Chapter 3

After bathing, Lior carefully carried me to the bed. He took out a separated inner core and offered it to me, his face flushed. "The act... it can be intense. The water-repelling pearl you took will lose its effect. When a merfolk marries a human bride, we separate half of our inner core so she can live normally underwater." I looked up at him, warmth spreading through my heart. Lior was infinitely better than Kane. In my past life, I hadn't known I needed to take my husband's inner core beforehand. Kane never intended to give me his core. Instead, when the water-repelling pearl failed, he watched me struggle, suffocating and nearly passing out in agony. My distress only made him act more violently, more excitedly. Only when I was truly on the verge of death did Kane finally share his core. His core was like him—foul and disgusting. Lior's core was beautiful. I tilted my head back and swallowed it, my tongue accidentally brushing his fingers. Lior's face turned even redder. He clumsily removed my clothes, his gaze lingering on my long, pale legs. He froze. "Are they ugly?" I asked. Some merfolk had strong prejudices against human legs, considering them the ugliest things. Kane had told me exactly that. Lior flusteredly denied it, his ears turning crimson. "No, no! Your legs are beautiful. They... they made me forget how humans and merfolk are supposed to... according to the manuals..." "?" I couldn't help but laugh. "Your manuals?" Lior looked guilty. "...Under the bed." Ah, that explained his constant blushing. "Bring them out." "Bring them out? Why?" "In case you forget the steps, or remember them and then suddenly forget again. We can look at them together while we... learn." Lior didn't just blush on his face and neck; his whole body grew hot. His scales even flared open uncontrollably. But experiencing intimacy for the first time, he was terribly nervous. Even with the illustrated manuals, he couldn't quite succeed. In the end, he just held me, apologizing softly. "...I'm sorry." I smoothed his furrowed brow. "We have plenty of time. There's no rush." Lior knew I was somewhat apprehensive about sex and didn't push me. Worried I might get bored staying in the residence with no one I knew, he took me out daily to explore the underwater world. In my past life, I only knew the vast, imposing Merfolk Palace. But after Lior took me out, I realized how narrow my perspective had been. After several days exploring the bustling marketplaces, I met many other races and made many friends. It was one of these new friends who told me about Cecilia's pregnancy. Apparently, she conceived after three days and nights sex with Kane. A fish physician confirmed she was carrying twins. I wasn't surprised. Cecilia was a fertile woman, and Kane demanded her constantly. Pregnancy was inevitable. "Serene, Father summons us." When Lior took me to see King Rylan, Cecilia and Kane were already there. Cecilia had an unnerving flush on her cheeks, and her belly was noticeably swollen. King Rylan was delighted. "Cecilia truly lives up to being the Human Emperor's carefully nurtured fertile woman! Serene, you must hurry up and bring some liveliness to the palace soon!" Cecilia carefully stroked her belly as if cradling a priceless treasure. "Father, Kane and I are deeply devoted to each other, and we adore merbabies. Why not leave the task of bearing heirs entirely to me? Serene took half a year to become fertile—three months longer than me. Her constitution probably isn't as strong. Please don't pressure her." Kane, long coveting the throne, chimed in. "Father, however many merbabies you desire, Cecilia will bear them for you." King Rylan was naturally pleased. "Then it shall be as Cecilia’s suggests!" Lior frowned, displeased, and defended me. "Father, the fault lies entirely with me. I haven't... satisfied Serene." I didn't care what they said. But hearing Lior slander himself to protect me made my eyes sting.