Chapter 3

After the bath, Liam carefully laid me on the bed.

He produced a separated life force gem for me, his face tinged with a slight blush.

"That kind of activity is intense, and the breathing charm you took will lose its effect. When a merman marries a human wife, he must separate half of his life force gem to allow her to live underwater normally."

I looked up at him, feeling warmth in my heart.

Liam was significantly better than Blaine in so many ways.

In my past life, I didn't know I needed to take my husband's life force gem beforehand.

Blaine never thought to offer me his life force gem; instead, when the breathing charm lost its effect, he watched me struggle for breath, nearly passing out, and became more violent and excited.

Only when I was on the brink of death did he reluctantly share his life force gem with me.

His gem, like him, was filthy and foul.

Liam's life force gem, however, was beautiful.

I tilted my head back and swallowed it, my tongue accidentally brushing against his fingers.

Liam's face turned even redder as he awkwardly undressed me, staring at my long, pale legs, momentarily stunned.

"They're unusual, aren't they?"

Some mermen find human legs unusual compared to their own tails.

Blaine had said that to me before.

Liam hurriedly denied it, his ears turning crimson, "No, no, my lady's legs are beautiful. I even forgot how humans and mermen are supposed to unite as described in the guides."

I couldn't help but laugh at his awkwardness, "Where are your guides?"

Liam felt a bit guilty, "... under the bed."

Now I understood why he was always blushing, "Bring them out."

"What for?"

"I'm worried you might forget, or remember and then suddenly forget again. You can learn while you read."

Not only was Liam blushing, but his neck and body turned hot, his scales involuntarily opening.

However, being new to romance, he was too nervous throughout the process. Even with illustrations in the guides, he couldn't succeed.

In the end, he could only hold me and apologetically say, "... I'm sorry."

I smoothed his brow, "We have plenty of time, there's no rush."

Liam knew I was somewhat apprehensive about consummating, so he wasn't in a hurry.

Worried I might feel lonely in the unfamiliar mansion, he took me out every day to explore the underwater world.

In my past life, I only knew the merman palace was the largest and most intimidating.

But after Liam took me out, I realized how narrow-minded I had been before.

After spending several days in the bustling marketplace, I met many other races and made quite a few friends.

I learned about Leland's pregnancy from a new friend.

Rumor had it she conceived after spending three days and nights in the bridal chamber with Blaine.

A fish doctor confirmed she was carrying twins.

I wasn't surprised.

Leland was a woman with exceptional child-bearing capability praised by royalty, and with Blaine's relentless demands, how could she not conceive?

"Liam, Father wants us to go over."

When Liam took me to see the Merman King, Leland and Blaine were already there.

Leland's face had an odd flush, and her belly was prominently rounded.

The Merman King was overjoyed, saying, "The Fourth Princess truly lives up to being a woman with exceptional child-bearing capability praised by royalty. The Sixth Princess, you should hurry up and bring some liveliness to the palace."

Leland gently caressed her belly, as if it held a precious treasure.

"Father, my husband and I are deeply in love and cherish young ones. Why not leave the task of producing mermen to me?"

"Kylie took half a year to become a woman with exceptional child-bearing capability praised by royalty, three months longer than me. It seems her fertility isn't as strong, so let's not trouble her."

Blaine, with his mind on the throne, chimed in, "Father, however many young mermen you want, let Leland give birth to them."

The Merman King was, of course, pleased, "Then as the Fourth Princess says!"

Liam, displeased, defended me, "Father, it's all my fault. I haven't fulfilled my duties as a husband."

I didn't care what they said.

But hearing Liam belittle himself to defend me made my eyes a bit misty.