The Emperor's office, Arhen Empire.

Silence hung heavy in the room, weighed down by an overwhelming amount of paperwork.

Calix had finally managed to drift off to sleep, buried under a mountain of documents.

His aide, Guest, who happened to be passing by, stepped closer to quietly drape a blanket over his shoulders.

Right then, a mysterious 'poof!' cut through the heavy air, followed by a small puff of smoke.

Startled, Guest whipped around, only to be met with a sight that left them speechless.

The ears of a beastman—a race so despised by the citizens of the empire—were sitting right on top of Calix's head, twitching nervously.