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Since childhood, we've all believed in fairy tales, myths, and legends told by parents, grandmothers, or simply strangers. Perhaps we overheard them furtively, passing by and staying to hear the rest out of curiosity. No one knows how true they are. However, Riki, from childhood, was captivated by stories and adored tales of the unusual creatures and spirits that inhabited the region where he lived. He distinctly remembers his mother's gentle, melodic voice telling stories of the snake king—a dangerous but wise guardian of wealth and treasure, secret knowledge. He also remembers the wood goblin, the water spirit, and other mythical creatures living in swamps and forests, whose existence no one could confirm.
As a very young boy, Riki loved to lie on his mother's lap before bed while she told him yet another fairy tale, watching the candle flame dance across the curtains. And so, he fell asleep, while his mother stroked his short dark hair and kissed the top of his head, covering him with a blanket. The most amazing thing was that his mother never ran out of such entertaining stories. Until one day, he was left an orphan. A wave of illness swept through the village, for which there was no cure, and no matter how hard the doctors and healers tried to treat the sick, nothing worked. His mother was a healer and tried to help, but unfortunately, no amount of knowledge of herbs or incantations was enough. The illness soon took hold and won. As quickly as it began, it inexplicably ended. Finally, one night, an unknown gray-haired grandfather, the village elder, took his mother from the house, and he never saw her again.
He tried to pry information about her, but the adults merely waved him off or crossed themselves, shooing him away. The villagers began to avoid him after his parents died. At that time, he was only fifteen, and he was left completely alone, having no brothers or sisters. All the burdens of adult life fell on his fragile child's shoulders. He had to learn to survive on his own, keeping his worries and misunderstandings bottled up. Why hadn't his mother returned in the morning? Why did the villagers avoid him, spit on him whenever he walked a little way, and whisper curses at him? What had he done wrong? His mother? He couldn't find answers to the tormenting questions. And only his best friend brought him comfort in such difficult times. The only person who wasn't afraid to come to his house or talk to him. Always smiling radiantly and bright as the sun. He seemed somehow mystical to Riki, with his red hair and fox-like hazel eyes.
His presence enveloped Riki in warmth and brought an involuntary smile to the corners of his lips, which he tried to hide. But truth be told, Sunoo's presence in his life gave him the strength to move on. He didn't even notice the knock on the gate, too busy weeding the beds in his garden. Straightening up, he wiped the sweat from his face with his hand and squinted against the overly bright sun. The blue sky was cloudless. Riki wiped his hands on the cloth around his waist and headed toward the gate, where the knocking was insistent.
"Riki!" his friend's clear voice rang out, eliciting a small smile. "Open up!"
A thought flashed through his mind about teasing Sunoo and pretending he hadn't heard, but the older man knew him like the back of his hand.
"I know you're in there!" he grumbled, and Riki chuckled before opening the gate slightly for Sunoo to pass.
Giving him a disgruntled look and rolling his eyes, he walked into the courtyard while Riki closed the gate behind him. Today, he was wearing a simple white embroidered shirt, belted with a red ribbon, and dark pants. His hair was slightly tousled, and his cheeks were flushed. Sunoo really was very cute. So much so that Riki couldn't help but admire him, and the older man, noticing his gaze, gave him a smug, sly smile.
"You were so focused on me; you didn't even notice something in my hands!" Sunoo waved the cloth-covered basket in front of his face, and a sweet aroma wafted across Riki's nose.
"Thank you for not letting me starve to death," Riki laughs, and Sunoo rolls his eyes with a slight smile.
"Yeah, yeah, maybe you could let me in?"
"Of course, you know the way," Riki nudges him in the shoulder, and Sunoo nudges him back.
Sunoo walks into the house as if it were his own, removing his shoes at the entrance and stepping barefoot onto the rug woven from colorful scraps of fabric. It was cool inside, a relief from the sweltering heat, and Sunoo exhaled with relief. He wiped the sweat from his face with his free hand, and with the other, he tightened his grip on the woven handle of the basket. A bench stood against the wall, where Riki dried herbs and medicinal flowers. In another corner was a massive storage chest, and opposite, against another wall, a semblance of a kitchen—a table, and next to it, a cabinet filled with dishes and other kitchen utensils. Several aluminum basins and buckets stood on the floor to the side, and on the table stood, as usual, a bucket of water. Next to it was a mug for water, to quench his thirst, which Sunoo did.
The next room was the living area. Half of it was taken up by a large white stove, which hadn't been lit yet today, and next to it was a made bed, where Riki slept. In the corner stood a dining table with a samovar and a tray of mugs, and several chairs surrounded the table. Against the other wall was a closet for clothes or other items. Sunoo placed his basket on the table and sat down on a chair to rest. The heat was sweltering, and the walk to Riki's house across half the village was no walk in the park.
Finally, Riki came in after him and hurried to pour two mugs of tea from the samovar before sitting down next to Sunoo on the other chair. A slight smile never left him as he watched with interest as his friend removed the snow-white cloth from the basket and took out its contents, laying them out on the table. The meat exuded an overly enticing aroma, and the mere sight of it made his mouth water. Then Riki's gaze fell on his favorite pies, and he practically squealed with happiness. His friend's baked goods were surprisingly magnificent and delicious. Of course, freshly baked bread also ended up on the table.
"Eat," Sunoo laughed, seeing Riki devouring the food with his eyes. "I know you haven't eaten or even cooked yet." He glanced meaningfully at the empty pan in the oven, and Riki smiled guiltily.
Sunoo had known him all too well for so many years.
"Thank you," Riki blew his friend a kiss, causing him to roll his eyes with a slight blush on his cheeks before starting to eat.
He told him the latest news and gossip, which Riki listened to half-heartedly. But the mention of the approaching holiday piqued his interest.
"Serpentine?" He glanced at the calendar and was surprised to see that it would soon be June.
"Yes," Sunoo nodded, and Riki dwelt on the belief that on this holiday, snakes "married," just like humans.
They would slither to special places, and it was considered dangerous to go into the forest, kill snakes, or meet them. People locked their houses and gates to keep snakes out, and all villagers were forbidden to go outside. It was believed that it was during this time that the snake king sought a "wife or groom."
"So be careful and remember not to leave the house on this day," Sunoo reminded him when Riki finished eating and thanked him for the delicious treat.
"I remember, don't worry," Riki rolls his eyes, but meets the older man's gaze, becoming slightly flustered.
"Promise me, Riki."
Riki honestly doesn't understand why he should promise anything, or why Sunoo would demand anything from him at all. Why be so protective of him? Even if he forgets about the holiday, nothing terrible will happen. Those are just superstitions, silly fairy tales.
"I promise," Riki replies, but deep down he knows he probably won't keep his word.
"Okay," the older man's sunny smile returns, and the atmosphere between them seems to become light and relaxed once again. "My parents want me to go berry picking in the forest. Want to come with me?"
"Of course," Riki agrees easily. "I need to replenish my medicinal herbs. And you know, some only grow in the forest."
"You're right," the elder nods, rising from his chair and taking the basket from the table. "Then meet me at my house in a couple of days?"
"Deal," Riki gives Sunoo a smile, and older one smiles back before clapping him on the shoulder and heading out. Riki walks him to the gate and then returns to work.
He still finds Sunoo's warning and his insistence on not leaving the house during the Serpentine strange.
**
Early in the morning, before the dew had even washed off the leaves and frost coated the grass in a thin layer of ice, Riki walked with a basket in his hands toward the dense, dark forest. The sun was just rising over the horizon, and the bitter cold penetrated to the bone. Steam rose from Riki's breath every time he exhaled. He wrapped the woolen shawl draped over his shoulders tighter around himself and confidently moved on, making his way deeper into the forest toward the place where he was sure he would find the herbs and berries he needed. They had planned to go with Sunoo, but the latter had suddenly fallen ill yesterday, so Riki promised to prepare a healing brew for him from herbs that grow only in the forest. He still needed to replenish his supplies and, if possible, find some mushrooms and berries.
It seemed like hours had passed since Riki had wandered through the forest, filling half his basket, but still hadn't found the herbs he needed. The sun had already risen and illuminated the forest's peaks, and a rare breeze stirred the branches and leaves. He always found it easier to breathe here, and a strange peace reigned within him. Looking around and walking further, he finally spotted a nettle bush and St. John's wort. This would definitely suit Sunoo, helping to give him strength and calm his nerves. He had already gathered wild raspberries to brew with the other medicinal herbs he kept at home.
But as he leaned toward a bush near a tree, a strange rustling reached his ears. Riki tensed and froze, listening to the sounds – the rustling of leaves, the rush of a river somewhere in the distance, the cracking of branches, and... what was that?
"Come closer," a barely audible whisper reached his ears, and Riki looked around fearfully.
There was not a soul around. Only he was alone among the towering trees. Where could the voice have come from? Was he imagining it? Riki shook his head, carefully plucking leaves and placing them on top of the basket, but the whispering continued, strangely reminiscent of a snake's hiss. Irritated, he raised his head and froze in horror. There, on a thick branch of an old oak tree, two golden snake eyes stared at him, a forked tongue peeking out from its mouth. Goosebumps ran through Riki's body, and he forgot how to breathe. His dark, massive, ribbed, scaly body with golden crests wrapped around the branch, but his head drooped, seeming to draw ever closer to him.
Frightened, Riki retreated until his foot caught on a tree root and he fell backward with a crash, hitting his back painfully on the ground. However, the snake was getting closer, and Riki mentally said goodbye to life, having never encountered such a snake in his twenty years of living in this area. He desperately tried to crawl away, but the agile and swift reptile was right in front of him in the blink of an eye.
He thought death was near, but before he could blink, a red haze flashed before his eyes and pounced on the snake. The snake, not tempting fate, climbed back up the tree, and Riki silently thanked the red fox for saving him before snatching the basket from the ground and running away from the forest, his heart pounding.
Riki didn't remember how he got home or what happened after. All he knew was that he'd prepared a potion for Sunoo, and when the elder asked why he was so pale, Riki blamed fatigue. He kept quiet about the strange encounter and rescue, but he knew perfectly well that Sunoo could see right through him. However, the elder didn't press him further and thanked him for the medicine, and after a short conversation, Riki returned home.
He couldn't shake the strange feeling of being watched. A chill ran down his spine, and he glanced around, even though he knew he was alone in the house.
**
The next day, he woke up too early and felt exhausted. He wanted to stay in bed all day, but he couldn't afford that luxury. He had work in the fields, cleaning, and cooking ahead of him. And while the weather was still good and the rain hadn't started, he needed to wash his clothes. With a heavy sigh, he set to work, and when he sat down to rest, it was time for lunch. Discovering that his water supply was running low and he'd have to carry several buckets for the laundry, Riki decided to hold off on lunch and go to the well, greeting some less-than-friendly neighbors along the way. He made several trips to fetch water, becoming quite tired. His body ached and begged for a break, and after pulling out the last bucket and closing the well lid to keep out leaves and insects, Riki bent down, grabbing the bucket handle. However, something shimmering in the grass caught his attention. Looking around, he squatted down and picked up something round from the ground. Brushing the dirt off and wiping it on his pants, he was amazed to discover a gold ring inlaid with green stones. The same color as his eyes. Riki stared at it in confusion, wondering how the ring had ended up near the well. Had someone lost it? Almost no one went to this well except him and a few old men. However, he couldn't remember anyone wearing such a ring. Shrugging, he put it in his pants pocket and, picking up a bucket of water from the ground, walked along the sandy path toward home.
Riki didn't notice the golden eyes watching him in the tall grass, watching his every move. His eyes gleamed as soon as the man picked up the ring and took it with him. His actions had sealed his fate, and the owner of the golden eyes was more than happy with the outcome.
**
A few days later, Sunoo visited him again to help with the crops and weed the garden. Exhausted and tired, and having teased each other, they returned to Riki's house. After washing himself and wiping the dirt off his hands, Riki began heating the kettle on the stove. Sunoo followed him and sat down on a chair, lazily closing his eyes. His muscles ached from the hard work, and his stomach rumbled with hunger. Smelling the aroma of the herbs Riki had thrown into the kettle, Sunoo opened his eyes. The setting sun shone through the windows, and something glittered on the dining table, catching Sunoo's eye. Seeing the jewelry lying on the table, he shuddered, and fear gripped his heart. Where did Riki get it? How did he get it?
"Riki..." Sunoo glanced warily at the gold ring lying on the table. "Where did you get it?"
"I found it when I went to get water from the well," Riki replied casually, shrugging, not understanding the problem.
At first, he ignored the prolonged silence and the fact that Sunoo hadn't said another word. Riki found this behavior odd, completely out of character for his friend, who loved to chatter incessantly about everything under the sun. He turned with a tray of two cups of herbal tea and froze when he saw the older man's expression. It was a mixture of fear, horror, and anxiety, which sent shivers down Riki's spine. Why did Sunoo react like that to a simple ring? Why was he staring at it?
"Sunoo?" Riki called, placing the tray and cup on the table in front of the older man, but he didn't react.
He seemed stunned. Riki sat down in confusion on the chair opposite him and took his friend's hand, causing him to flinch and let out a ragged sigh. Finally, he tore his gaze away from the gold jewelry and blinked several times, as if shaking off a spell. Sunoo licked his dry lips and took a deep breath, looking into Riki's uncomprehending eyes. Time seemed frozen between them, and no one dared break the oppressive silence. The only sounds were the steady ticking of the clock and the voices of the villagers outside the house.
"This... do you know what this means?" Sunoo's pupils, which reminded him of autumn leaves, shrank to the size of peas. Fear and anxiety swirled in their depths.
Riki blinked in confusion and shook his head, still puzzled by Sunoo's reaction, who bit his lip in response.
"No? Should I? It's just an ordinary ring someone dropped by the well," Riki tried to laugh it off, but Sunoo's frown made him bite his tongue. "You're acting strange, Sun, what's wrong?"
"It's not just a ring someone dropped, Riki," Riki tensed at the coldness and irritation in his friend's voice. "How many times have you seen someone lose something by the well?"
"Maybe it slipped off their finger?" Riki suggested, but Sunoo only sighed heavily, looking out the window.
"I don't think that's the case, otherwise they would have come back and found it already..."
"You're scaring me, Sun," Riki hurried to grab a cup and sip some chamomile tea, trying to calm his slight anxiety.
"Haven't you heard the story of the snake king?
"I heard, of course," Riki chuckled in response, not quite understanding where his friend was leading.
"That ring you found by the well," he pointed to a golden object with green stones embedded in it, lying on the wooden surface between them. After a pause, he continued, "It symbolizes your agreement to marry the Snake King, Riki."
Riki stared at it in horror, unable to believe what he was hearing. How could he have foreseen that a chance discovery of a ring would seal his fate? Every child in their village knew the story and legend of the Snake King, seeking a bride every few decades or hundreds of years. Only now, through a veil of tears, did he recall seeing a serpent with golden eyes near one of the trees in the forest swamp. Could this have been the Snake King? It was then that a strange hissing whisper reached his ears.
"I... What?" He rose abruptly from the table and leaned on it with his hands. "Are you kidding? Aren't these just fairy tales our parents told us that no one believes?"
"No," Sunoo shook his head, standing up after Riki. "They're not just fairy tales, Ki. They exist, and so does the Snake King."
"How was I supposed to know that this wasn't just a lost ring, but a marriage proposal?" Riki cried, panic and fear overwhelming him.
"Riki..."
"So, what am I supposed to do now? Can I back out of this? I don't want to marry some snake..."
"I don't think that's possible?" Sunoo sighed, his gaze softening. Sympathy was clearly visible on his face. "Even if you return the ring, you'll have it again. He chose you, and you accepted, even if unknowingly. Maybe you'll meet him soon. According to legend, he's supposed to come to you, invite you to his place... and offer you a deal, and it's up to you to decide whether to accept or not.”
"Wonderful! Magnificent!" Riki claps his hands and laughs feebly.
He runs a hand through his hair, unable to believe what's happening. What the hell is a snake king? It feels like a cruel joke. And then it dawns on him. That day in the forest, he saw a serpent with golden eyes hanging from a tree branch, staring at him with wide eyes. Frightened, Riki nearly dropped the basket, his breathing caught in his throat. His heart pounded in his chest, and it seemed as if the serpent was studying him, unblinking and fixing its golden gaze on him. Its forked tongue kept darting out of its mouth, and Riki stood rooted to the spot. Fear gripped him, but at the same time, he couldn't tear his gaze away from the scaly body, shimmering in the rare rays of sunlight penetrating the forest canopy. The snake was approaching, and Riki's feet were rooted to the ground, no matter how hard he tried to move and run away.
An encounter with a snake didn't bode well for him. Especially in the height of summer. During mating season, when snakes coil in a ball. Unmarried girls and boys, according to legend, were forbidden to watch their "marriages." But some of the young men disobeyed the warnings and then disappeared from the village without a trace. Only the families grieved and shed tears.
"Riki... tell me this," Sunoo comes closer and carefully takes his hands, feeling their icy cold.
Riki doesn't look at him. He simply stares at a spot on the wooden wall, not even blinking, deep in his own thoughts.
“Look at me,” Sunoo gently and carefully touches his cheek with her palm and strokes his smooth skin.
Riki blinks several times and fixes him with a confused and lost gaze, peering into Sunoo's hazel eyes, where concern and worry are clearly visible.
"Tell me, did you leave the house a few days ago?" Riki nods in response, and Sunoo lets out a heavy sigh. "When did you find the ring?"
"Not long ago," Riki answers timidly, straining his memory to recall when it was. A quick glance at the calendar is enough to bring back the events of the last few days. "It was June 12th."
"Now everything falls into place," Sunoo removes his hand from his face and releases his.
Riki remains standing there, confused, while Sunoo, hands clasped behind his back, paces the house, not explaining anything. However, the younger man doesn't rush him. He's had enough shocks for today. He sits back down in his chair and looks down at his hands folded on his legs. What should he do now? Sunoo's voice breaks his reverie and draws his attention.
"June 12th is traditionally considered a holiday called the Serpentine," Sunoo's voice sounds strangely out of character. "On this day, the subjects of the Serpent King crawl out in search of a bride for the king, and all villagers are forbidden to leave their homes on this day!" he adds, louder, causing Riki to shudder and goosebumps to run down his spine.
Sunoo fixes his fox-like eyes on him and shakes his head. His gaze is full of sympathy and condemnation. How could Riki not know what has been said to each of them since childhood? "Whoever goes outside their home on that day will no longer know themselves."
"And on that day, you went to the well to fetch water! Alone!" Sunoo emphasizes the last word. "You obviously met him before this day. Otherwise, I can't explain the ring's appearance. He took a liking to you, Riki. You accepted his gift. Now do you understand why I say you're the Snake King's future groom?"
Realizing his own actions, tears welled up in Riki's eyes, rolling down his cheeks like salty rivers. He was afraid, but alongside the fear was a strange curiosity. A curiosity that had haunted him since childhood. Sunoo's heart sank at the sight of Riki crying, and he hurried to hug his friend, pressing him to his stomach and stroking his head.
"How could you do this..." he whispered, swallowing back his own tears. "Shh," he tried to calm him, but Riki only cried harder in despair.
**
Sunoo left shortly after Riki calmed down, leaving him alone with thoughts of his upcoming meeting with the Snake King and his impending marriage, which he couldn't come to terms with. It was already evening outside. The orange sunset filtered through the windows, but Riki sat motionless, staring into space. His tears had long since dried, leaving behind an emptiness inside and a strange sense of peace.
"If I refuse him," Riki swallowed the lump in his throat from the overabundance of emotion, but his voice was resigned. "Then misfortune awaits me and the entire village. And if I agree, what will happen to me? I don't even know what he looks like..."
For the rest of the night, his thoughts were filled with the Snake King and the fact that he had unknowingly accepted his "gift" of a ring. He would have been better off just passing by or throwing it down the well. But was it for some inexplicable reason, or was it all the fault of that evil fate? He picked it up and brought it home, even admiring it. What a fool! Riki shakes his head, rising from his chair and starting to clear the table before lighting the stove for bed. The nights are still cold. After locking the gate and taking a shower, Riki lies down in his cool bed, hoping it's all just a nightmare.
**
But the next days brought him an unexpected surprise. Once again, Riki set out early in the morning, having been up almost all night, to fetch water from the ill-fated well. Halfway there, he considered turning around or going to another well, but he really didn't want to lug two buckets of water from so far away. So, taking a deep breath and gathering his strength, he boldly moved forward along the sandy path sparsely covered with grass toward the slope where a well with crystal-clear water had been dug many years ago.
Carefully stepping on the slippery wooden boards, Riki hangs the bucket on the hook and turns the crank to lower it and scoop up water. Water splashes back and forth as he lifts and removes the bucket from the hook, placing it next to him, and then does the same with the other one. Wiping the sweat from his face with the back of his hand, Riki rolls up the sleeves of his gray shirt and lifts the buckets, but before he can take more than a few steps, his bare feet slip on the water-soaked board, and he plummets, cursing everything under the sun. "The last thing I need is to fall into a well," he thinks, and then his back meets a strong chest, and a cool hand encircles his waist. Water splashes as the buckets hit the ground with a loud thud.
Riki's eyes snap open, startled, and he looks up, seeing a man of unearthly beauty before him. His gaze glides over the boy's pale features, from his full, heart-shaped lips and neat nose, to his pierced ears with gold earrings and dark eyebrows, and then settles on his unusual eyes. A piercing gaze of golden, speckled eyes is fixed directly on him. It seems to peer into his very soul, and it sends shivers down his spine. His heart pounds wildly in his chest when the dark-haired boy gives him a small smile, the dimple on one cheek becoming apparent. Riki's heart skips a beat, and he blinks in confusion before coming to his senses.
"Will you let me go?" Riki asks irritably, but the boy merely grunts and helps him upright.
Riki brushes invisible dust from his shirt, trying to hide his embarrassment at finding himself in such an awkward position. He furtively studies the stranger a few centimeters below him, noticing his dark robes, reminiscent of snake scales in their texture and strange, intricate lines. Who wears something like that? Maybe he's some kind of sorcerer? Strange guy. It's best to keep his distance, but for some reason he can barely look away.
"You could have thanked me," the stranger's voice rang out. It was low and had a strange hissing quality not typical of the people of his village.
Riki raised his eyebrows in surprise and crossed his arms. The stranger was right, and he should have thanked him. If it weren't for him, Riki would be lying completely drenched in mud and without water. A humiliating sight.
"Thank you! Are you satisfied?" Riki snorted in response, but nevertheless thanked his savior.
"Yes, but I'll be even happier if I know your name?" the stranger teases back with a small smile. A playful glimmer glistens in his golden eyes.
"I'm not telling my name to a stranger. I've never even met you. Who knows what's going on in your mind?" Riki shakes his head and picks up the half-full buckets to leave. "Thanking you is enough."
"I can help you," the velvety voice caresses his ears again, and Riki cringes, feeling those golden eyes on him. "What if you slip again and I'm not there to catch you?"
"I'm not that helpless," Riki protests, a faint blush tinting his cheeks. But as soon as he says these words, a joke of a fate almost sends him falling again, but the stranger grabs him by the forearm.
This guy clearly possesses some kind of superhuman strength.
"See? I was right," the stranger laughs, and Riki gives in, though he's furious at the evil fate that's mocking him. "Since you won't tell me your name first, I will."
"I'm not interested," Riki replies, frowning and puffing as the stranger carries two buckets of water with ease, as if they weigh nothing.
Why did he even agree and let some unknown person walk him home? He's crazy.
"My name is Jungwon," Riki turns to glare at him, intimidating him, but Jungwon only smirks in response.
And he's unforgivably beautiful at that moment, caught in the sunlight. His pale skin literally shimmers with tiny crystals of light, and his golden eyes glow even brighter. Riki can't help but stare and admire him. A gentle breeze blew his long, dark hair. "Handsome," he thought, and he silently scolded himself.
"Riki," he replied after several minutes of shamefully and brazenly staring at Jungwon. "My name is Riki," he said, turning away, trying to hide his blush, but the red tips of his ears gave it away.
Jungwon smiled predatorily, pleased that he had finally earned the name of the handsome young man who had captivated him with his green eyes. So, piercing and alluring, looking at him with fear and interest. And that face, adorned with a scattering of moles? A graceful nose, long eyelashes, cat-like eyes, and inviting, plump, pink lips. The very embodiment of beauty. Jungwon sighs, pushing aside the overwhelming feelings, and follows after Riki, noticing that his future "bride" is more than to his liking.
Riki tries not to turn around, lest he be caught by the boy with golden eyes again. How could anyone have eyes like that? The realization sends a chill through him, sending goosebumps down his spine. He even pauses for a moment before biting his lip and continuing on.
**
It was deep night outside when a shadow flickered in the moonlight. It moved silently. Its snake-like body allowed it to slip into the house through a hole in the floor that Riki hadn't even suspected. This wasn't the first time Jungwon had done this. Finding himself in the dim light of the house, he quickly and nimbly crawled up the iron bedpost, wrapping his body around it, then smoothly lowered himself onto the bed where an unsuspecting Riki slept peacefully. His forked tongue emerged from his mouth again, and Jungwon crawled onto the sleeping man, coming face to face with him. This way, he could admire the beauty of his future husband without being discovered. But that wasn't enough; he longed to touch Riki again and feel the warmth of his body, the softness of his skin, and hear the thump of his heart.
He slides back down and concentrates, closing his snake-like eyes. When he opens them, he's standing right in front of Riki's bed. The hems of his clothes rustle on the wooden floor, and the bed creaks under his weight as he sits down. Jungwon bites his lip and freezes, waiting for Riki to wake up, but he only frowns in his sleep and then relaxes. Golden eyes carefully study every feature of his lover's face, and a universal longing grips his soul. He's waited so long for the one who will melt the ice in his heart. Seeing him in the forest, Jungwon vanished into the green of his eyes, reminding him of a dense, impenetrable forest or a meadow clearing overgrown with flowers and grass gently swaying in the wind.
He gently touches Riki's cheekbone with his fingertip, stroking the warm skin with a tenderness and caress unusual for him. His gaze fills with love and care, dropping lower to the hand resting on Riki's chest. It's not yet ringed, and a smile touches Jungwon's lips. He rises and walks through his lover's house as if he owns it. Peace and comfort reign, and the scent of herbs—St. John's wort and verbena—was in the air. The snake finds the ring lying on the table and picks it up before returning to the sleeping man. The ring with green stones is his tribute to Riki's beautiful and captivating eyes. He specifically ordered his subjects to craft a ring just right for his beloved. Jungwon kneels down and places the ring on his ring finger, then kisses the knuckles of each finger. Now everything is as it should be.
"Soon I'll take you to my place," Jungwon whispers, rising from his knees and leaning toward Riki's face, just centimeters away. His golden eyes sparkle in the dim light. "To the underworld, where no one will dare harm you. Where you will be happy, my love." He touches Riki's warm lips with his own, sealing his words with a promise, and then, turning into a snake, slithers away.
**
Waking up the next day, Riki stretches in bed in high spirits. Sunbeams streamed through the curtains, and a strange calm settled over him. He felt rested. After basking a little longer in the warm, cozy bed, Riki gets up to wash his face with cold water and make himself breakfast. He has no desire to do anything. Filling a basin with water from a pitcher, he washes his face, closing his eyes, while images of the guy who helped him a few days ago flash through his mind. Riki had truly never seen him. Could he have moved from somewhere far away?
Only the gold in his eyes Riki will never forget. Despite the cool water, his face heats up, and he mentally scolds himself for thinking about the strange guy. Picking up a towel and wiping his face, Riki is surprised to find a ring on his finger. How did it end up there? Just yesterday it had been lying on the table, and now somehow it was on his ring finger, as if proving he was already married. Fear gripped his heart, and he froze in place, unable to tear his eyes away from the ring on his finger. Had someone broken into his house? He frantically checked the windows and doors, making sure they were locked and no one could have gotten in. He would have heard the sound of a lock, window, or door opening.
How could this have happened? He was genuinely scared; for the first time, he felt uncomfortable in his own home. Riki tried to remove the ring, but it remained firmly attached to his finger, not budging even a millimeter.
"What the hell is this!" Riki cursed, his voice laced with panic and fear.
Tears of despair welled up in his eyes, but he bit his lip and tried not to let panic overwhelm him. Then an unexpected knock on the gate reaches his ears. He pauses at the window, pulling back the curtain to see who has arrived, and is surprised to find the village elder. Why did this old man come to see him? Could this day have gotten any worse this morning? Yes.
Riki, abandoning his attempts to remove the ring, opens the door to the house and steps outside into the unbearable heat. The sun is so blazing that his skin literally burns, but Riki shields his forehead with his hand and walks to the gate. Opening the gate, he refuses to let anyone into his yard, remaining standing by the open gate.
"Why have you come here?" Riki asks without waiting.
The village elder's visit didn't bode well. They had avoided him ever since his parents died, and he had become an outcast. A stranger among their own. Hardly anyone visited this part of the village, considering it leprous.
"We've heard rumors that the Snake King has chosen you," the elder replied calmly, but his narrowed eyes betrayed disgust and anger.
"How do you even know that?" Riki's indignation snowballed. How did they know about this? Who told them? Sunoo? But he couldn't do that.
"You must agree and leave our village forever," the elderly man says, stroking his long gray beard. "Don't bring another disaster upon us!"
"Don't bring another disaster upon you? Weren't you the one who cast me out? Didn't you turn your back on me when I was just a teenager? And now you're asking for something?" Riki raises his voice, pointing a finger at the elder, who shakes his head.
"If you don't go yourself, we'll force you, young man!" the old man growls angrily, shaking his finger at him.
Riki merely chuckled in response, folding his arms across his chest.
"I'll decide what to do with my life! Get out of here before I bring another disaster upon you!" A fire glimmers in Riki's green eyes, terrifying the elder, who, terrified, crosses himself and rushes away.
However, their conversation was clearly overheard by the Snake King's subjects, who rushed to tell him what had happened. Naturally, Jungwon was quite angry with them and ordered that the offenders be dealt with. He should hurry and take Riki away from this cursed village.
**
Every day that followed, Riki kept bumping into snakes on his property, which initially frightened him, but they never attacked him or came close. They simply kept their distance, their unblinking eyes watching him closely from afar. The elder no longer came to his house, and he heard from Sunoo that he had fallen ill with some strange illness after visiting him, and now even more people were cursing poor Riki, even though he had no influence on the old man's condition. He was already old, so it was no wonder he had fallen ill. But that didn't stop people from blaming him for everything.
And the constant poisonous looks, words, and spitting whenever he passed by began to irritate him. And at some point, he realized he wanted to get away from there and live in a place where no one would look at him with hatred and disgust. No one would blame him for something he hadn't done. Even the children avoided him, which hurt the most. Riki loved and adored children.
Jungwon, watching his beloved suffer through the eyes of his subjects, could barely contain his anger. He saw the longing and sadness in Riki's green eyes and longed to take him home, but tradition dictated that he takes him in the autumn, when the snakes return to their underworld. Until then, he could not appear before Riki often, especially in human form. Only brief visits at night, to see and touch him. Only occasionally did he allow himself a fleeting kiss on those inviting, plump lips.
He sent secret gifts for his future husband: flowers, wild herbs he had personally gathered, and jewelry made of pure gold. But one day, he found the strength to come to him in person. Autumn was approaching, and Riki had to know who he was. Only with his consent would he take him with him. If Riki refuses him, Jungwon will not insist and will return to his kingdom to while away the years alone.
Jungwon, dressed in his finest attire, a long black shirt with gold sleeves and matching dark trousers, found himself at Riki's house with a bouquet of wildflowers—cornflowers, thistles, and goldenrod. He was nervous, which was quite unusual for the snake king, but he could not calm down or compose himself. Today would determine whether Riki would agree to leave with him and become his consort. Jungwon would do everything he could to make his wish come true, but he would not go against a human's will. Therefore, taking a deep breath, he knocked on the wooden door of the house and waited for an answer. Riki must be inside, as he hadn't seen him leave.
However, the smile fades when a youth with a shock of red hair opens the door. Jungwon recognizes him unmistakably. Red hair, a bold gaze, and a ringing laugh. Sunoo frowns, glaring at him, and snorts in a way only foxes can. The Snake King hisses and bares his teeth in response, not breaking eye contact. If he could, he would strangle the annoying fox right then and there, if he weren't his lover's best friend.
"Have you really worked up the courage to show yourself?" Sunoo snorts, folding his arms across his chest and blocking Jungwon's passage.
"If you hadn't interrupted me the first time, we would have been together a long time ago," Jungwon chuckles, peering over the fox's shoulder, trying to discern his beloved's silhouette.
"You scared him!"
"I know," the Snake King hisses. It was as if he didn't know or understand that he'd scared Riki that first time. Jungwon was terribly ashamed of his actions that time, but having seen and smelled him, he couldn't resist the urge to get closer. "Now stop distracting me and let me see him!"
"You're in no position to dictate terms to me, Wonie," the sly fox giggled, and Jungwon rolled his eyes in response.
"And what do you want me to do?" the snake king asked reluctantly, noticing the playful glint in Sunoo's hazel eyes.
"You could have just said that from the start!" he clapped his hands, then continued, this time with a serious expression. "I want to leave with Riki if he agrees to your proposal." Sunoo's smile vanished, and his gaze became one of unwavering confidence.
"Fine," the snake shrugged, easily agreeing to the fox's terms. "Now let me see him."
"Of course," Sunoo turns, returning to Riki.
He reappears a couple of minutes later with a sly smile and, winking at Jungwon, disappears, transforming into a handsome red fox. Taking a deep breath, the snake steps into the house, which he's already thoroughly examined, and heads inside to the living room. Riki is already waiting for him, but his back is to him, and Jungwon pauses in the doorway. His breath catches as he sees his man in front of him again, no longer needing to hide or watch him from afar.
"Riki," his lover's name croaked from his lips, and Riki turned to him, frozen just as he was.
The bouquet in his hand fell to the wooden floor as their gazes locked, and an electric shock coursed through his body. His heart began to beat faster, and his breath caught in his throat. Jungwon was lost in the green of his eyes, and Riki, in turn, was lost in the gold of the snake's beautiful eyes. The ring on his finger sent a pleasant warmth through his body, causing goosebumps to appear on his skin. Time stood still, and they were unable to tear their gaze away from each other until Jungwon timidly stepped forward, and Riki matched his movement. The attraction between them became irresistible. And then, in a flash, they rushed toward each other, and Jungwon captured his plump lips with a kiss. Riki closed his eyes and snuggled closer to the snake king's cool body, as fireworks exploded around him.
As soon as their lips touched, warmth spread through him. Riki felt Jungwon's deep longing and feelings for him, unspoken words frozen on his lips. His head was spinning, but inside, everything was blooming with joy. No one had ever kissed him like Jungwon. With such tenderness, passion, and sensuality. Like a starved animal, he kneaded Riki's lips, tracing them with his tongue, holding his cheeks and stroking his cheekbones with his fingers. He didn't want to let go, but reluctantly pulled away. A smug smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he saw Riki's flushed cheeks, her glossy lips swollen from the kisses, and his hazy gaze.
"You're so beautiful," Jungwon confesses, his eyes never leaving his. "I've waited so long for this moment, Riki," he whispers before kissing his lover again.
It seems he can never get enough of the sweet taste of his lips, the way their tongues intertwine, and the soft moans escaping Riki's lips. His fingers tighten around his dark shirt, the warmth of his body seeping into his own. He moves his hands to his human waist, squeezing it and noticing how thin it is and how right it feels in his hands. Finally, breaking away from his longed-for lips, he smiles, and Riki can barely stand. It seems like Jungwon stole not only his heart but his soul with the kiss.
Riki looks into Jungwon's eyes and is embarrassed by his interested gaze. Jungwon chuckles softly and, taking his arm, leads him to the bed. He sits Riki down on it, and Riki is grateful for the help. His legs are still shaking from the kiss, and while Jungwon is turned away, he presses his fingers to his tingling lips and blushes. The Snake King stole his first kiss without permission! The snake returns and kneels before him, placing the bouquet on his hips. Riki looks at the man in front of him, confused, and blinks, but accepts the bouquet. Why is Jungwon so easily able to confuse him with just his appearance, his smirk, or his actions?
"Riki," the snake begins after a short pause. "I sincerely hope that you will agree to become my 'bride' and leave this earthly life to live with me. In return, I swear to love you forever, to care for you, and to protect you. With me by your side, you will never suffer. Your beautiful eyes will never shed a tear of grief or sadness. Promising to be your support, your friend, someone you can rely on," he pauses for a second, looking up at his beloved sincerely. "My feelings for you cannot be described in a single word, but as is your custom, I will say that I love you beyond compare, deeply and inconsolably."
Riki blushes even more than before, all the way to his ears, when Jungwon takes his hand and kisses it, tenderly gazing at the ring on his finger.
"I asked to make this especially for you," he whispers, kissing his way up to his wrist. Noticing the gold bracelet there, he smiles discreetly, then gently brushes his lips over his skin. "I'm so glad you accepted it, even if you didn't realize the significance of my gesture."
Goosebumps run down Riki's body, and his insides literally burn from Jungwon's touch and tender words.
"Tell me, Riki, will you be mine?" Intent golden eyes stare at him, and Ricky bites his lip.
Is he ready to leave everything behind and go with a man he barely knows? Is he ready to accept his destiny and try his luck? He believes in the sincerity of Jungwon's words and intentions, but he knows that snakes are cunning and lure people with their sweet words. But what does he have to lose? No one here favors him, and they will make him miserable if he refuses. Everyone knows the Snake King will bring disaster to their village if he refuses to become his. Jungwon may not be like the one described in fairy tales or legends. The choice, while not easy, was quite obvious. The attraction and interest were foolish to deny. The Snake King's attention was flattering and made his heart beat faster.
At first, he was upset and unwilling to accept his fate, but a glimmer of hope glimmered in his chest that fate had prepared a reward for all the suffering he had endured. The only thing holding him back was Sunoo. He didn't want to leave his friend alone, but forcing him to choose was also wrong. Riki isn't selfish.
"I agree," Riki whispers back, and Jungwon's lips break into a smile.
"Thank you. I'm so happy. You will make me the happiest," Jungwon whispers, and immediately rises from his knees, kissing again the person who made him the happiest in the world.
When it grew dark outside, Jungwon didn't leave him alone. He hugged him, kissed him, and caressed him, not wanting to let go. Tenderness sparkled in his eyes as he showered his body with kisses. Every movement was imbued with trepidation and care. He caressed him, whispering words of love in his ear as their bodies merged, their hearts beating in unison. Now that Riki had consented and chosen his destiny, an eternity together lay ahead of them.