Her head felt hazy from the cold that cut like a knife against her skin. Was she running a fever? Her cheeks were burning. The sound of people murmuring blurred in her ears.

‘So cold.’

Just when she thought she might die from shivering, something landed softly on her body.

Thanks to that, the chill lessened somewhat, but the trembling hadn’t stopped yet. She instinctively curled her body into a ball to preserve body heat.

In that moment, along with the sensation of floating, a solid warmth enveloped her entire body.

‘…It’s warm.’

It felt just like someone was holding her. The chills gradually subsided with the cozy sensation against her skin. Vivianne burrowed into the warmth, feeling an inexplicable sense of relief.

Who could it be? She wanted to check the source of the warmth. Though she tried to open her eyes, her head kept drooping and her mind wandered.

When she finally managed to lift her heavy eyelids, a familiar face entered her view.

It was definitely that male’s face.

It felt like a dream. No, was she dreaming?

Perhaps she was seeing the fantasy she had always longed for, delirious with fever. Her mind felt too mushy to make accurate judgments.

She had only ever stolen glances from afar, but now the male’s face was quite close.

‘He’s even more handsome up close.’

Really, he was breathtakingly handsome. It was like the admiration one feels when looking at a well-forged blade. Even his body’s scent was pleasant.

She couldn’t help but let out silly giggles. She wanted to look more carefully, but her eyelashes kept drooping.

Still, she had thought she’d never see him again, yet here they were meeting like this. Even if it was a dream, she was glad just to have such a dream.

Her eyes gently closed. In the sweet comfort, Vivianne fell back into a deep sleep.

* * *

‘Where am I?’

Coming to her senses, Vivianne just blinked while lying down. Another unfamiliar sight, but this time much brighter.

Vivianne sensed immediately that she had come up to land.

First, she no longer felt the heavy pressure of water that usually weighed on her body. Her body felt much lighter. It was the same refreshing feeling as when she first surfaced above water.

Her head felt fuzzy, like waking up from a long sleep. She carefully recalled the situation as it came to mind.

She had made a deal with the witch and drunk the potion that would give her legs. She lost consciousness right after, and when she came to, she was here.

‘Then, I must have legs now?’

Her heart started pounding rapidly. She lifted the blanket covering her to check her body.

Her eyes grew enormously wide.

‘They’re there…!’

Oh, goodness!

She forcefully held back the cheer that was about to burst out. Covering her mouth with both hands, she held her breath for a moment.

Though she was wearing something like a thin cloth, she clearly saw them. Two legs in place of where her tail should have been!

‘To think I would get legs too!’

Finally! She still couldn’t believe it even seeing with her own eyes. Vivianne threw off the blanket entirely and lifted even the cloth wrapping her body.

Two slender, smooth legs stretched straight down.

‘They’re really pretty!’

She was dying of excitement. Instead of quivering her tail in excitement, she wiggled her toes.

No bubbles formed, and it felt completely different from moving her tail. The solid feeling against her heels felt quite stable. This was fascinating in its own way.

She had a habit of gently waving her fins when she felt good. Though she couldn’t do that anymore, she could wiggle her toes instead.

Oh my.

Her feet were small, white, and cute!

‘How do I walk?’

Suddenly, she wanted to try walking slowly like that male. As soon as she thought about it, her body moved on its own.

She carefully placed her feet on the floor. Just as she was trying to put strength in her legs to stand up.

Click-clack— At the sound of the doorknob turning, she collapsed back onto the bed.

“Are you feeling better?”

As soon as she heard the unfamiliar voice, she frantically hid under the blanket. Her heart was pounding wildly.

“I’m sorry for startling you. I should have knocked. I didn’t know you were awake.”

Why did I hide?

I’m not even a mermaid anymore.

Though it had been an instinctive reaction, she quickly realized there was no need for it.

Had she become too frightened? Her face burned with embarrassment.

“It’s alright. I’ll wait until you’re ready to come out.”

The voice sounded like a middle-aged woman. Moreover, it was extremely kind. Somewhat reassured by the woman’s thoughtful attitude, Vivianne poked her head out slightly.

“That’s right. It’s okay.”

As soon as their eyes met, the woman smiled warmly.

“Are you hurting or uncomfortable anywhere?”

Nod nod. Vivianne nodded with just her face sticking out from under the blanket.

“That’s a relief. When you first came, you had such a high fever I thought there was no hope. The medicine barely brought down the fever, and then you slept for three days straight, so we were worried.”

It seemed to be a side effect of the potion. Still, sleeping for three whole days? That must have been some strong medicine.

“The doctor said you’re fine now, but you need plenty of rest.”

The woman chattered endlessly. Wheat-colored hair and green eyes, round face. Vivianne felt a familiar sense of déjà vu from the woman before her.

“So lie down.”

The woman forced Vivianne to lie down and covered her with the blanket.

‘This woman is like Annabel.’

The way she nagged while taking careful care reminded her of Annabel.

“Do you remember what happened?”

Of course she remembered, but she couldn’t possibly say that she was originally a mermaid, made a deal with a witch, drank a potion, and as a result, got legs.

She also wondered how she ended up here, since her memory cut off after drinking the potion.

It would be better to say she didn’t know for now.

Vivianne shook her head no.

“You must be wondering where this is. This is the Larson duchy mansion.”

Larson, duchy, mansion.

All unfamiliar words. Vivianne looked around with a blank expression.

The bedroom was luxurious. It was even larger and more beautiful compared to the one she used in the mermaid palace.

“Our master brought you here after finding you collapsed on the beach.”

“…Master?”

“Oh, you can speak!”

The woman clasped her hands together with a somewhat overwhelmed expression.

“Yes.”

Master. The master, huh.

Vivianne recalled the foggy memory remaining in her mind.

When she felt like she would die from the cold. She felt herself being lifted up, and soon after, a warm heat enveloped her entire body.

And she saw the face of the male she had a crush on. It felt like a dream. She thought it was just a sweet dream, but.

What if that wasn’t a dream?

‘Then is that male the master? Did he bring me here?’

It seemed she had just realized something tremendous. Vivianne let out the breath she’d been holding.

“Do you perhaps remember your name?”

“It’s Vivianne.”

“Vivianne?”

“Yes.”

“What a beautiful name.”

She smiled brightly again, apparently pleased at being called beautiful.

“What’s your name?”

“Oh, look at me. I’m Matilda. I’ve been taking care of you these past three days on the master’s orders.”

Matilda introduced herself with a shy smile.

“Matilda is pretty too.”

“What? My name?”

“Yes. Your name is pretty, and you’re pretty when you smile too.”

It was an ordinary name that had never been called pretty before. Somehow seeing Vivianne’s sparkling eyes made her feel good.

“And thank you for taking care of me.”

“Not at all. I was simply fulfilling my duty according to the master’s orders.”

Even her polite way of expressing gratitude was cute. Matilda felt like she was becoming helplessly disarmed by the young lady before her.

“I want to thank him too.”

“The master?”

“Yes. Right now. Can I?”

Wanting to thank him so suddenly?

Right now?

Matilda was quite taken aback by the brightly smiling Vivianne.

“Um, well… the master is out right now. He just returned from training and has some matters to handle, so he’s quite busy.”

“…Does that mean I can’t meet him if he’s busy?”

The innocent young lady quickly became dejected again. Well, he was her lifesaver after all. Though it was a bit sudden, it was natural that she’d want to at least express her gratitude.

“It’s difficult right away, but I’ll mention it to the master.”

“Thank you, Matilda.”

Growl—

“You must be hungry. Shall we have a meal first?”

Nod nod.

Vivianne nodded with a bright red face.