What a coincidental encounter. Even the timing had been so perfect. It was as if everything had been arranged by fate.
Rhine thought as he glanced at Aurora beside him, suddenly forming a suspicion:
Back then, the soldier in "The Tinderbox" had gone to capture this girl, who should have been Sleeping Beauty.
Were Fate Protagonists drawn to one another like magnets?
If that was true, did it mean that even if he did not interfere with fate's course, Fate Protagonists would still interact and bring about unexpected changes that deviated from the original story?
The Mermaid Princess Ariel, known as the Sixth Princess, listened to the other mermaids' attempts to dissuade her and shook her head helplessly. "Thank you for your concern. But I have reasons why I must seek out the Sea Hag. There are always some things that cannot be accomplished without magic—even for the Little Princess beloved by Old Grandmother."
Things that could only be done with magic... Aurora instinctively turned her gaze toward the young Rhine.
Aside from the Black Witch she had only learned about through legends, this teacher was the most powerful wizard she had ever seen! Through the giant fish's transparent belly, Rhine smiled at the Mermaid Princess Ariel. "In that case, Princess, let us go find the Sea Hag together. We can keep each other company."
Joy appeared in the Mermaid Princess's eyes.
The boy's manner of speaking and vast knowledge had deeply impressed all the mermaids, herself included. Nothing could have been better than traveling with such a learned human scholar.
Besides, she had encountered far too few humans. If she wanted to be with that handsome prince, she had to understand the rules of the human world. She would surely have countless questions for this human scholar afterward! Seeing that they could not persuade the two humans or the Sixth Princess Ariel, the mermaids could only disperse helplessly.
They watched the giant fish carrying Ariel and the two humans swim toward the Coral Forest where the Sea Hag lived, vanishing into the depths of the azure sea.
"Oh, right! I almost forgot—humans have come to our kingdom. Such huge news must be told to everyone, and to the great Sea King Your Majesty!"
The mermaids swam in every direction, recounting what they had just witnessed to their friends and families and reporting it to the guards of the Sea King's Palace.
Before long, the bombshell news had spread throughout the Mermaid Kingdom.
Inside the Sea King's Palace, where the ball had just ended.
Upon his magnificent Seashell throne, the Sea King gripped his trident and listened to his subordinates' report in astonishment:
"Heavens! Humans have actually visited our undersea kingdom. Nothing like this has ever happened since I was born. No, that is not right—in the three-thousand-year history of our kingdom, it has never happened!"
"Moreover, one of the two humans who came to our kingdom is an elegant and kind scholar. Although everyone says he looks like a child, perhaps human children are simply that learned."
"I never imagined that humans' understanding of us could be so profound! Yet our understanding of the human world amounts to only the tiniest bit."
The Sea King sighed.
As the king of these waters and the sovereign of mermaids and other intelligent sea creatures, the Sea King also held endless longing for the world above the sea. What he regretted most was being unable to establish diplomatic relations with human kingdoms.
Physical limitations prevented mermaids from going ashore. The only humans who might occasionally interact with mermaids were sailors aboard ships at sea.
Yet for some reason, the sailors aboard those passing ships feared and loathed mermaids, always avoiding them.
What a strange thing.
"I believe I must summon that human scholar. Make him the most honored guest of the Sea Court, and ask him to tell us more about the human kingdoms. This is necessary if we are to understand the human world and become friends with humans!"
Sea King Your Majesty spoke to the ministers in the court and his old mother.
However, the Sea King's old mother—the "Old Grandmother" spoken of by the Mermaid Princesses, a distinguished mermaid so proud of her noble birth that she wore a dozen oysters on her tail as ornaments—raised an objection:
"Since the beginning of history, mermaids and humans have been separated into two worlds. The arrival of two humans in the undersea kingdom can never be a good thing! It is already merciful not to drive them out. We cannot let them step into our splendid palace!"
The Sea King did not quite agree with his stubborn old mother, yet he did not dare oppose her openly.
Just as he was considering how to resolve the disagreement between himself and his mother, Old Grandmother received bad news from another mermaid guard.
"What? You mean Ariel has gone to find that Sea Hag?"
"Oh no! Oh no!"
"That ugly sea witch never brings anything good. She only demands prices that no one can accept!"
"How could my dear Ariel go looking for her? Is there any wish that I, her Old Grandmother, cannot fulfill for her?"
The old woman, mother of the Sea King, completely lost the imposing demeanor she had displayed moments ago. She panicked, flicking her tail from side to side, darting up and down as she cried out in alarm.
Everyone in the Sea King's Palace knew that although Old Grandmother was usually stern and untouchable, she immediately became a different person whenever Ariel was mentioned.
Old Grandmother adored the Mermaid Princesses most of all, and among the six princesses, Ariel, the youngest and most beautiful, was especially the apple of her eye.
"We must bring the Princess back before she meets that Sea Hag."
Old Grandmother and the mermaid guards hurriedly swam out of the palace.
Watching his mother leave, the Sea King was worried about Ariel's situation as well, but he also let out a slight sigh of relief.
He summoned the ministers of the Sea Court and issued an order:
"Pass on my words—this is the command of the Lord of the Sea. Bring that learned human to my court as soon as possible. I am willing to honor him as my most esteemed and distinguished guest and personally seek his counsel about the human kingdoms!"
Before you continue