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Chapter 27
“…Just this once.”
“You’re in luck today.”
I glared silently at the sly white serpent smiling brazenly, asking to be held, and eventually gave in and shuffled closer to embrace him.
Though in truth, it was more like I was the one being held, but since this perverted, shameless snake looked satisfied, I decided to say nothing.
From his arms came a fresh, grassy scent, like walking through a field after brushing past a forest. Occasionally, hints of wildflowers mixed in tickled my senses pleasantly.
“You have to return to the imperial palace before morning.”
“That’s unfortunate, but I’ll need to come get you, so it can’t be helped.”
Because I was pressed against his chest, I couldn’t see his face, so I had no idea what expression Kilis was making.
Still, I listened to his steady, lazy breathing and quietly rested my head against him.
“Are you really planning to go to the temple?”
“Yes. I was told to send word early in the morning, so Duke Erbel will know soon enough.”
Hearing him, an uneasy question slipped to the tip of my tongue.
Should I ask? It felt like I might be poking at something painful… but suffering alone would be worse.
“I’m not sure if I should ask this, but… is it really okay for a snake to go to the temple?”
It wasn’t illegal, so there was no real restriction on visiting—but a snake, one who was said to have been abandoned by the gods, going to a temple?
No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t fit.
If I didn’t already know he was a snake, I wouldn’t have thought of it, but knowing made the question unavoidable.
A place serving the god who supposedly abandoned him… from the snake’s perspective, it couldn’t be pleasant.
At my cautious question, Kilis let out a low laugh, like he was drifting in sleep.
“Rousselin, do you really believe the snake was abandoned by the gods?”
“It’s not that I believe it. It’s just what I was taught. I never really had reason to doubt it.”
Leaving aside the peculiar beliefs of the Rubidium Empire, my own family was the real reason.
My father wanted me to grow up without any deficiencies, so I was educated thoroughly in everything from a young age.
Even hunting lessons meant for boys—like those for tracking tigers. That’s probably why I can handle a sword so easily now.
I never resented it. Knowing more and being capable of more was never a bad thing.
But after meeting Kilis, everything I thought I knew started to shake.
First of all, the fact that the founding imperial family of Fernando was actually serpents was already a massive shock.
I was too overwhelmed to even process smaller contradictions after that.
“Then let me correct it. It’s not abandonment. It’s punishment. The gods never abandon anyone.”
“…Punishment?”
“The dragon’s descendants are forced to live as serpents. A cruel yet merciful judgment.”
The secret Kilis revealed was far larger—and heavier—than I expected. My lips refused to move, and I couldn’t respond.
“Sleep now, Rousselin. Night is short.”
His voice, like a dream, drifted through the haze, and I slowly sank into sleep while wrapped in warmth.
The Next Morning
“…Mm.”
Waking up to unexpected brightness, I saw Letty drawing back the curtains.
Startled, I looked around, but Kilis was already gone. He must have returned safely while I was asleep.
The window was tightly closed, as if he had even locked up properly before leaving, which made me laugh softly.
“Good morning, young lady! Did you sleep well?”
Letty greeted me cheerfully as I looked around after waking.
“The temple visit is today, right? A letter arrived early this morning from the palace. His Highness will accompany you.”
“That’s right… we agreed on that.”
It seemed Kilis had indeed sent word early, just as he said.
Since it was well known that my father and I visited the temple every two weeks, it wasn’t unusual for Kilis to join.
Still, I was curious about my father’s reaction.
“Then I’ll prepare a dress that is both appropriately modest and capable of moving people to tears!”
“Is there even such a dress?”
“Of course! There’s nothing the Erbel estate doesn’t have.”
After Letty left, silence settled back into the sunlit room.
Staring at the closed window, I suddenly remembered what Kilis had said earlier.
“Then let me correct it. It’s not abandonment. It’s punishment. The gods never abandon anyone.”
Thinking about it, something felt off.
Doctrine says, “The gods love all life.”
Yet when it comes to serpents, they are described as beings abandoned by the gods.
A clear contradiction—yet no one seemed to question it.
Even I had never noticed anything strange.
Perhaps everyone had simply been taught this since childhood.
“Hmm… this bothers me. Maybe I should look into it. When and how serpents were said to be abandoned.”
Books about serpents were, of course, forbidden texts.
I would likely have to go down to the underground library again like last time.
“I wonder if Tail will let me in again.”
Since the librarian hadn’t said anything yet, it seemed he didn’t know what had happened to the unfortunate book I—well, Fangdugi—had bitten.
If he had known, he would have already been chasing me down screaming, “The book! The book!!”
“Better to take advantage while I can.”
Yes, if he didn’t know yet, I might as well make use of it.
After quickly finishing my soup, I changed into a neat white dress chosen by Letty and the maids, and added a light fur mantle for the chilly weather.
Luckily, there was still some time before the imperial carriage arrived, so I headed straight to the library.
The Library
“Good morning, Lady. Today is your temple visit day.”
As soon as I entered, Tail the librarian greeted me warmly.
Dressed in white, it was easy for him to guess my destination.
“Good morning, Tail.”
But for some reason, his green ponytail stiffened the moment I greeted him.
As an avian beastkin, Tail always stiffened his feather-like hair when sensing danger.
Wait—why is my greeting making his feathers stand on end?!
“Lady, absolutely not.”
“I haven’t even said anything yet…”
Before I could finish, he shook his head firmly.
“Last time you were lucky, but today His Grace is in the estate, and Sir Litta, his aide, often visits the library—so in many ways…”
He rattled off excuses like he had prepared them in advance.
“I told you, I didn’t say anything yet.”
“Then wouldn’t it be better to get His Grace’s permission?”
Silence fell.
I stared at him coldly.
“Do you really think that’s possible?”
“No.”
That was an immediate, honest answer. At least he knew.
“You know how strict my father is.”
“I-I don’t… His Grace would never—”
Tail tried desperately to deny it, but I sighed.
Then I made my final move.
“By the way, I saw some new romance novels in the library catalog—The Noble Lady’s Secret Life and That Duke’s Very Hot Night. I don’t think my father knows about them yet.”
“…!!”
As soon as I said that, his green eyes turned pale.
“Th-the key… slipped…!”
“Good.”
A small key was placed into my palm.
Successfully acquiring it, I smiled brightly and headed toward the underground stairs.
“Those romance novels… they actually sound interesting. Maybe I should borrow them later from Tail.”
