<Episode 37>

“Is that true?”

Eveline looked at Abellard.

She was questioning how Abellard, who hadn’t carried a weapon capable of causing such a puncture wound, managed to create such a hole in his hand.

“Uh… Eve… Could you look away for a moment while I explain? It’s kind of hard for me to think right now…”

Abellard desperately tried to think, but with her standing so close and questioning him, his heart was pounding too hard to think straight.

“Do you need time to come up with a lie?”

“Stay out of it, Elkais.”

Abellard calmed down instantly due to Elkais, but as soon as he looked into Eveline’s blue eyes, he froze again.

“My sword… Abellard was swinging it and fell, causing this injury to my hand.”

“I see.”

“What do you think, Lady? Shouldn’t Abellard heal me?”

“Yes, he should.”

As Eveline answered, Abellard nodded, looking like a scolded puppy.

Abellard knew that he had healing abilities. Healing him wouldn’t change anything.

Besides, it was better to keep the prey close.

Abellard regretted not going for the neck, pouting as he prepared to heal him.

“Don’t touch me. It’s disgusting.”

“I have to touch you to heal you. Hurry up.”

Abellard reluctantly placed his fingertip on Rubellite’s hand and infused his power, under Eveline’s watchful gaze.

“Your divine power is remarkable. You should have been a cardinal, Young Duke.”

Abellard felt deflated by those words and Rubellite’s now healed condition.

“Thank you for your hard work, brother. Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Eve, I worked really hard. Honestly.”

Eveline was a bit worried hearing that Abellard, who couldn’t even hold a sword properly in front of her, had swung one.

“Brother, you’re not good with swords. It must have been tough.”

“Am I useful?”

“I told you I don’t consider your usefulness anymore.”

Abellard looked at her hands, hoping she’d pat him, but she wasn’t one to indulge him like that.

“Elkais and I brought food. Let’s eat this today.”

“Oh, right!”

Eveline pointed to the cloak Elkais was holding, and Abellard suddenly remembered something and rushed into the hut.

The others followed him inside.

Abellard pulled out the yucca he had hidden under the pile of clothes and handed it to Eveline.

“Is this yucca?”

“Yeah. I didn’t do nothing.”

“You know about this kind of thing.”

“Of course, I do.”

Abellard smiled, seeing her pleased reaction.

Eveline placed the raspberries near the stove.

“What’s that?”

Elkais asked, and Eveline bit into a yucca leaf.

“It’s pretty tasty and can be used as soap.”

“I see.”

Elkais noticed the faint bloodstains on Eveline’s body and wanted to tell her to go wash up, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it because of their earlier conversation.

<Please don’t be too nice to me.>

“Eve, let’s go wash up.”

“I’ll come too.”

“Are you crazy? You go later.”

Abellard was horrified at Rubellite’s interruption.

Then Eveline spoke up.

“I’ll go alone, and the rest of you can help Elkais.”

“Eve, it’s dangerous to go alone.”

“Better than…”

She swallowed her words and sighed.

“Do you need any help, Elkais?”

“Not right now. It’s better for you to wash up with Abellard. Wild animals are dangerous.”

“Then I’ll…”

“Your Highness, you can go with me later. It’s better if we take turns.”

“Agreed.”

Prince Rubellite Croppers agreed readily and then smiled at Abellard.

Abellard glared at him coldly, but seeing Eveline picking and eating the yucca leaves, he couldn’t help but smile.

He looked at her, smiling beautifully like a snowman melting in the sunlight.

“She looks like a rabbit.”

“A fox, perhaps. Her hair is red.”

Rubellite contradicted Abellard’s words.

Eveline decided to endure Rubellite until she could uncover the secrets he knew.

And if she were alone with Abellard, he might tell her something useful.

“Eveline, let me help you wash up.”

“Or we could all go together.”

Elkais couldn’t hold back any longer, feeling a pang of jealousy as Abellard acted so familiar with her.

“How can all three of us go together? Do you mean the three of us without Elkais?”

“…No. I mean you, me, and Abellard.”

“Three is too many and inefficient.”

Eveline replied rationally.

“Then you choose, Eve. Who do you want to go with?”

Abellard’s words made Eveline look at the men inside.

One had pushed her off a cliff, Rubellite Croppers. Another had bitten her neck multiple times, begging to imprint on her, Abellard.

The last one had told her to keep her distance, Elkais.

“I’ll go alone.”

“It’s dangerous to go alone, Eveline.”

“I have this.”

She waved her gun. Elkais frowned and said,

“Better to go with me. Since we brought the food, it’s only fair that the ones who didn’t should cook.”

That was a reasonable argument. Eveline nodded slightly and said,

“Okay, then.”

Abellard knew this was an opportunity but felt dejected that Eveline didn’t choose him.

“Eve, I brought it…”

“Thank you.”

“I searched and found it because I wanted to wash with you.”

“Let’s go together tomorrow, brother.”

Eveline wiggled her pinky finger, indicating a promise, and Abellard quickly hooked his pinky with hers.

“A promise is a promise!”

“Yes.”

Eveline looked into Abellard’s eyes, which curved into crescent moons as he smiled and wiggled his hooked finger in the air.

Thus, Eveline and Elkais headed towards the nearby lake with the yucca leaves.

Once they left, the door closed.

As soon as the door closed, Abellard dropped his friendly facade and glared at Rubellite.

“Beg for your life, worm.”

“If you kill me here, the Lady will suspect you.”

Abellard scoffed at this and summoned a sword with his divine power.

Bang.

“I forgot something.”

Abellard quickly dispelled the weapon. Luckily, she didn’t see it. She gathered two tranquilizers and looked at the two men.

“Be good and cook, brother?”

“Huh? Oh… yes. Be good?”

“Yes. Cook quietly. No fighting.”

“…Okay.”

Abellard nodded at her words.

As Eveline left again, Rubellite looked at him with disdain.

“Try killing me, worm.”

Abellard was angry at his words but couldn’t summon the weapon.

Eveline had told him to behave, and if he killed Rubellite here, she would surely suspect him. She wouldn’t cherish him as she did now.

His goal was to survive with Eveline. Hence, he couldn’t break her trust.

He sighed and rummaged through the food Elkais and Eveline

had left behind.

“A truce?”

“Just for today.”

Abellard responded glumly, looking at the bird eggs Elkais had brought.

“There are so many. How annoying.”

Abellard still didn’t like how close Eveline and Elkais were getting.

Seeing Elkais’ competence, she might become more interested in him.

* * *

Meanwhile, Elkais and Eveline walked to the lake in silence.

Upon arrival, Eveline spoke first.

“Would you like to wash first?”

“You should wash first, Eveline.”

“Okay.”

She handed him the handkerchief he had given her yesterday.

“What’s this?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to cover your eyes?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t look back.”

“Alright.”

Eveline took the handkerchief back. Elkais, unconsciously, asked,

“Did Abellard… when you washed last time…”

“Yes, brother helped me by covering his eyes.”

“….”

Elkais furrowed his brow unconsciously and took the handkerchief back from her.

“Why are you doing that?”

“Just in case, I’ll cover my eyes.”

“Oh, alright.”

Eveline thought he was thorough. After all, he was acting this way because of the pheromones.

Eveline was starting to accept that she was emitting Omega hormones.

There were too many undeniable signs to keep ignoring it.

“And here.”

“What’s this?”

“What if there’s a sudden downpour? We might do something we’ll regret.”

She handed him a tranquilizer, her face devoid of malice, which made Elkais feel very strange.

It was a mix of something unpleasant and a sense of misery.

“Do you think I’m going to attack you, Eveline?”

“Not exactly, but who knows what might happen. It’s just to be safe.”

“….”

Elkais took the tranquilizer, feeling a bit conflicted, and turned his back to her.

“Go ahead, I’ll keep watch.”

Eveline, feeling reassured, began to wash, knowing that Elkais, despite his stern demeanor, was only looking out for her safety.