“Ahem.”
Formo, who had been about to say something to Serdin, recalled his situation upon hearing the clearing throat coming from the platform and shut his mouth tight. Not that it made his dissatisfaction subside, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Serdin’s eyebrow rose slightly when Formo, who had been frowning and scowling as if he was about to say something just moments ago, firmly shut his mouth that had been moving. He looked at Harold, who was sitting on the throne observing him and Formo with interest, with displeasure in his eyes.
“Are you amused?”
At Serdin’s question, Harold cleared his throat and nodded slightly. Hah, an irritated breath flowed out from between Serdin’s teeth.
“How wonderful that you’re so amused.”
“Ha, haha.”
Harold, who had laughed awkwardly at the sarcasm, glanced at Formo, who was pouting while tightly gripping his clothes. And at that, Serdin’s eyebrows twitched as he sensed Harold’s gaze. It was quite rare to witness such an expression where dissatisfaction was clearly revealed. Harold, pleased by this, swallowed a low laugh and asked.
“So. Should I call you Pipi?”
Formo looked up in surprise at Harold’s question. His large eyes blinked toward Harold, who had a benevolent smile on his lips. It was only then that Formo could examine what kind of beastman Harold was.
Harold’s hair, like Serdin’s, was light gold on the outside and filled with black on the inside. But that was all they had in common. Except for the identical hair and eye color, Harold was a jaguar beastman who looked completely different from Serdin.
Unlike Serdin, who had a sleek and elegant body, Harold had a large build and even bulging muscles, giving off a rough impression. Moreover, his eyebrows and eyes were so intense that he looked fierce. And that wasn’t all. His skin tone was also a deep bronze, making him feel several times more wild.
Also, from Harold, the overwhelming presence and sense of fear characteristic of predators could be strongly felt. It was just that his expression was relaxed so it didn’t come across clearly, but he was boldly revealing his predatory nature through his mere existence.
In many ways, a beastman different from Serdin. That was Formo’s first impression of Harold.
“Hm? Should I also call you Pipi like that Serdin fellow?”
Harold asked again to Formo, who was staring at him with tense eyes.
“Pi, Pipi isn’t it, it’s Formo….”
“Formo?”
“…Yes.”
Formo observed Harold’s reaction as he asked back, then nodded his head.
“Aha. So Pipi must be a nickname.”
A nickname. It wasn’t something that grand. The shabby name Pipi was something Serdin had arbitrarily attached. It certainly wasn’t worthy of being wrapped in the grand packaging of “nickname.”
“Still, calling you Pipi would be more affectionate than Formo, so I should call you Pipi too.”
“…What?”
“You don’t need to be so nervous, Pipi. Right. Are there any inconveniences living with Serdin? If there are, tell me. I can solve most problems.”
Harold asked with a pleased smile on his lips.
When Harold showed pure goodwill, Formo’s eyes, which had been wary of him until just moments ago, sparkled. Come to think of it, wasn’t that right? That jaguar beastman sitting on the throne looking down at him was the ruler of this Tersium. No matter how nasty-tempered and selfish Serdin was, he would at least have to pretend to listen to words in front of the Emperor.
So it didn’t seem like a bad idea to confide the hardships he had experienced while living with Serdin to the Emperor, who was the real power of the Empire, and seek advice or some kind of solution. The corners of Formo’s mouth slowly rose.
“Even if you don’t have any right now, they could arise quickly, so come visit me anytime. Right. Is there anything you need?”
“Y-yes?”
“What about a palace? Seeing that Serdin even brought you to me, it’s clear you’ll have to live in this castle for the rest of your life, so shouldn’t you at least have a palace of your own?”
“There’s no need for that.”
Instead of Formo, who had quickly become solemn upon realizing his situation at the words about having to live in this castle for the rest of his life, Serdin answered coldly. He didn’t like Harold trying to accommodate Formo’s convenience from earlier. He alone was enough to accommodate Formo’s convenience, so was there any need for his father to step in as well?
Serdin shook his head firmly. There was absolutely no need for that.
When Serdin blatantly sent him a gaze containing the meaning of refusal, Harold burst out laughing. It was in an instant that the laughter that had been flowing out in small pieces between his teeth changed to hearty laughter.
“Ha, haha. Hahahaha!”
Just how long had it been since he had laughed with such a pleasant feeling? To think that his child clearly revealing obsession and greed for something would be such a pleasant thing. It was a joy he had been unaware of until now.
It was a moment when he understood those ministers who would smile while going on about their children’s cute demands after the state council meeting ended and they were leaving the conference room.
“Serdin, are you even jealous of your father?”
At Harold’s mischievous question, Serdin merely frowned, but whatever emotion he held was clearly visible in his eyes. Therefore, whatever emotions Serdin felt toward that small beastman named Formo, whatever purpose he had. He would embrace it all, Harold thought.
“Pipi, you must have had a hard time coming all the way to Tersium, so go in and rest now. And Serdin.”
When Serdin met his gaze, Harold smiled.
“Starting tomorrow, attend the state council meeting. There’s much to discuss about the matter with Chaimb, isn’t there?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t particularly want to attend the state council meeting, but seeing that his father’s gaze was fervent, if he refused to attend, it was clear he would harass Formo instead. He didn’t want to see such a sight even if he died, so he decided to yield.
“Then Pipi, let’s meet again next time.”
“Yes….”
Formo, who responded halfheartedly to Harold speaking with a smiling face, followed Serdin and greeted him before slowly leaving the audience chamber.
Harold stopped Kert, who was about to leave the audience chamber following them.
“Kert.”
“Hu, huk.”
“Don’t you have quite a lot to report to me?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“Let’s talk in my office in a bit.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As soon as Serdin and Formo left the audience chamber, Kert bowed his head with a pale face to Harold, who had changed his attitude. If someone were to ask him who Serdin’s coldness resembled, he would put Harold’s name on his lips without hesitation.
* * *
Formo, who had left Karta Palace, boarded a carriage with Serdin. It was because the imperial castle was terribly vast. Seeing the wide-open interior of the imperial castle, he recalled when he had recently read a book that compiled the countries formed by beastmen, both to check his common language skills and to gain knowledge about Tersium, and discovered a very surprising passage.
It said that beastmen mostly built imperial castles and mansions large, and the reason was precisely because of their excessively high activity levels. Especially in imperial castles, it was written that the distance between palaces was very far. It said that beastman royalty would run that distance in their animal forms to supplement their insufficient activity levels…. Serdin had sneered at that very passage.
‘Nonsense. No matter how much instinct comes first, what royal would abandon their dignity and run around inside the imperial castle?’
‘…Is that so?’
‘Yeah. And the distance between palaces isn’t as far as what’s written there.’
At the time, since the person who had lived in the imperial castle said so, he had just accepted it and moved on. But actually coming to the imperial castle, he realized that Serdin’s words were wrong and the book was right.
“You said it wasn’t far.”
“Hm?”
“If the distance between palaces isn’t far, why are we taking a carriage?”
Seeing Formo pout and demand an answer, Serdin chuckled. This cute and clever long-tailed tit was clearly remembering the conversation they’d had a few days ago and throwing a tantrum. Serdin tapped Formo’s protruding lips with his index finger and answered.
“We could walk, but I was worried Pipi would be tired.”
“If I fly, it’ll be quick!”
“Don’t tell me you want me to ride this big carriage without Pipi all by myself?”
Serdin asked with forlorn eyes. Formo’s lips, his heart softened by those eyes, trembled and opened.
“Th, that’s not what I meant…. I was just trying to say that if I fly, we can get there quickly….”
Formo said while turning his head away sharply. While they were exchanging conversation, the carriage departed toward Sotes Palace, the Crown Prince’s palace. Instead of Kert, who had unexpectedly been scheduled for a briefing, a cheetah beastman skilled at driving took the wheel. At the much more stable driving than Kert’s, Formo leisurely looked out the carriage window.
There had been many trees and rocks outside the imperial castle, but the inside of the imperial castle was no less impressive. It didn’t seem like trees planted solely for landscaping purposes. Judging from how they all had wide girths, they were surely vertical rest spaces for feline predators, just like the trees outside the imperial castle.
The carriage, which had been traveling at a slow speed, stopped in front of Sotes Palace. When the cheetah beastman opened the door, Serdin got out first. Then he took Formo’s hand and led him.
“This is the palace where Pipi will be staying from now on.”
“This is?”
“Originally it’s my palace, but since Pipi will be living here with me now, it’s ‘our’ palace.”
Formo looked at Serdin, who was emphasizing the word ‘our,’ with puzzlement, then nodded. After all, Formo couldn’t know what meaning the word ‘our’ held for Serdin.
And so, Formo and Serdin’s life at Sotes Palace began.
