A Snake’s Life Ch 51

Chapter 51

 

Things became noisy outside. It seemed Casa had done his job well—Zerpell had arrived. With a shout of protest that “You mustn’t do this,” the door burst open and Zerpell entered. Before I could turn my head to greet him, he came up behind me, slid his hands under my armpits, and abruptly lifted me from the chair. I was so startled by Zerpell’s sudden action that I was left dumbfounded.

“Huh?”

I blinked rapidly, instinctively imagining how ridiculous I must look. Zerpell didn’t seem to care about the woman sitting across from us—Neriah—as he looked her straight in the eye and spoke.

“Crown Prince. What brings you here? It’s rare for you to step into the Empress’s palace, is it not?”

“I simply came upon hearing that my person was here.”

He was going to talk like this? Sparks practically flew above us. Neriah gave a sardonic smile.

“I see. It’s been quite some time since I last saw your face. Do visit your mother from time to time.”

Her words were laced with thorns. I looked up. The sharpness in Zerpell’s golden eyes, usually softened around me, was now hardened and blazing intensely.

“Ah, would the Crown Prince like a cup of tea as well?”

Neriah gestured to a maid. The maid beside me quietly placed a new teacup and poured tea. A fragrant aroma filled the air. Zerpell glanced at the tea and refreshments on the table, then smirked lopsidedly and shook his head.

“Thank you for the offer, but I’m afraid I must decline due to the many state affairs that require my attention.”

“……His Majesty truly is something else. I feel sorry that he’s placed such a heavy burden on you.”

“That cannot be. It is right that great burdens be shared. I understand this as His Majesty’s grand intention for me to use this as a stepping stone to grow.”

Hmm… There was a bit of flattery for the Emperor at the end. But wasn’t he implying the Emperor had burdened him too much? The Empress must have interpreted it similarly, for her eyes turned cold. Was she truly the same person who had just addressed Zerpell as her child? Zerpell, still holding me awkwardly, drew me closer to his side.

“If there is nothing more to say, I shall take my leave.”

With a nod, Zerpell turned on his heel. Powerless, I walked with him. His face was stiff as he marched quickly.

Once we were far from the Empress’s palace, his pace slowed. He roughly tousled his neatly combed hair and clicked his tongue as if scolding me.

“Do you know how much you frightened me? Why did you follow the Empress so recklessly?”

“I was curious what she was scheming…”

“There’s been a major incident recently. You should be more cautious.”

Though his tone was sharp, his face was filled with concern. I pouted, understanding where he was coming from. He let out a long sigh.

“When Casa told me you’d gone to the Empress’s palace, I was terrified… You’re forbidden from leaving from now on.”

My mouth fell open. If he was this firm, I might not even be allowed to step outside my room like last time. After glancing around for other people, he leaned close and whispered in my ear.

“Let’s talk back at the palace. There are too many eyes here.”

I gave him a sullen look to show I was upset, but he didn’t budge an inch. Normally he’d try to soothe me if I complained, but today he didn’t, which made me even more annoyed.

Once we were back in the room, I sat down on the bed and turned my head away pointedly. I hadn’t wanted to go either! But she kept pleading, and I had no choice! Part of the reason I went was for my master… Zerpell let out a dry laugh.

“How did you manage to cause trouble in such a short time?”

“I only drank tea!”

“Do you know what it means to drink tea alone with someone?”

“……No. Is there a problem with that?”

I lazily opened one eye. The sharpness in his eyes had faded. His expression was one of mixed frustration and confusion. Was it really such a big deal?

“Broadly speaking, it’s a sign of strengthening ties. Especially sharing tea with the Empress—it can be interpreted as aligning yourself with her. The type of tea also matters. Didn’t she say it was only available in the imperial palace? That makes it ripe for misunderstanding among the nobility.”

I nodded. The Empress had indeed said that. Zerpell continued calmly.

“It also signifies that the person being served is someone important.”

“What? Why??”

“It means the tea is precious.”

I was shocked. That kind of meaning in a cup of tea? It hadn’t even suited my taste… I couldn’t believe teatime could be interpreted that way.

“I didn’t know at all!”

“I know. The Empress likely knows you had no such intention. But the nobility, who love gossip, will see it differently. Even if they know better, they’ll spread rumors.”

“Why did she serve me such important tea, then!”

“That’s proof that the nobility is very interested in you.”

I suddenly felt terribly embarrassed, as if I had acted out of line. Zerpell gently comforted me in my gloom.

“You’re staying in my palace, aren’t you? The rumors will soon die down. But since the Empress and I are politically opposed, she might take it sensitively. I hope you understand. Casa said you met her while with Aiden, right?”

“Yeah…”

“It must’ve been a momentary decision. She probably wanted a chance to observe you. The palace is abuzz with talk of whether to hold a banquet. Your presence has shifted the tide in favor of holding one, so she likely wanted to curb the nobles aligning with me. So stay in your room for a while, alright?”

“But…”

“……Is there a problem?”

“……”

He raised a brow. As I hesitated, his eyes gleamed sharply. Should I talk about Aiden? Or not? After hearing him out, I was reluctant. His position was understandable.

There was no denying that my presence had improved Zerpell’s standing, and the Empress likely wanted to contain that.

But I needed to keep an eye on Aiden. The fact that he was the Empress’s son made things complicated. I scratched my cheek and avoided his gaze. He took my chin and tilted my head up. His face was stern, scolding.

“Do you dislike it?”

Yet there was something timid in his expression. At the low tone of his voice, I quickly shook my head.

“No! It’s just… I promised Aiden I’d see him. Actually, I met him today…”

I had intended to talk about meeting Aiden today, but I had completely forgotten to mention what happened in the forest. Zerpell’s confession had been echoing in my head, after all. I carefully recounted everything I had seen previously and today.

“You know how I went to the Lake of the Water God? Someone was killing the snakes there…”

With a heavy heart, I bit my lower lip, unable to finish.

“Shuiren.”

“Huh?”

“I heard the report from Casa.”

“Oh…? You already knew?”

“Yes, so don’t bite your lip. You’ll bleed.”

Zerpell touched my lower lip gently to stop me. But there was no blood on his fingers.

“I’m not bleeding…”

“What if you were?”

His expression, laced with a faint smile and concern, eased my heart. Still… did Casa spill everything? Well, I guess he should’ve…

“Did you hear about today?”

“I only heard you went to the Empress’s palace.”

“Well… Kir said Aiden wouldn’t live long. His recovery is only temporary, and eventually he won’t be able to handle the power in his body. I asked if the snakes’ resentment could be removed… but Aiden’s body is too weak. If we try, it could go wrong… So I think I need to keep watching over him.”

“Aiden…”

He must have sensed my anguish. His voice drew out slowly. When I looked up at him, he already had his eyes closed in thought. After a long silence, he opened his eyes and said:

“Alright. But only the lake. Nowhere else.”

Zerpell relented. I agreed enthusiastically. I needed to witness how Aiden’s condition changed. If I just gave up and did nothing, Aiden would surely die. I couldn’t let that happen. I’d need to speak with Kir again…

I hugged his waist tightly. In that moment, something warm and damp touched my forehead and quickly withdrew. Looking up, I saw Zerpell wearing a soft smile. His hands cupped my cheeks gently, as if to soothe me.

“Don’t torment yourself too much. If you hurt, I hurt too.”

I stared at him blankly. His eyes furrowed as he spoke, and I replied in a slightly gruff tone from embarrassment.

“I’m not a child left by the water…”

“That’s how worried I am.”

“You too, don’t fall ill.”

“And…”

I looked at him as he trailed off.

“Take good care of Aiden.”

His words made me smile. His concern for Aiden was heartwarming, and the trust he placed in me made me proud. I clenched my fist and declared:

“Leave Aiden to me. I’ll do whatever it takes. You just focus on your work. Become Emperor quickly!”

“…Thank you.”

Zerpell lightly tapped my nose.

A chilly air lingered in the drawing room after they left. The maids held their breath, sensing what was about to happen. A sharp crashing sound rang out. Rising abruptly from her seat, Neriah overturned the table.

“How impudent… The Pope wasn’t wrong… How dare he act out of place…”

Neriah had seized the initiative. But Shuiren had not backed down easily. On the contrary, his defiant attitude repulsed her. Since becoming Empress, no one had dared contradict her.

She was already seething over the failed assassination attempt on Zerpell. Seeing him in person after his return only fueled her fury. She had deliberately avoided him since he came back. Today was the first time she’d seen him face to face.

“So he’s no longer a child.”

Every time she saw Zerpell’s face, Neriah resented her inability to bear children. And the fact that he looked just like his shameless mother—now a concubine—made her boil with rage. The concubine stayed hidden in some obscure palace corner, while Zerpell, as Crown Prince, was granted a fine residence and constant praise from scholars.

Unable to tolerate him, the Empress harassed Zerpell at every turn under the guise of motherly concern. As Crown Prince, he had no choice but to respond whenever she summoned him. His attendants also feared the Empress and followed suit.

When Zerpell first came for a courtesy visit, Neriah had said:

“I may not be your real mother, but as the Empress of the Empire, I will treat you with affection.”

Her face was kind, but her heart was rotten.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t feeling well and didn’t even realize you came. I’ll scold the maids who didn’t let you in.”

She would summon him incessantly to prevent him from attending his lessons and would purposely bar him from entering the palace, even when she knew he was waiting outside.

She had thrown tantrums at the Emperor over him dozens of times. If any maid or servant showed him kindness, she used her authority to dismiss them. The concubine had no power in Zerpell’s residence, leading to this situation.

When he was little, the head maid had authority over his palace staff, as there had never been a wet nurse. The head maid and the Empress were allies. In essence, the head maid’s words were the Empress’s commands. She was calculating. On the surface, she gave Zerpell everything. But internally, she made sure he grew up lacking.

“I can’t understand why he follows that boy he’s never even met… He may be my child, but I just don’t understand.”

When Zerpell went off to war, Aiden had barely been a baby. Neriah removed every factor that could’ve given Aiden a good impression of Zerpell.

Letting out a deep sigh, she recalled the reason she had struck Aiden. It was because of Zerpell.