Yume100 Translations

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As the multicolored fish sparkled and swam about as if in a dance…-.

 

Orion led me to a prepared table just outside.

 

Orion: “Apologies for the wait Mother.”

 

A beautiful woman was seated there, surrounded by many servants. She looked up casually at our arrival.

 

Queen: “Good morning Orion…and OO.”

 

With a glance down, the queen motioned for the two of us to sit.

 

Immediately, a teacup made of shell was placed in front of me and filled with a refreshing mint tea.

 

Queen: “I heard last night from Orion. That the two of you are engaged to be wed. I am delighted he is taking a bride but… I cannot so easily just accept the woman who will be Orion’s wife.”

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Orion: “At any rate, you can’t leave here.”

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A way back to the surface… I won’t have another chance to ask.

 

I braced myself and opened my mouth to speak and…

 

Orion: “Go ahead, ask.”

 

Orion whispered near my ear.

 

Orion: “But if you do… I’ll keep you locked in my room for the rest of your life.”

 

OO: “…”

 

A chill ran up my spine at those words.

 

I sat there, all sorts of things running through my mind as my mouth hung open, unable to speak.

 

Queen: “From today on, you will be on a provisional period and take lessons in how to be a princess. Is that understood?”

 

Orion: “…”

 

OO: “Y-yes…”

 

I was so caught up in Orion’s composed gaze that I answered without thinking.

 

…

 

……

 

That afternoon…-.

 

Orion: “Next we’ll cover the diplomatic relations between this kingdom and the surface kingdom.”

 

I had immediately been thrown into princess training and was learning the history of the Undersea Kingdom.

 

What am I even doing?

 

I let out a deep sigh and…

 

Orion: “Hey, are you listening?”

 

Orion lifted my jaw with a finger.

 

OO: “…! I-I’m listening!”

 

I answered on reflex…

 

Orion: “…”

 

Orion laughed with a sneer and removed his finger.

 

Geez…

 

Orion: “Long ago, the land dwellers could come and go freely between the land and the sea. But the merfolk were discriminated against and taken to be traded like pets or slaves… Nowadays exchange between the seafloor and the land dwellers is almost non-existent and the land dwellers are unable to come and go as they please without being given the special power. The only people from the land allowed to come to the sea floor are those who have been given the kiss of a marriage vow.”

 

OO: “Eh…?”

 

The kiss of a marriage vow?

 

Orion: “With that you have the power to come to the sea floor.”

 

The conversation had been flowing smoothly up to that point, but then Orion turned an unkind look at me.

 

Orion: “However, in order to get the ability to return to the surface… you’ll have to have an even deeper bond with a sea floor dweller.”

 

OO: “An even deeper…bond?”

 

At that, my heard started pounding.

 

Orion: “You bear their child.”

 

Orion tangled his fingers in my hair while he spoke.

 

OO: “…!!”

 

Then with a sea dweller… with Orion, I have to have a child, or I can’t go back?

 

I was frozen in place from the shock of Orion’s words.

 

Orion: “You get it now? If you don’t marry me, you can’t go back to the surface.”

 

Orion grinned widely.

 

Huh? But when I came to the sea floor the first time, that shouldn’t have been the kiss of a marriage vow. C-could he…

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Orion: “Ready to follow me?”

 

OO: “Orion… ….nn…”

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Was that a marriage kiss!?

 

Orion: “What’s wrong? Your face is red.”

 

[CHOICE]

• Reflexively stand up (SUN)

• Feign calmness (MOON)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He examined me closely and…

 

I felt as if I was being sucked into the depths of his sparkling eyes.

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