Chapter 84
He led me to the fountain where he had been sitting earlier and gestured for me to dip my hand into the water.
I hesitated for a moment, but the clear, still water didn’t seem threatening in any way.
Following his words, I carefully placed my hand into it.
A cold sensation began spreading from my fingertips.
The chill slowly crept upward, and by the time my hand was submerged to the back of my palm—
“Our consciousness as humans is too strong. Unlike our ancestors, it’s hard for us to handle our powers freely. It’s the same with pheromones.”
His calm voice continued.
“That’s why it’s easier when you’re touching water. Feel the ripples and the pheromones spreading through them. For me, it feels like paint dissolving in water.”
I did as he said and gently moved my submerged hand. As my fingers sliced through the water, faint ripples spread outward.
Closing my eyes, I focused slowly.
‘Ah… this must be it.’
Just as Siren had said, I could sense something flowing out of me into the water.
Like paint dispersing in water, like sugar melting in tea—
A strange feeling, as if something fine as mist was spreading out from me.
“Ah, you felt it. The scent just got stronger.”
At Siren’s amused tone, my shoulders stiffened for a moment.
He’d said this was a scent that could seduce others—was he really fine being this close?
But when I glanced at him, his expression was perfectly calm.
“Now, imagine drawing it back in. Absorb it again.”
Once I’d felt it once, it was surprisingly easy.
Tracing the sensation backward in my mind, the haze-like feeling gradually disappeared.
“You succeeded on your first try. You learn quickly.”
Honestly, I couldn’t have done it without Siren.
He was a far kinder teacher than I’d expected.
I gave him a small nod of thanks.
We returned to the tea table, and this time, I lifted my teacup and took a sip.
The refreshing scent of herbs filled the space—
mingling with the warmth of black tea.
For a brief moment, my heart felt calm.
…But this wasn’t the time to relax completely.
“So, what is it you wanted to tell me?”
Setting my cup down, I looked at him.
He tilted his head slightly, smiling.
“Hmm… maybe just the comfort of meeting one of my own kind?”
If he was going to lie, he could at least have said it with more conviction.
I frowned and asked firmly, “That’s not all, is it?”
If all he wanted was casual conversation, he could’ve done that in the garden the other day.
There was no reason to bring me here secretly—through hidden walls and maze-like corridors—unless he had something he couldn’t say openly.
My question deepened his smile.
Then he nodded and said softly,
“You’re right. I want to make you an offer.”
“An offer?”
His gaze flicked toward the direction I’d entered from—where Denok was probably waiting outside.
“The man outside who’s desperately waiting for you.”
His eyes returned to me, narrowing slightly.
“Do you love him?”
Thud.
The sudden question made my heart plummet.
I stiffened reflexively, then pressed my lips together, staring at him.
“What do you mean by that?”
Despite the suspicion and wariness in my tone, his face remained calm and unbothered.
“It doesn’t look like you’re madly in love with him—at least, not like two people who fell for each other at a royal ball. But that’s how noble marriages usually are, isn’t it?”
His voice lowered, as if sharing a secret. His sky-blue eyes narrowed slightly.
“A marriage of convenience… nothing more, nothing less.”
“…And why are you so interested in that?”
At my question, his expression suddenly changed. The playful smile vanished, replaced by an unexpectedly serious look.
“I’m asking because I mean it.”
He set his teacup down.
“How about leaving that man and coming to Elka?”
“What…?”
My breath caught. I stared at him in disbelief.
Siren didn’t waver. He met my eyes squarely and continued,
“To be precise… I want you to come to me.”
For a moment, my mind went completely blank. Then a short, incredulous laugh escaped me.
“Are you insane?”
This wasn’t the kind of conversation I came here for.
Just as I was about to stand up, his next words froze me in place.
“What if I said I could hide you from the Duke of Sertia?”
The corners of his lips curved upward slowly.
“You two don’t seem to be on very good terms.”
“How could you…”
My voice trailed off before I could finish.
“Did you forget what our kind can do?”
Mind control.
He was saying he could use that power to hide me.
‘How?’
I bit the inside of my cheek discreetly.
According to what I knew from the original story, half-mermaids born between a human and a siren could not use any powers.
The only exception had been my mother.
My father had known that such children shouldn’t have abilities, yet he’d still taken a chance on her—because she had been special.
‘But…’
There was something that didn’t quite fit.
Hadn’t I also used my power, albeit much later?
If I could, then it was possible that others could too.
And judging by how easily he handled his pheromones, Siren clearly knew a lot more than he let on.
While I wrestled with confusion, Siren rose from his seat and walked toward me.
Then, kneeling on one knee before me, he looked up—his eyes deep and heavy, unlike anything I’d seen before.
“To be honest, I want you. I want your blood.”
He extended his hand toward me.
It wasn’t a gesture that forced or demanded anything—it was as if he were offering me a choice.
“I can give you anything you want. Elka is rich, and I’m in a position to share that wealth. You could live in luxury forever… or, if you’d rather live freely, I can give you that too.”
His voice held a strange, desperate sincerity.
I bit my lip, unsettled by that unfamiliar emotion—and a thought crossed my mind.
‘Could it be…’
He said he wanted my blood.
But there wasn’t a trace of passion or desire in his gaze.
Mermaid blood.
Could my blood really hold that much power for him to covet it so deeply?
My abilities were far weaker than his.
Only one possibility came to mind—
My thoughts drifted toward someone like him.
My father, who had wanted to mix magical bloodlines.
I looked at Siren with a cold, hard stare.
‘Does he want a child?’
I stared at his outstretched hand for a moment, then asked in a flat tone,
“You said you could hide me from my father.”
Raising my gaze, I met his eyes.
“How can I trust that?”
At my question, he slowly withdrew his hand.
His sky-blue eyes lost all trace of warmth, turning sharp and cold as ice.
“I suppose… by making him believe you’re dead.”
