"Your Highness, Princess, do remember to return from your outing tonight! Just one night is enough; should you encounter humans, they are not to be trifled with. Please, do not linger on the shore!"
The maid, bending to pick up the various dresses that Lu had carelessly discarded on the floor, looked up at her enthusiastic sixth princess, who seemed entirely oblivious to her warnings, filled with concern.
The sixth princess had been doted upon by her five brothers since childhood, utterly unaware of the malice that lurks in human hearts. This first outing after her coming of age ceremony had her quite anxious.
After all, their princess was so beautiful, and fish adored her—surely, the treacherous humans would be drawn to her noble presence!
What if, heaven forbid, she encountered a lecherous beast in human form who would abduct her?
"Belle, I understand, but among all the merfolk in our kingdom, how many have actually been captured by humans? At worst, I'll blow my conch shell to alert Father, Mother, and my brothers. What could possibly happen?"
Lu finally selected a sea-blue gown that matched the color of her tail from the grand and ornate wardrobe, pouting with delight as she blew two small bubbles. She then turned to her worried maid, chuckling softly.
"Besides, what do you take me for? This entire sea is under my command."
Belle frowned at her words, somewhat unconvinced. After a moment of thought, she seemed to concede, reluctantly reiterating, "Just remember to come back early."
Lu casually chose a pearl necklace from a nearby jewelry box to adorn her fair wrist and, unable to contain her excitement, swiftly swam out of the magnificent palace, her bright voice echoing, "Alright—got it—"
Belle could only sigh in exasperation.
Not long after, Lu found herself perched on a rocky outcrop, idly dipping the tip of her tail in the water, her lively eyes scanning her surroundings with growing disinterest, but all she saw was water—just water.
Above her, the clear night sky, adorned with twinkling stars and a luminous moon, had long been replicated in her chamber by her third brother through some unknown means!
Every night, she would cover her luminous pearl with thick fabric to see it—ever since her third brother had enthusiastically set it up the day after his coming of age, it had been nearly ten years now.
As she pondered this, Lu gazed at the seemingly unchanged horizon and sighed.
How disappointing; the ocean surface she had long anticipated was nothing like the tales her grandmother had told:
There were supposed to be many fishing boats, many cruise ships, and on one of those cruise ships, a prince more beautiful than any mermaid in the kingdom.
The cruise ship would capsize in a storm on the night of the mermaid princess's coming of age, leading to her first encounter with the handsome prince, who would then take her to experience a world entirely different from the underwater realm.
The newly matured little mermaid flicked her tail, sending a splash of crystal-clear seawater around her, then fell into deep thought—surely, her grandmother wasn't deceiving her?!
Just as Lu began to doubt the bedtime stories she had always believed, a bright light drifted lazily towards her from a distance.
She looked up, momentarily stunned.
Was that... a ship?
It must be a ship, right?
In a flurry, Lu rummaged through her small bag for a piece of special paper made from seaweed, holding it aloft as she tried to match the ship depicted on the paper with the indistinct light in the distance.
Moments later,
Lu furrowed her brow as she crumpled the paper into a ball and forcefully shoved it back into her small bag.
"What a ridiculous thing; it bears no resemblance whatsoever!"
The little mermaid gazed pensively at the flickering light drawing closer—
She mused that the primary issue might be the absence of a storm.
After all, in the tale's beginning, the ship had capsized amidst a tempest!
Thus, the demure princess contemplated briefly before subtly raising her hand—
A gentle breeze swept through.
In an instant, dark clouds enveloped the entire sea, the clear night sky vanishing in a heartbeat, replaced by flashes of lightning, thunderous roars, and the howling winds.
The once-calm surface of the ocean began to churn, causing the distant light to sway precariously.
Lu remained unaffected by the raging winds, her gaze fixated anxiously on the conspicuously bright light on the water, her hand gripping tightly onto the bag containing her ship drawings.
Raindrops began to fall steadily, soon transforming into a torrential downpour.
The little mermaid flicked her tail, observing the white curtain of rain in the darkness, glancing again at the flickering light amidst the crashing waves, a flutter of excitement stirring within her.
...I wonder if there is a prince aboard that vessel.
But with the storm in place, surely a handsome prince must be present!
Thus, Lu settled comfortably on the reef, cradling her chin in her hands, her wide eyes eagerly awaiting the ship's capsizing.
However.
A quarter of an hour passed.
The distant light trembled precariously on the water, seemingly on the verge of extinguishing—yet it remained flickering.
The little mermaid felt bewildered.
Wasn't it supposed to... be capsized by the storm?
Then why wasn't it turning over??
What a stubborn vessel!!
"Hmm, could it be that... the storm isn't stormy enough?" Lu hesitantly glanced up at the terrifying, storm-laden sky.
Indeed, as the story depicted, it spoke of capsizing; how could a mere shower overturn a ship?
With a snap of her fingers,
A deluge of rain poured down upon the flickering light.
The mermaid princess gazed sorrowfully at the distant glow, her slender fingers idly tapping on the reef, murmuring, "...If it doesn't capsize soon, it surely won't be a ship anymore, right?"
...Where on earth could she find a ship to capsize??
Meanwhile, on the other side.
The cacophony of rain on the deck was nearly deafening.
Panic gripped the hearts of those aboard.
"Your Majesty, the situation is dire; although our vessel has been reinforced, this storm… has come upon us suddenly and with great ferocity; I fear it cannot endure for much longer."
In the dim, flickering light, a young man sat with his back to the speaker, exuding calmness amidst the swaying cabin. He tilted his head slightly, signaling for the other to continue.
"We have prepared smaller lifeboats for escape; they may not be as comfortable, but they should suffice to weather this storm once this ship capsizes."
"...And?"
"...As I see it, your safety is paramount." The speaker bowed earnestly, a hint of urgency lacing his tone.
The young man merely chuckled ambiguously, folding the map in his hands neatly and setting it aside, lazily remarking, "Do you think that if this ship cannot withstand the storm, that small boat will fare any better against the unknown tempest?"
"...I do not know."
"Then withdraw; if one survives, it is fate; if not, it is also fate. Let the older officials aboard decide whether to board the small boat."
"Understood. And you...?"
"Did I not instruct you to leave? Are you unable to comprehend?" The young man slowly closed his eyes.