Prologue
The storm howled like a living trap, waves crashing with feral fury as though the sea itself sought to swallow every soul.
Before the jagged cliffs, Vivienne was already cornered, pushed to the very edge.
“Vivi. It’s dangerous.”
The low male voice called her name, half coaxing, half threatening. Calm on the surface, yet the storm in his eyes mirrored the chaos below.
“Come here.”
“...No.”
One step back.
Two steps.
Each retreat thickened the sea’s scent. Behind her stretched only the endless abyss of the cliff.
Yet she could not stop retreating. The shadow she cast ahead kept her pinned.
“Let’s go home.”
The living trap was coming.
Bringing nothing but the sweetest bait.
“Hide-and-seek is over. I found you, so I won. I won.”
One step.
Two steps.
Slowly.
“So let’s go home.”
Once, she had fallen for that beauty without knowing it was a trap. Content to be near him, letting those thorns sink into her skin, those blunt teeth tear her heart without mercy.
She had been torn apart, bleeding, left broken. Only then did the trap let her go—only to lure her back with the same sweet bait into its greedy embrace.
“I won’t go, Kian.”
But now I am no longer your prey, Vivienne declared with unmistakable resolve.
Vivienne stopped. No more steps were possible; the cliff ended.
“...Please.”
Was this a dream? She could not believe it.
Standing at the very edge, his voice trembled with desperate pleading.
Yet this was a lie. The man never begged for anything.
Once she had hoped—any way at all—to make that ruthless male break. She would have hurt herself, broken herself, without hesitation.
But what good was it? The memory brought a rueful, self-mocking smile to her lips.
“And I won.”
Before the words finished falling, she threw herself into the sea without hesitation.
Goodbye.
Kian von Larson.
Remembering the crack that had split his pitch-black eyes, she fell.
Down. Down. Falling.
Black night.
The moonlight was unnaturally bright.
A long, pristine beach of white sand stretched along the coast. The coral sand gleamed under the silver light, sparkling with every gentle wave.
Behind the rocks where the sea crashed, Vivienne peeked her upper body out, waiting for someone.
She should have been completely hidden. The moonlit side was no exception. Her dazzling platinum hair danced with the waves, sparkling like living sunlight.
After waiting for so long, she glanced at the compass hanging around her neck. The needle trembled slightly toward the beach.
Soon...
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Ah, it felt good. The crisp night air sharpened her mind.
The gentle breeze brushed her cheeks, and the tiny ripples tickling her tail fins felt wonderful.
This was the happiest wait in the world—only once a month, on the night of the full moon, a rare treat.
Splash, splash.
Footsteps on the sand. A long shadow fell across the beach. Vivienne’s blue eyes sparkled with sudden joy. A familiar figure appeared in the distance.
...He’s here!
Vivienne held her breath, gripping the rocks. Her heart pounded wildly. Her tail trembled with excitement.
There were things that made her heart race just from watching: baby fish playing tag in the coral, or her sisters dancing and sending up joyful water sprays.
But among them all, the absolute best was right before her eyes—the perfect male. Hands down, the greatest.
“He’s so handsome.”
The exclamation escaped her naturally.
The youngest princess of the underwater mermaid kingdom, Vivienne had once called the mermaid palace a cozy prison. As a child she had been gravely ill and nearly died. She had no memories before the pain began.
Her father, the Mermaid King, had forbidden her from leaving the palace because she was so fragile.
Under his careful care, she grew strong and healthy. She swam faster than anyone, never tired, learned every dance, and shone above her sisters in skill.
Yet strangely, the overprotectiveness never ended. Each time her father’s words were the same.
You’re so weak you might break at any moment.
It was frustrating. She wasn’t even sick—she was only pretending to be. No matter how she tried to understand her parents’ worry, the anger never left her.
Whenever she envied her free-swimming sisters, the King locked them in the palace too.
“Annoying.”
“All because of you, Vivi.”
She was bullied even by her sisters. The only one who stood by her was her vast collection of books and her personal maid, Anabel.
Eventually, as she reached puberty and came of age, her father’s restrictions tightened further.
The palace was stuffy, but there was still one place where she could breathe freely.
Once a month, on the night of the full moon, a religious ceremony was held at the deep-sea temple. The only night the palace guards were lax. She used it to slip away and enjoy her own freedom.
“...Hello.”
The unreachable figure shattered in the air. She knew he could not hear her.
Yet.
Just looking at that male made her heart race until she could not contain the urge to do something—anything.
“You’ve been well for the past month? You’re still so handsome.”
Even with eyes as black as the night and hair as dark as ink, it was strange. To her, he seemed brighter than the moon in the sky.
“My name is Vivienne.”
Even if others thought she was mad, she wanted to tell him her name.
“You can just call me Vivi if you like.”
If he called her that himself... just imagining it made her heart feel like it would burst.
That voice must be as beautiful as his face. She wanted to step forward right then and hear it.
“What is your name? I don’t know how to... call you.”
He was too special to be just human, and even more so for a male.
Just.
Just her own.
She wanted to say his name.
Only you.
The name only you could bear.
She had tried “Radiant Male,” “Perfect Male,” many names, but they all felt childish. Vivienne wanted to know his true name.
She had always been curious about him.
At first, she had wondered about the moon from the surface world. The waves kept shifting and blocking her view. She only wanted to see it once—undisturbed moonlight.
But that was nothing compared to what happened later.
The moment she stepped onto the surface, she was completely captivated by the male brighter than the moon.
After seeing him, he never left her thoughts.
Even though she could never touch him.
Just watching him was enough.
Sharing the same moonlight, the same air. Even from afar, she wanted to send him words.
Just once.
No, just one more time.
She wanted to meet him.
Since then, Vivienne’s escapes had happened every month. She had countless reasons to meet him, and each time she met him, she wanted him more.
That night, when she learned it would rain, Vivienne had not been able to sleep.
When it rained, the perfect male did not come out for a walk. Then she would have to wait another month. The rain had started at night and continued until the afternoon.
But when the evening came and the moon rose, the sky cleared as if by magic. She could see him. So today was her fortunate day.
The male walked slowly along the beach. Born noble, he never hurried or rushed.
Unlike her own nervous self, he had no obvious expression. When his face grew thoughtful, she wondered what thoughts lay behind it.
What about when he looked up at the full moon? The profile from temple to chin to neck was too perfect.
Vivienne watched every moment of him, committing it to memory. Even locked away for twenty years, this one day was enough to keep her going.
Was it the breeding season? Her chest burned hotly. She wanted to rush forward and wrap him in her arms, but she held back.
If only she could press her lips to those lovely ones.
I like you.
Actually, I’ve been staring at you for a very long time.
If you like me too, will you hold me?
If only she could say that.
...How wonderful it would be.
Just imagining it made her tail sway happily. But sadly, because of that tail she could not approach. The male walked on land; she swam in the sea.
What would he say if he saw my tail?
Like Anabel, would the princess say my scales are truly magical? My fins are so soft and beautifully sparkling?
Ah... that could never happen.
She was certain. Wanting to love someone from a different species was too much. It was arrogant to even wish for it.
Looking at him from afar was enough. She was comforting herself.
“......!”
For the first time, their eyes met. His pitch-black eyes, unfathomable depth, stared straight at her.
Of all times, she had been caught peeking while hiding!
Embarrassment flooded her face. Startled, Vivienne darted straight down into the water.
Thud, thud-thud, thud.
Her heart pounded like a wild drum.
She had no idea how she had swum here. Her heart still raced wildly.
Clearly he had seen her. The sharp, piercing gaze that had watched her made her shiver with shame.
Did he think I was a strange female?
Or had he realized she was a mermaid? Or just that she was a human swimming?
But no—hiding behind a rock on a stormy night and peeking was cowardly and creepy. Even if she thought she was the one being watched, she still felt a chill.
Imagining that perfect male would think she was a strange female made her stomach twist with anger.
That’s right. So what. A strange female.
It was only because she lacked courage that she could not approach. She had no choice but to admit it. Ah, Vivienne let out a small sigh.
What if I don’t come out for a walk because of this?
Her mood sank further.
What do I do? I don’t want to miss seeing him again. I should have hidden better.
It felt like her careless action had ruined everything. Her chest had felt tight the entire way through the secret tunnel.
Whatever. I’ll just go back and sleep. I’ll think clearly tomorrow.
She was irritated, yet sleep might not come. But if she was caught again, that would be the bigger problem. Vivienne urged her tail to hurry.
She had pretended to sleep early and slipped out. She needed to return to her room quickly and pretend she had been asleep the whole time.
Vivienne swam out of the tunnel and made her way stealthily toward her room.
Creak.
When she turned the doorknob, her fins stiffened, and her scales bristled.
“Vivi.”
Just as she expected, a sharp voice came from the room.
...What?
Startled, she froze.
“At such a late hour. Where have you been?”
The Mermaid King glared at her with a terrifying face.