Toys

With this thought in mind, the little mermaid secretly tightened her grip on the two round pearls in her hand. While feeling relieved that she had not revealed her true identity, she earnestly said to the young man, "Since you are not a prince, I cannot accept your food for free. I shall bring you the reward for the grilled fish tomorrow."

Well, I've heard that large luminous pearls used for illumination in the depths of the sea are quite valuable on land... Perhaps I could bring a couple of them for this handsome human. After all, I truly admire his looks!

As she pondered this, Lu's gaze was inadvertently drawn to the grilled fish she had previously discarded on the sandy ground. After a moment of contemplation, she couldn't help but lick her lips, furrowing her brow in frustration.

Now she wouldn't be able to enjoy it again, and she had wasted more than half of it. If only she had placed the fish aside before wiping away her tears!

"You need not bother," Sebastian said leisurely, glancing at her before offering her a freshly grilled fish. "If you truly wish to avoid accepting something for nothing... then you must answer me two questions."

Lu was taken aback, lifting her head to regard him with suspicion. After a moment's hesitation, she ultimately succumbed to the temptation of the golden grilled fish, casually burying the pearls she held in her hand beneath the sand.

Stealing a glance at the young man, who seemed oblivious to her small actions and merely awaited her response, she quietly exhaled in relief. Her eyes brightened as she reached out eagerly to accept the fish, unable to contain her excitement as she took a bite, only to gasp at the heat. "Sure, what do you want to ask?"

Given how well she had disguised herself, this human likely wouldn't suspect that she was a mermaid. Thus, the two questions... should not be anything too significant, right? The little mermaid felt confident in herself, even finding the leisure to play with the soft sand beneath her delicate feet, reveling in the novelty of the experience. She was not afraid of answering ten questions, let alone two.

Sebastian involuntarily glanced at her strikingly pale feet, momentarily pausing before averting his gaze. "For the first question."

"Mm-hmm, go ahead," Lu nodded, feeling that playing with sand while eating was somewhat inappropriate, so she ceased her movements.

After a moment of thought, she began to blow gently on the grilled fish, taking her time before tentatively biting into the scalding meat, her lovely brows furrowing as her expression became vividly animated.

"Earlier, you mentioned that I would bring you a reward tomorrow... where will you be going tonight?" He had searched the vicinity after finding the bracelet that morning but had not encountered her presence. Moreover, he had not forgotten that she had been secretly watching him while he grilled the fish.

However, despite his suspicions, Sebastian found himself unable to look away as he observed the girl enjoying her meal. Originally lacking an appetite, he glanced at the fish in his hand and took a bite.

...It wasn't unpleasant, but lacking seasoning, it was hardly remarkable.

"Of course, I'm going home! Where else would I spend the night? There's nothing here," Lu replied, chewing on the fish with a carefree demeanor as she looked up at the young man, her expression practically saying—what a silly question to ask!

Sebastian fell silent for a moment. "Then for the second question."

Lu blinked, "You may ask."

...What a peculiar human. Though he appeared quite handsome, he seemed rather dim-witted. How could he be so hesitant even to ask two questions?

"Returning to what you mentioned earlier, how does a princess... marry a prince?" Sebastian finished the small grilled fish in a few bites, turning his gaze toward the roasted rabbit. After a moment's hesitation, he decided against retrieving the knife he always carried and simply tore off a piece with his hands.

The little mermaid's attention was captivated by the roasted rabbit, which looked more colorful and fragrant than the grilled fish. As she answered his question, her focus was clearly elsewhere.

"Well... a prince, yes, I do wish to marry a prince! I thought you were one... but since you're not, I won't marry you."

As she spoke, Lu swallowed hard, her eyes wide with longing as she watched the handsome young man elegantly tear off a piece of meat—only to see him place it in his own mouth.

Then, with a slight press of his lips, the morsel vanished from view.

Lu glanced at the roasted rabbit in the distance, then at the grilled fish in her hand. After a moment of hesitation, she dared not voice her desire for the rabbit.

...If she were to change her mind now, would marrying him mean she would have no meat to eat?

However, her father and mother would surely never allow her to marry an ordinary human... The mermaid princess stole another glance at the young man, her heart racing slightly at the sight of his handsome face, and let out a regretful sigh, lost once again in contemplation.

Since encountering this charming human who grilled fish, the little mermaid had furrowed her brow countless times, caught in a web of indecision.

She quietly calculated her options.

After all, human life is so fleeting... so perhaps, secretly marrying wouldn't be such a bad idea, would it?

"Why do you want to marry me?"

A sudden low voice broke through her thoughts, startling Lu as she turned to face the handsome visage before her. For a moment, she was taken aback, and as she met his dark, phoenix-like eyes, she felt a jolt of surprise, nearly jumping back in fright.

Instinctively, she shrank back, mustering the courage to meet the young man's enigmatic smile, her heart racing with unspoken anxiety. "Well, if I want to marry, then I'll marry; why complicate it with so many questions?"

"Which country are you from?" Sebastian squinted slightly, stepping back to resume his previous position, casually dividing the roasted rabbit he had been eyeing with Lu, giving her half.

Which country?

The little mermaid froze, her gaze fixed on the roasted rabbit she longed for, unable to accept it.

...After all, accepting it seemed to imply she would have to answer a question, but this question—

She simply couldn't answer!

Was she supposed to say the Kingdom of Mermaids?

That would expose everything!

"Can I choose not to say...?" Lu pouted, her beautiful brows furrowing in distress. Why must he ask such a question that had no clear answer?

"...You may."

And so, a quarter of an hour later.

Lu tossed the remnants of the rabbit bones into the fire, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the young man, now dressed, and sincerely exclaimed, "You truly are a good person!"

He fed her meat without demanding answers to his questions; he was indeed a handsome human!

Sebastian smirked slightly, clearing his throat, his expression somewhat complex. "...I hardly deserve such praise."

"No, no, you do! You are truly the best person I have ever met!"

Lu confidently plucked several gemstones from her skirt and took Sebastian's hand, pressing them into his palm, her face alight with joy. "I see that those outside seem to enjoy these trinkets, so I'm giving them to you to play with!"

While these little treasures might not serve as proper payment, they could certainly be toys!

Sebastian glanced at the exquisite blue gemstones in his hand.

...Although he had no need for such things, given the current circumstances, they could certainly serve as playthings.

"I don't..."

Lu looked up at the sky, calculating the time it would take her to swim back to the depths of the sea. Since she would arrive just in time for dinner, she cheerfully declared, "Alright, I must return now, but I'll come find you tomorrow~~"

With that, she waved her hand in farewell, not waiting for the young man to respond, and, lifting her long skirt, she dashed toward the sea, splashing water in her wake.

Sebastian: ...

With a splash, the azure figure created a massive fountain on the shimmering surface of the sea, her pale feet briefly visible amidst the waves before vanishing into the depths.

Holding the handful of gemstones, Sebastian gazed at the gradually calming sea, and after a long silence, he pressed his hand to his forehead, beginning to doubt himself for the first time.

He averted his gaze, intending to search the forest for suitable timber to craft a boat, but his eyes paused on the soft sand where the mysterious girl had previously sat.

Two inconspicuous pearls reflected a faint light amidst the golden grains.