The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 117

Her body shuddered eerily as she pronounced the word ‘arrows.’

When she had regained consciousness after losing it, all her wounds had been completely healed. So naturally, her cheek was intact without a single scratch, but it felt as if a bumpy pain was newly emerging from that cheek. Not only the parts where Lya had beaten her, but the sharp sound and the feeling of the wind being cut as the arrows grazed past and struck the ground seemed to wrap around her ankles, threatening to bring her down. Just like that day.

‘It’s okay. It’s okay, it’s okay…’

Evelyn tried to methodically relate every story she remembered, and the memories that had hurt her were completely unraveled, cutting through the solemn air of the courtroom. The fear when arrows flew, barely grazing her body instead of piercing it, and even being repeatedly hit by someone she didn’t know and collapsing on the ground.

After her testimony, an elder stepped forward to clarify that there had been no trespassing of the sacred grounds by a nymph, but that was hardly necessary. This was because the guardian of the World Tree was here with eyes wide open, and he himself was the witness.

The judge then told Lya to speak if she had anything to say, but she only exhaled roughly without saying anything. The clarification of the truth that had been wrongly tangled in her mind was essentially a death sentence for Lya.

The fog had lifted.

“Uu…huuu…”

“The King himself and Lord Iel, the First Knight Commander of Jupiter, are here as eyewitnesses and substantive witnesses of that day. If you wish to refute, this is your last chance. Do you want them called to the witness stand?”

“Kuughk…!”

Lya couldn’t respond verbally, but she shook her head in agony. It was essentially a declaration of surrender.

“Hmm.”

The judge’s finger started to lightly tap the table but stopped after hearing the groan that sounded almost animal-like. It was an action highly conscious of the king before him, but that didn’t excessively change the verdict that needed to be handed down. All the procedures carried out today were just, and if anything, they had been lenient toward the defendant. This was because there was clear evidence that would have resulted in more crimes being charged had it been submitted.

“The defendant Lya, under the pretext of watcher training, legally brought weapons into the castle and misused them. Do you admit this? This is also an act that tarnishes the honor of other watcher trainees.”

“Huh, ha, ha, haaa….”

Lya’s dissatisfied, labored breathing was felt even by Evelyn. It was rough enough to blow away several chairs with just that sound of breathing.

Since the trial was nearly over, Evelyn wondered if perhaps she would acknowledge her wrongdoing. She waited silently, but no such answer came. The judge, without blinking an eye, asked again.

“The defendant Lya has falsely accused others to justify her own claims and deliberately drove the nymph Evelyn to the brink of death. Do you admit this?”

“……”

“Before imposing punishment for these two crimes, I will apply a reduction of sentence as the defendant Lya has confessed. However! Because you committed an act that should never be done, permanent exile from Jupiter Castle is unavoidable.”

Exiled from the castle?! As the terrible declaration fell, Lya began to convulse again as if she had never been docile. No, this can’t be. I am Jupiter’s most loyal servant. Your Majesty, this is unjust. This is slander, slander…

As she caused such a violent commotion that her rattling chair almost fell over, the guards approached again and pressed down on her shoulders. Unable to bear the sound of teeth grinding, Iel glared at Lya and rebuked her.

“If you don’t want to add to your crimes, accept it quietly. We can certainly make it worse if that’s what you truly desire.”

“I can’t accept it, I just… just… Pol…”

The judge’s roaring voice suppressed the sounds of sobbing and struggling.

“Enough! Defendant Lya, since you do not repent and still try to justify yourself, I can no longer stand by. In addition to exile from the castle, I designate your place of banishment as the Island of Solitude. The date when your exile will be lifted shall not be predetermined, and the end of your sentence will only occur when a piece of the sky appears as evidence that the Goddess Theia regards you with mercy.”

Lya’s thrashing limbs suddenly froze.

“…W-what? T-that…!”

“The sentence shall be carried out. The criminal shall leave Jupiter Castle as soon as preparations are complete, and live the rest of her life in repentance, with permission to reside only in the southwest where the Island of Solitude is located, even if the sentence is lifted. Take her away!”

“Uh, uhhh…”

“Let’s take her away now.”

“Indeed.”

The guards exchanged glances, and Lya was dragged away without making a sound. Only then could Evelyn release her held breath all at once.