A Snake’s Life Ch 48

Chapter 48

 

I suppressed my unsettled feelings and tried to calm down Kir, who was getting overly agitated. I understood his feelings, but there was no way Aiden had killed the snake, right? It was necessary to determine the circumstances of the incident accurately. Aiden tilted his head in confusion, not understanding what was going on. While holding Kir’s face down, I leaned close to his ear and whispered so Aiden couldn’t hear.

“Calm down for now.”

It took quite a bit of effort to restrain Kir’s struggles, so I took a deep breath and turned to Aiden with a gentle smile. Kir, who had been panting heavily, gradually calmed down. I wanted to ask Aiden about the snake, but it was obvious he would be flustered. First, I decided to introduce Kir to Aiden.

“Sorry. This is Kir, a snake who lives with me. He must’ve been startled seeing someone new… I’m really sorry. Were you scared?”

“I was a little surprised, but it’s okay.”

I smiled and asked how he was doing. The wound on his cheek bothered me, and I had heard from Zerpell that his nanny had been banished. I couldn’t stop thinking about the tears I saw in Aiden’s eyes earlier.

“That’s a relief. But… what happened to your cheek? Did you get hurt?”

“Ah… that…”

Aiden hesitated for a long time.

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

“I see.”

It was clear he didn’t want to talk about the injury. If that was the case, I couldn’t press him for details. I could roughly guess what had happened… but unless I heard it from his own mouth, I couldn’t be certain.

How many people could lay a hand on a prince, after all? The face that always smiled brightly now held a shadow.

“If you have anything troubling you, you can tell me anything.”

I recalled Aiden sitting crouched by the lake, staring blankly. Aiden blinked at me and fidgeted with his fingers, as if wondering, Should I really say this?

“Um… actually…”

He glanced at me, and upon seeing my smile, seemed to have made up his mind. He swallowed and spoke. What came out of Aiden’s mouth was the story of his nanny. He said she had been banished from the palace for embezzlement. Surprisingly, Aiden was calm. Though his voice wavered a little, he didn’t shed tears. In that sense, he resembled his master—he simply reported the facts with his lips tightly shut.

“I see… That must’ve been hard.”

I had already heard it from Zerpell, but I acted as if it was my first time hearing it and feigned surprise. I patted Aiden’s hunched back. Pat, pat. At my comfort, Aiden’s eyes welled up with tears.

My gentle pats seemed to trigger Aiden’s tears. Oddly, I felt relieved when he finally began to cry. He was only ten years old—it wasn’t good for him to suppress his tears like that. Especially when his nanny was like a mother to him. The betrayal must have been a huge shock. Particularly since she had long been by his side, tending to him while he was sick.

I thought I heard Kir click his tongue. He wriggled his long body, and I held him tightly, thinking he was about to lunge at Aiden again.

[Let go. It hurts.]

“You’re going to make a scene again.”

[I won’t. Come to think of it, what could such a small human child even do?]

I looked at him skeptically but let him go. Kir didn’t attack Aiden again but continued to keep a close eye on him. The two brothers were each burdened with their own troubles and grief. I gathered strength into my hand and gently touched Aiden’s flushed cheek.

Aiden’s eyes widened at my gesture. The swelling in his reddened cheek gradually subsided. At the same time, the blue aura surrounding Aiden began to stir. I could see the energy so vividly that my smile faltered slightly. Aiden, surprised to feel the heat in his cheek dissipate, touched it in amazement.

“Hyung… this…”

“It’s okay now, right?”

“Yes!”

I reached out to Casa’s group, who were standing behind us. Paul stared blankly at my hand, Casa looked indifferent, but Wol, perceptive as ever, handed me a handkerchief. I handed it to Aiden, who bowed gratefully and used it to wipe his tears.

I also used my power to ease the swelling around Aiden’s tear-filled eyes. Aiden smiled broadly.

“You’re smiling now. A smiling face suits you. Hmm… Don’t be too sad. But I understand how you feel. It’s painful to realize that someone you thought was precious didn’t feel the same way.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“It’s not?”

Aiden shook his head firmly. I was surprised by his response. As I looked at him with wide eyes, Aiden bit his lips and clenched the handkerchief with a bitter smile.

“I think… I already knew. I was just pretending not to. That’s probably why I was angry at myself. I used my weak body as an excuse to act spoiled, to do whatever I wanted, and to live comfortably.”

They say children are sensitive to adult emotions, and Aiden seemed to be no exception. I concealed my disheartened feelings at Aiden’s words. At ten years old, he should be carefree and playful, not weighed down by such complexities. But considering his position, I knew that wasn’t possible.

People have roles and responsibilities according to their position. I placed my hand on Aiden’s head and patted him as if to praise him for his maturity.

“…You’re amazing.”

“Huh?”

Aiden’s previously subdued eyes widened. He looked as if he was asking why. I gave a sheepish smile, then gathered my thoughts and conveyed them to him.

“Hmm… Normally, people get angry and say, ‘I cherished them, so why didn’t they feel the same?’ But you didn’t. You turned your pain into a stepping stone for growth. That’s something to be proud of.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Just don’t make the same mistake again. To do that, you’ll need to learn how to judge people better.”

“You sound just like him.”

“Like who?”

Was there someone in Aiden’s circle who would say such things?

“That brown-haired man who’s always with my brother.”

“Ah…”

It was a very Ian-like, realistic piece of advice. Aiden’s face had brightened after opening up. He leaned his face on his knees and asked me a question.

“Shuiren-nim… you want my brother to become emperor, right? Did the Divine Beast designate him as the next emperor?”

I was momentarily speechless. Aiden asked innocently. Even the way he addressed me had changed from “hyung” to “Shuiren-nim.” The smile vanished from my face. Still, Aiden looked me straight in the eye.

I tried to uncover his intention but saw none. I had considered the possibility that people might think I supported the prince because I was by his side—but I never imagined I’d hear it directly from Aiden. It left me feeling strangely conflicted.

“…Well… If my master wants it, I’ll help him.”

It was the truth. Even if Aiden wanted to become emperor, I would side with my master. And if the emperor or empress ever opposed him, I would help him. I had already made that decision—even if it meant Aiden would get hurt.

Aiden had said he didn’t want to be emperor, but I could already see the pain the process would cause him. That might be why I was being especially kind to him. It was probably for my own satisfaction. Looking him straight in the eye, I spoke with a serious face.

Aiden, reassured by my answer, responded with a bright smile. I blinked, startled by the unexpected reaction. I thought he’d just nod—but he smiled.

“That’s a relief… Shuiren-nim, I don’t want to be emperor, and I have no intention of becoming one. But… the people around me keep saying I must. Is it okay for me to stay just as I am now?”

Aiden answered clearly. And from the way he looked at me, it seemed that his last words were what he most wanted to say. It was a look asking for help. Last time it was his brother’s confession I heard—this time, it was Aiden.

The brothers really knew how to put me in difficult spots.

It wasn’t like I had all the answers. Some problems just don’t have a clear solution. I glanced at Aiden. He was still looking at me with pleading eyes. I let out a soft sigh. After some thought, I asked the most fundamental question.

“If you don’t want to be emperor, then don’t. They’re not the ones living your life. What do you want to do? I came out because I wanted some fresh air. I wanted to see the lake, so I came here.”

Some might call that an irresponsible answer. But it was the one I wanted to give Aiden.

“Something I want to do?”

“Yeah. If you had enough time and money, what would you want to do?”

“…”

Aiden clutched his head and thought deeply. Then he looked up at the sky and spoke.

“I… want to go out into the world. I want to see the world and find out what it’s really like!”

Upon hearing my words, Aiden responded energetically, as if he had never been sad. Maybe because he was still a child, he bounced back quickly from setbacks. It hadn’t been that long, but he seemed to have shed some of his childishness. They say children grow in the blink of an eye—and they weren’t wrong.

“…That’s a wonderful dream. Don’t listen too much to what other people say. What matters most is what you want.”

“Yes! I’m not going to let others sway me anymore. Actually, I came here because I got scolded after visiting my mother today.”

It was one of the two, as I had suspected. Just as I had guessed, one of them had been the one to hurt him. I remembered what Zerpell said when I asked if the emperor and empress were good parents to Aiden. His response had been, “Well…”

“You said you’re enjoying your lessons, right? Are they fun?”

“Yes!”

“Then keep learning. For now, that’s enough.”

With a clenched fist, Aiden responded energetically. He looked admirable yet pitiful at the same time.

“I’m really glad I talked to you, hyung. I feel like I can breathe more easily when I’m around you.”

“Is that so? That’s good to hear.”

Aiden drew a clear line once again. When the conversation turned from formal matters to something more personal, he changed how he addressed me. His comment made me smile wryly.

I had a hunch as to why. Maybe similar powers were drawn to each other. My heart felt oddly restless. I turned my gaze toward the lake. The water was finally in front of me again.

“Wanna see something cool?”

The surface of the lake began to bubble, and a water column shot up. It wasn’t a dragon, but the column twisted like a snake and circled around Aiden.

“Wow~.”

Aiden’s eyes sparkled as he watched the water column swirling around him.

“Can I touch it?”

“Sure.”

He pressed it lightly with a finger, and it sank into the water. Startled by the cold, he quickly pulled his hand away. With blushing cheeks, Aiden gazed at the wondrous sight. And I watched Aiden’s face.

As if responding to my power, the blue aura surrounding Aiden began to ripple again. His eyes shone with a brilliant blue light. A complicated dilemma weighed on my shoulders. Of all times… A sad smile crept onto my face.

[As expected.]