No, this couldn’t be right. Vivianne was the master’s woman. She absolutely could not be a mermaid.

Hadn’t he clearly seen her walking around the mansion on those slender legs all this time?

He watched silently. The woman who surfaced sat on a rock, splashing water with her slender legs.

“Right. I saw an illusion. She walked out of the sea.”

So this wasn’t even worth dwelling on.

It was a strange experience he’d never have again. As he swam away, he saw the servants gathering. The master was with them. They seemed to be searching for her.

That was all he saw today. He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping to get some sleep.

Even so, Theodore couldn’t fall asleep until dawn.

* * *

As expected, the master summoned him first thing in the morning.

“You called for me, Master.”

Theodore entered the duke’s office and greeted him with a somewhat haggard face. The master, in contrast, looked impeccable as always.

“Did you not sleep well last night?”

“Pardon?”

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

Kian hit the mark without even looking up from his documents. How did he know so well without even looking? Theodore smiled faintly and bowed his head slightly.

“No, I’m fine.”

“If you’re fine, that’s good.”

“Why did you call for me?”

“Theodore, where were you yesterday? You weren’t in your quarters.”

At the master’s direct question, Theodore thought the inevitable had come.

He had heard from Matilda that the mansion had been turned upside down last night because of Vivianne.

Of course, he had a general idea, but showing too much knowledge might provoke the master.

“As you said, I couldn’t sleep. So I went for a walk. Were you looking for me all night?”

“I was. Desperately.”

There was a sting in his words. Strictly speaking, even if Vivianne was sleeping, a guard shouldn’t leave his post. Theodore readily admitted his mistake.

“I apologize. It was my oversight to leave my post. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

“Well, since Vivianne was found safely, there’s no need to worry. But where were you?”

He asked casually, but there might be a hidden intention behind the question. From past experience, it seemed better to be honest with the master rather than lie unnecessarily.

“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. It seems that wasn’t a lie.”

Just as expected. He was confirming after securing testimony. Kian put down his quill pen and stared at Theodore.

“If you were there, did you see what Vivianne was doing?”

Here, he was at a loss for words. It was difficult to give an accurate answer when he wasn’t sure if what he saw was real.

No, even if it was real, how could he tell the truth? He was certain no one would believe such a story.

After pondering for a moment, Theodore decided on his answer.

“I saw Vivianne swimming.”

“Swimming?”

“Yes.”

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

“At first, I jumped in instinctively, worried she might get hurt. But she was better than I expected?”

“I see.”

“Much better than me. So I left her alone. While keeping a close eye on her, of course.”

“Well. She was good at splashing water while sitting on a rock. As for swimming well…”

Kian smirked as he added. From this statement alone, it was impossible to tell whether he had seen it or not.

He definitely saw her splashing water. It didn’t seem right to press further, so he remained silent.

“Did you go to the sea together with Vivianne?”

He asked casually, but this must have been what he really wanted to know.

“No. Not at all.”

There was nothing to be ashamed of. It wasn’t a lie that they hadn’t gone swimming together. He had just happened to be there by sheer coincidence.

“If I had gone with her, I wouldn’t have let her swim. Because you would worry, Master. And I wouldn’t have let her out at such a late hour in the first place.”

Theodore deliberately emphasized that he had seen her swimming. Even if the master had seen the same thing he did, he wanted the master to think he had seen an illusion too.

“I see. Just in case. Don’t let her do it in the future. I’ll tell Vivianne not to go outside without a guard.”

As always, the master only gave necessary orders with an unreadable expression. His duty was simply to follow those orders.

“As you wish.”

“Oh, and Theodore. You’re quite talkative today.”

“Pardon?”

“This is so unlike you.”

For a moment, he was at a loss for words. Theodore held his breath and stared at the master’s hands. He could see the tension in his fingertips gradually relaxing.

“Ah, don’t misunderstand me. It just reminds me of old times, which is nice.”

Theodore quietly bowed.

“And don’t leave your post carelessly.”

“Yes, Master.”

“You’re important to me, you know.”

Kian von Larson spoke habitually.

You are my person. You are important to me.

Like dropping an anchor. Just like that.

“If you disappear, and Vivianne disappears too. When my people vanish, I get so anxious. I’m not a child, you know.”

Kian joked as he slightly pulled up the corner of his mouth, but his eyes remained expressionless.

“Right?”

His tone seeking light agreement remained the same. Theodore felt a choking sensation and swallowed hard.

“No. I will always keep that in mind.”

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

He paid knightly respects to his master and left the office.

* * *

Perhaps due to the aftermath of resolving the side effects, Vivianne suffered a long bout of illness. She didn’t know exactly how many days had passed, but she knew it was more than just a day or two. Even in her half-sleep, she vaguely sensed it.

The gentle hands that removed her wet clothes and bathed her in warm water were somewhat persistent and desperate. When her fever rose and she became delirious, someone carefully wiped her with a wet cloth.

It must be Matilda. She always felt indebted to Matilda.

She only felt apologetic and grateful.

Even the longest sleep had an end. When she drowsily opened her eyes, it was dim dawn. Her vision was still blurry from sleeping too long, but she sensed someone beside her.

Buried in the soft bedding, Vivianne wriggled slightly and raised her head.

“You sleep without any bad habits. They said you sleep like the dead.”

A large hand gently stroked Vivianne’s disheveled hair.

“I thought you were dead.”

The low voice that chided her.

“…Kian?”

The sound of a slight chuckle in response to her call was also Kian.

Vivianne rubbed her eyes and looked around. A single sofa beside the bed, a spacious 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 tone. She had been sick the whole time. She naturally assumed she would be in her own bed. Being in Kian’s bed was strange.

“Surveillance.”

“What?”

“You said your wish was to sleep together.”

She remembered begging him not to leave and to sleep together in bed the last time they spent the night together. He had absolutely refused then. Kian sat with his upper body leaning against the headboard, looking down at Vivianne who lay with her head on the pillow.

Kian was being affectionate again. Just when she thought he might disappear like a crescent moon, he would become full and bright like a full moon.

Even knowing he would act selfishly again and turn prickly, her heart fluttered helplessly.

He would distance himself when she approached, yet pull her back mercilessly when she tried to escape.

“Why didn’t you come to the waltz lesson?”

“I was busy.”

His tone was indifferent, showing no sign of remorse.

“You still remember that?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“Then get better quickly. The teacher is coming again next week.”

“What if you’re busy next week too?”

Vivianne asked with a pouty face.

“Can’t be helped then.”

“That’s not fair.”

As she tried to sit up, Kian climbed on top of her. He pressed her back down onto the bed and gazed down at her leisurely.

“Don’t squirm. Not if you don’t want to get sick again.”

“What does that mean?”

“I wonder. What could it mean?”

He asked rhetorically as he slowly brought his lips to hers.