Does Malrik really have a twin brother? Ever since I arrived on A3, he hasn't sent me any messages, came Emma's thought. … Malrik, who had planned to confess everything, now froze. Ms. Tibarn is angry. If I tell her the truth—that Merlin did all those things—will she even believe me? What should I do? He was spiraling. Lucien said coldly, "If the Enchanter Clan causes trouble at my mother's banquet, Aria will make them pay." As for how the Merfolks will handle it—that is their business. Aria won't interfere. He turned to Kieran. "You've explained your injuries. Now, why were you hiding in our estate?" Kieran understood this meant Lucien was about to settle the score with him. No matter his reasons, secretly hiding in a female's home was indeed his fault. "Go ahead," Kieran encouraged earnestly. As long as I can stay by Emma's side, I'm willing to do anything. "No matter what you ask me to do, I'll accept it."Lucien didn't answer and glanced at Silas, who said, "Don't be nervous, Merfolk King. Hiding here wasn't right, but we only ask for compensation. "Water changes and medicine are free. Since you ate my leaves and the lake's fish, just give us one thousand pink pearls." One thousand pearls should be enough for Emma to enjoy, right? I can't demand more—what if the poor Merfolks can't weep that much? Kieran stared at Silas, shocked. Such generosity! That little female is so genuine, and even her mate is magnanimous. After all this time, they only request a modest amount of pearls. Seeing his reaction, Silas wondered whether he'd asked for too much. Could it be that even a thousand pearls are impossible for him? He faltered, considering a lower number. It wasn't out of pity—Kieran's gaze toward Emma was hardly innocent. Keeping him around might just mean gaining another rival. "One thousand pearls is fine," Kieran replied eagerly. "However many you want, I'll give." His pale cheeks flushed again. "It's just… my body hasn't recovered yet, so I can't shed tears for now." If he could cry, he would have long since offered her all the pearls she wanted. Seeing the skeptical looks around him, Kieran quickly added, "I'm not lying. I really can't cry right now." "I don't believe you," Marcus said. "Unless I beat you up." Kieran sighed. "Then, go ahead and beat me." Even if he were beaten to death, not a tear would fall. Emma remembered what Lucien had said—that the Merfolk King had a strange illness. "Marcus, don't hit him. His health is bad." If he dies, how do we explain it to the Merfolks? She looked at Kieran again. "You can't cry now—but what about before?" There has to be some left, right? I really want those pink pearls. Even a few hundred would do—after all, this fish ate Silas' leaves. He can't have eaten them for nothing, can he? Kieran looked embarrassed. "The small pearls I used to shed were given to my people. The larger ones were given to the Drakonid."Among the Merfolks, pearls weren't useful. As king, he rarely cried to avoid seeming weak. When he did, the pearls were snatched up by the females of Merfolks—or occasionally given to the Drakonids who asked for them. However, ever since he got sick, he hadn't been able to cry at all. "I see…" Emma sighed. It seems those pink pearls aren't meant for me. Kieran hurriedly said, "Give me time. Once I recover, I'll give you many pink pearls." He could already feel that Silas' leaves were healing him bit by bit. If he could just have a few more, he'd recover soon. Then, taking a step forward, he knelt on one knee before Emma. "Female, please let me stay by your side. I'm a Rank 10 male therian—not as strong as His Highness, Lucien, or Prince Marcus—but not weak either. "I swear to the Beast God that I will serve you faithfully, protect you with my life, and never betray you. If I break my oath, may I lose my abilities and be d*mned for eternity." Kieran knew he couldn't compete for her affection, so he chose to become her follower just to stay close.