The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 90

“I remember to some extent what happened to you that day. Don’t respond, just listen.”

Cassie said this while pushing his thumb deeper into her lips, caressing the tip of her tongue.

“Mmph, mmm…”

She didn’t feel nauseous. The tangy fruit juice flavor that had permeated her tongue and gums surged up, making her want to suck more. Evelyn, with her eyes half-open, tasted his finger more eagerly than before.

“We’ve captured and detained the person who shot you. Because that individual has been talking nonsense, wanting to confront you. You… were unconscious, and since it was right before the Aika Festival, we postponed the punishment until now to avoid ruining the atmosphere.”

Her lips and tongue, which had been savoring his finger like it was the only candy in the world, suddenly stopped. Then his finger was gradually pushed out, as if it were a foreign object. Evelyn, holding onto the finger that was thoroughly infused with the scent of raspberries rather than rejecting it, said:

“Please let me meet them.”

“…Evelyn.”

“After the festival ends, as you said. I remember a little. I didn’t trespass into the sacred grounds as that elf claimed. I didn’t even get close enough to peek at the entrance, I can swear to it!”

“You wanted to see your tree, didn’t you?”

He wished he could erase his past decision that he had done the right thing. He couldn’t understand why he had acted so foolishly.

A nymph is a being that must live by caring for and loving the natural element they belong to. It would have been right to keep the tree that housed her close. If he didn’t want to show her the jasmine tree dying without being able to revive, he should have torn down the wall of the Hall of Glory to make a small garden, letting it see only the sky, and surrounded it with a black fence. He should have somehow allowed Evelyn’s gentle breath to reach the tree.

What if he had kept it in the sacred grounds?

On moonlit nights, he should have attempted even trivial deceptions, praying that her dark eyes wouldn’t notice the withering leaf tips. If he was truly anxious, he could have even switched the tree…

‘Ah, that’s it. Wait… it’s not completely absurd, is it?’

Just as Cassius was about to form the most outlandish idea of his life, she thumped her chest to help a raspberry pass through her throat and said.

“Yes, huff. Ahem! I suddenly wanted to see the tree and ran there, but I restrained myself, thinking I shouldn’t enter recklessly without permission. I was planning to ask you when you returned so we could go together.”

“You did well.”

At his voice, as he patted her back helping the plump raspberry safely into her stomach, tears welled up in Evelyn’s eyes. As she tried not to cry, her intense emotions gathered as a hot sensation swirling in her throat, tormenting her. Evelyn, who had nearly lost clear vision before barely regaining it, nodded her head several times.

If he hadn’t been here, she might have wailed and screamed. She had been so careful not to be hated, had relied on Ruba’s goodwill to avoid the sharp glares of the elves… but it all went wrong. She had ruined everything.

Why couldn’t she have been patient? If she had asked him in advance, it could have been arranged. Look, Cassis is promising to take her to the sacred grounds anytime. If she could revive the tree somewhat, they might even dig it out of the sacred grounds, but in her haste, she had caused trouble. If she had any conscience, she shouldn’t cry in front of him, she shouldn’t hold back someone who should attend the festival with a joyful heart to please everyone…

Cassis raised his left hand, not the right one held by her, and stroked near her ear.

“I failed to look after you properly.”

“No, that’s not true…!”

“I overlooked the fact that you, as a nymph, would want to see your tree anytime. I’ll arrange access to the sacred grounds soon. But are you really all right with meeting that elf? You’ll likely face them in a formal trial. Just once will be enough.”

“…Yes.”

A trial. In the small village where Evelyn lived, such a thing was unthinkable, and most matters were resolved with the village head’s scolding and mediation. Therefore, she could only recall the word “trial” from books she had read long ago.

It would be a lie to say there was no fear of the unknown. The elf who had struck her was fierce like a storm, powerful, and displayed hostility without restraint. However, before Evelyn’s eyes was a brilliant light that could speak and extend a hand to her. He had broken down the door named fear that Evelyn had firmly placed and told her in advance what would happen.

“Your innocence was witnessed by both the spirits guarding the sacred grounds and the World Tree itself, so there’s nothing to worry about, Evelyn. However, the trial process won’t be pleasant for you. Not only will the other side make groundless one-sided claims, but the slander directed at you is beyond crude and severe. That’s why I’m saying this. If it’s too difficult, you can skip attending.”

“It’s okay. I’m sorry, but… may I ask who the culprit is?”

“It would be someone you don’t know. Someone called Lya, with quite a bit of experience as a boundary guard. Have you heard of them?”

“A boundary guard…?”