The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 32
Since her return, everything had been so chaotic that he hadn’t had the chance to explain anything about Nike.
Everything about this place—the sacred city of Jupiter, home to the elves and blessed by the World Tree’s protection and grace—was a far cry from the small rural village of Devran where Evelyn had grown up. The two worlds were polar opposites.
Cassis, as if realizing he had been too harsh, softened his tone slightly.
“Follow me.”
“Yes.”
Once again, she followed without protest, her obedience almost unsettling.
They hadn’t been far into the sacred grounds, so the walk was brief. Just as he had anticipated, the moment they stepped outside, Nike thrust her face forward, her wings clashing together with a deafening clamor.
Her presence was as bold and unapologetic as ever, a stark contrast to Evelyn’s quiet submission. The air around them crackled with tension, the meeting of two worlds—one of fiery defiance, the other of silent endurance—colliding under the weight of unspoken truths and unfulfilled desires.
“Oh, hail to the radiant King of Jupiter, protector of our sacred realm! Ah… wait, are my eyes deceiving me? By the heavens, it can’t be! A fellow nymph!”
“Nike, enough.”
Though Nike usually obeyed Cassis without question, this time was different.
“Hello, little one. How delightful to meet you. I am Nike, the eldest nymph, having lived for a grand 400 years! And you… sniff, sniff… ah, the sweet scent of jasmine. A jasmine nymph, by the stars! How utterly romantic. You must feel like sipping tea every day, don’t you? Tell me, where is your tree? Quickly now, where does it grow? I wish to play a melody for you—what kind of music do you like…?”
“Nike!”
“Eek!”
Cassis’ sharp tone broke through her rambling, and Nike flinched, taking a step back. No matter how long she had lived, before an elf of such immense power, she was powerless.
Yet, her curious eyes remained bright, untouched by authority—much like Evelyn on her first day, when she had no idea who Cassis truly was.
Nike took a step back, bowing her head politely.
“My apologies, Your Majesty. But surely, the day will come when I may see my adorable little sister again, won’t it?”
“In due time.”
“Very well. I shall take my leave to play the lyre of victory in the square. My dear little sister, whenever you find the time, do come and visit me. For Jupiter!”
But even as she pretended to retreat, Nike managed to say everything she wanted to say. True to her nature as a chatterbox nymph. Cassis stood silently between them, offering no explanation.
As if reluctant to leave, Nike glanced back repeatedly, only disappearing once she had given up. Once she was gone, Cassis finally spoke again, his voice calm.
“That was… chaotic, wasn’t it?”
“Ah… no. I mean, yes…”
Another nymph existed?! But it was Cassis who had brought her into Jupiter. The sudden revelation left Evelyn utterly bewildered, her mind spinning with questions she couldn’t yet voice.
Cassis couldn’t help but notice the timid tone in Evelyn’s voice, and it bothered him more than he cared to admit. Before he could second-guess himself, he made an offer he hadn’t even considered until that moment.
“Evelyn, I should have some free time this evening. Go back for now, and we’ll meet again later.”
“Understood.”
“…Are you disappointed?”
All she had seen in the sacred grounds so far was the pitiful patch of soil where her frail sapling struggled to cling to life. He hadn’t even bothered to tell her the names of the other flowers and plants around her.
If she went back now, her daily life would be painfully predictable. He had told her not to wander outside the Hall of Glory, so her days would be unbearably lonely. Yet, she said nothing, just like her weak tree, silently gnawing away at its own life in the spot where it had taken root, doing nothing but breathing.
Her quiet resignation struck a chord in him, one he hadn’t expected to feel.
The journey from just a few days ago now felt like a distant memory, hazy and far away.
He vividly remembered Evelyn by the pond, laughing, flustered, surprised—her expressions so varied and alive. He had even found the empty spot where she had been, after she had disobeyed his order to stay in the nest, endearing. But here… even though she had regained her vitality, she seemed so listless.
“Ah, no, not at all!”
Her objection was too sharp, too obvious. But the way her eyes wavered betrayed her lie.
There’s no time to calmly ask her what’s making her so uneasy now.
The return of the sentinels, coupled with the unbearably noisy Nike coming back from Macris sooner than expected, had piled even more work onto his already mountainous responsibilities. He simply didn’t have the time to give her the attention she deserved. So, Cassis decided to wield his most powerful weapon—his face—and leaned in closer, asking bluntly,
“It’s fine to be honest.”
“I, I…! And this place is a bit…!”
Her lips, trembling and parting in loss of composure, were a sight to behold. He almost didn’t want to leave them alone. What kind of sound would she make if he slid his finger between them, teasing her tongue? And what about her waist, already squirming on its own even as their lips barely touched?
“Hm? I asked if you were disappointed, but is it difficult to answer here?”
As shameless as Cassis could be in front of her, he had no intention of making unreasonable demands out in the open, especially not right in front of the sacred grounds and on the path. It was only proper to hold back. When he spoke indirectly, she quickly grasped the essence of his question.
