Siren’s Song

Fren’s reason for orchestrating such a scene, even at the expense of another race, was obvious.

After the Lycanthropes left, Nefer looked back at Fren.

Fren had once again become a bystander, as if none of this had anything to do with him.

Reclining with his palm against his head, lazily eating grapes that Vanessa placed in his mouth, Fren looked so relaxed and languid… like a cat.

“I shouldn’t talk, but you’re really shameless.”

“If you know that, then don’t say anything?”

“How can I not say anything. You came planning all this from the start, didn’t you?”

Instead of answering, Fren smiled with his eyes.

Nefer clicked his tongue.

He had lived his whole life as a merchant, but he had never seen someone so greedy and calculating as Fren.

Unlike himself, who had teased Hakan out of pure amusement(?), Fren had a purpose.

And that purpose was too obvious.

Lycanthropes have no interest in art.

They only care about fighting, filling their bellies, and breeding.

Yet a Lycanthrope not only took an interest in Fren’s artwork, but went so far as to propose marriage?

Other Lycanthropes who heard the news would undoubtedly be intrigued.

Fren’s work would once again become the center of attention.

Nefer clicked his tongue again.

“Hakan will be cursed by his own kind for this.”

“He’s used to that anyway.”

“That’s true. Vanessa, give me another grape?”

Vanessa quickly plucked another grape and brought it to his mouth.

But instead of eating the grape, Fren bit her fingers.

Though Vanessa’s face flushed red, she did not pull away her hand.

So Fren boldly licked her fingertips.

Watching that, Nefer couldn’t hold back a comment.

“I’ll give you a room. Go finish it there.”

At that, Vanessa nearly squeezed the grape into pulp.

But Fren calmly answered:

“No thanks. I don’t want to cause trouble in someone else’s house.”

“Trouble? What trouble? You two were planning to cause trouble?”

“Isn’t that why you offered us a room?”

“I just thought you two might be tired and needed rest. Now tell me what trouble you were going to cause. This is my house, so I absolutely must know~ You know, so I can clean up after.”

“Clean up? You don’t even clean yourself.”

“I clean my own room.”

“Is that something to brag about? And wait—were you really offering your room?”

“My bed is the biggest and nicest. I can’t just give guests any random room.”

“……”

Vanessa’s face flushed bright red—down to her neck.

Fren chuckled softly.

“Enough. Vanessa’s face is going to burst.”

“Burst? Her face? How could it—”

Nefer turned toward Vanessa—his eyes widening.

Vanessa quickly lowered her head, but it was too late.

Nefer glided through the water toward her.

Why is he coming over now, of all times…?

Vanessa lowered her head even deeper, burning with embarrassment, but Nefer didn’t care.

He came closer and clung to her.

The icy breath typical of Sirens brushed Vanessa’s skin, sending shivers down her body.

She couldn’t tell if Siren breath was naturally this cold, or if her overheated face simply made it feel colder.

Then Nefer suddenly cupped Vanessa’s cheeks between both hands.

Vanessa instinctively glanced at Fren.

Fren had once again reclined, watching like a spectator.

Which meant Vanessa should stay still.

So she did—relaxing her body like a doll.

Come to think of it, Nefer was always like this.

Sirens were said to go insane over humans, but Nefer crossed lines more than anyone.

Most people, even with the owner’s permission, wouldn’t casually touch someone else’s s*ave.

Some felt it improper, others thought slaves were filthy.

But Nefer kneaded Vanessa as if she were clay.

Oddly enough, it wasn’t unpleasant.

Because there was no hint of lust in his touch.

Even if there were, Fren wouldn’t allow it anyway.

As she thought that, Nefer suddenly pulled her forward.

And did something shocking.

Pressed.

His full lips stamped Vanessa’s cheek hard enough to leave a dent.

Vanessa tried to look toward Fren again, but Nefer wrapped his arms around her, blocking her movement.

Vanessa’s eyes widened slightly.

Nefer smirked and dropped backward.

―Splash!

The once-noisy surroundings instantly fell silent.

Vanessa stared wordlessly at the Siren in front of her.

Nefer’s blue hair flowed like silk underwater, and his deep ocean-blue eyes glowed faintly.

He was beautiful on land—but underwater, he was breathtaking.

Like crops revived by long-awaited rain.

His lips opened, and a song began.

Ancient, mystical, and overwhelmingly beautiful.

Vanessa’s eyes went hazy.

She now understood why humans kept falling for Sirens despite everything.

Just as the forest belonged to Elves, the water belonged to Sirens—the most beautiful race in water.

Even the well-trained Vanessa momentarily forgot Fren existed.

She could think of nothing.

She simply sank deeper and deeper, wrapped in Nefer’s arms.

The lake was shallow, but that no longer mattered.

This peace made vanishing feel almost welcome.

Her eyes were about to close completely.

And then—

“You must be perfect, Vanessa.”

Through the intoxicating melody, Fren’s voice pierced sharply into her mind.

Her empty thoughts filled abruptly with a memory.

When Vanessa had been barely half of Fren’s height.

Fren had patted her head and whispered:

“For me alone, grow perfectly—through hardship and adversity.”

Perfect.

Yes.

She must be perfect.

“Become the protagonist of the masterpiece.”

A s*ave must always obey the master’s words.

At that, Vanessa’s body tensed.

Letting a Siren distract her was imperfection.

And only then did Vanessa come back to herself.

Nefer stopped singing, impressed.

“Oh?”

Vanessa tore free from the arms wrapped around her like jellyfish tentacles and swam upward.

“Haa…!”

The noise returned all at once.

It felt like she’d been in another world.

Panting, Vanessa looked around.

The party continued.

Sirens whispered sweet lies to terrified human slaves.

Elves exchanged drinks with arrogant confidence, as if owning the world.

And Fren?

Vanessa looked up.

Fren was still watching her like a spectator.

Vanessa called out automatically:

“Fren, I…”

“Ahh, what refreshing hydration!”

Before she could finish, Nefer popped up, clutching his throat, exhaling dramatically.

Sunlight fell through the windows, sparkling on droplets sliding off his pale skin.

He wrung his hair dry and pulled himself out of the water.

His tail flicked—and melted away into a pair of legs.

He covered his lower body with cloth, stood up, and raised his arm.

“Looking for someone to towel me off—Vanessa!”

Before Vanessa could respond, Fren stretched out a hand and pressed her head gently.

“Go.”

“…Yes.”

Vanessa stepped out of the water.

Her soaked clothing clung tightly like wet clay, outlining every line of her body.

The room fell silent.

Eyes swept over her like tongues.

More blatant and sticky than skin-touching clothing.

But Vanessa felt no discomfort.

This was the normal reaction, she thought.

She calmly dried Nefer’s hair, studying him.

“How is it?”

Nefer’s eyes were as plain as moments before.

Vanessa paused and looked at him.

He asked lightly:

“What’s it like, forgetting Fren for a moment?”

Vanessa thought back.

To that time underwater.

Time had felt frozen—maybe because of the water, maybe because of the song.

Then she answered simply:

“I’m not sure.”

“…Really?”

Vanessa resumed drying.

Nefer stared silently, then tossed out one line:

“Truly loyal, aren’t you.”

As he said it, he wore the exact same expression he had shown back at Fren’s mansion.

Vanessa spotted it instantly.

And she knew.

This Siren pitied her.