“No. How can someone talk so much?”

Remembering last night’s events, her ears stung again. Bestia frowned and covered her ears.

“Heh heh. That fellow is a bit… like that, isn’t he?”

“And his voice is so high-pitched that my ears hurt.”

“Ho ho. His voice does pierce the ears.”

Duke, sitting across from her, looked embarrassed. The voice of the duck—no, the girl—who had suddenly visited his office was just as clear as Famil’s.

“He talks so fast too. And his voice taps.”

“Ahem… well……”

“He’s exactly like a woodpecker!”

Bestia, unaware that her own image was half woodpecker-like, continued venting her emotions. But her feelings weren’t meant to be hateful.

Bestia had really gone to the library at his quitting time. After sending off Famil, whose dark circles reached his chin, she sought out Duke.

“Oh? Did Famil so easily reveal his identity to you?”

“…Pardon?”

Duke tilted his head at Bestia’s words.

“That guy isn’t the type to do so.”

“…Pardon?”

This time Bestia tilted her head to the side.

What does this mean?

Listen here, Chancellor.

That talkative man is a woodpecker! A real woodpecker!

“R-really?!”

Tap-tap-tap-tap!

In Bestia’s ears, wide-eyed with surprise, the sound of wood being tapped echoed.

This isn’t a dream, is it?

Pinch.

“Ahem. Why would I lie? I have never once in my life uttered a falsehood.”

…Pinch.

“Ouch. Wh-what…!”

“Grandpa Chancellor. Snap out of it. This is reality.”

“Eh? What? What reality?”

What about all those lies you’ve been telling as easily as breathing?

Pinch my cheek, pinch the other person’s cheek.

Bestia sighed deeply and lowered both hands. Duke, now an old man with red cheeks, avoided her eyes. He seemed to have understood what she meant.

“……”

An awkward silence fell for a moment. Bestia didn’t bother to speak either. Her mind was complicated. From underground to above ground. Thanks to Famil’s crash course, she had been able to thoroughly examine the library. It was truly something to be grateful for.

But she couldn’t find it.

“…It wasn’t there.”

“Hmm? What are you talking about?”

“Records about duck beastmen.”

Bestia’s gaze turned to Duke’s bookshelf.

Could there be records about duck beastmen somewhere on that shelf? Come to think of it, Grandpa Chancellor said he would look into duck beastmen at the beginning.

“Grandpa Chancellor. Before……”

“As I thought, the records were eradicated.”

“What?”

Their simultaneously spoken words collided in midair. Bestia’s eyes wavered. Eradicated…. That one word made everything clear.

“Beastman families exterminated by the previous emperor’s order were erased from history.”

“That’s too much when they did nothing wrong.”

“There’s no benefit in preserving records of persecution.”

My family, my ancestors disappeared without a trace.

“Then they shouldn’t have done it in the first place…!”

Her voice naturally rose. When Bestia’s face reddened, Duke closed his mouth for a moment.

Black pelican beastman.

His family too had once faced extinction and record eradication.

“Beheaded for giving honest counsel.”

“……!”

“Lost family for making appeals.”

“……!”

“The previous emperor did it out of great love for the current emperor, but we had families too.”

“Ah… family……”

Drip.

Tears fell. Her heart felt heavy. The office filled with sobbing sounds. Duke silently handed her tissues. His eyes stung too, but he held back. He bit his lip so hard it bled.

“But there must be at least one record somewhere, right?”

After a while, Bestia, who had used up an entire box of tissues, broke the silence.

Nod.

“Ho ho. There probably is, but I’m not sure if we can access it.”

* * *

Bestia stood before Caenian. It was after spending a few more days as a duck. She now stood in human form in the same place where she had waved goodbye with white wings just a minute ago.

“Betty requests an audience with Your Majesty.”

“What business do you have?”

“I’ve come to make a plea.”

“Rejected.”

“…You haven’t even heard what it is.”

Huff! Sss…!

Bestia clenched her fists tightly. The stress accumulated from showing only a gentle attitude these days made veins pop on the back of her hands. She itched to smack that red head just once.

Be patient. He is the emperor after all.

“Your Majesty, I would be grateful if you would just listen to my story.”

“Just listening.”

“…No. If you find it acceptable after listening……”

“Didn’t you just ask me to only listen?”

Tremble tremble.

Should I just hit him?

Without realizing it, one foot stepped forward. Caenian, who glanced at the teeth-clenching Bestia, quietly lowered his eyes.

“Speak.”

“I am honored, Your Majesty.”

“I’ll give you one minute.”

He looked at the woman who came to him with another interesting appearance today.

What words would she say, what expression would she make—his mouth was already rising in anticipation. He found it fascinating that someone spoke to him so freely. At first it was unpleasant, but now it was simply refreshing. And as if addicted to that freshness, he found himself waiting.

But she never comes when I’m with Betty.

He thought she might be tactfully giving them space, but he also felt somewhat disappointed.

It would be so much fun if the three of us could talk together.

Betty who talks back consistently and Betty who quacks.

In between their bickering, he would chase the woman away as usual and then tell the duck.

That woman has become someone who entertains me when you’re not around.

Then it would be easier for you to leave my side completely and return to your family.

“…therefore, if you would grant permission to access the records archive for research on beastman history……”

“Rejected.”

But no matter what, he couldn’t tolerate excessive demands from a lady of a completely ruined family.

“Leave.”

Swoosh! Swoosh!

“Unbelievable! What? You can’t allow it because there are important imperial documents?”

Who cares about that?

“Come on! There’s nothing I want in the other books!”

Acting like you know what’s where when you don’t even know what you’re looking for!?

“Ridiculous! Ask the animals because I’m an animal communicator?”

Are you mocking me right now?

Quaaack!

“Aaaargh!”

Bestia stomped down the corridor and then stopped abruptly. She was furious. She hated both Caenian and Duke.

“No! Why did he make it sound so easy to access a place that requires the emperor’s approval last time?”

This is ridiculous?

Bestia twisted her lips in a sneer and sharply turned her head. She happened to be in front of Duke’s office.

Should I barge in and confront him?

No. What would I gain from confronting him?

“Should I ask for permission under Grandpa Chancellor’s name?”

Her mind wavered in front of the door. Bestia shook her head. Caenian wouldn’t fail to see through her shallow trick. He was the emperor after all.

Ninety percent of his actions and thoughts might be lost to duck obsession, but the remaining ten percent was extremely emperor-like. Looking into those black eyes froze her body, and hearing his heavy voice made her heart drop.

“There must be a way.”

Bestia took a deep breath and started walking again.

“This is entirely my problem. I can’t keep relying on Grandpa Chancellor.”

Clench!

It had been a month and some days since she rolled into the imperial palace of her own accord. The countdown to returning home according to the agreement had also begun.

Ninety days remained.

“I should at least know my parents’ names.”

Bestia headed vigorously toward the library. But on her way to the library, she was summoned.

By whom? By Grandpa Chancellor!

— Quack! (Becoming a duck after being human for just a few hours!)

Shudder!

“Betty, are you cold? Why are you raising your feathers and trembling?”

— Quack! (This is an angry body trembling!)

More precisely, by the emperor who said he wanted to see the duck and demanded she be brought immediately!

After using up all four weekly meetings!

After saying he’d delete the forced meeting clause?

— Quack! Quack! (You tyrant! Do you think you’ll get away with this!)

Flap flap!

— Quaaack! (Angry wing punch!)

“Servants. Bring Betty’s new cape immediately.”

— Quack! (Please communicate with the board!)

The duck jumped up and down on Caenian’s palm. Of course, that duck was Bestia. After flailing her tiny wings, she soon tired and sat down. She stretched out her yellow duck feet and panted heavily.

— Quack! (Already tired!)

Caenian, who received a cape embroidered with gold thread from the servant, tapped Bestia’s head.

“Our Betty. You were shivering from the cold, weren’t you?”

— Quack! Quack! (Don’t cover me! I’m angry! Hot! It’s hot!)

“Aww. So pretty. It suits you well indeed!”

Soon the cape was placed over her shoulders. Even though Bestia shook her head repeatedly, it didn’t fall off. A specially made pin stuck firmly to her feathers.

— Quaaack! Quack! (I’m angry right now! Super angry! I don’t like the duck embroidered on the cape! It’s tacky!)

Tremble!

The duck, energized by anger, stood up again and jumped around. The red cape fluttered along with her bobbing, shaking feathers. Caenian looked at her with a pleased expression.

“Your Majesty, does it please you that we brought it as soon as it was completed?”

“Of course. Our Betty likes it too—her cheeks are red. I shall reward you.”

— Quaaack! (These are angry red cheeks! You stupid emperor!)

Thwack! Thwack thwack!

Bestia struck Caenian’s cheeks as he rubbed his face against hers. Seizing the opportunity, she delivered a double slap with both wings.

“It tickles. Do it more. You’re adorably cute.”

— Quack! (Just die!)

Thwack!

Wing flapping was joined by kicking. This was no time to be doing this. She needed to find a way into the records archive in the library basement and search for information about duck beastmen.