Dragon’s Aura

Lu sat happily on a stool, gazing at the bountiful spread before her, ready to indulge— 

"I see you're quite pleased," Sebastian remarked as he entered, gesturing for the attendants to withdraw. 

"...Ah?" Lu looked up in confusion, her chopsticks halting mid-air above the fragrant rice, momentarily stunned. 

Once she focused and recognized him, Lu snapped back to reality, blinking her blue eyes inquisitively at him, and hesitantly invited, "Um, would you like to join me?" 

Sebastian approached the table and took a seat, pouring himself a cup of tea. "I've already had my lunch," he explained. 

"I merely came to check on you since I heard you had awakened." 

Moreover, there was only one set of utensils, and with the attendants dismissed, there was no need to fuss over a couple of bites. 

Lu gazed at his slightly upturned phoenix eyes, nodding slowly, "...They mentioned you were very busy; you really didn't have to come." 

"I'm not too busy," Sebastian replied, holding the cup, his expression a blend of amusement and intrigue as he met her gaze. "However… I heard from the little eunuch of Yining Palace that you missed me?" 

"Cough, cough, cough… What?!" Lu choked on the air, her face flushing crimson. 

"Why would I miss you?!"

Lu finally managed to catch her breath, feeling a mix of embarrassment and irritation. 

"Is that so? Then what were you gazing at when I entered?" Sebastian remarked, taking a sip of tea as he continued to smile at her. 

Lu froze, suddenly realizing that her lingering gaze had been noticed— 

...How utterly mortifying. 

The little mermaid took a moment to collect herself, then, in an attempt to mask her discomfort, she buried her head in her bowl and stubbornly retorted, "Who was looking at anything! What's so captivating about you that I would gaze upon you?" 

After all, if she claimed she hadn't looked, then she hadn't—he had no evidence to the contrary! 

Sebastian replied, "Hmm, indeed, you didn't look." 

"There's no need to be so agitated; eat slowly." 

He found her actions amusing as he observed her. 

The little mermaid suddenly choked, her round azure eyes shifting from the bowl of rice to the smiling young man. She wanted to counter him but lacked the conviction, muttering, "I'm not agitated; I've just been hungry for too long." 

"Very well." Sebastian maintained his smile, not inclined to dwell on such trivial matters. 

This attitude was clearly insincere! 

What's so good about it? His expression is anything but pleasant! 

Irritated, Lu shoved another mouthful of rice into her mouth, casting a sidelong glance at the young man, wishing to say more, but suddenly blinking in feigned calmness, she nervously averted her gaze. Under Sebastian's scrutiny, she felt immense pressure as she continued to eat, even finding the food somewhat tasteless. 

Honestly, why must he watch her while she eats! 

She couldn't even steal a glance at him without feeling his gaze! 

Reflecting on her previous furtive look, the troubled little mermaid lost her appetite for the meal. After holding back her words for a while, she finally couldn't resist and softly asked, "Um, what's with your eyes...?" 

"Mm?" 

"How did they turn golden?" 

She felt too shy to raise her head to meet Sebastian's gaze. What if this was due to some sudden illness or an accident? Mentioning it might only cause pain to the beautiful human—though, even with a change in eye color, he remained strikingly handsome. 

That golden hue was even more striking than his previous dark eyes, adding a certain allure. 

"Golden?" 

Sebastian paused momentarily, then continued sipping his tea, unflinchingly responding, "How could that be? You must be mistaken." 

Upon hearing Sebastian deny it, Lu blinked her cerulean eyes at the small bowl before her, momentarily doubting whether she had fully awakened and had indeed misperceived. 

But she had observed for quite some time; they were undeniably golden! Just like her hazy recollection from yesterday! 

However, when she looked up to confirm— 

"Isn't that clearly gold? Do you think I can't differentiate colors?!" Lu's face flushed with indignation. 

What is wrong with this human? He's blatantly lying! 

Is it amusing to tease her?! 

"Mm?" Lu suddenly paused, instinctively wrinkling her little nose. 

"Wait a moment." 

"Why do you suddenly have a different scent?" 

"You didn't have this before??" 

Sebastian, contemplating whether he should find a mirror to check his appearance, paused again at her words, glancing at the little mermaid, "What scent?" 

Lu set down her chopsticks, hopped off her stool, and stepped over to Sebastian, her small face serious as she leaned in close to his neck, taking a careful sniff, then furrowed her brow in thought— 

"Um, this scent... it seems... somewhat reminiscent of a water snake?" 

"Yet it's still different; yours smells much better than his! But it's still a bit similar, and I absolutely loathe water snakes!" 

Sebastian shifted slightly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable as he faced the little mermaid, who was both indignant and deep in thought. He reached out to ruffle her hair, exasperated, "Why must you be so inquisitive? Can't you just eat your meal in peace?" 

Though Lu had never mentioned water snakes before... he could make an educated guess. 

In that enclosed cave, the little mermaid, who could only curl up in a corner to pass the time, certainly couldn't have entered. 

The people from Princess Yun had also been intercepted by his own men halfway. 

Thus, it was evident who had taken Lu away.

As for the scent... Sebastian truly could not comprehend. What kind of nose did this little mermaid possess? 

"... Am I too curious?" Lu's eyes widened, her cheeks puffed up in annoyance as she swatted away the large hand resting on her head. She then reached out to touch Sebastian's beautiful golden eyes, which she perceived to be radiant, leaning in for a closer look, and asserted, "You still won't admit it; just look for yourself, they are indeed golden!" 

How could he deny it and yet accuse her of being inquisitive? 

Was it really necessary to turn the tables like this?! 

Earlier, Lu had worried that this human might feel insecure about his sudden change in eye color, but now it seemed— 

Hah, he was rather arrogant! 

Sebastian was unaccustomed to such direct contact from others, yet he did not react to Lu's actions, suppressing the faint unease stirring within him. 

However, his expression betrayed none of his emotions; he even chuckled softly, "Alright, they are indeed golden." 

"Yet, perhaps only you can see them." 

—This was also the truth. 

At least, throughout their journey, the palace attendants had treated him no differently than before; it was not as if their sovereign had suddenly changed his eye color. 

Lu had to concede, huffing a couple of times before retracting her hand, somewhat satisfied, yet still curious as she inquired, "Why can only I see them?" 

Could it be that he was deceiving her again? 

Sebastian replied, "... Enough, let's eat; if we don't hurry, it will get cold." 

"I enjoy my food cold! You still haven't answered my question!" 

"... After we finish eating, I'll take you out for a while." 

"Are we going to play?" Lu blinked her blue eyes eagerly. 

"If you wish to go out and play, that is fine." 

"... Then alright~" 

Lu turned back to her seat, picking up her bowl and chopsticks to eat earnestly— 

Hmm, actually, it seems the grilled fish and grilled rabbit were more delicious? 

Unfortunately, ever since they came ashore, she had not seen any handsome humans in the kitchen; otherwise, she could have shamelessly asked for a taste... 

Meanwhile, 

Jack and the Fifth Prince stood outside the cold palace walls, successfully meeting with the eldest prince and the mermaid grandmother. 

The mermaid grandmother smiled warmly, reminiscing, "It has been a long time since I last saw little She; you are even more beautiful than before~" 

The Fifth Prince scoffed disdainfully, "He always looks so gloomy, as if someone owes him something; how could he be considered beautiful?" 

The eldest prince cast him a dispassionate glance, his gray-blue eyes calm and unruffled, "Little Wu, do not be willful." 

The Fifth Prince glared; he was merely speaking, how was that being willful? 

Jack maintained a gentle smile, "Indeed, it has been a long time since I last saw Grandmother. Are you here to find little Lu as well?" 

"Or else, would I have come to find you? And why are you calling me by such a name? She is my grandmother, not yours," the Fifth Prince retorted sharply. 

Jack: "..." 

He wanted to strangle this fish. 

While both were prone to temper, little Lu was far more endearing than this Fifth Prince. 

The eldest prince stepped forward helplessly, pulling the visibly displeased Fifth Prince closer and casting him a light glare, signaling him to tone it down. 

"I'll deal with you when we return." 

Fifth Prince: !!! 

Oh no, he almost forgot he had snuck out! 

The mermaid grandmother cleared her throat gently, addressing Jack kindly, "Little Wu has a rather poor temper; I hope you can be more tolerant." 

These two children, even in the depths of the ocean, often fought. 

Typically, it was Little Wu who instigated, while Jack maintained a calm facade, secretly retaliating with cunning tactics. This rivalry had persisted for quite some time. 

However, it was surprising that even in the human realm, these two children showed no signs of restraint. 

Although the mermaid grandmother did not reside in the mermaid kingdom, she was aware of the occasional disturbances caused by the two children— 

After all, whether it was Lu or the Fifth Prince, they always complained a bit when visiting her. 

"... It's nothing," Jack replied with a somewhat strained smile. 

"Where is it that I have a poor temper? Clearly, this snake is just asking for a beating," the Fifth Prince muttered under his breath. 

"Enough. We are here to bring little Lu back; do you know where she is?" The eldest prince, exasperated with the Fifth Prince, directed his question to Jack.

Jack had no conflicts with the eldest prince, so he said, "She is in this palace. If you wish to avoid alarming a multitude of humans, it would be best for you to scale the wall from this side." 

He could conceal his own presence, but unfortunately, he was accompanied by the Fifth Prince, who only served to hinder him, thus they had to approach this wall. 

To his surprise, they encountered the eldest prince and the mermaid grandmother. 

With their arrival, it seemed inevitable that the little mermaid would have to return to the depths of the sea. 

However, Jack recalled the scene of devastation he had witnessed upon returning to the cave last night, his gaze darkening. 

That trace of dragon aura... 

If it truly belonged to that human...