The Princess in the Chicken Coop - Chapter 1.7
“I might understand if it were a knight, but I’m not sure. It’s not an era where heroes or brave warriors exist.”
[What do you mean you don’t know? Do you have any idea how many years I’ve waited to break this curse?]
“I’m just as frustrated, so please be quiet for a moment.”
A hero, what an outdated expression. Lenok’s brow furrowed deeply. There was no way to know who among them could break her curse.
It was then, that Lenok was considering whether he should just grab any one of the knights who were slowly distancing themselves from him.
Owell, who had rummaged through the palace library and gathered an armful of useful books, approached his lord who was slacking off next to the chicken coop, sighing.
“Your Majesty, we need to depart soon. What are you doing?”
“…Owell.”
“Yes?”
“Come to think of it, you’ve learned swordsmanship too, haven’t you?”
Owell nodded, feeling uneasy about Lenok’s question, who seemed to have realized something.
Born in an era where magic was disappearing, Owell grew up bearing all the expectations of his family.
The reason he took up the sword while walking the predetermined path of an imperial magician was simple. It was due to Duke Dalia’s educational policy that one should acquire all possible skills to protect the emperor’s side.
At the time of learning, Owell thought, ‘Is a sword really necessary?’ But as he took charge of cleaning up after all sorts of outlandish things Lenok did, he realized. That a sword was indeed necessary.
“Then I suppose we could consider you a knight as well.”
“I don’t think that’s quite right.”
“If necessary, we can proceed with the knighting ceremony right here and now.”
What was a knighting ceremony? Wasn’t it a sacred ritual where a sword is bestowed upon those who swear to dedicate everything to the emperor?
Owell asked back with a dumbfounded expression.
“…Pardon?”
Lenok grinned.
“What’s stopping us? I shall bestow upon you the honor of becoming the empire’s first Grand Magician with a knightly title.”
That ceremony, usually held in the central hall of the inner palace, was even performed only on holy days chosen by the high priest. Lenok’s eyes were serious as he spoke of conducting it so casually.
Owell felt a headache coming on at this brazen emperor’s statement and raised the white flag.
“Let’s just say I’m somewhat like a knight. After all, I’ve been granted permission to wear a sword by Your Majesty’s side.”
As soon as Owell raised the white flag, Lenok eagerly accepted it.
“Right. I never doubted for a moment that it would be you.”
“…What do you mean?”
“That you would be the hero, brave warrior, and knight who will break the curse.”
Owell’s face crumpled at Lenok’s nonsense.
He seriously pondered, with one hand on his forehead. Whether kicking the emperor who was spouting nonsense would be considered treason or not.
Unaware of his contemplation, Lenok lifted the chicken coop with a brighter smile than ever before. Holding the coop with both hands, barely grasping its ends at eye level, he thrust it close to Owell and said, “Now, for that reason, I’ll give you the opportunity to break the princess’s curse.”
The emperor was resolute.
“Lord Owell, give the princess a kiss of oath.”
I don’t want to do it. So you do it. At the emperor’s deeply willful order, Soria looked at Lenok with bewildered eyes.
Thinking, what kind of madman is this?
Owell’s thoughts weren’t much different.
Owell, the Grand Magician whose worth was considered priceless in an age where magic was fading away, gazed at the white chicken presented before him and contemplated.
Perhaps he had chosen the wrong lord.
As he was considering whether it wasn’t too late to force an exile, he stepped back avoiding the approaching chicken coop and said.
“Your Majesty. While we can’t completely rule out the possibility that this chicken is Princess Soria, it might not be. What makes you so certain?”
“I told you. She revealed her identity with her own mouth.”
“I’d like to believe you’re not seriously saying you can converse with a chicken.”
Owell looked at the chicken clucking with all its might. It was clear that the white chicken had used magic. The power was so disappointing that it made him sigh, considering it was supposed to be from Princess Soria who was said to be a genius.
However, even that could be somewhat understood if it was due to the influence of the curse.
There was one problem. The fact that what was before him was a chicken. Moreover, even its clucking was perfectly chicken-like. Owell felt an indescribable feeling as he looked back and forth between Soria and Lenok.
Conversing with a chicken.
Owell deeply regretted not bringing a priest on this journey. Even with regrets, he had to confirm. If this wasn’t a joke, it meant that Lenok was the only person who could communicate with Princess Soria who had turned into a chicken.
Owell pondered as he tapped the chicken coop.
“Cluck─ Cluck cluck!!”
His gaze was complicated as he looked at the chicken flapping and crowing loudly, seemingly displeased with the shaking of the cage.
What question should he ask? After much deliberation, Owell opened his mouth, pushed by Lenok’s gaze urging him to hurry up and kiss her.
“Then, Your Majesty. Please ask her one thing before kissing. What is the most difficult magic potion to make?”
[Love potion.]
Soria answered promptly before Lenok could relay the question.
She pecked at the cage with her beak, urging Lenok who was looking at her.
[What are you doing not answering? I said ‘love potion’.]
Pushed by Soria’s urging, Lenok muttered with a sour expression.
“…She says it’s a love potion?”
As he answered, Lenok exchanged glances with the chicken. His bewilderment turned to puzzlement and ended in question.
Lenok’s voice answering Owell was closer to a question than an answer.
A pure question of whether such a potion really existed. Witnessing this vivid moment of communication, Owell had to admit it.
He pressed his forehead, letting out a short sigh.
“Can you really communicate with her?”
“Yes. So, Lord Owell, right now with the princess…”
“Your Majesty.”
“What is it?”
“I apologize, but I cannot even begin to fathom Her Highness Princess Soria’s intentions, let alone converse with her.”
Soria observed Owell, who had suddenly turned serious.
The Grand Magician of the Crotia Empire spoke to his lord with a very solemn face.
“Therefore, Your Majesty. If I may humbly offer my foolish opinion, I believe that the destined partner Princess Soria has been waiting for over a hundred years is likely to be Your Majesty. Is it not evidence that only Your Majesty can communicate with her, despite the presence of numerous knights and magicians?”
Though roundabout, the conclusion was one. An unspoken pressure saying that the destined partner seems to be you, not me, so you should do the kissing.
Soria looked back and forth between the speechless Lenok and the smiling victorious Owell, then exclaimed.
[A sly magician and an emperor with an outstanding talent for fraud…]
Only Lenok could hear Soria clucking that the future of the Crotia Empire was indeed bright, but unfortunately, he was in a daze and couldn’t hear anything.
