The Little Merman Demands Legs from the Sea Witch - Chapter 22

“What? Why are you laughing?”

“Because it’s funny. The prince’s simplicity.”

“…I think this is the first time I’ve seen you laugh like that.”

Though it sounded like she was mocking him for being simple, there was something different about her tone. Iko’s face seemed to glow, brighter and clearer than before.

Kashmir reached out and gently tucked her hair behind her ear.

Smooch.

Iko’s eyes widened in surprise as she felt something brush against her forehead.

“You look cute when you laugh like that.”

With a bright smile, Kashmir held her close and headed toward the beach where her house was.

As if nothing had happened, Kashmir calmly enjoyed his tea and cookies. He commented on the taste of each one, saying this cookie was delicious, that one was good too, but the one with the black bits was the best.

Meanwhile, Iko was so out of it that she couldn’t tell if the cookies were going into her nose or her mouth.

Her mind couldn’t process the fact that she had been kissed by Kashmir, or that he had called her cute.

The only fortunate thing was that, despite her dazed state, her body continued to do what it was supposed to. She finished making the crutches, lit the bonfire, prepared dinner, and ate with Kashmir.

But when she lay down to sleep after completing her daily tasks, a problem arose. With nothing left to do, her body reminded her of the feeling of Kashmir’s lips pressing against her forehead.

Iko took a deep breath and bit her lip. If she didn’t, she felt like she might scream.

“Why did he suddenly do that…?”

She mumbled through her teeth, unable to understand why he had done such a thing. But he had said it was because she looked cute.

Her heart pounded fiercely.

“Am I really getting so flustered just because he called me cute?”

She had called him simple, but wasn’t she being even more simple-minded? Shocked by her own reaction, Iko couldn’t sleep properly that night.

***

The next day, Iko found herself being hyper-aware of everything Kashmir did. Her gaze kept gravitating back to him, which made him look at her curiously.

“Why do you keep staring at me?”

Kashmir asked as he rubbed his cheek with his large hand, wondering if something was on his face.

Iko suddenly realized that Kashmir looked strikingly handsome.

He had never been unattractive, but now she found him so good-looking that she could hardly meet his gaze.

“Did you do something to your face?”

“What?”

“You look… never mind, it’s nothing.”

Iko hastily shook her head and trailed off. She realized she was in big trouble.

She hadn’t felt this way before, but now everything Kashmir did bothered her, made her heart race, and made him look more handsome than ever.

All signs pointed to one conclusion.

Iko was falling in love.

“Oh no.”

She had always told herself that she would never fall under such a dreadful curse, but it seemed like it had happened. And with Kashmir, no less.

Iko was bewildered. She had always imagined that if she ever fell in love, it would be with someone very intellectual, a man who shared her lineage as a witch and could control himself well.

Kashmir was nothing like that. He was a merman, after all. But unlike the other merfolk who acted all high and mighty and shunned the sight of humans, Kashmir was different.

Yet, he lived a life of utter indulgence, with no self-control to speak of.

Though lately, he had been sticking to a proper day-and-night schedule.

“Ugh, I’m making excuses for him to myself.”

Even though no one else was listening, Iko was shocked at how she kept defending him. Her mind was rejecting him, but deep down, she wanted to think of him as a decent man.

“What are you mumbling about?”

Kashmir, perhaps noticing she was troubled, offered to listen since he was bored.

She wanted to ask if he really meant it when he called her cute, and if that kiss meant he had feelings for her. But Iko decided to keep those questions to herself for now.

They were too direct, and she wasn’t ready to hear his answers, whether positive or negative.

“It’s been quite a while since you’ve been staying here. Isn’t your family looking for you?”

Iko, trying to hide her feelings, brought up a different topic. But as soon as she said it, she regretted it, realizing it sounded like she wanted him to stay.