Grandmother

"Grandmother, grandmother~ what does 'ascend the throne' mean~?" Lu had already changed into a lovely pale yellow gown, swaying like a fish tail as she leapt into the arms of her grandmother, the benevolent mermaid, her voice sweetly playful. 

The mermaid grandmother chuckled as she gently patted her granddaughter's head, teasing, "It seems our little princess has made quite the discovery on her first outing to sea." 

Who would have thought she would come all this way just to ask such a question? 

In recent years, the mermaid grandmother's health had declined, and her fondness for natural light led her to move to a shallower part of the sea where the light could refract beautifully. Though no other mermaids resided nearby, a myriad of peculiar creatures frolicked in the waters around her. 

For her grandmother, the only drawback of this place was its distance from the mermaid kingdom, which meant she seldom saw her lively and adorable grandchildren—having watched them grow up, as the king and queen were often preoccupied with royal duties. 

Yet, in the grand scheme of the merfolk's long lives, her solitary moments seemed rather inconsequential. 

Lu blinked her bright blue eyes, her small face beaming with delight as she proclaimed, "I met a very, very handsome human!" 

The mermaid grandmother feigned surprise, "Oh really? Just how handsome is he? Is he more handsome than our little Lu?" 

"Well, probably not," the little mermaid thought herself to be the most beautiful in the world, but since her grandmother had asked, she tilted her head thoughtfully before breaking into a smile, "But he is the most handsome human I have ever seen! Almost as handsome as my brothers!" 

It was worth noting that the several mermaid princes were quite popular in the kingdom, often surrounded by a throng of mermaid maidens whenever they ventured into the streets. 

"Is he truly that handsome?" the mermaid grandmother raised an eyebrow, intrigued. 

"Alright, enough about that. You still haven't told me what 'ascend the throne' means! You know, the one about the prince ascending the throne," Lu puffed her cheeks and shook her grandmother's hand. 

"Ah, 'ascend the throne'—that phrase seems more common in Eastern countries. It likely refers to the ceremony in which a prince officially becomes king," her grandmother mused. 

"However, in Eastern countries, kings are often referred to as emperors or sovereigns." 

The little mermaid was taken aback, "So, only a prince can become a king?" 

If that were the case, did it mean that human was once a prince? 

Was it possible that she had missed her chance because she matured too late? 

Lu bit her lip, suddenly feeling a pang of sadness. 

"Oh dear, what's wrong?" The mermaid grandmother was taken aback by her granddaughter's sudden gloom, quickly pulling her into a comforting embrace, gently patting her back and soothingly saying, "Where has our little princess been wronged? Come, tell grandmother." 

Lu buried her head in her grandmother's embrace, murmuring, "I... I have a little crush on that king, but he isn't my prince…" 

As she spoke, she huffed in frustration, "And kings always have queens… I don't want a king who already has a queen, no matter how handsome he is!" 

The mermaid grandmother couldn't help but chuckle, "I see, so you haven't asked him directly? In truth, a king doesn't necessarily have to have a queen. If he does, it's not the end of the world; you can always ask and decide later… Besides, you're still young. In time, you will surely meet a prince who belongs solely to you." 

Lu lifted her face, blinking in surprise, "Really?" 

"Indeed. If you like him, go ahead and try. After all, human life is so fleeting; if you don't seize the moment, it may be too late," her grandmother replied with a warm smile, her azure eyes filled with tenderness. 

Lu hesitated, then tentatively glanced up, "So, should I go now?" 

If she understood correctly… was that what her grandmother meant? 

"Yes, go ahead," the mermaid grandmother waved her hand indulgently.

An hour later, 

The little mermaid, shimmering with a brilliant blue radiance, reappeared in the waters where the shipwreck had once lain. 

As evening approached, the sun hung low on the horizon, casting a fiery glow over the vast expanse of the sea, where the crimson twilight blended seamlessly with the rolling waves, painting the entire area in warm hues of orange and red, a magnificent spectacle of sky and ocean. 

Relying on her memory, Lu paused at the approximate location of the wreck, glancing around before retrieving a large seashell from her small satchel— 

"Woo~~~~" 

The soundless waves of resonance swiftly spread across the water's surface. 

One by one, marine creatures emerged from the depths, joyfully calling out in unison as they hurried towards the little mermaid, who was idly flicking her beautiful tail. 

Lu reached out to catch a small seal that had bounded towards her, laughing with delight, "Alright, today I need your help again!" 

Another hour passed. 

Lu, now submerged in the dark waters near the island, surfaced just enough to reveal her bright blue eyes as she stealthily observed the radiant firelight on the beach. 

Hmm? Where is that human? 

Peeking her head above the surface, Lu glanced around but still failed to spot the handsome human she longed to see. 

Strange… There was clearly a fire. 

Recalling how she had confidently assured the handsome human that she would return home tonight, she hesitated, contemplating whether to transform into human form and venture ashore. 

However, although the island was surrounded by water, it was home to other creatures; what if something happened to that human? 

With this thought, Lu furrowed her brow, quickly grasping the layers of her frilly skirt that had puffed out in the water and adjusting it before making her way towards the island. 

Yet, as the little mermaid confidently stepped onto the sandy shore and stood bewildered by the fire pit, she frowned with worry— 

This island is so vast; must she search for the human inch by inch? 

How long would that take! 

"...What are you standing there for?" 

Emerging from the bushes with several fresh branches, Sebastian caught sight of the little mermaid frowning by the fire. A subtle smile, one he himself was unaware of, graced his lips as his phoenix-like eyes twinkled, "Care for some roasted rabbit? It's quite difficult to catch one now." 

Lu stared at the approaching young man in his splendid robe, momentarily taken aback, and then, slowly processing his words, felt her ears flush with warmth, "I don't eat rabbits; I came to find you." 

Sebastian set aside the branches he was holding and casually tossed a few twigs from the disorganized pile of dry grass and branches into the fire, glancing at Lu, "Would you like to sit?" 

Lu complied and sat down, instinctively hugging her knees while stealing glances at the young man several times. Finally, blinking, she sought to make conversation, "The branches you were holding earlier—were they for burning?" 

"No, I was gathering them to test which type of wood is suitable for making simple boats." 

The hour was growing late, and as Sebastian sat by the fire, the flickering flames reflected in his dark eyes, his thoughts wandering aimlessly… If not for the pressing circumstances, he would have long since retired for the night. 

"A boat?" Lu turned curiously, "Do you want a boat?" 

"Yes. I need to return to my homeland as soon as possible." 

Lu immediately felt a pang of guilt, shifting her gaze to the sandy surface, her finger tracing patterns, "Then, let me give you a reward for the roasted rabbit." 

Had she known it would come to this… she would have taken a simpler approach, disguising herself as a human to board the ship and get closer to the prince! 

"Speaking of rewards," Sebastian recalled something and extended a sapphire toward her, "I don't lack these, and besides, two fish aren't worth much." 

The fish here had never encountered humans and were not adept at hiding, making them easy to catch. 

Moreover, he had begun to form some conjectures about this girl's true identity. 

Lu looked down at the brilliant sapphire in the man's hand, tilting her head in confusion, "You don't like this?" 

The little mermaid was not concerned with its value; she simply wanted to bring joy to the handsome human she admired. 

After pondering for a moment, she reached out to accept the sapphire with a cheerful smile, continuing, "That's alright; I have another gift for you that you'll surely love!" 

In addition to the boat, she had prepared many, many gifts!