The Fake Bride Offered to the Snake God - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I returned to the village with the medicine.

Malo was waiting for me at the cave entrance. Seeing me come out alive, his expression was uglier than if he’d seen a ghost.

He quickly smiled again.

“Ailia, the gods are merciful.”

I didn’t like him saying my name.

It felt like a cold, wet rope winding around my neck.

“The medicine?”

“Here.”

I showed him the empty bottle.

“I already drank it.”

Malo’s smile froze for a moment.

He reached out to grab my wrist.

I stepped back.

“Priest Malo, my brother is still waiting for me.”

Malo stared at me for a moment, then suddenly lowered his voice.

“What did the Snake God say to you?”

“He said I’m a terrible liar.”

Malo stared at me.

I stared back at him.

Finally, he stepped aside.

“Seven days later, don’t forget to go give thanks again.”

I didn’t reply and ran home with the medicine.

Norn was lying in bed, his face ashen.

I helped him sit up and fed him the medicine bit by bit.

Not long after he finished, his coughing lightened.

I held his hand and only then realized my palms were covered in sweat.

“Sis.” Norn said hoarsely, “You’re so cold.”

I smiled faintly.

“The Serpent Lair is cold.”

“Is the Snake God scary?”

I thought for a moment.

Scary.

But when he pressed his hand against my ear, it wasn’t so scary.

“He’s okay.”

Norn’s eyes brightened a little.

“Then what does he look like?”

“Like a noble with a very bad temper.”

“Does he eat people?”

“Not so far.”

Norn laughed twice, then started coughing again.

As I patted his back, I saw a faint pattern of scales emerging on the back of his neck.

My hand stopped.

The scales were silver-white.

The same color as Semyre’s serpent tail.

Norn noticed and shrank his neck.

“Sis, what’s wrong?”

I pulled the blanket up higher.

“Nothing.”

That night I didn’t sleep.

In the middle of the night, faint footsteps came from outside the yard.

I picked up the firewood knife and tiptoed to the door.

Outside, through the crack, stood two Temple Knights.

They wore white armor with the Silver Bell emblem carved on their chests.

One of them said: “The priest has confirmed it. That girl came out of the Serpent Lair alive.”

The other’s voice was lower.

“What about the child?”

“We’ll take him tomorrow night.”

“Don’t hurt the one with the red mole behind the ear. The High Priest said she might be the Vessel.”

A chill ran through my palms.

Vessel.

What Vessel?

Inside, Norn suddenly coughed.

The people outside immediately fell silent.

I gripped the knife tightly.

The next moment, a soft sound came from the window.

A small silver-white snake slithered in, its tail coiled around a Black Scale.

It raised its head to look at me.

Those dark golden eyes were exactly like Semyre’s.

The little snake opened its mouth.

Semyre’s voice came from its throat.

“Don’t open the door.”

“Take your brother and leave.”