A Snake’s Life Ch 66

Chapter 66

 

“Is it all right to leave him be?”

“What are you referring to?”

Zerpell and Camilla danced gracefully, drawing the curious gazes of the nobles. Camilla played the role of a girl in love with ease. The hall rang with comments on how well-matched they looked. The nobles were completely taken in. She was an excellent actress.

“You know, the Divine Envoy. He seemed rather adorable, didn’t he?”

“…What?”

Camilla offered a slight smile, while Zerpell’s brows furrowed in stark contrast. His voice was so chilling that it made Camilla flinch. He abruptly pulled her hand and whispered a threat into her ear.

“I have no intention of losing a competent asset over a moment’s mistake.”

“…Please don’t worry, Your Highness. I have no such intention.”

“That’s a relief.”

As soon as the words were spoken, the two drew apart. Camilla hid her trembling lips. The remarks about how well they matched sounded foolish to her ears.

“The nobles are so narrow-minded. Even after seeing Your Highness alone with the Divine Envoy, they say such things… even though your attitudes toward him are starkly different.”

Relationships between men are often kept hush-hush. Even more so among nobles who value pure bloodlines and believe in continuing their lineage. Given that Zerpell was the crown prince, this applied all the more. Even the current emperor, though deeply devoted to the empress, took in a consort due to noble pressure when no heir was born.

“Just focus on playing your role.”

“Of course.”

Camilla replied with a beaming smile. It was a polite gesture, but the nobles, already biased, believed she was simply thrilled to be dancing with Zerpell.

Camilla had no interest in Zerpell. To her, he was merely a good leader who had recognized her worth—nothing more, nothing less. The alliance between Zerpell and the Duke Bert was just for show. Even the engagement rumors would fade quickly.

In high society, gossip abounds and shifts in an instant. Sooner or later, a rumor about Zerpell and Shuiren being deeply involved would likely spread like wildfire.

Her only goal was to become the heir of the ducal house.

“If you uphold your part of the bargain, I’ll even play the role of a shield.”

Zerpell had never explicitly asked Camilla to be Shuiren’s shield. But she had perfectly grasped his intention.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

“I’m confident I won’t disappoint you. Before Your Highness ascends the throne, I’ll make sure my worth is known.”

Zerpell narrowed his eyes at her, as if assessing her. For a while, no words passed between them as they focused solely on the dance. Camilla observed Zerpell’s sharp gaze. Not once did his eyes soften.

Camilla found it curious that Zerpell’s expression changed when he stood next to Shuiren. And she wondered—what kind of person was Shuiren, to make Zerpell smile like that? This had been her first time meeting Shuiren, and the Duke had not spoken much about him either. The Duke only mentioned that he had seen Shuiren a few times.

When she asked the Duke about Shuiren, he hesitated before describing him as a “cute one.” But upon meeting him in person, she found he was not merely cute.

The way he confidently spoke to the emperor reminded her of Zerpell. Camilla spotted Shuiren disappearing into the crowd.

“Is it really all right to leave the Divine Envoy alone?”

“…”

Camilla saw Shuiren’s shoulders drooping. He slipped through the crowd, heading toward the corner. There was something unsteady about his steps. Zerpell’s gaze remained fixed on Shuiren.

“Your Highness isn’t very good at romance, is he?”

“Not good at it?”

“You looked so shocked when I grabbed your hand… Are you truly fine with leaving the Divine Envoy alone? There were quite a few ladies eyeing him.”

Zerpell’s brows twitched violently at her words. As the music reached a crescendo, Camilla and Zerpell drew even closer.

“No way. He will remain by my side.”

“…”

It was a voice full of certainty, as if the world had decided it must be so. Zerpell raised one corner of his mouth in a confident smile. Camilla lowered her eyes at his mischievous grin and replied, “I see.”

Just as they were about to let go and part, Zerpell muttered almost offhandedly, “More than anything… I won’t let him go.”

His words scattered like air. Camilla turned her head, but Zerpell walked away without looking back. As loud applause rang out, the dance finally came to an end.

At the same time, a crowd gathered around them.

The real beginning of the ball had arrived.

Zerpell began searching for Shuiren, who had suddenly vanished from view. His golden eyes glinted as he scanned the hall. Soon he saw the Duke Bert emerging from the terrace. So he’s on the terrace, then. Zerpell cast a sidelong glance toward Camilla.

She was surrounded by young ladies and noblewomen, handling them with grace. Many inquired about the engagement, but she gave ambiguous answers that only fueled their imaginations. As the Duke pushed through the nobles and approached Zerpell, he whispered quietly in his ear.

“The Divine Envoy has been escorted to the terrace.”

Zerpell gave a slight nod. The dejected slump of Shuiren’s shoulders and his gloomy expression from earlier lingered in his mind. He could just imagine him sulking alone in frustration. When something upset Shuiren, he would often bite into something or kick at things.

“I’d better go cheer him up quickly.”

Zerpell began to brush past the nobles, heading toward the terrace—only to be blocked by someone.

“Your Highness. How long has it been?”

The voice was unfamiliar, but it stirred a distant memory. This was a ball where all nobles had gathered, and Zerpell had expected such an encounter after the Duke Bert’s mention. His face stiffened coldly. The man who approached him was the Marquis of Franchia, who had once been at the pinnacle of the nobility.

Since returning to the palace, Zerpell had not seen him once, though he had met him several times as a child. He remembered the way the man used to gaze at him with blatant disdain. Turning, Zerpell faced the Marquis of Franchia. Time had clearly taken its toll—his hair had gone white and the wrinkles around his eyes were deep—but his expression and gaze remained unchanged. Zerpell looked him over.

On his way to see Shuiren, this encounter was hardly welcome. The Marquis leisurely stroked his beard.

“Marquis of Franchia. It has been a long time.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Still as sharp as ever, I see. I do miss those old days.”

“The old days… I see. I’ve heard the news. It seems your latest business venture has faced considerable setbacks.”

The Marquis’s smile twisted and his expression hardened. His businesses had suffered due to a major purge of noble participants. And many had turned away from him following the rise of the Duke Bert.

“Oh dear, it seems I’ve given Your Highness cause for concern. That’s how business is, after all. Even if there are brief setbacks, one never knows when it might recover.”

The Marquis’s eyes gleamed. His tone, as he spoke, was laced with a biting undertone, as though implying Zerpell might face the same fate. The nobles around them watched their silent confrontation with intense interest.