A Snake’s Life Ch 79

Chapter 79

 

As soon as I entered the room, I began searching for the offering pouch I had received while I was still a snake. Since I hadn’t managed it myself and had entrusted it to someone else, it was nowhere in sight.

“I’m pretty sure it was here…”

I turned the room upside down, combing through it meticulously. The person who had taken care of the pouch was either Casa or Zerpell. But asking Zerpell directly would make it too obvious, and Casa was currently gone.

“Hm… Let’s look a bit more.”

I checked every drawer and scanned the table, but the pouch was nowhere to be found.

“There are cushions… but why…”

Surely, Zerpell wouldn’t have thrown it away. He always stored my offering pouch in a box in the very last drawer. I opened and checked it several times, but still nothing. Straightening my back after bending over to look through the drawer, I glanced around the room and my eyes landed on the bed. Suddenly, a memory of what I had done in the past flashed through my mind. Ah… right. I shoved my body under the bed.

I’d thought of the offering pouch as my emergency fund, so I had to hide it somewhere no one could find it.

“Ah, there it is. Honestly…”

Back then, I had really adapted well to life as a snake… I chuckled at my past behavior. At the time, I had never imagined I would ever become human. In the far corner under the bed lay a cluster of small pouches. I vividly remembered the effort I had gone through to stash them there. I stretched out my hand. I barely brushed the edge of a pouch.

“Ugh… just a little more…”

Of all things, the bed had to be absurdly big, and even with my arm fully extended, I still couldn’t reach. In the end, I looked around and picked up a decorative sword hanging on the wall. It wasn’t a real sword, so it wasn’t sharp and was made of lightweight material. I pushed the sword under the bed and managed to retrieve the pouches.

“Oh… I can reach it.”

With the pouches rescued, I plopped down onto the floor.

“Let’s see…”

Before opening the pouch, I clasped my hands together in prayer. I hoped there was something worth money in there… I untied the pouch. It wasn’t full of dazzling jewels. There were a few small, somewhat shiny stones, but most of it was just cubic zirconia. Honestly, I was disappointed.

“…Let’s check the others.”

They were all the same. Why hadn’t I tried to charm the nobles sooner…? How expensive could the jewels I received from maids and attendants really be…? I held my head in despair.

“Will I be able to buy a gift…?”

I wanted to get him a gift that matched his level, but I seemed endlessly short on money. The jewels in the dressing room flickered through my mind, but I held back. Selling those to raise funds felt like too much… The road ahead looked bleak.

“But come to think of it, he’s not back yet…?”

While thinking about the gift I wanted to give Zerpell, I suddenly realized he hadn’t returned. The sunset was already visible through the window. He had said he’d be back early today… He’d probably brought a gift again. He used to always ask if I needed anything, but now he just brought things on his own.

They were presents Zerpell brought to show his feelings. He must’ve thought I liked flowers, because whenever he returned from an outing, he brought a bouquet. It was always pink flowers that reminded me of ones I saw during a past trip. The flowers still decorating the vase were gifts from him.

“…Maybe I should go out to greet him…”

There were only so many ways I could show affection. I looked out the window and rubbed my eyes. Ian was standing at the front gate. If Ian was out, that meant Zerpell was about to arrive. I leaned out the window, resting my hands on the sill. In the distance, I saw a carriage rolling toward the gate, bathed in the glow of sunset.

“He’s coming, isn’t he??”

If I wanted to greet him, I had to beat him to the gate. I threw the door open, ignoring the questions from Paul and Wal about where I was going, and bounded down the stairs two or three at a time. Ian turned his head at the noise behind him, and I nonchalantly waved at him.

“He’s on his way, right?”

“Yes, I just received a letter saying he’s arriving soon.”

Ian answered me calmly. The master really had it rough… I’d thought that once the banquet was over, the imperial-aligned nobles would stop bothering him, but that was too naïve. The sudden appearance of Marquis Francia had drastically shifted the situation. That’s why Zerpell had been going out constantly and coming home late.

Sometimes, Zerpell would clutch his brow as if he had a headache. His pale face looked pitiful. I’d shared my energy with him several times, worried he might collapse. And yet, he still never forgot to bring me gifts… Gratitude and guilt welled up inside me at once.

That’s why, even if it’s something small, I have to show him how I feel. He liked even the smallest gestures from me… I kicked a pebble at my feet while waiting for him in front of the gate. The carriage glided to a stop before the gate. Even before the coachman could open the door, Zerpell opened it himself and stepped out.

I dove into his arms.

“You worked hard again today!”

He looked a bit surprised, his eyes widening slightly, but then he smiled and welcomed me.

“You should’ve at least worn a light cardigan. Even if it’s spring, it gets chilly once it gets dark.”

“It’s just now starting to get dark!”

He had said he was going to Duke Bert’s today. Since it wasn’t formal attire for a banquet, I thought he’d come back quickly.

“What did you do? Couldn’t the duke let you go? Weren’t you not attending the banquet? Did you have a meeting?”

There was probably a noble lady at the duke’s mansion too, right? I squinted suspiciously at him, but Zerpell just laughed. I’d meant it as an interrogation, but he brushed it off easily. Instead, he took off his outer coat and draped it over me. I must’ve looked cold in my light clothing—he even fastened the buttons carefully.

“You’ll catch a cold. Let’s go inside. Also, I brought you a gift.”

I was about to say something more, but the word “gift” made me shut my mouth. Zerpell held out his hand to the coachman, who quickly placed an envelope in his palm. A mysterious envelope. A sweet smell wafted from between its folds, suggesting it was most likely a snack. The sugary scent stimulated my appetite. Just as I was about to dig in, Zerpell stopped me, insisting I eat it inside.

“So stingy…”

“Wouldn’t it be better to continue this conversation indoors?”

Ian, noting we were talking in the cold, guided us back inside. Once we entered, Zerpell went off to take a bath. While he was bathing, I pulled out the envelope he’d brought. The sweet scent tickled my nose endlessly, making my mouth water. I meant to wait and eat with him, but the sweet smell went beyond a tease—it felt like it was stabbing me.

“Well, the master will take a while, so I’ll just eat first.”

Humming a tune, I rummaged through the envelope. My hand found a soft, puffy cream puff. My eyes sparkled. It was generously filled with cream and looked absolutely delicious. I opened my mouth wide and took a bite. My eyes widened—it was incredibly tasty. Our chef was great at meat dishes but didn’t really excel at desserts… Maybe the master didn’t eat desserts often because I didn’t usually have them either.

I stuffed the rest into my mouth, grabbed another one, and reached into the envelope again just as the door clicked and Zerpell came out. I glanced at him while continuing to devour the treats. Noticing the white powder on my lips, Zerpell gently brushed it off. Seeing me enjoying the gift he brought, he smiled softly.

“Make sure you brush your teeth afterward.”

“I know that much, okay? I told you I’m not a kid.”

My tone came out a bit harsh. He already knew my age. In the past, I might’ve mumbled a quiet complaint, but not anymore. I had already laid bare my past, hadn’t I? We had burned through those stories together. As he gently rested a hand on my head, it seemed like he was enjoying it…

“I think things will get busy for a while.”

“Again??”

Just how many times is this now? As soon as one thing ends, another problem shows up. As soon as one case is resolved, something else happens. They never leave him alone. Of course, not me—him. I clenched the cream puff in my hand, squashing it messily. Oops. Cream began to ooze out, and I hurriedly shoved it into my mouth, chewing while slapping the bed beside me. Zerpell seemed to understand my gesture and sat down next to me.

“Do you need help?”

He asked seriously. With a straight face, no hint of playfulness, Zerpell met my gaze as I stared into his eyes intently.

“If you need help, then say so. If you don’t speak, I won’t know.”

Zerpell was someone who kept things to himself. He didn’t open his mouth easily. After spending so much time with him, I had only picked up on things through observation. He gazed at me quietly, then stretched out his hand. I thought he was reaching for me, but he tilted his hand slightly and grabbed the envelope, taking out a cream puff and popping it into my mouth.

“I’ve already received more than enough help from you. But… remember this.”

Zerpell gave a faint smile.

“As long as you know. Hand that over.”

I snatched the envelope back from him. It stung to see someone who wouldn’t lean on me at all. Being too tight-lipped could be a problem too.