Volume 6, Chapter 67 – A Quietly Changing Heart

Anyway, it’s just passing time. It doesn’t hurt to keep talking like this. Besides, watching Nola stop on the verge of speaking and catching fire on her ears on her own is also interesting—if I show the recording crystal from last night to Nola, she might set the parasol above her head on fire.

Fia rested her chin on one hand, taking over the topic with a smile.

“If you find it hard to speak, you don’t have to say it. Nola’s ears are catching fire.”

“No…”

I’m not embarrassed because of the dream. No, the content of the dream is indeed embarrassing, but the embarrassment just now was because my head uncontrollably indulged in fantasies, having reveries about you, this high-and-mighty Elf Princess…

It seems the power of the estrus period is indeed great. Even I have wild thoughts about this crow elf. No wonder other beastmen can’t control themselves. But my reaction is not intense compared to other beastmen entering estrus. This somewhat implies that the estrus period can be endured with willpower.

Legislative control over beastmen’s estrus period is indeed feasible.

“If not finding it hard to speak, then for what?”

Fia’s words brought Nola back to her senses instantly. Her cheeks flushed pink again, and her knees pressed together nervously.

“That is… how should I say it…”

Forget it; changing the topic is better than being questioned by Fia about why I was embarrassed just now!

Nola shouted in her heart. If she had to choose between telling the dream from this morning or admitting she was fantasizing about those well-proportioned calves wrapped in black stockings under the table just now, she would choose the former without hesitation. This was called choosing the lesser of two evils.

She glanced quietly at Fia, whose mouth curved into a ω shape and had switched to resting her chin on both hands.

What kind of expression is this…

Like watching a good show.

Although there were many things she wanted to say in her heart, she was now in a state where the arrow was on the string and had to be released. She even faintly felt the urge to confidently urge her to satisfy Fia’s curiosity quickly.

“Ahem… it’s just dreaming about you in the dream.”

“Dreaming about me? Like me handsomely helping Nola defeat powerful enemies, then Nola being moved to resolve previous grudges, hugging my legs and crying in repentance or something?”

This was, of course, Fia’s teasing way of speaking to Nola. Heaven knew what kind of dream Nola actually had. Moreover, judging from Nola’s attitude today, it might be that her words last night touched Nola greatly. Coupled with various recent events, Nola no longer had such strong resistance toward her, so there was no such thing as resolving previous grudges, because previous grudges were already resolved.

Next, Nola would definitely raise her eyebrows angrily and shout loudly, “How is that possible!”

Fia had already closed her ears, waiting for Nola’s angry reaction. However, contrary to her expectations, Nola just twitched her eyelids, her gaze continuing to wander on the table, as if she didn’t hear Fia’s words at all.

This made Fia nervous instead. She put down the arms supporting her chin and asked tentatively.

“… Did I hit the mark? I was just guessing casually.”

“Pretty much like that.” Nola clamped her hands between her thighs, her expression full of reluctance. “Didn’t I say before that I always had nightmares about escaping the village in childhood? That’s the one. Before, I could only stand aside and do nothing, but in the morning, I could not only move but also dream that you appeared in my dream. You killed the leading noble of those soldiers and said to me with a serious face… and said to me…”

Nola’s voice gradually faded. Fia couldn’t help pressing.

“Said what to you?”

This is too shameful.

Nola looked away completely. She didn’t have the courage to repeat those words that seemed to be showing off, let alone mention that her heart accelerated just thinking of the scene at that time. Like seeing an angel descending from the moonlight, a figure one simply couldn’t look away from.

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“Anyway, it’s just like this!” Nola asserted desperately as if giving up on herself. “It must be because Fia helped me a lot several times, causing me to think of you as soon as I encounter difficulties.”

The next sentence wouldn’t be “So I want you to take responsibility!”, right?

Fia hesitated for a moment. Fortunately, reality wasn’t a novel or anime. Nola didn’t say such explosive words. This made Fia relieved, but also a trace disappointment. She actually looked forward to plots in stories happening to her, then experiencing what kind of feeling that was exactly. Quite the feeling of a youth drama.

Of course, if Nola really said such words, she would choose to raise Nola as a cat pet she could tease anytime—maybe calling her a pufferfish was more appropriate, poking her whenever she had nothing to do.

Putting away the frivolous thoughts in her heart, Fia took a sip of milk, looking relaxed.

“Isn’t that quite good? It shows I am very reliable, so much so that the Fire Cat Nola who hates me can’t help thinking of me when encountering difficulties. Ah, my promise to you last night is still valid, not mentioned casually. As long as you need me, I can respond to you anytime. Don’t look at me like this; I am a character even more powerful than gods, responding to every plea.”

“Leaving aside gods or not, what kind of address is ‘Fire Cat Nola’? Weirdly disgusting.”

“Is it? Clearly quite cute.”

“If a stranger said this to me, I would put a knife on his neck.”

“Eh, I don’t mean sexual harassment.”

“Of course I know.”

While saying disgusting words with her mouth, Nola was actually thinking about the latter half of Fia’s sentence in her heart. For some reason, when she heard Fia say the promise from last night was still valid, her heart settled down a lot. Although she didn’t think Fia was a frivolous person, the scene last night was very chaotic. She couldn’t help feeling that the Fia at that time said such an exceptionally heavy promise just to comfort her.

Thinking about it a little, “If you must have someone like Claire and your Goddess who won’t betray you no matter when, then let me do it. I won’t abandon you.” Such a promise carried too much weight, as if she could seek help from Fia no matter what difficulties she encountered. And precisely because of the weight within, it felt unbelievable after sobering up. This wasn’t something that could be said casually. She was just a friend Fia had known for a few months. Even if Fia emphasized she was the first close friend she knew from scratch, it was inevitable to feel this promise was too heavy to believe.

Hearing Fia emphasize this matter again, she couldn’t help having more indescribable thoughts in her heart, her mood becoming much happier. To prevent Fia from seeing clues, she had to pick up the milk and gulp down several mouthfuls until she finished it all with glugging sounds.

Really sweet.

Looking back, telling the truth about the dream wasn’t improper either. Anyway, it was just a dream. Fia didn’t use this to laugh at me. It was completely me being sentimental. Being honest isn’t bad.

“Want more? You drank a lot yesterday; must be uncomfortable now.”

Fia said, looking at Nola’s empty cup.

“Ah… yeah…”

Without denying, Nola nodded subconsciously. And Fia pushed the warm milk and dinner plate in her hand directly in front of Nola.

“Here. I already ate breakfast before coming out. Finish my portion too; I haven’t touched it.”

Although the bread and pan-fried meat haven’t been touched, the milk was sipped a little, right?

Nola stared at the milky white water stain on the side of the cup facing Fia. That was clearly a trace of being drunk from.

As if noticing Nola’s gaze, Fia’s hand pushing the milk hesitated for a moment.

“I drank a little bit of the milk. If you mind, I’ll drink it myself.”

“It’s nothing. We beastmen aren’t as calculating as you elves. Besides, you are the high-and-mighty Elf Princess pursued by who knows how many people. Things you drank from would definitely sell for a high price on the black market, maybe even priceless but with no market. It’s me taking advantage.”

Saying such words, Nola picked up the milk cup belonging to Fia on the table and took a sip. Of course, using the side Fia hadn’t touched.

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Has a different taste, seems sweeter.

No, I should say something now.

Hurriedly suppressing the thoughts in her heart, Nola put down the milk cup and explained seriously.

“In our Cold Night, people can do anything to see tomorrow’s sun. This place isn’t as prosperous as your Silvar. Let alone milk drunk by someone, even food spilled on the ground, people would stick out their tongues to lick it to fill their stomachs. Your Silvar also has similar places, right? Remember it’s called the Land of Exile. Don’t know if you have been there. In most places outside the Fire Cat Tribe territory, including some remote areas in the Fire Cat Tribe territory, it’s no different from your Land of Exile. Naturally, I can’t talk about caring if food has been eaten by others. Having something to eat is good enough.”

“Was Nola like this too in childhood?”

“I belong to the kind with enviable luck, meeting Claire early, otherwise now I would definitely have no corpse left. Most beastmen, especially female slaves like me, don’t have a good end. Women’s strength is inferior to men, and troubles are more than men, so the price is low, and the food is also very poor. Often before waiting for someone to buy them, they have already died in plague and hunger.”

Speaking of this, Nola’s eyes dimmed slightly.

“Fia, I have something to ask you.”

“Go ahead.”

As if finding it hard to speak, Nola bit her lip before opening her mouth.

“Did Claire mention my matters recently?”

“I feel it’s better for you to ask the person herself.”

The answer is too cruel to Nola.

“… True,” Nola smiled bitterly. “Sorry, I asked a stupid question. Better talk about future matters. Are you leaving here soon?”

“About time. After the new King’s coronation ceremony passes, I will leave Cold Night.” Because the topic became heavy, Fia couldn’t help making an unreliable joke. “What, feeling lonely without me here? Oh my~ Unknowingly I also became the most important person in Nola’s heart.”

“Tch, who would miss you. I just thought your purpose of coming to Cold Night is to find the Goddess. Now my Goddess is probably a Darkborn, naturally it’s time for you to leave… With your brain, when we first entered the Weeping Mountains, you actually already realized my Goddess was a Darkborn, right? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“Well, even if I told Nola at that time, Nola definitely wouldn’t believe me, right? To Nola at that time, I was just an outsider. The credibility of words definitely wasn’t as good as Nola’s Goddess. And I also had my considerations.”

Fia’s composed answer made Nola’s expression stiffen. Fia was absolutely right. With her stubbornness, no matter what Fia said at that time, she couldn’t possibly believe Fia. Fia at that time had already seen through her.

She picked up the milk cup, blowing bubbles into the cup resentfully.

“For example?”

You guys are already an adult yet still like a child?

Amused and exasperated by Nola’s childish act in her heart, Fia answered nonchalantly on the surface.

“For example, rather than letting Nola know the truth, better let the lie continue. As long as Nola never knows the answer, she will never be unhappy and so on.”

“You treat me as a fool to hoodwink?”

“Treating as an idiot.”

“Ugh.”

Nola’s breath hitched, but she couldn’t say any words of rebuttal. Recalling the various reckless acts she committed, Fia calling her an idiot had no problem at all. However, even so, she still retorted in a low voice.

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“You are the idiot.”

The conversation fell into a brief silence. The quiet atmosphere made Nola gradually uncomfortable. Although Fia was supporting her head observing passersby and not looking at her side, the chewing sound of her alone at the dining table still made her feel doubly embarrassed. She subconsciously wanted to ask Fia if she wanted to eat something too, but on second thought, Fia pushed her portion to her precisely because she said she had eaten breakfast.

—So speaking, Fia is spending her time accompanying me.

Nola was slightly stunned.

Not only that, Fia also specially chose this shopping street full of couples everywhere. If it were someone else, I would definitely think the other party was striving for my good opinion, pursuing me.

If someone exactly as charming as Fia really exists, it seems not bad. That kind of reassuring strength and wisdom, someone who makes one feel happy just by seeing them.

Wait, am I affirming Fia in a disguised form? Feeling Fia is very, very suitable—how can there be such a thing!

Nola couldn’t help glaring fiercely at Fia’s beautiful profile. The latter’s fair skin reflected dazzling light under the sun. Paired with those red eyes and jet-black long hair, even the most perfect artwork couldn’t compare. This was a living beauty full of spirituality. Even looking for her shortcomings with a magnifying glass, one couldn’t pick out the slightest flaw. Even the imperfect chest appeared just right under the foil of the petite body and black formal dress. The slightly undulating tender curve and bright white collarbone made one feel beautiful.

… Indeed a soul-hooking fairy.

Even I, as a female, am attracted uncontrollably. If it were a man, he would have hung his whole heart on her now, heart full of Dofilia, imagining how she gets up today, how she puts on thin outer clothes, then how she extends her well-proportioned legs successively to put on stockings, all the way to washing up with a sleepy face, finally patting her face and walking out of the noble courtyard with a smile.

Hey.

Aren’t I also fantasizing?

Nola’s expression stiffened again. Clearly to find Fia’s shortcomings to sober herself up, now she plunged into it again during the search, imagining Fia getting up with sleepy eyes. She was too disappointed.

Simply obsessed delusion.

And the tail, put it down quickly.

Taking advantage of Fia not noticing her, Nola hurriedly withdrew her gaze, shifting her mind to the food in front of her.

Then, she noticed the milk placed by her hand. On the side of the cup facing Fia, a milk mark with lip print still remained on the rim.

A strange thought suddenly rose in her heart. Her brain uncontrollably thought about whether the taste of milk would be different if using Fia’s side. As if it was sweeter there, like morning jasmine dotted with dew, emitting a pure yet alluring fragrance.

Even if I take a sip quietly, I won’t be discovered, right?

Almost simultaneously, two Fire Cats appeared in her heart. One was a Devil Fire Cat, the other an Angel Fire Cat. The former said since both were girls, what was there to be coy about; drinking openly was fine. The latter warned her constantly that having this thought itself was very problematic; wake up quickly.

However, Nola was conflicted in her heart, but the movements of her body were very honest. Her hands had unknowingly picked up the half-remaining milk and quietly turned the cup one hundred and eighty degrees. The action was as cautious as a thief. She maintained the state of staring at the cup in her hand motionless, like a lost lamb wandering at the feet of her god, not knowing whether to turn left or right.

Until Fia suddenly turned her head.

“Nola—”

“Eek!”

Like a cat whose tail was stepped on, Nola jumped all over reflexively, almost falling off the chair. Such a huge reaction made people around look sideways, so much so that Fia also became embarrassed, looking at Nola with a weird face.

“What are you doing?”

“N-Nothing.”

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To cover up her embarrassment, Nola, who sat back on the chair, half-covered her mouth with her left hand, asking guiltily.

“What’s wrong?”

While speaking, Nola’s gaze still fell on the rim of the cup, as if there was something there making her unable to look away.

Fia mysteriously took out a white crystal from her pocket, placing it cutely in the center of the table.

“Although I think I should treasure her as a treasure for a lifetime, thinking carefully, this is your privacy. Watching it once is enough for me, so I intend to return it to you. How to deal with it specifically depends on yourself. I have to declare in advance, recording crystals cannot record images of recording crystals, so there is no second copy. This is a unique treasure in the world; cherish it well.”

Like running away quickly after a prank, Fia stood up and quickly found the clerk to pay the bill. Then she returned to Nola, picked up the half-remaining milk on the table, and drank it all in one gulp. Finally, as if encouraging Nola, she gave a thumbs up to Nola across the table.

“I want to correct one point. I am not a person who minds if things have been drunk from. Good luck; remember to tell me your thoughts after watching.”

“Hey!”

“See you later~”

The side you drank from is the side I drank from.

Watching Fia’s brisk figure running away quickly without looking back, Nola’s wide-open mouth didn’t close for a long time. Because she turned the cup one hundred and eighty degrees just now, the side Fia originally drank from became the side she drank from.

Isn’t this an indirect kiss…?

And it was Fia doing it unconsciously.

What stupid thing did I do!

Nola slapped her forehead with a “smack” of her right hand. She felt she offended Fia. Clearly the other party trusted her so much, yet she did an act betraying this trust. It was like sprinkling ink drops on white paper, splashing mud on a dress. Fia was the white paper and dress; she was the ink drop and mud. She defiled Fia. She even felt terrified because of this, feeling the unseen god would definitely punish her. She must tell Fia the truth and do acts that could obtain Fia’s forgiveness to make up for such a sin.

But this time didn’t last long before she realized again. Anyway, everyone was a girl, all loved Claire, and Fia definitely wasn’t her first kiss either. There was nothing to care about. At worst, she would make it up to her. It was Fia who picked it up and drank it herself; she didn’t force Fia—the last thought was shameless, but at least the previous ones were correct.

That said, there was still an indescribable sense of guilt in her heart.

I am really a contradictory person.

Nola realized the fact that she wasn’t smart enough again.

Just a pity for the milk…

Her gaze looking at the cup contained some regret. Finally, she noticed the recording crystal in the center of the table.

Although this crystal emitted a nasty atmosphere, she still had to watch it. It shouldn’t be Fia taking advantage of her drunkenness to strip her clothes to a subtle angle of partly hidden and partly visible, secretly filming improper scenes.

Watch it after going back.

Putting the recording crystal into her pocket, Nola took a deep breath, dispelling the groggy feeling in her head, and feasted on the breakfast for two on the table.