Mermaid's Song: A Forbidden Quadrangle Neflibata

Prologue The Siren's Song Anonymous: [I suspect I might be a mermaid. Anyone else thinks the same?] After sending this message to the forums, Isabel turned her laptop off anxiously. Moments later, she was walking on the narrow path that connected the Howard Estate and the seashore, hoping someone online could answer the question that had been troubling her for as long as she could remember. Located along the shore, The ancient and mysterious Howard Estate embodied the pinnacle of power in Collins State. On the outside, it was nothing short of magnificent and elegant, yet the atmosphere within its gates had always been depressing and gloomy. Isabel didn't like the atmosphere of this place at all, but this was her home, for she was the adopted daughter of the Howard family. For reasons she couldn't comprehend, every night when the moon illuminated the entire ocean horizon, she found herself uncontrollably sprinting toward the shore. The rhythmic and gentle sound of waves hitting the shore somehow resembled an almost magical calling that urged Isabel to return home. As if to compliment that calling, she instinctively began to hum a melody that was etched deep in her memories. Andrei had never heard such enchanting music before. Initially, he had come here out of habit, seeking a reprieve from his chronic insomnia, but unexpectedly, he found solace in the voice that filled the air. It was ethereal and dreamlike, as tender as his mother's hands when he was a child, yet it carried the mesmerizing allure of a siren's call. Mesmerizing? Andrei smirked at himself. As the eldest son of Duke Howard and the primary heir to the family, he was known as the favored child of the gods and a ruthless lord. How could he be swayed by a mere song like some lowly sailor lured to his doom? "If I'm entranced, it must be the moonlight's fault," he muttered, continuing towards the source of the melody. Beneath the full moon, he spotted a small figure by the shoreline rocks. Her golden hair seemed to absorb the moon's glow, and while her upper body was supported by delicate, pale arms, her legs remained hidden in the dark water, shimmering like scales. Was it a mermaid? He had never heard of anything otherworldly appearing on the Howard Estate. "Who are you?" he demanded, his authoritative tone abruptly silencing the song. Isabel, startled like a deer caught in a trap, quickly covered her mouth. Was her secret about to be discovered? If anyone learned that the mute foster girl of the Howard Estate could sing like an angel, she would surely become a plaything for the nobles! Just as Andrei stepped forward, Isabel dove into the water with the grace of a frightened mermaid returning to the sea. Under the full moon, her radiant hair and soul-soothing voice seemed like a fleeting dream. "Damn it!" Andrei felt a sudden pang of loss as if something crucial had slipped away. It was a rare feeling for the heir to the Howard family. He had to see her again. "Whoever finds that golden-haired woman with the enchanting voice will be rewarded with 100 thousand Opecs!" he commanded the servants, who immediately sprang into action—this fortune was more than enough for any ordinary folk to live comfortably for a decade! Soon, the entire Collins State knew that Childe Andrei was searching for a golden-haired woman. ***** A few days later, deep within the dimly lit corridors of the Howard Estate, a disheveled woman suddenly stumbled out of the darkness, crashing straight into Morley, the housekeeper. "Good heavens!" Morley gasped as she steadied herself, and her eyes widened in recognition. "Isabel?!" Isabel Howard, the woman who had bumped into Morley, held her torn garments close, shielding her dignity with hands that trembled. Her breaths came in rapid surges, causing her bosom to rise and fall tumultuously. Her skirt lay in tatters, revealing glimpses of her pale thighs. She appeared both terrified and vigilant. Morley attempted to catch her, but by the time she regained her footing, Isabel had already darted away. Ever since Andrei announced a reward for anyone who found that blonde woman, some greed-driven butlers even paid hooligans on the streets to search for her. These hooligans were the lowest of the low, wicked, despicable, and willing to use any means to achieve their goals. Thus, many young girls suffered from their harassment. Isabel had just finished gathering the roses and was about to return when she was stopped by two unsavory characters, strangers whose presence spelled danger. Instinctively sharp, Isabel chose to flee instantly. Her small frame sprinted through the veil of night. Her dress and neckline were caught and ripped by the thorns of the roses in the garden. Fear propelled her forward, and as the danger heightened, a desperate plan formed in her mind. Breathless and alone, she thought of a place while running. Perhaps... that was her only way out of this crisis. Without pausing, Isabel reached the second-floor corridor of Crimson Hall, where only one room existed. It belonged to the late mother of Andrei and was a strictly prohibited area of Crimson Hall. No one dared intrude upon this sanctum uninvited! Isabel's breathing was frantic, for she could hear the footsteps gradually drawing closer behind her. With no time to think, she pushed the door open and slipped inside. "Who allowed you in here? Get out!" The icy snarl from within caused Isabel's spine to stiffen. Her heart skipped a beat. Damn it! Not this kind of misfortune! She cursed to herself as she slowly turned around. The room was dim, with the curtains nearly fully drawn save for a sliver of moonlight that illuminated the room just enough. As her eyes adjusted, the figure inside became clearer. A handsome man sat at the bed's edge with his hand pressing against his temple. The man was evidently battling a severe headache. His piercing gaze locked onto Isabel, making her knees weak. I'm doomed. It's Childe Andrei. Isabel realized with a shiver of dread. Andrei Howard was the very last person she wished to encounter. She knew Andrei had been searching for her for days, but she never imagined she'd end up right in front of him! Isabel cursed her fortune, for Andrei, who seldom appeared this season, was here at her most perilous and humiliating moment. Just beyond the door, the footsteps of her pursuers, now ominously close, echoed as they barricaded the exit. Her heart pounded fiercely. She had her back pressed against the door as sweat dampened her chest. Behind that barrier lurked two villains intent on her harm, while before her stood Andrei, known across the federation as the "Tyrant." She was like a delicate prey trapped between savage beasts. Realizing Isabel displayed no intention to leave, Andrei's voice, dark and chilling, pierced the silence. "Was I not clear?" A throbbing pain hammered at his temples, and his patience wore thin, which was a dangerous sign. His anger surged as he stood, striding toward Isabel. In the dim light, her eyes could only discern his towering, formidable silhouette. His presence loomed like a tangible oppression, filling the space and overwhelming Isabel's senses. Her heart fluttered in panic. She was torn between the dread of the known and the fear of the unknown. Recognizing the intruder as he approached, a realization struck Andrei. So, this bold intruder is the foster daughter my uncle has taken in, the sole adopted child in the estate. I think her name is... Isabel. His voice, laden with ire, cut through the tension. "Barging into someone's room uninvited... Has no one taught you manners?" he chastised sharply, "You truly are an uncultured brute." Despite the terror seizing her, Isabel resolved in those fleeting seconds. Staying might mean facing Andrei's formidable temper and even the risk of her secret being exposed, but the degradation awaiting her outside was unimaginable. "I'm terribly sorry to disturb you... but could you possibly let me stay for now? There are two villains outside trying to harm me. Help me, please!" With that, Isabel pleaded her case to Andrei. Due to past circumstances, she had long avoided speaking, but now, desperation forced her to break her silence. Yet, she spoke with a carefully hoarse tone, concealing her true voice, which was a necessary guise to protect her identity. Andrei regarded her with a cold, calculating gaze, and his suspicion awakened. Hasn't the whispers claimed Isabel was mute? Yet here she is, speaking? He was poised to dismiss her by opening the door and casting her out when a sudden realization halted him. He narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her closely. "Your hair... is golden?"