A Snake’s Life Ch 70

Chapter 70

 

I heard Zerpell’s voice calling my name in surprise, and light streamed in from above.

Master… why did you get bigger?

Zerpell’s eyes were wide in shock. But soon after, his expression softened into a gentle curve. The hand reaching out toward me was large. Somehow, the sensation felt familiar. Zerpell lightly lifted me onto his palm. I turned my head quickly from side to side to check my body—I’d turned into a snake. What the… My mouth hung open. The thing that had blocked my vision had been my own clothes.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you like this. So you could still transform?”

Zerpell clicked his tongue, seemingly a bit regretful.

Isn’t this a good thing? Though flustered, I was humming inwardly with relief at having escaped Zerpell’s demonic touch. Ever since Kir went to Aiden, I had only been practicing water manipulation, not transformation. I hadn’t realized Kir’s grand intention—it was all in preparation for this moment.

I tilted my head back, curious about my transformed body, and checked to make sure nothing was wrong. The transformation was perfect. Unlike the last time when it felt daunting, it had happened effortlessly. A person truly does need a catalyst. I nodded repeatedly to myself.

Zerpell gently stroked me, as if resigned but indulging in nostalgia. It seemed that seeing me in this form brought back memories for him, and he was enjoying the sensation of my scales as he stroked me from head to tail.

I too was enjoying being in my snake form again. I coiled around Zerpell’s neck and shared his warmth. There was one downside to this form, though—it was incredibly sensitive to the cold… Though Zerpell was a little disappointed that I hadn’t turned back into a human, I simply wanted to enjoy the moment.

Anyway, the second day of the event wasn’t mandatory, so I planned to laze around the room. In my snake form, I nuzzled into the comforting warmth. Perhaps by Zerpell’s orders, no one entered the room. And the next day…

“Shuiren. You need to come dance with me.”

He continued to coax me into attending the ball. Honestly, I didn’t want to go. Just imagining the whispers was enough to make my skin crawl… While skipping the second day was optional, attendance on the final day was mandatory. What a bother…

Zerpell persistently tried to persuade me, and in the end, I transformed back into a human. His face lit up with joy.

“Shuiren?”

“What?”

I answered bluntly.

“It’s nice to hear your voice.”

“…Give me my clothes.”

I simply held out my hand, and he, afraid I might change my mind, quickly handed them to me. I started putting them on, my lips sticking out in a sulky pout. As he fastened the last brooch, Zerpell spoke.

“You’re beautiful.”

“…So I really do have to go, huh?”

“You don’t want to? But you promised to dance with me.”

And who was it that danced with Camilla? Zerpell, who normally didn’t act like this, was now whining like a puppy… and honestly, it was kind of cute. Had he practiced this act separately? I casually slipped my hand into his. A smile bloomed on Zerpell’s lips.

“Then, let’s go.”

My heart fluttered as Zerpell spoke with his head slightly tilted. These days, my heart skipped a beat at every little thing he did. I turned my head to hide it, not wanting him to notice, but I could feel heat rising in my ears.

“Okay, okay. I’m dancing with you, right?”

“Of course. I won’t leave you alone today. No matter what.”

Embarrassed, I scratched the bridge of my nose.

And the moment we entered the ball hall, I regretted it. I’d already been overwhelmed by the crowd on the first day, but today was even worse. According to Ian, the final ball gathered all the nobles who had missed the first day due to unavoidable circumstances. On top of that, all the rumors must have already spread—everyone was openly whispering and staring at us.

Zerpell and I sat on a specially prepared sofa. For some reason, he chose the one in the very center. I had wanted to go to a corner… It felt like we were on display.

Though it was supposed to be a day of dancing, aside from a few nobles, everyone had gathered around us. I wanted to tell them to get lost, but I couldn’t. My mouth wouldn’t stop moving because, after turning back into a human, my stomach had begun protesting loudly for food. That was why Zerpell turned us away from the dancefloor before anything else.

“I can’t believe it…”

“I know, right? So it was true, what we saw yesterday.”

They didn’t even try to lower their voices. Sure… I get it… I glanced at Zerpell beside me. Anyone could see how happy he looked. While I was used to it, his doting, hands-on care wasn’t something others often witnessed.

“How about this?”

He ordered the busy servants to bring every dish, one by one. Just like before, he began feeding me with his own hands. Whether he found it amusing or genuinely enjoyed it, he never stopped smiling.

Even when I said I could eat by myself, he insisted I let him do it since I had overexerted myself. But he was the one who made me overdo it… and besides, my muscle aches were already gone. Though Zerpell didn’t say it loudly, his words were clear enough for the nobles who were eavesdropping nearby.

“Gasp!”

“Look at that!”

Suddenly, the nobles started shifting positions en masse. More accurately, they were moving behind me. Was there something on the back of my head? I scratched it in confusion.

“Could it be that mark…?”

“Mark? What’s on my back?”

Unable to bear the curiosity any longer, I quietly asked Zerpell. No matter how I tilted my head, I couldn’t see it myself. Zerpell only gave a meaningful smile.

“Ah… it’s nothing you need to worry about.”

His cryptic answer only made my suspicions grow. The sharp stares prickling at my nape made me shrink back. What the heck? I brushed my hand along my neck—and felt something bumpy. With sudden realization, my face turned crimson.

“Holy shit…”

I immediately understood what was going on. Zerpell clearly knew and said nothing. I stood up abruptly and tried to hobble out of the hall, but he grabbed me by the wrist.

“Go enjoy the ball. What do you think you’re doing here?”

Zerpell’s cold glare scattered the nobles like frightened sheep. He looked at me with a “Satisfied now?” expression. I did feel better without the stares… but that wasn’t the point. While I was flustered, Zerpell was calmly enjoying the ball. I wondered if he’d ever truly enjoyed a ball before, and my heart softened.

‘He really does look happy.’

Well, the damage was done. With that, I leaned into his arms in resignation.

“Ah.”

I pointed to my mouth, silently asking for food. Zerpell chuckled softly and popped bite-sized morsels into my mouth. Once again, the surrounding nobles were scandalized. Now that I paid closer attention, their horrified faces were actually quite entertaining.

Even a few days after the ball, Zerpell was still buried in paperwork. The work was draining, but from time to time, he felt a deep, rising sense of satisfaction. He had proudly shown off his beloved partner to everyone during the ball. Even the time he spent dancing with Camilla felt like a waste in hindsight.

He wanted to spend more time with Shuiren, but the paperwork that piled up after the ball made him sigh. Then came a knock—a knock that felt ominous. Zerpell told them to enter, and Ian stepped in.

He held a letter in his hand and looked visibly uneasy. Hearing his report, Zerpell also furrowed his brow.

“Your Majesty, His Holiness the Pope has sent a letter. He was very insistent that the Divine Envoy’s help is needed.”

“He must be desperate, not having been able to attend the ball. Ignore it. The casino matter takes priority now.”

Zerpell flatly rejected the letter.

“The situation… has taken an odd turn.”

Ian unfolded a newspaper from his coat. As it spread across Zerpell’s desk, he skimmed the pages—and his expression darkened instantly. An article reported that a deadly disease was spreading through a certain territory. The Pope was said to be volunteering and giving speeches there.

The article was small and tucked away in a corner since the main headlines focused on the Emperor, Zerpell, and Shuiren.

Zerpell couldn’t believe his eyes. It was a place the Pope would never voluntarily visit—a poor territory far from the capital. Nobles don’t receive divine blessings without paying, let alone commoners. And yet, he was performing free services for them.

The Pope had always viewed commoners as unchosen and inferior. He and the priests who possessed divine power believed they were divinely selected. The Pope saw himself as noble and pure—there was no way he’d willingly go there.

“If you read the article, you’ll see—he’s preaching that Shuiren is holy and will save the territory.”

“Unbelievable. So this is his way of latching onto Shuiren. I thought he was quiet, but he’s been plotting behind the scenes.”

“There are even patients there resenting Shuiren for not coming. They say it must mean they’ve been abandoned by God…”

The tension in the air rose like a drawn bow. Ian found it ridiculous, and Zerpell was hardly the type to overlook such nonsense.

“Utterly absurd. Over something that petty?”

“Still, I believe we need to address it. Winning the people’s hearts is crucial if we’re to displace the Emperor. If we ignore this, the backlash might hit us. Since we introduced Shuiren publicly at the ball, the timing might actually work in our favor.”

Zerpell rubbed his forehead, clearly troubled. If left unchecked, even a small spark could explode. That was exactly what had happened with the Emperor’s situation. He clicked his tongue.

“No helping it, then.”

Maybe showing Shuiren the world outside the palace wouldn’t be so bad. He roughly raked a hand through his hair but consoled himself that it might be a good opportunity. A slight smirk tugged at his lips.

“Tell the Pope that I’ll send Shuiren. Naturally, I’ll be going too.”

“Yes. Of course.”

There was no way Zerpell would send Shuiren alone.

“With the casino matter as well, we must depart soon.”

It was time to shut the Pope’s manipulative mouth. There had been a time when Zerpell considered opposing the temple, but now Shuiren was by his side.

“For the time being, let’s entrust the Marquess of Franchia’s matters to the Duke.”

“I’ll send a letter to the Duke right away.”

“Good. And prepare the best, most stable carriage available—we’ll be on the road for quite some time.”

Knowing of Shuiren’s motion sickness, Ian nodded. As Zerpell was about to resume his paperwork, his hand paused. He realized this would be their first trip outside the palace together. Suddenly, he felt a desire to make special memories.

“Let’s stop by some scenic places on the way.”

“…Pardon?”

Ian, who had just been calculating the budget, looked up in alarm. The man who had insisted on leaving quickly for the casino was now talking about sightseeing?

“Come to think of it, Shuiren’s never been outside the palace. He should see the Empire. Be sure to include famous travel spots in the itinerary.”

“…Your Majesty, are you sure this is a business trip?”

“Does it not seem like one?”

Zerpell replied in a calm voice. Ian gave him a pained look. The priorities seemed to have shifted, but with a sigh, he quietly began marking the travel itinerary. If this went on, he might end up guarding the palace alone for quite some time.