Embrace

"Didn't you say we were going out to play?" Lu followed behind Sebastian, surveying the seemingly endless expanse of the palace before her, feeling somewhat reluctant. 

This hardly resembled a casual outing, did it? 

As if she didn't know which door they were supposed to exit through! 

"First, we need to go to Yunyin Palace to address your matter," Sebastian slowed his pace, glancing back to signal her to follow. 

Lu took a couple of steps forward, tilting her head in confusion, "My matter? What matter do I have?" 

Moreover, she had no idea what Yunyin Palace even was! 

"Yesterday..." Sebastian paused, contemplating how to explain in a way that this little mermaid would understand, "It was the Yun Empress who intervened, preventing you from attending the ceremony." 

"Yun Empress?" Lu found the name oddly familiar. 

Wasn't she the one who barged in while she was preparing to bathe? 

But now that the Yun Empress was mentioned... Lu suddenly recalled something and turned to ask, "Is that Yun Empress your wife?" 

Her expression was quite serious, her azure eyes fixed intently on Sebastian. 

There was a hint of curiosity mixed with an inexplicable emotion. 

As they passed beneath a tree that had begun to turn yellow, the leaves, a blend of withered and green, twirled gracefully downwards, only to be caught by a gentle breeze just before reaching the ground, swirling around before finally settling on the desolate palace path. 

"She cannot yet be called a wife," Sebastian replied evenly, his demeanor growing increasingly indifferent. 

She was merely a pawn sent to the palace. Furthermore, the position of queen was still vacant; in every sense, she could not be deemed a wife. 

"... Cannot yet be called a wife?" Lu observed his expression surreptitiously, pondering deeply. 

What did that mean? Was she or was she not a wife? 

Perplexed, Lu thought for a moment before asking another question that piqued her curiosity, "I've heard that you can marry many wives; can a single person also marry many husbands?" 

After all, that would only be fair. Otherwise, if there were many men and few women, and each man had multiple wives, wouldn't that lead to an imbalance? 

"Of course not." 

Sebastian abruptly halted, his phoenix-like eyes narrowing slightly, "... Who told you that?" 

Since Lu had fallen a step behind, he turned to face her— 

Thus, when he stopped so suddenly, Lu was unable to halt in time and collided forcefully with his chest. 

... That hurt! 

"W-Why are you so solid?" Lu stepped back, raising her hand to cover her nose, her cerulean eyes instantly glistening with tears, her lips pouting in a most pitiful manner. 

"Apologies. Did that hurt?" Sebastian was taken aback, not expecting this little mermaid to be so fragile. He reached out as if to touch her but hesitated, stopping just short of making contact. 

"... Can you move your hand so I can see?" 

"I won't move it; of course it hurts! Why don't you try bumping into me?" Lu suppressed her tears, covering most of her face with her hands, revealing only her round, wide blue eyes, and retorted angrily. 

Her emotions were still heightened, tinged with a slight tremor of impending tears. 

"If I bump into you, it will hurt even more," Sebastian raised an eyebrow, stating the facts. 

Lu was momentarily speechless, her anger flaring, "Y-You're taking advantage of me and then acting innocent!" 

After saying that, she thought for a moment and still felt unsatisfied, so she defiantly dropped her hands, no longer covering her nose, and turned to leave— 

Why did she have to endure this frustration by being with this human?

"Sigh." Sebastian lowered his phoenix-like eyes, reaching out to pull her close, effortlessly drawing Lu into his embrace and securing her there. 

Lu, taken aback, looked up at him, momentarily forgetting her anger; the glimmer in her blue eyes reflected the sunlight, shimmering softly. "... What are you doing?" 

"Just checking on that poor little nose of yours." 

The young man smiled gently, his golden eyes curving with warmth. 

... How tall is he, really? 

For reasons she couldn't quite understand, Lu felt her ears flush crimson, frowning awkwardly as she replied, "I'm fine, let go of me." 

This position... felt so strange. 

And there was an unsettling sense that something was amiss. 

"Y-Your Majesty? You two?!" 

Princess Yun, accompanied by a palace maid, sauntered out of Yunyin Palace, thinking it was nothing unusual for the Emperor to take a stroll in the gardens, especially since he had been confined to the palace— 

But upon catching sight of the two embracing in the corridor, her expression shifted dramatically as she gasped in shock. 

"What are you doing?!" 

Her lips trembled, reflecting her profound dismay. 

Lu recognized that voice, turning her head to look, but found herself trapped in Sebastian's hold, unable to move, and took a deep breath, gritting her teeth as she whispered again, "Let me go!" 

Even if this human merely wished to inspect her nose, how embarrassing! 

If he didn't mind the humiliation, she certainly did. 

Mermaids have their dignity too! 

Sebastian remained composed, holding the little mermaid, glancing sideways at the visibly distressed Princess Yun. "Oh? Does Princess Yun have some objections?" 

"If I recall correctly... you were just recently confined to your quarters, weren't you? How is it that you've ventured out? Do you not regard me?" 

Princess Yun fixed her gaze on Lu, who had buried her face in Sebastian's embrace, struggling fruitlessly to break free, and after a moment, with her eyes reddening, she averted her gaze and curtsied, "... No, I would never dare." 

Sebastian squinted, chuckling softly, "I find you quite bold." 

Princess Yun was acutely aware that if the Emperor discovered her in such a position, it would spell disaster for her, yet she couldn't help but focus on the long, dark blue hair peeking out from Sebastian's embrace. "Your Majesty, do you truly favor this foreigner so? What does she possess that I cannot offer you?" 

Sebastian felt another gentle yet pointed kick, enough to convey her displeasure. 

He leaned closer to Lu, whispering, "... Behave yourself; I'm here to help you deal with the bad guys." 

He relaxed his grip on the little mermaid, realizing that continuing to hold her might provoke her further. 

Lu pouted, "Then why don't you let me go so I can leave?" 

"And don't think I'm unaware of her being your... love is love, but it has nothing to do with me!" 

Lu intended to mention that Princess Yun was Sebastian's wife, but recalling his earlier denial, she opted to hold her tongue, feeling a surge of annoyance. 

"... Perhaps it's more comfortable for you to hold me?" Sebastian mused, as if in deep thought. 

Lu: ??? 

Princess Yun watched the two engage in their oblivious conversation, biting her lip until she tasted blood. 

... Why, why hasn't this foreigner perished? 

She had already attempted to harm her, yet here she was, completely unscathed! 

What right did this insufferable girl have to attend the grand ceremony alongside the Emperor?! 

"Your Majesty…" Princess Yun attempted to interject. 

But the young man, whose demeanor had turned icy in an instant as he glanced her way, interrupted her sharply, "Isn't Princess Yu on good terms with you? Where is she?" 

"Princess Yu?" Princess Yun stepped back, her eyes betraying a hint of panic, but she forced herself to maintain her composure, smiling weakly. "Why do you inquire about her, Your Majesty? She is undoubtedly in her own palace." 

What does the Emperor know? 

No, it can't be. 

She had been so careful... and hadn't gone too far, had she? Those people had all returned. 

Yes, the Emperor wouldn't discover anything. 

If he did... then she would be finished. 

On the other side.

"Tsk, how shameless these humans are, holding onto our little Liu like that." 

The mermaid matriarch spoke of shame, yet her smile remained undiminished as she sat atop the roof, observing the scene in the distance with delight. "Ah, youth is truly wonderful—so full of vigor!" 

She casually intercepted the gloomy-faced Jack, who was about to descend, and said languidly, "Hey, young scion of the She family, don't be so agitated. It's no great matter that little Liu is being held; besides, she hasn't even taken out her seashell— 

"Don't be fooled by the seashell's seeming uselessness on land; it can still pack quite a punch. This indicates that little Liu isn't genuinely angry yet, so there's no need for us to rush. Let's instead observe what they are up to." 

Jack frowned, "But..." 

"There are no 'buts.' Sit down," the mermaid matriarch arched an eyebrow, her tone leaving no room for argument. 

"And if you go up there, we would be exposed, wouldn't we?" She still wished to see how this human child fared. 

The eldest prince sighed, "Grandmother, our purpose in coming here is to bring little Lu back." 

Though the fifth prince was displeased with Jack, he stood in solidarity with him, adding, "Indeed, what does this human have to offer? Whatever Lu desires can be found in the entire ocean; why waste time and energy on a mere human?" 

Setting aside how this human treats Lu, the very fact that they are together is concerning. Humans are so fragile; what if something were to happen to that human? Wouldn't little Liu end up weeping daily? 

The fifth prince found the thought intolerable. 

"How can you speak like that?" The mermaid matriarch's expression hardened as she furrowed her brow. "Let's not forget that your grandfather was also a human. And look at you mischievous little rascals—without him, you wouldn't even exist!" 

"But, Grandmother, you..." The fifth prince began, but was silenced as the eldest prince covered his mouth. 

"Shh! What are you doing?!" He widened his eyes in surprise. 

"Be quiet. If Grandmother wishes to sit, then let her sit," the eldest prince shot him a warning glance, his gray-blue eyes filled with unspoken authority. 

The fifth prince fell silent, feeling frustrated. 

Jack also returned to his seat in silence, his sleepy phoenix eyes still cast downwards, alternating between watching Lu and the striking young man among the humans, lost in thought. 

"What are you staring at?" The mermaid matriarch settled beside Jack, her demeanor now softened, exuding the warmth and kindness that seemed to embrace all. 

Jack continued to gaze below, his eyes shadowed and inscrutable, responding dutifully, "... Watching little Lu." 

"It seems you have a fondness for little Liu," the mermaid matriarch observed him closely. "Is it the kind of affection I suspect?" 

"... Perhaps. I'm not quite sure." 

Jack had always pursued his desires without hesitation; now that he wished for this little mermaid, he hardly considered the nature of his feelings for her. 

"Did you know that little Liu actually dislikes you meddling in her affairs?" 

The mermaid matriarch followed Jack's gaze to the little mermaid, who was engaged in conversation with the young man, and continued, "She may not outright hate you, but you persist in doing things she finds irksome." 

Her voice was low and soothing, imbued with a sense of calm and serenity. 

This prompted Jack to glance at her, unable to suppress his response, "... You are right." 

He smiled, "But I have no intention of changing my approach." 

For if he did not hold onto little Lu tightly, she would never have lingered her gaze upon him from the outset. 

The mermaid matriarch understood his stubbornness and did not expect to change him with mere words. She chose to remain silent, her expression gentle, as she watched her little mermaid princess frolicking along the human palace path. 

As for the earlier human girl, she had returned to her palace, lost and despondent, collapsing to the ground the moment she stepped inside. 

The handsome young human followed behind the little mermaid, wearing a gentle smile, leisurely and carefree. 

A soft breeze swept through. 

The trees along the path swayed with the wind, shedding a few dry yellow leaves that danced gracefully in the air before finally settling on the ground. 

On either side of a single wall, two contrasting scenes unfolded.

On one side of the wall, the wails resounded like thunder, while on the other, the passage of time unfolded in serene tranquility.

"I wonder what mischief that girl has caused..." The mermaid matriarch sighed as she observed the human girl, whose makeup was ruined by tears and who was even hiccuping. 

Jack's expression remained impassive. "She attempted to abduct little Lu yesterday to do her harm, but I intercepted her." 

The mermaid matriarch replied, "... I see." 

Clearing her throat, she added, "That is indeed troubling. Thank you for your efforts." 

"It's no trouble." 

"I merely wished to inform you that she is deserving of her fate."