The Cute Mermaid's Sweet Love

On the day of the grand ceremony, Lu awoke languidly from her profound underwater dream, where a magnificent golden dragon resided. At her bedside stood a row of mermaid attendants, each holding an array of garments and jewelry. Belle, with a neutral expression, squatted to one side, preparing to speak. Upon noticing her princess had awakened, she instantly brightened with a smile. 

"Your Highness, today marks the grand ceremony, and you are to travel to the Eastern Sea! The Third Prince will accompany you, so you must meet him shortly; your time is running short." 

Lu sat up, half-asleep, glancing at the line of attendants beside her. "...You could have woken me earlier." 

Another attendant chuckled softly, "It is not very late; we were just about to call for you." 

"Which of these ceremonial dresses would the princess like to wear?" 

The attendants displayed the specially crafted garments for the celebration one by one. 

For some reason, Lu found herself drawn to a resplendent golden gown, her blue eyes slowly scanning the array before inevitably returning to the shimmering dress, hesitating for a moment. 

In truth, had this been in the past, she would have never chosen such a gaudy, golden gown—mermaids often subconsciously favored colors that corresponded with their tails, and she was no exception. 

Yet now, it appeared... inexplicably beautiful? 

However, Lu quickly reconsidered; had she truly developed a sudden fondness for gold? After all, she had dreamt of that dazzling hue for several nights... Was it connected to the dragon? 

Though it puzzled her how she dreamt of a creature she had never encountered. 

"I'll take this one." Lu descended from her soft bed, casually picking up the golden gown, swaying her tail as she turned to swim into the dressing room. 

The attendant holding the gown was momentarily taken aback, watching as the little mermaid's figure disappeared behind the door, before slowly turning to another mermaid beside her. "...Why has the princess suddenly developed a taste for this style?" 

Since she had first held the golden gown, she had never considered that the princess would choose it. 

Now, being unexpectedly "favored," she could hardly believe it. 

It was worth noting that they had prepared a total of ten ceremonial dresses, four of which were in shades of blue, albeit with slight variations in style—her princess's preferences were well known. 

Belle hesitated for a moment before deciding, "Very well, let's bring the remaining dresses along and prepare two more in gold... As long as the princess likes it." 

... 

The Third Prince, originally dressed in a deep blue ceremonial robe to complement his little princess, ultimately changed into a splendid platinum outfit, yet it still felt somewhat mismatched. 

The pair boarded an exquisite ceremonial carriage drawn by trained dolphins, departing the mermaid kingdom under the watchful eyes of the rarely mobilized mermaid guards. 

Inside the carriage, the Third Prince glanced at Lu, adorned in her golden gown, radiating an extraordinary opulence. Unable to restrain himself, he remarked, "...Lu, don't you usually avoid wearing such things?" 

Even the pale yellow she occasionally donned was a rarity, let alone something so, well, striking? 

The pearls and gems adorning the gown seemed to weigh heavily on his mind. 

Lu tugged at the hem of her dress, glancing around with a hint of self-doubt. "...Does it not look good?" 

It sparkled enchantingly. 

It matched her blue tail perfectly! 

"...It looks splendid. Naturally, our Lu looks good in anything," the Third Prince replied, skillfully redirecting his gaze and offering a practiced compliment. 

He must not undermine Lu's confidence— 

Moreover, he was merely curious; even in this eye-catching gown, Lu would never be overshadowed. 

"Honestly, I'm not quite sure why; I just suddenly wanted to wear gold," Lu explained, feeling a bit bashful. 

"That's perfectly fine," the Third Prince said, unconditionally indulgent. 

However, upon their arrival, as Lu gazed out at the bustling Eastern Sea, teeming with various sea creatures and beings, she glanced down at her golden gown and felt a pang of regret. "At this rate, I'm bound to become the center of attention here."

I should have chosen something more understated! 

This golden attire is simply too ostentatious... I never intended for this. 

I must have still been half-asleep when I selected this dress! 

"The guards are clearing the way; regardless of what you wear, we will inevitably attract attention when we arrive," the Third Prince observed perceptively. 

Although they were still some distance from their destination, the Eastern Sea was relatively small, and given that there were no restrictions on the activities of sea creatures during this celebration, the procession of mermaid guards was bound to be noticed. 

"That's different," Lu pouted, still vexed. 

She feared she had been dazed from sleep. 

Just because she dreamt of golden splendor didn't mean she had to adorn herself in it! 

The Third Prince gazed through the carriage curtains at the outside world, listening to the somewhat noisy chatter around them, and was momentarily taken aback. 

"...Truly, the mermaids who dominate this sea are impressive; not only does this spectacle exude grandeur, but their beauty is equally striking~~ Ah, I would be content with any one of them!" 

"You can dream, but have you considered whether they would even notice you?" 

"...It's nice to fantasize! Who doesn't like a handsome fellow?" 

The Third Prince couldn't help but chuckle. 

These little creatures were quite amusing. Nevertheless, it was true that mermaids were renowned for their beauty in the depths of the ocean. 

"...However, this celebration is certainly worth attending. Have you heard? It seems the dragon clan has also made an appearance, but they went directly to the main banquet; only a few sea creatures in the central ocean have seen them." 

The Third Prince's smile faltered slightly. Listening to the direction of the voices, he rapped gently on the carriage wall, signaling for a slower pace. 

"While mermaids are indeed captivating, I am far more eager to see what a dragon, who has been absent for a millennium, looks like!" 

"Do you think it's true? Dragons are legendary creatures... I never believed they actually existed. I thought they were merely tales spun by the serpent clan." 

"Clearly, you've been naive. However... I've heard that the dragon is exceptionally handsome, adorned in a resplendent golden robe; what a sight that must be~~" 

"Ah, I long to catch a glimpse!" 

"Alas, the Eastern Sea is currently teeming with fish and sea creatures; who wouldn't want to see? We arrived two days early and have only managed to glimpse the periphery... I hope the dragon participates in the festivities and comes to our part of the sea!" 

"...The odds are quite slim." 

The Third Prince, maintaining his composure, turned back to Lu after a moment of contemplation and said, "...Lu." 

Lu, oblivious to the commotion outside, looked up in confusion. "What is it?" 

"It seems you've coincidentally chosen a color similar to someone." 

"Is it a dragon?" 

The Third Prince smiled with resignation. 

Lu was momentarily stunned. "What?" 

A dragon? 

And a color clash?? 

Could it be... a golden dragon? Surely not! 

"The dragon clan has secluded itself for so many years; I wonder what their sudden appearance signifies..." The Third Prince furrowed his brow in thought, then, concerned for Lu, quickly reassured her, "But it's merely a color clash; it's nothing of great concern." 

With so many attendees at this celebration, how could color not be a topic of discussion? 

Yet, while it could be overlooked on ordinary days, this rare occasion— 

The elite families at the banquet were always a source of gossip among the sea creatures. Not only would a color clash be scrutinized, but even similar patterns on garments could lead to comparisons of craftsmanship, sparking debates over who wore it best. 

Lu was no longer concerned about her dress; she hesitated, glancing at the Third Prince, pondering— 

The golden dragon... surely it must just be a coincidence, right? 

Right? 

Otherwise, there would be no reason for a perfectly fine dragon to offer its tail for her to cuddle with at night!