Hi, Your Highness, the Mermaid Prince

Every mermaid sheds a tear upon turning eighteen.

That tear transforms into the roundest, most beautiful pearl they will ever make, a symbol of a mermaid's loyalty and love.

Whoever swallows that pearl will fall madly in love with the mermaid.

Alanxier is the youngest son of the mermaid king, and the most beautiful mermaid in the entire underwater world.

He lost his pearl, and has no choice but to go to the human world to retrieve it.

Before he leaves, his father gives him a reluctant farewell:

"My most beloved child, remember: when the human who swallowed your pearl loves you more than anything and is willing to give up his life for you, you can take your pearl back from him."

"But once the pearl leaves your body, that love will disappear, too. So don't let a cold, cruel human deceive you!"

Alanxier leaves the sea full of confidence.

He's the most noble prince. How could he ever fall in love with ugly humans who don't even have beautiful fish tails?

*

Saxiu is the empire's marshal, a decorated war hero known as the "God of Slaughter."

Everyone looks up to him, but everyone fears him, too.

Then one day, a little tyrant enters his life.

This fellow is beautiful, ill-tempered, extravagant, picky, and proud, and seems to like only him.

He keeps asking Saxiu, "How much do you love me today? Are you willing to give your life for me yet?"

Every time, Saxiu sternly tells him, "Stop dreaming. Go to a hospital and get treated for your delusions."

He's the grand marshal of the empire, of course he wouldn't like a troublemaker.

At most... he'd look out for him a little, since the other fellow had a one-sided crush on him. He couldn't just let him get bullied. That was only decent.

Until the day he sees Alanxier fall into the raging sea. Saxiu is so terrified that his heart nearly stops, and he jumps in without hesitation. Only then does he realize he'd fallen deeply in love with this person.

So deeply that he would give his life for him.

But then...?

Why have his legs turned into a fish tail?!

Why is he swimming around so happily in the water?!

Why does Alanxier swim over, cheerfully take a pearl from his chest, say "Goodbye," and swish his tail as he swims away?!!!

Saxiu reaches out in despair. "Alanxier, please stop! I'm in love with you now!"

Alanxier swims farther and farther away with the pearl. "It's fine. Without the pearl, you'll forget about me soon!"

*

But one day, two days, three days...

Even without the pearl, Saxiu still loves his mermaid prince.

So he has no choice but to set out... and swim down the road to winning his beloved back.

I love you for you, and nothing else.

A gruff marshal who's more stubborn than anyone but loves more deeply than anyone × a beautiful, pampered, sour-faced mermaid prince with a kitten's personality

The cover art is not commissioned. Artist: K Xiao, from Dian Xiao Wang Sheng.

Theme: Hope is allowed to bloom in every passing second.