Side Story: Skadi, Love with All Your Might
Under the cold moonlight, the atmosphere slowly froze. Samael, held by his vital point, could not break free in the slightest.
As time passed, a faint scent of blood tinged with ice and snow drifted into the Ancient Serpent's nose.
Suddenly, Samael's spirit sharpened. He raised his head, his pitch-black eyes meeting those indifferent violet ones. His childish voice carried a trace of wounded resentment.
"Clearly, Lady Skadi is the one who hates me!"
The sudden retort left Skadi stunned for a moment.
"I really like Lady Skadi, but you never talk to me, never sleep with me, and never want to come near me. Even though I've been so good..."
As his voice gradually sank, the little black snake lowered his head like a child who had done something wrong.
"I..."
That string of confessions, full of deep attachment, left Skadi slightly dazed. A feeling she had never known before stirred inside her.
The young snake's dark eyes were filled with pure affection for his owner.
That clean, admiring gaze made Skadi feel, for some reason, as if her cold skin were faintly burning. She instinctively turned her head away.
Such heartfelt fondness could not be faked. Samael was being sincere.
After all, the version of him from another world had indeed once admired this Mountain Goddess.
What he did not say was that the targets of his admiration were... rather numerous.
"I know. You must hate me!"
Before the Mountain Goddess could gather her thoughts and speak, the young snake, as if his emotions had been stirred, continued sinking into self-pity.
"If my existence makes you unhappy, then I would rather leave quietly and stop troubling you!"
"So that is... why you ran from me?"
A faint trace of surprise appeared in Skadi's eyes.
"You don't like me because I haven't done well enough. If... if I leave, someone better will come along and love you in my place. That way, maybe you'll find true happiness..."
"..."
Hearing that childish resolve, Skadi, who had now "understood" the whole story, stood there for a moment. Then she loosened her pale fingers, tossed the pitiful young snake onto the ground, turned toward the carriage drawn by several riding wolves, and calmly ordered him.
"Get in. Come back with me."
"Huh?"
The young snake raised his head, clearly bewildered by this sudden lenient outcome.
"You are too weak. You cannot survive in Solheim."
Skadi stopped, turned her head, and spoke calmly. Her violet eyes glanced at the two frozen frost giants, and she frowned slightly with a quiet snort.
"This is not Asgard. Running off so recklessly... It is a good thing I..."
Abruptly, the Mountain Goddess realized she had let something slip. She frowned and said nothing more.
What Skadi did not notice, however, was that the little fellow behind her, though obediently following along, had a faint smile curling at the corners of his mouth. His vertical pupils held a trace of delight and understanding.
"I made a mistake. Can I still stay by Lady Skadi's side?"
"Mm..."
Hearing that anxious question in a childish voice, Skadi nodded absentmindedly, but she soon regretted giving him that opening.
"You're not mad at me anymore? Does that mean you're willing to accept me? Can you talk to me more from now on?"
"I am very busy..."
"What about when you're free?"
"Fine..."
"Can I cook for you in the future?"
"Do as you like."
"Then can I get close to you from now on?"
"Suit yourself..."
"That's great!"
Having received permission, the slender black shadow immediately wound around Skadi's arm, climbed all the way onto her shoulder, and eagerly flicked his tongue against the Mountain Goddess's earlobe.
"Ah!"
The sudden cool sensation made Skadi, who rarely allowed anyone near her, freeze for a moment and stifle a cry.
Skadi came back to herself, glared at the culprit, and gave a soft snort, but she did not punish the little creature for his offense.
"Do not come near me without permission. I do not like the heat of living things very much..."
"But I'm not hot. I'm really cold..."
The young snake adorably pressed his scales against the back of Skadi's hand and answered seriously.
"Do not move around..."
"Oh..."
The little fellow climbed onto the goddess's shoulder again and coiled up obediently.
This time, Skadi glanced at the young snake and said nothing more.
Then the little fellow's eyes rolled, and he began a new round of questions.
"Then can I sleep with you tonight?"
"No."
"I'll be very good!"
"No..."
"Lady Skadi smells really nice. I'll just sleep in your room. I absolutely won't climb onto your bed, and I won't mess up your chambers."
"..."
"Does that mean you agreed?"
"You talk too much..."
"So you agreed!"
"..."
Samael did not seem worried about truly angering this goddess. After only a brief pause, he began asking again.
"And, and, can I..."
"As long as you stay obediently in the castle, do whatever you want!"
Under the little fellow's relentless questioning, Skadi almost failed to maintain her cold, proud expression and soon admitted defeat.
She was already starting to regret it.
Had she known this troublesome outcome would follow, why had she brought this clingy little thing to Jotunheim just to make a point and mock the gods?
Samael looked at that face, where the ice and snow had melted into helplessness and frustration. He quietly shifted his tail, moving a little closer, his smooth scales pressing against Skadi's skin.
The delicate sensation left the Ancient Serpent extremely comfortable.
The Mountain Goddess, too tired to argue, simply ignored it and focused on driving.
Under the cold silver glow, Samael studied the goddess before him by moonlight, a faint smile flowing through his sly vertical pupils.
If she had only come to catch him, she would not have rushed over without even treating her wounds.
If she truly wanted to execute a runaway groom, she would not have waited for his answer.
If she truly held hatred in her heart, she would not need a reason before striking.
Coldness was only her surface.
In truth, she was rather simple.
In truth, she was rather absent-minded.
In truth, she also had warmth.
As long as his relationship with her deepened, sooner or later, she would show a side of herself that was not a queen. She would show her real personality.
Not a god, not a ruler, but a somewhat lonely girl with a very soft heart, easily persuaded, someone who kept refusing contact while not actually disliking closeness.
The night grew darker. The riding wolves raced across the snow, and the goddess and snake rode together in the chariot, their silhouettes gradually overlapping into one.
The young snake glanced at Asgard's celestial palace in the sky, where lights crossed one another, seeming close enough to touch yet forever out of reach. Then he turned and nestled against the side of Skadi's cheek.
Since I can't escape from her side, then... I'll do my best to love her.
Several years later, early morning.
Awakened by a cool, sweet fragrance, Skadi looked at the plate on the table. Skewers had been stuck into blocks of ice wrapped around honey and slices of fruit.
"What is this?"
"Ice pops!"
The adorable boy in the room blinked his snake-like eyes and answered with a smile, casually handing one over.
Skadi naturally took it and curiously tasted it in small bites. Her beautiful eyes lit up, and her drowsy mind was instantly swept clean.
Cold, sweet, delicious.
"How did you make this?"
"I used Mana to infuse the ice with some flavor."
"That simple?"
"Mm. Next time, let's try making them together."
Although the Mountain Goddess did not answer the boy's suggestion directly, the pleased look on her face as she picked up the plate was already silent consent.
After enjoying the newly made dessert, the refreshment brought by the ice pop made Skadi get out of bed decisively.
The snow boots that had stepped through mud yesterday had already been taken away, washed, and hung out to dry. Her clothes were dry and carried a faint, pleasant incense.
When she washed up, the water in the copper basin was neither cold nor hot, and petals floated on its surface.
At mealtime, the soft bread and thick, juicy smoked meat left Skadi thoroughly satisfied, and the broth in her bowl was rich and delicious.
After the meal, mint leaves cleansed her palate and cleared away scraps of food and minced meat caught between her teeth. Chewing a few dried plums left a lingering fragrance on her lips and tongue.
Even Asgard's celestial palace had never had such refined living, yet Skadi had long since grown used to it and gradually fallen into its comforts.
Of course, all of this was the work of the little fellow before her.
The cool sweetness of the ice pop lingering between her lips and teeth left Skadi briefly dazed. She instinctively looked toward her nominal husband.
Ever since that night, the barrier between them had been broken. Skadi had tacitly allowed the little fellow to move freely around the castle and do as he pleased.
Unexpectedly, the chaos she had expected never happened.
Instead came a string of imaginative ideas and all kinds of changes to daily life.
Gradually, the more they interacted, the more surprises Samael brought Skadi.
No matter how troublesome something was, once it reached his hands, it became orderly.
He had a very sharp instinct for hunting and learned quickly.
He had excellent opinions on food, and the meals he created were quite delicious.
The Mountain Goddess had never imagined that her little husband would be such an interesting person.
Speaking of which, when had he transformed into a human? Skadi shook her head, a little confused.
She seemed to have forgotten, yet somehow felt no sense of incongruity at all.
As if everything had become a habit.
After the meal, Skadi stood in the room for a long while, her expression conflicted.
Samael, who had just finished directing the frost giants to clean up the courtyard, came over.
"What are you looking for?"
"My snow boots. They're gone..."
"Oh, I washed them for you. They're drying outside. I prepared another pair for you."
"Mm? Why are these for mountain climbing..."
"Did you forget? A dragonkind appeared in the northern caves. Didn't you say you were going to deal with it?"
"Oh, right. Then..."
"The chariot and riding wolves are already waiting outside."
"My..."
Skadi subconsciously clenched her hand, her expression sluggish.
"Wand, hunting bow, or throwing spear? You left your wand in the wardrobe yesterday, the hunting bow is in the stable, and the throwing spear... let me think. It's in the courtyard."
"Mm, I see. Then..."
"It is only a venomous dragon, but remember to bring antidote. Also, we're having baked pies for lunch today, so come back soon."
"..."
Only after Skadi dazedly took her weapons, dazedly walked out the gate, and dazedly climbed onto the chariot did Samael watch the Mountain Goddess formally set off to clear the threat from her territory. Then he finally let out a breath of relief.
Who would have thought that this seemingly aloof goddess would be so unreliable in daily life?
But the more down-to-earth she became, the cuter she was.
To be honest, the more he interacted with her, the more Samael found the truth beneath that mask fascinating. He even secretly wrote down Skadi's various "crimes" in a little notebook.
Actually, Skadi's sleeping posture was not very elegant.
Samael, who had successfully rolled onto the bed in snake form and been hugged like a pillow for an entire night, could testify to that.
Actually, even if she was very unwilling to admit it, Skadi had no choice but to accept the fact that she occasionally drooled in her sleep.
After all, Samael's scales had not dried once all night.
Actually, she was also quite fond of looking pretty. Samael had designed a dress for her using memories from later eras, and on the surface, she had dismissed it with disdain, complaining it showed too much skin and was too frivolous, then hid it deep inside her wardrobe.
Unfortunately, one time when she secretly took it out and tried it on, Samael happened to catch her. After that, she avoided Samael for a very long time.
Actually, she could be jealous too.
One day, in order to design clothes and hunting gear for Skadi, Samael chose a female giant guard with a similar build and appearance to serve as a model. Unfortunately, Skadi caught him.
From that day on, every guard in Samael's courtyard was replaced with men, and every single one of them was ugly beyond saving.
Actually, she cared a lot about what others thought.
For example, when Samael casually mentioned in conversation that animal ears were cute, Skadi, who had been hiding nearby and eavesdropping, found out and even went out of her way to get an animal-ear hair accessory. After spending half the day in front of the mirror pretending to be a cat, she suddenly snapped awake. Why was she doing something so stupid?
What no one expected was that Samael, who had come to deliver food at the time, was right outside her door, desperately holding in his laughter as he listened to her imitate cat noises for a full half hour.
So the next time she pouted with a tense face, sulking with her back to Samael, a series of extremely familiar meows came from behind her.
That was the first time Skadi blushed scarlet with shame and wished the ground would swallow her. Afterward, she chased Samael for half a day.
Actually, she was quite easy to satisfy.
When Samael took the initiative to learn hunting from her, to accompany her in seeing more scenery, and to share common interests with her, Skadi showed nothing on the surface, but the joy in her heart made her practically float when she walked that day.
Actually, she was quite tolerant, especially toward young animals that symbolized new life and vitality.
Many times, after hunting training ended, Samael liked most of all to lean against her knees and sleep, and Skadi allowed this habit.
That way, she could observe her little husband's sleeping face from the closest distance. Like a simple child.
Actually, she liked singing quite a bit.
Sometimes, Skadi would bathe in the moonlight and softly hum Scandinavian-style folk songs. Those were some of the few chances to hear her ethereal singing voice.
Only, her singing seemed a little off-key.
For that reason, Samael specifically learned a few instruments so he could quietly accompany her.
And, incidentally, tune things properly enough to save those wandering melodies.
Actually, she truly liked his closeness.
In a sense, Skadi raised him like a pet and was often quite indulgent.
For example, when he rested his head on her lap and lightly pressed his forehead against her lower abdomen, she liked to slowly stroke his soft hair as if petting a docile orange cat, not caring at all about distance.
But as she kept stroking him, the two of them would often gradually fall asleep, until they were nestled together in that noisy, cold world.
In those ordinary days, she would sit quietly against the headboard in a gauze robe, holding Samael as he slept soundly like a child. The warm afternoon sun would fall across his face, its afterglow gently drawing an orange outline around him, while a faint smile curved at the corners of his mouth.
Dazedly, she would feel a little tired too. Then she would slowly close her eyes, and with the reassuring warmth in her arms, quietly drift into sleep.
And these little moments of companionship had quietly taken root and sprouted, blooming into one beautiful flower after another.