Collector’s Cage - Chapter 29

While it was true she was still in the cage, it wasn’t without progress. The time she spent with Froy had increased dramatically.

He had moved his belongings from his office to the bedroom and was now working beside Hermie.

“Thank you.”

Upon receiving the treat, Hermie brushed her lips against Froy’s finger as if in a gesture of gratitude. The ticklish sensation caused Froy’s Adam’s apple to bob heavily.

Then, like a greedy creature, he pressed his face against the cage, asking for more. Having given him a few kisses, he now acts as if he’s completely entitled to them.

“What is it? Move your face away.”

"Hermie, just once..."

Her face pressed against the iron bars was comical. Hermie let out an annoyed ‘Tsk!’ sound, then, as if reluctantly giving in, pressed her lips to his cheek.

It was a touch so light he might not have even felt it, but Froy’s gaze grew hazy and unfocused. He couldn’t even hide the weak, wobbly smile that escaped.

Seeing his vulnerable face showing such fresh, raw emotion, Hermie let out a stifled giggle.

‘How cute.’

Here she is, locked in a cage belonging to a notorious collector, already on her 50th day of confinement. Is it okay to be this carefree and think he’s cute? Maybe being locked up for so long has messed with her head.

Because at some point, watching Froy be happy, smile, and pine over her, she had also started to enjoy it.

‘This won’t do. I need to get a grip.’

Whenever her heart fluttered inconveniently, Hermie would shake her head fiercely. She was afraid that if she got swept up in these feelings, she’d lose her ability to make rational judgments.

‘If the mage doesn’t come, I’ll have to go find him myself.’

Hermie was even considering finding the mage herself as a last resort.

The safest method was to charm Froy into taking her to meet the mage.

Escaping alone and making her way to the Mage Tower was dangerous. She’d have to avoid people along the way, and she risked being harassed by sewer rats or stray dogs.

Therefore, she had to reassure him, get out of this cage, use him to meet the mage, and undo this damn curse.

And then she had to leave his side.

What Froy loved was the fairy Hermie, not the human Hermie.

The human Hermie was not rare, not special, and had no value. It meant there wasn’t a single thing about her that would appeal to a collector like Froy.

She’d return to being an ordinary commoner woman, the kind you can see anywhere. She wouldn’t be able to meet his gaze like she does now, call him by his name, speak informally, touch him, and kissing would be absolutely out of the question.

So, no matter how cute, handsome, and charming Froy was with his smiling face, Hermie was not allowed to like him.

“Hermie, what are you thinking about?”

“‘Whoever your mother is, she sure gave birth to a handsome son’—that kind of thought.”

“…Isn’t that a bit of an uncle thing to say?”

“What kind of nonsense is that to say to a lovely fairy.”

Hermie rolled around playfully and clung to the bars. Then, she stretched her arms out towards Froy, flailing them.

“Come here.”

“Why.”

“‘Why,’ he says.”

Froy leaned his face in. Hermie gleefully started kneading his face. It was one of the games she had taken to playing lately.

Froy obediently offered his face and chuckled. It was because Hermie’s expression, as she touched his face, was extremely serious.

“Enjoying it?”

“Not really.”

She was frustrated, bored, and angry about being trapped, but she figured she should enjoy this much happiness while she could. Hermie busily stroked the handsome face of this precious person she would never be able to touch again once she escaped the cage.

Froy was leaning his face in, eyes half-lidded as if about to receive a kiss. Looking at his face made her own flush and her heart pound loudly.

A fragrant scent of perfume wafted in on the gentle breeze from the window.