It was then. The door burst open before I even approached it.

“Young master, it’s time for dinner!”

My mouth fell open.

It was already time for Sophia and Delma to come.

‘Right, the snake!’

Startled, I quickly looked back.

Fortunately, the silver snake had hidden itself in the meantime.

Thanks to that, I was once again trapped in the room, unable to move.

‘What should I do, what should I do?’

I had to go out, and as I nervously looked at the door, Sophia spoke to me with a smile.

“Young master, tonight’s dinner is your favorite pumpkin soup, it will be delicious, right?”

Without realizing it, I took a sharp breath. The smell was somehow sweet.

Maybe smelling the delicious aroma made me hungry, but I realized I was incredibly hungry.

‘……I’ll think after eating the soup.’

You need to eat to gain strength, after all.

After eating dinner, I patted my full stomach.

“Young master, come this way.”

Delma naturally tried to lead me to the bed.

I hastily spoke up.

“I’m going to play outside!”

“You can’t, it’s already dark outside. Instead, I’ll read you a fairy tale.”

Delma excitedly spread out the fairy tale book she had brought before me.

“Now, what should I read first?”

‘I need to go out.’

Thinking about it, I always went for a walk during the bright daytime, so of course, they wouldn’t let me out late in the evening.

I suppressed a sigh that was about to escape and casually chose the closest fairy tale book.

“Once upon a time, there was a woodcutter……”

I didn’t hear a word of what Delma was reading.

What I thought had been resolved was wrong from the beginning.

My mind was in turmoil because of that thought.

‘Now that I think about it, it’s already quiet outside, isn’t it?’

Earlier, people had gathered in front of the main gate and continued to protest, but while I was squabbling with the divine beast, they all seemed to have been chased away.

‘……They were just chased away, right?’

By rough estimate, there seemed to be at least twenty people.

Seeing them disappear all at once made me feel uneasy.

‘No, no, even if he’s a Duke, he can’t arrest so many people without reason.’

On top of that, I hadn’t thought about it in my haste earlier, but even if I were to leave the room right away, finding the Earl secretly without anyone else noticing would be a daunting task.

‘Even if I find the Earl without a problem, that’s an issue.’

From the Earl’s point of view, I was just a child brought by the Duke.

He might even think that me trying to help him was a trap set up by the Duke.

‘But the chances are high that the Earl is not the culprit.’

I couldn’t ignore an innocent person being framed.

‘I need to find the real culprit.’

To do that, my strength alone was not enough. Turning my head, I saw the white tail of the snake swaying under the bed.

A faint complaint from the divine beast was heard.

[This loathsome foodlike thing…]

I opened my eyes wide.

Going to find the Duke by myself was not a good idea, no matter how much I thought about it. But it wasn’t like there was no way at all.

‘I really didn’t want to ask the divine beast for help.’

I sighed deeply.

[This is a time separator.]

“Then have sweet dreams, baby.”

The light was turned off, and the sound of the door closing was heard.

Only after I thought everyone had gone did I slowly move my body to the side.

“Hey.”

[….]

“Divine beast.”

[….]

There was no answer. It was surely under the bed, though.

With narrowed eyes, I called it again.

“Silver snake.”

[You called me a snake again!]

A voice rang out in my head. Startled, I habitually covered my ears.

It was no use, though, as it wasn’t a sound that could be heard with ears.

From under the bed, a round white object poked its head out.

[I’m not a snake, I’m not a snake! You most insignificant creature in this world!]

“Right, right! You are the coolest divine beast in the world.”

As I quickly replied, the angry silver snake calmed down.

It slowly crawled up onto the bed.

[Do you really think so?]

“Yes, of course!”

The silver snake thrust its head into the bed, then burrowed into the blanket.

Soon, the blanket wriggled, and its white head appeared right beside me.

[Will you make a contract with me then?]

“No, not that.”

As I firmly replied, the silver snake looked gloomy again.

But it didn’t go away immediately. Instead, it slyly placed its small head on my hand.

‘It looks cute when I see it often.’

Though it looked like a snake, it didn’t feel disgusting.

Was it because it was a divine beast, not a real snake?

Anyway, I had no intention of making a contract with the divine beast. The contract with the divine beast is not my role; it’s the male lead’s role.

Instead, I called him out in the middle of the night because I had a favor to ask.

“I’m not making a contract, but I have a favor to ask you.”

[If I do you this favor, will you make a contract with me?]

“I told you I’m not contracting with you!”

As I spoke with narrowed eyes, the divine beast drooped again.

[Then I won’t do it.]

I knew it would say that. That’s why I had something prepared.

“Wait a moment.”

I fumbled through my bag and pulled out a sparkling bead.

A wavelike pattern was embedded in the transparent bead.

It sparkled beautifully in the moonlight.

I found this item when I was wandering around the mansion to run away.

It looked quite valuable, so I hid it deep in my bag.

‘It’s a pity, but…’

There was no other way. This was the only way to coax the silver snake without making a contract.

“If you do my favor, I’ll give you this.”

The snake raised its head.

Its tongue flickered, seeming very interested.

[What is this?]

“Something you like.”

Something shiny and pretty.

I smiled.