ITHMF 12

Chapter 12

Just walking around like this is already so nice!

Walking among the excited crowd, my mood felt like it was soaring through the sky as well. Still, I should do *something*… Looking around, I noticed people wearing flower crowns.

That’s it!

“Let’s buy flower crowns too, flower crowns!”

“Flower crowns? You want to try one?”

“Yeah! It’s a tradition. I have to do everything everyone else does!”

As I headed toward the nearest stall, Kairan obediently followed me.

On the stall were several cute and pretty flower crowns made from colorful flowers. As I seriously pondered which flower crown would suit me best, I suddenly realized I was wearing a robe.

To wear a flower crown, I’d have to take off the robe, but would that be okay…?

I’d been wearing it just in case there were any mermaids who might recognize me, so I hesitated a little to take it off.

Kairan looked back at me as I hesitated.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah… I’m wearing a robe, so even if I buy a flower crown, I probably won’t be able to wear it.”

“Then just take off the robe.”

“Well… there’s something I’m a little worried about.”

Seeming to understand roughly what I meant, Kairan’s expression also turned serious.

He stared at me intently for a long moment with a grave look, then suddenly began scanning the stall. After a moment, he picked up a flower crown hanging in the corner.

“Then how about this one?”

It was a flower crown woven with sky-blue roses. Unlike the other ordinary ones, it had a white veil attached to the back and sides, long enough to reach down to my chest.

Oh, with this, it should cover my face enough, right?

As I picked up the flower crown and examined it from different angles, Kairan chuckled lightly.

“Try it on.”

I put on the flower crown while looking at the small mirror attached to the stall.

With the sky-blue rose crown atop my smooth silver hair, my face looked even brighter. The veil attached to the crown fell gently down, covering my profile perfectly as expected.

“It looks fine. How do you like it?”

“It suits you.”

It definitely made my face look much better than the dull robe.

I love it, I absolutely love it!

I had been a little sad thinking I might have to go back without being able to wear a flower crown after coming all the way to the festival, so I was relieved. I adjusted the position of the flower crown while looking at my face from various angles in the small mirror.

Seeing how much I liked it, Kairan, who had apparently already finished calculating, held my hand and turned around.

Startled, I hurriedly grabbed him.

“You need to buy one too!”

“I don’t really…”

“Aw, this is all part of the memories. Let’s wear them together, okay? It’ll be fun!”

I want to see you wearing a flower crown!

I still remembered vividly how extensively the original work had described Kairan wearing a flower crown.

What was it? Something about the red flower crown on his bright blonde hair being like a sun in love? I absolutely had to see that with my own eyes no matter what.

Although he looked reluctant, thankfully he obediently stopped in place as I asked.

I turned my head back toward the stall.

“Can I pick one out for you?”

“Do as you like.”

As soon as permission was given, I quickly picked out a flower crown with red roses as the main feature and placed it on his head without hesitation.

Wow, amazing…

Despite being a very eye-catching color combination, Kairan pulled off the flower crown perfectly.

The red roses made his gentle and docile atmosphere look more mature. Perhaps because of that, even though he wore the same smile as usual, it somehow felt seductive and alluring.

No wonder the original work had put so much effort into describing it.

“It really suits you perfectly. It’s insane! I would’ve been so sad if you hadn’t worn one!”

“As long as you’re happy, that’s what matters.”

Without even glancing at the mirror once, Kairan paid for his flower crown as well. Then he asked where else I wanted to go.

After thinking for a moment, I pointed toward the center of the plaza where people were gathered.

“Let’s go over there. I’m curious about what they’re doing.”

“Okay.”

Nodding, Kairan led me toward the center of the plaza.

As we got closer, I could see some kind of set being constructed. Were they putting on a performance? As I peeked around curiously, I spotted a signpost not far away.

[Performance of the Play “Century of Love” Scheduled.]

Century of Love?! They’re putting on a performance of my favorite book?

Startled, my eyes wide open in surprise, I patted Kairan’s arm next to me.

“Do people here know about ‘Century of Love’ too?!”

“Yeah. It’s a famous piece of ancient literature. Everyone knows it.”

“So it wasn’t just us who knew it…”

Feeling a newfound sense of wonder, I blankly stared at the sign when Kairan asked quietly.

“Do you want to watch the play?”

“Yeah! I really love this book. I’m so curious about how they adapted it into a play.”

“Then let’s come see it a little later.”

“But there are so many people… Shouldn’t we save our seats now?”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Does he have some kind of method?

Leading me, who was bewildered, Kairan headed elsewhere.

After that, until the play started, he introduced me to all sorts of foods. There were so many delicious-looking things: fluffy cotton candy, butter-roasted potatoes, honey-glazed apples, and more.

I was worried they might taste different from what I remembered from my past life, but thankfully, they all tasted familiar, so I was able to fill my hungry stomach quite well.

“Shall we go see the play now?”

Holding Kairan’s hand, I headed back to the plaza.

Even though there was still a little time before it started, the audience seats were already full.

Hmm, I’m short, so I probably won’t be able to see well.

As I was wondering if I should stand on my tiptoes, Kairan began walking confidently toward the center. Wait, isn’t this cutting in line?! As I was debating whether to stop him, the two men sitting right in the center stood up abruptly.

“Good work.”

“Yes. Enjoy your time.”

After greeting Kairan politely, the two men left without hesitation.

Still unable to compose my startled heart, I just blinked my eyes, and Kairan sat me down.

“They’re my royal guards. I had them save our seats in advance.”

“Ah…! So that’s what you meant!”

I guess you really do need to use your head.

As I was admiring Kairan’s cleverness, the play began.

It’s… it’s starting…!

Clutching my pounding heart, I was quickly drawn into the play. The actors were better than I expected, and the props were of high quality too, making it thoroughly enjoyable.

Completely captivated until the very end, I clapped like crazy as soon as the play was over. It was so well-made!

Judging by the long-lasting, loud applause, many people seemed to share my thoughts.

“That was so, so fun. Right? Everyone acted so well!”

“It was. Not bad at all.”

“I’m so happy. I never thought I’d get to see it as a play!”

Still carried away by the lingering impression, I kept talking about the play even as we left the venue.

Thankfully, Kairan listened to everything I said without showing any signs of annoyance. After venting all my thoughts by myself, I felt much better.

I’m so glad I came out today.

As I was patting myself on the back and feeling content, I touched my throat as I felt a sudden thirst.

The thirst just won’t go away…

No matter how much water I drank, I felt like my insides were burning up. Why is this happening? The thirst I’d forgotten while watching the play grew worse and worse.

“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

“Huh? Well… Hic!”

“Serinel!”

Suddenly, a huge impact struck my chest.

As I staggered, unable to steady myself, I felt Kairan grab my arm. A sharp pain dominated my whole body, as if the flames that had been continuously burning my insides had spread everywhere.

Water, I need water…!

Along with an unbearable thirst, the only thought circling my mind was that I needed to get to the sea right away. I couldn’t think of anything else.

I instinctively knew. If I stayed like this, my human form would break.

I urgently grabbed Kairan’s arm.

“Serinel, are you okay…!”

“The sea, take me to the sea…”

Barely squeezing out my voice, I pleaded earnestly. Thankfully, Kairan didn’t ask any further and immediately hoisted me onto his back.

Throughout the entire journey to the sea, my stomach burned like it was inside lava.

It hurts so much…

I didn’t even have time to think about why these symptoms suddenly appeared. All I could do was keep my eyes wide open to keep from losing consciousness.

—

Weaving through the countless people filling the streets, Kairan ran quickly toward the sea.

Feeling Serinel’s condition growing increasingly serious, he had no time to think about anything else. As the familiar cave came into view, Kairan’s pace quickened even more.

“Serinel, we’re almost there! Just hold on a little longer, just a little longer.”

Serinel couldn’t even answer, only nodding her head. Her body, stiff as if in great pain, was filled with tension.

Carrying the groaning Serinel on his back, Kairan practically flew into the cave. Only upon reaching the edge where the sea was visible did he carefully lower Serinel down.

“Serinel, we’re here. Are you feeling a little better…!”

At that moment, Serinel threw herself toward the sea. It happened the moment her bottom touched the ground.

Horrified by her action of falling forward as if to dive into the sea, Kairan tightly grabbed her waist.

“Wait! It’s dangerous to go in like that!”

But Serinel’s arms and head were already submerged in the water.

Submerged in the seawater, Serinel felt her maddening thirst gradually subsiding. At the same time, her barely maintained human form completely dissolved.

Feeling an unfamiliar texture, Kairan lowered his head. The moment he saw the bluish-purple mermaid tail, startled, Kairan released the strength in his hands.

Serinel took that chance to slip from his arms and dive fully into the sea.

“…Serinel?”

By the time Kairan turned his head, Serinel had already vanished without a trace.

“Serinel!”

When she didn’t answer no matter how many times he called her name, Kairan grew anxious. Without even a moment to process what he had just seen, he thrust his hand into the water.

The only thought in his mind was that he had to reach Serinel somehow.

“Are you okay? If you can hear me, please answer!”

Kairan vigorously stirred the water, as if ready to jump in himself at any moment.

A groundless thought that perhaps she might disappear forever like this wouldn’t leave his mind. Just as their meeting had come without warning, it felt like their parting might come just as suddenly, and that scared him.

Just as he was thinking he might actually have to dive in and swim underwater, someone grabbed his hand.

Pulling with strength, Serinel surfaced above the water.

“Pwah!”

Pushing back her wet hair, Serinel looked up at Kairan with a bright smile.

“Wow, I feel alive now. I thought I was really going to die!”

Her complexion was much better than before, as if all her thirst had been quenched.

Unlike Kairan, who was filled with anxiety, Serinel looked perfectly composed.

Only after seeing her again could Kairan finally feel relieved.

With a sigh of relief, he closed his eyes. Barely lifting his trembling eyelashes, Kairan gazed at her with wavering eyes. Within his obsidian-black pupils, indescribable emotions were intricately tangled.

Feeling his intense gaze fixed on her face, Serinel finally tilted her head.

“Huh? Why are you staring like… Ah!”

Finally realizing what she looked like, Serinel covered her mouth with her hand.

Seeing her face turn pale, Kairan reached out his hand. Fortunately, this time he was able to hold Serinel’s hand easily.

Pulling her close enough to feel each other’s breath, he whispered in a low voice.

“Don’t run away.”

“Uh… What is this…”

Serinel, who had never imagined her identity would be revealed like this, stammered. Her face clearly showed her confusion.

As she tried to gather her words, Kairan also calmly organized his thoughts. The bluish-purple, beautifully shimmering tail closely resembled the mermaid tail he had once seen in a book.

A mermaid… Although Serinel’s true identity was somewhat shocking, he had already suspected she wasn’t human, so it wasn’t as much of a shock as he might have expected.

However…

Kairan recalled the moment Serinel had vanished into the sea just a moment ago.

The feeling of the ground disappearing beneath his feet was something he didn’t want to experience twice. The moment he thought she had gone somewhere he could never reach, his heart raced wildly with anxiety.

That lingering feeling still remained, making Kairan’s breath catch in his throat.

‘If Serinel had disappeared just like that…’

Even though it was just a hypothetical, he felt as if his heart had dropped all the way to his feet.

Biting his trembling lips, Kairan clenched his fists tightly.