The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 157

“Hmm?”

Just then, a note of doubt crept into Cassis’s voice.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing.”

Had he seen it wrong?

Somehow, the movement of the sky looked as if heavy rain would pour down urgently starting from dawn tomorrow. He had been observing for weeks and had thoroughly chosen only clear days for the picnic date, so it shouldn’t be possible, yet his premonition was telling him otherwise.

If heavy rain came, it would strain the disposable magic circle that operated spatial movement. In fact, it would be perfectly possible for him alone or with a horse, but the problem was Evelyn, who was riding on his back, clueless and just tilting her head in wonder.

With her current physical condition, it would be difficult to withstand the magic circle’s imbalance. In other words, if he forcibly activated the magic, there was a slight possibility that he would whoosh away while she’d be left stranded on the magic circle.

‘Hmm, this won’t do at all.’

He had promised to return using spatial movement, and since he had barely recovered after sleeping lazily all day yesterday, the method of riding a horse back to the castle from now didn’t appeal to him much either. If he pushed Evelyn any harder than this, there was a risk she might suffer from even a light fever. In that case, he had no choice but to give up cleanly and wait until the rain stopped.

Laocon’s crying face almost flashed through his mind for a moment, but Cassis thoroughly ignored it and gently lifted her up.

“Let’s head back.”

No sooner had they returned to the log cabin than he examined and locked all the windows, even checking the shutters. The spirits took on the role of confirming whether there were any gaps where rain might leak between the doors or from the roof. After confirming there were no problems, he came out to the living room and habitually glanced toward her bedroom.

The door she had entered was firmly closed. She was probably changing clothes? A smile formed on his lips as he recalled the reddish slip he had glimpsed through the crack of the open door the day before yesterday. That time had been quite enjoyable. He felt like he wanted to bestow some sort of reward on Daius.

Even indoors, his five senses could easily read the weather changing by the moment. Whether Evelyn, who had come out to the living room, was absorbed in reading the book she had enthusiastically brought for the last day of the picnic and didn’t look at him even once, or during the leisurely time after finishing their meal, or even when the sunset was painting the sky particularly red as if trying to deceive tomorrow’s rain—he concentrated on sensing the movement of clouds and air that would bring the rain.

Then he heard Evelyn’s voice as she looked up.

“Oh my… When did this appear?”

In the vase that had been empty when they left, something was now abundantly arranged. A tree branch bearing clusters of dark red berries among sturdy leaves that spread in three directions. Even just one branch had enough berries to completely fill the vase.

As Evelyn looked at the vase with curiosity, he opened his mouth to speak, but somehow his voice wouldn’t come out well. Ahem, hmm. While he cleared his throat, she smiled gently.

“What luscious berries! The birds will enjoy eating them.”

“You don’t need to bother trying to eat them yourself. Remember when I told you the meaning of my name before? This is it.”

It wasn’t the branch his deer friend had brought two days ago. The time is gradually approaching, so go visit in advance—your old tree. The deer wouldn’t have been wary just because he’d brought a stranger; it had informed him through hints, so this was evidence that Cassis had gone and returned.

He didn’t have to arrange it in this vase. He could have planted it in suitable soil to promise another life, or just taken it with a little water, but he left it there because Evelyn seemed to regret the empty vase. It was simply adorable that she only discovered it now because she’d been concentrating on reading her book.

He smiled and lightly brushed her ear.

“Since they’re berries and not flowers, it would be difficult to put them in your hair. Don’t even think about trying. These berries get dirty when they’re crushed.”

Evelyn cheerfully responded.

“There are definitely people who like this color! Thank you… The table has become abundant, but I didn’t even notice. Maybe I was able to sit and continue reading my book with peace of mind because you filled this vase.”

“Is that so?”

At her purely positive words, a bubble-like impulse arose in his throat without him saying anything in response. Let’s go out, Evelyn. To decorate the end of our picnic. He wanted to say those words.

What a ridiculous thing to do. Soon after they—precisely after Evelyn—fell asleep, heavy rain would come and the air would turn cold in an instant, so what was the point of suggesting they go out? Since he had closed all the shutters, they couldn’t even see from inside how dark it had become outside. There was no need to push it; after just a little more time passed, he could simply encourage her to sleep.

He slowly moved his fingers and ultimately showed her through action rather than words.

Grasping her hand firmly, he silently led her. Evelyn expressed brief confusion but didn’t stubbornly resist and followed along as he led, just like their daytime walk.