The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 204

“Now, you’ll need time to prepare as well, so go quickly and pack your things. I’ll send the letter to Macriss by today. This probably won’t happen, but if Nike is lazily lounging around, you’ll need to give her a thorough wake-up call. You know that’s the duty of a sentinel, right? Even if you dislike it, you must know how to interrogate others.”

Only then did Polyxene shake off the shadow that had been darkly settling over her heart. Nymphs were a subordinate species destined to trust and follow elves, and accordingly, elves had both the right and duty to discipline and care for nymphs.

She, who had never harbored unnecessary feelings toward the ‘useful’ Nike until now, smiled slightly. Whatever had happened in Macriss, those who had failed to do things properly deserved stern admonishment and scolding.

“Yes!”

“Alright, now go on.”

Clack-clack.

Lost in thought, Polyxene deliberately walked on the gravel path instead of the well-maintained road, and her expression grew darker like storm clouds. Whatever she would do in Macriss, the environment would surely be much better than the thorny forest where things were treacherous and life-threatening. The thought of going there to thoroughly scold Nike should have made her steps lighter, but something didn’t feel right…

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her brother’s handling of affairs, but not knowing when he would bring the mage, and having to rely on just that single opportunity, made her heart heavy.

Her intuition made it impossible to breathe comfortably, as if a piece of apple were stuck in her throat. If she could, she wanted to make up any excuse to storm into the Hall of Glory and throw open the door to the nymph’s room that would be on the second floor.

That would probably clear her mind and make her feel refreshed, but it was such a tremendous matter with unmanageable consequences that she couldn’t do it. Mel, who had been a maid of the hall, was driven out for speaking carelessly just once, so how could an outsider do such a thing? Come to think of it, the very idea of a mere nymph occupying the Hall of Glory—and the king’s bedroom at that—was absurd in itself.

‘Really… there’s nothing wrong, right?’

During Lya’s incident, she had been surprised because she hadn’t known that briefly scratching at something would escalate into such a major situation, and she could have just crossed her arms, nodded along, and let it pass. But now that the time for her to leave the castle was right before her, her mind was endlessly troubled.

She wanted to know.

That nymph, what is she? She hasn’t placed even a speck of dust on His Majesty the King’s heart and daily life, which are as clear and cool as ice, has she? If she had, it would be absolutely unforgivable. There’s someone else who should possess all of him entirely.

She should have just died at Lya’s hands back then—that way, no one would be bothered and everything would be quiet.

“……”

Deeply absorbed in her gloomy thoughts, she walked silently when she suddenly looked up in surprise, as if she had seen reeds brushing against each other.

“What, autumn couldn’t have come already… Ah.”

Faint light brown hair, quite different from the brilliant golden and silver locks that elves typically possessed, rippled in the wind.

How anxious must her heart have been for her to mistake someone else’s hair for that—autumn was still far away. Instead of blaming her own carelessness, Polyxene swallowed her saliva.

That’s the nymph, right…?

The unicorn that usually stuck to her side like a shadow was nowhere to be seen for some reason, and Nike, who was also a nymph, was in Macriss. Good, this was a golden opportunity. Having missed the precious fortune she had gained from meeting Cassis, Polyxene hesitated before quietly following in that direction.

‘I’ll somehow pin some excuse on her and use her as a front to enter the Hall of Glory. Yes, why didn’t I think of such a good idea? When even Mel got kicked out, what’s to stop the same from happening to her? I’ll be someone who had no choice but to follow along because a foolish nymph begged me several times to please help her, and she’ll have to bear all the consequences that follow.’

Polyxene thought the idea she had spontaneously come up with was quite good. From her perspective, she would merely be performing the duty of a sentinel, and since the nymph would be the one breaking the rules, it was right for her to face the punishment alone. Good, good.

Having firmly made up her mind, she approached with an arrogant smile. She was in such a hurry that several pebbles kicked by her toes went flying.

At the clatter of stones hitting each other, the nymph walking alone turned her head sharply in this direction. Though she knew that nymph was slow-witted, it would be a disaster if she acted carelessly and missed this opportunity, so Polyxene hurriedly called out.

“Hey? You, wait a moment…”

“Hey, nymph! Your kinfolk have returned. She’ll be through the castle gates soon.”

Before Polyxene could finish speaking, a guard carrying a halberd on his shoulder shouted out. At this, the nymph, whose cheeks were puffed up as if she had acorns in them, smiled brightly.

“Really? Has Lady Nike truly returned?!”

“She’s coming from beyond the road outside the castle gates, so go to the west gate and see. But don’t go outside.”

“Thank you for letting me know, Sir Patz!”