Chapter 7
“...”
The atmosphere fell silent for a second.
Seeing that Mu Chen was all right, Wright’s brow relaxed. He asked, “What would you like to eat?”
As soon as Wright finished speaking, the little merman’s eyes lit up. “Conch, scallops, sea urchin, seaweed... and fish. Can I?”
He wanted to eat so many kinds of fish.
Wright smiled. “Sure.”
After ordering a few attendants to prepare everything, he led Mu Chen out to see Quina.
When Quina saw the little merman again, she was still thinking about how he’d barged into Wright’s room the night before without even saying a word. For a moment, she couldn’t decide whether Mu Chen was too bold or the prince was indulging him too much.
“It’s okay.” Mu Chen smiled at her. “His Highness said I can sleep with him until my chambers are ready.”
Of course, he’d gotten that permission by acting cute.
Quina could see it now: Wright only seemed strict on the surface. In reality, the little merman had him completely wrapped around his little finger.
After helping Mu Chen wash up and change clothes, she led him to the dining room.
But before they went inside, they heard an argument coming from within.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
There was a hint of displeasure in Wright’s voice.
“Did you tell me before having people dig a canal inside the palace? I still let you do as you pleased. Since you chose to keep him in the palace, can I take that to mean you agree to this engagement...”
An older voice rang out.
Wright: “But what does that have to do with the livestream?”
The other man said, “Becoming a member of the royal family means stepping into the public eye and letting the people get to know him.”
Wright: “He’s still young.”
The little merman’s mind had yet to mature, and Wright wasn’t sure whether having Jorah livestream Mu Chen’s everyday life now might have a negative impact on him.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness.”
Quina led Mu Chen into the room and curtsied to the two men.
The atmosphere fell abruptly silent.
Mu Chen looked up, finally getting a clear look at the man sitting beside Wright. A crown symbolizing supreme royal authority sat on his head, and the hair at his temples had already turned white. From Jorah’s furrowed brows and dignified bearing, it was immediately clear that he and Wright were father and son.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
Jorah followed the slightly childish voice and met a pair of deep blue eyes.
The little merman before him had delicate, striking features. His expression held not a trace of nervousness as he looked at Jorah; instead, he seemed open and natural.
Jorah instinctively felt a little fondness for him.
This was exactly the kind of commanding presence befitting his status as a member of the Igor royal family.
He watched the little merman walk toward the dining table holding Quina’s hand, then take a seat beside Wright,
Mu Chen tilted his head up and tugged on Wright’s sleeve, smiling at him. “Your Highness, isn’t livestreaming just chatting with everyone while we eat? I don’t mind.”
Back when Atlantis had yet to fall, he had to attend all kinds of ceremonies in front of hundreds of people almost every day.
Besides, stepping into the public eye early would help solidify his place in the Aus palace. It could only benefit him.
Almost the instant Mu Chen spoke, Wright’s expression softened considerably.
Watching Mu Chen’s sweet, obedient appearance, Jorah unconsciously smiled warmly. Then, with a hint of reproach, he said to Wright, “You’re not as sensible as he is.”
Wright: “...”
Jorah asked the little merman, “Your name is Mu Chen, right?”
“Mm-hm.”
Mu Chen nodded.
Jorah looked at Wright. “There’s nothing much going on lately. I don’t think you need to rush back to the border. Stay here and help Mu Chen get used to the capital. Maybe it’ll help fix your bad temper.”
Mu Chen leaned against Wright and took hold of his arm. “His Highness doesn’t have a bad temper at all.”
A smile unconsciously touched the corners of Jorah’s mouth.
This child was truly adorable, bright and always smiling. Just looking at him was enough to lift one’s mood.
He couldn’t help thinking of how Wright had always worn a stern expression as a child. As the royal family’s legitimate eldest son, Wright was someone on whom Jorah had placed many expectations. He had always been stricter than he was loving. Of course, Wright had never disappointed him; from childhood, he had been steadier and more sensible than children his age. But before they knew it, the atmosphere between them had grown tense, and after Wright’s mother passed away, it only worsened.
Sigh...
Jorah let out a barely perceptible sigh, thinking that it would be good for Wright and the little merman to spend more time together.
Now that he saw Wright no longer objected to the livestream, Jorah had the staff set up the equipment and then left.
...
On the Aus Empire’s largest livestreaming platform, hundreds upon thousands of virtual screens flickered and cycled through the feed. The most popular stream was titled, “Raising a Little One in the Palace: The Little Merman Meets Everyone Today~”
Yet what it was showing was a dull promotional video of the scenery.
The comments had long since devolved into a shouting match:
[Weren’t they supposed to livestream the royal family’s merman today? Why are they still showing a promotional video? Are they even going to start?]
[Exactly! I’ve been waiting since seven this morning, and it still hasn’t started. Seriously, I’m speechless...]
[Everyone said this engagement was a publicity stunt by the royal family. Atlantis fell almost six years ago. Isn’t it ridiculous to tell us out of nowhere that they’ve found a merman?]
[Aww, I still hope they start soon. I really want to see the little merman.]
[I don’t get it. It’s just a meal livestream. Is it worth this much hype? I seriously don’t understand what people these days have in their heads.]
[It’s a merman!]
[If you got yourself a fish-tail prosthesis, wouldn’t you be a merman too?]
[Hahahahahaha, fuck!]
Arguments of every kind rang out without end.
Just then, the livestream’s normally smooth picture flickered a few times, and the promotional video’s background music cut off abruptly.
The next second, the screen turned black.
The comments slowed down in an instant, and the livestream seemed much quieter,
[Is it starting?]
[Aaaaaah, the little merman!]
[Does a real merman really look as beautiful as the legends say?]
The image flickered a few times, and bright light poured in once again.
Next, long, curled, gel-like silver lashes and a pair of blue eyes filled the entire screen.
“Mm... Is this how you do it?”
A childish voice rang out.
Mu Chen still wasn’t very familiar with how to operate the livestreaming equipment, and had shoved the camera right up to his face. He looked toward the display screen set up beside him, his long lashes fluttering.
That’s not right...
Why is my face so huge?
Then the screen began to wobble slightly, switching back and forth between Mu Chen’s brows and forehead.
Unbeknownst to him, the comments in the livestream had already gone wild,
[Help, his eyelashes are so long!!!!]
[Those eyelashes could kill someone.]
[How can he still look so good from such an unflattering angle?]
[Sweetie, are you trying every unflattering angle there is? Hahahahaha]
[Help, stop laughing and get someone to help him,]
A pair of slender hands with prominent knuckles entered the frame. After a few adjustments, the screen finally faced forward, projecting Mu Chen’s upper body at just the right angle.
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Mu Chen tilted his head up and smiled at Wright, dimples appearing beside his cheeks.
The comments got excited again:
[A silver-haired, blue-eyed baby!]
[Aww, I don’t care, he’s white-haired!]
[He’s so cute when he smiles.]
[Whose hand was that just now?]
[Was that Prince Wright’s?]
[Right? Right? I saw the eagle embroidered on his cuff, and the little merman called him “Your Highness,” so he has to be the prince!]
[Sis, were you looking through a magnifying glass?]
“I’m Mu Chen, and I’m going to have breakfast now.” The little merman gave the camera a simple introduction. Just as he was about to sit on the chair, he suddenly seemed to remember something and looked around. “Wait... I think I forgot Sharky.”
As he spoke, Mu Chen ran out of the frame. When he returned, he was holding a shark plushie. He set it on the chair, carefully straightened it, and only then hopped up himself.
[Help, why does a shark plushie have a name too?]
[Hahahaha, does Sharky have to eat breakfast too?]
[He’s so adorable I could die.]
Mu Chen looked at the delicious food steaming on the delicate porcelain plate and lowered his lashes slightly.
It’s cooked...
He preferred eating it raw.
But it smelled all right.
Thinking this, he grabbed the fork and speared a piece of food on the plate.
But the fork felt awkward in his hand. Every time he managed to spear a piece of conch meat, it slipped right off again.
Just as Mu Chen struggled with the fork, his cheeks puffed up in frustration, that slender, fair hand appeared in the frame again.
The other person took the fork by its handle and corrected Mu Chen’s grip, then helped him spear a piece of conch meat from the plate.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Mu Chen’s lips curved into a smile.
[Aaaaaah, is this really the same cold, icy prince I remember?]
[Right? The prince is so gentle with the little merman.]
[Aww, I want to raise a little merman too.]
[Please tell me, where can I get a merman like this?]
Mu Chen ate slowly, wiping his mouth with a napkin every couple of bites. When he looked up at the comments again, they had already started discussing how to “steal a merman.”
His eyes curved into crescents; the teardrop-shaped gemstone pendant hanging from his forehead swayed, and his silver hair fell to his waist. His rosy lips curved into a smile, making the whole scene look like a painting.
So winning people’s affection was that simple.
Mu Chen knew it all perfectly well, but still looked silly as he asked Wright, “Why do they want to steal a fish...?”
Hearing this, Wright glanced at the display screen and saw row after row of comments like these:
[How many years do you get for stealing a merman...?]
[Let’s form a group and go steal a fish from the palace.]
[What color sack does the little merman like?]
Wright’s eyelid twitched. He covered the screen with his hand. “Don’t look. Eat.”
“Oh.” Mu Chen obediently nodded, but the instant he lowered his head, a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
The livestream was suddenly filled with a cheerful atmosphere,
[“Don’t look.”]
[Hahahaha, Prince, you’re so stingy.]
[Why won’t you let him look? The little merman hasn’t even told us what color sack he likes yet.]
[I’m dying. Why are you discussing stealing a merman right in front of the prince? If you’re going to talk about it, do it in secret!]
[Got it.]