A Snake’s Life Ch 24

Chapter 24

 

Throughout the conversation, she kept sighing and furrowing her brows beside me. The change was subtle, but not something that could escape my eyes.

At the sound, Aiden’s hand flinched. When it came to actually following the nanny’s suggestion, he seemed reluctant to give up on my offer and glanced at my hand. Of course, the nanny noticed that and pulled out her trump card.

“You should hurry and practice so you can show His Highness your swordsmanship skills. It won’t be too late even then.”

She understood Aiden’s mindset well. Everyone wanted to look good in front of someone they admired, and Aiden was no different.

Before I knew it, the attendants had started packing up the picnic and were preparing to leave at the nanny’s signal. I wasn’t the type to just sit back and watch. Just as Aiden was about to refuse, unable to go against the nanny’s words—

“Sorry. I have a swordsmanship lesson…”

“Do it with your master. Swordsmanship. Didn’t you say before that you wanted to learn from him?”

I remembered what Aiden had said back then.

“R-Really? Do you think my brother wouldn’t mind?”

“Of course not!”

“Sir, that would be an imposition on His Highness.”

Even though her mouth smiled, the mockery filling her eyes was impossible to hide.

What exactly is that woman so confident about? Isn’t a divine messenger usually more deferential?

I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at her words. Thinking her words had hit the mark, the nanny added more.

“It’s highly improper to visit someone without an appointment. Sir, perhaps that is acceptable in the divine realm, but in the imperial palace, we have our own etiquette.”

Though the mention of the divine realm was absurd, I let it go, thinking maybe that’s how it was. That wasn’t the important part. I couldn’t back down from a fight brought to me.

“Is it etiquette to stop a younger brother from visiting his older brother?”

“Sir. That’s not it. It’s customary to send a letter when requesting a meeting.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

I said with a big smile. Maybe my innocent face helped, as she replied with a smug expression, completely unsuspecting. She looked at me proudly. At that moment, a small laugh escaped me. The nanny squinted, as if to confirm what she saw. Aiden might be fooled, but I wasn’t so easily handled.

“Then I’ll just send a letter. Writing isn’t a big deal, right?”

Aiden nodded at my words, and the nanny’s expression twisted visibly. She opened her mouth, but my words drowned hers out.

“But hasn’t he never visited even once? I’ve been with the master, and I’ve never seen him. Has he been very busy?”

“Uh… actually, I’ve been quite sick. I don’t go out of the palace often.”

Indeed, he had a cough when we first met. But now, his complexion looked completely recovered. The nanny raised one eyebrow, trying to figure out my intentions.

“You seem fine now though? Your complexion looks good.”

“Yes! I took my medicine diligently, and now I’m much better. These days, I can even lift a wooden sword.”

Aiden smiled brightly, looking happy to be healthy again. Then, trying to show off, he took a clumsy stance and swung. It was obvious he was a beginner, but I clapped and praised him anyway.

“Then, you can go meet him now, right?”

“Ah… well…”

Yeah, I get it. They must’ve stopped you.

Just looking at the nanny gritting her teeth and the anxious attendants behind her made it clear. I bent my knees slightly to meet Aiden’s gaze and spoke.

“Aiden. If you want to go see him, then go. You said you’re better now, right?”

“But everyone…”

“If you want to go, what does it matter what others think?”

Seeing the nanny’s expression, I gave her a cold smile and said to Aiden in a meaningful voice,

“Isn’t it strange? Why are they so desperate to stop you from meeting  master? Why are they like that?”

Aiden couldn’t say anything, just mouthing silently and glancing around. As I pushed, he grew more flustered. The nanny now didn’t even bother hiding her glare and stared at me fiercely. Then, as she tried to forcibly drag Aiden away, saying he needed to attend class, I subtly blocked her by holding Aiden close. I spoke kindly.

“Aiden, what do you want to do?”

“I… want to go see him…”

“Your Highness!”

“Ah… she’s so loud.”

Aiden’s eyes widened in surprise at my words, but I smiled and led him by the hand. Perhaps realizing it would be unseemly to push any further, the nanny didn’t try to drag him again. Still, she kept muttering from behind about how we should go to class.

I didn’t like how she kept dampening the mood from behind. Honestly, maybe she needed to fall into cold water herself to wake up.

They say irritation brings out the most in people. A column of water suddenly shot up from the lake and fell directly on her. A perfect circle formed around her, as the nearby attendants and maids had quickly stepped away to avoid the splash.

“What is… this…”

The nanny clutched her soaking clothes, trembling. Whether from rage or cold, I didn’t know, but her meticulously styled hair drooped, and her clothes dripped like a drowned rat. I couldn’t hold back the laugh of satisfaction and turned my head to cover my mouth. I mean, it wouldn’t be polite to laugh right in her face, right?

The maids and attendants, unsure what to do, hurriedly offered her towels. Aiden, still concerned because she was his nanny, tried to approach, but I stopped him. You’d get wet too, kid. Then I put on my best sorrowful face and said,

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t control my power properly…”

I barely held back my laughter as I spoke, but my twitching lips gave me away, and the nanny saw the smile. That was when it happened. I felt something familiar.

It was the same energy I felt at the Lake of the Water God.

But something was different. I looked up, frowning, and scanned the area. The energy was coming from where Aiden stood. Oddly, I felt a blue glow ripple around him, and before I knew it, I yanked his arm with force and held his face in both hands.

“Sh-Shuiren hyung?”

Aiden looked at me with a puzzled expression. Even I didn’t understand my actions. The moment I saw Aiden, anger and sorrow surged from deep within me. But they weren’t my emotions. Feeling ashamed for acting out on the confused boy, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. At that moment, a blue light flickered in Aiden’s eyes—but with my eyes closed, I didn’t see it.

“It’s nothing. If we get close, we’ll get wet, so let’s stay here, okay?”

It should’ve been a satisfying moment, but my mind was tangled. The sudden flood of emotions shook me so much, I even found myself glaring at Aiden without realizing. I looked at Aiden, who wore a worried expression and fidgeted uneasily.

Blue energy was floating in the air.

In the end, we successfully shook off the nanny. She insisted on coming with us, but I pointed out how could she enter the palace soaked like that, and finally got rid of her. One of Aiden’s personal attendants followed us. Do they think I’ll do something to him? Aiden and I were walking hand in hand to meet Zerpell. Aiden seemed to be visiting Zerpell’s palace for the first time and looked around curiously.

“Is this your first time at the palace?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you say you saw the master once before?”

“Ah… he invited me to his palace… This is my first time at the main palace.”

“Really? Then I’ll give you a tour.”

Before meeting Zerpell, I led Aiden around the palace to show him the place. The palace servants were visibly flustered to see me with Aiden, but quickly composed themselves and greeted us properly. I showed Aiden the dining hall I often used, my office, my room. After a rough tour, Aiden asked me,

“Where’s your room, Shuiren hyung?”

“Huh? My room?”

“Yes.”

“I share it with the master.”

“…What? But you’re not supposed to share a room with him…”

Another rule, huh?

“It’s fine. That’s how it’s always been.”

“Still, if you’ve been sharing a room with his Highness all this time, he must really like you!”

Aiden said this innocently. Embarrassed, I scratched my cheek.

“Well, yeah. The master really likes me.”

I said with a cough. As we walked side by side, Aiden suddenly made a sound and hid behind me. Wondering why, I looked back and saw him bowing his head. This posture… It was the same as when he saw Zerpell before, with the nanny.

Looking ahead, I saw Zerpell. He hadn’t noticed me yet and was chatting with someone beside him. I bounced excitedly in place and ran toward Zerpell. Aiden, still gripping my clothes tightly, naturally followed.

“Master!!”