The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 174

Evelyn still couldn’t bring herself to get up, her insides churning.

The blue sky was nowhere in sight. Given that she’d just seen a young man and woman pass by laughing, they must be inside the castle—but where exactly…?

Wait. I recognize this scent. What was it called again? Va… vanilla?

Was this the place she’d come to with Ruba? If so, that meant they were dangerously close to the World Tree. As Evelyn, still dizzy, furrowed her brow and tried to rise, his lips crushed down on hers.

‘Mmph…!’

So it was true—none of the rumors spread by the townsfolk were lies. No, they were far from exaggerated. They were understated.

The moment their scorching kiss locked her in place, she realized the truth. She wanted to explain, to apologize—I’m sorry, I acted rashly, I was wrong—but nothing went as she hoped. His searing tongue tangled relentlessly with hers, greedily swallowing her breath until he finally released her, sensing her struggle. Then, plucking a dry leaf that had tumbled into his cloak, he flicked it away and spoke.

“Tell me again why you thought you could leave my side.”

When he pressed her, Evelyn’s lips quivered before she attempted an excuse.

“I… I just… I think I would’ve done the same. If I had someone I l-loved, and they kept getting close to another person for some reason… I’d hate it. So much that I’d even think about breaking up…”

“And how does that noble logic of yours apply to us?”

Their conversation wasn’t just failing to find common ground—it was veering wildly off track, each of them spiraling further apart. Cassis, too frustrated to wait for her answer, cut in sharply.

“If I drove away every woman who tried to approach me, would you believe me then?”

“T-That’s—!”

“I won’t see anyone else.”

“…What?”

“I just told you—while I’m protecting you, I won’t form any lasting ties with anyone but you. Don’t believe me?”

Evelyn only grew more confused.

Wasn’t that worse? If he already had someone he cared for, someone he was preparing to marry—yet here she was, an obstacle lingering in his Hall of Glory, monopolizing not just his attention but his body too? Did he plan to marry that woman but live separately?

Even if Polyxene ’s heart was as vast as the ocean, this seemed excessive. And worse, there was another reason this whole situation left her so unsettled.

If there was someone he loved… she wouldn’t be able to endure any of the situations that might unfold because of it. The cheerful wedding preparations, the bouquet tossed to a lucky guest, the two of them smiling happily at each other, Cassis’s radiant face as he gazed at his bride…

Her eyes burned hot. She didn’t want to let out pathetic, sniveling sobs in front of him when he’d finally found true love. A nymph like her, who had once lingered around his bed, shouldn’t act this way—she needed to disappear without a trace. So, she answered with reason.

“I may not know much about elven customs, but even after marriage, if you were to be with another woman in that way…”

“I’m not getting married.”

“You’re postponing it? No, please don’t do that because of me.”

Cassis was so frustrated he felt steam practically rising from his head, but he forced himself to think clearly.

No matter how much they went back and forth, it seemed impossible to shatter the damnable delusion lodged in Evelyn’s mind—that he would skip straight past an engagement with Polyxene to marriage, and if she became an obstacle between them, she would have to leave the Hall of Glory.

So, he decided to speak to her slowly, carefully, at her level of understanding.

“Evelyn, I’m not postponing anything. There was never any plan with her to begin with.”

“…What?”

Only then did a flicker of confusion swirl in her eyes, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy Cassis. She had forgotten his direct orders and acted on her own whims—she needed to regret it deeply. And she wasn’t there yet.

“Right now, the only reason I’m keeping you by my side is because I’ve forsaken all others for you. Well, ‘forsaken’ isn’t quite the right word. When I hold you, no other desires even cross my mind. So tell me—when would I have had the time to look at another woman?”

At his blatant words, the skin beneath Evelyn’s ears burned hot.

“T-Then… What about the townspeople’s rumors? That she… will be coming to the Hall of Glory?”

At her cautious question, his fingers suddenly shot out, gripping her chin and forcing her mouth open. He studied her with sharp eyes, feeling the heat of her breath against his skin.