Chapter 5
Just as I was feeling bewildered by the sudden game of hide-and-seek, I noticed something faintly moving beneath the pure white blanket.
Curious, I pulled the blanket back—and there was Mangdeok, curled up tightly inside.
…It seemed that, in his own way, he thought he was hiding. Unfortunately, it was a very poor disguise.
Well, what could I expect? He probably thought blending into a white blanket would help—but he was far too dirty to go unnoticed.
I reached out and grabbed his tail, dragging him out with ease.
Was he doing this because he didn’t want to be washed? I thought only cats hated water, but it seems snakes might be similar.
“Mangdeok, even if you hate water, there’s no choice. Because…!”
I trailed off slightly, and Mangdeok, anticipating my next words, seemed to swallow nervously.
The reason is—
“…you’re way too filthy.”
His once brilliantly white scales were now covered in black dirt, and his smooth skin had turned rough and dry.
I hadn’t been in the right state of mind last night to notice properly. If I had known he was this dirty, I would’ve washed him much earlier.
At my blunt and firm answer, Mangdeok’s once sparkling eyes dimmed in shock.
Ignoring his trembling golden gaze, I mercilessly carried him to the bathroom.
Once inside, I set him down and began taking off my clothes one by one.
Meanwhile, I noticed that Mangdeok had his eyes tightly shut.
Does he hate water that much…? At this rate, I’m not sure I can wash him properly.
Sitting in the bathtub, I carefully picked him up.
I had heard that snakes need special oils to keep their skin smooth, but there was no way a rabbit’s bathroom would have such things.
“Mangdeok, this is rose oil. Let’s use this for now. It’s not as good as reptile oil… but once you put it on, the scent lasts for days.”
I squeezed a generous amount of oil into my hands and began rubbing it all over his body without hesitation.
From top to bottom, then bottom to top.
The more I applied, the stiffer his slender body became—like a wooden stick—which I found oddly amusing.
After thoroughly coating every part of him, I looked at him with quiet satisfaction.
But where his golden eyes should have been, they were still tightly shut, and all I could see was his scrunched-up, pitiful expression.
Judging by his face, he was quite displeased.
But what could I do? I’d already applied it! Now he was going to smell like bittersweet roses for days!
“Ah, so warm…”
Only after finishing with Mangdeok did I finally relax and continue my bath.
Letting my body sink into the warm water felt like heaven itself.
A lazy midday bath, and beside me, a beautiful white snake smelling of roses—
“…?”
There should be—but he’s not there? What? Where did he go again? He was right next to me just a moment ago!
My loosened tension snapped back instantly.
Drowsy from the warm bath and the scent of roses filling the room, I hadn’t noticed Mangdeok slipping away.
I quickly finished bathing and rushed back to my room.
But he wasn’t on the bed, under the pillow, or anywhere in the wardrobe.
The rose scent stopped abruptly inside my room, so it didn’t seem like he went out into the hallway… then where did he go?
As I looked around seriously, something caught my eye—the window, slightly open.
“…No way.”
Don’t tell me—after just one bath, he ran away without even saying goodbye? Seriously?
Of course, I knew I couldn’t keep a snake forever. I had expected that someday Mangdeok would leave me.
But I thought that would be after he had fully recovered.
Seeing his wounds still not healed made my chest feel uneasy.
The book never said snakes hated water, so I thought he was just being fussy… Ahh, this is all my fault for trusting that book too much.
A wild animal, once gone, is hard to meet again…
Thinking I might never see him again, a sigh slipped out.
Even though we were only together for a short time, my day with Mangdeok had been a fresh and new experience.
At first, I was worried I had brought in something dangerous—but not anymore.
To prepare for moments like this, I really should fix this soft-hearted tendency of mine… but it’s not easy.
“If I’d known, I would’ve fed him more before sending him off…”
For wild animals, getting a full meal outside isn’t easy.
And for a snake that has to live hidden, it would be even harder.
Lost in these heavy thoughts, I stood blankly by the window where Mangdeok’s trace had disappeared—when I noticed a familiar hair color in the distance.
Someone was approaching from not too far away.
Soon, a large shadow fell beneath the window.
“What are you doing there? Came out to welcome me?”
A familiar voice followed, warm and teasing.
“…Dean?”
“Hello, miss.”
His lips curved playfully into a smile.
Standing with the brilliant sun at his back, his red hair shone brilliantly.
His name was Dean—a pure-blooded red wolf beastman.
And my one and only childhood friend.
Poking his head through the open window, Dean stepped inside with practiced ease.
After roughly brushing back his wind-tousled hair, he looked at me standing still and smiled.
“I told you not to come in through the window.”
Watching him enter my room as if it were nothing, I let out a small complaint.
Dean had a habit of sneaking in through the window, and once, when a servant saw him, it caused quite a commotion with the guards.
Do you know how hard it was for me to clean that up?
“Then what should I do? Walk in proudly through the front gate?”
“You could just make an appointment like a normal person.”
“Yeah, like your father would welcome me.”
Unhappy with my answer, Dean ruffled my hair with his large hand.
“By the way, Luceline—you went to the imperial party yesterday, right? Did you see the Crown Prince?”
Sitting at the table, Dean casually took a sip from my teacup and asked.
“No, I didn’t. He didn’t show up.”
“Tch. I thought I’d finally see his face… He must really be a monster.”
“Don’t say that. No matter what he looks like, he’s the man I’m going to marry.”
Just as Dean said, the Crown Prince might really be a monster. Or maybe not.
But since no one had ever seen him, I couldn’t deny it either.
“Yeah, I know. That’s why I brought this.”
Nodding lightly, Dean stood up, his red eyes gleaming.
He stepped closer and reached toward my neck.
With a soft clinking sound, something cool settled against my collarbone.
Looking down, I saw a silver necklace with a small, dark red gem.
“What’s this?”
“A special necklace made from the blood of a pure-blood wolf. Don’t lose it. It’ll protect you from the Crown Prince.”
“Wow… a necklace made from blood? That’s a bit scary. Still, thank you—I’ll accept it. Thinking of it as a charm makes me feel better.”
As I laughed lightly and looked at the necklace, Dean’s warm expression suddenly turned cold.
His red eyes sharpened.
Then, with a face I had never seen before, he grabbed my wrist roughly.
“Luceline, what is this?”
He was staring at the wound on my wrist.
Ah—right, the injury! I forgot to cover it again after washing up.
Frowning deeply, as if he had seen something terrible, Dean examined it.
“Ah, this….”
If I said I was bitten by a snake, anyone would think I was crazy.
Most people believed that both snake beastmen—and snakes themselves—were extinct.
Still… maybe I could tell Dean. He knows I’m bad at lying. He’d believe me.
And while I’m at it, I could ask how to get rid of the bite mark quickly.
After briefly hesitating at his fierce expression, I spoke casually.
“Dean, it’s nothing to worry about. I was just bitten by a snake.”
Dean, who didn’t know the situation, was just worried about my injury.
Maybe because we’ve been close for so long, he reacts especially strongly to anything concerning me.
But even after hearing my explanation, his expression didn’t soften.
No—in fact…
He looked even angrier.
