Mermaid Trap

Despite her apology, Vivianne’s lips trembled. Kian glanced up and down at the shivering Vivianne before letting out a deep sigh. He gently lifted her wet body.

“Let’s go.”

The sight of her soaked form reminded him of the day he had found her.

* * *

Despite trying to sleep, Theodore couldn’t find rest.

He tossed and turned for a long time before abruptly sitting up in bed.

“…What did I just see? Really.”

He couldn’t believe his own eyes.

It felt like waking from a surreal dream.

Unable to sleep, he had sat on the hill overlooking the coral beach and saw Vivianne.

He thought of calling out to her and asking her to wait a moment, but realized it was too late. Not wanting to cause any misunderstandings, he decided to watch quietly unless it seemed dangerous.

At first, he thought she was just out for a walk because she couldn’t sleep. They had walked together in the glass greenhouse, but perhaps she needed another walk. He, too, couldn’t sleep and had come to the beach to clear his head. Vivianne might have felt the same way.

Considering how the waltz issue might have upset her, it would be strange if she slept soundly.

So he watched her in silence. She neatly placed her shawl and shoes on the sand and suddenly headed into the sea. At first, he thought she was just dipping her feet.

She had said she liked walking barefoot on the sand during their walk. But she quickly went deeper into the water and soon disappeared.

Was she going for a swim? Or could she have had a darker intention?

His mind was a whirl of thoughts. His body moved before his mind could catch up. All he thought about was running into the sea to save her. Just as he was about to jump into the water, Theodore saw something unbelievable.

The splashing figure was indeed Vivianne. But as she submerged, a shimmering tail fin flicked through the water.

…Just like a mermaid.

Theodore froze at the edge of the water.

It must have been a mistake. Surely he had seen something that wasn’t there.

A beautiful woman in the moonlight could create illusions.

It must have been an optical illusion in the dark. That’s what he told himself.

But Vivianne didn’t resurface for a long time after she went under.

Could she have drowned?

Maybe she was cramping and couldn’t get out?

Anxiety surged through him. Assuming he had seen something that wasn’t real, he thought she might be in trouble. Not the best swimmer, but capable enough, he dove into the sea.

As he swam towards her, he saw the tail fin break the surface again. Vivianne, with her head above water, was gracefully swimming.

“…That’s impossible. It can’t be.”

Remembering that moment, Theodore muttered to himself repeatedly. He hoped it was just an illusion created by the moonlight. Though it felt too vivid to be a dream, it was also too surreal to accept as reality.

So, if by any chance.

If her true identity was a mermaid…?

No, it couldn’t be. Vivianne was the master’s woman. She couldn’t possibly be a mermaid.

He had seen her walking around the mansion with her slender legs.

He watched in silence. The woman who emerged from the water climbed onto the rock and splashed her thin legs in the water.

“Right. It was just an illusion. She walked out of the sea.”

This wasn’t something worth dwelling on.

It was a strange experience that wouldn’t happen again. Swimming back, he saw the servants whispering. The master was with them. They were probably looking for her.

That was all he saw that night. He shut his eyes, hoping to sleep.

But Theodore couldn’t sleep until dawn.

* * *

As expected, he was summoned by the master first thing in the morning.

“You called for me, Master.”

Entering the Duke’s study, Theodore greeted him with a slightly haggard face. The master, on the other hand, looked as immaculate as ever.

“Theo, did you not sleep last night?”

“Pardon?”

“You look tired. Your face is quite haggard.”

Kian, without lifting his eyes from the documents, hit the mark. Despite not looking at him, how did he know so well? Theodore smiled lightly and bowed his head.

“I’m fine.”

“If you say so.”

“What did you call me for?”

“Theo, where were you last night? You weren’t in your quarters.”

Theodore thought, here it comes.

Matilda had told him that the mansion was in an uproar last night because of Vivianne.

He had already suspected as much, but pretending to know too much would only provoke the master.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I took a walk, as you said. Did you look for me all night?”

“I did. Desperately.”

There was a sting in his words. Strictly speaking, it was true that the guards should not leave their posts, even if Vivianne was asleep. Theodore admitted his fault.

“I’m sorry. It was my fault for leaving my post. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

“Well, since Vivi was found safe, don’t worry about it. But where exactly were you?”

Though he asked casually, it could be a question hiding some deeper intent. From experience, Theodore knew it was better to be honest with the master than to lie.

“I was at the beach. I couldn’t sleep, so I went to get some sea air.”

“One of the servants said they saw you near the beach. So that wasn’t a lie.”

As expected, he was confirming a report. Kian set his quill down and watched Theodore closely.

“Did you see what Vivi was doing there?”

This was where he hesitated. He wasn’t sure if what he had seen was real, so it was hard to give a precise answer.

Even if it was real, how could he say it? No one would believe him.

Theodore thought for a moment before answering.

“I saw Vivianne swimming.”

“Swimming?”

“Yes.”

And if one of the servants had seen him, they might have noticed him wet.

“I initially thought she might get hurt and jumped in, but she was a much better swimmer than I expected.”

“I see.”

“She was much better than me. So I just watched her carefully.”

“Well. She was certainly splashing around on the rock. Not sure how good a swimmer she is.”

Kian chuckled. It wasn’t clear whether he had seen anything or not.

Theodore kept silent, not wanting to push the matter.

“Did you go into the sea with Vivi?”

He asked casually, but this was probably the real question he wanted to ask.

“No. Not at all.”

There was nothing to hide. It wasn’t a lie that they hadn’t gone swimming together. He had just been there by coincidence.

“If I had gone with her, I wouldn’t have let her swim. You’d be worried. And I wouldn’t have let her come out so late.”

Theodore emphasized that he saw her swimming. Even if the master had seen the same thing, he could make him think it was just an illusion.

“Right. Just in case. And don’t let her do it again. I’ll tell Vivi not to go out without a guard.”

As always, the master’s expression was inscrutable, issuing orders for what was needed. All Theodore had to do was follow them.

“I will comply.”

“Oh, and Theo, you’ve been talkative today.”

“Pardon?”

“Uncharacteristically so.”

For a moment, Theodore was at a loss for words. He held his breath, watching the master’s hand, noticing the tension and then the slow release of pressure.

“Oh, don’t misunderstand me. It’s just nice to be reminded of the old days.”

Theodore bowed silently.

“And don’t leave your post again.”

“Yes, Master.”

“You’re important to me, too.”

Kian von Larsson often said this.

You are mine. You are important to me.

Like anchoring him in place.

“When you and Vivi disappear, I get so anxious. Like a child.”

Kian’s words were light, his smile slight, but his eyes were cold.

“Right?”

The casual tone asking for agreement was the same as always. Theodore swallowed hard, feeling as if his throat were closing.

“Understood. I will remember.”

“Good. Rest if you’re tired. You may go.”

Theodore saluted his master and left the study.

* * *

Perhaps it was the aftermath of resolving the side effects. Vivianne fell into a long illness. She didn’t know exactly how many days had passed, but it was more than a day or two. Even in her shallow sleep, she vaguely realized this.

The gentle hands that undressed her wet clothes and washed her with warm water were both persistent and desperate. When her fever spiked, she was diligently wiped down with cool cloths.

It must be Matilda. She always seemed to be in Matilda’s debt.

She felt nothing but guilt and gratitude.

Even the long sleep had to end. When she finally opened her eyes, it was the dim light of dawn. Her vision was still blurry from sleeping too long, but she instinctively knew someone was beside her.

Vivianne, buried in the soft bedding, moved slightly and lifted her head.

“Noisy sleeper. Sleeps like the dead.”

A large hand gently stroked Vivianne’s tangled hair.

“I thought you were dead.”

The low voice giving her a mild scolding was also familiar.

“…Kian?”

His soft laughter in response to her calling his name was unmistakably Kian.

Vivianne blinked and looked around. A single sofa by the bed, a wide balcony, a very large bed, and lace ribbons tied to the headboard.

This was definitely Kian’s room.

“Why am I… here?”

She asked in a dazed voice. She had been sick the whole time. She expected to be in her own bed. Being in Kian’s bed was strange.

“Guarding you.”

“Pardon?”

“You wished to sleep together.”

She remembered begging him to stay with her the last time they spent a night together, asking him not to leave and to sleep in the same bed. He had refused adamantly then. Kian was now sitting against the headboard, looking down at her, propped up on a pillow.

Kian was kind again. Just like the waning moon disappearing and then filling up like a full moon.

Even knowing he would eventually act on his whims and turn prickly again, her heart fluttered helplessly.