"The sea calls me, San. It always will."
"Then I'll follow, even if it takes me to the depths."
Prince San finds solace by the sea, where he encounters Wooyoung, a cursed siren bound to the ocean's depths. But as their bond deepens, the ocean's wra...
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The kingdom of Althera was vast and prosperous, filled with lush valleys, towering mountains, and cities that hummed with life. Yet, for all its beauty, there was a place that remained untouched, where the waves whispered ancient secrets, and the wind carried stories of forgotten gods. It was here, on the northern shore, where Prince San often found himself, standing at the edge of the world as the tide lapped against the rocks.
San had always been different from his brothers. While they reveled in courtly duties and the grandeur of their royal lineage, San craved something more—something beyond the walls of the palace and the expectations that weighed heavily on his shoulders. He often escaped the suffocating opulence of the royal court, retreating to the coastline where he felt the closest to freedom. It was as if the sea called to him in a way nothing else could.
He stood on the cliff's edge now, his dark eyes scanning the horizon. The air smelled of salt and brine, and the cool breeze tugged at the loose strands of his dark hair. The setting sun cast a golden glow across the water, but it did little to ease the tension gnawing at his chest. For months, he had been plagued by a strange restlessness, a pull he couldn't explain, as though something deep within the ocean was beckoning him.He inhaled deeply, letting the sea air fill his lungs, hoping it might soothe the unease within him. The waves crashed below, their rhythmic sound offering a sense of peace, yet there was something about the way they moved today—something unsettling."Your Highness!" A voice cut through the quiet. San turned to see one of his attendants, YeoSang, approaching with a look of concern on his face.
"The king has been asking for you. Your brothers are—"
"Let them wait," San interrupted, his tone sharp but not unkind. "I'll return when I'm ready."
Yeosang hesitated but bowed before retreating. San appreciated the man's loyalty, but he couldn't bear the thought of returning to the palace just yet. The weight of his title had grown unbearable as of late. He was a prince, yes, but what did that mean? To marry for the sake of alliances, to rule without ever truly knowing freedom? His heart yearned for something more—something real.As the sun dipped lower, casting the world in hues of pink and violet, San closed his eyes and listened. The sound of the waves was different now, softer, more melodic, as if they were singing to him. He frowned, opening his eyes and stepping closer to the cliff's edge. The song was faint, barely audible beneath the crashing surf, but it was there—haunting and beautiful.
"Just the wind," he muttered to himself, but even as he said it, he knew it wasn't true. This was something else.
The legend of the northern shore had been passed down for generations, whispered among the fishermen and villagers who lived close to the water. They spoke of creatures that dwelled beneath the waves—sirens, cursed beings who lured sailors to their deaths with their songs.
