By the time evening rolled around, my body felt like a borrowed relic someone had forgotten to return in one piece. The training, the golem, the confrontation with Arial… my soul wanted a refund.
After bath & dinner, I retreated to my room — the one place in the entire estate where danger levels were supposed to be low.
Supposed to be.
Because the moment I opened the door, I found Victoria already inside.
Waiting.
Arms crossed.
Expression neutral in a way that promised trouble.
"...Victoria," I said slowly. "Why are you here?"
"To ensure you do not do anything reckless in your sleep," she said.
"What reckless thing could I possibly—"
My words died.
Arial was sitting on the floor beside my bed, hugging her knees, trembling like a kitten abandoned in a winter storm.
Her ears twitched at the sound of my voice, and she looked up.
Not at Victoria.
At me.
And suddenly — instantly — the shaking eased.
Victoria noticed. Of course she did.
"Explain," I demanded.
Arial's voice was barely audible. "Deep Sense… hasn't stopped ringing since morning. I-It hurts when Lady Lenna is near."
Victoria stepped in smoothly. "Her mermaid instincts identify Lady Lenna as an apex threat. That lingering pressure does not fade quickly."
Arial nodded, clutching her arms tighter.
"It's weaker now… but still there. When I'm alone, it grows again."
"And when she's near me?" I asked.
Arial swallowed. "It stops."
I blinked.
Victoria did not.
"Mermaids form instinctive anchors," Victoria said. "They attach to a presence that feels safe. Right now, that is you."
"Why me?" I muttered.
"Because your predatory aura is low," she said flatly.
"Wow," I said. "That felt like an insult."
"It was not meant as one. It is simply true."
I glared.
She ignored it.
Arial lowered her head. "I don't want to be a burden, Master. But… when I'm near you, the fear calms. My head clears. I can breathe."
She said it with such quiet honesty it punched me directly in the conscience.
"Alright," I said gently. "So stay here a bit. Until it fades."
Victoria gave me a look that said: You sweet summer idiot. If only you knew what you just invited.
I pretended I didn't notice.
…
An hour passed.
Arial still sat by the bed, exhaustion pulling at her eyes but too afraid to move away.
I tried to lie down, but every time I shifted or breathed too loudly, her flinch triggered my guilt.
Finally, Victoria stood up with a sigh heavy enough to suggest I'd personally inconvenienced her reincarnation cycle.
"This won't work."
"What won't work?" I asked, already regretting it.
Victoria pointed straight at Arial.
"She is exhausted."
Then at me.
"You are exhausted."
Then at the bed.
"And neither of you are sleeping."
Arial blinked rapidly. "I-I can sleep on the floor, truly—"
"No," Victoria said. "That will worsen your condition."
I raised a hand. "Hold on, why are we talking about beds now—"
Victoria looked at me with the most unbothered expression I had ever seen on a human being.
"Get in bed," she ordered.
"I— WHAT?! Why?!"
"Because Arial will follow you."
Arial's ears went red. "M-Master, I didn't mean— I would never— I just—"
She curled in on herself, mortified, trembling again.
Victoria gave me a deadpan stare.
"She is bonding. Not romantically, not magically — biologically. Mermaid instincts are strong. She needs stability to override fear."
"I can give stability without—"
"No," Victoria said flatly. "You cannot."
I gaped at her. "Are you telling me the only way to stop her from shaking is—"
"Yes," she said. "Physical contact."
Arial squeaked like someone had stepped on her dignity.
"I-I don't need to— I mean, if Master is uncomfortable—"
"Arial," Victoria said, "your hands are trembling so badly you cannot even grasp your own dress."
Arial froze. Looked down.
She was.
Badly.
I exhaled.
"Alright," I muttered. "Alright. Fine. Come here."
Arial looked like I had asked her to commit a capital crime.
Victoria grabbed her by the shoulders and guided her toward the bed with the same gentleness one would use when herding fragile wildlife.
"Lie down," Victoria instructed.
Arial obeyed shakily.
I lay down beside her — stiff as a corpse.
Victoria raised an eyebrow. "Not like that. You'll spasm your spine."
"I don't know the correct posture for panic-soothing a mermaid!"
She rolled her eyes, grabbed my arm, and forcibly pulled it around Arial.
I choked. "V-Victoria!"
"It's a cuddle," she said. "Not mating. Calm down."
Arial emitted a noise so high-pitched only dolphins and my shame could hear it.
But the moment my arm settled around her…
She stopped shaking.
Completely.
Her breathing slowed. Her tension melted. Her aura steadied like a quiet tide.
She curled into me, hesitating at first — then burying her face against my chest like she'd finally reached a safe harbor.
"…Master," she whispered. "It doesn't hurt anymore."
Victoria examined the scene like a scientist studying idiots.
"Good," she said. "Both of you will sleep like this. No arguments."
"I feel like there should be at least three arguments," I said weakly.
"Denied," Victoria said.
She tugged the blanket over us, extinguished the lantern, and walked to the door.
Before she left, she paused.
"One more thing."
I braced myself.
"If Your Father sees this," she said dryly, "you're explaining it."
The door clicked shut.
Arial's grip tightened slightly.
"…Master?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you… for not pushing me away."
I sighed softly.
"Yeah, well… just sleep."
She nodded, snuggling closer.
And for the first time in days — maybe weeks —
I fell asleep easily.
Warm. Peaceful. And with a mermaid curled into my chest like I was the only safe place in the world.
Which, honestly?
Was terrifying.
But also…
not the worst feeling I've had.
Not even close.
...
I woke up slowly.
Not because of noise.
Not because of sunlight.
But because something warm, soft, and very much alive was lying on top of me.
For a moment, half-asleep, I assumed it was the blanket.
Then the blanket breathed.
My eyes snapped open.
Arial was asleep on my chest — not beside me, not curled politely.
On. My. Chest.
Her arms draped around me.
Her cheek resting right over my heartbeat.
Her legs tangled around mine like she'd been trying to fully fuse our souls in her sleep.
My brain short-circuited with a soft internal what the actual fu—
But…
Then something strange happened.
I didn't panic.
Not even a little.
Instead, my entire body… relaxed.
The warmth.
Her steady breathing.
Her soft scent — like fresh water, crisp air, and a hint of something floral and soothing — it just… calmed every nerve in my body.
My mind drifted, unbothered.
Huh, I thought. So this is what sleeping on a cloud feels like.
I slowly exhaled.
Best.
Sleep.
Of my life.
And she just stayed there, completely unaware of the cardiac disasters she was causing.
Her ears twitched slightly, her tailbone shifting where her aquatic lineage shimmered faintly under her skin. Even her fingers were curled lightly into my shirt, clinging without realizing it — like I was an anchor in a storm.
Which, I guess… I technically was.
I brushed a strand of hair away from her face — gently, instinctively.
She made a quiet, content noise and burrowed closer.
I nearly died.
Right there.
Instant KO.
Cause of death: accidental tenderness.
And then—
"Enjoying yourself?"
Victoria's voice cut through the bliss like a knife dipped in sarcasm.
I snapped my head toward the doorway.
She was standing there with her arms crossed, gaze flat, expression sharpened to a fine edge of mockery.
She tilted her head.
"Sniffing her like a dog in heat this early in the morning? Impressive, Young Master. Very aristocratic."
I choked on air.
"I—I wasn't sniffing— You can't just— I WAS ASLEEP—"
"Yes," she said, "and drooling like an abandoned puppy."
"I DID NOT—!"
"A little," she added, holding two fingers a centimeter apart.
Arial stirred slightly at my outburst, rubbing her cheek against my chest with a sleepy hum.
I froze mid-protest.
Victoria's eyes briefly narrowed — something sharp, unreadable flickering there — before she smoothed her expression back to normal.
"Regardless," she said, "I'll pretend I didn't walk in on… this."
"It's not a this! Nothing happened!"
"Of course," she said with all the disbelief in the world.
Arial yawned softly, blinking awake. Her eyes fluttered open — and then widened as she processed her location.
"...M-Master…?!"
She pushed herself up slightly — then froze halfway, cheeks glowing red enough to light up a dungeon.
"I-I… I didn't mean to— I must have— I'm sorry—!"
Her panic flared again, instinct rising like a wave.
I gently placed a hand on her back.
"Arial. Calm. It's fine."
She swallowed, nodded slowly, and rested a moment longer to steady herself.
Victoria observed us like she was evaluating a strange new species of idiots.
I shot her a dirty look.
She raised an eyebrow like a challenge.
I ignored her. Barely.
"Victoria," I said, "something's been bothering me."
"Oh good. A mystery at dawn. Delightful."
"Arial was fine training with Lenna yesterday. Perfectly fine. She worked with her, followed her orders, executed her role. But afterward, she collapses into fear?"
Victoria's expression shifted — very slightly — into something thoughtful.
Arial stiffened, guilt flickering behind her eyes.
I continued.
"If she can handle Lenna fine during training, why does she react like that after? Why the panic? The trembling? The instinct?"
Victoria sighed and stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
She spoke with unsettling professionalism — like discussing injuries after a battlefield.
"Because during training, Arial is in survival mode."
Arial's fingers curled.
Victoria continued.
"You saw it. When threats are clear and tasks are immediate, she focuses. Her instincts don't have room to overwhelm her. Her body takes over. Her skills take over."
Arial nodded weakly. "That's… true."
Victoria turned her gaze on me.
"But after training ends? After adrenaline fades? After the 'fight' is over?"
She tapped her temple.
"The instincts flood back in."
Arial's voice trembled.
"When Lady Lenna leaves… or even when she stops focusing on something dangerous… the Deep Sense comes back stronger. It's like my body remembers I should be afraid."
I inhaled sharply.
"And being near me stops it?"
Arial nodded, cheeks still pink.
"Yes. Your presence muffles the instinct. I don't know why. But… it's the only thing that feels safe."
Victoria cut in quietly.
"And right now, Young Master — you are the only thing that feels safe."
The weight of that hung in the air.
Not romantic.
Not dramatic.
Not exaggerated.
Biological. Instinctual. Real.
Arial lowered her head.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I don't want to depend on you like this. It's embarrassing. I should be stronger—"
"You're fine," I said firmly. "Stop apologizing."
She looked up — surprised.
I sighed.
"Look, I'm just trying to understand. If we're going into dungeons together, I need to know how your instincts work. What triggers them. How to help you stabilize."
Victoria blinked.
Then smirked.
"My my. Responsible leadership. Touching."
"Shut up."
"Of course, Young Master."
Arial's eyes softened.
"…Thank you."
I rubbed the back of my neck.
"Yeah, well. We're a team. We figure this stuff out."
Victoria clapped her hands once, cutting the moment short.
"Breakfast in ten. Then training with Lady Lenna."
Arial immediately tensed.
She glanced at me — fear rising again.
I placed a hand lightly on her shoulder.
"Calm."
Her breath steadied.
She nodded.
"Master… if you're near me… I'll be fine."
Victoria muttered under her breath:
"I swear, it's like watching a duck imprint on the first moving object it sees…"
I ignored her.
Because right now?
Arial needed me close.
And for better or worse…
She had me.
Even if Lenna killed me later for it.