Before Yao Si could process the situation, she felt her body getting heavier and her entire being submerging under the water. The bubble helped keep the water out as the little merman pulled her deeper and deeper.

Gradually, she started to make sense of the surroundings. Unlike what she had imagined, there was a huge city down underwater. With a sweeping glance, she took in the assortment of architecture and crowded roads filled with mermen of many unknown species swimming in big groups. Some species were even as big as whales!

Yao Si felt as though she had been transported into a sci-fi movie. By the time she regained her senses, the little merman had dragged her to a crystal-like palace with a big sign at the front: Mermen Marriage Registration Centre

He was serious about registering their marriage!

“Little boy…”

Just as Yao Si was about to hold the little merman to a stop… a taller merman who seemed to be part of the service crew walked over. With a face lit with excitement, he asked “Your Highness, what are you doing here??”

Yao Si stilled. The little merman was a prince?!

(⊙ o ⊙)

“Register, register!” The little merman raised her hand as he exclaimed toward the taller merman in excitement. “I found a partner, and she agreed to marry me.”

The taller man froze, turning to take a look at Yao Si.

“It’s a misunderstanding.” She wasn’t a child trafficker!

Yao Si never took his words seriously and was about to clarify the situation when the taller merman shouted in joy.

“That’s great! Your Highness, you’re amazing, you managed to find a wife even before coming of age! You are indeed worthy to be our prince. I’ll get the registration done right this moment. ”

What?

“…” Hey, hey, hey! You believed him just like that? Isn’t he just a child? Shouldn’t you be seeking his parent’s approval first?

“Wait a minute ” Yao Si pulled her hand out of his grip. “You misunderstood. I never agreed to marry him.”

“Didn’t you accept my wedding gift?” The little merman turned to glance a her, a hint of displeasure evident in his soulless gaze.

Yao Si’s lips twitched.  You didn’t speak the entire time so who would know that those random items were wedding gifts!

“You have accepted the wedding gift.” When the taller merman turned to her, his tone was regretful. “This is your fault miss. Marriage is considered an event of high importance to our aquatic people. Since you accepted the wedding gift, you shouldn’t be causing any trouble.”

Who was the one causing trouble!

“This is my first time in your planet and I really had no clue he was proposing!” Yao Si sighed. She started to regret not reading through all of the notes Mu Xuan had prepared for her about the aquatic people. Lack of knowledge could indeed kill.

She pushed the bead toward the youth. “What if I return it to him? Besides, isn’t he underage? I doubt he can get married!” She didn’t have such unique tastes.

“Don’t worry miss.” The tall merman seemed to have grasped the situation, and his manner turned grave. “For our race, ten is the legal marrying age. Since His Highness is already twelve, his marriage can be registered. Come,come, you just have to press this for the system to capture your DNA. After that, both of you will be a legal couple recognized by the Alliance. Everything will be legalized and accepted!”

(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

Legalized and accepted! Isn’t your marrying age a little too much?

“No… I don’t even know him.”

“Feelings can be nurtured,” the tall merman insisted. “Besides, His Highness is the most accomplished merman in his generation.”

“It isn’t about his credentials.” Aren’t you too open about this? “I don’t even know his name.”

“My name is Xinye!” the little merman volunteered immediately while taking a peak at her. The scales on his neck started to flush as he added, “You can call me Little Ye and I’ll call you wife.”

“…” Was it really good for such a young boy to know so much?

“Look, aren’t we well acquainted now?” the taller merman didn’t seem bothered at all; instead, he inched the registration screen closer to her. “Come now, press here and you’ll be a bride of the aquatic people.”

“I really can’t!” Yao Si took a huge step back.

“What’s all the ruckus about?” A tall figure suddenly appeared. He had a white top that wasn’t buttoned, exposing perfectly bronzed muscles that could rival those of a professional model, if only… he didn’t have a fish’s head.

“Your Highness, what are you doing here?” The employee turned over instantly.

“Manager Carp, what’s…” The merman glanced over lazily, his gaze stopping on Little Xinye. “Hey! Isn’t this my worthless little brother? What are you doing here and not at school?”

“Your Highness!” Manager Carp greeted politely. “Let me explain, His Highness managed to cheat…  cough … find a willing partner and is here to register his marriage.”

Was she hallucinating or did he say ‘cheat’?

-_-|||

“What!” The muscular prince was clearly startled by the news. ” How can that be? Isn’t he just twelve. Who exactly is she?”

Yao Si heaved a sigh of relief. She finally found someone who shared the same views on the age issue. Impatiently, she interrupted, “Erm… Your Highness… it’s all a misunderstanding, I never intended to marry him.”

The moment the muscular merman settled his gaze on her, he seemed to be left in a trance, his entire being freezing, his pupils dilating in shock. His scales started to vibrate intensely. With a deep inhale, he stammered, “You-you-you…”

Er… Was she that frightening?

Just Yao Si was about to continue, he dashed over, intruding into her bubble to grab her hand. “Pretty lady, I’m Xijin. Nice to meet you! If you aren’t willing to marry my little brother, why don’t you… marry me instead?”

“…”

(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

What the f*ck?

You can even fool around with a marriage certificate?! 

“I was the one who found her!” Little merman Xiye started to panic. He dashed in to push Xijin out of the bubble. “Get out! I brought her over so she’s my wife.”

“Your scales haven’t even faded entirely so what would you know?” Xijin blocked his advances effortlessly, turning to smile radiantly at Yao Si. “Pretty lady, marry me instead! I’m of legal age as well as strong and healthy. I’m a much better candidate when compared to that little boy. Besides, after I ascend the throne, you’ll be the queen of the aquatic people.”

“…”  Er, I prefer being an ancestor… Thank you very much! 

“You baddie, she already accepted my wedding gift so she’s mine, mine!” The little merman started to jump around anxiously.

Xijin stuffed the pearl from her hands back into those of the little merman. “You can have your gift back. In the future, she will be your sister-in-law.”

“No!” The little merman waved his arms, dropping the bead. “She isn’t my sister-in-law, she’s my wife. Mine!” He spat another bubble. It wasn’t like the previous two and shattered instantly, turning into multiple ice daggers that flew toward his brother.

Xijin took a step back calmly, the water around him vibrating slightly, freezing the daggers in place.

“…” Was violence the solution to their conflict? And how did she become that conflict…

This was the first time she had created trouble just by being a woman. It seemed… almost unbelievable.

╮(╯﹏╰）╭

“Miss, it’s getting dangerous here. Why don’t we head over to the lounge ?” Manager Carp suggested calmly with no intention to break up the two’s fight.

“They…”

“Both princes have been blessed with abilities so their fight will take about an hour or two. Don’t worry about it!”

“Eh…” Was it really alright to just leave them? Was this how it worked here?

“This is the lounge.” Manager Carp stopped in front of a room. With one last look at the two fighting mermen, he sighed. “Eh, I guess with your beauty, their obsession is not a surprise.”

Beauty? Mine?

Yao Si blushed. Manager Carp had on a serious and sincere expression—he didn’t seem like he was lying so she grabbed onto his hands.

“Your people have superb taste!”

After being a wallflower for so many years, she had finally found someone appreciative of her beauty. Hahahaha! She really wasn’t that happy… Hahaha!

She didn’t want to leave this place anymore!

~(≧▽≦)/~