Several moons ago, the girl would have screamed, her eyes wide with terror at the sound of his approach. But now, the face behind the smeared makeup and tear-stained cheeks was one of utter desolation—a soul broken, long consumed by the relentless tide of hopelessness and despair.
"As Princess Lumielle's dependable sword and shield," Hynes declared, his voice growing impassioned as he hastily removed his faulds, "it is my sacred duty, my divine pilgrimage, to protect her from those vile wretches who fail to recognize the sheer magnificence of her being!"
"As my one and only savior," he gushed, a fervent gleam in his eyes, "my mission is to place her upon the royal throne as the rightful heir—it's the least I can do to repay her for rescuing a lowly servant such as myself! Ah!" He sighed with great fervor, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Queen Lumielle Arabella Celeste Ainsworth! It has such a glorious ring to it!"
FLICK!
His throbbing member came loose from his garb like a defiant spring, its rigidity rivaling that of his armor. It was exposed to the chill air for but a moment before it was routinely sheathed by the subservient imitation. In the same beat, Hynes retrieved a precious lock of his goddess's hair that was carefully stashed away inside a glass container.
He inhaled deeply as he passionately brought it to his nose. "Ah, such refreshing sweetness and harmony!" he panted, his voice high-pitched and ragged, even as he rolled his hips and clutched a fistful of the girl's hair.
SNIFFF~
"Ah, such tender richness and delight!"
SNIFFF~
"I-It feels… It feels like I'm being hopelessly pulled in," he wailed, "completely and utterly swept away by a delicious whirlpool of aura! Princess! Princess! Princess!"
SNIFFFFF~
"AHHHH!" he cried out again, tilting his head back, his eyes bulging as gratification churned through his veins like liquid fire. "TH-THIS RICH FLAVOR! AN EARTH-SHATTERING MEAL BEYOND ANYTHING ANY CONNOISSEUR HAS EVER SAMPLED! A RUSH MORE INVIGORATING THAN ANY DRUG!"
SNIFFFFF~
"B-BON APPETIT!" he shouted as he surrendered to ecstasy, desperately thrusting his hips forward as his eyes rolled back, the girl's choking adding to his euphoria.
As his body convulsed, his grin unhinged, he raised the lock of Lumielle's hair above his head, his eyes fixed on the priceless treasure. Alas, it was already losing its natural aroma and luster—now, he needed something new.
***
Lumielle threw herself onto her bed like a petulant child, just barely resisting the urge to scream into her pillow. Another exhausting day in the arena of political warfare had worn her down—snide remarks, veiled secrets, manipulation, propaganda, conspiracy, and the overall evil narrative that she couldn't seem to undermine.
"Please tell me you have some good news," she murmured in her pillow, noting the moment her most trusted aide quietly slipped into the room through the open window.
In the soft light from the mana crystal lamps, the girl knelt on one knee beside the large four-poster bed, glancing up at the princess through the silken curtains. "…He's here."
"R-Really?" Lumielle sprang up from the bed, gauging the girl's expression to weigh the truth of her words. "Lynn, are you absolutely certain it's him?"
Lyndoria discreetly clicked her tongue with a frown, loathing the words that were about to depart her lips. "His description matches what you told me, and he also knew the phrase you put into place."
Lumielle was already busying herself behind a folding screen, quickly dressing down to blend in with the commoners.
"Princess, are you certain this… person can even be trusted?" Lyndoria protested. "He doesn't even look all that dependable."
"We'll leave the way you came," Lumielle responded confidently upon emerging from the screen, her gaze resolute beyond reason. "Let's go."
Lyndoria sighed.
***
Daisuke sneezed as he climbed the stairs to the third floor of the guild, briefly glancing down at the key chain in his hand. Attached was a smooth piece of wood etched with the number eleven. "I guess this is the room number," he murmured to himself with a sniff, rubbing his nose.
At the top of the stairs, he caught the echoes of raucous laughter, the clink of tankards colliding, and the rhythmic clatter of utensils against wooden plates. Pausing in the hallway, he leaned forward to peek into the dining hall nestled within the abdominal region of the statue.
Inside, the warm glow of lanterns and mana crystals illuminated a lively scene. Adventurers of various ranks and races occupied the space, some seated at sturdy wooden tables sharing hearty laughs and stories, while others stood in line at the counter where servers handed out steaming plates of food.
The delicious aroma of roasted monstron and spicy stews mingled with the faint tang of ale, creating a welcoming yet chaotic atmosphere. A bard strummed a lute in the corner, adding a jovial melody to the clamor.
Zephyr, of course, started stirring the moment his sensitive nose caught wind of the food.
"I'll treat you once we get to our room," Daisuke promised in a hushed tone. "Just stay hidden for now, okay."
The stirring stopped.
The fourth floor was a quiet haven, perfectly nestled deep within the statue's chest, offering a stillness that contrasted sharply with the lively clamor of the dining area below. Daisuke walked slowly down the dimly lit corridor, his eyes drifting over each door set into the stone walls until he reached the eleventh. At the far end of the hallway, a narrow flight of stairs beckoned, promising access to the fifth and final floor.
"The shoulder and head of the statue?" he murmured, considering the idea. "Is that where the Guildmaster's office and private residence are?"
Daisuke slid the key into the lock and twisted it to the left to unlock the door. He glanced cautiously from side to side before stepping inside the small room. Despite the guild's grandiose design and architecture, the room itself was pretty much synonymous with any other modest lodging—functional but unremarkable. A single bed occupied the corner, taking up most of the space, while a table and two chairs sat parallel to it, offering a simple arrangement for whatever needs the room might serve.
"That's fair," Daisuke observed. "Pretty sure scrapping the table and chair wouldn't matter to these guys in the least—a pillow beneath their heads and shelter from the night's cold is more than enough to keep them content."
Alright, he thought methodically, turning toward the bed. I just need to feed Zephyr and take a power-nap before I'm roped into the madness that's brewing in this kingdom.
Unfortunately, the canine was the only one who managed to benefit from this arrangement. As the pup scarfed down the last of his barbecue and Daisuke was about to throw himself in the sweet embrace of the bed—
Knock-Knock-Knock!
A soft thud echoed at the door, draining the color from his face. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath, his footsteps heavy as he lumbered toward the source of the unwelcome sound.
Zephyr quickly sought refuge within his clothes once more. Then the instant Daisuke opened the door—
"Haxks Starfrost," Lyndoria scolded with a frown as she breezed past him into the room, her eyes quickly scanning the small space with a hint of wariness. "Have you absolutely no sense of urgency?"
Daisuke raised an eyebrow, watching as the cloaked figure followed the rude and sharp-tongued girl inside. "I was actually hoping to get some rest," he replied dryly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "But you went and came in no time at all. Did you use a teleportation spell or something?" He ruffled the back of his head, playing off the unexpected visit.
The obscured visage beneath the dark hood twisted into unyielding lines of annoyance, tiny fingers curling into trembling fists.
"How can you think about rest at a time like this?" Lyndoria snapped, her voice thick with exasperation. "Do you not comprehend the gravity of our situation and the urgency with which it must be addressed?"
"No, I don't," Daisuke replied nonchalantly, meeting her glare with an unwavering calm. "But I do understand the immediate necessity of rest—otherwise, I'll be of no use to—"
SLAPP!
A hand shot out from the depths of the thick cloak, striking Daisuke sharply across the cheek before he could finish his sentence. The sound of the blow echoed through the room, and Lyndoria's amusement flickered in her eyes as the boy held his position, his head still cocked from the force of the strike.
"Lunarel is on the brink of an existential crisis, one that we have never faced before," Lumielle broke the silence, her voice laden with severity as she slowly drew back the hood of her cloak. "My family's bloodline may very well come to an end with my father. We had a deal. I was even gracious enough to let you attend to unfinished business."
Her gaze hardened as she took a confident step closer. "Yet, two months have passed, and only now do you decide to appear, showing no sense of urgency or remorse whatsoever. To be honest, your attitude doesn't sit well with me… it's quite troubling. Perhaps another month in the dungeon would be an appropriate remedy to restore your sense of duty."