So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

Lily Ardene Solian.

A princess with a gentle heart who loves flowers.

Named after the lily, her nickname had long been 'Lily Princess.'

However, after an unfortunate accident,

She also gained the not-so-gentle nickname of 'Burned Lily.'

Those nasty people.

After spraying water, the mirror began to restore, but it would take some time to become completely clean.

We, the troublemakers, actually gained special treatment.

We got to stay here and chat for a while.

I introduced myself as Rania's pet.

Suddenly Rania became the naughty child who brought her pet (a venomous snake) into the Mirror Room, but there was nothing we could do about that unfairness.

"So kind. Like an angel."

I enjoyed the midday drowsiness on Lily's lap.

She gently stroked my body.

"Strangely, your scales are like crystal. How pretty."

'Right, my scales are quite impressive.'

"You have a crown too. Are you a prince? Or a princess?"

Of course, since I wasn't using the Crown of Connection, she couldn't hear my words.

She seems quite familiar with snakes.

"Sister, aren't you afraid of snakes?"

"There's nothing to fear. I've kept them before."

Being peers, had they already gotten close? Lily quickly dropped formal speech.

"In the palace?"

"Yes, well, not exactly me, but Phili kept one."

"Ah, I see. Why didn't he mention that?"

When Rania muttered, Lily's eyes grew round.

Rania noticed that gaze and waved her hands.

"Ah, I'm close with His Highness the Prince. Speaking informally is because of Emerald School's rules... though royalty is an exception, but Prince Phili..."

"No no, it's fine. And I already knew. Phili said he made two friends."

"...You seemed surprised."

Lily gave a bitter smile.

"I was surprised. I didn't know he'd made real friends. I thought he was lying."

"Ah, hahaha!"

"Such a hearty laugh."

Indeed.

Rania asked more of what I was curious about.

"How did you come to manage the Mirror Room?"

From what I heard, none other than Lily herself manages this mysterious national treasure of the palace.

It didn't seem like an easy task, so I wondered why she volunteered for such a troublesome job.

"I have no right to succession, and I like this mirror."

That makes me wonder what she sees reflected in it.

"Want to see? Once the crack is fixed."

"Yes."

The mirror seems close to being fully restored.

I moved to Rania's wrist.

And made her ask that question.

'No, that's...'

'Why?'

'It might be too sensitive a question.'

'?'

Rania hesitated to relay my question.

'It's not something we can't ask.'

'I don't think we need to ask...'

Then Rania sighed deeply and asked.

"By any chance."

"Yes?"

"I'm not sure if this is rude to ask..."

"Oh, this?"

Lily smiled as if understanding, and lifted her veil to show the burn scars on her face.

"I got hurt when I was young, got scalding water poured on me."

"Ah..."

I see.

That's what I was curious about.

Lily explained without any hesitation.

Rania let out an internal sigh.

'That took ten years off my life.'

'But how did a princess end up getting scalding water poured on her? Can't they fix it?'

Lily explained without even being asked.

"I wanted to fix it too, but they say it's difficult. Using potions incorrectly at first made it worse. They'd have to reopen all the wounds, and after time passes, even healing magic can't restore scars."

Come to think of it, I've seen many people with scars.

Even that Golden Leaf Investigator elf who was chasing me had a large scar on his eye.

Just in case, I asked Pelerian.

'Is there no way to fix it?'

"Of course there is. In a world where even severed limbs can be reattached."

Pelerian said with a snort.

But while it's possible, it must not be easy.

Even Lily, a princess of a nation, couldn't remove her scars.

"Want to see how I look in the mirror?"

"Ah... yes."

She makes such an offer more casually than expected.

"I've never shown anyone before."

Whether that's true or not, that's what Lily said.

To show us something so precious.

We waited nervously for the mirror to be restored.

Lily stood at the front.

She completely removed her veil.
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Tsutsusu...

An image began to form in the restored mirror.

"Wow..."

Rania let out a pure exclamation.

"It's beautiful."

"Saa..."

It was magnificent.

Absolutely magnificent.

It truly was an angelic appearance.

Because behind the grown-up Lily's back were large wings.

And the scars on her face had completely disappeared.

"I like seeing this form..."

"It's really amazing."

"But humans can't have wings, so I don't know what it means."

Humans cannot evolve.

Therefore, they cannot grow wings.

Or could they be artificial wings? Like magic?

"I hope that future comes true."

"The Mirror of Essence doesn't show the future though."

"But sometimes what you see in the mirror does come true."

"That's true."

I had Rania extend her hand.

And tapped Lily's hand.

"Oh my, it's like it's trying to tell me something."

"Ah..."

Rania didn't relay my words.

'Someday, when there's a way to remove scars, I'll help you. We owe you for today.'

That's what I said.

"Why didn't Phili tell us about his angelic sister?"

Rania muttered.

To that, Lily said.

"Angelic? Not at all. Rather the opposite."

"You shouldn't say that..."

"And Phili feels guilty towards me."

"Guilty?"

"Yes, he's the one who spilled the hot water."

The princess gave a bitter smile.

==

"Huaak!"

Phili woke up screaming.

Cold sweat was streaming down his whole body.

"What, mmm, what's wrong?"

"..."

The scream seems to have woken Amain too.

Phili spoke with a trembling voice.

"N-nothing. Just had a bad dream."

"What... mmm."

Amain quickly fell back asleep.

Phili also lay back down to try to sleep.

But the dream he just had was too disturbing.

His body was cold with sweat, and sleep wouldn't come at all.

'That memory...'

An old memory had surfaced.

Lily Ardene.

His sister from a different mother, whom Phili had greatly looked up to.

Phili, who ruined his sister's face by spilling a boiling teapot.

And...

'It's your fault, you bastard!'

His sister screaming and crying while wearing a veil.