The Cute Mermaid's Sweet Love

A golden claw gently rested upon the little mermaid's deep blue hair, nearly enveloping her entire head, and the enormous golden eyes lowered slightly. "...Then sleep, I shall accompany you." 

Lu blinked in surprise, instinctively gazing upwards at the object atop her head, furrowing her brow in confusion. "But there's nothing here aside from you!" 

How could she possibly sleep? 

Moreover, why was this creature placing its… well, hand upon her head? 

Were they well acquainted? This was her first time dreaming of it, was it not? 

Furthermore, being pressed down by a giant object was far from pleasant! 

Reluctantly, Lu averted her gaze and met the imposing dragon's eyes, then let out a slight huff, raising her hand to gently prod the claw that had been carefully extended to avoid hurting her, signaling for it to withdraw. 

"Don't touch my head; I wish to go back to sleep and will play with you another time," she declared with a serious expression. 

If she could still dream, that is. 

…She did indeed have to rise early tomorrow. 

The golden dragon regarded her with a casual disinterest, yet its claw obediently retreated, and it languidly settled down, its dragon eyes half-closed. "...How do you intend to return? This is your dream." 

Lu was momentarily taken aback by his question, contemplating for a moment, and then hesitantly replied, "Then… what should I do?"

She felt so alert in her dream... Would she not be in poor spirits tomorrow? 

If that were the case, her confinement would surely be extended! 

"...Sleep now; I shall wake you tomorrow," the golden dragon lazily said, flicking its tail. 

"You may rest your head upon my tail." 

Lu was captivated by the swaying golden tail, and she couldn't resist glancing down at her own beautiful, deep blue, yet non-luminous fish tail. With a resigned hum, she finally acquiesced, "Very well." 

After all, she reasoned, as a fish, she usually slept in a bed, so how uncomfortable could sleeping in a dream be? 

The little mermaid slowly leapt forward, embracing the dragon's tail, which was larger than half her body. Tentatively, she pressed her face against it and then widened her eyes in disbelief at the scales beside her cheek. "...Wow, it's so hard." 

...Why was it so rigid? Wasn't she supposed to be in bed? 

It was just a dream; there was no need for it to feel so real! 

Moreover, why were the scales she dreamt of harder than her own? 

The golden dragon silently regarded her for a moment, its tail tip curling slightly as it endeavored to relax its scales. "...How about this?" 

Lu blinked. "...A bit better." 

"Hmm." The dragon replied with an air of aloofness, slowly closing its eyes once more. 

... 

In the dark, silent depths of the ocean, a magnificent golden dragon coiled itself, its tail loosely wrapping around a deep blue mermaid, emitting a faint golden glow in the still water. 

Suddenly, it opened its dragon eyes and glanced at the weight resting on its tail. 

"...It's time for you to rise." 

"...Mmm." The mermaid's eyelids fluttered, instinctively murmuring as she buried her face deeper. After that, she fell silent. 

A barely audible sigh escaped. 

... 

"Your Highness? Are you awake? There are many lessons today; you cannot sleep any longer!" 

"...Belle?" 

Lu jolted upright in bed, her inky blue hair cascading chaotically behind her, disregarding it as she clutched the soft blanket and turned her dazed gaze toward the door. 

"Your Highness? If you do not respond, I shall enter!" 

The tone and manner of knocking unmistakably belonged to her maid Belle, who had been with her since childhood. 

Setting aside the question of how Belle had come here from the royal residence… she distinctly recalled hearing that voice in her dream last night, urging her to rise. 

Had it all vanished just like that? 

Lu couldn't help but ponder, embracing the blanket as she sank into thought— 

Had she mistaken Belle's voice for that of the figure from her dream? 

But these two voices seemed rather different. 

Moreover, that voice from her dream felt oddly familiar; where had she heard it before…? 

Furrowing her brow, Lu felt as if she were on the verge of remembering but couldn't quite grasp it. 

Oh, now that she thought of it, the dazzling golden eyes bore some resemblance to those of a human? 

"Your Highness!" Belle said with exasperation as she leaned closer. "Since you are awake, why do you not respond?" 

Yet she remained lost in thought. 

Lu snapped back to reality, slowly lifting her gaze to meet Belle's, replying, "...You're here." 

"I have been here for quite some time." 

Belle sighed, placing breakfast aside before expertly coaxing her mermaid princess down from the bed. "The eldest prince is already having breakfast; he will come by shortly. You should hurry and get ready to avoid upsetting him." 

If she were to face his displeasure, it would be the princess who felt wronged. 

Lu leisurely swam about, squinting her blue eyes as she stifled a yawn. "Then I shall change my clothes first." 

"Quickly! Otherwise, the eldest prince will watch you eat," Belle urged, swiftly tidying the bed that Lu had left in disarray. 

Lu pouted. "Let him watch, then." 

Hmph! She hadn't even finished that peculiar dream from last night! 

"...Do you still wish to attend the Four Seas Celebration?" Belle gestured for her princess to refrain from speaking carelessly before continuing to urge her, "The eldest prince is doing this for your benefit." 

Lu replied, "...I will. I understand." 

Wasn't it just a few casual remarks? Why did Belle always take everything so seriously?