13 Mink Street

There was a knock at the door.

Karon, who had been lying on the bed, sat up and reached out to open it. Outside stood four attendants carrying a bathtub. Reclining inside it was a woman with a light veil wrapped over her face.

No, not a woman. A mermaid.

“I didn’t place an order.”

“Sir, this was arranged for you by your friend.”

“My friend?”

“Yes, your friend.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t need this.”

At that moment, the mermaid in the tub began to sob. The sound trembled delicately, each shiver seeming to pluck directly at the heartstrings. For most people, man or woman, such sobbing would stir pity enough to cloud the mind.

But Karon’s mental resilience was far beyond the ordinary. His first thought was that the merfolk was trying to influence him with spiritual force. “I said I don’t need this.”

“Sir, if you do this, we will have no way to explain ourselves. The order has already been delivered to you. If she is sent back, she will be punished.” A mature woman in a long dress stepped forward and addressed Karon at the doorway.

“Punished?”

“Yes. Any mermaid whose order is rejected receives punishment. That is the rule of our theater. On top of that, the commission she would normally receive will also be lost. You need not do anything at all; Simply allow her to stay here and chat with you until the time ends. Please be merciful.”

Karon believed that this was probably something Richard or Leon had arranged for him. Refusing too forcefully would also be awkward. So he could only nod.

The attendants carried the bathtub into Karon’s room, then all withdrew. The mature woman gave Karon a slight smile. “Thank you for your kindness.”

She proceeded to close the door behind her, and the smile instantly disappeared from her face. Frowning, she truly had no idea what game Ophelia was playing. She could not even tell whether it would be better for the handsome gentleman inside the room to touch the mermaid or not.

Still, one thing remained certain. Madam Chenay had delivered the top courtesan, as instructed. She would not take blame for whatever happened next.

Inside the room, the mermaid removed her veil. Her face was revealed. She was pale. And tender.

Seeing her, the mind seemed to be stripped of other adjectives. Extreme fairness and tenderness, as though the most harmonious pairing in the world had been perfected upon her body.

The mermaid crossed both hands in front of herself and bowed to Karon.

He sat back down on the edge of the bed while looking at her. She opened her palm to reveal a blue vial resting in her hand.

She looked at Karon, asking if he wished her to drink the potion and grow legs, but to her surprise, the handsome gentleman did not answer at all. Instead, he reached out and took the vial from her hand.

Karon uncorked it and held it beneath his nose. Though he was no expert in potions, Pu’er was skilled in such things. At home, she had mixed no small number of concoctions to help Dora and Dorin recover, which had led to Karon picking up some familiarity.

The potion had a faintly acrid smell. Even inhaling a little was enough to make the head feel slightly heavy. “This shouldn’t be taken often. It’s bad for the body.”

The mermaid gave an awkward smile. This was the first guest she had ever encountered like this. Some guests ordered her to drink the potion first, others did not. Some waited until halfway through before making her drink it.

“You can’t speak?”

The mermaid shook her head.

“Then we won’t chat.”

She nodded again. So we’ll begin directly.

She unfolded her arms and prepared to display her practiced charm.

“I’ll sleep on the bed. You sleep in the bathtub. We each rest on our own.”

“...” The mermaid froze.

Karon laid back down on the bed, crossing his hands behind his head as he closed his eyes.

Everyone had their own preferences, or fetishes. Most fell within an acceptable and ordinary range. Eunice, for instance, knew that Karon liked stockings. Whenever he returned, she would prepare several pairs to please him. Such was simply one way lovers delighted one another, natural enough and harmless.

But this mermaid, no matter how beautiful or exquisite she might be, from the moment Karon saw the fish tail in the tub, he lost all interest. The fact that he did not show open discomfort was already due to restraint on his part.

That tail. Those scales. They gave him the feeling of standing in a seafood market. He did not even dare recall the seafood feast Larry had treated them to at lunch.

The top courtesan mermaid was utterly stunned. What’s going on? I came here to sleep, but not like this...

Yet her guest was already laying down on the bed. What could she do?

The vial of potion was also in the guest’s hand; Was she supposed to flop out of the tub, slap her tail against the floor to call for him to help her up?

As the top courtesan, she had her own pride, so she lifted her long hair with a hand, bringing it to her lips. She then began producing a soft sound through it.

The sound had only just begun, yet before it could take effect, a cold voice came from the bed. “Do you not recognize the clothes I’m wearing?”

The woman stopped. She truly did not. Darkmoon Island had a considerable native population, but what truly sustained its entertainment trade was the constant flow of merchants, pirates, and the rulers of nearby islands. Darkmoon Island was the only external point of trade for the local waters.

However, Darkmoon Island had also always forbidden any churches from entering, as well as family faiths and similar foreign powers. Even the occasional contact was restricted to the Bernard Hotel.

Although the Church of Order had recently established a mission chapel on the island, it had not been there for very long, and its influence had not yet spread. The islanders were unfamiliar with it, let alone a special group like the merfolk.

“Praise Order.”

The mermaid’s mouth fell open, and terror spread across her features. She did not recognize the robes of the Church of Order, but she knew of the church itself. Its strength and the dread it invoked were no secret, even here. On top of that, the unfamiliarity only magnified the mermaid’s fear.

She immediately lay back in the tub in a very obedient manner, not daring any further movement. Her body trembled faintly from fright.

Lying on the bed, Karon frowned slightly. Why does it feel like someone is watching me?

***

“Your Highness, Mr. Karon has laid back down to sleep again. The mermaid is still in the bathtub.” The female warrior Panmir continued peeping into the room opposite while reporting to Ophelia behind her.

Madam Chenay, who had just returned, immediately smiled when she heard this. “It seems Mr. Karon is truly deeply devoted to Your Highness.”

Whether the princess of Darkmoon Island could marry an outsider, and whether such a union suited the interests of both sides, Madam Chenay neither knew nor needed to know. She only needed to say pleasant things.

Ophelia, however, did not reveal the smile of a young maiden. She did not seem pleased by the matter at all. She merely said flatly, “We’re leaving.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“We respectfully see Your Highness off.”

***

Karon did not know how long a third-floor private room ticket remained valid. Presumably, it lasted for as long as one kept placing orders, or extending their time, they would continue to be allowed to use it.

However, more than two hours had already passed. Were the others still not finished? He had already taken a full afternoon nap.

Then, another possibility occurred to him: perhaps the others had finished long ago and were waiting for him, because the mermaid had never been dismissed from his room.

Could he have been renewing the order?

Karon sat up from the bed and opened the door. He found an attendant standing in the corridor outside. “Excuse me, have my friends finished?”

“Sir, they are already waiting for you downstairs at the drinks bar.”

Just as expected. Karon shook his head in exasperation. He was the one who had behaved himself, yet somehow he had lasted the longest and kept them waiting.

“How many credits? Order credits, I mean.” He remembered Larry saying that payment here was made directly to the merfolk rather than through the theater counter.

“Sir, your expenses here have already been settled. You may go downstairs directly.”

“Already settled?” Karon frowned slightly. Impossible.

The other three had already checked out and gone downstairs. Even if they had asked to settle together while leaving their rooms, that should only have covered the charges incurred at that moment. Besides, each person’s price and services differed. It was inconvenient to settle for others.

“Very well. I understand.” He turned to look at the mermaid still lying in the bathtub. As expected of such a creature, even after soaking that long, her skin showed not the slightest sign of wrinkling. “Goodbye.”

“Please take care, sir.”

Karon went downstairs. He found Richard, Leon, and Larry seated on a sofa near the bar. The moment they saw him come down, all three burst into cheers. “Ohhh, you finally came down. Do you know how long we’ve been waiting for you?”

“Now that’s a king. A true king!”

“Are you really that competitive? How many times did you extend it? Don’t tell me you just had the mermaid lie in the tub and chat with you to drag things out.”

“Which of you paid for me?” Karon asked.

The three looked at one another. Richard spoke first, “When I tried to give you credits earlier, didn’t you say you had money on you, Karon?”

“Alright. I understand.”

“What happened?” Leon asked. “Surely someone didn’t actually pay for you?”

“It seems someone did.”

“Oh, now that’s rare,” Larry said with a laugh. “This is your first time on Darkmoon Island, right? Is there someone who you know here...”

At that point Larry instinctively glanced at Leon. If Karon knew anyone on the island, it could only be that woman, but quite clearly, with both Leon and Karon present, it was not appropriate to make jokes about.

“It’s getting late. We should head back,” Leon said, patting the others on the shoulder.

The four men boarded the carriage again, and half an hour later, they returned to the hotel. They rode the carriage deeper inside the grounds, arriving at their group’s residential courtyard.

A cluster of red-armored warriors stood guard outside of the entrance.

“Someone important from Darkmoon Island must have come to see Grandfather,” Leon said as they stepped down from the carriage. The warriors did not try to stop them, and instead moved aside.

Once Karon and the others entered, they found Nio and the Whip of Order squad members who had stayed behind already lined up in two rows within the courtyard.

This was basic etiquette. The Whip of Order squad had effectively come along this trip as a ceremonial escort.

“Damn it!” Larry cursed himself twice. His duty was to keep records during formal meetings, yet the secretary was absent from the first meeting of the trip.

Karon and Richard immediately took out their silver masks, put them on, and joined the formation.

Leon adjusted his clothing, preparing to go inside and pay respects as well. His grandfather was receiving a guest. Naturally, Leon should greet them, be introduced by his grandfather, and observe proper manners.

However, Archbishop Wolfram was already emerging from the building with the guest. Standing beside him was none other than Ophelia. Their discussion had clearly ended. What remained was the final layer of polite ceremony. “Your Highness Ophelia, your visit greatly honors me.”

“When in York City, I received your care. Now that you have come to our island, it is only proper that I act as host.”

The cooperation negotiations between Darkmoon Island and the Church of Order had taken place in York City, and Wolfram had been one of the people directly involved.

“Your Highness is too courteous. To be able to come to such a beautiful place is my honor.”

“I also hope that after the formal negotiations conclude, you will remain on the island a while longer, so that we may properly entertain you and our friends from the Church of Order.”

“Thank you for the invitation.”

When Leon realized the visitor was Ophelia, he could not help hesitating. He even glanced toward Karon standing in the ranks. He had long since told Karon that he disliked arranged marriages, so he held no resentment toward those rumors and would not target Karon over them. Doing so, in his view, would make him seem petty.

Yet he still had to consider his grandfather’s attitude. Or rather, his grandfather’s face. Unfortunately, Leon had no mask in his pocket. Otherwise, he truly would have liked to hide in the line as well.

Yet at that moment, his grandfather’s gaze had already fallen on him. “Leon, come here.”

Leon could only step forward. “Grandfather.”

Then he turned to Ophelia. “Your Highness Ophelia, hello. I am very pleased to meet you again.”

“To meet again also pleases me, Mr. Leon.”

“This boy Leon is very fond of Darkmoon Island. The moment he finished settling in after arrival, he went out exploring.” As an elder, Wolfram instinctively spoke well of his grandson.

“Oh? Where did Mr. Leon go this afternoon?”

Leon smiled and answered smoothly, “I first enjoyed a local seafood meal, then simply wandered the streets, taking in the customs and character of this place. When I travel, I generally dislike visiting designated scenic sites. I feel the true beauty of a place is found by wandering.”

“You have refined tastes.”

“Not refined. I simply believe that only in that way can one truly sense beauty.” Leon’s answer was gentle and polished.

Wolfram laughed. “That is how he is. Young people these days enjoy romance and artistry, hehe.”

The old man did not know that his grandson had gone to a brothel that afternoon. The old man was even less aware that the princess before him knew that his grandson had gone to a brothel that afternoon.

***

Within the formation, Richard tilted his head slightly toward Karon, signaling him to look at Ophelia.

Karon ignored him.

He then noticed that everyone in the line except Memphis was either winking at him or making tiny gestures.

Karon ignored all of them. They simply wanted to watch a spectacle. Especially with Leon present, they wanted it even more.

Helpless, Karon could only blame himself for having worn his grandfather’s mask by mistake that day and speaking too much, which had led to the present situation.

***

“I am old now. Perhaps you young people have more to speak about with one another,” Wolfram commented.

“You are not old. Your mind is as young as theirs, vigorous and full of vitality,” Ophelia replied.

“Hehe. At my age, refusing to admit age is impossible. It is hard to retain the spirit one once had. These days, I can only help the young look a little farther down the road. After that, it will be their turn to continue serving the great God.”

“I apologize for disturbing your rest.”

“No, no, not at all. I am grateful that Your Highness came. By rights, it should have been I, the guest, who first paid respects to the host.”

“Please rest. I shall take my leave.”

“Very well. Leon, escort Her Highness.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Ophelia walked outward, with Leon at her side.

As she passed Karon, she did not so much as glance at him.

Karon, however, felt no disappointment. Even without Pu’er repeatedly warning him at home, Karon would never have indulged in fantasies here on his own initiative. The only vessel fit to preserve faint, beautiful feelings was memory.

Still, he knew he would certainly meet Ophelia again. Not because of romance, but because of his identity.

Darkmoon Island would surely invite him for a private talk.

Ophelia passed directly in front of Karon. Hm... She seems a little rounder.

Perhaps she had grown thin from hunger during her stay at Ankara Hotel, and after returning home, being able to eat normally again had restored her.

At that moment, Karon heard the captain’s voice. “According to rules, Richard and Karon, accompany Mr. Leon in seeing the guest off.”

Captain, what exactly are you doing? Karon looked toward the captain. Behind the mask, Karon could not see his expression, but he was certain the man wore a wicked grin.

Richard turned and followed Leon, and Karon had no choice but to go with him, following behind Leon as well.

Once outside, Ophelia did not hurry into her carriage. Instead, she continued walking. Leon remained at her side, and the carriage and attendants followed behind.

Karon and Richard followed behind Leon. Beside them walked the female warrior Panmir and another female warrior.

In truth, the one suffering most here was Leon. Ophelia was in front of him, while Karon was behind him. Because of this, once outside of the courtyard, he did not even attempt to keep up a conversation. It would have felt ridiculous.

At last, they reached a shaded stretch beside a scenic river, and Ophelia stopped.

Everyone else stopped as well.

Facing the water, Ophelia spoke, “Karon.”

The moment she called his name, Leon very conscientiously stepped back with a shrug, trying to dissolve the awkwardness.

Her voice had not been loud. But it had been far too clear. Clear enough that pretending not to hear was impossible. Karon could only walk toward her.

Richard remained where he was, but beneath his mask his expression was changing rapidly. When Karon arrived right behind Ophelia, Richard wore the smile of an aunt watching a favored niece.

Leon retreated farther to the side and waved for everyone else to do the same. Richard naturally followed.

Panmir also led the other female warrior back, clearing the space and leaving it to those two.

Richard bumped Leon lightly with his shoulder. “I didn’t expect you to be such a gentleman.”

“I dislike political marriage. I want freedom.”

“So you should be thanking Karon?”

“I’m sorry, but that is asking too much of me. I’m not a saint.”

“No. In my heart, you are already Saint Leon.”

***

Beneath the shade of the trees, Ophelia still faced the river. She did not turn around. She continued speaking with her back to Karon. “You went out this afternoon?”

“Yes.”

“Where did you go?”

“We had seafood first.”

“And then? What did you do after that?”

“I went to a brothel.”