Episode 41
“Yikes!”
Rona began pounding the bag with a broom.
The furiously waving broom came to a halt a split second later, and the bag went still.
Everyone who had assembled, including me, were transfixed by the sight. Greta was also among them. Our perplexed stares briefly connected, but she swiftly averted her sight.
“How did a snake get in here?” Someone mumbled.
“Isn’t it one of the snakes that was chased from the garden?”
Everyone appeared to agree with another maids’ speculation. However, I had to disagree.
“…”
I stood there for a long time, staring at the snake Rona held before speaking.
“This has been quite the debacle. Everyone should return for now.”
The servants mumbled briefly before dispersing.
I let out a big breath when only Rona and I remained.
“Someone must have wanted to send me a gift.”
My statement caused Rona’s eyes to widen.
“Surely not?”
“Do you think a snake could have crawled all the way here on its own?”
This was a strong warning directed at me. To cease my recent behaviour.
Just go back to what you were doing before and pretend you’re dead. That’s your role, isn’t it?
It’s like I could hear these words.
‘I’m sorry, but I’m unable to do so.’
‘Selene’ had been living as if she were dead and had died anyway.
Accepting it as my fate was too difficult for me since I was too invested in my own life. I want to live a long life.
“We need to figure out how and from where this snake came in.”
“The snake must have come from the garden. As for how it got in…”
“Rona, do you think the snake climbed the stairs all the way from the garden to here?”
“Well, I see what you mean.”
I clutched the blanket firmly.
“Rona, please take good care of this snake.”
“Yes. Wait a minute, what?”
She glanced at me as if she was wondering whether what I said was real. I simply nodded.
“I think I need to double-check something.”
Rona nodded her head, a disbelieving expression on her face.
“And…” I said, my eyes twinkling.
“We have somewhere we need to go later.”
***
“Do you really need to do all of this?”
Rona glanced at me as she clutched the box containing the snake. I was covered in a dark robe and seated in the carriage.
“Yeah. Otherwise, how am I going to get out?”
In response, I raised my head and gazed at the massive man in the coachman’s seat.
“Are you okay, Jean?”
“Of course.”
Jean nodded and giggled.
“After all, I have to go out for the fish auction.”
The only way Jean could slip me out of the Duke’s home at daybreak was to go to the dock for the fish auction.
This was the greatest method to go without being noticed because he personally drove the carriage to the fish auction. There were no other options because I had already used my monthly leave.
I have somewhere to be, so I’m more than willing to do it this way.
“Then I’ll come get you later.”
Jean left me in front of Walter’s drugstore before heading to the docks.
Thump, thump, thump.
I pounded on the door from the outside. Not long after, a bleary eyed Walter opened the door for me.
“Wh… Who… Ugh?”
“I need to come in.”
I shoved Walter aside and walked into the pharmacy. Rona, who was entering for the first time, started to look around the store, intrigued.
“Walter, I have something I need you to look at.”
“What on earth is going on at this hour of the morning?”
Walter turned on the light in the drugstore, a puzzled expression on his face.
“Could you take a look at this?”
As I leaned the box against the table, I spoke.
“What exactly is it?”
“Look. Walter, do you know how to handle snakes?”
“That’s a snake?”
Walter gave me a furious glance before turning his focus to the wooden box. He cautiously lifted the top and examined the bag inside.
“….This snake is difficult to capture.”
“Huh?”
A snake that is difficult to obtain. What exactly does that mean?
“It’s a venomous snake that only lives in other countries. How did you come across this?”
Walter examined the snake with interest, turning it this way and that.
“A venomous snake?”
“Yes. The poison, however, is so weak that it merely produces minor swelling and irritation.”
“So, you wouldn’t die if it bites you?”
“With the venom this guy possesses? Certainly not. And it’s alive, hm.”
“Huh? I’m sure it got hit a few times…”
“Yes, it appears to have fainted.”
Rona and I hugged each other firmly after Walter’s calm response.
“Um, Walter? So this snake can’t truly hurt anyone?”
“Hurt someone? It could anger someone a little.”
Could they have released the snake with that small goal in mind?
“Well, there’s certainly a reason for keeping it.”
“What would be the purpose?”
“This snake’s venom is extremely beneficial in a variety of ways. It’s extremely useful for producing pain relievers and contraceptives.”
Walter’s eyes shone with excitement as he glanced at the snake.
“So, you’re giving this to me?”
“Huh? Well, sure…”
I nodded without thinking about it.
“Anyway, this snake isn’t native to this country, right?”
“That’s correct. It’s a really pricey snake.”
Walter was now humming a song happily.
“The venom of this snake is refined and used in medicine. However, it is very costly. It’s a lovely little thing.”
“Ah.”
As I listened to Walter’s statements, I became increasingly perplexed.
‘Why would anything like that be prowling about the mansion?’
Rona, who was standing next to me, appeared to be thinking the same thing and looked at me.
“It appears that someone’s pet escaped.”
“… You think someone was raising it?”
“Yes. It’s not a native species, therefore it’s obvious that someone has been taking good care of it.”
“I see…” I murmured incoherently.
Raising a snake? It was entirely unexpected. I had thought something was odd, since the snake I saw in the garden was very different to this one, but I never imagined it might be a pet.
“Thank you for letting me know, Walter.”
“I’m the one who should be thanking you Selene. This is more than enough to cover the booze you took last time.”
Walter chuckled and motioned with his hand.
* * *
Rona and I exited the drugstore and re-boarded Jean’s carriage.
“Did you finish what you needed to do?”
I nodded in response to Jean’s query.
“Yes. Do you think I could occasionally ask for your help like this?”
Although I asked tentatively, he easily consented.
“Of course. I can offer you a ride whenever you want, My Lady. However, I can’t do anything about the fishy smell, I’m afraid.”
“It doesn’t really matter.”
The carriage seemed much heavier than when we first rode it. It was because of the fish that had been loaded into the cargo room.
“I have some really fresh ones. They’ve been picked with care since they’ll be served at the duke’s table.”
“You’ve put in a lot of effort. We can constantly eat wonderful food thanks to you.”
“No, no, it’s all because of you, my lady. You’ve given us the finest kitchen and best ingredients.”
“Yes.”
“Of course, Greta doesn’t seem happy.”
“…Is that so?”
“Usually, the person with the most money has the most say. But she must be furious since she can’t touch the kitchen budget anymore.”
Jean hummed contentedly with that.
The carriage arrived at the duke’s mansion without incident.
I stepped out of the carriage and glanced around. It was still dawn, and the sky was still fairly dark. It would be ideal if I could run back to my room and pretend to be asleep without anyone noticing.
I hurried my pace.
“…Strange.”
I turned to face the building where my room was.
“What is it, My Lady?”
“Someone’s in my room.”
I pointed to my room’s window.
The light was on, and several shadows were flitting behind the curtain.
“It seems they noticed my absence.”
“Uh-oh. So, what should we do?”
“….”
This was also unexpected.
“Who on earth is doing this?”
I was irritated, but it was more important now to come up with a plan.
“…”
I looked down at my bandaged hand.
“Madam?”
“Rona, you return to your room. Assume you don’t know anything.”
“And what about you, My Lady?”
“I need to create an alibi.”
Of course, I’ll require assistance.
* * *
The corridor leading to Amoide’s chamber was still completely dark. I moved slowly, trying to kill the sound of my footsteps, but when I reached his door, I hesitated. It had just occurred to me how ridiculous this was. Do I think he’ll agree to my request?
I stood uneasily in front of the room, and sighed deeply.
“I’ve come this far…”
But it felt like too much of an intrusion to ask for his assistance. I sighed and turned around to head back.
Creak.
I looked around at the source of the noise and noticed the door was half open. From within, a strong arm suddenly reached out.
“Uh…?”
I was seized by that arm and pulled inside without any chance to react.
Thud.
The sound of the door closing behind me was really loud. The room filled with oppressive silence after the door was shut. That man’s expression immobilized me as he held me lightly by both arms.
“…” I gulped loudly.
I couldn’t move because there was that magic in his blue eyes that seemed to stop people in their tracks.
“What’s the matter?”
He cast an inquisitive glance down at me.
“Why are you loitering outside someone else’s room at this ungodly hour?”
