So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

Why was the third prince here?

Despite the semester starting, no one had moved in as Amain's roommate.

He had wondered if someone would move in late due to circumstances, or if he would end up having the room to himself.

He had considered various possibilities.

But who would have thought that spot would belong to the third prince?

As royalty, he could have easily gotten a private room, or at least shared with a noble like Cal. Why specifically Amain's room?

Various complicated thoughts flashed through his mind.

However, Prince Phili was equally surprised.

Due to his father's strict orders, the prince was not to receive special treatment.

This included having to use a double room in the dormitory like a commoner.

He was a bit nervous, but that was all.

After all, ordinary people would surely recognize and serve the prince.

However, that commoner Amain across from him was different.

Not only had he blocked the prince's way saying "That's enough," he was also the insolent fellow who shouted "That bastard moved!" while the prince was getting hit on the thigh by the professor.

This was an enclosed room with no one watching.

That commoner might bare his vicious fangs.

Prince Phili, who was more anxious and sensitive than others, thought so.

That's why he flinched when Amain suddenly moved.

But unexpectedly, what came out of Amain's mouth was:

"I apologize for earlier, Your Highness."

"...Apologize?"

"About saying you moved."

Getting hit three more times because of that, and now suddenly apologizing?

"It was a misunderstanding. I wasn't tattling that Your Highness moved."

"Then...?"

At first, he thought Amain was just talking nonsense.

Or maybe he was trying to mock the prince.

But Amain's expression was too serious to think that.

"Well... you might find this hard to believe."

"Speak."

"The staff, the snake on the staff seemed to move. To be completely honest, that's what happened."

"What? Ha, haha..."

At first, he let out a laugh of disbelief.

"Hahaha, you're quite amusing."

"Haha..."

But gradually he found himself laughing harder.

Amain laughed along.

The atmosphere softened.

Perhaps such quick mood changes are a privilege of young boys.

"Why aren't you using a private room, Your Highness? Why are you here?"

To Amain's question, the prince, now in better spirits, answered honestly.

"It was my royal father's order. He told me to live normally and make friends."

"Friends...?"

"I told you before. That I wanted to make friends."

Indeed he had. When Bex asked to be his subordinate, he had said he wanted to make friends.

Though when Cal volunteered to be his friend, he had harshly rejected him.

"They say childhood is the last chance to make truly close friends. He told me to make friends I could speak casually with. ...Would you try speaking casually with me?"

"Me?"

It was clearly a whimsical suggestion.

"Alright."

But when Amain agreed so readily.

"Nice to meet you. Since we're roommates. My name is Amain Riddle, and my dream is to become a great magician."

"Uh..."

Prince Phili felt strange.

It was awkward, but not entirely unpleasant.

"...A great magician?"

"Yeah, and you... is it really okay to speak casually?"

"Sure, why not. It would be weird to speak casually while still calling me 'Your Highness.'"

"Right. What's your dream?"

"Dream?"

Well...

He thought for a moment.

A prince's dream might be to become a great king, but Prince Phili was far from the line of succession.

There was the first prince, and the second prince who was already enrolled at the Emerald School.

"...I'm not sure."

"Yeah? Well, you can find one while staying here."

He makes it sound so easy.

Though he thought that, Prince Phili found himself smiling for some reason.

"By the way, do you follow that professor too? Like the others?"

"Professor Obern? No."

He suddenly thought to ask, and Amain clearly denied it.

"I don't particularly respect the professor. Though I do think he's impressive."

"What's so impressive about him? The royal court is full of magicians of that level. If you want to be a great magician, don't be so easily impressed."

"Is that so..."

Actually, what Amain respected was the snake the professor was holding.

But they weren't close enough yet to say that.

The two chatted pleasantly.

They were two people with absolutely nothing in common in their life trajectories.

But perhaps that was why.

The prince was completely fascinated by Amain's stories of riding merchant carriages on upland routes.

Amain was the same.

His eyes sparkled with childlike wonder at tales of the legendary Crystal Library sequestered deep within the palace walls. The stories spoke of endless shelves that seemed to glow from within, their crystalline surfaces catching and reflecting light like countless stars brought down to earth.

Prince Phili, noticing the way Amain's face lit up at every mention of the magical place, made a solemn promise one starlit evening. With a gentle smile and a conspiratorial whisper, he vowed to personally escort Amain through the shimmering doors of the Crystal Library someday, to share the ancient wisdom and ethereal beauty that lay waiting within its hallowed halls.

While they were chatting like this.

Tak.

They heard the sound of a pebble hitting the window.

The prince startled, and Amain got up and went to the window.

"Ah."

Amain opened the window and waved hello outside.

The prince curiously came beside Amain.

"Ah, the poor daughter of Martein."

"You know about Rania?"

"Of course I would know. She's the one who became Gerard Marquis's successor."

The prince looked back and forth between Amain and Rania below.

"Don't tell me... this?"

The prince seriously held up his pinky finger.

"What's with the pinky? Rania is a friend."

"Coming to knock on the dormitory window... no, never mind."

The prince felt embarrassed for bringing it up when faced with that innocent expression.

"Seems like she's calling us, let's go."

"Me too?"

Amain nodded.

Well, why not then.

Following behind Amain.

Rania was waiting in the garden.

"Ugh."

She grimaced upon seeing Prince Phili appear together.