Chapter 63 Proposal

"Proposal?" 

Lu was taken aback. 

"Whose proposal? How come I wasn't informed?!" 

The little mermaid gazed curiously at her grandmother, whose face appeared inexplicably haggard, her skepticism evident. 

It wasn't that she doubted her grandmother would deceive her... rather, it was perplexing that even her grandmother, residing far from the merfolk kingdom in the central sea, had heard the news and rushed over, while she, a well-mannered princess of the royal family, had remained oblivious to anything beyond the dragon clan's visit. 

She had hurried to the council hall only to encounter her grandmother, who had traveled from so far away... 

Lu frowned, feeling somewhat displeased that after only a few days of confinement, Belle had forgotten to mention such an important matter to her... 

Or perhaps the other merfolk, seeing her confined, had intentionally sidelined Belle? 

No, no, that seemed unlikely; it was probably just a matter of not bringing it up. 

Regardless, no matter whose proposal it was, she certainly had to see it for herself! 

"I can tell you're just as unaware." Her grandmother sighed, "But with all these betrothal gifts scattered about, the dragon clan must be quite serious this time." 

She had initially thought that given Lu's temperament, things might become quite raucous... who would have guessed they managed to keep everything under wraps? 

But how long could they conceal it? 

If it were to be revealed on the spot, wouldn't that make for an even more awkward situation? 

"...So?" Lu turned to glance at the nearby hall doors, where the merfolk guards stood stoically, their gaze unwavering. She cast a sidelong glance at them, pursing her lips, feeling that something was amiss— 

Yet, her father, mother, and brothers were notorious for rejecting all her suitors. 

It shouldn't be about her. 

Lu remained confident in this regard. 

"...The proposal is for you." 

Her grandmother gently brushed the little mermaid's flowing hair, lowering her gaze to conceal a flicker of emotion, and spoke softly, "Alright, I've said what I needed to say. Hurry inside now; it wouldn't be polite to keep them waiting." 

Lu: ?!! 

What do you mean the proposal is for me! 

"W-Wait a moment!" 

"Hmm? Is there anything else?" Her grandmother remained as gentle and patient as ever, treating her favorite little mermaid with utmost tenderness, despite feeling utterly powerless herself. 

"Grandmother... you can't be joking with me." Lu grasped her grandmother's hand, which did not exhibit signs of aging, and after much hesitation, finally managed to utter this line. 

Moreover, her grandmother casually dropping such a statement—how could she be unconcerned and just walk in? 

Once inside, she would be face-to-face with the dragon clan... how was she supposed to react?! 

The mermaid princess furrowed her brow, contemplating for a long moment, before reluctantly forcing herself to accept this assertion and asked, "But the dragon clan hasn't emerged for hundreds or even thousands of years; why now, for a proposal?" 

Did they rush to marry a mermaid upon their emergence? 

And if he proposed to her, did that mean she had to marry him? What did he take her for? 

At this thought, Lu suddenly paused. 

Wait, the dragon clan proposing to her... 

The only dragon who could possibly be involved was that shameless one. 

The little mermaid, disregarding her grandmother, who seemed lost in thought, flicked her azure tail with determination and darted into the council hall. 

"...Ah, this child." 

Her grandmother regained her composure, gazing at the swiftly disappearing figure around the corner, a sigh of worry escaping her lips. 

How had the dragon clan come to take an interest in her?

The merfolk and the dragon clan... the wounds inflicted centuries ago have only just begun to heal. If war were to break out, it would be akin to striking a stone with an egg. 

Yet, how could they allow Lu to plunge into the depths of an unknown dragon's lair? Their hearts ached at the thought. 

"Father, Mother—" 

As her gaze shifted, she spotted a young man standing beside the merfolk queen, smiling and conversing amiably. She halted abruptly, mere steps away. 

Her blue eyes widened slightly as she took in the extravagant array of "betrothal gifts" behind Sebastian and glanced at her mother, who appeared to be enjoying a lively conversation with someone. A sense of abandonment washed over her. 

...What could possibly be so special about this insufferable dragon? 

Her mother was actually smiling at him!! 

And weren't her brothers supposed to be present as well? Why was there only a crowd of unfamiliar faces? 

The merfolk king beckoned her, exasperated, "What are you standing there for? You're already late; go and pay your respects!" 

Belle had been gone for quite some time, while Lu had only just arrived, both of them proving to be quite the handful. 

In the past, Lu's youth might have excused her tardiness, but it seemed it was time to arrange for someone reliable to accompany her. 

"Pay my respects?" 

"Am I wrong for standing here...?" 

Lu immediately furrowed her brow, diverting her gaze to avoid meeting her father's eyes, muttering reluctantly under her breath. 

What was this? She had only just arrived, and already they expected her to apologize. They hadn't even informed her about such a significant matter as a marriage proposal! 

Instead, they were scolding her first. 

Who was truly the king's biological child here, anyway? Why didn't they side with her? 

The young man clad in a black robe adorned with golden patterns glanced over, saying, "The princess's late arrival was not her intention; the maidservant was delayed in bringing her here." 

In truth, Lu had lingered outside for quite some time before entering: … 

Feeling somewhat guilty. 

Thus, the little mermaid blinked, her gaze shifting to the young man, who suddenly seemed less objectionable than when she had first entered. 

However... while he might appear agreeable, there was no way she would apologize, hmph. 

The merfolk king raised an eyebrow, surprised that he would speak up for Lu. 

Yet, he had no intention of blaming his youngest daughter; he simply smiled and remarked, "You are still too naive." 

His words held a double meaning. 

Being naive, of course, meant she had to remain at home for further guidance. 

At that moment, the merfolk grandmother, whom Lu had left behind, swam in leisurely, instinctively scrutinizing the sharply defined profile of the young man in the ornate robe, her heart suddenly racing. 

She pondered, maintaining a composed smile, "The esteemed dragon clan member... seems somewhat familiar." 

The merfolk queen introduced, "This is Lu's grandmother." 

Sebastian nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to the merfolk grandmother, smiling, "You jest; we have not met before. Perhaps I simply caught your eye." 

As for whether they had truly met... that was another matter entirely. 

Yet, he would deny it, claiming they had never crossed paths. 

"...Indeed, you are quite eye-catching." The merfolk grandmother found herself momentarily at a loss for words. 

This young man exuded an air of confidence. 

"Cough, I've heard you've come to propose?" The grandmother cleared her throat, shifting the topic. 

"Precisely." 

Finally addressing the matter at hand, Lu perked up, her spirit ignited as she fiercely demanded, "Whose proposal?" 

"Naturally, it is yours." Sebastian stepped forward, lowering his gaze to meet hers, his golden eyes shimmering brilliantly. 

The merfolk grandmother nearly chuckled at the stark contrast in their tones. 

How foolish she had been to worry that Lu would be wronged in marriage; this was hardly a situation where she might suffer. Rather, it seemed she should be the one to protect him. 

However, to Lu, this exchange felt increasingly unsettling. 

So they truly were proposing. 

How insidious! 

A surge of indignation welled within her, "...You must at least consider my feelings regarding this proposal, right?" 

"I, refuse!" 

"Lu." The queen immediately furrowed her brow in admonition. 

Lu shot her a glance, feeling wronged, and fell silent. 

She had only just begun to voice her thoughts; why was her mother so anxious? 

Did she truly intend to marry her off just like that? 

Hadn't her mother always said she was merely a young mermaid still in her infancy?

The queen gazed at her youngest daughter, whose azure eyes shimmered like water, feeling a headache coming on. 

After issuing her warning, she turned to the enigmatic dragon lord beside her and offered an apologetic smile. "She has been rather spoiled since childhood, and has become somewhat impulsive and willful." 

It was not something Lu could simply refuse with a mere declaration. 

Moreover, her refusal was delivered with such... unyielding resolve. 

Having spent a brief time together, the queen harbored a genuine fondness for the dragon lord before her— 

He was powerful, handsome, dignified yet unpretentious, and engaged in conversation that aligned with her interests, displaying none of the aloofness one might expect from a figure of such stature. 

If it were merely a matter of selecting a future son-in-law, she would be quite satisfied, barring her uncertainty about his attitude toward Lu. 

...Furthermore, even if she were dissatisfied, the dragon clan, as favored children of heaven, commanded dominion over land, sea, and sky, while the merfolk were confined to the ocean; the disparity in power was evident. 

Despite the queen's usual indulgence toward her youngest daughter, this time, it was imperative to maintain a cordial relationship, if not to avoid offending him. 

"Not a problem." Sebastian exchanged glances with the defiant little mermaid, whose annoyance was palpable, and spoke slowly, "...Why do you refuse?" 

Lu pouted, hesitating for a moment, feeling inexplicably reluctant to meet his gaze. "I-I just don't want to marry, what's there to explain?" 

Sebastian's expression remained calm. "If you do not wish to marry me, does that mean you wish to marry someone else?" 

Lu was taken aback, confused. "What does not wanting to marry have to do with marrying someone else??" 

The question struck her as odd. 

"Then... who do you wish to share your bed with in the future?" The young man smiled slightly, leaning closer to the now timid little mermaid, lowering his voice. 

Lu's ears flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly stepped back two paces. "Y-you can just talk normally; don't come so close!" 

The others present exchanged glances, sensing that Lu's demeanor seemed somewhat off. 

However, due to a barrier cast by someone, they were unable to overhear their exchange. 

Otherwise, the protective queen might have immediately retracted her prior fondness and turned it into a scolding. 

"Hmm?" Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Why hide? Just speak." 

Lu: ...! 

He was so close, and yet she was not allowed to retreat?! 

Wasn't it natural for her to want to distance herself? 

Didn't humans have a saying about how men and women should not engage in close contact? 

Did he possess no awareness of this at all? 

"I'm asking you a question." Sebastian did not advance further but effortlessly returned to the earlier topic. 

Clearly, he had no intention of letting her off easily. 

Lu felt a lump in her throat, pursing her lips as she glared at him. 

Asking her whom she wished to share a bed with in the future... it was far too premature for such considerations; how could she possibly know? 

Was he deliberately trying to put her in a difficult position? 

She had only just come of age; it was far too soon! 

"Anyway, I said I won't marry, so I won't," Lu declared boldly, invoking her mother's words, her ears reddening as she continued, "I'm still a baby mermaid; I'm not of marrying age yet. You... you're old enough; don't drag me down with you." 

Wasn't it said that dragons didn't have hatchlings for hundreds of years? Therefore, he must be at least several centuries old. 

She had only just reached adulthood! 

There were no mermaids who married off immediately upon coming of age. 

Sebastian fell silent at her words. 

He... old? 

"Actually, I'm... not that old." 

Perhaps.