A Snake’s Life Ch 18

Chapter 18

 

A dragon-shaped column of water shot up from the gently rippling lake, and at the same time, Shuiren floated into the sky as if receiving a divine revelation. It was enough to capture everyone’s attention. Everyone, without exception, witnessed the scene. Zerpell reached out to grab Shuiren but couldn’t reach him, and Shuiren moved toward the center of the lake. The water column began swirling around him as if welcoming him.

It looked as though Shuiren was controlling the water column.

People held their breath as they watched the mysterious sight. After circling for a long time, two dragons made of water ascended into the sky, and dark clouds began to gather. The sunlight that had been shining brightly was obscured by the clouds, and darkness fell.

Rain poured down.

Even though the rain was so heavy it obstructed their vision, people were delighted, exclaiming that rain was finally falling from the sky. But Zerpell couldn’t take his eyes off Shuiren. A blue light rippled around Shuiren, and then the light began to be absorbed into him. At the same time, Shuiren’s form changed.

The snake that was Shuiren was gone, and in his place floated a boy in a curled-up position. As if that space around him were separate from the rest, the boy wasn’t even wet from the rain. His long silver hair fluttered in the wind, and his slightly opened red eyes reflected in Zerpell’s golden ones. That image was etched into Zerpell’s mind. Despite the rain obstructing his view, he stared intently, as if to imprint the boy’s form in his memory.

‘Beautiful.’

He could tell at a glance. That the boy was Shuiren, and that he was incredibly beautiful. Even from afar, they looked into each other’s eyes. The red eyes that met Zerpell’s golden ones gently curved.

Zerpell remembered something Ian had said to him before. “Have you been bewitched?” That remark had been meant for this very moment. It was so hard to look away. Shuiren always awakened emotions Zerpell didn’t recognize.

“Your Highness?”

Ian, who had been next to him, called out. Zerpell glanced at Ian, and in that instant of looking away, he heard a splash. He quickly turned his head back toward the lake. Shuiren, who had been there just moments ago, was gone. Zerpell’s heart dropped with a thud. All he could think about was diving into the lake. Acting on instinct, he ripped off his cloak and all the cumbersome decorations and threw them at Ian. Before anyone could stop him, he dove into the lake.

Ignoring the voices shouting behind him, he plunged into the water and spotted Shuiren sinking beneath the surface. Shuiren was descending helplessly to the lake’s bottom. Peacefully. It was as if the water god was taking Shuiren away. By whose permission? At that sight, Zerpell refused to let him go. He reached out and grabbed Shuiren’s hand, pulled him into his arms, and swam back to the surface.

From above, people were in a panic, shouting that the Crown Prince had fallen into the water. When Ian saw that Zerpell had emerged from the lake, he let out a sigh of relief. Then he grew curious about the person Zerpell was holding. In Ian’s eyes, Shuiren was naked in Zerpell’s arms. The first thing that caught his eye was the long silver hair.

“Your Highness. That person is…….”

“Turn away.”

At Zerpell’s ice-cold tone, Ian flinched. In that moment, Zerpell grabbed a cloak and tightly wrapped it around Shuiren’s body, not even letting a single strand of hair show. As if to ensure no one could see him. Ian turned his gaze away, cowed by Zerpell’s intense presence. Zerpell gently tapped Shuiren’s cheek with the back of his hand. Shuiren appeared to be completely unconscious. Just then, Casa approached from behind.

“Could it be…… that person is…….”

“You saw it?”

Casa, too, had witnessed Shuiren’s transformation. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Shuiren for a moment in order to carry out his duty. However, judging by the fiercely glowing eyes before him, it seemed answering “yes” might get him torn to pieces.

“No. I merely thought it might be Shuiren-nim since he was the one who fell into the lake.”

“I see.”

Ian glanced sideways at the person Zerpell was holding. Casa wasn’t someone who easily went along with the atmosphere around him and was someone who fulfilled his duties to the end. He remembered the silver hair he had seen earlier… Shuiren-nim had silver scales too. If he could see the eyes, he could be sure, but judging from Zerpell’s attitude, he could make a reasonable guess. Zerpell was holding Shuiren close as if he were precious, gazing at him with soft eyes.

Even though Zerpell lightly tapped his cheek, Shuiren didn’t wake. Zerpell quickly brought his ear to Shuiren’s lips. He could hear a faint breath. Zerpell stood up with Shuiren in his arms. He calmed the people who were panicking.

“The rain ritual is over! We’re going back!”

Zerpell didn’t wait for anyone else and, riding his horse, raced back to his palace, cutting through the rain faster than anyone.

Ian was on his way to Zerpell’s room to deliver important news. Ever since the rain ritual ended, rumors had spread that His Highness the Crown Prince had been chosen by a divine messenger. It was natural—the ritual had been broadcasted live to the people via image spheres.

Though he had spread the rumors himself, who would have known that Shuiren-nim really was the divine messenger…?

Ian had secretly instructed a servant to spread the story that Shuiren was the divine messenger. But the rumor didn’t spread far at first. That was when he heard something from the head chef. Thinking it was an opportunity, Ian acted. The servant approached Shuiren and revealed everything, and then went to others and said that his wish had come true. After that, the rumor spread far and wide without Ian needing to manipulate anything.

The rain had continued for three days. Across every territory of the Empire.

Ian stood before Zerpell’s door, where Cedric and Casa were also stationed. When he knocked, a voice from inside told him to enter. Ian carefully opened the door, trying not to make a sound. On the bed, Shuiren lay with his silver hair scattered. Next to him, sitting in a chair and reviewing documents, was Zerpell.

It was a sight Ian had grown used to. He wasn’t sure if Zerpell was reading documents or watching Shuiren. Even now, he had set the documents aside and was playing with Shuiren’s hair.

Thanks to His Highness not doing his work properly, Ian’s sighs were endless. He used to wish Zerpell would rest more, but now he wished the opposite.

“How are the people reacting?”

“Everyone wants to see Shuiren-nim. And there’s been an increase in noble requests for an audience. Over there, they must be getting nervous. They were so sure this would fail. It’ll be interesting to watch.”

“I see.”

After the rain ritual’s success, the nobles supporting the Emperor had been completely silenced. On the contrary, the success earned Zerpell the people’s trust and raised his standing among the nobility, much to their chagrin. Ian smiled smugly, clearly pleased.

Zerpell, however, didn’t even consider looking back as he continued to gaze at Shuiren. Ian sighed internally at Zerpell’s attitude. For a week now, Zerpell’s daily routine had consisted of nothing but watching Shuiren. His possessiveness had always been extreme, even when Shuiren was a snake, so Ian had expected this when Shuiren became human. Things were unfolding just as he had anticipated—perhaps even worse.

That gaze belonged to someone who had realized his feelings. Ian couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile. At least the object of his affection was human.

Ian hesitated about whether to mention the proposal he’d received. Normally, Zerpell would have accepted without a second thought… but he could already imagine how displeased he would be upon hearing it. Still, a message is a message. It was his duty to deliver it.

“Your Highness. The Duke of Bert has proposed an engagement. This would form a tie with the nobility…”

The relaxed expression in Zerpell’s eyes vanished in an instant. He looked at Ian with a displeased face.

“Engagement?”

The furrow in his brow betrayed his irritation. Indeed, the Duke of Bert had mentioned it in passing. Ian hadn’t expected he was serious. He could guess the duke’s intentions—forming a political alliance, most likely. It was unlikely he aimed for the empress’s position. It was a good offer for Zerpell.

Had this happened just a week earlier, Zerpell would have accepted without hesitation. But now, even if it were just a political alliance, having someone else by his side instead of him was unthinkable. And of course, the reverse was true as well.

“Shuiren-nim is a divine messenger. One day…”

“I know.”

Zerpell cut him off coldly, as if Ian’s words weren’t worth hearing. Ian watched him nervously. His face was serious, and his eyes burned with intensity. Well, that’s that, Ian thought. It wasn’t surprising. All he could do now was pray that Shuiren-nim woke up soon.

Zerpell was reviewing documents while waiting for the one who still hadn’t woken up. Ian stood nearby, assisting. Then, the calm room was suddenly interrupted by a snappish voice.

“Shit. If it hurts, you should’ve just said it hurts… this hurts like hell. Was I scammed or something… If it doesn’t rain, I swear…”

A grumbling voice, neither too loud nor too soft, began muttering irritably. Hearing the voice break the quiet, they turned their heads. It was Shuiren, lying on the bed, murmuring while looking up at the skylight.

With a deeply furrowed brow, he grumbled nonstop. Ian was surprised. And at the rough, biting tone, he cautiously looked to the side. There was Zerpell, his face filled with joy, completely unaffected by the foul language. Considering he’d waited seven days without sleep, it made sense. Ian couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.

Zerpell softly called the name of the speaker.

“Shuiren?”

“Who is it? Huh? Master! Did it rain?? I told the water god…”

Shuiren, his face annoyed, turned his head toward the voice calling him. But the moment he saw who it was, his scowling expression melted into a bright smile. His angry tone turned into a playful one. He began chatting with Zerpell in a sweet voice.

It was no wonder that a small sigh of disbelief escaped Ian’s lips. At Zerpell’s call, Shuiren’s expression, tone, and even voice had changed completely. The fierce look was gone, replaced by pure innocence.

Zerpell, of course, saw it clearly. If anything, that stark contrast made him find it even more endearing. Didn’t it mean he treated Zerpell differently than others? Those beautifully vivid red eyes, like rubies, were looking straight at Zerpell.

The behavior was no different from when he’d been a snake. Zerpell wondered if Shuiren had always spoken to him like that, even before. The thought brought a smile to his face.

Noticing Zerpell’s strange reaction, Shuiren tilted his head and tried to move toward him. Though he wasn’t yet aware that he had turned human, Shuiren naturally used his hands to push himself up. Of course. He may have been a snake for a while, but he’d been human for 28 years. It was an instinctive movement. Realizing something was off, Shuiren stared at his hands, turning them over in front of him.

“W-what is this??”

“Shuiren?”

Shuiren sprang up in shock, his legs tangled in the suddenness of the situation. Before he could regain his balance, his body tilted and he fell sideways.

Seeing him flail and stammer, Zerpell quickly rose, not caring that his chair toppled over, and pulled Shuiren into his arms. Shuiren fit perfectly in his embrace. The loud crash of the chair and the sound of Shuiren’s heartbeat were transmitted to Zerpell.

Shuiren’s heart was pounding furiously as if he had been terribly startled. With confused eyes staring at him, Zerpell gently stroked Shuiren’s head. His hair slipped smoothly through Zerpell’s fingers. Just like the softness of that hair, Zerpell’s expression also softened.

“Are you alright?”

“A-Are you human?”

“You must be very confused, but try to calm down.”

Shuiren’s pupils trembled uncontrollably. For a long while, Zerpell continued to gently whisper, “It’s alright. Good boy,” while stroking his head to calm him.

Of course, turning from a snake into a human all of a sudden must be incredibly disorienting.

“You don’t have to worry about anything, just be as you always were.”

He looked into Shuiren’s eyes, filled with swallowed anxiety. Despite the tenderness in his voice, the arms holding Shuiren tightened gradually—as if he would never let go.

In Zerpell’s heart, Shuiren was his.

For a long time, Zerpell’s top priority had been survival. In war, today’s allies could betray you or be killed. Zerpell naturally kept his distance from everyone.

Even before that, he had known how people could change in an instant. He had felt that alienation with his entire being.

Zerpell had been born as the heir. Naturally, the Emperor was displeased with him, and the Empress kept her distance as well. Though he had much as the crown prince, he grew up without receiving any affection. And when Aiden was born, his very foundation was shaken. No one needed him anymore.

In the midst of all that, he saw Shuiren, felt intrigued, and brought him back. At first, he was merely a tool to break through the situation, but gradually, things changed. He became captivated by the red eyes that looked at him with blind devotion. The most decisive moment was when Shuiren threw himself in front of Aiden’s nanny for his sake. He felt a deep, boiling sense of fulfillment. That tiny body had hurled itself forward for him.

Shuiren’s eyes said he was everything to him… The very idea of those eyes turning to someone else stirred Zerpell with fury. He couldn’t let Shuiren be taken away by someone else. He was something Zerpell had finally found for himself. He had no intention of yielding him to anyone. Moreover, there were many forces targeting Shuiren. With sweet words, they could easily tempt him away. Measures had to be taken to make sure he couldn’t go anywhere.

Shuiren, held in Zerpell’s arms, did not see the obsession filling his eyes.

‘You just have to stay by my side.’

Shuiren clutched the hem of his clothes tightly and, soothed by his touch and voice, gradually began to calm down. His embrace was warm and a pleasant fragrance lingered around him.

The Pope hurried toward the Empress’s palace. Unlike its elegant exterior, the palace was filled with a woman’s hysterical screams.

“Your Majesty! Please calm down! At this rate, you’ll collapse!!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Ahhhh!!”

The maids nearby each had scratches on their faces from her flailing hands, evidence they had tried to stop the Empress. Every object in the room was either broken or smashed, rolling across the floor. Her condition was beyond words. Her hair was a wild mess, and her fingernails were bitten so fiercely that the flesh beneath was exposed.

When she saw who had entered, she lunged at him like a madwoman.

“What the hell is going on!!!!”

“Your Majesty……”

The Pope was just as flustered. The incident had been completely unforeseen. No one had known that the creature His Highness kept with him was a divine messenger. Rumors had spread throughout the palace, but they had dismissed it as nonsense. Especially those involved in the matter.

“Instead of blessing me, the so-called god rains curses upon me! He’s practically given the crown prince wings—how laughable.”

“Please calm yourself. We can bring him to our side.”

The Empress glared at the Pope with menacing eyes. With her certainty shattered, there was no way she could take his words kindly. She asked him with a mocking tone,

“And how do you plan to do that?”

“A divine messenger belongs in a temple, does he not? According to my investigation, he was discovered as a young hatchling. Though he’s taken human form, his inner self is still that of a child. I shall meet him and attempt to win him over.”

The Pope laid out his plan to the Empress. Her fierce glare remained, but after hearing it, she clicked her tongue and slumped into a chair. The maids swiftly moved to tidy her hair and nails.

“Yes… If the divine messenger sides with Aiden, that wouldn’t be so bad.”

The Empress spoke with a chilling tone. There was an ulterior motive behind her words. She summoned a maid with a gesture and whispered something into her ear. The maid bowed respectfully and left to carry out the Empress’s command. The Pope frowned slightly at how naturally the Empress tied the divine messenger to the royal family, but he didn’t let it show.

“So, where is the medicine?”

At her words, the Pope handed over a sack. Inside were entwined snake corpses. The Empress looked at the snakes lovingly and gleefully said they would make good medicine. She handed the sack to a maid. With a bright smile, she clapped her hands as a sudden idea struck her and said to the Pope, for her, the divine messenger was nothing more than a tool to make Aiden Emperor.

“If he truly is a divine messenger, wouldn’t he be more effective than ordinary snakes? If we can’t win him over, then killing him and turning him into medicine might not be a bad idea.”

“Your Majesty, that’s……”

“What is it?”

The Pope’s pupils trembled at the unexpected thought. He had planned to make full use of the divine messenger to elevate both the temple and his own status. Already, donations to the temple had increased due to the divine messenger’s appearance. The Pope began thinking fast.

The Empress, too, was fully aware of this. She glanced at the Pope with sharp eyes. They had already gone too far to turn back. The divine messenger’s appearance had not been part of the Pope’s plan, but if he could be persuaded, all would be well. Recruiting him would also mean securing donations. The Pope was confident. Even if they failed, the loss of donations would sting, but it wasn’t something he was willing to give up just yet. With his calculations complete, the Pope spoke with a benevolent smile.

“I shall follow Your Majesty’s will.”

Her lips were smiling, but her eyes were as cold as ice as she observed the Pope’s expression. The Pope and the Empress hid their true emotions as they spoke.