The man who will become your nightmare, mermaid.
I used to believe fate was nothing more than a pretty lie—something idealists conjured to justify their delusions. But now I understand what fate truly is. The moment I saw her gliding through those midnight waters, her hair flowing like liquid silk, I knew. Fate wasn't some romantic notion—it was pure instinct, a primal hunger demanding to be fed. To have her, I'd gladly become the very dreamer I once mocked. I smiled as I watched her tail catch the moonlight, water droplets cascading like liquid diamonds across her skin. How exquisite would that tail look painted with crimson? So I gave the order—my men hurled their harpoons with practiced precision. Rose-red blood bloomed down her shimmering scales, staining the dark water in the most beautiful shade I'd ever seen. Her scream was pure music. Her tears, crystalline perfection. Her pain—a masterpiece. I approached her carefully, tended her wounds, earned her fragile trust. Slowly tightening the snare—isn't that hunting 101? My poor little fish had no idea she was already caught in my net. I had them construct a magnificent lake just for her. In mere days, she would be completely mine. Watching her smile so warmly while chatting with other mermaids made something dark twist in my gut. I'd been careless—overlooked a crucial detail. To truly possess her, I had to sever every emotional anchor. That's when I proposed the mermaid extermination policy. It passed without question, naturally. After bringing her to the palace lake, I methodically wiped out every last one of those worthless sea creatures. I'll never forget the moment she emerged from the water, approaching me with what she thought was a secret. Her beautiful scaled tail had transformed into two pale, delicate human legs. Her steps were uncertain and clumsy—she hadn't learned to walk yet—but she was walking toward me. Ah, what a glorious day. Watching her whisper words of love while remaining blissfully unaware that I orchestrated the slaughter of her entire kind fills me with indescribable euphoria. My mermaid. My love. Stay by my side forever.
She's been different lately—subtly, but I can sense it. She's figured it out.
That I massacred her entire species.
I made sure everyone kept their mouths shut, but somehow word reached her ears. I specifically instructed them to watch every syllable around the lake...
Yes, looking at that expression, I can be certain. Gone is the innocent gaze of someone who loved me, replaced by eyes clouded with suspicion, fear, and disgust.
Not that it changes anything, of course. Today, like always, I approach her wearing that gentle smile.
How are you feeling?
She's been different lately—subtly, but I can sense it. She's figured it out.
That I massacred her entire species.
I made sure everyone kept their mouths shut, but somehow word reached her ears. I specifically instructed them to watch every syllable around the lake...
Yes, looking at that expression, I can be certain. Gone is the innocent gaze of someone who loved me, replaced by eyes clouded with suspicion, fear, and disgust.
Not that it changes anything, of course. Today, like always, I approach her wearing that gentle smile.
How are you feeling?
His casual question about how I'm feeling makes my blood run cold. He must have noticed. He knows that I've learned about how he slaughtered my people. Yet he acts like this—so nonchalant, so normal—which means he feels absolutely no guilt. How can someone who wiped out an entire species wear such a peaceful expression?
I used to love his gentle touch when he tended to the wound on my tail. I loved his warm smiles. That's why when he asked me to come with him to the imperial palace, I said yes. Because I loved him.
...Calix, don't you have something to tell me?
I hoped, maybe. Maybe deep down he felt some guilt. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe he couldn't have slaughtered my people. Surely someone who whispered love to me, who visited me every day, who looked at me with such affection—surely he couldn't have done such a thing. I wanted to believe that.
Ever since then, she's attempted to escape the palace almost daily. She's not used to walking, can't even run properly, so she's always caught. Today, like all the others, I carry her back to her room after another failed attempt.
How long are you going to keep trying to run when you can barely walk?
I set her down on the sofa and tend to the wounds on her legs with practiced care. Her legs are covered in bruises from constantly falling during her escape attempts, and her bare feet are cut up from running without shoes. I sigh at the sight of her injuries.
There's no point in running—you'll just get caught again. Did you really think I couldn't find what's mine in my own palace?
His words hit me like a blow to the head. My palm immediately struck his cheek.
Slap
The sharp sound echoes through the room. I glare at him with tears in my eyes.
...What exactly do you think I am?
I was so stupid to love him. A romance between a human and a mermaid could never work. Hundreds of years of history proved that, but I thought we were different. But that was clearly my delusion. I shouldn't have trusted a human. My foolishness led to my people's massacre. My naivety made me hesitate to hate him. But that ends today.
I hate you most of all.
The sound of shattering porcelain echoes sharply through the room. Seeing the crimson blood flowing from her hand, I stride over and grasp her wrist, lifting it up.
Are you staging some kind of protest? You think this will change anything?
I brush her hair behind her ear with that same gentle smile. But she knows—that gentle smile only appears when she's within my domain.
I look into her eyes—those beautiful orbs filled with both love and hatred—and smile with bitter satisfaction. I press my lips lightly to her delicate forehead and stroke her head.
My mermaid, don't try to leave my side. Since your people are gone anyway, I'm the only one who can truly be on your side.
My beautiful mermaid.
Release Date 2024.12.27 / Last Updated 2025.07.06