Kill the mermaid

02 The Mermaid's Curse

***

Splash. Splash.

Min-gyu, who had fallen asleep before he knew it, heard an irritating sound in his ears as he greeted the morning.

It was the sound of water coming from the fish tank.

Is the mermaid awake?

He ran towards the fish tank with joy in his heart.

김민규

You're finally awake.

김민규

Are you feeling better?

유화

…what are you?

Even though they were in a fishbowl, she and he were looking straight into each other's eyes.

김민규

My name is… Kim Min-gyu.

유화

I didn't ask for your name.

Even though she was irritated, she just looked beautiful in Min-gyu's eyes.

김민규

Ah, I am the prince of this country.

김민규

I just brought you here because the fishermen wanted to sell you.

유화

What are you planning on doing by bringing me here?

유화

To eat?

유화

Just to become immortal?

김민규

That's not it.

No matter how much I tried to calm him down, it was no use because I had already seen many of my friends being deceived, sold, and eaten by humans.

Rather, it only provoked her more.

유화

If you're not here to eat, then you brought me here to sell me?

thud!!!

She slammed her fist into the fishbowl where Min-gyu's face was rippling.

유화

Please send me back home!!

김민규

Even if you go back home, you'll just get caught again.

김민규

The sea is teeming with fishermen trying to catch mermaids.

김민규

Is that okay?

김민규

Wouldn't it be better to be safe here?

김민규

Or… are you the type that enjoys a little thrill?

Where was the man who had been so bewildered by her beauty earlier? Now there was a man who looked completely relaxed.

유화

…

유화

you……

All she could do now was stare at him as if she wanted to kill him and spew out all kinds of venomous words.

유화

You will definitely be cursed by a mermaid.

유화

How dare you threaten me like that.

김민규

The mermaid's curse...

He muttered and took off his blindfold.

One of his eyes, which was hidden by a blindfold, was glowing blue due to the mermaid's curse.

She scoffed at the sight.

유화

What, he already has a record?

This curse was caused by his parents trying to eat a mermaid, and Min-gyu himself did not deny it, even though he was not at fault.

It's not that I never had any desire to become immortal,

I thought there was no reason to deny it to myself.

Knock. Knock.

김민규

Come in.

문준휘

Your Majesty, dinner is ready.

문준휘

Should I bring it to your room today?

김민규

Yes, please do so.

김민규

Thank you always, butler.

문준휘

I am truly ashamed.

As soon as the butler left the room, Min-gyu smiled at her and said.

김민규

Don't worry, mermaid girl.

김민규

Because I asked you to prepare two servings today.

유화

Mermaid girl, stop calling me that cheesy name.

김민규

Then tell me your name.

김민규

Otherwise I'll call you Mermaid Girl for the rest of my life.

A mischievous smile spread across his face.

유화

…oil painting.

유화

Call me Yuhwa.

유화

That's my name.

김민규

Yes, Yuhwa.

유화

Can you bring me some clothes?

유화

It's so suffocating in this fishbowl, I'd rather just stay human.

김민규

Yes, Yuhwa, I will do whatever you want.

유화

Are you sending me home?

유화

That's what I want most.

김민규

Except that.

He answered firmly with a smile.

The sweetest smile, the most resolute answer, the world was out of sync.