"What? You're still too young to do that."
"The bottom of the sea is so stuffy~"
"You'll be 16 next year, so be patient a little longer!"
Above the sea, beneath the sea. I'm a mermaid, talking about the underwater world as if it were my home. I may be talking about it as if it were my home, but in a way, it really is. My family said I could go up to the surface when I turned 16. But I want to go up right now.
"Wahaha~"
"Hahahaha!! "
One night, I was so curious about the sounds of singing and laughter coming from the sea, and since all my brothers were in the palace, I secretly went up to the sea.
-
When I went up, there was a huge ship, and when I looked closely, I saw people dancing and singing inside the ship.
" wow.. "
I stared at the boat for a moment. Just as I was about to turn around and dive back into the water, a tall, handsome man who looked like a prince came aboard. Mesmerized by the sight of the prince, I stared at him for a long time. Then, suddenly, a strong wind blew, the boat lurched, and eventually capsized. Terrified, I immediately swam over and pulled the prince from the water.
-
" Haa-. Haa-."
I carried the prince to land and did my best to help him wake up. A moment later, I was relieved to see him looking like he was about to wake up. I looked up at the sky and saw the sun had already risen. Oh, my sisters are going to get in big trouble.
"Uhhhh, hmm~"
As I was worrying about getting scolded, I heard someone humming from somewhere, and I hid behind a nearby rock. The person looked like a princess of a country. She was much prettier than me, and most importantly, she had the legs I needed. As I hid, the girl ran to the prince, picked her up, and carried her away.
"Ugh... Are you... the one who saved me..?"
"Uh... First, take a rest..!"
Perhaps he took her to his palace.
I was so shocked by that, I went to see the witch Park Jimin, who was said to be the most skilled at magic in the sea. I wanted to ask her to give me legs. And... I wanted to fall in love with a prince!
-
"Huh~? I wonder what's going on with the mermaid~?"
I went to see the witch.
"You're Park Jimin, witch, right..?"
"Hmm... that's true, right~?"
"I want those legs... human legs...!"
"Human legs? Why~? You can play whatever you want in the ocean, so why bother..?"
"I want to meet that person..."
"Hmm... well... if that's really you, then what? I can only grant wishes if I get paid."
"What's the price..?"
Perhaps because of the witch's demands for a price, my mind became complicated. The thought, "What if the price is too harsh?" lingered in my mind.
"I want your voice. Not anything else, but your voice."
"..your voice..?"
"Well... I guess it would be okay to say that it takes away vocal cord function."
I was lost in thought. Then I couldn't speak. How could I possibly talk to the prince? But after a while, I made a decision.
"I will do it."
"Huh~?"
"You said you would give me my voice. Then you would give me human legs?"
"Hmm... It would be quite uncomfortable if your voice didn't come out. Well, it was your choice."
" Princess mermaid, have human legs. "
"Little mermaid, please give me human legs."
-
that moment There was a flash of light and I was sitting on land,
"Mermaid, remember this. If you don't make it with that person, you'll just turn into bubbles."
It had human legs.
"Excuse me... Are you okay?"
When I opened my eyes, the prince was holding out his hand to me. He was even more handsome up close.
"You look so familiar. Haven't we met somewhere?"
" ..-!.. !.. "
" .. yes? "
Knowing I couldn't speak, I pointed to my neck with my finger and made an X with my arm.
"You don't have a neck..?"
"Can't you speak?"
" !!.. "
I nodded, and the prince lifted me up and led me to his palace. He looked taller next to me.
-
The next day, the prince introduced me to his fiancée.
"This person is my savior. Ji-eun, please take good care of him. He can't speak."
"Oh really? Please take care of it!"
That person was the young lady the prince had mistaken for his savior the other day. I guess my fate was never meant to be. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I fled.
"Ugh... Ahhh... Ugh..."
I was so miserable that I couldn't even cry. Why was I like this?
-
The next day, the prince married the girl. I congratulated him wholeheartedly. No, in fact, maybe there was only a little sincerity mixed in.
-
As night fell, I heard someone calling me anxiously, so I went outside and found my sisters there.
"00!! Witch Park Jimin said, if you kill that person with this knife, you can live! Take it quickly!"
" ..! "
I took the sword and went into the prince's room. The prince was sleeping soundly, and tears welled up in my eyes again when I looked at his face. I raised the sword. As I was about to stab him, I remembered my first meeting with the prince, and I left the prince's room with the sword in my hands, tears streaming down my face.
I left the room and went to the beach. The moon was brighter today, and the sky and sea were darker and pitch black.
'I'm sorry, sisters.'
My sisters must have done it for me.
'I'm sorry, witch.'
I didn't listen to the witch's advice. I knew I wouldn't make it, so I avoided reality.
'I love you, Prince, and I'm sorry.'
I loved you. No, I still love you. Thank you for being the first love of my life. It would be better for me to die than to kill you. I want to die by your hand one last time, but when I see your face sleeping soundly, I can't bring myself to do it. I don't want my blood on your hands.
"Ugh... Ugh... Huh..."
Sorry for being such a stupid country. Bye everyone.
Prince, I hope we can love each other in the next life.
[ Splash-. ]
- The end -