The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 50
“I… am….”
Asar hesitated instead of answering immediately. In truth, he had been meeting the Viscountess even before she lost her husband, and she had taught him everything.
How to be a dignified man in front of a woman, his first kiss, the first experience of intercourse after spending romantic time with the opposite s*x, strategies for exploiting the weaknesses of arrogant knights and nobles, and more.
She alone was the one who frequently whispered useful information to him. Even if he were to marry later, Asar had no intention of ending his clandestine relationship with the Viscountess. He had firmly believed until this day that this was the truth.
The King, who knew the entire situation, sighed.
“Asar, I understand it was difficult for you to regain your composure after losing Fold, but that is not a proper relationship.”
“……”
Fold. The sudden death of the Crown Prince—the King’s son and Asar’s father—did not shake the security of the small kingdom. This was because the current King was exceptionally robust and had long governed the country well. And that fact had pushed back the days when Asar would inherit the throne.
The King made a firm decision.
“End it.”
“B-but….”
“No buts. If you intend to succeed me and inherit the crown, you must abandon what needs to be abandoned. Do you plan to start with scandals before you even begin?”
Asar felt even more wronged.
He had been told that it was commonplace for royalty to keep a mistress or two. None other than Viscountess Kania had told him so, and the other person—his late father—had also nonchalantly kept mistresses. Though he couldn’t know for certain, wouldn’t his grandfather have done the same in his youth?
‘Then why am I not allowed?’
A rebellious feeling flourished within him, but Asar restrained himself for now. This too was due to Viscountess Kania’s advice. He freshly recalled how she had earnestly admonished him that he might lose the crown he was meant to wear if he made a misstep.
That damned crown!
His grandfather was the King and his father had been the Crown Prince, so Asar had naturally assumed he would inherit the position of Crown Prince after his father’s death, but the royal laws did not work that way.
Asar’s current position was merely that of a prince. Not even Crown Prince, but just a prince—this was the Viscountess’s advice. He was simply the only son of the deceased Crown Prince. Moreover, with nobles of close royal bloodlines maturing and swarming around, she had told him to be patient and behave properly until after his grandfather’s mourning period ended. This was what she had told him just today.
“……”
How could one possibly live without wearing even a meager crown? The answer was already evident. Without possessing even a pathetic castle, one could not be king. As Asar’s spirit deflated and he hung his head low, the King delivered his punishment.
“Now, go to the chapel and reflect deeply. Stay there until evening and repent thoroughly!”
“Y-Your Majesty. However, the Prince has not eaten anything since waking…”
The attendant, who had been fidgeting behind, stepped forward to take his side, but what came back was a thunderous reprimand.
“You go with him too! The Prince’s personal attendant not only fails to prevent an improper outing but accompanies him? If Asar experiences something like today’s incident once more, I will have your head first!”
“Oh, goodness…”
“Go now!”
“…Let’s go.”
“P-Prince…”
“Grandfather, I shall take my leave.”
Suppressing his rising anger, Asar acted obediently. He had learned that while others might not matter, he must not fall out of favor with these three people, the King, General Vise, and Marquis Ron. This too was a teaching from Viscountess Kania.
The chapel, as always, was immersed in a silence so profound he didn’t even want to open his eyes. The intense wooden scent emanating from the antique wooden decorations was enough to give him a headache. Even the musty air while walking the night streets at dawn would be better than this.
Asar instructed his almost tearful attendant to withdraw and chose to accept the punishment alone. With the priest also gone, he didn’t want to be under anyone’s gaze.
‘Damn it!’
While kneeling for a long time before the altar, Asar was not reflecting at all but was filled with entirely different thoughts. These thoughts were, of course, about Viscountess Kania’s beautiful face and generous nature. And certainly also about the blissful moments when he had buried his face in her bosom and moaned.
‘Grandfather has grown old and understands nothing. If Viscountess Kania were only seeking her own desires, would she have spoken to me like that? If she were clinging to me, she would have tried to cloud my judgment by asking for the position of future queen and professing her love. She is different; only she truly understands me. Ah! If I had been born just ten years earlier, I would have made her my princess and seen her face every day.’
The more he contemplated, the more his sense of injustice grew. Asar did not want to live powerlessly like this. Something needs to change dramatically, he thought, without losing the crown he was destined to wear. However, it gave him a headache trying to figure out how to find such an opportunity.
“…Asar.”
“G-Grandfather.”
When did he arrive?!
Not having sensed his presence, Asar was quite startled as he raised his head. Fortunately, he hadn’t been dozing with his eyes closed.
The sunlight coming through the stained glass had diminished pitifully by then. The seasoned King willingly extended his still-powerful hand toward his young grandson.
“Rise now.”
“I am sorry.”
In the space where only the immaculate altar silently looked down upon them, the King opened his mouth with a clear tone.
“Do you know who Viscountess Kania’s lover is?”
