Chapter 2

And as Thea continued, she pretended to sob, "I'm very sad too, but I was just a child and couldn't do anything. That's why I've worked like a slave for you over the years, forfeiting my claim to the family's fortune to atone…"

Pained, Xir pursed his lips as he held Thea, before turning sharply on me. "Thea had already slaved away for you to atone, even letting you take all the money! Isn't that enough?"

I was once again amused.

The so-called family's fortune was my mother's possessions and had nothing to do with Thea at all.

Also, slave away? Thea?

It was me who was serving her beck and call all the time—my father made me do so, even after I was burnt.

Moreover…

"What does my mother's fortune have to do with you?" I shot back. "Are you my mother's child too?"

Thea stopped sobbing as she knew she was caught dead to rights.

In reality, she wanted my mother's money too, but she simply had no claim, and now played as if she was conceding it to me out of generosity.

Moreover, a mere merman like Xir naturally won't understand human laws, only that his beloved human was given grief.

"I never knew how selfish you could be!" He snapped. "Even if Thea isn't your mother's child, she's still your sister! Can't you be more sisterly? She already suffered so much! Can't you see that she's crying?!"

I looked at Thea as she stayed in Xir's arms, wondering how much she really suffered.

Even if she did, it was none of my fault.

However, Xir was smacking the water repeatedly with his blue-scaled tail as a threat.

Seeing that he was really angry, I remembered reading that the merfolk's mood affected the medicinal value of their hearts.

And there was just three days left—I couldn't afford to screw up now.

Taking a deep breath and mustering a smile I think looks friendly, I said, "Please don't get angry."

That was the best I could do, as I was no charmer like Thea and even poorer with words.

Still, seeing that I caved, Xir was at once smug. "Then free me. I'm leaving with Thea! Then I won't be angry…"

Thea looked up at him, her eyes welling with emotion. "Oh, Xir…"

With that, they looked deep into each other's eyes like I wasn't in the room.

In reality, I was myself confused why Thea was attracted to Xir—he was just a pet at best, no different from an animal.

But Thea's presence calmed him, and that worked for me.

That was why I have no intention of interfering with their 'sacred' love.

"You're still hurt. If you leave now without the potion I made for you, your skin and scales will start to rot."

What I didn't tell him is that the medicinal value of his heart would drop if I didn't extract it while his body was still intact.

Naturally, Xir had no idea, and merely thought that I was reluctant to let him leave.

Snorting as he turned away, he huffed, "You just don't want me to leave!"

Thea naturally thought so too, and chimed in innocently, "Come on, sis. If you really love Xir, you should let him go."

Love?

How many times did I have to tell them that I only wanted his heart?

They simply wouldn't believe me.

Sighing, I said, "Three days. Just give me three days, and I will send him to your home."