The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 35
“Yes! It was in this book, too. Lady Nike, they called her—a magnificent nymph who guards Jupiter…!”
By the World Tree’s grace, Cassis had never seen anyone refer to a nymph with such reverent devotion. Even in the days when nymphs flourished, none had been addressed so earnestly.
Unable to help himself, he let out a soft laugh and ruffled her hair again.
“Hah. Try calling her ‘Lady Nike’ when you meet her. If it’s her, she’ll probably dance around you in delight, wings spread wide.”
“Huh?”
“Just once, though. Do it too often, and she’ll get spoiled.”
“Ah…”
“Speaking of which, that Nike—she’s suddenly decided to put on some little performance tonight in the Agora. As if she isn’t already exhausted.”
“A… performance?”
Cassis imagined her round ears twitching like an elf’s—if only they could. Her fascination with the word was unmistakable.
“The night’s not too cold. Shall we go see it?”
“Um… will the other elven lords be there?”
He caught the faint tremor of fear in her voice and quickly offered a compromise.
“They’ll gather for the show, naturally. But you needn’t worry. We’ll watch from the outer watchtower—hardly visible from below.”
Only then did Evelyn relax, her face brightening.
“I’ll go…!”
The uncontainable joy blooming across her cheeks pleased him more than he cared to admit. Soon, Cassis draped an out-of-season shawl over her shoulders—just to ward off the chill—before leading her out of the sanctum.
The watchtower he’d mentioned was far more spacious inside than expected. From the outside, its narrow frame suggested nothing more than a spiraling staircase, so curiosity finally drove her to ask.
“Um… Lord Cassis.”
“Hm?”
“The sanctum was like this too, but the inside here is really spacious as well.”
“Jupiter is laced with numerous rare magics throughout its halls. You’re permitted to enter since I’ve allowed it, but intruders are another matter. They can’t get inside—they’d just hit a dead-end wall and bloody their heads… Ah, my apologies. Anyway, they can’t come in.”
Magic!
Her eyes sparkled the moment she heard that mysterious word. Cassis quickly tried to cover his slip of mentioning blood, remembering the day he had thought stars dwelled in her gaze. The village chief had specifically warned him when entrusting Evelyn to his care—she frightens easily.
“At present, humans can hardly use magic, but you’ve become a nymph, so it’s different for you. You may not be ready now, but once you’ve recovered, you could learn a few simple spells.”
“Really?”
Evelyn’s eyes widened at the unexpected words. The rapid shift in her emotions only amused Cassis. Yes, this was how she should be—regaining vitality not just in body, but in spirit as well. This was how she ought to live—here in Jupiter.
“We’ll talk more about magic later. For now, let’s go up.”
They stepped onto the pulley-operated elevator and soon disembarked. Evelyn had assumed they would go all the way to the top, so when they got off earlier than expected, she tilted her head in confusion.
“Do we have to take the stairs the rest of the way?”
“Where did your ears take my words just now? Look over there.”
“Huh? Ah—!”
His fingers brushed lightly behind her ear, where a few strands of hair clung to her skin. A flush of heat rose to her cheeks—this was the spot Cassis had licked before. The thought made her unbearably embarrassed.
Unconsciously, he had developed a habit of touching and confirming the places he had claimed—though he himself wasn’t fully aware of it yet. Cassis spoke softly, as if his hands had never strayed into mischief.
“Nike’s stage in the Agora is lower than the spectator seats. If we go too high up, all we’ll see is the top of her head. Not that that wouldn’t be amusing in its own way.”
Oh… I-I see.”
“This height is just right for watching. Now, look there.”
“Wow!”
The vertical groove running along the inner wall of the watchtower was narrower than expected but perfect for observing the outside. When he placed his hand on the keyhole-shaped opening, he explained its purpose.
“Originally, this was a space for hiding and shooting arrows, but it’s never once seen in actual combat since it was built. Look there, Evelyn—that’s our Agora.”
Even before he spoke, she had already spotted the space where the elves were gathering. It was closer than she’d thought. Over there, someone with delicate folded wings was holding something in their hands.
‘That must be Lady Nike, the nymph.’
Without thinking, she stared intently, a strange sense of joy welling up inside her. Then, without warning, he gently pulled her defenseless form onto his lap.
