It is a never-ending winter...

Indeed, it is beautiful... every time I take a step, my feet are swallowed by the white soil. It's cold, my breath fogged as I sigh. But, despite its prettiness, there is a disaster embedded within. Just look at the trees that wilted... those were trees that make up the primary source of our food, but because of the snow, they died.

"Princess... please wear this. It's cold out here."

"Thank you... "

My butler hands me a coat; he doesn't wait a second to see me shiver. Mephisto himself dislikes the winter, but he still follows me in my selfishness and joins me just to sightsee the mystic river to the east. He wears a fabric made for butlers where cold penetrates its thin sheet. Despite that, he doesn't show his dislike blatantly on his blue face.

My maid, Liareth, hands me a cup of hot tea. I wonder why, even in a desolate place, she would bring a tea set just for my selfish use. I am the princess of Homorotabi; we have blue skin and facial tattoos in light coloring which appear by age, making us look adequate for living in the white land yet as the winter starts, life became harsh...

I wear a dress suitable for my royal position, but for some reason, I am envious of Liareth. I want to wear those maid clothes designed by the ancient humans. They're beautifully designed, tantamount to any gothic piece of art that I could only imagine from human books.

For some reason, my selfish whims of visiting this legendary river were entertained by my father. I just wanted a moment of time, even just a single day to sit idly and relax. Apparently, my responsibilities weigh more than what I can handle. I almost collapse into despair, wrecking my own head from stress. Our people are complaining about the Mellows living in our land and eating their limited supply of food. They are demanding to exterminate them or throw them out of the city walls.

I've been thinking that throwing them away is easy, but what if it's not the right thing to do? Just what part of throwing them away, leaving them alone to die in hunger is right? But if I don't listen to our people, they are the ones who will starve... Just what am I supposed to do?

"Hey... did you know? According to the rumors, a beautiful mermaid once lived in this river?" I start talking my mind away beside my two loyal servants. It's a story my father told me a long time ago. "She was so beautiful; her voice could attract any man or woman. Many believed she was a goddess of beauty and the protector of the river. Even some created a religion that entirely revolves around worshipping the mermaid. They say, if you saw the mermaid, she will show you the way..."

It's a large deep river where most, if not all, of our food comes from. With how large this body of water is, I won't be surprised if the rumors about the certain mermaid are true. And I hope it is true, I hope that she will show me the way. Maybe not today but I hope, one day.

"Do you believe in mermaids?" I ask my servants. Liareth answers.

"I don't believe in them, my lady. I couldn't bring myself to believe something I haven't seen before. But... my lady," she halts her tongue and looks at me in the eyes, "I believe in you." she says, which causes me to gulp.

"I saw it with my own eyes. That someday, you will lead our city into a better place," Liareth continues.

It seems like she has huge expectations of me... but I have my doubts.

"I wonder..."

If I am able to, then I won't have been desperate enough to turn to myths and impossible folktales to find a solution for my people. Me... believing in mermaids? What's wrong with me?

I put my lips on the hot tea served for me; I close my eyes, thinking about the current moment, bringing myself to reality a piece at a time. Breathing out, releasing all of my stress in a single second of fullness. My eyes open, metaphorically and physically; I listen to the gush of flowing river in front of me that sparkles with the light of the sun. When suddenly, a flapping sound after a gurgle emanates. Something landed on ground from the water.

Much to my disbelief... Our eyes meet past a humanoid with a fish for a tail...

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Damn it!!! Why is this moving on its own!?" the creature says while punching its own tail.

"A mermaid!?" my shock at that time was immeasurable; my tea is spilling, yet I couldn't feel the heat as it drops to my fingers.

"The fuck are you looking at!?" the mermaid swears! The mermaid swore at me! How vulgar for a creature of legend!

"My lady... is that the mermaid..." Liareth asks by whispering into my ears, I could see in her eyes her disappointment upon seeing the mermaid. I know what she's thinking... I thought mermaids are eternally beautiful, yet for some reason, this mermaid has a lot of contortion, wrinkles, and she looks smaller than her tail.

"..."

I don't know... she looks HIDEOUS! She looks like a fiend! Somehow, even if it's out of my character, I want to throw rocks and kick her face!

"Damn, she's smokin' hot," Mephisto says... what? Both of us can't help but look at him with sheer disgust.

I am known by my people to be a princess embodying pure kindness, but I have to question her... "L-Lady mermaid. May I be so rude as to ask...? What the fuck happened to your face?"

I swore, didn't I? I swore, didn't I!?

"DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY FACE!!" the mermaid shouts; I am terrified that my legs are getting weaker. "Listen up, motherfuckers. Three words... 'Fuck You,'" she says, putting a middle finger up in front of us.

I really thought that the mermaids of the legend will show me the way... much to my disappointment, I would have to claim that the rumors are a blatant scam. A hoax created by ignorant fools who fantasize about fish as a potential mate. Wait... what if... my perspective about the situation is incorrect? What if she showed herself in this appearance not to tell me the answers but to let me experience it?

The reason why the mermaid showed herself in this appearance is that she is showing me firsthand how discrimination takes place, a prejudice based on racial, species difference, and appearance. I was judging her and mistreating her because she looks ugly and different, but I realized it was my fault. I can't even imagine the mistreatment and hardships she faced if I put my feet on her fins. I shouldn't judge her or anyone based on the appearance they are born with; it's not their fault to begin with. It's something they couldn't control. She might have sworn against me, but it's all my fault to begin with because I look at her with eyes imposing her difference. I was discriminating against her because I thought I was of a higher caliber. It's like how my people look at Mellows and realize they are different from us, so they treat them differently, unlike how they treat themselves. Mellows are white small creatures that live under mushrooms, so no wonder our people will look at them with disdain as they perceive them as mere pests, just like how I perceive the mermaid in terrible ugliness that I almost look down at her grace and holiness. She's not ugly at all; what's ugly is my perception of ugliness and the ugliness within my soul. I am the one who's ugly. If she showed herself in accordance with the rumors about her beauty, I might have not realized this firsthand since I will have favored her words just because she's pretty; my knowledge would just be a half-baked imitation of her holiness's ideals. I am such an idiot! But how about her filthy swearing... no, it's probably a code. I knew it! She didn't say 'fuck you,' she said 'F.U.C.K. U.' and it probably meant Fostering Unity, Compassion, and Kindness Unconditionally to my people and those outside our command. She's telling me to be kind no matter who they are. She's so smart; her holiness is amazing. I am a mere filth in her grace. I knew it, the mermaid of the legends will truly show me the way. I am glad I came here; thank you, father, for giving me permission, I love you, I love my parents and my ancestors for spreading the rumors. Thank you!

"I understand, your holiness. I will put your words into action and create our kingdom based on pure kindness." I kneel in front of the lady mermaid, out of due respect for her graceful, powerful, and life-changing words.

"N-No, you don't!"

Impossible... I still overlooked something in her oracle? What did? Is her words really above my comprehension?

"You! Watch your tongue in front of the princess!" Liareth suddenly snaps out and shouts. That idiot! Compared to me, I'm just a mere peck of dust compared to the lady mermaid. Even though I'm a princess, it doesn't matter; it's just a title I was born with.

"Stop it, Liareth." I warn her; it might be the first time I've spoken coldly to her, but this is for her own good. "Her holiness is bestowing her knowledge upon us; be grateful."

"Lady mermaid, please forgive her ignorance." I ask, bowing my head towards the ground. "Please, proceed to show us the way."

"Y-Yeah... If you really understand what I said, then you should have been looking for my legs or something..."

"Umm... Your legs?"

"Yes, I had to meet the prince so I made a contract with a witch to turn my fishtail into legs. Then those legs ran away. We're going to get married soon, so if I couldn't find it now... My life would be over."

I... I understand now! She's presenting an opportunity for Mellows and Homorotabi to work together and find her legs! Her legs represent an opportunity for peace and unity that needs to be caught by united efforts among species. If we let it slip, then our nation will be over!

THIS IS BAD! I-IT'S A HOLY CRISIS!

"I-I understand! We're going to look for your legs immediately, Lady mermaid." And so I commanded my butler to spread my command to every corner and soldier of our kingdom. "Mephisto, tell everyone, Homorotabi and Mellows alike, to look for the holiness's legs! It's a national emergency!"

And so, Mellows and our people worked together in finding them, uniting two minds as one.

[modern_footnote]Will they ever find the missing legs?[/modern_footnote]