The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 97

Hope was in sight. Would the daybreak, shining brighter than the long shadow of light behind that hermit, finally pour over her? It must, and if so…

With her insides settling after all the discomfort, Lya pressed her lips so close to the bars they almost stuck as she whispered.

“Please shine that lantern on me a little more. I want to feel your warm heart up close.”

“Ahem, ahem. I cannot. By the way, I have come with urgent words to relay to you, so I would appreciate your concentration.”

“Pardon…?”

“I am one who can reflect others’ hearts like a mirror, and seeing your wandering, I came to inform you out of concern.”

“What do you mean…?”

Wandering? Didn’t they just say they came on behalf of sympathetic kinsmen? Weren’t they here to petition for her release?

It was difficult to guess what purpose this subtly changed speech was aiming for. To the bewildered Lya, an utterly unbelievable fact soon struck her like lightning in broad daylight.

“Today is the day of the Aika Festival, I hear. They say His Majesty the King will personally attend. Did you know?”

At these preposterous words, Lya’s mouth fell open. Both the event and the figure were like light itself to her. Yet they should not be pouring out somewhere without her presence.

“E-Aika Festival, you say? That’s… that’s… traditionally a festival to welcome us Guardians, and they’re starting it while keeping me locked up here? Wait a moment. When you say His Majesty will p-participate apart from the opening ceremony fireworks, do you mean he will stay for a long time?”

“That’s right. While all elves rejoice at His Majesty’s decision, I thought of you fading away in darkness. So…”

She didn’t need the sweet words that would cling to her ears as she had so desperately wanted. The Aika Festival is being held without her. By the king’s decision. And he will be waiting there, anticipating someone’s approach in a place where Lya is absent. At these incredible words, the strength that had pressed against the bars as if to topple them suddenly, repeatedly drained away.

The hermit spoke to her, as if urging the dazed woman.

“Lya, Lya? Are you listening to me? After the festival ends, a trial will be held to punish you. At that time…”

“…What?”

“You must detail exactly why you shot the nymph and insist until the end that you did nothing wrong. If you don’t…”

Suddenly, with eyes rolled back, Lya screamed at the top of her lungs.

“No, no! Why… I did nothing wrong. The Aika Festival is the rightful privilege that we Guardians earned through our efforts. I also want to… I want to be with His Majesty!”

At the mention of Cassis, the hermit flinched as if afraid of something and hurriedly concluded.

“I shall take my leave now. If you fail to convince them that you condemned the nymph without the slightest wrongdoing, you may never attend the next Aika Festival.”

“What use is the next one to me! Who knows if His Majesty will even appear then. No, let me out of here right now. Hurry, hurry…!”

Although the bars were quite dense, as Lya thrust her fingers through with such force that they might break, her nails scraped against them as one, then two fingers slipped outside. The hermit stepped back quickly, afraid of being caught between those fingers, and cleared their throat.

“Ahem, then I shall be on my way.”

“Wait, please wait. Don’t leave me behind!”

But Lya’s pitiful cries did not turn back the hermit who had claimed to come for her sake, not even a single step. The dim light of the lantern and the elongated light from afar had already grown thin. The sound of the door closing—thud—extinguished all the light of hope that had seeped into Lya’s tear-soaked eyes. In place of the departed hope, hatred and resentment like evil spirits piled up abundantly.

Several dozen minutes later.

“My goodness, is it true His Majesty is attending the Aika Festival?”

“I’m telling you, it is. Look, he’s right over there.”

“Wow… I-I can’t believe it. Good. I definitely won’t miss this opportunity.”

“Me neither!”

‘Hmph, noisy creatures.’

With her hair slightly dampened with sweat, Polyxene, hands tightly clasped together, was busy thoroughly examining Cassis, who sat perched on the high seat.

He was really here. Though not clearly visible behind the broad back, he sat upright on a chair adorned with intricate decorations. Even without moving a finger, just sitting there, Cassis’s uniquely elegant dignity that naturally overflowed captivated her once again.

Ah… my lord, my only lord….

She suddenly and impulsively recalled the throne she had seen when visiting the royal audience chamber as a child, holding Iel’s hand.

Of course, that was before Cassis’s coronation. The previous king had been standing by the window and, upon hearing her bold question, “Why is there only one of these magnificent chairs?” informed her that he had removed one of the two chairs because he was single. That conversation from back then overlapped seamlessly, as if she and he were having it now.

-Then, Your Majesty, when will you marry? Will you bring back the missing chair when you have a bride?

-Hmm? Haha, I’m honored that you take an interest in me. Your name was Polyxene, was it?

-I apologize. She is still a child who doesn’t know better and has committed rudeness.

-It’s all right, Lord Iel. Hmm… Well, I can’t promise anything. When the sun sets, those with companions tend to look at their partners with affection, but I seem unable to picture that scene. And I’ve promised myself not to put my hand to things I’m not confident about.