"I spared no expense in preparing this potion," the Old Witch muttered to herself.
Over the past few days, she had consumed far too many of her precious magical resources—
A rare resurrection spell, a wand capable of transforming into a venomous serpent, and a vast stockpile of treasured ingredients.
"The books say that even after losing one's memories, a person may regain them if they experience a powerful emotional shock."
"If that girl named Ariel were to appear before Prince Eric again, singing a mermaid's song, decring her love for him—she might awaken his memories and remind him of who she truly is."
"That must never happen!
"Ariel must be contained—she must not be allowed anywhere near Prince Eric!"
"We must hurry and complete the wedding between Prince Eric and the princess. At the dawn of their wedding day, Ariel will turn into sea foam and vanish forever!"
"As soon as that troublesome mermaid dissolves into the waves, no one will be left to wake Prince Eric from his trance."
The Old Witch felt more and more satisfied with her pn.
"Just a mermaid—without magic, without power. No matter her status in the sea, she was alone on nd.
"How could she possibly fight against me, when I have the full support of Endernd behind me?"
That evening, a group of Endernd's finest warriors strode toward the grand ship of the Western Asia Kingdom.
Each of them was a warrior fierce enough to wrestle a tiger with their bare hands.
They wore gleaming armor, adorned with eborate crests, their swords hanging sharply at their waists. As they moved, the sunlight glinted off their polished metal, making them appear even more formidable.
The warriors of Endernd cimed they merely wished to tour the grand and beautiful ship, to host a banquet aboard it in celebration of the meeting between the prince and princess.
The ship's crew saw no reason to refuse and welcomed them aboard.
But the moment Ariel caught sight of the warriors, an inexplicable dread filled her heart.
Something about them felt wrong.
She couldn't shake the feeling that all of them were watching her. Watching her cabin.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, another grand banquet began.
During the feast, the princess poured Prince Eric a drink—the very wine that the Old Witch had given her.
As the burning liquor coursed down his throat, Prince Eric felt a dizzying intoxication take hold.
His very soul and mind seemed to waver.
The memories he had once thought unforgettable, were etched into his heart like sacred scripture—
Began to fade, as if they had been written on the sand, only to be washed away by the tide.
He forgot…
Forgot the way she had held his hand as they watched the sunrise and sunset, their shadows stretching long across the pace floor.
Forgot how she had once stood in the grand hall, singing so beautifully that his hands had turned red from cpping too hard.
Forgot how, through the crystal ball, he had seen a stormy night where a brave little mermaid risked her life, dodging a falling mast to pull him from the wreckage.
Forgot the times they had ridden horseback together, the branches brushing against their shoulders as they galloped through emerald forests.
Forgot how they had sat on the edge of the ship during their journey to Endernd, gazing at the endless blue sea, dreaming of a future where they would grow mermaid tails and elope beneath the waves.
Forgot her.
Forgot their promise.
Forgot the potion that would transform his legs back into a tail.
It still y in his bag—
But to his clouded mind, it was nothing more than an ordinary bottle of fine liquor.
Seeing that the prince was thoroughly drunk, the Princess of Endernd eagerly asked,
"Prince Eric, tell me… do you truly love someone else? Someone you love more than me?"
The prince's deep bck eyes were hazy with intoxication. The bewitching fragrance, the memory-erasing potion, and the wine itself all worked together to cloud his senses.
Suddenly, he pointed at the Princess of Endernd.
"What… what are you talking about? Of course, the person I love most… is you!
"When I y on the shore like a corpse, it was you who saved me!"
Hearing his words, the princess was overjoyed, as if she had been lifted from the depths of despair back into paradise.
The Old Witch, standing beside her, smiled wickedly.
"You see? The prince's true love is you."
"There is no need to wait—no reason to dey. His Majesty has spoken.
"You two must be married at once! You are a match made in heaven!"
But in reality, there was only one thing that truly mattered—
Ensuring that the prince and princess were wed.
And making sure that the mermaid girl turned into sea foam.
As long as that troublesome mermaid disappeared from existence—
No one would ever be able to wake Prince Eric again.
The bells of the temple began to toll.
A royal herald rode through the streets, loudly prociming the news:
Prince Eric and the Princess of Endernd would be wed that very night!
The people of the capital city could hardly believe their ears.
They had expected the royal wedding to take weeks, perhaps even months, to pn.
Never had a noble wedding been arranged so hastily.
It was unheard of for a royal couple to meet only days before walking down the aisle.
Yet now—within just an hour of the prince's agreement—he and the princess were to stand before the temple priest and swear an eternal oath.
Some citizens specuted that the prince and princess were so deeply in love that they simply couldn't wait. That tonight's ceremony would be a simple affair, with grander celebrations to follow.
Others whispered that the prince and princess must have met long ago, and the wedding date had already been set in secret—only now revealed to the public.
Even the princess herself was unsure why her father had insisted on such an urgent ceremony.
But she knew she had no right to question it.
From the moment she was born, her father had already pnned out her entire life.
To be able to marry the one she loved was already more than she had dared to hope for.
