The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 167

His Majesty the King, formerly a brave and wonderful knight, and the youngest Guardian born in recent centuries. There were more than just a few who went around singing that the two were a perfect match.

There was no point in fleeing into the hall to avoid hearing those words. That place was someone else’s spot that Evelyn would soon have to vacate.

‘What should I do now? When my tree in the sanctuary gets better, will he return it to me, or would it be better to keep it planted there? Until now, when I was anxious, I could ask Lord Cassis…. Who should I ask for help from now on?’

She crouched down and sat there blankly for a long while.

After some time, the sound of footsteps approached Evelyn and stopped abruptly. As soon as she saw the pure white body she had been particularly avoiding these days, Evelyn squeezed her eyes shut.

「Hey.」

“……”

「Do I disappear if you close your eyes? Open them, quickly. You know what happens if I lift my foot and rub your eyes, don’t you?」

Though she had no choice but to open her eyes, Evelyn’s deeply troubled complexion showed no sign of improvement. The unicorn who had deliberately come looking for her stomped its hooves to make noise again, but when she showed no reaction, it had no choice but to start coaxing her gently.

「Little nymph? Living in this world, you experience all sorts of things.」

“…I know.”

Ruba frowned upon hearing the small voice that seemed so dejected it might be sucked into the ground.

「Ugh! What changes by being so gloomy like this? Huh?」

“……”

「I know, ahem! That…the one who’s been the topic of conversation recently. She’s absolutely not the King’s type. I, who has lived in the castle for a long, long time, guarantee it. The King has rarely played around with women who act differently in front and behind like that.」

However, this statement turned Evelyn’s already crushed heart into burnt ashes.

While her first experience was with Cassis, she naturally assumed that his first experience couldn’t have been with her. But the bitter feeling of hearing that from someone else’s mouth was inevitably different. And tastes weren’t eternal or immutable—they could change plenty throughout life. For example, just as Evelyn’s taste had transformed to Cassis, someone she didn’t even know a few months ago.

When she became glum and didn’t respond at all, Ruba glanced sideways and whispered.

「Listen. Uh…you know, this is confidential, but I’m only telling you? After you hear this, you’ll understand somewhat why the King hasn’t shown his nose around.」

“…What is it?”

Hearing the half-dead voice in response, Ruba wanted to click its tongue but barely restrained itself and explained.

「When the World Tree prospers for a long time, it can bloom flowers or bear fruit, and right now there are signs that may or may not be appearing. It’s not definitive, so we’re watching without telling the residents at all. Hmm, hmm. Don’t tell anyone else either. Anyway, since the King is the guardian of the World Tree, he’s been busy keeping a close eye on that situation every day lately.」

Even while saying this, Ruba hesitated on one hand. It wasn’t that it was reluctant to tell the nymph Evelyn…. How should I put this? It was difficult to see that as the only reason, since Cassis wasn’t in a profession where he stared at the World Tree all day. To be honest, that work could be delegated to the spirits the King kept with him.

But Evelyn, who couldn’t know such inner circumstances, felt considerably relieved as soon as she heard the explanation. When the corners of her eyes, freed from their tearful expression, held an indifferent calm, Ruba was also relieved. This was why appropriate lies were good..

“Ah, I see.”

「Is that settled? Then from now on, pet me.」

“What?”

When Evelyn’s lips parted in surprise at the unexpected words, Ruba didn’t miss the opportunity and pestered her relentlessly.

「Pet me, you fool. It’ll make you feel better, you know? Hmph, know that this is a precious gift I’m specially giving you. You must have heard stories of the idiots who tried to touch me carelessly and got pierced by my horn.」

Evelyn stared blankly at the white, elongated head that was stubbornly pressing against her knees. The beautiful unicorn, Ruba, who was creating a scene that could only come from a fairy tale book.

The pure and beautiful kindness touched her aching heart.

“Thank you….”

「Stop talking and just pet me.」

Letting the gruff words go in one ear and out the other, Evelyn looked at Ruba’s brilliant orange eyes that were opened primly.

Beautiful. Like the night sky… Cassi… like that star she had seen with him.

‘No. Don’t keep remembering. If things turn out as the castle residents say, I’ll have to forget and bury all the memories I built up with him.’

They say that pain you know is greater than sorrow you’ve never experienced, and those words were right. Whether Cassis was actually busy monitoring the World Tree’s movements or whether he was letting the rumors with Polyxene stand without denial, Evelyn believed that someday she would have to leave the Hall of Glory. It had just become possible that it might be tomorrow morning.