The Merfolk’s Awakening

“I can awaken the princess.” A voice as clear as a mountain spring echoed through the vast, empty hall.

It was a woman.

The King looked perplexed, questioning the mysterious figure. “But my daughter is a girl, just like you.”

Upon hearing the King’s question, the mysterious person pulled down their hood. Matching their voice, the mysterious figure was a remarkably beautiful maiden. Her long hair and eyes were a deep, vibrant blue like the ocean, and scattered on either side of her cheeks were several small, golden scales.

Merfolk.

This mysterious individual was a Merfolk.

“For us, girls are the only companions,” the Merfolk maiden replied.

Unlike most intelligent races, the Merfolk possessed only one gender: female.

‘Who knows what Lotia was thinking at the time,’ the God of Wisdom, a deity of the Elven race, once remarked.

Even the Elven race had some males. While elves born from the Elven God Tree were exclusively female, a few elves could still give birth to male elves through mating. However, male elves were now virtually extinct within the Elven race.

Moreover, the Merfolk possessed an incredibly terrifying characteristic. Their bloodline simply could not be diluted. For instance, if a human and an elf fell in love, their child would be a half-elf. This principle applied to all intelligent beings, with the sole exception of the Merfolk.

If, and only if, a Merfolk lost her mind and fell in love with a man, then the race of her child would be determined by its gender. If male, the child would belong to the father’s race; if female, it would be a pure-blooded Merfolk. Therefore, it was accurate to say that the Merfolk were the purest race in the world.

“And we Merfolk also have ways for girls to have children together,” the Merfolk maiden continued. Because their entire race was female, the Merfolk had developed their own unique method of reproduction.

This… The King scratched his head. It seemed there was no reason to object. After all, he was the one who had posted the notice, and this Merfolk maiden hadn’t done anything wrong. He wouldn’t dare to harm her.

So… should he let her try?

In any case, if my daughter doesn’t agree, we can discuss it then. Surely, this Merfolk wouldn’t forcefully abduct a noblewoman, would she?

“Very well,” the King nodded.

“Your Majesty, I will certainly take good care of your daughter,” the Merfolk maiden responded courteously.

Following the King to the princess’s slumbering chamber, the Merfolk girl finally saw the cursed princess. The princess was stunning, with an exquisite figure and a beauty that would be considered top-tier even among the Merfolk, a race renowned for its beauties.

She is the one. The Merfolk maiden gently caressed the princess’s face, making a silent decision in her heart.

Then, as the King watched in a daze, the Merfolk maiden leaned down, pressing her lips against the princess’s.

Immediately, the princess awoke.

“Merfolk bodily fluids are the best antidote to curses,” the Merfolk maiden later explained. This was a gift, a talent bestowed upon the Merfolk by the gods.

Subsequently, the Merfolk maiden launched an incredibly powerful courtship towards the princess, successfully marrying her a year later.

This story became widely circulated, and it was one of the few fairy tales featuring the mysterious deep-sea race known as the Merfolk. It was also one of the very few fairy tales where two girls end up together.

“You’re not thinking of…” The Empress secretly glanced at Ziyao, noticing that the white-haired girl’s attention was still fixed on Aiya, before turning back and whispering.

The Pope smiled and nodded. This fairy tale had been passed down for a long time. She was curious to see a real-life ‘Mermaid Princess’.

“Speaking of which, Ziyao’s race… has she ever mentioned it?” The Pope leaned in, whispering to the Empress.

“Isn’t she just an ordinary young girl?”

“Ordinary? If you truly believe such a young girl can become a Water Element Sage,” the Pope said, covering her mouth, a complex glint in her eyes. “That little girl possesses an aura of flowing water. Yet, she seems utterly unconcerned about her own race.”

Could it be that the girl’s mother never told her their true identity? Shaking her head, the Pope decided to set the matter aside for now. After all, the Merfolk were also favored by the Gods. Moreover, the Merfolk’s deity and humanity’s deity shared a very good relationship.

“Never mind that for now. Do you want me to give your daughter a little push?”

“Isn’t that a bit too aggressive?”

“No, no, Aiya is not a child anymore. At fourteen, it’s time for her to find a companion,” the Pope said with a beaming smile. “And it’s perfectly normal for girls to kiss each other, you know.”

It’s not normal at all! What girls would engage in such intimate behavior? Besides, this was a real kiss! That’s something only lovers do!

Although she had already come to view Ziyao as her future son/daughter-in-law, the Empress still believed the two girls were too young. They needed more time to truly understand their feelings for each other. If they proceeded as the Pope suggested, these two girls might become inextricably intertwined.

Furthermore, Elena also seemed to harbor some affection for Ziyao. As a mother, she couldn’t show too much favoritism.

“Then, how about we leave the stage to them?”

“…” The Empress remained silent. But a few minutes later, she stood up and said to Ziyao, “Ziyao, please stay here for a moment. I have something to attend to.”

Having said that, she pulled the Pope and left Aiya’s room.

Forget it. She wouldn’t interfere anymore. Whatever happened next was no longer her concern.

“Oh, so you tacitly approved in the end?” the Pope said with a smile as she was pulled out of the room by the Empress.

She had seen the burning flame in the white-haired girl’s eyes. If they were left alone in the room, something might truly happen. And if a disruptor were added to the mix, that would be even better.

It seems… another Highness also holds affection for this young girl.

“Eh? Is Her Highness not coming today?” a young rescue team member asked his captain. He had actually been quite looking forward to seeing the approachable Princess. However, she was a Princess after all, and it was normal for her to have her own matters to attend to.

“Lad, I advise you to drop that notion. Princess Elena is not someone us common folk can aspire to,” the burly, muscular man said, patting the team member’s shoulder. While that Princess didn’t possess an air of haughtiness, she was still a Princess.

At that very moment, the Princess they spoke of had arrived at the palace gates. Elena had specifically taken the day off to visit her sister. Aiya had been in a deep slumber, and how could Elena possibly be at ease?

“Aiya, I’ve come to see you.”