Chapter 3

After my bath, Reginald gently carried me to bed with the utmost care, as if I were something fragile and precious.

Blushing slightly, he pulled out a small, glowing orb and awkwardly mused, "This is half of my inner pearl. Once things get intense… Those water-repelling pearls you've been using… They'll lose their effect.

"In our merfolk tradition, when we marry a human, we offer half our inner pearl so our bride can breathe and live underwater safely."

I tilted my head to look up at him, feeling a warmth bloom quietly in my chest.

Reginald was nothing like Sheldon.

In my previous life, I did not know that I needed my husband's inner pearl before getting intimate.

Sheldon did not care to tell me. When my water-repelling pearl failed and I began suffocating mid-act, he just stared, watching with sick excitement as I choked and thrashed.

The more I panicked, the rougher he became.

Only when I was on the brink of death did he finally toss me a piece of his own inner pearl. It was foul-smelling and putrid, just like the beast himself.

However, Reginald's pearl was different. It was beautiful, clean, and warm to the touch.

I lifted my chin and swallowed it. As I did that, my tongue brushed his fingers by accident, and his entire face went crimson.

Then, clumsily, he began to undress me. His eyes paused when he caught sight of my long, pale legs, and he froze like he had been struck dumb.

"Ugly, aren't they?" I asked quietly.

Some mermen were disgusted by human legs. Sheldon had called them grotesque once. They were the most repulsive thing he had ever seen.

Reginald panicked. "No, no! Not at all! Your legs are… Beautiful! So stunning that I… I forgot how it even works between humans and merfolk!"

I blinked. "What?"

He stammered, flustered. "I mean… I forgot the instructions in my love manual…"

"You have a manual? Where is it?" I asked, trying not to laugh.

He looked away guiltily. "It's… It's under the bed."

No wonder his face was red.

"Go get it," I said.

"Huh? Why?"

"In case you forget again. You can read and learn on the job."

It was no longer just his face and ears. His whole body was flushed, hot to the touch. His scales shimmered and fluttered open uncontrollably.

He was clearly inexperienced. No matter how many illustrations were in that book, he was too nervous to get through it.

In the end, he just held me close and whispered apologetically, "I'm sorry…"

I smoothed the crease between his brows. "It's alright. We have all the time in the world. There's no rush."

Reginald knew I was still wary, so he did not push me.

Instead, he started taking me out every day so I would not feel isolated in his estate. He wanted me to see the underwater world for myself.

In my previous life, all I ever saw was the cold, towering palace of the merfolk—grand and intimidating.

However, walking through bustling underwater markets, I realized how narrow my view of this world had been.

I met other races, made friends, and laughed freely for the first time in ages.

It was one of those new friends who told me the news that Caroline was pregnant.

Apparently, after three days and nights of consummation with Sheldon, she conceived—twins, no less. The fish doctors confirmed it.

I was not surprised.

As a Pregnancy Maiden, she had enhanced fertility from the elixir, and Sheldon was not one to know when to stop. It would have been a miracle if she did not get pregnant.

"Celine, my father wants us to attend court."

Reginald took my hand and led me to the Mer-King's hall. When we arrived, Caroline and Sheldon were already there.

Caroline looked unnaturally flushed. Her belly was already swollen.

The Mer-King beamed with delight.

"As expected of a Pregnancy Maiden raised by the human Emperor! Well done, Princess Caroline. Now, Princess Celine, you'd better catch up. The palace could use a few more of my grandchildren."

Caroline stroked her belly with exaggerated care as if it were cradling treasure.

"Your Majesty," she said sweetly, "my husband and I are so deeply in love, and we both adore little mer-children. Why not let me take on the responsibility of bearing them all?"

Then, she turned to me, her voice syrupy and smug.

"Celine took six months to become a Pregnancy Maiden, yet I only needed three. I guess my body's just naturally more suited for it. Maybe we shouldn't burden her anymore."

Sheldon, ever hungry for the throne, chimed in, "Father, however many heirs you want, Caroline will give them to you."

The Mer-King laughed heartily. "Very well! I like Princess Caroline's suggestion."

Reginald frowned and stepped forward. "Father, it's not her fault. If anything, it's mine. I failed to please Celine."

I did not care about what the others said about me, but when I heard Reginald blame himself in order to protect me, I teared up a little.