🦪 Bonus: Side Episodes 1#

˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚 Eirin Talks with Yohei, the Tuna ˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚

After Eirin and Okihiro's second first encounter, when the princess was brainstorming to find out a way to charm the deaf sailor without using her voice...

“Yohei, do you know what humans like?”

The fish took a few swims back. “Well, that’s rude. We never even met, and you are already demanding things from me.”

She blinked. “But we do know each other. You were helping me find this sailor’s boat a few weeks ago.”

The fish eyes popped for a second. “Oh! I see. No, that was my cousin. First time removed.”

Eirin furrowed. “You are both called Yohei?”

“Yeah, we are from the same shoal.”

“Oh…well, where is your cousin, then?” Though the tuna hadn’t helped that much the last time, perhaps she would have better luck the second try. He seemed to know a bit about humans, at least.

“Oh, he’s dead. Got caught in one of the big nets.” The tuna spoke casually, without batting an eye.

After that, Eirin gave up on trying to ask the fish for help.

˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚 Prince Seikan Trying to Know the Queen's Hobbies ˖°𓇼🌊⋆🐚

“Yūritsu-san, is there anything in particular you enjoy doing during your free time?”

The queen continued to scribble on the seaweeds without ever raising her gaze, her voice, or changing her passive tone.

“If I have such a leisure, this means I’m falling behind with my responsibilities and need to work harder. In order for the merfolk of Pearls to live contently, a ruler cannot waste their time.”

Prince Seikan blinked, the excitement faltering in his gaze.

“I…see. You truly love your people, Yūritsu-san.”

“That goes without saying,” she replied casually, shifting her eyes briefly to meet the young prince’s. For a few seconds, she wondered about the true purpose of his question. His real intent.

She made a mental checklist of all the facts she knew about him.

1- He is an esteemed guest from another sea.
2- He has no familiarity with the places here.
3- He knows no one here.
4- His betrothed left the Palace, alongside his only kin.
5- He is from the Palace of Cobalts.

Understanding flooded her mind as she ceased her writing. The Queen of Pearls stood up, and for a moment—as the mermaid searched something in her drawers, Seikan’s eyes filled with hope.

“Forgive me. It seems I didn’t take you into consideration.”

She approached him, the prince’s heart racing faster and faster.

“Here.”

Seikan took what she offered almost on reflex, taking a few seconds for his mind to process what he was seeing.

“T-this is…?”

“Tickets for a concert. As your host, I should be making sure you won’t be victim to boredom during your stay here. I’ve heard many praises toward this group, and merfolk your age seem to enjoy them quite much. I believe you will have a good time.”

As the queen finished speaking and went back to her duties, all joy deflated from Seikan’s body.

Some time later, Princess Reika was patting the merman on the back—

“I told you, never approach her while she’s working…”

The prince mumbled his reply, the words carrying all the tears that did not fall. “But she’s always working…”

Consoling him after yet another failed attempt.