Chapter 85
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Sitting right next to her, he realized that he still had his wolf ears and tail out. He promptly tucked them back in.
“What were those stones?”
“Oh, that’s what I was trying to tell you.”
“So you were onto something right after all.”
“Yes, but I got interrupted by Lady Weaver in the middle of it…”
Remembering what Leslie had said, Ruby hastily continued, “But I found then—I didn’t make them! Please don’t misunderstand!”
Smiling faintly, Ivan responded, “If I were going to misunderstand, I would have done it a long time ago.”
The staff might not have understood, but having observed her abilities up close, Ivan would never have mistaken her for purposefully doing them any harm.
However, Ivan understood why Ruby was saying such things. Perhaps this matter would be discussed in the upcoming meeting. After all, he had already ordered the advisors to investigate.
“Explain. What exactly were those stones?”
Ruby hesitated for a moment, considering that revealing everything might involve Louis. He surely didn’t want his existence to be known to his descendants, especially since he had tampered with the abilities unique to their tribe. Besides, the words of the vanished Ash Tree guardian when Ruby was being chased by Leslie echoed in her mind.
‘There are times when the descendants must take on the work of their ancestors.’
That statement probably referred to Louis and Ivan. Yet, why did it feel like there was more to it than that?
Ruby was someone who tended to trust her instincts. After all, precognitive dreams were an extension of her instincts. And her premonitions had been quite accurate.
“I happened to come across it. It’s not an ordinary item. It’s a curse doll.”
“A curse doll?”
So she spoke an appropriate mixture of truth and falsehood, omitting just enough to avoid mentioning Louis.
“Yes, I found them by digging rabbit holes. I’m a good rabbit burrower, so I found all of them. If it were any other beastfolk, they probably wouldn’t have been able to find them all even if they searched all day. There were as many as 66 of them.”
“Why would something like that be buried around our mansion…”
“You’d have to look closely to see what their purpose was, but they’re quite old, and while they’re pretty much worn out now, they must have had a lot of power back then.”
“…When do you think they were buried, approximately?”
At the low tone of his voice, Ruby stilled and locked eyes with him. His eyes, once calm, were suddenly glowing with anger.
“Not exactly, but…”
No, actually, it was accurate. Louis had told her.
“About a century ago, if I were to guess.”
At her answer, Ivan’s tense body relaxed. It was just a momentary reaction. Soon, he sharpened his gaze and rose from his seat.
“The doctor will be here soon. Wait for him to see to your wounds. I’ll be right back.”
Ruby hesitated on whether to stop him from leaving. She felt the need to inform him that the curse dolls’ creators were likely serpentfolk.
But she didn’t think it was the right thing to offer speculation that may not turn out to be true, so for now she just nodded.
Casually, Ivan swept the pink hair off her forehead and touched the roots of the rabbit ears sticking out with a gentle hand.
“I taught you how to insert them properly, but it seems like it was useless.”
“It’s because I was surprised. Just now, I was doing it perfectly!”
“Alright, Ruby.”
His attitude of affectionately brushing away her unruly hair, coupled with a warm smile, made Ruby unable to look away. Just like when she spotted him in the tree earlier, she wished to speak his name, but she couldn’t.
The difference in their rank and race was a chasm between them.
And her current circumstances seemed to warn her against such thoughts. Her tribe had been kidnapped, so she couldn’t afford to have such carefree thoughts.
So, she responded with a smile, mimicking Ivan’s, making an effort to avoid any complications.
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