Useless

"Y-Young master?" The maid trembled, attempting to feign calmness but unable to conceal the terror in her eyes, forcing a smile as she said, "The young master should still be resting. Perhaps His Majesty could return in a little while."

Sebastian narrowed his phoenix eyes, already suspecting something. "...Do you think your words can deceive me?"

With that, he strode away with long, purposeful steps.

She froze, her legs giving way as she knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, please spare me! I truly do not know where the young master has gone! When the carriage arrived here, I lifted the curtain, and there was no one inside!!"

"We began searching for the young master even during the ceremony, but despite scouring the entire palace, we have yet to find anyone..." The maid lamented, tears streaming down her face. "This is truly not my fault!!"

Sebastian furrowed his brow. "I understand."

He stepped over the kneeling maid and continued forward, his dark eyes somber. "As for you, due to your incompetence, you shall face consequences upon returning to the palace."

In the grand hall of the palace, Sebastian reclined in a high seat, his expression cold as he toyed with a glass bead almost identical to the one he had previously gifted to the little mermaid. Within the bead, colorful mist swirled, refracting the faint golden rays of light streaming in from outside, creating an ethereal glow.

The conditions for forming such glass are exceedingly rare, and these two beads not only possess exceptional quality but also originate from the same batch of transformed celadon.

"...You lost her?"

He cast a sidelong glance at a woman in black kneeling in the center of the hall, speaking calmly.

The woman knelt on one knee, her head bowed. "I have failed in my duties. I only know that it was Princess Yun's people who were involved, likely with the guidance of Princess Yun... The few who attempted to take the young master were not difficult to handle, but while I was pursuing them, I was intercepted by another group, and by the time I could resume my chase, it was too late."

"What is the situation with Princess Yu and Princess Yun?" Sebastian's face remained inscrutable, his voice slightly cold.

His upturned phoenix eyes still held a semblance of amusement, yet there was an underlying chill.

"...They seem unaware of the young master's whereabouts and are also searching for her," the woman replied.

"So you chose to return?" Sebastian clenched the bead in his palm, lifting his gaze to meet hers, a smile that was neither warm nor genuine playing on his lips. "I had no idea... that my years of nurturing the Shadow Guards would yield such ineffectiveness."

"Then what significance does your existence hold for me?"

The woman lowered her head, remaining silent.

"Where did you lose track of her?"

Sebastian's smile faded. "...If you cannot even answer that, then you truly have no reason to exist."

He had initially considered the peculiarities of gender, which was why he assigned this female Shadow Guard, whose abilities were merely average, to accompany Lu... and yet, she had managed to lose track of her during a simple ceremony.

Had he been too lenient in his usual demeanor?

On the other side, Lu had been sitting by the water's edge for quite some time, while Jack remained silently in the shadows.

"What would you like to eat? I can fetch something for you," Jack finally spoke.

Having remained silent for too long, his voice was slightly hoarse and not particularly pleasant.

It was rare for him not to want to force the little mermaid... but Lu seemed unwilling to compromise.

The only one who could yield was Jack.

Of course, it would only be a slight concession regarding the matter of food.

Lu's deep blue eyes darted around before she turned to him, commanding without hesitation, "I want grilled fish and roasted rabbit. Go get them for me."

What a joke! After all this time, he thought she would let him off easily?

That was simply a wishful thought!

Seeing the triumphant expression on Lu's face, Jack half-closed his eyes. "...Then once you've eaten, you will return with me."

As for the grilled fish and roasted rabbit... although he had never heard of them, he could easily inquire with any human on the street to find out what they were.

Lu was momentarily taken aback, glaring at him in frustration. "You didn't mention there were conditions beforehand!"

She had known this water snake wasn't so benevolent!

She shouldn't have even spoken to him!!

"Now there are," Jack replied, a gloomy smile gracing his lips.

The little mermaid took a deep breath, indignantly turning her head away. She picked up a small stone from the ground and threw it into the water, creating a soft splash. "If I were to entertain you further, I must be out of my mind!"

It was just food; did she really need this meal?

Did he think she was afraid of him?!

Jack was not in a hurry. "If my deductions are correct, your father and mother must have already discovered that you have been brought to the human continent."

"Given the extent of your family's concern for you… even if you do not return with me, being trapped in this cave for two or three days, with the capabilities of the merfolk royal family, finding you should not be a difficult task."

Lu furrowed her brows but suppressed her anger, remaining silent.

"Is that human truly worth such sacrifices?" Jack's expression darkened. "What is it about him that compels you to forsake the entirety of the ocean?"

Bah!

It was not for that human at all!

If it weren't for this insistent water snake, she would have long since enjoyed herself in the human world and returned home, wouldn't she?!

Lu was furious, yet because she had just stated her intention to ignore Jack, she felt embarrassed to contradict herself so soon and could only stew in her own frustration.

However, she did believe his words—

Lu gazed at the clear surface of the water, tossing a few more stones into it. Her small face involuntarily creased with worry as she pondered the consequences of her parents arriving; would she not be able to even feign stubbornness and would be taken back immediately?

But she had been in the human world for so many days, and aside from her dwelling and that little garden, she had not ventured anywhere else!

What a stroke of luck!

Thus, the irate little mermaid naturally placed all the blame on Jack.

...It was all this meddlesome water snake's fault!!