The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 171

Reports also came in that several abnormal reactions had been detected in Macriss, where Nike was absent.

All three were matters that, as king, he had to observe carefully. In the past, he might have dismissed the second matter as just a process that human lives had to endure, but now the situation was different. Thus, in this extremely busy situation, he did his best.

Cassis climbed the World Tree every day, personally checking and communing with even the branches that hadn’t bloomed. He also worked to stabilize Macriss as Nike requested and instructed that any further requests from the Devran Kingdom be reported immediately. In addition to this, to carefully look after Evelyn, he took the trouble to press his lips against the fruit he brought her daily and touch her hands, allowing her to absorb his vitality.

Was it yesterday? While frantically handling his duties, Laocon had babbled something strange.

— Hmm… hmph, Your Majesty seems too engrossed in work these days. This isn’t the time for that, is it?

— …….

— You stay only in your office, then suddenly jump up to see the World Tree, and just when I thought you might take a breather at the training grounds, you only train and return straight to the office to resume your duties. Am I wrong?

Cassis shot back at his pathetic words.

— No one goes to the training grounds to rest.

— Your Majesty, I said that out of concern for your… various matters. Of course, I trust in Your Majesty’s robustness, but public opinion might be different, mightn’t it? Perhaps you could take some time to sightsee and listen to the residents’ words…

— Aren’t you and Iel supposed to gather and report such things?

Only then did Cassis, who had been vigorously scribbling on documents, raise his head and look at Laocon.

In reality, there weren’t many castle residents who would openly express their honest thoughts directly to the King. Even during the reign of the previous king, it was the same, so it was difficult to say anything about it.

While the Senate would discuss public matters as much as needed, the residents, though they revered and followed him, tended to fear one-on-one encounters. This was not something that happened even during his days as a knight of the magpies, so he had largely entrusted these matters to the two knights.

Laocon cleared his throat.

— Ahem! That’s true, but the direction of public and private matters is different, isn’t it?

— If you have something to say, just say it, Sir Laocon.

— That…

— Say it, Laocon. Whatever the content, I will gladly pardon you just this once.

Reassured by the indulgence Cassis offered, Laocon, fidgeting with the already bluish beard stubble that had grown in by evening, asked,

— Is the rumor that Your Majesty will soon be engaged true? There’s a lot of talk about the room in the Hall of Glory that’s been rustling with cleaning lately, and even the parents of your future fiancée sending betrothal gifts, or moving to a nearby place soon. Haha, I become happy when His Majesty the King is happy. I, too, will soon…

—…What did you say?

At the astounding nonsense that made him doubt his ears, the pen Cassis was holding snapped with a thud. He knew the subject of the rumor definitely wasn’t Evelyn when he heard the phrase “the parents’ side.” If so, then who on earth was spreading such bizarre talk, causing him a headache at this complicated time? His fingers tightened, imbued with enough strength to shatter rock.

Lately, he had been too busy, utilizing every single spirit under his command without rest. He even brought the salamander that usually played in the library fireplace, making it work late into the night, so he had no time to idly command, “You all investigate the rumors within the castle.”

He placed the broken pen on the table and, instead of looking for a new one, stared intently at the one who had brought up the strange topic.

Laocon, though cheerful, wasn’t completely oblivious. He knew immediately just by seeing his King’s eyebrows twitch.

It was a completely baseless rumor!

—…I must have misheard. Your Majesty, I am deeply sorry, but something urgent has just come to mind, so I must take my leave…

— Stay right there, Sir Laocon Ciel Alutria. It seems I need to hear your report in detail, every single bit of it?

Called by his full name by Cassis for the first time in his life, Laocon suddenly wanted to cry and squeezed his eyes shut. However, there was no escaping, so all the various stories he had found interesting were spilled out before the King, one by one.

No matter that Cassis was the King of Jupiter, he couldn’t immediately overturn and correct something he had only learned about half a day ago. The content of the rumor was too widespread and preposterous to be dismissed as mere chatter inflated by idle residents, leaving him at a loss as to where to even begin.

The thought of seeking out Polyxene, the subject of the rumor, certainly didn’t cross his mind. It was obvious that doing so would only make things worse; it was better to just leave it be.

Among all the stories people were buzzing about, the only thing that was true was that he had indeed chosen a spot within the Hall of Glory to be cleaned. The prime suspect for initially leaking information about that matter could only be Mel, without a doubt.