Chapter 2

He took out a key and lowered his voice.

"I can let you out."

"The sea is right behind the estate. If you can hold on for five minutes, you can go home."

I glanced at the half-empty tank.

"Am I supposed to crawl there on my hands?"

Lu Chenzhou had no answer.

He gritted his teeth and took off his jacket, preparing to carry me.

Then Gu Mingzhu's icy voice came from outside the tank.

"Chenzhou. What do you think you're doing?"

Lu Chenzhou stepped in front of me.

"She isn't an animal."

"Gu Mingzhu, this ends here."

"You can have every share I own. Just let her live."

The hall fell utterly silent.

Gu Mingzhu's eyes slowly reddened.

She grabbed a champagne bottle and smashed it against his forehead.

"So this slut really did seduce you!"

Blood ran down his face.

Still unsatisfied, she ordered the bodyguards to lock him in a lounge.

Then she had me dragged from the tank and chained to a kitchen worktable with specially made iron restraints.

Out of the seawater, every breath felt like swallowing a handful of broken glass.

While they weren't looking, I used the blood on my tail fin to draw the royal distress sigil on the tabletop.

If even one drop of flowing water touched it, Father would know exactly where I was.

But Gu Mingzhu spotted it before I could finish the last stroke.

She poured a cup of scalding wine over the bloody symbol.

"Drawing magic charms now?"

"Do you think you're in some fantasy film?"

The wine washed it clean away.

She crouched and tapped my face with the back of a knife.

"Take a good look. The sea is five kilometers away."

"Your pipes are sealed. You can't even scream."

"No one's coming to save you tonight."

Just then, an official from the maritime authority rushed into the banquet hall.

"Mr. Gu! An abnormal trench has appeared offshore. All vessels must withdraw!"

"Please stop the party and evacuate immediately!"

Gu Cheng didn't even glance at the documents. He called a senior official at the maritime authority.

Gu Xiao told the guards to detain the man.

Gu Ye actually sneered and opened the armory.

"Three whaling ships, four underwater cannons, and the Gu family's private fleet."

"Whatever comes, we'll serve it at Mingzhu's banquet."

For the first time, I found human confidence rather endearing.

Gu Mingzhu grabbed my long hair and dragged me in front of the livestream camera.

"Waiting for your family, are you?"

"Keep your eyes open."

She pressed a button.

The last floodgate between the estate and the ocean thundered shut.

At the same moment, every sonar screen along the coast went black.

Seconds later, an enormous shape slowly appeared.

The duty officer collapsed onto the floor, trembling as he reported it.

"That thing… it's bigger than a city."

【Chapter 4】

At eight that evening, the engagement party officially began.

I lay chained to a kitchen worktable covered in white roses, a specially made stockpot beneath my tail.

The celebrated chef the Gu family had hired stood beside me, holding a fish-scaling knife.

Gu Mingzhu planted a foot on my face and smiled at the livestream camera.

"You've all been wondering whether mermaids are edible, haven't you?"

"Tonight, I'll find out for you myself."

Her three brothers presented their gifts.

Gu Cheng brought a liability waiver, supposedly ensuring no one could hold the Gu family accountable for my death.

Gu Xiao brought a set of surgical instruments. He wanted all my vocal cords.

Gu Ye was the most excited. He arrived carrying a whaling axe.

"Mingzhu, you choose first."

"We'll divide up the rest."

Guests all around the hall eagerly raised their glasses, as though awaiting a rare delicacy.

Only Lu Chenzhou struggled desperately, pinned in a corner by bodyguards.

"Gu Mingzhu! You'll regret this!"

She didn't bother turning around.

"My only regret is that I didn't ruin her face out at sea."

Her heel pressed harder, forcing my cheek against the cold tabletop.

"Apologize."

"Admit you seduced my fiancé, and I might tell the chef to make it quick."

I turned my face and smiled at her.

"Have you noticed the waves getting bigger ever since last night?"

Her expression stiffened.

"It's just a natural phenomenon."

"And the whales?"

"Animals migrating."

"What about the shadows on the sonar?"

Gu Ye raised his whaling axe and scoffed.

"Enough of your spooky nonsense."

"If your family's really coming to save you, why haven't they shown themselves?"

I looked out at the black sea beyond the banquet hall.

"They're waiting."

"For what?"

"For Father and Mother to arrive."

Gu Mingzhu stared for half a second.

Then she laughed so hard she couldn't stand straight.

"You really think you're a princess?"

"Go on, call them. However many come, I'll catch them all."