Chapter 42
Dora took out a strikingly bright, glossy red fruit from beside the bed. “Find a way to make Nina eat this p>
“What kind of fruit is this?” Miye asked.
“Erosion Fruit p>
Dora still regarded Miye as half an insider and didn’t bother hiding it.
“What does it do p>
Miye frowned. Just the name alone didn’t sound like anything good.
“It’s poisonous,” Dora said calmly. “If a pregnant female eats it, it will harm the child in her womb. The more she eats, the worse the damage. It can even result in a stillbirth p>
She toyed with the fruit in her fingers, malice flickering in her eyes.
Miye felt a chill run through her. She hadn’t expected Dora to be this vicious—so ruthless that she wouldn’t even spare an unborn child. At that moment, she no longer dared to associate too closely with her.
“Dora, I can’t help you with this,” Miye said quickly. “I deliberately pulled off Nina’s veil before—she must hate me now. There’s no way she’d trust me p>
“You’re Aji’s mother,” Dora replied impatiently. “Aji used to bring Nina food all the time. They were on good terms. If you just go apologize, she’ll definitely forgive you p>
Dora was displeased by Miye’s refusal. Miye had always listened to her and had even wanted Aji to become her mate. This was the first time she’d ever turned her down.
“No. Even apologizing won’t work,” Miye said, standing up. “I’ve been stopping Aji from seeing her all along. She won’t forgive me p>
She was already preparing to leave. “Dora, I really can’t do this. Find someone else. I still have things to take care of at home—I’ll be leaving now p>
Anger flashed across Dora’s face. “Miye, you’re my best friend. Won’t you help me? Don’t you want me to take Aji as my mate anymore p>
If she could find anyone else to help her, why would she have come to Miye?
Ever since the sacrificial ceremony, everyone in the tribe had come to loathe her. The females ostracized her, and even her former admirers and guardian beasts had vanished, avoiding her at every turn. Where else could she find help?
The only ones she could still command were her own mates—but Nina had already become her enemy. How could Nina possibly eat anything brought by Dora’s mates?
“It’s not that I don’t want to help you—it’s that I truly can’t,” Miye said anxiously. “As for Aji… just forget it. I really do have things to do at home. I—I’m leaving p>
Without waiting for Dora to say anything else, Miye fled as if escaping.
She no longer dared to think about marrying Aji to Dora. Now she only wanted to stay as far away from Dora as possible and hoped Dora wouldn’t turn on her.
Dora slammed her fist into the bed. “Even Miye has abandoned me p>
She stared at the Erosion Fruit in her hand. It seemed she’d have to find another way.
“Dora, if no one is willing to help, then forget it,” one of her mates couldn’t help but advise. “After all, it’s just an unborn child p>
“So what?” Dora snapped. “He’s Nina’s child. Having a mother like her is already his misfortune p>
Her eyes brimmed with venom.
Nina had ruined her and Ilai—how could she ever let that go? A child or not, anything connected to Nina deserved to die.
Her mates sighed inwardly. They felt Dora had completely lost herself—first sending Jao and the others to destroy the Beast God statue, and now trying to harm an unborn child.
But they were already bound to her by contract. Leaving wasn’t so simple.
When they thought of Ilai, half-paralyzed, and Jao and Shin being punished day after day beneath the statue, dread for their own futures crept in.
Meanwhile, Nina had no idea she was being targeted again.
She spent the next two days in relative peace.
Seeing that Sano truly hadn’t come back, Nina finally relaxed a little, thinking he had given up.
That night, Sal dragged his little cat bed back again.
He padded over to Nina’s feet, gently rubbing against her, letting out two soft, sweet “meows,” then looked up at her pitifully with watery eyes.
That entire routine was more than enough to soften Nina’s heart.
She pinched his chubby little cheeks. “Since you’ve both been behaving pretty well lately, I’ll let you sleep here again p>
Mino immediately turned into a little white cat and scampered in, squeezing Sal aside and rubbing against Nina’s hand for attention.
Helpless, Nina started her nightly cat-petting routine again.
Now she had to massage them both every day—and with perfectly equal treatment. If she spent even a little longer on one, the other would get upset and cause trouble.
Only after serving both little ones did Nina wash her hands and prepare for bed.
Seeing that Nina was about to sleep, Mino finally left reluctantly.
The night grew deeper, and Nina gradually drifted into sleep.
Sal quietly jumped onto the bed and gazed at Nina’s sleeping face for a long while. He slowly leaned closer and kissed her cheek.
Little female, I’m going to retrieve the Spirit Orb. Wait for me to come back.
After lingering for a long time, he finally jumped down from the bed. At the doorway, he looked back once more, reluctant, before swiftly leaving.
The next morning, Nina woke up to find that her “little kitty” was gone.
She searched anxiously for quite a while but couldn’t find him.
In her mind, she asked, “Little Bun, did anything happen last night? Did Little Flower leave on his own p>
[Host, Little Flower left by himself. He left after you fell asleep last night.] Little Bun replied.
So he really did leave on his own p>
Feeling dejected, Nina asked Mino, “Mino, Little Flower is gone. Where do you think he went? Did he decide he didn’t want to stay here anymore and went back to the forest? Or did he leave because he was unhappy? Will he be in danger p>
“Nina, don’t worry,” Mino comforted her gently. “He probably just ran out to play and will be back soon. Even if he really returned to the forest, it’s fine—he’s fast and good at fighting. Nothing will happen to him p>
Seeing Nina so downcast, Mino said this to reassure her.
There had been no unusual disturbance last night. He figured the “kitty” probably wanted a free life and returned to the forest once his injuries healed. Wild beasts preferred nature and didn’t like being kept.
Truthfully, Mino was quite pleased—no more cat to compete with him for affection. From now on, Nina would only massage and bathe one cat: him.
“Mm… I hope he comes back,” Nina murmured.
Even if he didn’t, she hoped he would grow up safely and live well in the forest.
She understood that wild animals preferred freedom and nature. She had no right to keep one by her side just for her own sake.
Still, she felt sad that he left without even saying goodbye.
Seeing her like this, Mino felt a pang of heartache. “Nina, if you really like little kittens that much, I can catch another one for you when I go hunting today p>
Compared to exclusive affection, he couldn’t bear seeing her unhappy.
“No need,” Nina said softly. “He just left so suddenly—I’m not used to it yet. I’ll be fine in a couple of days p>
Wild creatures loved freedom. She shouldn’t confine them for her own comfort.
“Alright then. Don’t be sad. Come eat,” Mino said.
“Mm p>
Nina sat down at the table and picked up her bowl. Without the little cat that always curled up nearby, the food suddenly tasted bland.