The emperor’s urgent order upon entering the temple was rather absurd. Bestia collapsed again at the words that she would be taken to the imperial palace. Alarmed by this, Caenian called for a veterinarian as well. The cape for the duck was made immediately. A whole twelve of them.

“Your Majesty, the capes are completed and brought here.”

“Good. Time is of the essence, so let’s quickly try them on.”

Is ‘putting on’ the right expression for a duck?

Everyone around raised their eyebrows in question. Their faces showed they were trying hard not to laugh.

“Well then… Dear guest, if you could please stand in front of the mirror, we’d be grateful……”

The tailor said, barely holding back his laughter. Bestia whimpered.

─ Qua, quoack…… (Sob, I’m a human, you know?)

“It seems the blue one is not to your liking. Next.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

─ Quaack, quaackquack! (Oh really! What’s with the cape in this situation!)

“You don’t like the green one either. Next.”

Several capes were put on and taken off Bestia’s back repeatedly. Each time, Bestia wailed. It wasn’t the cape she disliked, but the situation, yet no one understood. Eventually, Bestia, whose throat had become sore again, closed her mouth with a tired expression. It was when the red cape settled on her back.

“Oh. You’re quiet, so you must like this one! Let’s go with red!”

“It suits you very well, dear guest!”

“You look truly beautiful, dear guest!”

“Your beauty is extraordinary, dear guest!”

Applause erupted from all around. What are they trying to do?

Bestia narrowed her eyes. That’s when she saw her reflection in the mirror. The red fabric complemented her pure white feathers well. It wasn’t as bad as she thought. Her shoulders perked up. She glanced around slyly and then lifted her head at a 45-degree angle. More applause poured in.

Is this the taste of attention? It was a different kind of praise from what she received for her excellent grades. It felt more like… having her irresistible charm recognized, perhaps.

Well, well. They do have an eye for beauty.

─ Quack? (How’s this?)

“Kyaa! So cute!”

“Adorable!”

─ Quaack? (How about this pose?)

“Wow! Look at that pose! It’s incredible!”

─ Quaquack? (I’m drop-dead gorgeous, right?)

“Kyaa! I want to hug it! Your Majesty! Can I hug it just once……”

“No. It’s my duck. If you touch even a single feather, I won’t let it slide.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The warm atmosphere suddenly turned cold. Bestia also made an embarrassed expression. She withdrew her duck feet that she had stretched out and lowered her head. It was because a sense of self-loathing belatedly washed over her.

Is this why I became a duck?

The next day, as the New Year’s Parade that had started from Bestia’s village was nearing its end.

Bam- Bam- Babam-

“What’s that? What is that?”

“What? What is it?”

“Huh? Whoa! The emperor’s red handkerchief is rolling away in the wind!”

“No, that’s not it. That’s… a duck?”

“A duck? It is a duck! A duck is running away!”

“Catch the duck!”

At the entrance leading to another village, Bestia made a run for it.

─ Quack! Quack! (Huff! Huff!)

With rough breathing, she flapped her wings as much as possible. The red cape around her neck fluttered.

If I go back that way, it’s home!

Bestia was desperate. She had to get home. She wanted to fly now that she had become a duck, but her tiny wings were useless.

Not duck flying, but duck running!

“Stop right there!”

“It’s the emperor’s order to catch it without harm!”

“Don’t release the hunting dogs! We’ll catch it ourselves!”

The guards mixed in the middle of the parade quickly rushed forward. Behind them, the village guards followed, aiming for a reward. But the one who caught Bestia and gently cradled her was someone else. Potters Kleeman, the emperor’s guard knight.

“Hey Duckie, if you run away, my head will roll. Are you trying to kill me?”

─ Quaack…… (Surely not……)

“I’m serious, you rascal. Whose bloodline do you think His Majesty is? He’s the son of Ruvan III, who dyed this empire with the blood of tens of thousands over the past 16 years.”

─ Quack. (So what.)

“Oh my. You don’t seem to know how terrifying His Majesty can be because he’s been so gentle. Well. You’ll find out soon enough.”

Potters raised an eyebrow and smirked. He found it amusing that he was talking to a duck. He presented Bestia to Caenian. Caenian, who had boarded the carriage heading to the capital, nodded and extended his hand.

“You’re reliable, Sir Potters.”

“I only did what I ought to do.”

“That’s a good attitude. Now, let’s go, Duckie.”

─ Quack! (No!)

“Oh my! How dare you bite His Majesty’s finger!”

She had missed a golden opportunity to go home. Bestia hated Caenian more than Potters who had followed orders. It was fine that he had saved her from danger, but the idea of taking her to the imperial palace was absurd.

Looking at an animal from a human perspective!

No, looking at a beastman like that! It’s not like I don’t have a home.

“I’m glad to see you’ve regained your energy.”

“Pardon?”

“The vet said it’s a female. With this temperament, she might even win against the geese in the palace lake.”

“What? I think she’d get beaten up, Your Majesty.”

Potters showed a bewildered expression, wondering just how much the emperor was overestimating this baby duck. Bestia, who had ended up in Caenian’s hands, thought the same.

─ Quaaack! (Humans who don’t know the first thing about ducks!)

Having only eaten duck dishes prepared by the palace chefs, he seemed unaware of how weak ducks actually are. Bestia glared at Caenian as he placed her on a soft seat. She stomped her duck feet on the blue satin-finished cushion. It was a clear sign of anger.

“You want to sit closer? I see you want to be right next to me.”

─ Quack, quaack? (Are-are you crazy?)

“You’re not thinking of me as your daddy duck, are you? But I’m not old enough to be called daddy yet, so let’s say big brother. How about that? Do you like it?”

“Your Majesty, isn’t that too much honor for a baby duck?”

─ Quaquackquack! Quack! (I don’t like a big brother like you at all! I hate it!)

“Look here. She’s saying she likes it, Sir Potters. You have a bit of a cold side to you.”

“…I apologize.”

Bestia was at a loss for words. She felt sorry for Potters, who was in his right mind. He served an unreasonable master and received misplaced criticism. However, the most pitiful being here and now was undoubtedly herself.

“Let’s depart.”

“Yes. We’ll set off for the imperial palace.”

“Duckie, we can only see this as fate. There’s another animal I keep in the palace. It’s called Bonobono. I’ll introduce you when we get there.”

With Caenian’s words, the door closed. As the horses started to gallop quickly, the carriage shook. Bestia looked out the window and quacked loudly.

I! Want to go hoooome!

─ Quoack…… (I’m dizzy……)

It was after the carriage had been running for over an hour. Bestia was panting with her beak open. She was carsick.

“What’s wrong? Are you hot?”

Caenian tilted his head sideways. The duck that had been quacking suddenly became quiet. He didn’t know that animals could get carsick too. His hands were busy opening the window.

“This is strange. You seem to be in pain somewhere, but bear with it a little longer, Duckie. We’ll arrive soon, and I’ll call for a vet right away.”

As the window opened, fresh air rushed in. Fortunately, it felt like her stomach was getting better. Bestia closed her eyes, dropping her head weakly. The warmth of Caenian’s embrace, who had picked her up at some point, was comforting.

─ Quack…… (Sob……)

Why did she have to become a duck and suffer kidnapping and pain? Tears welled up from the sorrow. The blue eyes embedded in her tiny head were moist.

“Duckie, did those rascals hurt you earlier? Tell me quickly.”

Caenian gently caressed Bestia’s cheek with his fingertips. He felt anxious, not knowing why she was suddenly like this. The duck in his arms was the first life he had personally saved.

“Or do you have a chronic illness?”

─ Quaack…… (I don’t know either……)

The duck resting its chin on the emperor’s hand was weak. Caenian felt a tightness in his chest. It felt as if this duck was suffering the consequences of the former emperor’s actions just by being near him. When the one who should really be feeling the pain was himself.

“Duckie, I’ll make you better somehow.”

Caenian gently stroked Bestia and turned his gaze out the window. He remembered something from long ago.

* * *