Little Pink Starfish

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The grand hall was overflowing with nobles, many of whom wore displeased expressions. At the front were the royal seats, still empty. But the beginning of the session was imminent.

Most of the nobles’ seats were filled, though a few remained empty—some attendees had yet to arrive. As Duchess Veil entered the hall, those nobles wrinkling their brows turned to look.

Following behind her, with her head bowed, was a noble lady—presumably a relative—timidly trailing in her wake. She wore a hat, her mouth hidden behind a fan.

“Tch… Just because she’s the current head of the Veil family, she brings along a little girl?”
“This is why women… Does she think this is a tea party or something?”
“She’s nothing but a lapdog for Queen Angela. She must be taking this issue lightly. …Besides, the Veil family has always favoured beastmen.”
“Apparently they actively hire them.”

The whispers were audible, but Duchess Veil’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. She took her seat with dignity, and had the “daughter” sit beside her. At that same moment, the doors at the front opened and Black Knight Theodore entered, taking a seat on the opposite side of the noble’s benches.

Despite being the reason the nobles had been summoned, he showed no fear or unease.

However, in the next instant, Theodore sharply turned his head toward Duchess Veil’s side, a suspicious look crossing his face. But it was only for a moment—he immediately averted his gaze and returned to his usual unreadable expression.

“What was that? All of a sudden…”
“…Hmph. It’s too late to tremble with fear now.”

The nobles snorted with scorn at Theodore, but one man seated among them had gone pale.

“…For a moment, I thought he noticed.”

“….”

Duchess Veil whispered softly, and the noble’s daughter seated beside her—none other than Asher in disguise—gulped.

Even with the perfume masking the scent, this could be blown at any moment!

“Still… you’re beautiful to the point of envy. Rest assured, no one would question you being a proper lady.”

“…That’s not exactly comforting.”

Though he wore a hat and concealed his mouth with a fan, the made-up Asher looked more radiant and bewitching than usual. The maid who had applied the makeup had paused multiple times to admire him. Despite the makeup not being thick, it brought out his features so well that the maids were overjoyed.

“If you had been born a woman, you’d be known across the continent as a legendary beauty… Well, Prince Asher’s beauty is already famous, of course.”

“……”

Despite the compliments, all Asher felt was shame. His legs were drafty, his chest stuffed with cloth, he was wearing heels he wasn’t used to, a chestnut-coloured curly wig, and makeup. He had thought he’d reveal himself when the time came, but honestly, he didn’t want anyone to see him like this.

As he stewed in awkward silence, the doors at the front opened again, and the royals appeared.

First King Augustine, then Queen Angela took their seats. But the nobles stirred restlessly upon seeing where the King sat.

“Why is His Majesty sitting in the back row…!?”

When Samuel boldly appeared and sat in the seat typically reserved for the King, the commotion swelled.

“What! Why is the Crown Prince sitting there!?”

An elderly noble raised his voice, and King Augustine calmly explained.

“…It’s fine. It hasn’t been made public, but Samuel has been acting as regent for some time now.”

The nobles collectively gasped in shock. Asher too was stunned.

“Was His Majesty unwell!?”
“Since when!?”
“To entrust the regency to the Crown Prince… does this mean abdication!?”

Through the narrow slit between his hat and fan, Asher looked straight at King Augustine.

He didn’t seem ill. He had never shown any signs. But there would be no reason to lie now.

Then Asher remembered—

That day when the carriage was attacked, and he and Theodore returned to the castle, the King hadn’t appeared to greet him. He was told the King had collapsed.

“There were reports that the beast bandits were moving strangely, but I doubt Father ever expected them to bare their fangs at Dias… And when he heard you two had been attacked, he collapsed.”
“What about Father’s condition!?”
“His life isn’t in danger… but he’s not well.”

So those words… weren’t lies?

And afterward, Samuel had also said—

“The ministers say that if something happens, I’ll be the next King… but the nobles backing you would likely oppose it.”

If Samuel had already been entrusted with the regency at that point…

Gritting his teeth, Asher regretted his own powerlessness.

To his father, he had still been the same as before. Had the King’s condition become public, a civil war between the Crown Prince’s and Queen’s factions over succession might have broken out. Back then, it had to be kept secret. But now, Asher no longer had succession rights—there was no need to hide it.

Hadn’t Samuel watched him carefully back then? As if searching for a reaction? And afterward, he’d abruptly brought up a fake engagement to throw Asher off…

“Me, get married? Don’t be ridiculous… And Father’s condition will improve in two or three days… That’s the end of the discussion.”

So that was the lie. Not the marriage joke—Father’s condition hadn’t improved.

As the hall continued to buzz, Samuel cleared his throat, instantly silencing the room.

“Well then. Everyone is here.”

He surveyed the room as he spoke, when a noble stood up from the benches.

A refined elderly man with neatly combed white hair and a groomed moustache—Count Dazmond.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, it seems one person is still absent.”

“If you mean Asher, it’s fine. My brother will not be attending.”

Samuel responded without pause, causing the room to stir again.

“…Pardon me, but we were told this assembly concerns Prince Asher and the former—Black Knight Theodore Lewis’ engagement.”

“He’s not ‘former.’ Theodore Lewis is still the Black Knight. And just moments ago, I granted him a new title: Beast Knight. From now on, beast soldiers with knight-worthy ability will be granted that title.”

The nobles shouted in disbelief.

“What nonsense is this!?”

Samuel’s sharp glare swept over them.

“If you have something to say, then stand and speak like Count Dazmond.”

The hall fell silent, but the nobles’ faces brimmed with outrage.

“…Your Highness, ‘Beast Knight’?”

Count Dazmond asked without hesitation, and Samuel looked back at him.

“The beastman status system has come up before. It will be drastically reformed. Titles and peerage will now reflect merit. Theodore Lewis is only the beginning.”

Several nobles stood, yelling.

“That will let the beastmen take over the country‼︎”
“Giving power to beastmen is absolutely unnecessary! Nobility is out of the question‼︎”
“Placing beastmen on equal footing with us? What do you take us for, Your Highness!?”
“And Prince Asher! Our neighbouring nations already think Dias’ royals have gone mad! Giving Theodore Lewis a title, and marrying him to Prince Asher!?”
“W-Wasn’t this assembly convened to discuss their marriage…!?”

The nobles were in disarray, but Samuel simply watched them.

Then he slowly spoke.

“The marriage, you say? Yes, personally I oppose it just like you do…”

The nobles began to look visibly relieved—

But Samuel’s next words shattered that relief.

“However, this assembly is not about their marriage.”

The standing nobles all froze, exchanging confused looks.

“There is a criminal in this room—someone who, in this land of Dias where discrimination is outlawed, has kidnapped and trafficked beastmen.”

A heavy silence, as if time had stopped. Like the others, Asher’s eyes widened in shock.

“Of course, this crime is punishable by death. Beastman slavery is absolutely unforgivable.”

“W-Why reveal this here…?”

One noble asked, and Samuel raised an eyebrow, smiling—a rare, uncharacteristic expression that unsettled the room.

“Why? Because the criminal is here among us.”

A wave of shock burst through the nobles.

At the same moment, Black Knights and beast soldiers entered the hall, taking positions at the exits. Some nobles panicked, others were furious—the room was thrown into chaos.

“Stay calm! If you’re innocent, then stand with dignity‼︎”

The voice was Count Dazmond’s.

He stood tall and calm, stroking his moustache, scanning the room, then turning to Samuel.

“…Your Highness, are you saying someone among us nobles would commit such an inhumane act…?”

“Yes.”

“To accuse us like this… Isn’t that going too far?”

The nobles all nodded in agreement.

“We cultivate the land, govern our domains, collect taxes… We work for the good of the royal family, and now you accuse one of us of being a criminal? Do you intend to make enemies of the entire nobility?”

“Surely you haven’t forgotten what happened to the noble who betrayed the royal family.”

“…That…”

Count Dazmond furrowed his brows slightly, and Samuel continued.

“It’s true—without nobles, the nation cannot stand. But a retainer who won’t pledge loyalty to the crown is as good as useless. If that’s the case, we’ll welcome those who will pledge loyalty—even if they’re commoners… or beastmen.”

Samuel’s cold gaze swept the nobles. They stared at him, stunned.

Only Count Dazmond remained unchanged, meeting Samuel’s eyes.

“…I had planned to report this discreetly to His Majesty at an appropriate time… But if we are being accused, then it cannot be helped.”

With a deep sigh, Count Dazmond took out a sealed letter.

“…I didn’t want to reveal it like this… But please, Your Highness, look at this.”

He dramatically raised the sealed letter for all to see.

“This… is a document I obtained during a private investigation. It details drop-off points for slaves, pricing, and other specifics. And the seal on this letter is…”

Count Dazmond furrowed his brows, wearing a sorrowful expression—so theatrical it sent a chill through Asher.

And his premonition was right.

“…It bears the seal of Prince Asher.”