WBRS 03

 Chapter 03

Startled by the sudden contact, the snake froze for a moment. Soon, however, it quietly accepted my touch and half-closed its eyes.

Since I knew nothing about snakes, it was hard to properly interpret the white snake’s expressions in front of me… but thankfully, it didn’t seem to dislike it.

That was when—

“Ah!”

Drops of red blood fell onto the white bedsheet.

The sudden pain and shock made a weak cry slip out of me.

The sharp fangs of the snake had left a clear mark on my wrist.

“Hey, I saved you, and this is how you repay me?”

I brought a dying creature back to life, and this is what I get?!

As I glared at it in annoyance, the snake tilted its head innocently, as if it had no idea what the problem was.

“What kind of ungrateful snake is this…!”

Wait. Ungrateful? Mangdeok? That actually sounds like a decent name.

“Alright, from now on, your name is Mangdeok.”

I grumbled about taking in an ungrateful white creature, but decided to call the snake Mangdeok.

Hmm, having a name does make it feel better. I can’t just keep calling it “hey” or “you” forever.

After giving it such a ridiculous name, I awkwardly examined Mangdeok’s condition.

If touching its head was considered rude among snakes, then this whole thing would be entirely my fault.

“Do snakes hate having their heads touched?”

With no one to answer, my head naturally tilted in confusion.

I had absolutely no knowledge about what snakes liked or disliked.

It’s not like I ever had the chance to learn. In the Rubidium Empire, knowledge about snakes was forbidden, so there was barely any information available.

All I knew was that they were long.

“…I really don’t know anything about snakes.”

This was the first time I’d even seen one in real life. Maybe I should go to the library tomorrow. The underground section stored forbidden books—it might help.

But for now, there was something more urgent.

The wound on my wrist kept bleeding for some reason, even though it should have stopped by now.

Since I didn’t feel any venom, I hadn’t taken it seriously—but now I had no choice but to take out a handkerchief and stop the bleeding.

“Still, biting your savior is a bit much, don’t you think?”

When I complained, Mangdeok looked at me with strange eyes and slightly shook its head.

Unfortunately, I had no idea what that meant… but it didn’t seem to agree with me.

And actually, I’d been feeling this for a while—

It almost seemed like Mangdeok understood what I was saying.

Otherwise, why would it look me straight in the eyes every time I spoke? Even just now, it felt like it was responding.

“You’re a pretty unusual snake, aren’t you?”

As if it understood, Mangdeok stuck out its thin tongue, almost as if smiling.

Normally, beastmen emitted a distinct pheromone. It was instinctive—no matter how much they tried to hide it, it was difficult to completely suppress.

And when they were in their animal form, that scent became even stronger.

But from Mangdeok, I felt nothing.

Not even when I first found it, badly injured.

Which meant… it wasn’t a beastman.

…but then why does it seem like it understands me?

Are snakes normally this intelligent? Or is Mangdeok a genius?

“Mangdeok, go sleep in that basket instead of the bed.”

Regardless of the reason, I wasn’t soft enough to just forgive getting bitten.

So I picked it up and placed it into the basket I had prepared for it.

But then—!

When I turned back to the bed, Mangdeok was already there, burying its head in the blanket.

It probably thought I wouldn’t see it like that…!

Oh my god, that’s so cute—

…No! I can’t fall for that shameless behavior just because it’s cute!

“Sorry, but not here.”

I put it back in the basket again, but as if it could teleport, it was back on the bed, wriggling its small body.

It even looked at me with pitiful, innocent eyes.

“…Do whatever you want. What kind of snake is this stubborn?”

After repeating this ridiculous situation several times, I finally sighed in defeat and turned off the lights.

“Good night, Mangdeok.”

Sss—

As if responding, the soft sound of its tongue brushed gently past my ear.

Outside, the late summer night had sunk into a cool darkness.

It was a chaotic… yet strangely cozy night.

How much time had passed?

Pale yellow moonlight seeped through the large window, pouring gently over Lucellin as she slept.

“……”

A faint silhouette fell across her face.

“Mm…”

Sensing something in her sleep, Lucellin let out a soft sound.

Is this sleep paralysis? I can’t breathe…

Her peaceful dream began to distort.

She shifted her body, but the suffocating presence and lingering gaze didn’t disappear.

Finally, she forced her heavy eyelids open.

“—Mm?!”

The moment she saw the stranger before her, she tried to scream—

but a large hand covered her mouth.

What is this? A dream?

Moonlight slowly filled the dark room.

The intruder who dared enter a noble lady’s bedroom revealed himself.

His long white hair flowed down to his waist, and his sharp yellow eyes gleamed dangerously.

He was a breathtakingly beautiful man.

A faint smile tugged at his lips as he gazed down at Lucellin, who lay frozen beneath him.

“A sweet scent… the pheromones of a black rabbit.”

His low voice was mesmerizing.

Each word brushed against her ears, melting her frozen breath.

“Mm—!”

“Shh. I won’t eat you.”

His voice was cold, yet gentle.

It all felt unreal.

When Lucellin stopped struggling, he slowly removed his hand.

“Wh-who are you?”

Even in such a dangerous position, she didn’t feel threatened.

It still felt like a dream.

“You saved me.”

“…I did?”

“Mm. You did.”

His tone was playful, completely at odds with the atmosphere.

But strangely, it didn’t feel out of place.

Lucellin couldn’t understand what he meant—but that didn’t matter.

This had to be a dream.

Still… those yellow eyes…

They felt familiar.

“…Mangdeok?”

“…Mangdeok?”

The man tilted his head.

“It means ‘ungrateful.’ A creature that bites the hand of the one who saved it. You… remind me of it.”

“…Ha.”

A soft laugh escaped him.

“What’s so funny?”

“Well… I didn’t bite you.”

“…What?”

He gently lifted her wrist.

Holding the end of her handkerchief in his mouth, he slowly untied it.

The soft sound of fabric sliding loose felt strangely intimate.

The cloth fell away.

Then—

his cold lips touched her wrist.

Time seemed to stop.

And when she looked again—

a snake-shaped mark had appeared.

“What…? That wasn’t there before!”

Her eyes widened in shock.

Not a bite mark—

but a symbol.

And of all things… a snake—the very thing forbidden in the Empire.

If this was a dream, it had to be a nightmare.

Then, he leaned closer to her ear.

A dangerous scent filled her senses.

She instinctively shut her eyes.

“This is proof… that you and I belong to each other.”

When she opened them again—

he was gone.