The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 31
Her heart pounded as she stepped cautiously onto the patch of ground where no grass grew, her toes barely grazing the earth. Cassis, ever the enigma, chose that moment to speak, his voice a smooth, velvety contrast to her frayed nerves. It was like the sound of a candy rolling lazily across a table—sweet, deliberate, and impossible to ignore.
“You don’t need to tremble like that,” he said, his tone laced with a faint amusement that made her cheeks burn.
“Huh?” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I’m saying you can look around as much as you like. Even if you stumble and fall, it won’t be a problem. The plants here are strong enough to hold you.”
“Understood…!” she replied, her voice a little too loud, a little too eager. Finally allowing herself to relax, she turned her head freely, her loosely tied auburn hair tangling loosely in disarray around her neck.
Cassis watched her, a storm of conflicting desires brewing within him. He wanted to reach out and gather those stray strands, to tuck them neatly behind her ear before she could do it herself. Or better yet, to trace the delicate line of her throat with his tongue, to feel the way it moved when she spoke. Perhaps, he thought darkly, it would be a fitting way to celebrate the rising sun—to mark the dawn with a taste of her.
…No. That’s not it.
If he let himself go down that path, there was no guarantee his self-control would hold. Frustrated, he glanced downward, his gaze sharp as he tried to distract himself. But just as he did, she happened to look in the same direction—right at the space between his boots.
A soft, uncertain voice broke through his thoughts, sending a jolt through him.
“Did you drop something…?”
“What?”
“Let me get it for you.”
Before he could stop her, she was already moving, the hem of her dress brushing against the grass with a soft rustle. She crouched down like a small, curious rabbit, her head tilting as she peered at the ground. Her warm breath grazed his thigh, and he froze. Of all the places, it had to be there. And then, just as quickly as she had knelt, she stood up. Effortlessly. Without hesitation.
Cassis clenched his jaw, his mind a whirlwind of restraint and temptation. This was going to be a long day.
I’m going to lose my mind.
Cassis gritted his teeth as the thought he’d had countless times in Lao’s presence resurfaced. He grabbed her shoulder abruptly, almost forcefully pulling her upright. He had no intention of letting the tension between them grow any thicker. Not here, at least. Not in this sacred place, where the World Tree and the spirits were watching so intently.
“There’s nothing there,” he said, his voice clipped.
“Huh?” she blinked, confused.
Before she could catch on, he quickly pointed to a sapling tucked away in a corner, diverting her attention. “Look. Your tree is planted here.”
Evelyn’s eyes followed his gesture, landing on the small tree. It looked almost the same as it had in the backyard—unchanged, fragile, and yet somehow still holding on. But surely, there was a way to save it, wasn’t there? The air in this sacred grove was crisp and clean, carrying the faint scent of flowers that made her head spin. It was even more intoxicating than standing beneath the lilac trees in spring.
Still, she couldn’t shake the question, why had Cassis been staring at the ground so intently earlier? Shaking off her curiosity, she sniffled slightly and asked in an innocent tone, “So… we’ll find a way, right? A way to save my tree?”
“We’re working on it,” he replied, his tone disappointingly indifferent.
But Evelyn’s expression didn’t falter. Her face held a soft, serene smile, and the faint glimmer of hope in her eyes was unmistakable.
Does she really trust me that much? Of course she does. I’m the one who made her believe in the first place.
Cassis scoffed at himself, mocking his own hypocrisy. Who was it that had pulled her back from the brink of death, urging her not to lose hope? It was him. Cassis. And yet, here he was, trying to draw lines and maintain distance. What kind of game was he playing?
Suddenly, the earnest warning Eon had once shouted at him echoed in his mind.
“Your Majesty, that nymph of human origin—she’s not even a pureblood. She will undoubtedly disrupt the order. And with her sapling dying, what can we possibly do to save it? The era of nymphs living alongside Jupiter has already ended. If the symbolism of the nymph is so important, we still have Nike. If you feel compelled to show mercy, give her a few potions and let her go. It’s wiser to discard what’s lost and focus on what’s possible. If you’re too hesitant to ignore her, I’ll handle it in your name.”
Cassis clenched his fists, the weight of Eon’s words pressing down on him. But as he glanced at Evelyn, her unwavering trust shining through, he couldn’t bring himself to regret the path he’d chosen. Even if it was foolish. Even if it defied all reason.
He had made his choice. Now, he just had to live with it.
With a heavy sigh, the weight of bitter truth settled upon him. In theory, the words were correct, but they left a sour taste in his mouth. Even the elders of the Senate did nothing but wistfully reminisce about the old days when they could idly sing and frolic with the nymphs. Not a single soul stepped forward to actively stand up for Evelyn. Just then, a flurry of sylphs swarmed around his ears, their voices chiming in a chaotic chorus.
“She’s here, she’s here! Nike has arrived!”
“She’s lurking near the gate, peeking around!”
“Go, go meet her!”
Nike had returned. Much sooner than expected. His annoyance doubled.
Without a word, he furrowed his brow, the sound of fluttering wings growing louder and more intrusive. It was unmistakable—Nike, who was forbidden from entering the sacred grounds, was making her presence known in the most blatant way possible. Cassis had no choice but to relent, his voice tinged with reluctant resignation.
“Evelyn, we’ll return to the sacred grounds later. For now, let’s step outside.”
“Huh? Oh, okay.”
“……”
Suddenly, he felt a pang of concern for Evelyn.
No matter what he said, she always seemed to comply so meekly, so obediently. It wasn’t normal. It was as if she had stifled her own thoughts, her own will. He had told her to speak her mind if she couldn’t bear it, but he had also warned her that defiance could mean death. So she endured, swallowing her words, her feelings, her very self.
