The Sweet Scent of Warmth and a Stranger's Kindness
The biting cold that felt like it was slicing her skin left her head spinning. Was she feverish? Her cheeks burned hot. A muffled murmur reached her ears.
Too cold.
She had been shivering, thinking she was about to die, when something heavy and soft dropped onto her body.
The chill eased a little, yet the trembling continued. Her body instinctively curled into a ball to preserve what little warmth it had.
In an instant, a firm, solid heat wrapped around her entire frame.
...Warm.
It felt as if someone was holding her. The tender touch against her skin gradually eased the shivers. Vivienne felt an inexplicable sense of relief and nestled deeper into the embrace.
Who could it be? She wanted to know the source of this warmth. Even as she tried to open her eyes, her head kept dropping, her thoughts growing hazy.
With great effort, she lifted her heavy eyelids. A familiar face came into view.
It was unmistakably the face of a male.
Her mind reeled. Was this a dream? Or perhaps she was still dreaming?
Maybe in her fevered state she was gazing upon the illusions she had always yearned for. With her mind in a fog, she could not judge clearly.
She had only ever stolen glances from afar. Now the male's face was quite close.
Seeing him up close, he is even more handsome.
Truly, he was breathtakingly beautiful—chills ran down her spine. It was like the awe one feels upon seeing a blade freshly honed. Even his scent was pleasing.
She could not help but let out a soft, empty laugh. She wanted to look closer, but her lashes fluttered downward again.
She had never expected to meet him again like this. Even if it was a dream, she was grateful just to have dreamed such a dream.
Her eyes slowly closed. In the sweet, peaceful warmth, Vivienne sank once more into a deep sleep.
“The mermaid princess will trade half her soul for legs beneath the waves...”
“She will seek the son of the storm...”
“Where am I?”
Vivienne, her senses returning, blinked at the ceiling. The surroundings were once again unfamiliar, yet somehow brighter.
She instinctively sensed she had come ashore.
First, the heavy weight of water that had always pressed upon her was gone. Her body felt lighter. It was the same refreshing sensation she had known when she first rose to the surface.
Her head was still foggy from her long slumber. She carefully recalled the events in her mind.
She had made a contract with the witch, drunk the potion that would give her legs. She had lost consciousness immediately afterward, and now she was here.
So... I have legs?
Her heart began to thump wildly. She lifted the blanket covering her body.
Her eyes widened in shock.
There...!
Oh, heavens!
She clamped her mouth shut with both hands, holding back the cry that threatened to erupt. She breathed slowly for a moment.
She was wearing something thin like a cloth, but she had seen clearly—the two legs that should have been a tail now extended from her body!
Legs were given to me!
At last! She could hardly believe it even after seeing it with her own eyes. Vivienne threw the blanket aside and pulled away the cloth that still wrapped her body.
Two slender, smooth legs stretched straight downward.
They are so beautiful!
She was beside herself with joy. Instead of trembling with excitement, she wiggled her toes.
There were no bubbles, and the feeling was completely different from when she flexed her tail. The firm sensation against the heels was strangely stable. It was astonishing.
Normally, when happy, she would wave her fins happily. Now she could not do that, but she could wiggle her toes.
In the world...
Her feet were small and white. They were so adorable!
How do I walk?
Suddenly, she wanted to try walking slowly like that male had. The moment the thought came, her body moved on its own.
She lowered her feet to the floor with the greatest care. She tried to stand by pushing with her legs.
A loud thud sounded as her head hit the floor.
“Are you feeling better now?”
The moment a strange voice reached her, she hid under the blanket in a panic. Her heart pounded as if it would burst.
“I am sorry for startling you. I should have knocked first. I did not realize you were awake.”
Why am I hiding?
She was not even an acquaintance now.
It had been a purely instinctual reaction, but she quickly realized she no longer needed to do that.
Was she frightened? Her face grew hot with embarrassment.
“It is fine. Wait here. I will leave you alone until you are ready.”
The voice sounded middle-aged, and it was incredibly kind. Vivienne, who had been slightly reassured by the woman's thoughtful tone, peeked out with her eyes wide.
“That is good. I am fine.”
As soon as their eyes met, the woman smiled gently.
“Is there any pain or discomfort anywhere?”
She nodded. Vivienne kept the blanket over her body and only showed her face as she nodded.
“I am glad. When you first came, you had a very high fever, and we thought there was no hope. The fever finally broke after taking the medicine. You slept for three days straight, which was very worrying.”
It was probably a side effect of the potion. Still, sleeping for three days—it must have been a strong medicine.
“The doctor said you are fine now, but you need plenty of rest.”
The woman continued to chatter. Her dark hair, green eyes, and round face gave Vivienne a familiar feeling.
“So, lie down now.”
The woman gently pushed Vivienne back down and covered her with the blanket.
This woman... she reminds me of Anabel.
Even while fussing, she was taking care of her with tender care. It reminded Vivienne of Anabel.
“Do you remember what happened?”
Of course she remembered. But saying, “I was originally a mermaid, made a contract with the witch, drank the potion, and my legs grew as a result” would have been impossible.
Because her memories after drinking the potion were cut off, she did not know how she had ended up here.
For now, it was best to say she did not remember.
Vivienne shook her head.
“You must be curious about where this is. This is the Larson Ducal Estate.”
Larson. Ducal estate. Mansion.
Words she did not know filled her mind. Vivienne looked around with a dazed expression.
The bedroom was lavish. It was even larger and more beautiful than the mermaid palace she had known.
“Our master brought you, the young lady who had fallen on the beach.”
“...Master?”
“Oh, you can speak!”
The woman clasped her hands together, her face showing mild surprise.
“Yes.”
Master. Master.
Vivienne recalled the hazy memories in her mind.
She had been freezing, thinking she was about to die. She had been lifted suddenly, and a warm warmth had immediately enveloped her whole body.
And she had seen the face of her beloved male. It had seemed like a dream. She had thought it was nothing more than a sweet dream.
What if it had not been a dream?
Then... is that male my master? He brought me all the way here?
She had just realized an enormous fact. The breath she had been holding came out.
“Do you not remember any name?”
“Vivienne.”
“Vivienne?”
“Yes.”
“What a lovely name.”
Because it was lovely, she smiled brightly again.
“What is your name?”
“Ah, forgive my slip. I am Matilda. For the past three days I have been caring for the young lady on my master's orders.”
Matilda smiled shyly as she introduced herself.
“Matilda is pretty too.”
“Huh? My name?”
“Yes. Your name is pretty, and your smile is pretty too.”
It was an ordinary name she had never once been told was pretty. Seeing Vivienne's shining eyes, she felt a strange happiness.
“And thank you for taking care of me.”
“It is nothing. I only fulfilled my duties as my master ordered.”
Her polite thank-you had been adorable. Matilda felt as if she was being disarmed helplessly by this young girl before her.
“I want to thank him too.”
“Him?”
“Yes. Right now. Can I?”
She wanted to thank him out of the blue?
Unexpectedly?
Matilda could not help but stare at the smiling Vivienne, her face flushed.
“Well, um... my master is currently away. He only returned from training a short while ago and has many things to take care of. He is quite busy.”
“...If he is busy, then I cannot meet him?”
The naive young lady grew sullen again. After all, she was the one who had saved her life. It was sudden, but she probably wanted to give thanks at least once.
“It will be hard right now. I will speak to my master.”
“Thank you, Matilda.”
Grumble—
“Since you must be hungry, shall we have something to eat first?”
She nodded. Vivienne nodded with her face bright red.