A Snake’s Life Ch 21

Chapter 21

“Shuiren?”

It was just one word. He was clearly smiling, but his voice was filled with frost, instantly dropping the temperature in the air. That single word felt so threatening that my hand, which had been about to undress, flinched on its own. While I was startled, he roughly snatched the measuring tape from the servant. At his fierce demeanor, Ian quickly ushered the others out of the room. In the large drawing room, only Zerpell and I remained.

Then, he casually dropped my clothes to the floor, pulled the measuring tape out long, and spoke. The way he looked made him seem like a hunter about to bind me with the tape.

“You shouldn’t take your clothes off so carelessly. Especially after being so upset yesterday.”

“I’m wearing underwear underneath…”

“That doesn’t matter. You shouldn’t undress in front of other people like that. Okay?”

His tone was gentle, but it clearly carried a warning. I glanced at him warily. When he stepped closer, I took a step back, but my instincts warned me that I couldn’t back away any further. Standing stiff and tense, I faced him directly.

Suddenly, I remembered what he had said yesterday—the threatening promise to take care of it. From that moment, I started to get a hunch. This… no matter how I looked at it, wasn’t this not how one should treat a pet? I moved my body as he instructed.

Despite my tension, he purely measured the size for clothes. After taking the measurements, he informed the servant and told them to bring clothes in similar sizes for me to try on. The servants moved to help me dress again, but Zerpell firmly declined.

“Your Highness, let us assist—”

“No need. Step back.”

Right in front of everyone, he personally assisted me. He even knelt down to adjust the hem of my pants. At that moment, everyone except Ian let out audible gasps. Only Ian remained unaffected, since he already knew how Zerpell behaved. Most of the people here, however, were outsiders.

He paid no mind to their reactions and continued to fix my clothes before looking me over from head to toe.

“Beautiful.”

“U-uh-huh.”

“Now, all that’s left is to choose accessories.”

He gently brushed aside the hair by my temple as he spoke. Naturally, I found myself checking Zerpell’s expression as we looked at the accessories.

No matter how much I thought about it, the attitude he had just shown seemed overly excessive. Even without turning around, I could feel it—he was staring at me intensely. My mind began to whirl in confusion. The merchant beside me fidgeted, thinking perhaps I couldn’t find anything I liked.

“Is there nothing that pleases you?”

“N-no. I’m still looking.”

Though many of the accessories caught my eye, I was too busy reading Zerpell’s expression to focus.

“Shuiren.”

Zerpell, who had been observing me, quietly called my name. My body stiffened instantly. But when I turned to him, I approached with a wide smile plastered on my face.

“You called me?”

The merchant had already gone over to Zerpell and was showing him something. One glance told me it was a gift meant for me. The necklace, adorned with a dazzling red gem, was clearly no ordinary item.

“This is…?”

“A present I prepared for you.”

“This necklace is made of red diamonds. Do you like the design? Please try it on.”

A diamond? I had thought the only time I might ever hold a one-carat diamond would be at a wedding, and yet this one wasn’t even comparable in size. It wasn’t just an ordinary diamond either—it was a red diamond. A gem so rare, I had never even hoped to see it in person.

The merchant wore a professional smile as he bragged that such radiant gems were incredibly rare and difficult to obtain. Zerpell seemed pleased as he looked at the necklace and beckoned me closer.

“Come here.”

Excited, I rushed over. Zerpell turned me around and fastened the necklace from behind.

“I meant to give this to you earlier, but the formalities delayed it. Always wear it.”

As if I had never been worried, I looked up at him with eyes full of emotion. What he said next made my heart flutter even more.

“Let’s purchase the rest of the accessories too. It seems Shuiren is having trouble choosing since you’re not saying anything.”

Everyone else get lost. Master is the best. Even the way he talks is amazing.

“Master… thank you!”

He stared at me as if trying to analyze every detail of my expression and gaze, but I didn’t notice. I was too captivated by the glorious sight of the jewelry being carefully packed away. Overcome with emotion, I burrowed into his chest. His chest gently rising and falling in laughter made it clear he was smiling. Nestled in his embrace, I held the necklace up to the light on his back, mesmerized. It sparkled brilliantly. I never imagined I’d have a day where I could own such accessories.

He feeds me, gives me a place to sleep, buys me clothes, and now even gives me jewels… My basic needs are fulfilled perfectly. I had made a few mistakes, but I could make up for them later. Worried I might seem too materialistic, I swallowed hard and looked up at him. How many times had I been startled just today? Yet his gentle atmosphere and smiling eyes were clearly fixed on me.

Apparently, the master doesn’t mind. He actually seems to like it?

I didn’t know exactly what he was thinking, but he didn’t seem likely to cast me aside. In that case, the answer was clear. I’d just have to charm him. I could enjoy a comfortable life even as a human. Just don’t let anyone know I’m a gold digger… No one likes someone sucking them dry.

My goal had always been the same. Stick close to someone who’ll let me live a life of luxury, even as a human!

Completely, without being noticed, tone down the temper, and make them think I’m just a cute kid!

This morning too, I woke up in the same bed as Zerpell. Somehow, while we were fooling around last night, we ended up falling asleep together again. After stretching fully, I clenched my fists with determination. As I remembered the mistake I made yesterday, cold sweat started to run down my back. I had to make up for it today.

I looked over at Zerpell’s sleeping face beside me. Being human came with a lot more things to be mindful of. When I was a snake, I just had to slither around and act cute. But now, I had to watch my words and behavior. I vowed to act perfectly this time.

“You really are such a poker face…”

The emotionless Zerpell of before was nowhere to be seen. Now he always wore a smile, and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. I poked his cheek while he slept with a pleasant expression. His eyes suddenly snapped open in surprise, and he froze in place. Seeing my finger on his cheek, he smiled, pushed aside the covers, and sat up.

“You woke up early. Were you bored?”

“Yeah… I just woke up early, that’s all.”

As I gave him an awkward smile, he brushed past me and got dressed. I sat on the bed and absentmindedly watched him, suddenly remembering that he had told me I had to stay in the room. Yesterday it was for shopping, but I didn’t know what today would bring.

“Master… do I have to stay in the room again today?”

“I’ll let you go out once things are sorted.”

Even when I said I wanted to follow him, he firmly refused. He said it was dangerous, and I absolutely must not go out.

“Is it okay for me to just stay still? I mean, I’m supposedly the divine messenger, don’t I have duties or something?”

At my words, Zerpell gave a dark reply, his voice tinged with a strange heat.

“Do you want to go to the temple?”

Startled by his reaction, I waved my hands.

“No! Why would I go there? I was just wondering if it’s okay to be this relaxed… It feels like only you’re struggling, master… They say there are people who don’t like you and are targeting me. Are you okay?”

Zerpell curved his eyes gently and smiled.

“I’m fine. Just endure it a little longer. I’ll let you go out soon. That’s why I need you to stay here for now. Only when you’re here can I feel at peace.”

“…Being human is inconvenient. If I were still a snake, I’d be coiled around your neck.”

“I’m happy that you’ve become human.”

“…Huh?”

I didn’t understand what he said in passing. Did he mean he preferred me in human form? Zerpell gave a hollow laugh and said that if there was something I wanted, I should tell Casa. In the end, I was grounded. Being grounded is only joyful when it’s by choice; being confined against your will is never pleasant. I let out a small sigh. Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Ian came in holding a few books.

“These are the items you requested.”

“Ah, just leave them there. Shuiren. I thought you might get bored being alone in your room. Make do with these for now.”

Ian placed the books on the table Zerpell indicated and left. He had prepared books in case I got bored. In my previous life, I had no real connection to books… Why did he bring me something with white pages and black letters? Still, I couldn’t ignore his sincerity, so I opened one. My expectations were wrong. The black was text, but the colorful parts were pictures. It was a children’s picture book.

He either thought I didn’t know how to read or assumed I was very young—one of the two. I couldn’t help but frown the moment I saw it, though I understood their reasoning.

“I’m not a kid… What’s with the picture books… If you’re going to give me something, at least make it a novel.”

I unconsciously muttered under my breath. It was a habit I’d picked up while being a snake—talking to myself. Did I say that out loud…? I flinched and looked at Zerpell. His eyes flashed with a sudden gleam. My body shivered at that moment. It sent such chills down my spine.

“Hm… You know what a book is.”

That was right. He might’ve seen me with documents, but never with a book. In other words, it should’ve been assumed that this was my first time seeing a book. That was the first mental breakdown.

“Ah, that’s… That time when I wandered around alone, you know. I saw people carrying those things—books. Yeah. That’s it.”

In the end, the excuse I came up with was that I saw other people carrying them. But considering how startled I was earlier, it wasn’t a believable excuse at all. Even now, without realizing it, I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck.

“I figured a divine messenger wouldn’t be ordinary…”

As expected… Even I thought, who would believe that? My excuse had completely failed. While I was despairing at my own pitiful state, his next question struck me like a second blow to the chest.

“Just in case… but were you originally a human?”

“Huh?? No?”

I instinctively waved my hands frantically. He smiled and immediately pressed further.

“So, you already had knowledge… or you absorbed it from people… It’s possible. For the sake of communication as a divine messenger…”

He looked at me with suspicious eyes, but all I could do was keep smiling. Smiling was my only option.

“Then, how old are you?”

He asked curiously, and I felt like I was about to cough up blood from the continuous barrage. I clutched my chest and glanced at him nervously.

“Um… 18?”

I lopped off ten years from my actual age. My reflection in the mirror did look about that age.

“Not yet an adult then…”

For some reason, those words sounded ominous. It felt like he said them with a note of disappointment. But I decided to think it was just my imagination. He called my name in a gentle voice, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. All the resolve I had this morning seemed pointless now that everything had been exposed. Feeling guilty, I hung my head low.

“Shuiren.”

“Yeah…”

He said my name, but then said nothing. I glanced at him. His brows were furrowed, and his lips tightly pressed as if displeased. His intimidating presence made me flinch without realizing it. Watching my reaction, Zerpell stepped toward me. Each step he took felt threatening.

He sat on the bed and leaned closer to me. With each step he took toward me, the bed sank with a soft thud. The strange pressure made me lean back proportionally. As I slowly averted my eyes, he reached out, grabbed my chin, and turned my face back toward him.

Before I knew it, his face was right in front of mine, and with him holding my chin, I couldn’t even turn away.

“No matter where you came from or what you’ve done, it doesn’t matter to me. As long as you stay by my side like you have until now, I’ll give you whatever you want. I told you last time—stay with me. What about now?”

What he was saying now referred to the day before the rain ritual—back when I was still a snake. I trembled and stammered out a response.

“I-I like being with you too…”

His lips curled in a smile as he stroked my back as if to say, “Good job.”

“As long as you do as you please while staying by my side, that’s all that matters.”

Those words sounded like a warning, but I couldn’t say for sure that it was just that. I saw the way his pupils trembled slightly as if he were afraid I might leave. That statement was not just a warning—it was also a desperate plea.

I swallowed dryly and looked up at him. Why hadn’t I noticed until now? I had considered myself sharp, but now all my doubts seemed meaningless.

He never had any intention of letting me go. I wasn’t sure why, but I seemed to be someone special to him. He couldn’t trust people and had never received affection as a child. Knowing his background, it wasn’t hard to guess. Our first meeting hadn’t been as a human, which might’ve been why I broke through his defenses. And I had given him endless affection. At first, it was just to cling to him, but gradually, we became entwined with one another. I started to think that maybe, for Zerpell, I was the only one who gave him unconditional love.

His eyes were always the same—gazing at me as if I were precious. Even after I became human, that loving gaze hadn’t changed. His golden eyes were dripping with honey.

Perhaps because I didn’t respond, his golden eyes gleamed with a chilling intensity. I heard a rustling sound and saw the bed sheet in his hand wrinkle mercilessly. Without realizing it, I reached out to him. His eyes contained something indescribable. His lips brushed my cheek lightly and, as if he wouldn’t let me go, he embraced me. Reflexively, I hugged him back. My lips parted to speak, opening and closing repeatedly, but no words came out.

There was no need to worry about becoming human—my master had not changed at all.

‘Could this be…?’

From the way he acted, this wasn’t ordinary affection. I saw traces of another emotion. It felt familiar, yet I dismissed the thought—surely it couldn’t be. Out of his view, my eyes trembled with uncontrollable confusion.