The Harvest Mouse Exits the Fairytale Together with Cinderella

"The Third Young Master?"

Was it just an ordinary snake passing by?
There was no reason for an ordinary snake to be found on the terrace, but she forced herself to consider the possibility.
However, it looked far too similar to the snake she had seen in the garden before.

More than anything, its eyes were red.
No matter how she looked at it, it was clearly Karon.
"Weren't you supposed to be hiding the fact that you're a snake?"

Wasn't this entrance a bit too bold?
What was he planning to do if people found out that the Third Young Master was actually a snake?
But as Elodie silently stared at him, the black snake flinched.

Judging by his reaction, he hadn't expected to be discovered.
"Is he going to run away?"
She had no idea what his business was, but she had just caught sight of him sneaking out of the secluded palace. She couldn’t afford to waste this opportunity.

Taking advantage of the moment when the snake was distracted, Elodie quickly rushed forward and grabbed him.
Well, "grabbed" might be an overstatement. He was too long and heavy, so all she managed to do was lift him up by the waist.
"My lady!"

Eagles gasped from beside her.
"Wait, did you just pick up a venomous snake with your bare hands?! Put it down immediately!"
"…Ego nugundi moregesso? (I don’t know who this is?)"

"That's a black mamba! My god, that’s a venomous snake capable of killing ten grown men just by grazing them—how did it even get here…?!"
And yet you’re telling me to put him down?
Eagles was flailing in panic, unable to approach in fear that Elodie would be bitten.
Even as Duke Valkyrisen’s aide, he clearly had no idea that this snake was Karon.

To be fair, when beastfolk remained silent while in their animal forms, even other beastfolk often found it difficult to distinguish them from real animals.
"If even Eagles doesn’t know, that must mean Grandfather is going to great lengths to keep Karon’s identity a secret."
After all, he had been present when Karon was adopted. There was no way Duke Valkyrisen didn’t know.

If that was the case, then Elodie absolutely couldn’t let it slip that she recognized the snake's true identity.
She spoke nonchalantly.
"Gwenchana, na mullyeodo anjuga. (It’s fine, I won’t die even if I get bitten.)"

"What kind of nonsense is that?!"
"Gureonde Eagles-neun jugeul geol. (But Eagles would die.)"
Elodie clutched the snake’s waist tightly and stepped back, as if warning Eagles not to come any closer.

Eagles looked as though he was about to tear his neatly tied-up hair out in sheer frustration.
"I can't tell whether you're fearless or just completely reckless!"
It’s not like he was a real snake…

Even Elodie found herself surprised.
Even knowing that tiger beastfolk weren’t real tigers, they still terrified her.
Dogs and cats were even worse.

"But why…?"
Snakes ate harvest mice in a single bite.
And she had nearly died from a snakebite before.

Granted, the snake that bit her had weak venom, nothing comparable to a black mamba.
Still, wasn’t that more than enough to instill a lifelong fear of snakes?
Then why wasn’t Karon scary?

Because he was a Basilisk?
Because her rage toward Nyx Basilisk had burned away any fear?
"That must be it."

Elodie eyed the snake in her hands with curiosity.
But beyond all that—
"He’s actually… kind of pretty for a snake."

His eyes were round, his head was round.
His gentle-looking eyes gleamed like polished gemstones, and when he occasionally flicked his tongue out, it looked… cute.
The moment the thought crossed her mind, Elodie felt the overwhelming urge to bash her own head with the Holy Hammer.

Cute?
How could I think a snake is cute?!
A Basilisk's bloodline, no less!

Fine, maybe objectively he was beautiful, but cute? No way!
She shook her head vigorously, forcing the absurd thought away.
"But he's really just sitting there like a doll. That’s unusual…"

Even after all this time, the snake showed no signs of aggression.
Eagles, who had been silently watching, finally spoke with an awkward expression.
"That’s odd. Normally, a snake like that would attack anything in its path without hesitation."

That was true.
Elodie turned her gaze to Karon, silently demanding an explanation.
Of course, no answer came.

"He looks so docile like this."
Then again, the way he hurled objects at people on impulse proved he did have a temper.
"Hmm. And he let you catch him so easily, too. That’s strange. He’s a snake that can outrun people if he wants to."

Eagles peered at Karon with interest.
"He must have been raised by humans. Someone must have smuggled him into the castle without permission."
Having calmed down from his earlier panic, he adjusted his glasses sharply, his stern bureaucratic demeanor returning.

It was clear he was already planning to track down and punish the supposed "smuggler."
Elodie felt a pang of sympathy for whatever unfortunate outsider had wandered into Valkyrisen territory at the wrong time.
"If Eagles thinks he's domesticated, that means if I don’t act fast, he’ll probably be captured…"

Even now, Eagles was eyeing the snake like he wanted nothing more than to toss it far, far away.
His fidgeting posture made it obvious he wanted Elodie as far from the snake as possible.
"Khm, geuraedo na-neun Ratson-ira baem-hante muryodo jeol-dae an-jukneunda-go. (Khm, but I’m from the Ratson family, so I absolutely won’t die from a snake bite.)"

Elodie coughed and deliberately repeated herself.
She acted like she was speaking to Eagles, but in truth, she was saying it for Karon to hear.
"Geurigu nae yeppe it-seumyeon Magic Cotton-do deo se-jigo, Sera-neun na yeppe it-seumyeon geongang-haejinda-go haet-go… (And when I’m around, Magic Cotton gets stronger, and Sera said she feels healthier when I’m near…)"

And without being prompted, she began listing off her abilities.
"Piro-do sarajigo, jeong-shin-do ttoryeotaejigo, ma-eum-do pyeon-an-haejigo… (Fatigue disappears, focus improves, and people feel at ease…)"
What else?

Her words started to trail off.
She hadn’t learned much about her healing abilities yet, so she didn’t have much to brag about.
But she had to make it sound as impressive as possible. Otherwise, he might refuse to let her visit the secluded palace next time.

Sensing her growing desperation, Eagles nodded solemnly.
"Of course. My lady is truly remarkable. Someday, you’ll be able to grant life to inanimate objects and even revive the dead."
"Th-that’s a bit much."

That was a one-way ticket to losing all credibility.
Sure, maybe if she worked hard, she could get close to that level someday, but right now, it sounded completely delusional.
Or like a cult leader…

Elodie shifted her gaze and suddenly noticed an injury on the snake’s tail.
It was a deep, jagged wound, as if something sharp had pierced and then been pulled out.
"When did he get hurt?"

Had it happened recently?
Though the bleeding had stopped, the injury looked severe enough to leave a scar.
"This is it!"

She could fix this in an instant.
Elodie pulled out a healing salve from her pocket.
She gently set the snake down and scooped up a generous amount of the ointment with her fingers.

"Apa-du dya-kan chama. (Even if it hurts, just bear with it for a moment.)"
The moment Elodie's fingers touched the snake’s tail, its body flinched violently, shuddering as if jolted by electricity.
"Apa-sseo?" (Did it hurt?)

"……."
With more care, she smeared the ointment generously along the tip of its tail. The moment the salve was absorbed, the wound healed instantly, leaving not even the faintest scar behind.
'See that?'

This was what it meant to be from the Ratson lineage.
There was absolutely no reason for him to avoid her.
Feeling triumphant, Elodie lifted her head with confidence—

But the snake was already gone.
"……."
What the hell.

He hadn't slithered away like a normal snake. No, he had sprung into the air and disappeared as if he had been launched from a catapult.
She had heard before that he was faster than most people, but…
Did that mean a snake with no legs could actually jump?

How was that even possible?
"Tsk. Did he return to his master?"
If they had managed to chase him down, they could have caught the criminal responsible for smuggling a venomous snake into Valkyrisen territory.

Eagles clicked his tongue in frustration, lamenting that he hadn’t spread his wings earlier. If he had, he could have given chase immediately—there was no one in Valkyrisen faster in the air than him.
And all Elodie could do was stare blankly at the now-empty corridor.