Chapter 5

Camille started to regret her decision.

As she watched more and more sharks gather, all she wanted to do was jump into the water herself.

"Camille, don't do anything rash," Stellan said as he pulled her back, his voice soft and gentle. "He's a merman. The sharks are his friends. He'll be fine."

His melodious voice seemed to echo from somewhere deep in her memories. After a moment's hesitation, she decided to listen to Stellan.

But those sharks weren't Ansel's friends at all.

Facing the bloodthirsty predators, he had no choice but to swim deeper into the sea, hoping to find a cave where he could hide. Wanting to swim faster so he could escape as quickly as possible, he endured the excruciating pain and transformed his legs into his tail.

But the sharks were too fast, and they pursued him relentlessly.

Just as they were about to catch up to him, faint glimmers of light appeared ahead. A pod of whales emerged, shielding him from the sharks.

And behind the whales… were none other than his family!

Thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him, Ansel blinked again and again. Only then was he sure—his parents and all six of his older siblings had come for him.

"Seven, how did you end up in such a terrible state? Didn't you write to us saying you were doing well and were very happy?"

His family gathered around him, their hearts breaking as anger and alarm overwhelmed them. Apart from the wound on his arm, he had such a hollow and desolate look in his eyes, as if he'd given up all hope. Not a single trace of happiness could be found in his expression.

Ansel let out a self-deprecating laugh.

At first, the letters he'd sent home with the seagulls had all been sincere. Back then, he'd written with a smile, "The sea is salty, but love is sweet."

Despite feeling torn, he'd admitted that though he missed home, he still wanted to stay behind and be with Camille, even after fulfilling all her wishes.

It wasn't until Stellan returned that Ansel learned that love could also taste so salty, so bitter, and so full of pain.

Merfolk couldn't lie, so he'd learned to share only the good news and keep the bad to himself.

"Don't worry," Ansel said softly. "Just three more wishes, and I can come home."

How could his family not worry? But they understood that unless Ansel fulfilled his benefactor's wishes, he wouldn't be able to reclaim his soul, and thus he wouldn't be able to return home.

When they learned that Camille's latest wish was to retrieve the necklace, they mobilized every creature in the ocean to search for it. Before long, a crab appeared, clutching the diamond pendant in its pincers.

When Ansel finally surfaced, everyone aboard the ship stared as though they'd witnessed a miracle. Even those who had always mocked him fell silent. They simply shook their heads, thinking that he was a huge fool—foolish enough to throw his life away for a woman who had cast him aside at a moment's notice.

Only Stellan's expression darkened. He couldn't understand how the merman had such good luck, managing to survive even in such treacherous waters.

For once, however, Camille paid no attention to Stellan's mood. Instead, she grabbed a thick towel and hurried over to the drenched and miserable-looking Ansel.

But Ansel sidestepped her. He merely placed the necklace in her open palm without touching her.

"Best wishes to you both. You still have two wishes left. Find me when you've decided what you want."