The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 168

As tears welled up and rippled in her eyes while she slowly moved her hands, Ruba snorted and flicked her skirt with a flourish.

「Again, again. You’re unfocused and thinking of other things. Won’t you concentrate on me?」

“…Yes, I understand.”

Evelyn tried to focus her gaze only on the unicorn’s white body, which was more noble and radiant than a lily. For now, this opportunity that Ruba had willingly given her was her only light. As she stroked the short mane on top of her head, the sharp horn slowly lowered and her head touched Evelyn’s stomach.

Remembering how this horn had poked her back and b******s whenever it got the chance, a smile spread across her lips. She who had been on the verge of tears from sadness and then changed her expression thought herself ridiculous. If she was going to smile so quickly at such joy despite calling it a precious opportunity, why had she been so tormented? Ruba’s thoughts didn’t seem particularly different either.

「You know, if you cry and then laugh, my horn might move to your butt and grow there.」

“Th-that would be troublesome for both me and you, Ruba, wouldn’t it?”

「Exactly.」

The sight of a unicorn’s horn growing between her b******s—good heavens. Having such a conversation somewhat eased the worries that had been plaguing her mind. As her hand swept between her head like a comb, gently scratching, Ruba, whose mood had improved considerably, relaxed her body completely. The task that had started with the intention of comforting Evelyn wasn’t too bad for him either, so Ruba rolled enthusiastically and pulled her upper body forward.

「Touch here too.」

“What? B-but this area is a bit…”

「Hurry up. I didn’t even eat carrots today and they don’t smell like grass. There won’t be any other smells getting on your hands.」

“That’s not what I mean….”

「Stop making excuses and hurry up.」

The area Ruba had asked to be touched was around her nose and mouth. Though it was the softest part of the unicorn’s body, Evelyn had never dared to think of touching it, so she hesitated before gently stroking it.

The sensation was so soft it was almost ticklish. This was the case even though Ruba wasn’t actively rubbing her snout against Evelyn’s palm. It was probably because her breath kept puffing out continuously….

This might sound really sorry, but it felt almost exactly like touching a cute and fluffy puppy. Evelyn barely managed to suppress the urge for her cheeks to twitch as she caressed with her fingertips and expressed her gratitude.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, Ruba, my mood has lightened considerably.”

「Hm? Your eyebrows look like you’re on the verge of crying though.」

“…No, I’m not.”

Ruba placed her snout squarely on Evelyn’s knees and began to complain.

「The King shouldn’t do this either, I think this was bad. I’m completely on your side in this matter.」

“Ruba.”

The unicorn lifted her snout that Evelyn had been stroking and began criticizing Cassis with an attitude she had never shown before.

「Hmph, don’t try to stop me. You see, if you leave malicious rumors about yourself alone, even lies quickly turn into truth. Evelyn, you know what? There’s a saying that when one person talks, it’s crazy talk, but when two people talk, it becomes a malicious rumor, and when three or more people cry out in unison, that’s when it becomes the truth.」

Evelyn repeated to herself the devastating worry she couldn’t bring herself to voice.

What should I do from now on? Even now, when I think of Lord Cassis, my body reacts first before my aching heart does, so I can’t fathom how I could forget him. If there were a promise that he would return no matter how long he stayed away, it would be fine, but if that end is truly the end for me…. How should I live the rest of my life…?

Ruba sighed.

「Sigh, let’s wait and see for now. The King isn’t a fool either, so if he thinks the situation isn’t going well, he’ll step forward and say something. If he insists on keeping his mouth shut and enduring until the end, then I have my own ideas. Let’s make the King come to his senses properly.」

Whatever Ruba might do in anger, Evelyn thought it would have nothing to do with her. He was a unicorn and she was a nymph. So Evelyn, who had carelessly let the words pass by, was startled when she encountered Ruba again five days later in a secluded corner of the inner castle walls.

“What?!”

「There’s no need to foolishly wait any longer to see what the King will do. Baby nymph… no, Evelyn. Let’s go out this way. That’s the answer.」

“B-but…. I’m not even carrying a single piece of carrot right now. How about around noon tomorrow?”

Evelyn had neither the confidence nor the ability to survive alone in the elves’ forest. Even if she went with Ruba, she would need to take care of things to some extent! If she was really going to leave, she thought she should go into the hall and bring at least a handkerchief and underwear. Of course, she should also pack a bundle of carrots that Ruba loved so much. For that, she needed at least one more day’s reprieve.

The unicorn aimed her horn under Evelyn’s chin and got angry.