Before my parents passed away, they ordered a merman for me to ensure my lineage.

However, I was born with a withered right leg, and my merman utterly despised me for it.

"A cripple like you should just vanish. You aren't even worthy of bonding with me!"

After Milo threw yet another violent tantrum, smashing everything in sight, I fled the house in a panic.

Stumbling blindly into a marine aquarium, a stunning silver-white tail suddenly reached out from a water tank, gently wrapping around my waist.

The merman's pure, ocean-blue eyes guided my gaze to a sign standing right beside the tank:

[Damaged Goods. Trade-ins Welcome.]

With tears shimmering in his eyes, he blew a stream of bubbles.

"Master... take me home."

He was right. It was time to exchange the fish at home for a new one.

But when I told Milo to move out of my house, he blocked the door handle with his tail, his eyes flashing blood-red.

"You're throwing me away... just for that low-born trash?"

1

I woke up exceptionally early today and limped my way down to the morning market.

Finding a vessel that had just returned from the open sea, I purchased a leather pouch filled with fresh, lustrous pearls.

The merchant counted the silver coins in his palm, his smile curling with amusement.

"That merman of yours is truly high-maintenance. Since you treat him like royalty, he must be serving you hand and foot, right?"

My face instantly drained of color, and before the merchant could even hand me my change, I turned and limped away as fast as my leg could carry me.

Predictably, the sharp, mocking laughter of those who knew the truth trailed close behind.

"You don't know the half of it. A cripple trying to keep a precious merman? The creature can't stand the sight of him and tries to run away every single day."

Sweat beaded on my forehead from the exertion of walking, but I pushed forward until those cruel whispers were left far behind.

The moment I stepped through the front door, I realized Milo was already awake.

And he was busy smashing things.

Seeing me enter, he snapped his tail and glided swiftly toward me.

The sharp tip of his fin grazed my cheek, leaving behind a stinging, fiery line of pain.

Milo didn't even bother to look at my face. He snatched the leather pouch from my hands and began picking through it critically.

"What took you so long, limping boy? Don't tell me you bought more damaged goods."

Curling his lip in disdain, he tossed a plump, flawless pearl into his mouth.

"The quality is pathetic. The merman at William Vance’s estate eats far better than this."

Clutching my stinging right cheek, I offered a soft, quiet explanation.

"That's not true. I was the very first to arrive. I finished my purchase before Mr. Vance even got there."

Milo gave a cold, dismissive snort, flicked his tail, and glided away.

I knelt slowly onto the floor, beginning to clean up the shattered remnants left behind by his temper.

Once the mess was cleared, I went into his chamber to change the water in his tank.

Hidden deep within the tangled weeds at the bottom of the tank, I discovered a few of my missing gold coins alongside a map of Rhine Harbor.

On that map, William Vance’s estate had been heavily circled.

Milo didn't actually need to remind me. I already knew he preferred men like William Vance.

Men with towering statues, healthy statures, and inexhaustible fortunes.

Instead of an isolated, broken-legged little landlord like myself.

Dejectedly, I dried the map, folded it neatly, and set it down beside the tank.

Later that evening, while I was sitting at my desk reviewing the property ledgers, a harsh, scraping sound shattered the silence.

Before I could even stand up, Milo charged into the room with terrifying speed, his eyes burning crimson as he cornered me.

"Did you touch my tank? You took my gold coins and my map, didn't you!"

"Listen to me, limping boy, I’m warning you. Don't think for a second that stealing those things will make me submit and bond with you. A broken creature like you doesn't deserve me!"

His words pierced my heart like a serrated blade.

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms, fighting back the sob rising in my throat.

"I put them next to the tank when I was changing the water. The map would have rotted if it stayed submerged."

Milo's fury extinguished instantly.

The room fell completely silent, so quiet that the sound of my tears hitting the wooden floor was painfully distinct.

A flicker of stunned confusion crossed Milo's face, and he reached out a hand, attempting to pull me back.

I sidestepped his touch, turned around, and walked out into the night.

2

The harbor town was small, and I had no idea where to go at an hour like this.

Wiping away my tears, I walked aimlessly with my head down.

By the time I pulled myself out of my thoughts, I found myself standing inside the local marine aquarium.

Usually, when I came here, it was to buy small fish or shrimp to give Milo a change of pace in his diet.

But tonight, I had no heart for it.

My mind kept replaying the sheer malice in Milo's voice, and the ache in my chest was unbearable.

Suddenly, a brilliant silver-white tail broke the surface of a nearby tank, sending a cascade of water droplets into the air.

Remembering how Milo's tail had just sliced across my cheek, panic seized me at the thought of being struck by this massive appendage.

Terrified, I threw my hands over my chest and let out a sharp cry.

Yet, the tail held no malice. Instead, it swayed gently in the air, shaking off the excess water before gingerly, hesitantly coiling around my waist.

A breathtaking, silver-haired merman came into view.

He possessed exquisite white hair and striking blue eyes, floating serenely in the water as he gazed at me through the glass.

When he spoke, his voice resonated like a low, enchanting melody from the abyss, deep and pleasant to the ear.

"Forgive me. Did I frighten you?"

As the words left his lips, a stream of iridescent, shimmering bubbles floated upward.

I froze, completely caught off guard, and then a genuine smile broke through my misery at the sight.

The merman seemed slightly embarrassed by his own bubbles and reached out with a webbed finger, popping them one by one.

My soft laughter grew a little brighter.

Then, he made a subtle gesture, directing my eyes down to the display placard at the base of his tank.

It read:

[Deep Sea Damaged Goods. Trade-ins Welcome.]

Was he... a broken creature, just like me?

No one understood the isolating weight of being deemed 'damaged goods' better than I did.

I studied him closely. His skin possessed the striking, ethereal pallor of the deep ocean, and his facial features and physique were flawless.

However, his caul and dorsal fins were not smoothly rounded like Milo's well-pampered ones; they were lined with sharp, jagged spines.

Even the majestic tail wrapped around me was slightly scarred, missing several silver scales despite its impressive size.

A merman's tail was likely the equivalent of a human's legs.

He and I both carried our own imperfections.

Seeing me lost in thought, the merman grew slightly anxious, tightening his hold around my waist just a fraction as his deep blue eyes locked onto mine.

"Master... please take me home."

He called me Master. It was a title Milo had never once granted me, a word that restored every ounce of my battered dignity.

Looking into his pure, unwavering blue eyes, and then back to the words 'Trade-ins Welcome,' a sudden, bold resolve took root in my mind.

Since Milo despised me so thoroughly, why was I forcing this misery upon both of us?

Perhaps letting Milo go and bringing home a new companion was the best path forward for everyone.

3

I did not agree to the merman right away. Instead, I left the aquarium first.

That merman was named Silas, and perhaps I could truly have him as my own.

The mere thought of it made my steps feel light and buoyant.

So much so that after bidding Silas farewell and returning home, I did not immediately go to apologize to Milo as I usually did.

Instead, I went straight to the study to count my money.

If I was going to bring him back, I had to provide him with the best material comforts possible.

I poured out all the savings from my clay jar, only to find that a few more gold coins were missing.

I let out a soft sigh.

Milo was about to be sent away anyway; I would just treat this as his compensation for staying by my side this past year.