Early morning in the underworld.
The snake, body sore and aching, wriggled out from the tight embrace of those soft arms in the bedding and slithered into the outer hall. Only after shifting back into human form and changing into proper clothes did he dare return to the bedside to admire his master, Ereshkigal, whose sleeping face bloomed like a begonia.
Golden hair draped gently over her shoulders, her expression one of contentment tinged with a touch of secret delight. Her pretty face, perfectly balanced between sweet and petulant, and her curled-up, delicate form—everything about her was stunning.
As she slept, Ereshkigal's delicate nose scrunched slightly. Her lips parted as she mumbled in her sleep, those half-open cherry lips like enticing flower petals.
He really wanted… to kiss her.
But just as his master shifted unconsciously in her sleep, Samael snapped out of his fantasy. He realized his face had somehow drifted within three inches of hers.
Seeing her long lashes flutter slightly, he hastily straightened up, stifling his desire with an inward sigh.
Snakes and humans really do perceive things differently.
His feelings for Ereshkigal were strong to begin with, and the closer he got, the more easily his emotions stirred. Especially after Ishtar had activated her authority over love, some residual feelings of desire lingered in both of them.
"You... When did you come in?!"
Just as Samael's mind was drifting, the mistress of the underworld awoke refreshed. The moment she saw the humanoid figure standing by her bed, her expression shifted sharply—she nearly hurled a spear on instinct.
"Just now. I changed clothes too. I learned a few things in Uruk about how humans interact."
Samael blinked innocently, playing dumb to the end, then quickly shifted tone and changed the subject.
"Ere, we're heading to the epicenter today to see if we can find anything. I was just about to wake you."
The mention of Mesopotamia's survival snapped her fully awake. No longer in the mood to stay in bed, she rushed to get up and began fixing her appearance.
However, as her reflection revealed fair arms, delicate collarbones, long legs, and one round, perky hip half exposed, Ereshkigal suddenly remembered she was only wearing two thin pieces of undergarments.
"Samael! Turn around!"
The goddess scowled and pointed furiously at the humanoid pet who had barged into her bedroom.
"Oh..."
The ancient serpent respectfully averted his gaze and turned to face the wall.
Behind him, rustling and commotion continued non-stop, accompanied by muttered complaints that only grew louder.
"My crown… where's my crown?"
"Left side, third row from the top, fifth slot. Don't forget to tap the inscription outside the slot—it refreshes any filth on the Secret Great Crown."
Catching a glimpse from the corner of his eye of her tangled in golden hair and growing more agitated, he offered the reminder in good faith.
"I didn't need you to tell me that!"
Ereshkigal's expression tightened. She huffed softly, tiptoed, and retrieved her crown to place it on her head.
It was her own idea to build the storage cabinet together—so why did she seem so unfamiliar with using it?
The ancient serpent grumbled inwardly, but now that the issue was settled, he continued to wait facing the wall.
It's just getting dressed… How long could it possibly take?
An hour later, Samael was still facing the wall, the corner of his mouth twitching.
The sounds of Ereshkigal rummaging through drawers echoed endlessly, mixed with the occasional thud of her bumping into a table or snagging her hair.
"Earrings, where are my earrings?!"
"And the pendant, it's missing too!"
"The earrings are in the jewelry box on your bedside table—second pair from the left. You wore them just yesterday..."
"The pendant? The one with the golden skull you usually wear around your neck? You stuffed it into your cloak before your bath. I put it in the second row, third and fourth slots."
Even with Samael's reminders, Ereshkigal felt as though every corner of the room, every piece of furniture, had turned against her.
Jewelry and clothing that were normally easy to spot now seemed to be playing hide-and-seek.
And that figure silently standing behind her only made her blood pressure spike and her heart race.
The more she searched, the more flustered she got—until frustration clouded her mind entirely.
He must've hidden everything on purpose! He's definitely mocking me! Definitely!
In the end, it's all Samael's fault!
Unable to take it any longer, the mistress of the underworld spun around and abandoned the frantic search with a huff.
"Samael! Turn around!"
Barely ten minutes later, with the ancient serpent's help, Ereshkigal was finally dressed. She nodded in satisfaction, her gaze toward him a little less hostile now.
"By the way, Ere, while I was gone, how did you store everything? These cabinet compartments look brand new."
Now that he'd finished helping the lady of the house get ready, Samael glanced around at the immaculate Sumerian-style furniture and couldn't help asking.
Ereshkigal had always adored Sumerian culture, so to please her, Samael had even sought advice from a ghost in the Spear Cage—one who had once designed furniture for the Divine Tower in the royal palace.
Later, he and the eager Ereshkigal had worked together to craft these pieces using gems and metals from the underworld, filling the once-empty Heat God's Temple.
Those were some full and rewarding days.
But his moment of nostalgia was quickly interrupted by a cold snort.
"Why are you asking so much? Just go already!"
Ereshkigal's expression tightened, her eyes darting away, cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Samael followed her briefly faltering gaze toward the polished table and empty hall. In a flash, the memory returned—of following behind her, picking up scattered things she'd tossed aside.
Don't tell me… you really just walked in, stripped as you went, and threw stuff around?
So, none of this furniture has even been used since I left?
At that moment, Ereshkigal, sharply attuned as ever, sensed the strange look in his eyes. She suddenly spun around, slammed Samael against the wall, and barked out a fierce command.
"Forget it! Forget everything that just happened!"
Samael nodded like a pecking bird, not daring to provoke her fragile pride and overwhelming shame any further.
"Don't laugh!"
"I'm not laughing."
"Not even in your head!"
After her half-threatening, half-panicked warning, the proud goddess of the underworld turned and hurried toward the door, desperate to flee this scene of utter humiliation.
"My shoes! Where are my shoes?!"
"Ere, you forgot your shoes!"
But of course—misfortunes never come singly. Just as Ereshkigal dashed out of the bedroom, her humanoid pet and part-time nanny came chasing after her, waving her golden combat boots and yelling.
She collapsed onto a stool, hands over her face, burning with shame as Samael knelt to put the boots on for her.
Aaaahhh! So embarrassing! I want to disappear!
Out of the corner of his eye, Samael glanced at his flustered master, the corners of his lips lifting ever so slightly.
Yeah… my master really is the cutest.