shushu! I’m here!”

“You! You said you got lost after going alone to see the New Year’s parade? Is there any need to make people worry like this!?”

Shushu came running when she heard the news that Bestia had returned. She slapped the back of her friend whose eyes were swollen. Her eyes too were brimming with tears.

“I’m sorry for worrying you, Shushu.”

“Do you even know!?”

“Yes.”

“Follow me to your room!”

Bestia immediately nodded. She had nothing to say even with ten mouths. She immediately followed as Shushu beckoned with her finger.

“……”

“I’m sorry, Crusoe.”

Tap tap. Crusoe, who had been quietly following beside them, lightly patted Bestia’s shoulder.

As soon as Shushu entered Bestia’s room, she plopped down on the bed. It was a boldness that made it look like her own home.

“We were thinking of asking His Majesty the Emperor for help and went all the way to the imperial palace!”

“But we were rejected because we didn’t meet the audience conditions.”

“Hey, Crusoe. Can you be quiet for a bit?”

“Why? It’s true.”

“Is that important right now?”

Her words spoken at the top of her lungs were also bold. Crusoe, who had tactlessly interjected, gulped at Shushu’s sharp gaze. Bestia both cried and laughed. Seeing her familiar friends after a long time made her emotions well up again.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would turn out like this.”

“Oh! It’s fine as long as you’ve returned safely. I heard you went all the way to the border?”

“I’m sorry, Shushu… sob……”

She wondered what border they were talking about, but feelings of apology and gratitude kept creating tears.

“Stop crying. Stop! What have you done right to be crying?”

Then Shushu immediately hugged her dejected friend and patted her back. She also wiped away her tears with an expensive silk handkerchief.

“Bestia. You. If you keep crying, I won’t be your friend anymore, okay?”

“Sorry… I won’t cry anymore.”

“Good. Don’t cry! You’re not hurt anywhere, right?”

“Yes, yes. I’m healthy. My wings… no, my arms are fine and my legs are strong.”

“That’s good. From now on, only ride in carriages I send. Got it?”

Bestia forced a smile. Perhaps because she had been a duck for so long, her words slipped out wrong, but it was only for a moment. She thought she caught a glimpse of Shushu’s sparkling eyes, but looking again, she could tell they were just eyes full of worry.

“Yes, yes. Thank you, Shushu.”

I’m sorry, Shushu, Crusoe.

I can’t tell you that I’m a beastman. I’m sorry.

Bestia’s chest swelled with emotion. Her throat also tightened with guilt.

Zing zing.

That’s when it happened. A familiar feeling came from the pearl necklace around her neck. It was the feeling she had received before transforming into a duck.

Why? I’m not feeling fear right now?

The confused Bestia clutched the necklace in her hand.

Zing zing!

The feeling grew stronger. Bestia’s eyes trembled finely.

“Ah! S-sorry, Shushu. Crusoe. C-could you ask Grandma Garnet to bring some cookies and milk?”

She knew the hastily blurted words didn’t fit the situation. But it was her best option. If she was going to transform into a duck, it had to be when no one was around.

Because it was a secret that she was the empire’s last duck beastman!

“What? You want to eat cookies in this situation?”

“Okay. I’ll go. Shushu. Let’s go.”

“What? If you’re going, go by yourself.”

“Bestia asked both you and me to go……”

Shushu ignored Bestia’s unexpected request. Crusoe, who had already opened the door, was different.

Zing zing!

Drip. Cold sweat broke out. The feeling from the necklace grew stronger.

Why is this happening?

“Please. I really want to eat. Okay? Shushu……”

Bestia felt desperate. Even knowing that this behavior also didn’t fit the situation, she clasped her hands together and begged. Crusoe had already left the room.

“Sigh. Fine. I’ll go.”

Shushu sighed deeply and finally moved. She went to the door, then suddenly turned back and stood in front of Bestia again.

“But you know what, Bestia. You… are you possibly a du……”

“Huh? Possibly?”

“…Never mind. I’ll bring cookies.”

Bang. The moment Shushu left the room, the zing zing from the necklace also stopped.

“…What was that?”

* * *

Crash!

“She’s nowhere to be found?!”

At that time, the imperial palace was in complete chaos. A duck that disappeared overnight had completely changed the atmosphere. Caenian didn’t even care about the fact that the human Betty hadn’t appeared in the garden.

“Do you think I stayed here all night just to hear such words!”

The young emperor’s mind was filled only with Betty. Caenian let out a terrible scream. The closest aides who had been called to the bedroom hunched their bodies tightly. No one dared to meet his bloodshot eyes.

Crash!

“Drain all the water from the palace lake if necessary and find her immediately!”

Despite it being broad daylight, a sharp cold wind blew. The murderous intent was so strong it seemed it would soon turn into a bloody wind.

Crash!

“Interrogate all the wild ducks too! Looking at it now, they’re prime suspects!”

The bedroom was an even bigger mess than last night. All kinds of furniture were smashed, leaving sharp fragments everywhere. The servant who had come in to report fled as if escaping.

“I said there should be no interruption in reporting! Next!”

Through the slightly open door, the next reporters could be seen trembling. They couldn’t bring themselves to enter and were pushing the order among themselves. Duke, who had been watching the situation with his head bowed, opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, I humbly report—”

“If you’re going to say ‘humbly,’ don’t speak!”

Zing!

Caenian, who happened to be holding a broken vase piece, glared. Duke quickly lowered his eyes.

“Isn’t this all because of you, Chancellor?”

“Oh my. You mean me?”

As a servant took the vase fragment from Caenian’s hand, only then did he take a step closer.

“Are you avoiding responsibility? Or have you gone senile? Should I help you remember?”

Swish!

“Hup……”

But soon he retreated, stepping back. This time Caenian was holding a sword.

“Come to think of it, the most likely suspect in a kidnapping crime has always been close by.”

“Hup… Your Majesty. Surely you’re not suspecting me?”

“It’s a clear fact that the Chancellor paid special attention to Betty.”

“Huhup!”

Caenian pointed at Duke with the sharp tip of his sword. Duke groaned. His trembling eyes turned toward someone.

Hey! Are you just going to stand and watch!

It was Potters standing beside him with a stiff expression. The man, who had been lost in thought, finally opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, it may not be a kidnapping.”

“What? If not a kidnapping, then what?”

The sword tip turned toward Potters. Duke wiped his chest in relief.

“She left on her own.”

“My duck? Why?”

“Well… because she’s a duck, isn’t she? Miss Betty is smart, so she surely knew how to return to nature.”

“You’re crazy. If that were the case, don’t you think Bonobono would have gone back to nature long ago?”

“Bonobono is……”

Potters continued calmly. Caenian made an unpleasant expression at his brazen statement. Then his head turned to the side. Something was strange.

With all this commotion, why is that fellow so quiet?

Normally, he would have been yelling along.

— Kihihit?

At that moment, his eyes met Bonobono’s. The primate sitting in the corner of the cage averted his gaze first. This had never happened before.

Wasn’t he the one who always glared and raised his finger?

The one who showed his white teeth while laughing between one and three gold coins.

“Got you. You rascal!”

— Kihik?

“You took Betty again, didn’t you!”

— Kik?!

“Oh, oh my! Your Majesty! Please calm down!”