QT: I hijacked a harem system and now I'm ruining every plot(GL)

Chapter 427: Lorelei

I can feel it. My time is nearing its end.

Normally, I would have a longer lifespan—merfolk twice as long as humans, their bodies sustained by the sea, their spirits woven into the tides.

My body is tired.

My heart is slowing.

I do not tell Daphne.

I cannot.

But I know she knows. I cannot hide it. I have aged too fast. I am more asleep than awake. I can no longer handle rough waves in the waters.

I think Alira knows too.

She looks at me with those eyes—Daphne’s eyes, dark and sharp and knowing. She does not say anything. She does not have to.

I see it in the way she holds on longer when she hugs me. In the way she finds excuses to stay close. In the way she hums the old songs I taught her, soft and slow, as if she is trying to keep me here.

I am not sad, though.

Not at all.

I am happy and at peace.

This life is more than I ever thought I would have.

I was alone for so long. In the cold, dark cave. With only my egg and the echo of a love I could not remember. I thought that was all I would ever have. I thought I would die alone, with no one to hold me, no one to grieve me, no one to remember me.

But I have loved. I have laughed. My heart has been filled.

I am thankful to the tides for letting me be this long.

I stand and move outside where I hear voices. I lean against the door and find Daphne scolding our daughter.

"Do not give me that look, you mischievous tadpole!"

"I am not a frog!"

"You are right. You are an agent of chaos." Daphne plants her hands on her hips. "Are you trying to start a war, huh?"

"A war?" Alira’s voice is innocent. Too innocent. "It was never going to escalate that badly."

They argue more. I am not sure what this conversation is about, but I can tell Daphne is not actually angry. It is more a guise of anger. I can tell by the tiniest twitch of her mouth—she is amused.

Unfortunately for Daphne, Alira is too much like her. So she can never truly be angry at her daughter.

I lean against the door frame and watch them.

"Listen, my dear." Daphne steps closer to Alira, placing a hand on her shoulder. Her voice drops, conspiratorial. "If you really want to manipulate people to do your bidding..."

Suddenly, she is no longer scolding her. She is actively encouraging her antics.

I open my mouth to say something. But I decide otherwise.

Daphne whispers.

Alira’s eyes widen and sparkle.

"Mother, you are a genius."

"I know."

"I love you."

"I know."

They grin at each other.

I shake my head.

I push off the door frame.

"Are you teaching our daughter to be a villain?" I ask.

Daphne looks up. She does not look guilty.

"Better a villain than a hero," Alira says, crossing her arms. "Heroes are so boring."

"You are right about that." Daphne agrees.

I sigh.

That is when Daphne walks to me and kisses my forehead. Then my nose. Lastly my lips.

She lingers there, her forehead pressed to mine.Saying so many things that can’t be put into words.

I wrap my arms around her waist.

Her hands find my face. Her thumbs trace my cheekbones. Her dark eyes search mine.

I do not look away.

"You are tired," she says.

"I am always tired."

"You are more tired than usual."

I do not deny it.

She presses her forehead harder against mine.

"Do you guys have to do this all the time?" Alira says, and walks past us into the cabin.

"Rude." Daphne calls after her. "I wonder who she gets it from."

"I wonder," I say.

"Hey, I am not rude." Daphne bends down, wrapping an arm underneath my legs and lifting me in her arms.

She walks along the beach with me in her arms.

I can walk. But why would I, when I could be carried instead?

I remember initially I was bothered by our body temperature differences. But now, after over ten years together, I love how warm she is.

"I was happy," I say suddenly.

She stiffens.

"Don’t speak like that." She holds me tighter.

"I am not speaking like anything. I am simply stating a fact."

"Lorelei."

"I was happy," I repeat. "I am happy. I have been happy. Every moment with you has been—"

She stops walking.

She looks down at me.

Her dark eyes are bright.

"Stop," she says.

I do not stop.

"I have loved you," I say. "In this life. In every life I cannot remember. I have loved you."

She presses her forehead to mine.

"Lorelei."

"I am not afraid," I say. "I am not sad. I am grateful."

I hold her cheek. My thumb traces her jaw. Her skin is warm beneath my touch.

"Don’t look so sad," I say. "It is not the end, is it?"

She closes her eyes.

I continue.

"We will get to fall in love again. And again."

"Lorelei."

"You will find me. You always find me. And I will wait for you. I will always wait for you."

She opens her eyes. Her dark eyes are wet.

"Doesn’t make it hurt any less," she says.

"I’m sorry."

I hold her face. My thumbs brush away the tears before they fall.

"I know," I say. "I know it hurts. I wish I could take that from you."

"I love you," she says. "I will always love you."

I place a kiss on her cheek.

"I know," I say. "I have always known."

I hold her face in my hands. I memorize the shape of her. The curve of her jaw. The warmth of her skin. The way her lashes rest against her cheeks.

I want to remember this.

I want to carry this with me.

I want to never forget.

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