Chapter 59 Ambiguity

On the other side, as Sebastian stepped into the elegantly adorned sub-venue, which perfectly catered to merfolk aesthetics, he was met with a throng of sea creatures, all exuberantly jostling toward the center of the gathering— 

"Hey, watch it! You're stepping on my tail!" 

"Sorry, sorry… but you're tugging on my new dress! Let go!!" 

"You two take your quarrel outside; don't block the way!" 

"Those in front, please form an orderly line! Stop this chaotic shoving; does no one know where to stand?!" 

The young man in the brocade robe paused, gazing into the seemingly endless sea of bodies, and fell silent, shifting his attention to the somewhat dazed attendant. 

The attendant awkwardly stepped back, bowing as he spoke, "I apologize; I had no idea so many sea creatures would arrive in such a short time… Please allow me a moment to announce your presence." 

He had been dispatched to await the arrival of esteemed guests for barely half an hour; this particular sub-venue was designated for the merfolk, and while he understood their enthusiasm, the third prince of the merfolk had previously sat in a manner that commanded respect without uttering a word— 

The sea creatures seemed to find the merfolk difficult to approach, thus they only gathered outside to enjoy the spectacle, while inside the venue, order reigned; those wishing to present flowers or seek minor clarifications waited patiently in line, none daring to be brazen. 

So what on earth was happening now? Why were they all… acting as if possessed? 

As he pondered this, the attendant peered nervously inside once more, reluctantly admitting— 

Given the current commotion, he might not even be able to squeeze in. 

Sebastian narrowed his phoenix-like eyes, contemplating for a moment before striding forward. "That won't be necessary; you may leave me here." 

…The emotional state of that dragon seemed rather unsettled. 

The attendant hesitated, "But…" His duties extended beyond merely escorting; he was also responsible for introductions and clarifications. 

Was it truly unnecessary for him to accompany? 

However, before the attendant could formulate a rationale, the young man's figure vanished into the path that the sea creatures had automatically cleared for him. 

Attendant: …Well, it seemed he was indeed no longer needed? 

… 

"Princess, you look absolutely stunning!" A young woman, her cheeks adorned with remnants of untransformed fish scales, bashfully presented a bouquet of sea crystal flowers unique to the Eastern Sea. "This is for you!"

Lu smiled brightly, her azure eyes sparkling as she accepted the bouquet. "Thank you, it's beautiful." 

The young woman's eyes lit up, and she quickly shook her head. "No need to thank me, as long as Your Highness likes it!" 

"Next," the attendant beside her assessed the time and gestured for the girl to step aside, allowing the next sea creature in line to approach. 

The girl sighed but did not linger, bidding farewell as she reluctantly moved to the side, glancing back three times. 

"Hello, Princess! I, um… I just wanted to ask what qualities you prefer in a partner!" A small boy, his slender silver tail trailing behind him, stepped forward, his large, expressive eyes locking onto Lu's with utmost seriousness. 

"…A partner?" The little mermaid blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected question. 

To be honest, she had never truly contemplated the matter of choosing a partner. 

"Yes, what kind of person do you like? Can you tell me?" The boy maintained a composed demeanor, though a faint blush crept up his neck. 

After pondering for a moment, Lu realized she was drawn to beauty, and hesitated slightly, "Um, I suppose someone who treats me well, doesn't bully me, and isn't unattractive?" 

Even as she spoke, she lacked confidence, offering a gentle smile to the little boy in hopes he would swiftly change the subject. 

…Such an adorable little fellow, why did he have to ask such questions? 

"Got it! I understand!" The boy nodded earnestly, rummaging through his pocket to produce a small pouch. He examined it closely before placing it solemnly on the low table in front of him, pushing it toward the little mermaid on tiptoe. 

Lu hesitated, glancing between the bulging pouch and the boy, feeling perplexed. "What does this mean?" 

"I will treat you well! I won't bully you! And I'm not unattractive!" The boy declared, lifting his chin, summoning his courage to speak loudly. 

The blush that had initially colored his neck had spread across his entire round face, yet it could not conceal the brilliance of his dark eyes. 

His uniquely soft and sweet voice resonated clearly, causing a hush to fall over nearly half the gathering. 

Countless pairs of eyes turned to fixate on the oblivious little boy. 

As a result, the already nervous boy grew even more anxious, fumbling over his words, unsure of what to say next. 

In the midst of the silence, Sebastian approached the stunned Lu, standing beside her before casting a sidelong glance at the blushing child. He chuckled softly, "Why the silence? Such little courage will not protect the mermaid princess." 

He then leaned closer to Lu, his phoenix-like eyes half-closed, whispering in an intimate tone, "…Don't you think I could offer you so much more than this naïve little boy?" 

As for whether he was good-looking or not… he was well aware of how the little mermaid had come to be drawn to him, even going to great lengths to approach him. 

Lu: ?!! 

What on earth was this man talking about? 

The boy gazed up at the elegantly robed young man standing so close to the mermaid, his dark eyes widening in curiosity. "Who are you?" 

"Me?" 

Sebastian glanced at him sideways. 

Then, leisurely straightening up, he smiled languidly, "You would have to ask the princess about that."