The Princess in the Chicken Coop - Chapter 2.6
But who was Lenok? The Emperor of the Empire, who had received a thorough education since childhood, quickly composed his expression.
He lowered himself to the head chef’s eye level.
The head chef tried to bow even lower in confusion, but Lenok was faster, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder.
“While dedication to your duties is commendable, this chicken is off-limits.”
“Pardon?”
Lenok shook his head while looking at the head chef with an expression of utmost pity.
“It’s taboo.”
“…Pardon?”
“I suppose your mother didn’t teach you this when you were young. Now, listen carefully. In this world, there are things you can eat and things you must not eat. This chicken falls into the latter…”
A fire sparked in Soria’s eyes as she quietly listened to Lenok’s words.
She didn’t hesitate twice. The white chicken kicked off Lenok’s arm and used his shoulder as a launching pad to take flight. Her widely spread wings were graceful. Chicken feathers floated down onto Lenok’s head with each flap of her wings.
[You want to eat me? Let’s see if you can catch me first!]
With a snort, Soria began chanting a spell.
Swoosh─.
The head chef alternately stared at the chicken flying far away and the rain that was falling only on Lenok’s head.
In this unthinkable situation, the head chef was half-dazed.
Lenok’s teeth ground together.
“SORIA!!”
His shout, while frantically grabbing at the chicken feathers flowing down his face with the rainwater, echoed throughout the imperial palace.
It was a peaceful afternoon at the imperial palace.
***
Lenok only managed to catch Soria after wasting half a day.
Or more precisely, a dramatic compromise was reached with Soria.
And so, the two were now facing the Knights’ building.
“Don’t tell me you still haven’t given up?”
[I’m a chicken who doesn’t know the meaning of giving up, you know.]
“That’s not what I… never mind.”
[So what exactly haven’t I given up on?]
Lenok looked down with a complicated expression at Soria, who spoke as if demanding him to listen to her until the end.
She currently had a thin string tied around her ankle. The other end was wrapped around Lenok’s wrist. It was a situation that didn’t match their conversation at all.
However, seeing Soria’s dignified attitude, Lenok continued speaking with a whatever-happens-happens attitude.
“About finding someone to break that curse. If you’re pinning your hopes on other knights…”
[Your Majesty.]
Soria cut off Lenok’s words. Despite daring to interrupt the Emperor’s speech, no one yelled at her.
Lenok wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or troubled by this fact as he looked at Soria.
[I will never let go of this thread of hope. Though I may have had some bad luck and ended up with my nose caught like this, somewhere in this vast world, there must surely be a hero who will save me…!]
A smile spread across Lenok’s face as he listened to Soria’s words.
[Mmph! Mmmmph! Mmmmmph!!]
And the Emperor, gently holding the white chicken’s beak, entered the Knights’ building with a gentle expression. Those following behind him exchanged glances with each other.
“Quack! Cluck, cluck!! Quaack!!”
Wondering if it was really alright to leave things be when the chicken sounds seemed rather strange.
And so, while receiving everyone’s stares, they made it to the training grounds. It wasn’t bad that they had gathered all the knights who were training hard.
However, problems tend to arise from unexpected places.
[Today, I’ve arranged this gathering to apologize to you all.]
“Cluck, cluck-cluck, cluck-cluck.”
Soria, standing on the platform, was utterly serious.
The knights lined up before her unconsciously gulped as they watched the pure white chicken skillfully changing expressions while clucking.
‘So… what exactly is this chicken princess saying?’
Lenok, who had thoughtlessly taken his place below the platform, quietly pressed his forehead. He hadn’t imagined that his thoughtless actions would backfire this badly.
Naturally, Soria needed an interpreter. Someone to translate chicken sounds into human language.
Lenok glanced at the stairs connected to the platform. Should he go up there now? But it seemed too late for that.
Soria had already forgotten that the knights couldn’t understand her words and continued her speech.
[Most embarrassingly, I committed an irreversible mistake against the knights present here.]
“Cluck-cluck, cluck, cluuuck!”
[Some of you may remember. The story of the culprit who snuck into your quarters every night and stole kisses before running away!]
“Cluck-cluck, cluck, cluck-cluck!!”
The knights quickly exchanged glances at the increasingly loud chicken sounds.
‘What on earth is this about?’
‘How should I know? It seems the princess is trying to say something…’
‘Did we do something wrong? Seeing His Majesty here personally, this must be serious?’
‘Ah, I don’t know!! How am I supposed to understand chicken language!!’
Questions, anxiety, and silent screams swept through the knights. Though their expressions remained perfectly calm.
And Soria, who had caused all these reactions, squeezed her eyes shut and proclaimed loudly.
[As the culprit, I hereby apologize to you all!!]
“C**k-a-doodle-dooooo!!”
The powerful chicken cry echoed toward the sky.
C**k-a-doodle, doodle-dooooo─ ooo─.
The spreading cry somehow seemed majestic.
The knights blankly stared up at Soria, who had spread her wings wide, as she was backlit by the gradually setting sun.
Clap, clap…..
Who started it first? That wasn’t important. What mattered was that applause began spreading among the knights until it thundered like a storm.
“Waaaaaah―!!!”
Their cheers rang out loudly, though they didn’t know why they were cheering.
Soria looked around, moved by the knights’ generous hearts in accepting her apology.
‘Goodness. They didn’t need to go this far! Was my apology that good?’
Lenok, who knew the whole truth, quietly turned his head. His continuously shaking shoulders perfectly reflected his mood.
It was truly a beautiful moment.
***
The situation calmed down after Diowell’s second messenger bird arrived. Though brief, the message had substance.
「Fifty-fifty chance of losing this year’s harvest.」
The magic Soria had suggested to Diowell was simple yet promised the quickest results.
It was magic to locate water veins. They had apparently found quite a few underground water sources whose existence they hadn’t even known about.
However, compared to the amount of water needed, it was still far from enough. This meant they couldn’t afford to be dawdling around like this.
Soria became somewhat depressed and wouldn’t even look at the teacup in front of her.
“In short, this means we need to break the curse as quickly as possible.”
Lenok, who had been quietly watching her, tried to change the mood but his words only made it more gloomy.
Even the attendants watching over the princess started glancing at each other uncertainly.
Since he wasn’t emperor by bloodline alone, Lenok clicked his tongue and dismissed them all. Even Megan disappeared, practically chased out by Lenok’s pointed look.
With a thud, the door closed, leaving only the two of them in the room.
Lenok looked down at Soria while resting his chin on the tea table. He didn’t say things like ‘cheer up’ or ‘it’s not your fault.’ He knew better than anyone that such empty words wouldn’t improve her mood.
