The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 16
As they made their way toward the castle, Cassis found his gaze drifting downward time and again, drawn to the sight that never failed to catch his attention. The soft, auburn hair scattered over her small, rounded shoulders shimmered gently in the sunlight, reflecting its warmth. It reminded him of the wild raspberries she had offered him earlier, the ones he had swallowed whole, their tart sweetness lingering in his throat. A faint, rare smile tugged at the corners of Cassis’s lips, unbidden but not unwelcome.
She was no spoil of war, no treasure to be claimed. In fact, she might very well become the most troublesome presence in his reign. A nymph destined for death—who would welcome such a creature? And yet, as he brought her to the castle, he felt an inexplicable lightness in his chest. He was determined to ensure that his essence would not be wasted within her fragile form. If anything, he would fill her to the brim, so much so that it would spill over with every word she spoke.
The sylphs fluttered anxiously around Cassis’s ears, their whispers growing louder and more impatient. They urged him to quicken their pace, assuring him that they would alert him immediately if the delicate nymph showed any signs of distress. But Cassis, like a fallen spirit mage who had long forgotten the whispers of the elements, remained stubbornly silent, ignoring their pleas.
As a result, it was well past noon by the time they finally reached the castle.
“Wow…!”
Evelyn’s mouth hung open in awe as she beheld the grandeur before her. She had heard of Jupiter Castle before—how it was enveloped by the World Tree, an impossibly massive tree that cradled the fortress within its embrace. But no description could have prepared her for the breathtaking sight before her. The castle itself was enormous, but the World Tree, rising proudly from its heart, was even more magnificent. Its endless branches stretched into the sky, lush and verdant, and among its leaves, something golden glimmered, floating like pollen in the air. She pointed at it, her voice filled with wonder.
“Is that… the seed of the World Tree?”
“Your Majesty!”
“W-watch out!”
Just as she was about to ask her question, someone darted in front of them with startling speed. The horse had slowed considerably, so there was no risk of trampling the intruder. Besides, the unwelcome guest who now stood before them had not been injured in over a thousand years. Instead of dismounting, Cassis swiftly wrapped an arm around Evelyn, who had been startled by the sudden appearance, holding her firmly in place as he addressed the newcomer.
“Sir Iel.”
“You could have easily made the journey in a day. What caused the delay…?”
Beneath the cascade of silver hair, sharp black eyes peered over the horse’s head, scrutinizing the unremarkable woman who stood before him. A nymph. Though faintly tainted with the unpleasant scent of humanity, there was no mistaking her true nature. He couldn’t possibly be wrong.
But what caught Iel’s attention more than the nymph herself was the small sapling tied firmly to the horse’s flank. Its stem was no thicker than a morning glory’s support stick, and its leaves were already beginning to wither at the edges. Could this pitiful thing truly be the lifeline of the nymph?
Iel immediately realized that his lord had wasted precious time on a futile endeavor. A few small, faded green leaves clinging to a frail stem—it was nothing. Utterly meaningless. It would have been better to tear it out and be done with it.
“Your Majesty!”
“Silence.”
A low, warning tone. The words themselves weren’t particularly threatening—likely spoken softly to avoid frightening the wretched nymph. But the cold, piercing glare that accompanied them was utterly menacing. Iel bit his lower lip hard, the only way to withstand the overwhelming pressure.
The cold, stiff pain in his fingertips was bearable, but what weighed heavier on Iel was a deep, sorrowful frustration. The dark, cloying emotions that settled in his chest were not for himself but for his king. Cassis had hidden the truth from this naive nymph.
Your Majesty, why did you bring back a nymph who cannot be saved? You, more than anyone, know that this futile effort will only end in hollow absence.
Loving and nurturing nature was not merely an act of boundless mercy and devotion. It was a series of choices—taking what could be taken and discarding what must be discarded without hesitation.
Some might argue that a decaying root should be left undisturbed to maintain the vast forest. But that wasn’t always the case. Sometimes, the dead roots had to be ripped from the ground and cast aside to make way for new life.
To Iel, Cassis was stubbornly clinging to a pointless obsession, wasting precious time.
Meanwhile, Evelyn was utterly bewildered.
Your Majesty? Who are they talking about? Is there someone else behind us?
She knew well that only kings and emperors were addressed by such a lofty title.
Though it was a quiet, rural village where even the highest nobles rarely visited, the longing for the grandeur of the distant world burned all the more fiercely in the hearts of its inhabitants. Memories of childhood games and whispered fantasies about princes and princesses came flooding back to Evelyn. She even remembered the name of the kingdom’s prince—Asar! But when it came to the royal family of the elves, she had never heard a single tale. It was all a mystery to her.
Surely, it couldn’t be. It was only natural that there would be an elf in Jupiter Castle worthy of being called “Your Majesty,” but Evelyn refused to believe it could be Cassis.
