Chapter 48 Snake!
After lunch, Mira and Luna Rosie covered the bed, TV and other furniture inside the room to protect them from dust and other debris produced by the construction of the door connecting the two rooms. The jewelry and valuables were put in a vault for safekeeping.
When the men finally came to work on the door, the two women went downstairs and proceeded to the garden to spend their idle time there.
This time Mira didn't stay in the gazebo, she strolled the entire length of the garden as a form of exercise.
Luna Rosie has no choice but to follow Mira around the garden.
They sat on the swing and enjoyed the tranquil atmosphere of the garden surrounded by beautiful flowers in full bloom.
After they get bored in the swing they return to the gazebo to rest on the sofa.
They were enjoying the gentle breeze when suddenly the leaves of the teal plants showed movements that caught Mira’s attention.
“Oh, there it is again!” Mira said, standing up, heading to the plants outside the gazebo to investigate.
“Where are you going?” Luna Rosie sprang to her feet, following Mira outside.
“I just want to find out what’s causing the leaves to shake,” Mira said casually, getting closer to the teal plants growing abundantly in that specific area of the garden.
Luna Rosie bent down and began to investigate, parting the leaves to find the source of the movement. Unfortunately the movement has stopped and they couldn't find anything underneath the green leafy plants that caused the movement.
“I saw nothing,” Luna Rosie said.
“Yeah, strange. What caused the leaves to move?” Mira asked, frowning.
“Must be the rats playing hide and seek among the plants,” Luna Rosie said and went back to the gazebo.
Mira remained where she was standing, staring at the leafy plants. Her forehead creased. She’s not leaving unless she can see with her own eyes what is causing the leaves to shake.
Luna Rosie returned to where Mira was standing and asked, “Do you want a drink? I’m going to the kitchen to get some drinks,” she said.
“Any drink will do,” Mira replied, eyes still on the teal plants.
Luna Rosie left the garden and went to the kitchen to prepare a snack.
Back in the garden, Mira was still staring at the teal plants, waiting for the leaves to start shaking again. She didn't wait for long because the strange movement started again. This time she quickly parted the leaves. To her shock, she came face to face with a thin brown snake about the length of her arm.
“Oh, so cute!” she squealed in delight. For some weird reason she finds the snake cute. She extended her hand, beckoning the snake to slither into her right hand. The snake did just that and its head curled up in her palm, eyes looking at her. “Aww, what are you doing here, little snake? You shouldn't show yourself to anyone because they will haunt and kill you. Hide well, OK?”
The snake nodded its head as if it understood what Mira had said.
Mira continues patting the snake’s head gently. “You are so cute. I would like to make you my pet, but I’m sure they will not allow you in my room. So just stay here and we will see each other every day. OK?”
The snake nodded its head and continued relaxing in her palm.
When Mira sensed Luna Rosie returning to the garden, she quickly put the snake back beneath the leaves. “Stay here and hide. Don't let anyone catch you. OK?” She said in a whisper.
The snake nodded its head and hid deeper in the plants.
Mira walked away from the teal plants and returned to the gazebo. She sat on the sofa and looked at the teal plants, smiling brightly. Wow, today she gained a new friend!
Luna Rosie placed the tray on the table and said, “The cook baked some fresh carrot cake, perfect with refreshing lemonade juice.”
“Thank you for serving me,” Mira said thoughtfully.
Luna Rosie snorted. “I will be your servant today but not for long. Once the scars on my face are gone and I marry my husband again, I will not serve you anymore.”
“I know,” Mira said with a sigh. She can take care of herself. She was used to handling heavy and easy chores all her life, but this time her condition was delicate because she was carrying Alpha Gideon’s baby in her tummy. If she acts rashly and something bad happens to the baby in her tummy, Luna Rosie and the royal family will blame her.
She caressed her baby bump. “From now on I will be extra careful with my actions and my health because I’m carrying your precious baby in my tummy,” she said calmly, reminding the lioness that she should be more kinder and merciful to her because she was pregnant with her child.
Luna Rosie took a deep breath. “You are right. Don’t worry, your health is my top priority. Once Lena returns here, she will take care of you. She will be your personal maid.”
“Thank you. I like Lena. She is a good servant, kind and loyal,” Mira said cheerfully.
“Enjoy her services while you still can,” Luna Rosie said in a frosty tone. She does pity Mira sometimes, but most of the time she hates her. Maybe because the maid was enjoying her body and status right now, while she has become the lowly maid. The complete reversal of their situation is very upsetting and annoying to her.
Mira looked at the grumpy lioness and said, “Let’s not waste our time, let’s start eating.”
“OK.” Luna Rosie agreed.
They began munching on their snack, enjoying the delicious carrot cake and refreshing lemonade juice.
After they had finished their snack, Luna Rosie brought the tray back to the kitchen.
Mira looked at the teal plants, waiting for any movement coming from her new friend, the brown snake.
There was no movement among the leaves for now. Her new friend must have fallen asleep or maybe it has already gone away.
Luna Rosie returned to the gazebo and sat on the sofa. She looked up at Mira and said, “We have to talk.”
Mira responded, “OK. What is it?”
“After the construction of the connecting door, I will not allow you to enter my room using the door. You are not allowed in my room anymore! Do you understand?" Luna Rosie said, her eyes gleaming with a stern warning.
Mira knew what the warning was all about. The lioness is afraid that she might enter her room and seduce her husband. “Got it. I will not enter your room. But what if your husband enters my room to see me? What should I do?”
Luna Rosie’s face darkened instantly. “Why would he enter your room?” she asked suspiciously.
“Because I’m carrying his baby in my tummy…and maybe he was just trying to ask how I’m doing. Can’t he do that? Don’t tell me you will get jealous if you see me and your husband talking inside my room,” Mira said, pushing the lioness’ bottom line.
Luna Rosie’s mouth twitched in displeasure. “I forbid you from talking to my husband! Do you understand?” she said vehemently on the verge of another meltdown.
Mira rolled her eyes. “Let me be clear with you. I will never talk to your husband. I will not approach him. But if he wants to talk to me and see me, what can I do?”
Luna Rosie’s nostrils were flaring, fuming in anger. “Do your best to avoid him. Tell him that you don’t want me to see you talking to him because I might get jealous. Just tell him the truth!”
“OK. I will tell him that. But it would be better if you talked to him and forbade him from approaching me. You should do it. Tell your husband not to talk to me,” Mira said casually. “And I would suggest you buy a padlock and lock the door. Only open it when you enter your room. Just a suggestion: turn the key in to a necklace so you won’t lose it. Once the padlock is in place, your husband can't enter my room because he has no key,” she added.
Luna Rosie smiled. “Nice idea!”
“I'm glad you like my idea,” Mira said cheerily.
Luna Rosie rose to her feet and said, “Stay here. I will go back to the mansion to check the construction of the door.”
Luna Rosie left the gazebo and returned to the mansion.
The moment Mira was left alone in the gazebo, the brown snake came out of its hiding place and slithered towards the gazebo.
Mira saw the snake coming towards her location, entering the gazebo.
“There you are!” She smiled and lowered her hand, allowing her little friend to slither in her palm. “How are you, my little friend?” she asked.
The snake continued relaxing in her palm, not bothering to answer her questions.
Mira caressed the snake’s skin and smiled, amused by its friendly behaviour. The weird thing is she was not afraid of the snake at all. She feels like she and the snake have known each other for a long time.
Weird!
Fifteen minutes later, Luna Rosie returned to the gazebo.
“How’s it going?” Mira asked, observing the lioness' face. She expected her to scream after seeing the sleeping snake in her palm.
Luna Rosie sat on the sofa and replied, “The men are working so fast. The construction of the door will be finished in three hours.”
“Oh, that’s nice. I can finally relocate to my own room today,” Mira gushed in delight. Then she noticed that the lioness still had not commented on the snake in her palm. “Have you seen what’s in my palm?” she asked.
Luna Rosie’s brows knitted in confusion. She looked at Mira’s hands and shook her head. “I see nothing,” she said and browsed her phone.
Impossible! Mira was puzzled, she fell into deep thought.
Does it mean that the snake is invisible? Other people can’t see it, only she can see it?
Strange.
Hmm, how about if she puts the snake on Luna Rosie's lap?