Chapter 954: Princess Ariel’s Conditions
Princess Ariel looked at the young man with a faint smile on her face.
She had just tried to use her ability that charmed her targets, which she hadn't used for a very long time.
She usually had no need for it, because with her beauty, it was very easy for her to take advantage of others.
And if she did use it, those who were already enamored by her beauty would find themselves unable to reject her bidding. They might still be in control of their senses, but they would find it hard to not obey any of her orders.
To be honest, she felt a little disappointed to see Ethan unaffected by her charms. That meant that the young man didn't look at her as an object of desire, unlike the other merfolk who dreamt of her everyday.
But after the disappointment faded, she realized that Illumina wouldn't choose someone mediocre as her life partner, making her nod her head in approval.
"Since His Highness wishes to use the Cauldron of Dagda, does that mean that you need to bring it on land?" Princess Ariel inquired.
"Yes," Ethan replied.
"Then, that makes things easy." Princess Ariel smiled. "If two of my conditions are met, then I will accompany His Highness to the surface world so that you may use the Cauldron in whatever way you want."
"I'm listening," Ethan said.
Princess Ariel gave Princess Wilhelmina a sidelong glance, making the latter frown.
"Should I leave?" Princess Wilhelmina thought that Princess Ariel wanted to talk to Ethan in private, so she voiced out her thoughts. Find more to read at mvl
"There's no need to do that," Princess Ariel replied. "I'm just wondering if Princess Wilhelmina also has the intention of taking a vacation to land with His Highness?"
Princess Wilhelmina blanked out for a brief moment because she wasn't expecting this question.
"Why would I go on land?" Princess Wilhelmina asked back.
"Aren't you interested in His Highness?" Princess Ariel said mischievously. "I overheard Princess Illumina saying that His Highness here can penetrate your defenses."
Sebastian and Ethan's Other Half laughed loudly inside Ethan's head, having seen through Princess Ariel's ploy to sow discord.
Princess Wilhelmina, who had talked about the same thing with Illumina in the past, couldn't help but blush and glared at Princess Ariel, making the latter giggle.
"I have no intention of goi—"
Unfortunately, Princess Wilhelmina wasn't able to finish her words because Princess Ariel interjected before she could finish.
"You've been in the sea all of your life," Princess Ariel stated. "Wouldn't it be good to see the world in another perspective? Also, since I am accompanying His Highness, and Princess Illumina will also accompany him back to land, why don't you join us?
"That way, your horizons will expand, and you'll also understand how humans live. Who knows? You might find someone who will accept your Rainbow Scale?"
Princess Ariel then shifted his attention to the young man and gave Ethan a mischievous smile.
Princess Wilhelmina stiffened because it was very obvious what Princess Ariel was hinting at.
"You're such a busybody," Princess Wilhelmina crossed her arms over her chest. "Mind your own business."
"So you say, but this is a very rare opportunity," Princess Ariel commented. "Do you really want to spend all your life in the sea without seeing what lay on land? Or are you content with looking at people from afar?"
Ethan listened to the exchange of the two mermaids and couldn't help but smile.
When he was sent back to the past, his first encounter with Illumina was quite thrilling.
The mermaid princess attacked him with the intention to kill because she felt her Rainbow Scale in Ethan's possession.
Only when Ethan's wand sensed her presence did its Resonance activate, allowing Illumina to know that Ethan was from the future.
Because of this, the Mermaid Princess became curious about her Promised One, whom she was seeing for the first time.
After her encounter with Ethan, Illumina decided to stay in the Lands of Alastor for a period of time, learning the ways of the humans, and even befriended Joanne and Princess Ramona.
Even after the brother and sister left to return to the future, Illumina still continued to support and take care of Princess Ramona, visiting her from time to time.
She even accompanied her to World's End to meet the Progenitor of Magic, Hecate.
Then, when Princess Ramona was reborn as a Half-Elf, Illumina continued to interact with her.
It was at that time that the Mermaid Princess truly tried to understand the surface world, in preparation for the day when she would be able to reunite with Ethan, who would be born hundreds of years in the future.
"Let's return to talking about your conditions, Princess Ariel," Ethan said. "What are those two conditions?"
Princess Ariel nodded before holding up one finger.
"The first condition is… I would like to stay wherever His Highness stays," Princess Ariel said. "Since I am ignorant of the surface world, I need a safe place to better understand the environment."
Ethan frowned. It wasn't impossible, but he couldn't make a promise because he would need to ask Professor Rinehart's permission to make this happen.
"And your second condition?" Ethan inquired.
"I can't think of what the second condition was right now," Princess Ariel answered. "I will put it on hold until I get to the surface world. However, I promise that this condition will not be disadvantageous to His Highness."
"So, even if I don't grant your second condition, will you cooperate with me when I return to Eastshire?" Ethan arched an eyebrow.
"Yes, Your Highness," Princess Ariel nodded. "I will help you in any way that I can. Including a request to help with repopulation of Atlantis."
Before Ethan could even reply, a voice filled with amusement reached their ears.
"There's no need for you to do that."
Illumina swam in their direction with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Ethan already has many lovers, so repopulating Atlantis isn't a problem," Illumina said.
"Does he have many lovers?" Princess Ariel arched an eyebrow. "As expected of His Highness, truly a dragon among men. But, Illumina, you seem surprisingly calm about this. Are you sure you want to share His Highness with other ladies?"
"Yes," Illumina answered. "We talked about this matter in the past, and I'm fine with it."
This time, Princess Ariel gave Illumina a long and hard look. She knew that Illumina was a very prideful and arrogant Mermaid Princess. For her to allow her man to share his bed with others made Princess Ariel unable to continue the conversation.
"How many lovers do you have?" Princess Wilhelmina asked.
"Nine, including Illumina," Ethan answered with a straight face.
""N-Nine?!""
Princess Wilhelmina and Princess Ariel couldn't help but gasp at the same time. They thought that Ethan having two to three lovers wasn't a problem. Even if he had five, the two wouldn't bat an eye.
However… Nine lovers?
Even Lord Arariel didn't dare to have another wife in fear of Queen Celestia's wrath.
However, the Prince in front of them seemed to attract the honey and the bees.
Illumina giggled after seeing the two Mermaid Princesses' reactions.
She had long accepted that she had to share Ethan with others, but that didn't mean that she would accept just anyone to be her sister.
Since the others came before her, there was nothing she could do about it.
But if Ethan were to have any more lovers, they would have to get her approval first!