The Cute Mermaid's Sweet Love

"Where have you been?" The Third Prince abruptly pulled the slowly swaying little mermaid into a secluded corner of the banquet hall, his brow furrowed tightly. 

Lu instinctively pinched the small figure hidden beneath her wide sleeve, blinking innocently. "...I just went out for a casual stroll." 

"A casual stroll?" The Third Prince's expression darkened. "Is a casual stroll merely following someone you barely know?" 

Realizing his tone was harsh, he inhaled deeply to compose himself. "Have you considered that your brother might be worried about you?" 

The little figure in her sleeve clung to her fingertip, tilting his head to listen to the sounds outside, his round face serious. 

"But... he hasn't done anything to me," Lu replied hesitantly. 

She did not quite understand why the Third Prince was so anxious. 

Setting aside the fact that she knew that former human, even if she didn't, surely he wouldn't dare to engage in any nefarious deeds in the openly magical Eastern Sea, would he? 

"Ha, if he had done something, it would be too late," the Third Prince scoffed. 

The little figure furrowed his brow seriously, sensing the disdain in the outside voice towards his true form.

"...In any case, stay by my side tonight and don't think about going anywhere else. Be more compliant," the Third Prince declared, leaving no room for argument. 

"Ah, but I promised that, that dragon that I would dance the first dance with him later," Lu averted her blue eyes, feeling an inexplicable sense of guilt. 

Although she did not understand why the Third Prince was upset, she suspected it was because of her. 

Yet, it was a lesson instilled in her since childhood that one must not go back on their word—what was she to do? 

"You are not allowed to go," the Third Prince retorted sharply. "Do you understand the significance of the first dance? You cannot just give it away so casually!" 

It would be one thing to dance with his royal brother, but to dance with a foreign man—especially one who had shown her special attention since the banquet began—turned the abstract into reality! 

Lu gently comforted the small figure in her sleeve, responding honestly, "I don't know." 

"You truly are something else," the Third Prince sighed, rubbing his forehead. 

A golden figure strode towards them from the crowd, attracting numerous gazes. 

"...Your Highness, what you just said was excessive; it was merely a jest with the mermaid princess, a small agreement, no need to take it so seriously," Sebastian remarked, narrowing his phoenix eyes slightly. "Or perhaps, Your Highness actually harbors some grievances against me?" 

He smirked, his gaze carrying a significant undertone. 

The Third Prince was taken aback, forcibly suppressing his displeasure, and chuckled, "Of course not. It is merely that Little Six tends to be quite trusting of others, so I thought to offer some guidance. I did not expect you to overhear it; I am truly embarrassed." 

Lu observed the two, who were clearly displeased yet feigning happiness, then glanced at the various pastries nearby. Gripping the small figure in her sleeve, she turned to leave. "...You may continue your conversation; I will go look at something over there." 

The banquet hall was still the same as before; the original seating had been removed, replaced with small tables adorned with exquisite pastries for guests to help themselves while passing through. 

However, most guests remained reserved, merely holding a glass of wine, seldom touching the delicate pastries, treating them as mere decorations. 

"No." 

"Come back." 

Sebastian and the Third Prince exchanged glances before simultaneously averting their eyes. 

"Aren't you two supposed to be chatting? I just want to go eat something on the side," Lu puffed up her cheeks, a hint of displeasure evident. 

Why were they both so harsh towards her? 

Had she done something wrong?! 

Before either could respond, the once-bright banquet hall was abruptly plunged into darkness, illuminated only by the small embedded night pearls on the walls, casting a faint glow. 

Surrounding guests instinctively ceased their chatter. 

The music began to play softly. 

The central area of the banquet hall, which had been cleared earlier, gradually regained its brightness. 

No longer shrouded in darkness, the periphery remained dimly lit, creating an intimate atmosphere. 

"Princess," Sebastian extended a hand towards Lu, his phoenix eyes slightly raised, and with the Third Prince's unfriendly gaze upon him, he firmly stated, "May I have the honor of your first dance?" 

His voice, slightly husky, resonated clearly in Lu's ears, the only sound in the entire banquet hall. 

The Third Prince's expression instantly turned icy, his gaze unfriendly. 

Yet, despite his furrowed brow, he refrained from voicing his objections, restrained by the dragon clan's long-standing prestige in the seas. 

However, he would not forget this slight. 

If that dragon truly intended to whisk Little Lu away to some unknown dragon lair... how amusing. 

The Third Prince averted his gaze, contemplating how to discuss this issue with the other princes upon his return in a few days. 

Meanwhile, the guests in attendance focused their attention on the dazzling duo in the corner of the banquet hall, awaiting the mermaid princess's response. 

...Would she refuse? 

Surely not. 

After all, even though the dragon clan had remained hidden for many years, their strength was undeniable; despite the mermaids' dominance in the seas, they were not so easily dismissed. 

"...Hmm?" Sebastian observed Lu, who appeared momentarily dazed, raising an eyebrow. 

Lu snapped back to reality, hesitating as she looked at the unfamiliar golden-eyed youth before her, and slowly raised her hand to rest it upon his outstretched one.

Another hand, concealed within her sleeve, gently grasped the small figure that had settled down as the young man drew closer. The little mermaid blushed, her ears turning a shade of crimson. "...Alright." 

The Third Prince leaned against a pillar, shrouded in shadow, and took a generous sip from his wine cup. 

The guests who had been observing the scene exchanged knowing smiles as the two hands intertwined, before turning to invite their own dance partners for the evening, whether pre-arranged or spontaneous. 

As for that pair, they were undoubtedly a couple now. 

The once-lively melody seamlessly transitioned under the dim lights into the prelude of the opening dance. 

Sebastian drew Lu closer, pulling her into his embrace with a smile, "It is my honor." 

There was no room for refusal. 

Lu's nose bumped against the familiar hardness of his chest, yet, shielded by the large hand at her forehead, it did not hurt as it had before. 

She let out a soft huff, her blue eyes glancing up at his handsome face, struggling to step back a little as she pouted and muttered, "Why did you suddenly pull me?" 

Did she not know how to walk on her own? 

Moreover, she certainly did not wish to be held like this; it was so embarrassing! 

There were so many people watching. 

"Your Highness has just agreed to the first dance; how can you think of going back on your word so soon?" Sebastian replied, unperturbed, meeting her gaze with calmness in his phoenix eyes. 

Lu was momentarily taken aback, instinctively responding, "...Of course not." Did he take her for someone untrustworthy? 

"But..." 

What did his embrace have to do with her? 

"Since you won't..." 

With a playful glint in his eyes, Sebastian once again drew Lu into his arms. 

This time, he led her directly into the center of the hall, where several couples had already gathered. 

Though the guests were enjoying themselves, they instinctively parted to create a space in the very center for the two golden figures. 

It was indeed the most radiant focal point of the entire banquet hall. 

The little mermaid's dance steps were not entirely unfamiliar, yet neither were they perfectly practiced. Suddenly exposed to the gaze of the entire hall, she felt a wave of panic— 

As a result, she danced gracefully, albeit a beat behind, following the young man who held her partially in his embrace. 

"...I can't keep up," Lu finally admitted, feeling flustered. 

"Isn't this quite nice?" 

"...I'm too slow!" Why couldn't she adjust? 

She had never been like this before! 

"Then just take your time." 

"Everyone is watching." 

"...You are my dance partner; it is for my eyes only. I find it quite delightful." 

Their quiet exchange was barely audible beneath the music, remaining unnoticed by the surrounding guests. 

A young envoy chuckled from outside the crowd, casually remarking to a friend, "This mermaid princess is rather charming." 

Not at all like the dullness he had anticipated. 

"...Indeed charming," Jack happened to pass by and shot him a dark glance, "But I advise you to keep any improper thoughts to yourself." 

... 

As the song concluded, 

Lu was just about to escape the culprit who had caused her to stumble through the entire dance, intending to seek out her Third Prince brother for the remaining two dances— 

When little Sebastian, hidden in her sleeve, gently scratched her palm, the delicate motion instantly capturing her attention. 

"What's wrong, little one?" Lu paused, considering for a moment before altering her course, hastily moving to a shadowy corner to let the little figure out for some fresh air. She gently tapped its head with her finger, soothing it with warm words. 

However, the small Sebastian merely looked up at Lu, who was filled with concern, extending its hands toward the unhurriedly standing Sebastian beside them, and opened its mouth, "...Ah." 

Lu pressed her lips together, feeling a twinge of jealousy as she looked up at the young man. 

"...What does 'ah' mean?" 

Why did it respond to him and not to her when she was so good to it? 

She had even brought it along to dance! 

And here was this person, not even taking care of it! 

"It's tired," Sebastian gently touched the little figure that had opened its arms towards him in Lu's palm. 

Then, he watched as the miniature version of himself transformed into golden light and dissipated. 

Lu: !!! 

"Is it gone just because it's tired?" She widened her blue eyes, incredulously pinching her palm. 

Empty. 

"Do you want it back?" Sebastian smirked. 

Lu instinctively felt that he was up to no good and replied warily, "What are you planning?" 

"How about you dance the remaining two dances with me?"