They Said the Serpent Was a Prank, but I Found the Scales This Morning Chapter 06

They Said the Serpent Was a Prank, but I Found the Scales This Morning Chapter 06

The people inside had no idea what had just happened outside.

They dragged the four gift chests out with all their strength.

For a moment, the entire yard fell silent, as the crowd stood paralyzed.

When the lids were opened, the four chests were packed full of gold, silver, and jewels, so brilliant they nearly blinded everyone watching.

Even someone as accomplished as Everett could never have offered such an extravagant bride-gift.

Shock and utter bewilderment filled Frank and Nora’s eyes.

Before they could question Everett, who had rushed back through the door, they saw his gaze lock onto one spot.

All color drained from his face instantly.

“That’s a serpent scale.”

Beside the chests, a single dark scale lay quietly, glinting with a deep, almost black sheen.

Elder Whitcomb gave a low sigh of understanding.

“That is indeed the Serpent Lord’s token.”

“I never expected the one bound to him would be the Ellis family’s older daughter. Perhaps that is for the best after all.”

Frank and Nora had not even had time to show their disbelief before Tessa, standing not far away, tore off her veil with a face full of shock.

“What? The Serpent Lord is real? Maren was really taken away?”

As Elder Whitcomb revealed the secrets written in the settlement records, the crowd’s shock turned into excitement.

One person after another began talking about what they had heard before dawn.

“When I went up the mountain to chop wood, I heard tigers roaring and wolves howling from far away.”

“Flocks of birds were flying together like I’d never seen before. I thought I was hallucinating and dropped my ax before running home. So I actually witnessed the mountain beasts escorting the bride?”

“No wonder the Ellis family had two daughters marrying on the same day. Something this miraculous happened, and you two managed to keep it hidden so tightly?”

In the middle of the noise, Everett suddenly remembered the moment before dawn when Maren had been dragged into that wedding cart.

No.

Even if the Serpent Lord’s marriage was real, Maren must have been unwilling.

She had waited for him for five years. How could she possibly bear to leave him?

Everett’s face went frighteningly white, but scarlet crept into his eyes.

He grabbed Tessa by the shoulders and demanded.

“You were the one who drew that mark on her. How could it be exactly the same as the one in the settlement records?”

“Did your family know the legend was real all along and deliberately keep it from me?”

Tessa shook all over and burst into tears.

“I didn’t know anything. I only copied it from the folklore book for fun. How was I supposed to know it was real?”

Frank was the first to regain his composure.

His expression complicated, he pressed a hand over his trembling wife’s shoulder and spoke.

“Mr. Hale, we truly did not know beforehand. You know as well as we do that the whole mark and legend business was only a joke Tessa came up with on a whim.”

“But things have come to this. Maren has already been taken by the Serpent Lord, and that is not something any of us can defy. Still, today’s wedding must continue.”

“You already lifted Tessa’s veil. Take her home with you.”

Everett frowned in disbelief, his eyes full of wild, absurd anger.

“The woman engaged to me is Maren. The person whose life I owe is Maren. Even if she really was taken by the Serpent Lord, I’m going to bring her back.”

Leaving those words behind, he turned toward the deep woods.

“Everett…”

Still in her wedding dress, Tessa stumbled after him.

“I know you’re heartbroken. But Elder Whitcomb just said Maren has already completed the marriage with the Serpent Lord. She’s never coming back.”

“But you still have me. Did you really never think of marrying me?”