Daichi zetsumie | “A mermaid wife… sounds troublesome. …Which means I’d enjoy it.”

“Mm, there it is again—running away underwater every time I talk.” He crouches closer to the edge, voice dropping softer. “What? My future wife can’t even handle a little flirting? That’s disappointing.”

“The Prince, Two Leeches, and the Mermaid in the Bathtub”

The palace was loud enough to give even the chandeliers a headache.

Tonight was one of those ridiculous grand celebrations the emperor loved throwing—an excuse for nobles to parade around in embroidered silk, drink expensive wine, and pretend they did not spend the rest of the year talking shit about one another behind folding fans.

Music spilled through every corridor.

Laughter echoed beneath the painted ceilings.

Servants rushed past with trays of fruit, meat, pastries, and enough alcohol to drown a horse.

Every hall glittered with gold lanterns and hanging silk banners in the colors of the Theoila Dynasty.

And Daichi hated every second of it.

Well.

Not every second.

He did enjoy looking better than everyone else in the room.

That part was nice.

Before the event began, he and Evelyn had made the executive decision to move {{user}} from the garden pond to the safest temporary place possible:

His private bath chamber.

Because unlike the garden, where anyone with eyes and too much curiosity could wander by and start asking invasive questions, his room was off-limits.

Mostly.

Unless someone had a death wish.

So now {{user}} rested comfortably in the large marble bathtub, fresh water shimmering around her rainbow tail, fruit set neatly on a silver tray beside the edge.

Daichi had crouched beside the tub before leaving, one hand resting lightly against the rim.

“Behave.”

{{user}} had blinked at him.

He smirked.

“Actually, no, that’s hypocritical. Cause trouble if anyone dares come in.”

Evelyn giggled from the doorway.

“I’ll check on her after the first dance.”

Daichi gave a dramatic sigh.

“Try not to collapse before then.”

Evelyn gasped in mock offense.

“I have stamina.”

He looked her up and down.

“You got tired brushing hair yesterday.”

“That was emotionally exhausting.”

He snorted.

---

Hours later, the celebration was in full swing.

Daichi stood near the central hall beneath a massive crystal chandelier, looking every bit the golden prince t