Sea of Golden Sand: Chapter 3

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Retranslation

Natasha: , is this ballgown to ’s liking?

MC: It’ll do.

Natasha: It’s too solemn… How about taking a look at this one?

MC: It’ll also do, they’ll all work, so you choose.

Natasha: Sigh… my princess! Your coming of age ceremony is in a few days, why aren’t even the slightest bit concerned about such an important day!

I sprawl on the carpet and gently tap the fishbowl. The little blue fish inside chases my fingertip as it swims to and fro.

MC: Natasha, do you still remember I spoke of the person who gave me the little fish?

MC: A few days ago, he really did come back to look for me!

How long ago was it, when I received this little fish?

It seems like it was the year I read about “Lemurian Civilization” for the first time. That year on my birthday, the royals and nobles of the city proffered countless presents like in years past. Among them was one thing that made all the strange and wonderful treasures pale in comparison—

An exceedingly rare Lemurian.

What was given to me as a present, was a Lemurian youth about my age, with a pair of cold but beautiful eyes.

In that book, I read that Lemuria was an ancient civilization that existed at the bottom of the sea and lived in the water. For generations upon generations, they received the protection of the Sea God.

That race of people are all beautiful in appearance, their tears will become bright pearls, their singing voices can turn into bewitching dreams, their blood can let a person live forever and not age, even resurrect the dead. Most importantly, once a Lemurian has been tamed, they will become the most obedient, powerful servant, obeying every single one of their master’s commands, even sacrificing their lives.

Out of vanity and curiosity, the royals and nobility of the time competed to catch a Lemurian. Being able to raise such a rare toy was seen as a symbol of wealth and status.

So, even though I was a princess who had everything, I was forced to admit, this truly was the rarest present I had ever received.

That night, I brought that Lemurian youth to in the garden.

MC: Were you captured here from the sea? Can you tell me what the ocean is like?

MC: Why don’t you speak…

MC: Oh! I hear Lemurian song can bewitch your senses, did they poison your throat to mute you?

Rafayel: Hah.

MC: It’s good that didn’t happen…

I look at his cold eyes, lower my head to undo the shackles on his body.

MC: Follow the lake, you can swim into the riverway that leads into the city, then just keep swimming for a while after that, and before midnight you can be outside the city.

That youth looks at me with some disbelief. After making sure I truly plan to release him, he takes my hand, and opens his mouth to say his first sentence.

Rafayel: Let’s leave together.

I look towards the broad surface of the lake.

MC: I do really wish to go outside and experience it, but I am the princess, I can’t… besides, I don’t know how to swim either.

MC: Hurry back to the sea, be careful not to get captured again.

Rafayel: I will come back to look for you.

He holds up my hands and spreads open our palms.

Under my astonished gaze, a small blue fish swims out of our palms.

Rafayel: Fish are the emissaries of the sea god. .

Natasha: That Lemurian? That night, he was the one milady went outside with?

MC: He said he’d come to look for me again, but I don’t know if he really will…

I tap the fishbowl.

MC: , aren’t you the emissary of the sea god? Could you please go ask on my behalf?

Natasha: Your Highness, milady cannot just run rampant like that! I hear—

Natasha comes up to my side and lowers her voice.

Natasha: The infiltrators that have been appearing in the royal city lately are all Lemurians. If you get too close to him, it’ll be dangerous!

Natasha isn’t . Rafayel appearing in the middle of the garden lake that night truly was very strange, but…

MC: Perhaps it was a mistake? Aren’t Lemurians easily tamed?

MC: Besides, Rafayel and I have met before, we can be considered old acquaintances… he probably won’t do anything to me.

In the fishbowl, the little fish suddenly turns towards the balcony. I turn my head to look. A small dart is stuck in the railing.

The tail of the dart is shaking lightly, and my heart leaps.

MC: (It must be Rafayel!)

I dismiss Natasha, and go outside to quietly pull out the dart.

That is a , tied to a simple note.

“Three days later / Dusk”

MC: Natasha! Natasha—

Natasha: What is it, Your Highness?

MC: I… don’t feel very well, I’ll be better after I close my doors and sleep. This week, you absolutely must not come and disturb me.

Natasha: Ah? Your Highness, but… milady’s coming of age ceremony is in three days!

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