From Pawn to King: Ruling a Harem of Chaos
Chapter 199: the goblin nest

Chapter 199: the goblin nest

The Next Morning

As dawn broke and the first light of day peeked over the horizon, Violet stood in the camp, sporting a pair of dark circles under her eyes. She quietly let the morning breeze ruffle her hair, which had gone completely wild.

She hadn’t slept a wink all night.

Passing girls couldn’t help but give Violet puzzled looks.

After all, the once-elegant princess, a paragon of style for all the girls, now looked utterly disheveled.

How did she end up like this!?

Despite her unkempt appearance, her beauty remained unaffected—if anything, her slightly frazzled look gave her a soft, endearing charm.

But it was undeniably out of character!

The murmurs of gossip reached her ears, but with her sleep-deprived mind in a haze, Violet couldn’t make out what was being said.

Not that it was hard to guess. She didn’t need to hear to know what they were whispering about.

She wanted to sigh deeply but could only swallow her frustration, burying it in her heart.

'Damn it, you said it would just be a little bit last night, but you went on for so long!?'

Realizing she’d been “greenlit” was painful enough.

But even worse was how the commotion left her utterly unable to sleep.

Just recalling the events of last night made Violet seethe with indignation.

Sure, the latter part involved her friend being "bullied," but it was still her fault for instigating everything!

Her friend being “bullied” didn’t change the fact that it ruined her own night too. She even had to forgo her stockings this morning.

As the morning breeze brushed against her bare legs, Violet shivered slightly.

Without her usual white stockings, her snow-white, slender legs were fully exposed. Their smooth, flawless appearance, coupled with her perfect proportions, exuded an alluring charm.

Having spent the entire morning in the cold wind, Violet was filled with suppressed resentment when she finally saw Rong again. Her eyes betrayed her feelings as she pouted unhappily.

Violet tried to act like she didn’t see Rong, attempting to walk past her without acknowledgment.

But Rong, with a gentle smile on her face, stepped forward and greeted her.

“Good morning! Have you had breakfast yet?”

If it were up to Violet, she would have ignored her entirely.

After all, this was the person who had betrayed their friendship last night.

As a princess, did she really lack for friends?

Hmph, anyone who betrayed her trust was resolutely cut off!

But…

Violet bit her lip. After a brief internal struggle, she nodded coolly and responded with a curt “Mm.”

That was it.

Let’s see how you like it after sneaking food last night! I’ll only give you one-word answers!

Although she was fuming inside, her attitude softened.

After all, Rong was one of her only friends.

If they truly had a falling out and Rong stopped talking to her…

Well, she didn’t have any other friends.

As a model student princess with an elite background, stellar grades, and an icy demeanor that kept others at arm’s length, Violet wasn’t exactly approachable.

Even with Shia’s “help,” her interactions with others had only marginally improved. But no one dared to get too close.

Of course, people like Mary Sue didn’t count as “people” in this context.

So, despite her frustration and slight tsundere tendencies, Violet accepted Rong’s friendly overture.

'She was the one who approached me first, okay~!'

“You’re up early. I haven’t had breakfast yet. Want to come with me?”

Rong naturally hooked her arm around Violet’s, leading her toward the other end of the camp.

As a loyal maid determined to assist her master, she needed to manage these girls properly.

Social anxiety could wait—building relationships came first.

With a warm, harmless smile on her face, Rong seemed unaware that Violet already knew what had happened last night. She was even secretly proud of herself.

Though she’d been “bullied” pretty badly later on, it was by her master, after all~!

Despite her grumpy demeanor, Violet obediently followed along.

'She was the one who begged me to accompany her, okay~!'

Meanwhile, Shia appeared in high spirits.

Unlike the two slightly worn-out girls, his energy was through the roof.

Violet was kept awake all night by the noise, while Rong had simply been worn out.

Even “just a little” had its levels.

Rong, having no prior experience, obviously had no idea.

As her master, Shia had taken it upon himself to “educate” her thoroughly.

It was clear the little succubus had learned her lesson well last night.

Now, as Shia watched the two girls heading for breakfast, his gaze lingered on Rong’s legs, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Sure enough, she’d brought out her black stockings today—a rare sight for her.

Black stockings weren’t just a fashion choice; they also conveniently hid certain marks on her legs.

Feeling his gaze, Rong quickened her pace subtly.

Her legs still felt a little weak.

The day promised clear skies and gentle breezes—a perfect day.

Shia’s mood was as bright as the weather.

The only thing that worried him was the Sword Saintess’ demeanor.

After last night’s events, Sistine had reverted to her former self.

Her golden hair gleamed with an icy purity, and her white dress exuded solemnity. Her expression was stoic, and she radiated an unapproachable aura.

She avoided everyone, keeping a distance of at least two meters during any interaction.

Even when speaking, she kept her words to a minimum.

But when it came to Shia, her behavior was even more extreme.

The moment Shia moved toward her, Sistine would nonchalantly change direction and walk away.

It seemed accidental, but she always managed to avoid eye contact with him.

By the third time, Shia was sure she was deliberately avoiding him.

Last night’s events had left Sistine deeply unsettled.

Unsure of how to face him, she opted for avoidance.

Shia, however, was determined to break the stalemate.

Progress had just begun, and he wasn’t about to let it end prematurely.

But as soon as he moved in her direction, Sistine turned and walked off to patrol elsewhere.

Her body was tense, her nerves on edge.

Last night’s incident had revealed her deepest secret to him, leaving her mortified.

Since their departure that morning, she’d been carefully avoiding him.

Eventually, Shia managed to corner Sistine in a secluded spot, leaving her no escape.

As he approached, ready to speak, Sistine’s discomfort was palpable.

But just as she was contemplating an excuse to leave, an excited shout came from nearby.

“I found the goblin nest!”