The Cute Mermaid's Sweet Love

"Ah, what a pity," the sea creature sighed sincerely, raising his cup in a toast. "This celebration is hosted by the Eastern Sea, and we owe a debt of gratitude to the chieftain of the Clan Jack." 

The chieftain of the Clan Jack returned the gesture with a smile, "Not at all, it is merely my duty." 

As he spoke, he cast a glance at the golden-eyed dragon who was still indulging in his drink, pretending to cough lightly, he added, "We are merely acting on behalf of others; if we can bring satisfaction to all of you and the various sea and demon clans, that would be splendid." 

As for the credit… While it was true that the Eastern Sea had always been managed by the serpent clan, the ownership had always belonged to the dragon clan. 

With the rightful owner seated nearby, he dared not accept such flattery or praise. 

The sea creature was taken aback, glancing sideways at Sebastian, and upon noticing his indifference, managed a couple of awkward chuckles. "The chieftain speaks wisely, indeed." 

"And you, esteemed guest—" he stammered slightly, yet still mustered the courage to salvage the conversation. 

Sebastian turned his gaze, smiling nonchalantly, his golden phoenix eyes narrowing slightly. "There is no need for formality." 

He raised his cup, gesturing towards the assembly of individuals, each with their own thoughts. "I merely happened to drop by to join in the festivities; if my presence has disturbed your enjoyment, I would consider it a grave offense." 

Naturally, the crowd hastily denied his claim, raising their cups with smiles in response. 

"How could that be? We are delighted by your presence." 

"It is indeed a pleasure to have you join the merriment." 

The sea creature who had initially spoken echoed the sentiment, quickly finishing his drink and retreating to his seat. 

Nearby, an elegant woman swallowed her morsel, dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief, and cast a sidelong glance at him, exasperated. "I advised you to be mindful of your words, yet you never listen." 

"Well, I… simply forgot in the moment," he replied sheepishly, scratching his head. 

A youthful woman, not much older, playfully chided from her seat, "Esteemed guest, you underestimate yourself; to have the honor of meeting you is something I have long desired." 

However, Sebastian chose to ignore her, withdrawing his gaze and taking another sip of wine without uttering another word. 

The young woman was momentarily taken aback, her artificially enhanced eyes widening in surprise. After a long pause, she turned away, feigning indifference. 

Meanwhile, Lu blinked her blue eyes in curiosity, observing the golden-eyed young man closely; he bore an uncanny resemblance to the human she had encountered previously. 

…Not only his face, but even his voice was strikingly similar? 

Resting her chin on her hand, she absentmindedly popped another exquisite pastry into her mouth, lost in contemplation. 

With the topic now open, the representatives from various clans felt more at ease, continuing to raise their cups in jovial toasts, exchanging pleasantries and light banter. 

Although this banquet served as a mere appetizer, it laid the groundwork for alliances in the days to come. 

Regardless of the presence or absence of the dragon clan, their pursuit of interests remained unaffected. 

However, they all subtly avoided addressing the languidly seated youth at the highest table, choosing instead to engage the crowd below, occasionally including the chieftain of the Clan Jack, steering clear of any sensitive or awkward subjects. 

"Lu, you seem quite intrigued by that dragon…" 

After attending to the various clan leaders and relatives from the mermaid kingdom, the Third Prince finally found a moment to turn and noticed his little princess staring dreamily at the dragon clan member, instantly setting off alarm bells in his mind.

Although Lu had never experienced much romance throughout her life, she was typically drawn to attractive faces. If it weren't for her identity as a member of the mermaid royal family, the other merfolk would likely have hesitated to pursue her, fearing she might be whisked away long ago. 

Reflecting on this, the Third Prince followed Lu's gaze to the golden-eyed youth who had unexpectedly locked eyes with the little mermaid and even smiled at her. 

…They had barely exchanged a few glances, and he was already smiling? 

Was it true that the dragon clan was so brazen? 

"Princess Mermaid," the young man descended from his elevated seat and approached Lu amidst the crowd, leaning slightly to whisper in her fair ear, "Might I have the honor of reserving the first dance with you this evening?" 

His voice, slightly husky from a recent indulgence in wine, carried a tangible allure, sending shivers down Lu's spine. 

Unconsciously, the little mermaid held her breath, attempting to retreat, but the high chair constrained her, leaving the only exit blocked by the young man. 

She stared with her deep blue eyes, finally realizing that this was the audacious human she was familiar with. 

How foolish she had been to think that some shameless dragon had merely borrowed a handsome human face! 

"What are you doing with so many people around?" Lu exclaimed, pushing against his chest in mild irritation. 

As they stood so close, the golden robe of the young man draped over her, nearly blending with her shimmering golden gown. 

The onlookers, who had been pretending to engage in conversation while surreptitiously observing the unfolding scene, finally grasped the situation. 

…This was no mere coincidence; it was clearly a declaration of possession from the young couple! 

The Third Prince's brow twitched in frustration as he could no longer tolerate the display, forcing a strained smile at Sebastian. "Sir, while conversing is one thing, there is no need to stand so close to Lu." 

Sebastian straightened, arching an eyebrow at the visibly displeased Third Prince. "Your Highness, may I borrow your princess for a moment?" 

With that, he reached out, pulling Lu into his embrace and guiding her through a side door of the banquet hall before she could fully comprehend the situation. 

"But I…" Lu protested as she was compelled to take a few steps, attempting to resist. 

Sebastian calmly secured her against him, casting a casual glance at the intrigued onlookers, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. 

The guests quickly averted their gazes, suddenly feigning disinterest. 

With a smirk, Sebastian continued forward, effortlessly leading his nearly oblivious little mermaid along. 

"Let me go!" Lu exclaimed, feeling a mix of anger and embarrassment, yet reluctant to confront him in front of so many guests— 

Moreover, she had to admit that after spending so long underwater, she was indeed a bit bored. 

If it weren't for being forcibly taken away, she would have been more than happy to engage with the charming human. 

But there were no "ifs"! 

"Be good." 

"What do you mean by 'be good'… Wait, why should I listen to you?" 

The Third Prince, unable to intervene in time, was left watching the two golden figures disappear through the door, silently grinding his teeth. 

…They were indeed plotting against Lu! 

Just wait!