Chapter 19
✿ -Well, of course. Canus’ eyes shined with anticipation that he would finally receive all the powder. Unfortunately, however, it was just half the amount that fell to Canus. -Hey, sister. That’s different. Are you cheating? “Your answer wasn’t correct.” Sophina made a lame excuse. Canus didn’t lose and responded cynically. -What are you saying? I told you everything, and you’re a total thief! “If you’re good to me, I’ll give you the rest.” Sophina couldn’t give it all to him right now. I had to leave something to use as evidence to interrogate the maids. The little snake, unaware of such intentions, responded somewhat sternly. -Why? Do you want me to show you my belly? Sophina trembled and swallowed dry saliva, and continued to ignore him. When Sophina gave no answer, the fierce words and actions of Canus soon changed like a flipping palm. -Whoa, I’m upset! Canus eventually… started playing tricks. The sight of a little snake rolling on the desk and winking in a cute way. ‘It’s obviously a viper, but why do I feel like I don’t have to be wary?’ Sophina touched her forehead with her hand and clicked her tongue. Canus pretended not to hear it and continued to act cute that was ruined. Sophina no longer paid any attention to him, and she had time to contemplate alone. ‘Anyway, now I could call the maids and ask them.’ Just as she was making up her mind, the door opened with a small knock. It was Ricardo who appeared through the open door. As soon as he entered the room, he spoke coldly to himself. “…The smell of reptiles.” Finely frowning eyebrows, lost its original straight line, and a voice that was as cold as snow. He looked a little nervous for some reason. It was a matter of course. Because the lions were lofty territorial animals that didn’t allow anyone on their own space. Sophina glanced at Ricador with a blank look. Then, suddenly, I felt the cold and slippery scales on my neck. ‘Why was the little snake hanging from the nape of my neck?’ Canus whined, patting Sophina’s neck lightly with his tail. -Sister, do something about the lion! He seemed to have been frightened by Ricardo, who had a cold atmosphere. Yet he suddenly clings to me, it’s unbelievable. ‘What kind of scarf lizard are you…?’ Sophina sighed. As she sighed, she placed her chin and hands on the little snake’s body that was wrapped around her neck like a scarf. ‘It’s pitiful, but it’s terrible that it’s a snake wrapped around a bird’s neck.’ No matter how dangerous a little snake looks, wasn’t it a natural enemy for birds? I was going to take him off from my neck quickly. At that touch, Canus proudly shouted at Ricardo. -Hey! He seemed to have thought Sophina would side with him. How could you live that much just because you invaded the territory? Was there a personality problem? Such a little snake’s threat didn’t last long. -Huh? “Get off my neck.” Since he heard Sophina’s chilly voice. Sophina cursed with her eyes. With the determination to soak him in snake liquor right away, it was chilly. -Yes… Somehow, as if he had listened to those words, Canus crept down. Only then did Sophina relax her expression. “Something funny was rolling.” Ricardo, who was looking at the rare sight, laughed as if it was fun. -Sigh… After a while, Canus, who became sullen, secretly spoke to Sophina. -Do you wear perfume sister? To the sudden question, Sophina answered in a skeptical tone. “No. By the way, did you thump my neck?” Even with Sophina’s puzzled expression on her face, Canus expressed his doubts clearly. -Why does my sister smell like men’s perfume? It smells like a cool moon sprinkled on it. ‘What are you saying now?’ (Sophina) During Sophina’s dark day, Canus spoke out. -I have a great sense of smell. It got worse after that lion came in. What does that mean? Sophina squinted and blinked slowly and pondered for a moment. At that moment, Ricardo trudged over to her and sat loosely on the bed next to the desk. His gaze was fixed on the little snake. “You seem to have become quite friendly. With that baby snake.” (Ricardo) However, the words without a single laughter fluttered towards Sophina. ‘Ricardo doesn’t seem to like that snake very much. That’s true. It was like that in the original, too.’ (Sophina) She sneakily changed the subject. “Where have you been? You weren’t there in the morning when I woke up.” Instead of answering, Ricardo gently wiped his cheek down the back of his hand. The pale skin had a slight scratch on it. Like being hit by someone’s foot. ‘Haha, no way…! I hope I didn’t do that.’ (Sophina) When I woke up in the morning, the bedding was a mess. Was my sleeping habit rough? Sophina lowered her head and stared only at the ground, struggling. Suddenly, I was a little ashamed of yesterday’s dark history. ‘Being friends would be very difficult.’ Ricardo tilted his head obliquely with a still and calm look. She also awkwardly leaned back. Ricardo muttered a little, as if trying to keep her from squealing. The voice showed a weak playfulness. “My cheeks are tingling because of someone.” (Ricardo) ‘It’s me.’ (Sophina) Sophina couldn’t find a place to look, so she rolled her gaze around. Following her gaze, Ricardo’s laughter grew stronger. At first glance, he asked sarcastically. “How are you going to take responsibility, madam?” Ricardo slowly lifted the corners of his lips. Perhaps because it was a lion, a beast among the wild beasts, I felt a strange pressure even though he smiled. There was a strange tension. “Are you okay? Were you surprised?” Sophina cut through the stillness and creaked like a wooden doll. To that, Ricador replied leisurely. “It’s not okay and I was a bit surprised…” “Oh… Yes, I see.” Sophina responded awkwardly. How could I respond more? While Sophina was at a loss for what to do, Ricardo spoke to her. “By the way, did you find out something from that snake?” It sounds like you know something. “Oh! That’s… Hmm?” The end of Sophina’s voice, who had been reflexively receiving the words, went up in surprise. ‘He could see from here and there.’ Sophina pursed her lips and glanced at Ricardo. When the admiration that it was a really good day came out, a good idea flashed into my mind. ‘Wouldn’t it be okay if Ricardo was present when interrogating the maids?’ Wouldn’t it help in some way because he’s the strongest in the novel’s worldview? Sophina mustered up the courage and carefully spoke. “I’m planning to find the culprit who released this snake in the garden.” Sophina’s eyes, who continued to talk about it, shook aimlessly. “Would you like to come with me…?” Ricardo’s eyes widened for a moment. Canus looked at the two alternately and caught the wind. -What, what’s this atmosphere? At that fair voice, she blew out the little snake’s voice with a loud voice. “If you want to even get this, you have to do better from now on, right?” Sophina shook the pocket with the remaining powder. The little snake groaned and lowered its tail. -Oh, okay. You’re being really cheeky. Canus wrapped himself to her arms, saying that, ‘Let’s solve it quickly!’ -Hurry up, let’s go. An adorable snake-shaped bracelet appeared on Sophina’s forearm. A cold, slippery feel touched her skin again. It was annoying, but I let it go because it would fall on its own over time. “Huh?” But for a moment, a little snake fell between the pens. Ricardo suddenly grabbed the snake’s tail and wrapped it around his wrist. He gently lifted the corners of his lips smoothly. “Oh, I actually like snakes a lot.” (Ricardo) Oh, that doesn’t sound good. A little snake naturally acted cute with an excuse that didn’t seem like it at all. -If you could, would you call me a baby snake, brother? “Yes, snake.” Ricard replied calmly but brutally. Canus drooped down when his cute act didn’t work. Then he complained like a child who tasted the bitterness of life. -Ah, I’m still seven. Snake’s painful. Ricardo left the room without hesitation. Sophina followed closely behind. They walked along the hallways quite friendly. The destination was the room Sophina had originally used. Because I hid the laundry basket there that would serve as another piece of evidence. While walking side by side, Sophina explained the whole story to Ricardo. The fact that the culprits are like maids and that she heard their conspiracy the other day. And everything, including the little snake holding the key. Upon hearing the explanation, his eyes were as peaceful as a calm lake. ‘As expected, you know something.’ Sophina stared at him with a suspicious look. Feeling the gaze, Ricardo also looked down at her leisurely. ‘What?’ ‘I don’t think you want to have a staring contest.’ (Sophina) Sophina shifted her gaze somewhere else. Then, she fiddled with her soft cheeks for no reason. She thought there was something on her face. -There’s nothing on it. So keep doing what you were doing. At that time, the little snake hit the poke on her head, perhaps because he read her mind. ‘Anyway, you want me to keep doing what I was doing?’ Sophina casually looked up at him again. Their gaze were intertwined in the air. Blue eyes with cracks as if swirling around in a whirlpool. Sophina hurriedly lowered her gaze to the eyes that resemble those of a beast. Sophina pressed for no reason. Without saying anything. As a result, I quickly arrived at my original room. White wallpaper and neat interior. Due to the creation of a new room, this place became Sophina’s private office, but nothing has changed. It’s only been a day since the beginning. Sophina familiarly settled on the sofa in the middle of a spacious room. Ricardo naturally sat down next to her. And, of course, the little snake hanging from his arm. It’s been 15 minutes since they sat like that. Canus, who was nodding to the rhythm, whined as if he was bored. -But, when would the maids presumed to be the culprits arrive? “Well. I ordered a servant I met while passing by to bring the maids, so they’ll be here soon.” At the same time, the maids appeared right away, as the saying goes that even a tiger would come when you call it. “Did you call, Madam Sophina?” Bowing and being polite towards Ricardo. There was a slight bewilderment look on their faces. “The Lord was also there.” And the moment they saw Canus wrapped around Ricardo’s wrist, the faces of the maids were colored with astonishment. One of the maids managed to correct her distorted expression and asked in a slightly trembling voice. “Well, but that snake…?”