"Levy..." Juvia said softly the next day, as her sister in-law brushing out her long hair. "What do humans think of our kind?"

"That's a difficult question. Every human thinks differently. But from what I've seen... most of them believe merfolk are only a myth. Something from stories. They don't think we truly exist."

Juvia hesitated. "Do you think... a human could ever befriend one of us?"

Levy considered it. "It's not impossible. If they met under the right circumstances, I imagine a human and a mermaid could get along just fine."

"And do you think that maybe..." She lowered her gaze, her voice growing smaller. "They could fall in love?"

Levy's expression shifted.

"...That," she said gently, "is far less likely."

Juvia looked up quickly. "Why?"

"Well... for one thing," Levy said, choosing her words carefully, "humans don't exactly find our tails appealing. They prefer their partners to have legs."

"Why?" Juvia asked, genuinely puzzled.

"So they can walk. Run. And... dance," Levy replied with a small smile. "I once saw a couple dancing on the shore. The man held the woman close and spun her around and around... like she weighed nothing at all. They couldn't stop smiling."

Juvia's eyes softened at the image. "I wonder what it would be like... to dance with someone. It sounds beautiful."

Levy's smile faded slightly. "It does. But it's not something we can do."

Juvia fell quiet for a moment, then asked, "Is there anything else humans look for? What about music? Do they love music?"

Levy let out a soft laugh. "Oh, they adore it. Especially in Verdenshav—music is everything to them. It's their greatest joy."

Juvia's heart gave a small, hopeful flutter. "Then... a human would like my singing?"

"They would," Levy said. Then, more gently, "But a beautiful voice wouldn't change everything. If a human saw what you are... truly are... it might frighten them."

Juvia's shoulders sank slightly.

Levy tilted her head. "Why are you asking all this, anyway?"

Juvia quickly looked away. "Just... curious."

But she wasn't. Levy's words lingered with her long after the conversation ended, heavy and inescapable. Juvia had been searching for some small hope—some sign that a life between her and Gray might be possible. But if Levy was right then it never could be. And Levy knew more about humans than anyone beneath the sea. So it had to be true.

As if that weren't enough, the next time Juvia swam to the shore, she found the balcony empty.
No movement. No sign of him at all. She returned the following evening. And the next. Still nothing. He was not on the balcony, nor sailing upon the water, nor walking along the beach. It was as though he had vanished. And with each passing night, the sea felt a little colder.

She began to worry. Where had he gone? Was he alright? Had something happened to him? Was he hurt? The questions looped endlessly in her mind, refusing to settle. She knew no peace until she had answers. Against her better judgment, Juvia began clinging to the sides of passing ships, listening quietly to the sailors as they spoke among themselves. She stayed hidden, drifting just beneath the surface, hoping—just hoping—that one of them might mention the prince.

For six days, she heard nothing of value.
But on the seventh day, she finally caught a fragment of conversation that made her heart leap. A crewman mentioned that Gray had traveled to spend the summer at another castle in the Magnolia Nation.

"I have to go there," Juvia said as soon as she returned, turning to Panther Lily and Conlan. "I have to go to Magnolia Nation... and see him again. And when I do... I'm going to talk to him."

"Juvia, stop talking nonsense," Lily replied firmly. "Levy already told you—no human can fall in love with a mermaid. Besides, the human world isn't meant for you."

"You don't understand, Lily," Juvia said quietly. She looked upward, toward the distant shimmer of the surface. "My body belongs down here but my heart is up there."

"Juvia, you are the luckiest girl in the world," Lily insisted. "You live in the most beautiful place in existence. The sea is full of life, and there are countless creatures who care about you."

That much was true. Juvia loved them all—the fish, the crabs, the dolphins, the starfish, the seahorses, the stingrays, even the slow-moving snails and slugs. And they, in turn, adored her. To them, she was kind, gentle, and wonderful. But among her own kind things were different.
Aside from her family, most merfolk treated her as an outsider. They did not mock her openly every day, but their indifference—and sometimes their quiet dismissal—was enough to make her feel as though she did not belong. There was no one who truly understood her.

No one... except Gray.

"Lily, I'm not happy here," she admitted at last, her voice softer now. "You saw how those mermaids treated me when I tried to join their game. That's how it is almost every day. I feel like I don't belong anywhere."

"And what makes you think it will be any different up there?" Lily asked.

"Because..." Juvia hesitated, then steadied herself. "Because there's someone up there who understands how I feel. Someone who knows what it's like to be alone."

Her voice grew more certain.

"I would give anything... just to have one person who could accept me for who I am."

"Juvia, many people already like you," Lily said gently. "You've heard the praise for your singing—"

"But that's just it," she interrupted. "They don't like me. They like my voice. If I lost that... no one would have anything kind to say about me."

She exhaled softly, the hope in her expression dimming.

"Never mind. There's no point explaining this. None of you really understand."

She turned away.

"Come on, Conlan. Let's go to the garden."

The water horse nodded and followed her.

Lily started to move after them—but was suddenly stopped by a swordfish messenger who approached with urgency.

"Panther Lily," the messenger said. "His Majesty has requested your presence in the throne room. He wishes to speak with you regarding one of the princesses."

Lily stiffened. So Gajeel had found out. His career was over—he could feel it in his bones. He had failed in his duty to watch over Juvia. At best, he would be reprimanded. At worst... banishment. Swallowing hard, the poor sea cat forced himself to move. With quiet dread, he made his way toward the palace and entered the throne room.

There, he saw the king seated upon his throne, chuckling quietly to himself.

"So... my little sister is in love," Gajeel mused. "And that rascal Lily thought he could keep it from me?"

He leaned back slightly, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

"Now then... let's see. Who could the lucky merman be?"

His gaze shifted toward Lily.Deciding to have a bit of fun, Gajeel spoke casually,

"So, Lily... have you noticed Juvia acting a little peculiar lately?"

"Peculiar?" Lily squeaked, stiffening.

"Yeah. Mooning about, daydreaming, singing to herself..."

"Isn't that... how she normally behaves?" Lily asked nervously.

Gajeel raised an eyebrow.

"Lily," he said, his tone sharpening, "I know you've been keeping something from me. So—what's going on?"

"Going on?" Lily's voice trembled. "In what sense... exactly?"

Gajeel's eyes narrowed. "Don't play dumb. I know Juvia's in love—and I know you know about it too. Care to explain?"

At that, Lily suddenly dropped to his knees, beginning to panic.

"I tried to stop her, sir!" he blurted out. "But she wouldn't listen! I told her to stay away from humans—they're dangerous! They're trouble—"

Gajeel sat bolt upright.

"Humans?" he roared, his eyes flashing with fury. "What about humans?!"

Lily's face went pale as realization hit him.

"...Uh-oh."

...

Meanwhile, far from the throne room, Selene watched the royal family through her crystal ball, her lips curling into a satisfied smile.

She had recently taken a particular interest in Juvia.

"This really is too easy," she murmured. "The child is in love with a human... and not just any human—a prince. And now that my dear nephew knows, everything will begin to fall into place."

"So... what's the plan?" Nebaru asked, perched comfortably at her side.

"For now," Selene replied calmly, "we wait."

"Wait?"

"Yes. We wait and observe how the others react once this secret becomes known."

Her smile sharpened slightly.

"The moment her people learn that she desires a human as her soulmate, they will turn on her. They will mock her. Reject her. Make her feel as though she does not belong anywhere... just as they once did to me."

A flicker of cold anger passed through her eyes as memories surfaced—of ridicule, of scorn, of being treated as lesser simply because of her form.

Nebaru curled affectionately against her arm. "Don't worry, magnificent one. Your revenge will come. They'll all pay for what they did to you."

Selene stroked him absentmindedly. "Yes... I know they will."

Her gaze returned to the crystal ball.

"And my dear, lovely, innocent little niece will play her part in it. Lucky thing that she thinks she's so miserable down here."

Nebaru tilted his head. "Thinks?"

"Oh, Nebaru... what reason does she have to be miserable?" Selene said with a faint, dismissive laugh. "She lives in a palace, she's incredibly beautiful, and she has a perfect voice that she takes for granted. Personally I think that she needs to be taught a lesson."

She swam over to a nearby shelf lined with potions, charms, and enchanted artifacts. After a moment of searching, her fingers found what she was looking for. An ancient book. Its thick cover bore a single name etched in dark lettering:

Zeref.

"This contains every spell he ever recorded..." she murmured, flipping it open. "Now then... let's see..."

Her eyes scanned the pages.

"Hypnotism? No... her will is likely too strong. Poison? Already attempted. Amnesia... bunions... chilblains... cholera..."

She smirked faintly.

"...I can do better than that."

Page after page turned beneath her fingers as she dismissed one spell after another. At last, she paused. Her expression shifted.

"...Yes. Perfect."

Nebaru leaned closer. "What is it?"

"A contract spell," Selene said, her voice low with satisfaction. "Binding. Legal. Unbreakable—even by the Sea King's power."

"How will that help?" Nebaru asked.

Selene's smile widened.

"Because it will ensure that the only way Gajeel can save his precious sister... is by bending to my will."

A soft, sinister laugh escaped her.

"And in the end... the ocean itself will belong to me."

She could scarcely believe she had not thought of it sooner. The contract spell was elegantly simple—and devastatingly effective. Many had fallen victim to such bargains in the past.

Since her exile, she had made a name for herself striking deals with desperate merfolk—those whose desires outweighed their judgment. And every agreement she made ended the same way: dreams twisted, hopes broken, lives ruined.

But what she had planned now would surpass anything she had ever done before.