A Snake’s Life Ch 60

Chapter 60

 

Zerpell motioned with a tilt of his head for Aiden to sit, and once Zerpell had taken a seat on the opposite side, Aiden awkwardly sat down as well. As he sipped his tea, waiting for Aiden to speak, Zerpell felt a strange sensation. Aiden wasn’t avoiding his gaze. Under normal circumstances, their eyes wouldn’t have met at all, but now they were locking momentarily. Narrowing his eyes, Zerpell studied Aiden.

“So, what was it you wanted to talk about? Is it about Kir?”

“Ah, no. It’s… a personal matter. I hope I’m not bothering you when you’re busy?”

Aiden asked cautiously, and although the pile of documents stacked on the desk came to Zerpell’s mind, he answered calmly.

“It’s fine.”

“Oh! Are you perhaps worried about Kir? Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of him.”

“I don’t give a damn.”

“Pardon?”

Startled by Zerpell’s apathetic response, Aiden blurted out. The Zerpell he imagined was someone kind and full of justice. Leaning forward, Aiden tried to confirm what he’d just heard.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Well… I…”

Aiden’s lips moved, but no words reached Zerpell’s ears. Setting down his tea, Zerpell spoke.

“Are you not going to speak?”

“……”

“Then I shall go first.”

“To me?”

Though Aiden didn’t avert his eyes from Zerpell, his nervousness was evident. Zerpell, seeking to ease that tension and express his gratitude, opened his mouth. Aiden looked at him with a serious face, as if bracing himself to accept whatever words might come.

“Thank you for getting along well with Shuiren.”

“…Yes! Ah, I mean—no, it’s nothing! If anything, I’m the one indebted to him.”

Aiden waved his hands in denial. He twisted awkwardly in his seat, clearly caught off guard by Zerpell’s thanks. Shuiren had mentioned that Aiden had become more mature. Jokingly, he had even said that Aiden was starting to resemble him and that they must really be brothers. Zerpell’s eyes narrowed.

“If you have something to say, spit it out.”

“Um… I don’t know if Shuiren told you already, but I wanted to say it myself, to be certain.”

Biting the inside of his cheek, Aiden shut his eyes tight and shouted loudly.

“You will be a great Emperor!”

“……”

“There’s a lot of talk in our palace too. That you were chosen by the Divine Envoy, that you ended the war, and that you’re building a country where commoners can live better lives. They say you lowered taxes and gave subsidies to regions suffering from famine. I think someone like that deserves to be Emperor…”

As he fired off his words like a machine gun, Aiden’s head gradually dropped in embarrassment, his ears turning bright red. Zerpell’s lips parted slightly. Just then, the area around them became noisy.

“Giving up the throne, they say…”

One of the waiting maids had muttered unconsciously in surprise. Ian quickly gave her a cold glare, and she shut her mouth.

“I didn’t do it to be praised by others.”

Zerpell said indifferently. The comment about resembling Shuiren started to make some sense. He never imagined Aiden would think such things. Aiden suddenly lifted his head and gave a radiant smile.

“That’s what makes you so admirable… I don’t think I could ever be like that.”

“I’ve heard your academic performance is satisfactory. There’s no need to be so negative. You’re just as capable.”

Though he felt Ian’s piercing stare behind him, Zerpell ignored it.

“But I don’t want to be Emperor. If you become Emperor, I want to serve by your side. I read in history that there was a title called Grand Duke. That’s a title given to royal blood, right? That would be more than enough for me. I have no other ambitions.”

Aiden smiled bashfully as he spoke, but his face looked as if it were covered in a layer of dark clouds. Zerpell slowly stood up. The chair scraped against the floor with a creak. Aiden seemed flustered by Zerpell’s sudden movement. Zerpell stepped beside Aiden and patted his head.

He recalled a time when Shuiren had used his own hand to pat Aiden’s head. Aiden’s golden hair, shining brightly, now became tousled by Zerpell’s hand. There was a time when he hated that hair so much.

Because it wasn’t blond—he had loathed himself for being called a half-blood.

Deep inside, he had harbored a resentment toward Aiden, who seemed to embody the opposite of himself. Zerpell’s tightly closed lips parted.

“…I’ll be expecting great things.”

“Yes!”

Aiden’s face lit up and he replied with energy. His legs swung happily as he felt Zerpell’s hand. Aiden hadn’t hoped for a long speech. He simply wanted a glimpse into Zerpell’s heart. He focused intently on Zerpell’s lips as they began to move.

“…If you ever want to come, come anytime. Shuiren enjoys playing with you. Don’t come sneaking in—demand your right proudly. It is your right.”

Aiden smiled brightly, like the radiant sun. The “right” that Zerpell and Neria spoke of meant different things to each of them. But it was a reassuring statement. Aiden began rummaging through his pockets. Zerpell watched him with mild curiosity. What came out of Aiden’s pocket were flowers like those seen in gardens. Having been stuffed into his pocket, the once-fresh flowers now drooped a little.

Aiden looked flustered, thinking, this isn’t how it was supposed to be.

“What is that?”

“Ah… it’s… a gift…”

Looking utterly dismayed, Aiden’s eyes began to well up with tears. Zerpell leaned down. Then he took the flower from Aiden’s limp, outstretched hand. Its stem was bent, but had it been fresh, it would’ve been a very beautiful flower. And… it reminded him of Shuiren.

To Aiden, it was a carefully chosen gift. To him, Zerpell lacked nothing—not even the objects in his own room could compare. So he had wandered outside for quite a while.

Scouring the garden, he had picked the most beautiful flower—the one that reminded him of Shuiren. “Because you like Shuiren!” he had thought. The flower had white petals with a red pistil in the center, like a red dot.

“I… I picked it because it reminded me of Shuiren, and I wanted to give it to you…”

“A flower, huh…”

At Zerpell’s indifferent reaction, Aiden’s face sank. Was it too plain…? But the next words made him quickly lift his head.

“Where did you find this flower?”

“Pardon?”

“…The flower is very beautiful. I want to keep it—that’s why I’m asking.”

“Then I’ll show you the way!!”

Aiden beamed and eagerly pulled Zerpell along. His small hand grasped Zerpell’s and led him forward. Normally, Aiden’s strength wouldn’t be enough to move him, but Zerpell allowed himself to be led.

“Your Majesty?”

Ian called out, confused. With no other option, he followed behind. Aiden cheerfully pushed through the flowers. The flower was small, but had bloomed among a cluster of flashy flowers. Zerpell also bent awkwardly and searched keenly through the blooms.

“Your Majesty, we can—”

“No. I want to find it myself.”

But, of course, that was easier said than done. With the two most noble people in the palace bending over and searching the ground, the attendants couldn’t help but join in.

Shuiren, who had been lounging lazily indoors, peeked through the curtains when he heard the commotion outside. He saw everyone with their eyes fixed on the ground, clearly searching for something.

“What are they all doing?”

Among the group, he spotted golden hair glinting in the sun and jet-black hair following closely behind. At first, Shuiren was about to flop back into bed indifferently, but then rubbed his eyes and stared. Realizing it was Aiden and Zerpell, a gentle smile appeared on his lips.

“They’re getting along well.”

Shuiren leaned against the window and absentmindedly watched the scene. Neither Aiden nor Zerpell noticed his gaze.

With a soft click, Zerpell entered. His hand was held behind his back, as if hiding something. I approached with a smile, already guessing what it was. His normally tidy attire was disheveled and smudged with dirt. I bent down and brushed the soil from his knees as I asked,

“Did you go out today? Why are you all dirty?”

“Ah… I went out for a bit.”

“Really? Then what are you hiding?”

I playfully leaned my head around his side, but he guarded it tightly, not letting me see. With a slight cough, Zerpell suddenly held something out toward me. It was a small bouquet. Clumsily made, the knot of grass used to tie it was a mess, but it was clear it had been made with care. His fingertips were stained green from the plant sap.

The window had been too far for me to see, but the moment I saw the flower, I immediately knew whom it reminded him of. The white petals and red center… like looking into a mirror, the fully-bloomed flower reflected me.

“Honestly…”

Zerpell urged me to take it. I accepted the flower and inhaled its scent. A gentle fragrance filled my nose, and a bright smile spread naturally across my face.

“Thank you! This is my first flower gift… I really like it.”

Honestly, I used to think flowers were just eye candy, but this wasn’t bad at all. He seemed pleased too, as his eyes softened tenderly.

“I’m glad you like it.”