As promised, the children returned to the side of the black snake with the same eyes as before. How could I have turned a blind eye to these lovely people? The black snake raised itself.
They could no longer be watched by white snakes. If only humans were safe. If only the descendants left by the children the black snake loved hadn’t been touched, he might have put everything down and slept.
But he already knew the moment Gerald descended the abyss that a white snake would never have his children. Just as the black snake noticed that Gerald was a human in the beginning, the white snake also figured out that only Gerald could set the black snake free.
“Thank you for coming back.” The black snake spat out its true feelings. The black snake would always protect Gerald and Louella. This time, Gerald opened his eyes. It wasn’t the hazy look he had when came down in a mess, but his eyes were sparkling with life.
Gerald whispered. “Why are you crying? Don’t cry. Don’t feel weak. I believe in you, but you can’t——-” The black snake chuckled as it listened to his fading words.
Long ago, he remembered him wiping the lonely black snake’s tears away with the palm of his hand. Still, this human being was lovely and affectionate. The black snake nodded. “I promise. I’ll be strong for you.”
* * *
Arthur, Mercé, and Alexid also began to act. Having confirmed that Louella was safe, they had to find a way to get her out of there.
“It would be better to leak the High Priest’s impeachment to the press, as Louella said.”
“I invited Viscountess Keynes. If you ask, they’ll write an article for you.”
“Father, what should I do?” Alexid asked nervously.
Arthur and Merce’s eyes were on him. They knew that he always cared about Louella even when they quarreled and he would always stand by her side during the hardest times.
However, Alexid hadn’t been able to drink water properly since he learned that Louella was detained by none other than the Crown Prince. As Merce stood there in discomfort, She told Alexid in a soothingly soft voice. “Don’t worry too much, Alexid. Soon, Louella will come back to us.” Alexid chewed his lip and nodded.
“I can’t lose you either, so it’s better not to go to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince I saw yesterday wasn’t human at all.” Merce continued with a subdued look.”It looked more like a monster than a human being. Either that or a God. Whatever it may be, the current Crown Prince isn’t normal. It’s not something you can confront.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Go to Gerald, Alexid. I think he’s trying to do something and he’s gonna need your help. Help him.”
“Yes, mother.” Alexid hesitated before kissing Mercé on the forehead.
Alexid, whose lips had touched her skin lightly and withdrew, flashed them a bitter smile. “I’ll be back. Mother. Father.”
Arthur embraced Alexid, patted him on the shoulder, and let him go.
His face darkened as he watched him leave the mansion.
“Both of our children will be fine, right?”
“We have to make it happen. Honey, can I meet the knights?”
“Yes.” Arthur’s eyes glowed brightly.
In the meantime, he was preparing to go back to the old days by conserving his already exhausted stamina from the training while suffering from Nisephor. As he recovered enough to be able to work, Arthur’s momentum returned.
Knightly sharpness and spirit were still present in Arthur.
Arthur firmly held Merce’s hand. “I’ll do whatever I can. We need to bring our daughter back.”
“See you in the evening.” Arthur kissed Mercé and left the room.
Left alone, Merce rubbed her face. After taking a deep breath, she ordered the maid.
“The mansion will be cracked down. Tell the head maid and the butler to close all the windows and barricade the door. No one will be coming in and going out. After that, call the head butler, and the head maid over here.”
“Yes, Duchess!” The servants reading the urgent situation with Louella, who hadn’t returned yet, moved quickly.
Not long after, the head maid and the butler came into the bedroom. There was an order to be given to the two people in charge of the mansion.