[ Lucilius ]
It was nearing dusk. He had too many things to take care of as the Emperor and he wasn't fond of it. He could always rely on his aide to do it but currently, he had sent his aide out for a secret operation. He hates paperwork more than anything; he'd rather go out and conquer countries for consecutive years than sit on his chair signing and examining papers.
But he knew that as an emperor, paperwork is inevitable unless he wants to be an asshole and dump it on other people. That'd mean neglecting his duties though.
Lucilius reached his palace, the Orion, and two pairs of maids and butlers standing on either side of the front door bowed their heads. He walked past them and into the palace and headed straight for his room.
When he entered, he noticed a large black creature on the sofa from the corner of his eyes. Immediately, he turned his head and approached it.
'Mavis,' he spoke, extending a hand.
The coiling black cobra raised its head and pressed its snout on his palm affectionately.
'Why are you here again?' he asked, caressing its scaly head. 'You want to see her?'
The snake looked at him. Lucilius smiled. 'She's not well enough yet but maybe you can help her,' he said then turned back to the door. 'Let's go.'
***
Having the Emperor itself in the official magician's manor, Ophiuchus, is not a rare sight even when accompanied with the black cobra Mavis, the magician's pet. Mavis liked sneaking into the emperor's palace and wouldn't budge unless Luna retrieved it or Lucilius returned it.
The maids and butlers were too scared to bring it to Luna so Lucilius would have to give it to her by himself and it's also because Mavis becomes aggressive when approached by strangers.
Lucilius arrived in front of her room. Usually, Luna would've sensed him coming and opened the door for him. The Emperor of Sirius never needed to knock on anyone's door so he barged in without hesitation.
Inside, the magician was just outside the bathroom with a towel hung around her neck. She jumped in surprise at the sudden visit and patted her chest in relief.
'Did you really just enter a woman's room without knocking?' she asked.
Lucilius took a seat on the sofa provided in the room without being invited. 'Mavis went into my room again,' he said.
As expected, the girl frowned. 'Who??' she asked.
'Your pet,' he replied.
'Pet?' she frowned harder as she placed her towel on the sofa opposite of Lucilius. 'I have a pet here? Wow, is it a cat? A dog?' At the mention of cat and dog, her face lightened up a bit.
Lucilius tilted his head. Luna has never been fond of small and furry animals. 'No,' he replied, then looked at the door. 'Mavis?' he called.
The cobra slithered inside the room, familiar with its surroundings. At that very moment Luna saw the animal, her eyes widened and looked as if it would bulge out. She froze in her spot and began to tremble.
'I-It responds to fear, right?' she whispered nervously. 'I shouldn't be scared, right?'
Lucilius could clearly see her shivering hands. Did she really lose her memories?
'Come,' said Lucilius, extending a hand to the snake.
And as the animal moved, Lucilius has never heard a scream so loud that his ears hurt.
***
'Interesting.'
Lucilius's hand never stopped caressing Mavis's snout. The cobra was extremely depressed at how scared its owner was of it.
'Interesting. Everything became interesting.'
His thoughts ran around his head, ultimately intrigued with Luna's behaviour.
'Your Majesty, I'm done.'
Lucilius turned his head to the royal physician. 'Do I need to call Elias?' he asked.
'No, I think she just had a shock,' said the physician nervously. It wasn't merely because of Lucilius's intimidating aura, it was also because of Mavis's hissing and impatience. The cobra looked as if it'd jump on the physician if he said the wrong thing.
'Then you may go,' said Lucilius.
The physician bowed deeply and left the room in a hurry.
The emperor turned to the snake. 'Mavis.'
It seemed to understand him as it slithered out of the window and away from the room. Lucilius sighed and approached the newly appointed Healer on the bed, unconscious for being too afraid of her own pet.
***
[ Luna ]
There was one thing I could confidently say I hate: snakes. They were at the number 1 spot of things-that-I-don't-want-to-even-set-my-eyes-on. I mean, scales? Creepy eyes? Split tongue? Silent and quick? Venomous? A definite no-no!
And now you're telling me the original Luna had a snake– a damn cobra as her pet!? What kind of substance is she on!?
Without opening my eyes, I moved my hands to massage my throbbing head. What kind of devilish luck do I have?
'Thought you finally died,' a voice said.
I immediately knew who it was. 'I wish I did,' I replied exasperatingly and opened my eyes. The emperor of Sirius, Lucilius, was sitting by my bed, arms folded.
'Mavis,' he spoke after a while. 'What are you going to do with it?'
I raised my head. 'By Mavis, you mean that creature?' I winced, remembering the disgusting cobra.
'Creature?' he frowned. 'You picked up Mavis who got lost escaping the Sealed Island two years ago and would never return it, requesting me to allow you to have a pet. Did you forget that?'
'Well, I lost my memories, didn't I?'
'Mavis is your pet, and it's the most affectionate with you, how could you forget that part? Or maybe, did you fall out of love and decide to abandon it?'
'N-No!' I said, unsure. 'Just, I can't look at––AAAH!'
Something cold and scaly brushed past my hand and I jumped in surprise, knowing it's Mavis, the stupid pet Luna picked up.
Out of fear, I unknowingly grabbed Lucilius by his collar and turned his body around so he'd be my shield. Gripping tight, I closed my eyes and pulled him close to me, face buried in his chest.
I don't care who this man is but I must never see the snake or I'd pee my pants.
Lucilius huffed, obviously baffled by my actions. 'Are you really that terrified of Mavis?' he questioned. 'The friend that you chose by yourself? And you're choking me.'
'Aah, I'm sorry but it's not my friend!' I strongly denied it.
'No, really, I will murder you if you keep strangling me like this–'
I quickly released my hand but was still hiding behind his body.
'Healer, maybe if you just look into its eyes–' he grabbed my shoulder and turned around so I was facing Mavis.
My breath was stuck in my throat as its murderous eyes gazed into mine. Lucilius probably realized how afraid I was so he pulled me to stand behind him.
'Mavis,' Lucilius used his other hand to pat its snout. 'Could you wait outside?'
Eww, he touched the snake…
The snake dropped its head and slithered off. Lucilius turned to me and attempted to knock my forehead with his knuckle.
'No don't touch me! You touched its scales!' I wailed and hurriedly slapped his hand away and covered my forehead.
My chest felt tight and something flowed out from inside my nose, probably snot, so I sniffed. With a shaking hand, I patted my chest, mentally assuring myself that the snake was gone.
If I don't die by Lucilius's sword, I'd die of fear.
I let out a quivery breath.
'Fine,' Lucilius sighed. 'Mavis stays in Orion.'
"What the hell is Orion?" was what I wanted to ask but I just nodded.
'Thank you,' I muttered. 'And sorry.'