Dazzling blonde hair and blue eyes. A snow-white dress. A strange aura that couldn’t be felt from the many ladies who frequented the palace. Even the memory of his heart pounding all night, unable to sleep.

Whenever I think of that woman… why…

Potters was flustered again. He didn’t even have the presence of mind to gather his scattered reason.

“Your father has told you many times. We only have one life, so it’s better to hurry.”

“……”

“You still don’t know that time passes in the blink of an eye.”

“……”

“…Tsk. You’ve lost your soul.”

What are you thinking with that stupid face?

Margrave Kleeman, who had been talking to himself for a while, clicked his tongue. His second son wasn’t listening to him. His gaze, tinged with reproach, continued without blinking.

“Sigh. If there’s a woman who makes your heart beat, speak freely. No family would refuse a connection with us.”

But since no parent can defeat their child, Margrave Kleeman concluded his words by patting his son’s shoulder. Even during this time, Potters remained quiet. A sentence that belatedly penetrated his ears stuck in his mind.

A woman who makes your heart beat.

My… heart… is beating…!

The moment an exclamation mark appeared in his mind’s voice!

Potters opened his eyes wide.

‘Hey! Do you know what love is? Let your brother teach you a thing or two. When you see a beautiful lady, your heart goes thump-thump, and it gets hot, and your mind is filled with the image of that lady! That’s L~O~V~E!’

‘…Brother Zeno. Just finish your sword practice.’

‘Argh! Talking to you is no fun!’

His brother’s words, claiming to have experienced first love at the age of seven. All of his current emotions were explained by that one statement. It felt like being hit.

No wonder I kept thinking about her. Yes, that’s what it was.

His foggy mind cleared. The man who had only categorized people as enemies or allies recognized a third existence: women.

“Haha.”

“What? Why are you suddenly laughing? I need to go see His Majesty now. Are you going to stay here?”

A smile appeared on Potters’ lips. His clear eyes sparkled.

“Father. Does it matter which family the lady is from?”

“What? What’s that all of a sudden. Do you have a woman in mind?”

“Answer my question first. Is it okay if her family is humble?”

The resonance of his voice asking again was very firm. Margrave Kleeman was surprised by his son’s suddenly changed expression. The sound of the watch in his hand was muffled.

“Hmm. Depending on how humble…?”

“For example?”

“…Is she a lady from a baron’s family?”

“If she’s below a baron’s family… is that not acceptable?”

“Don’t tell me… ha, has one of the maids caught your fancy?”

“…She’s not a maid.”

The surroundings grew quiet in the suddenly serious atmosphere. Margrave Kleeman put the watch in his pocket.

Not a baron’s lady and not a maid. She is human, right?

Oh! She could be a widow!

Many thoughts crossed his mind, but only briefly. The overwhelming emotion that rose like a tide erased his worries.

“This is a first. You’re asking your father about something other than swordsmanship or how to consume chicken br*ast.”

Why? Why does his son’s new side make him smile?

Perhaps because he’s exactly like my past self.

I remember when I, who was devoted only to swordsmanship except for eating and sleeping, belatedly fell in love with my wife.

“It doesn’t matter who she is. She’s the woman my son has chosen! Even if her family has completely collapsed, we can embrace it.”

Thump.

After finishing his words, Margrave Kleeman placed his hand on Potters’ shoulder. Soon that hand moved up to stroke the head of his son, who had grown taller than him.

“Thank you, Father.”

“But since when? Have you been staying in the capital because of that lady?”

“That’s… not it……”

“What? Don’t tell me it’s an unrequited love? You? My son who has such excellent muscles, exactly like me?”

As time passed… it was around when the state affairs meeting was about to begin. Caenian entered the state affairs room with dignity. The ministers’ eyes widened.

“What is His Majesty carrying now?”

“Gasp. What kind of fashion is that…?”

“There’s a duck in that bag.”

“Is that duck the one that drove His Majesty crazy?”

“You should lower your voice……”

Murmur murmur. A total of ten ministers moved their lips. Caenian narrowed his brow. His thick eyebrows twitched.

“Ministers. Do you have any complaints about my attire?”

Come out. I’ll kill you all.

Caenian’s eyes said exactly that. The ministers simultaneously shut their mouths. They quickly lowered their eyes.

They had to be careful because they didn’t know what kind of crazy DNA the heir of Ruvan III might have. They were especially cautious after what they had experienced during the duck disappearance incident.

“Let’s start the meeting.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the surroundings quieted, Caenian sat down. Then he took out various items from the luxurious bag.

“Betty, this is your seat.”

Rustle rustle. He took out a duck-exclusive cushion, carefully placed Bestia on it, and put a small plate beside it and placed a strawberry on it. He even carefully removed the stem.

“Hup……”

“Ho ho.”

“Oh my.”

The ministers who couldn’t cover their open mouths let out sighs. Most of them were older than Caenian. A scene they had never seen or heard of in their decades of palace life unfolded before their eyes.

Since Ruvan III had rejected beastmen and persecuted all animals. It was a moment they hadn’t experienced for at least 16 years.

“Are you not focusing on the meeting?”

“We, we are, Your Majesty.”

“Margrave Kleeman. It’s been a long time. I heard there’s been noise from the border region recently.”

Caenian regained control of the scattered atmosphere. When the emperor did so, the ministers couldn’t just sit still. Margrave Kleeman, who had come to see Potters after a long time and ended up participating in the meeting, immediately spoke.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Things have been suspicious for several months. Merchants coming from the Runda Kingdom are bringing more mercenaries than allowed. Moreover, the mercenaries are composed of beastmen.”

“No matter how much we promote a peace policy, excess is troublesome. How are you responding?”

“We are recording the number of people and names one by one. Some tried to cross the border arbitrarily at night, so we’ve also detained them.”

“Hmm. I should send a letter to the Runda Kingdom. The seafood and spices coming from there are all valuable, but they must observe proper etiquette.”

“Yes. You’re absolutely right, Your Majesty.”

The most important issue was, above all, national defense. Originally, the Delta Empire didn’t worry because of its superior national power, but the situation had changed recently. It was because of the Runda Kingdom.

The Runda Kingdom, which bordered the empire to the north and east, was large in size but insignificant in national power. That was until Ruvan III implemented his beastman exclusion policy. After beastmen who left the Delta Empire due to his persecution settled in the Runda Kingdom, the trend changed.

「There’s a 40% increase in beastman ratio within the Runda Kingdom in the last 16 years.」

「Detailed indicators: Wheat productivity 15% ↑, Trade exchange volume 28% ↑, Troops in the capital 7% ↑, Other troops 15% ↑」

According to information collected on a yearly basis, the Runda Kingdom was growing rapidly.

It was thanks to the beastmen with their tremendous strength and knowledge of nature. Taking advantage of the sea to the east, they also greatly increased their naval forces.

From Delta’s perspective, this was a sensitive issue even if they didn’t necessarily need to engage in naval battles. After all, nothing good comes from a neighboring country growing larger.

“I will take immediate action if any suspicious signs appear, Your Majesty.”

“Guard the border well, Margrave Kleeman. I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The meeting proceeded solemnly. Everyone’s tone and expression were serious without exception. Except for Caenian’s hands.

Pat pat.

The act of stroking Bestia continued endlessly. The small head was pressed down by his delicate hand movements.

— Quack quack. (My head will wear out.)

“At this rate, the duck’s head might disappear……”

“It seems to be getting flatter and flatter……”

“He strokes the duck as naturally as breathing.”

Caenian heard the sound of the ministers’ eyes rolling. The whispering sounds were even more obvious. Caenian narrowed his eyes. A coolness spread across his face. It happened in an instant.

“All of you. Do you wish to die?”

— Quaaaaack. (What nonsense are you spouting again?)

The atmosphere turned awkward at the sudden death threat. Bestia, shocked, opened her beak wide.

“Pardon?”

“Wh-what do you mean……”

“You’re all shooting lustful gazes at my duck right now.”

“Us, Your Majesty?”

“Focus on state affairs. I absolutely detest incompetent and unenthusiastic officials.”

Focus on state affairs?

That’s rich coming from Your Majesty who’s stroking a duck even now.

It’s not something someone who didn’t attend meetings when the duck wasn’t around should say… mmph…

The ministers looked at each other. All their faces showed disbelief. They felt wronged but couldn’t say so.

— Quack. (I understand.)

Bestia nodded her head. She fully sympathized with their feelings. After all, she too had suffered many unfair treatments yesterday. When she asked to be sent home, they made her participate in the parade; when she asked to be sent home again, they brought her to the imperial palace. Although she had succeeded in escaping, she ended up returning again.