ITHMF 10

Chapter 10

“Ah, Father?”

At the low voice coming from not too far away, I flinched as if I’d been caught stealing and turned my head.

Mysterious pale purple hair and the same blue eyes as mine. Roahim Edmund, the king of the mermaids and my father, stood quietly.

Thump, thump. My heart was pounding so wildly I could hear it in my ears.

Why is Father here at this hour…?

Hiding my trembling pupils, I quickly withdrew my outstretched hand behind my back.

Father was approaching me very slowly. Judging by his lighter attire than usual, he seemed to be on his way to bed after finishing his work.

In that brief moment, I managed to compose my expression and smiled as if nothing was wrong.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

“I was on my way to my room and saw you standing alone, so I came over. What are you doing?”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I was just taking a walk in the hallway!”

“Really? It looked to me like you were staring intently at this wall.”

Father asked, tilting his head towards the wall with his arms crossed. His sky-blue eyes, so like mine, were fixed on me as if probing for the truth.

Am I digging my own grave right now? Am I managing my expression well?

Afraid he might find out I knew about the secret passage, my heart was in my throat. Careful not to slip up, I forced my mind to focus and hid my anxiety with a smile.

“I was looking at the decoration hanging here.”

“Decoration? Ah, the mermaid tail ornament.”

Fortunately, there was a decoration hanging on the wall leading to the secret passage. Thanks to that, I could smoothly get through this situation.

After seeing the ornament, Father seemed to understand why I was standing there.

“Do you know what this is?”

“Of course I do. I’ve read about it in books!”

The mermaid tail ornament was like a talisman that brought love into the home.

Mermaids, Heldia’s first creations, were the beings who watched the birth of other races from the closest proximity.

Observing those who looked similar yet different, mermaids discovered the characteristics of each race, which indicated that Heldia had shaped them with care and love.

Mermaids took pride in their ‘beautiful tails’ as their defining feature. And it was recorded that Heldia was greatly pleased upon hearing all these stories.

So the ‘mermaid tail ornament’ was a symbol that mermaids were always receiving Heldia’s love, no matter when or where.

I looked at the ornament on the wall.

“Perhaps because it’s decorated with pearls, it stands out even in the dark.”

“It was made with twice the effort of other ornaments. If it didn’t stand out, that would be a problem in itself.”

Father smiled playfully and took the ornament off the wall. Then, very naturally, he placed it in my hand.

I didn’t mean to say I wanted it…?

Startled, I tried to hand the ornament back, but Father firmly shook his head.

“It’s yours.”

“Mine?”

“Yes. It was made to give to you.”

With a bewildered face, I looked back and forth between Father and the ornament.

This looks really expensive. Is it really okay for me to take it?

The ornament, about the size of my palm, was very luxurious, as if the effort put into it was no lie. Its surface, gleaming golden as if made of gold, was studded with pearls following the shape of a tail.

It was truly an ornament worthy of being called a product of love.

“Have you heard about the ‘mermaid tail ornament’?”

“Yes. I read about it in a book. It’s an ornament symbolizing Lady Heldia’s love… I remember it being written that hanging it in the home brings love to the family.”

“You know it well. Do you happen to know its other meaning?”

“Other meaning?”

I slowly retraced the things I’d read in the book. But nothing particularly came to mind. Maybe because it’s been a while since I read it.

Giving up on remembering, I shook my head.

“I don’t know.”

“It also means wishing for a child to grow up safely and well. Mermaids tend to have few offspring.”

A gentle hand softly stroked my head.

I had learned about the matter of descendants in history class.

At a certain point, mermaids began having few offspring; young mermaids were often weak, dying before reaching ten years of age, or in severe cases, dying right after birth.

The reason for their weakened bodies, unlike in the past, was that other non-human races had broken their promises with Heldia. Mermaids were also bearing the karmic debt of their taboo-breaking.

That’s why the coming-of-age ceremony was held so grandly.

“When a child is born, parents keep the tail ornament safe and give it as a gift when they safely reach adulthood.”

“Then it’s not time for me to receive it yet.”

“Normally, yes, but I don’t think giving it a little early would make much of a difference.”

Hearing his gentle voice, I looked down again at the mermaid tail ornament in my hand. Knowing my parents had made it for me made it feel heavy.

I couldn’t just accept it like this.

Since it was such a meaningful item, I wanted to receive it properly when I came of age. Carefully cradling the ornament, I handed it back to Father.

“I want to receive it at my coming-of-age ceremony. Please give it to me then. I think that would be really nice.”

This small ornament, which I hadn’t even known existed, had been protecting me. Thinking of my parents’ feelings contained within it, I felt a little choked up.

To suppress my swelling emotions, I took a deep breath in and out. While I was calming my sentimental mood, Father readily took the ornament back.

“If that is your wish.”

“I’ll grow up safely until the coming-of-age ceremony and receive it, so you have to take good care of it!”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

Father affectionately pinched my cheek and hung the ornament back on the wall. After quietly gazing at the ornament, he lightly patted my back, telling me to go to bed now.

Hmm, I guess going to meet Kairan today is out of the question. I was already later than usual, and if I tried to move now, I felt like my secret outings would be discovered by Father.

Cleanly giving up, I smiled at Father and said.

“Sweet dreams, Father!”

“Yes. You sleep well too.”

A gentle kiss landed on my forehead, as if chasing away the nightmare that had made my whole body feel cold. Touching my forehead at the ticklish sensation, Father chuckled softly.

I think I’ll sleep well this time.

Smiling brightly, I waved at Father as he walked away.

“See you in the morning!”

Father glanced back and waved back. With that final image, I returned to my room.

“Phew, I’m glad I wasn’t caught… I never expected to run into Father at this hour.”

As soon as I entered my room, a long sigh of relief escaped me. Even though I had chatted with Father as if nothing was wrong, I hadn’t been able to let go of my tension until the very end.

This is all thanks to that ornament. It really is a guardian of domestic peace.

As soon as the tension eased, my entire body felt limp.

“I think I can sleep now.”

Yawning widely, I crawled into bed.

Buried deep in the blankets, I squeezed my drooping eyes shut. Next time, I’ll be more careful when I go out. Still, I’m so glad I got to talk to Father…

Still holding that warm feeling in my heart, I gradually drifted into unconsciousness.

Perhaps thanks to Father’s kindness, the nightmare that had chilled me to the bone had completely vanished.

The next night, I managed to slip out of the castle safely during the quiet hours. As soon as I surfaced, I headed for the familiar cave. Spotting Kairan already there, I waved my hand happily.

“Kairan!”

“Serinel.”

He smiled gently upon seeing me. There was a hint of welcome in his eyes.

Looking at Kairan, who greeted me after a long time, I swam closer to the cave. He flinched at the sudden closeness.

Ignoring that, I spoke with hopeful eyes.

“How was the potion?!”

“Ah.”

“Was it okay? Did she get better than before? Or was it not good? How was it?”

Eager to hear his feedback, my questions kept pouring out. I had been curious all along because I hadn’t been able to come to the surface while dodging attention at the castle, so I was a bit impatient.

I hope it was effective…!

Waiting anxiously, I urged Kairan again, who was just staring at me with an unreadable expression.

“Did she get worse than before…?”

“No. It’s not that.”

“Then why didn’t you answer right away? You made my heart drop!”

“I just…”

“Just?”

Trailing off, Kairan averted his gaze slightly and spoke.

“Mother is doing much better than before.”

“Really?!”

“Yeah. The potion you gave me worked well.”

“I’m so relieved, really!”

At the good news, I couldn’t help but beam broadly. I was worried about what would happen if it didn’t work! The anxiety that had been gnawing at me vanished in an instant.

At this rate, saving the Duchess might be easier than I thought.

“How were her symptoms after she took it? No adverse reactions?”

“No. On the contrary, she felt better than before, and she even went for a short walk that day.”

“Really? I didn’t expect that much.”

The Witch’s skills were indeed remarkable.

Riose, being ill, found it hard to control her body and could only walk around her room at best. With her frail body, she couldn’t even enjoy the simple freedom of going into the garden, so the fact that she could take a walk meant the healing potion had definitely worked.

If she takes it consistently, she might even be able to resume daily activities. The faint hope seemed to have moved one step closer.

“I’m glad it was effective. If she takes it regularly, I’m sure she’ll get much better than before.”

“Yeah, it seems so. That’s why…”

“Are you asking if I have more potions? Of course I do! I brought more in case it worked.”

Cutting Kairan off, I took out more potions from my bag as if I’d been waiting for the question. It was worth coaxing the Witch of the Deep Sea into making healing potions for me.

I placed five bottles containing the deep purple liquid on the cave floor. Kairan silently handled the potions.

“Don’t you need something to carry them in? Should I lend you my bag?”

With five bottles, each the size of a palm, they wouldn’t fit in his pocket like last time. As he seemed to be pondering how to carry them, I was about to take off my bag, but Kairan waved his hand, saying it was fine.

I paused in an awkward position and let go of the bag strap I was holding. Then Kairan spoke quietly.

“Is it really okay for me to take these?”

“Of course! I brought them for you.”

“What I mean is… wouldn’t you need something in return?”

“In return? Ah.”

At his unexpected words, I blinked in surprise.

I was just helping because I wanted to…

Scratching my cheek, I shook my head to say it was fine.

“It’s okay. I just want to help.”

“I understand your feelings. But I think I’ll need a lot more of these potions in the future.”

“…”

“Even if it’s fine now, there will come a time when it becomes burdensome for you to handle alone, so I’d like to pay a fair price.”

Simply put, Kairan was proposing a deal to me now.

From Kairan’s perspective, who desperately needed the potions, it was understandable that relying solely on goodwill felt uncertain. After all, the one making the deal had an unclear identity.

However, I couldn’t think of a suitable payment. So I decided to just ask outright.

“What kind of payment were you thinking of?”

“Gold coins worth the value of the potions.”

“You’re offering gold coins?!”

Startled, I waved my hands, saying I didn’t need such a thing.

Why would he give me money!

I didn’t want to receive money for something I started with good intentions. It wasn’t like I was short on money. Besides, as a princess, I could handle the cost of the potions myself.

Seeing my horrified reaction, Kairan licked his lips nervously.

“Then is there something else you want?”

“Hmm, nothing specific…”

“I can give you anything, so just name it.”

At his generous offer, my eyes widened.