The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 199

Was it weeds? Looking at how thick the grass stems were, it didn’t seem like it. Polyxene narrowed her eyes and kicked the quite fresh grass, sending it flying off the road, then said:

“Watch where you’re going, you dwarf. If you get hit by accident like that, you’ll cry out in pain and then try to blame innocent people, won’t you?”

Polyxene didn’t like dwarves in general. When they encountered elves, they would make a fuss and spout honeyed words, but they were swindlers who either hid important facts or only schemed to sell off their various crafted goods at high prices.

Even she, having become an official guardian, had thought about ordering something from this dwarf with the congratulatory money she received from the council of elders, but was flatly refused. Orders for a whole year were supposedly backed up for the king? When told she’d need to pay extra if she wanted it faster, she was so dumbfounded she gave up, leaving her feelings less than pleasant.

Speaking of which, what did His Majesty order so much of… Should I ask this guy?

As she was pondering, she heard a flustered way of speaking.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I was on my way back from gathering some fresh, delicious greens to eat. Ah! I even got proper permission. From His Majesty the King. Hehe, really.”

Polyxene , who had been irritated about everything, quickly bent her waist to look closer as soon as Cassis’s name came up. Until then, she had been thinking of using this incident as an excuse to get at least a new pair of shoes, but her thoughts changed. When Daius rolled his big eyes around trying to avoid her gaze, she pursed her lips and asked.

“Really? His Majesty the King gave you permission to gather this grass?”

“It’s not just grass, it’s the world’s best that tastes really good even if you just blanch it lightly…”

“Quiet, and answer quickly. When, where, from whom, and for what reason you got approval—tell me everything in detail! If you deliberately leave out even one thing, I’ll hang you by the well.”

When Polyxene shouted, startled Daius jumped up, let go of the cart handle, and explained earnestly.

“Yes, yes yes. I’ll tell you. Just now! Uh, an hour ago, His Majesty the King was at the grasslands outside the castle.”

“Which direction?”

Since he wasn’t precise even with a single word and she had to interrogate him about everything, it was very bothersome, but Polyxene held back and asked.

“Um, hmm… Ah! Southwest… I think it was. He was contemplating whether to release silver goats and golden-maned water buffalo there to graze soon. His Majesty the King was.”

What?

Silver goats were literally precious livestock famous for having silver luster in their fur and for their goat milk being very savory and delicious. Golden-maned water buffalo were even rarer creatures than silver goats. Not only did they produce excellent quality milk, but those buffalo periodically shed their skin like snakes, and since you could obtain mane, fur, and hide all at once, she had heard stories that just keeping them would make you rich.

Shocked, Polyxene grabbed Daius by the collar and asked.

“Is that really true? Weren’t golden-maned water buffalo animals that only appeared in legends? You’re saying they’re royal property…?”

“Cough, cough cough. Please spare me. I never said they were royal property. His Majesty the King received them as a gift when he was summoned by the World Tree, he said, he said.”

What, really!

Polyxene let go of his collar and smiled brightly. The rage that had been sky-high when she left home melted away like a lie, and her reason for interrogating Daius further disappeared.

As expected… The more she learned about Cassis, the more his previously unknown charms kept overflowing. It wasn’t just because he was king—having personal assets to build up was a good thing. For him, and for her.

Daius was in a daze, but when Polyxene ‘s lips curved upward, he fell into rapture and muttered:

“You… you’re truly beautiful, Lady Polyxene . Ah… you resemble a rainbow.”

“Hmph, fine then, take that grass and get going. Don’t block the middle of the road from now on. Got it? I’m telling you this because as a guardian, I can’t stand to watch it.”

“Yes, yes yes. I was wrong.”

The dwarf, completely smitten with Polyxene ‘s beautiful looks, slowly pulled away the cart loaded with grass. Whether he kept looking back at her on his way or not, she looked toward the south gate. She had already abandoned the thought of gently coaxing the dwarf who only spoke smoothly but wasn’t helpful.

She had to go right now!

Like back then, this impulsively conceived idea might ride the wind and carry her far, far away to reach the goddess of fortune.

The power of being a guardian was good. Having boldly made the excuse that she would patrol outside the castle without even a single dagger, she looked around her surroundings.

‘Where is it? I need to find it quickly. Where… there, over there!’

That golden light that pierced and filled her vision completely!

Having seen the light emitted by a golden-maned water buffalo that she had only heard about in words since birth, she ran as if flying toward that place. Indeed, this time the dwarf hadn’t been lying.