Chapter 156: I Am the Fishing King

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To her surprise, it seemed she had underestimated Vivian…

The two of them were like feral dogs in heat, entwined in wild abandon.

Leaving traces of memories in every corner of the cottage.

Behind the front door, on the dining table, by the kitchen stove.

Even right in front of Talia’s underground cave…

Except for stopping midway to drink a few sips of water, their movements never ceased.

Even when someone knocked on the door outside, they pretended not to hear.

The sun set and rose again, the stars shifting through nine rotations.

Time arrived at the deep night of the third day.

“Mmm~ Slept so well!”

Talia lazily stretched her limbs, dispelling the lingering drowsiness from her head.

Sniff sniff~

Her nose twitched slightly, and the air was filled with a peculiar sweet, cloying scent.

She frowned in confusion and muttered to herself.

What is this smell?

Could Vivian be making some kind of dark cuisine?

The innocent, inexperienced maiden Talia had no idea what this meant.

She just assumed Vivian was tinkering with a new recipe in the kitchen and didn’t think much of it.

“Forget it, I won’t bother with her.”

“I’ll head to the village outskirts and see if there’s a place to fish.”

Talia’s hands itched with eagerness, a craving surging in her heart.

It had been so long since she’d touched a live fish, and she couldn’t help but reminisce about the joy of the last bite on her line.

That feeling… was even better than the relief of a smooth bowel movement after a week of constipation!!

At the thought, her cheeks flushed and she instinctively squeezed her legs together.

Can’t take it anymore, leaving right now!

With quick little steps, she padded out of the cave, pattering along.

But no sooner had she set off than she fell flat.

Splat plop! Splat plop!

Off to a bad start!! She fell.

A miserable shriek echoed through the cottage, lingering for a long time.

“Which heartless bastard did this!”

Talia rubbed her dazed head, hissing in pain.

Who on earth?!!

Right at her doorway was a puddle of some sticky, unidentified liquid.

Are you trying to kill the great Archduke Talia?

Hmph~

It’s probably that Vivian.

She must be jealous that I can catch big fish, so she used such a sneaky trick.

Talia scrambled to her feet, her little face puffing up in anger like a bloated pufferfish.

Can I tolerate this? Time to settle the score!

Walking with a swagger that acknowledged no one, she searched the cottage for Vivian’s trail.

The bathroom next door, its wooden door tightly shut.

The sound of splashing water drifted out in waves.

She must be hiding in the bathroom, fleeing the scene of her crime.

Watch me drag her out!

Talia approached the bathroom door, cleared her throat twice, and knocked with her knuckles.

“Ahem~ Is anyone in there?”

From inside came Vivian’s flustered response through the steam, but just as it began—

“Ah! I… mmm~”—it suddenly cut off, as if someone had clapped a hand over her mouth.

Huh?

What’s going on?

Talia stepped forward, pressing her big ears against the door panel, holding her breath to eavesdrop.

Inside were rustling sounds, along with a broken, intermittent conversation between two people.

It was a deliberately lowered male voice, seemingly gasping for breath.

“Shh~ Let’s stay quiet, make her think no one’s here.”

“Oh, okay.”

It was a deliberately lowered male voice, seemingly gasping for breath.

This time it was Vivian’s voice.

She couldn’t mistake it—soft, sweet, and sticky.

Is there someone in there or not?

She knocked again to confirm.

“No, no one’s here, Vivian just stepped out… Mmm!”

A voice squeezed through the throat came out again, ending with a strange yelp, as if something had bumped into her.

“Oh well… so no one’s there, I thought Vivian was inside… disappointed.”

All that effort for nothing.

Talia searched the entire house but couldn’t find her anywhere.

What, you say Vivian is hiding in the bathroom doing something naughty?

How is that possible—didn’t you hear her say no one was there?

Are you deaf?!

In the end, Talia could only leave, crestfallen.

“She seems to have left… let’s continue.”

Behind the door she’d walked away from, faint voices drifted out again.

“No way, no way.”

“Again? Have mercy on me, I’ll die.”

Her temper flared up quickly but faded just as fast.

Talia put her excited smile back on and gathered her fishing gear in the house.

Bucket, net, rod—all ready to go.

Time to go fishing!!

She slammed through the front door and strode off.

A small light orb above her head, she searched along the dirt path outside the village, one trail after another.

And sure enough, she found a little stream.

Patting a large green boulder by the streamside, Talia sat down with great enthusiasm.

“The spot’s perfect right here.”

“This is the spot.”

The hollow on the boulder’s surface fit her small rear just right.

A prime fishing seat.

This rock was practically made for her.

She tossed a few wild fruits she’d picked on the way into the water as bait.

Threading a freshly dug earthworm onto the hook, she swung the rod back and cast.

A perfect throw!

She raised her chin proudly, flattering herself inwardly with a narcissistic compliment.

And so began a wonderful night of fishing.

Moonlight shattered on the water’s surface, turning into silvery-white scales.

A few withered yellow leaves floated by, drifting downstream into the distance.

Who knew how much time had passed.

Maybe all the fish were fast asleep, since not a single one took the bait.

So ungrateful!

Talia had no choice but to doze off, her little head bobbing up and down.

Suddenly, her shoulder was poked twice.

Pop.

The big snot bubble she’d blown burst abruptly, and Talia groggily woke up.

She turned her head in a daze, muttering with displeasure.

“Who is it…”

In the dream just now, a fish had taken the hook.

But some clueless fool had poked her, shattering the lovely dream.

“Hello, could you tell me how to get to Blackwood Village?”

Hearing a sweet voice, Talia curiously lifted her eyes.

What came into view was a dazzling head of golden hair, along with that graceful figure.

Such huge white mounds…

Even bigger than mine, how indecent.

Noticing Talia’s impolite stare, the other woman gave a strained smile and spoke again.

“Do you know how to get to this place?” “Hello……”

This woman with the indecent figure pulled out a map and pointed at it.

It was the same type as the one Vivian had.

Talia pointed toward Blackwood Village and said helpfully.

“Follow that dirt road, keep going straight and you’ll see it.”

So she’s just a lost villager, and here I thought she was some kind of monster.

Scared me for a second.

“Thank you, you sweet little sister.”

The woman bent down to thank her, and her chest gave a noticeable jiggle that was hard to ignore.

Then she turned and set off, disappearing into the darkness.

Hmph~ Just because yours is a little bigger than mine, you’re calling me little sister…

Wait!

Talia shook her head, snapping back to reality, and realized something was off.

It’s the middle of the night—what villager would be out wandering at this hour?

That woman is definitely suspicious!!

And with a figure that indecent, she’s clearly up to no good.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately stood up, ready to sneak after her and check things out.

But when her gaze fell back on the fishing rod, she hesitated.

Forget it, fishing is what matters.

Anyway, Vivian and Nolan are still back in the village.

If the sky falls, they’ll hold it up.

Besides, if they couldn’t handle it, then me going would just be throwing my life away.

Talia shook her head, tossing those irrational thoughts to the back of her mind.

Her attention returned to the task at hand.

Tonight, Archduke Talia will not come back empty-handed!

I will return laden with glory!!

Her eyes gleamed with a certain unwavering determination.