Transmigrated as the Cuck.... WTF!!!

In the heart of Aquis Vanlur, at the very center of its sprawling, coral-laden expanse, rose a castle so vast and majestic that even the most jaded of eyes could not help but linger upon it.

Its bluish walls, faintly iridescent under the filtered light of the ocean, were streaked with veins of deep crimson, as though the very stone had been infused with blood and beauty alike.

To the merfolk, it was more than just a fortress—it was an irresistible lure, a symbol of power, security, and the silent reminder of who ruled the depths.

And within that castle—far below its grand halls and throne chambers—lay a secluded chamber. The room was lavishly adorned with ornaments carved from coral, walls lined with rare shells that shimmered faintly, and jewels scattered in careful disarray, as though wealth itself was nothing more than decoration.

In the center of this sanctuary, upon an enormous bed draped in flowing silk, reclined a mermaid whose presence could command the currents themselves.

Her skin was pale as moonlit water, her features sharply cut, exuding an elegance both regal and dangerous. Waves of sapphire-blue hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing eyes the color of fresh-spilled blood.

A long, sinuous tail of crimson-red completed her form, its scales catching the faint glow of the chamber's lamps. She leaned back against the carved bedframe, her posture lazy yet undeniably alluring, like a predator too confident to move.

Knock. Knock.

The sound disturbed the stillness. Her eyes, previously closed in idle rest, opened slowly, lashes fluttering as she spoke in a melodic voice, each word carrying a soft command. "Come in."

The door creaked open, and a merman entered. His tail shimmered in deep shades of blue, his head lowered in a respectful bow as he spoke. "Great Lady Wannre, this Luris is here at your command."

Her gaze lingered on him for a heartbeat, unreadable. Then, rising with a graceful motion, she floated across the room, the water bending gently around her presence. With a small gesture, she invited him toward the round table beside her bed.

Luris gave a curt, respectful nod before moving to sit opposite her. Wannre rested her cheek lazily against her right hand, her crimson eyes half-lidded yet sharp.

"For a week now," she began, her voice slow and deliberate, "the yellow-tailed merfolk have had… unusually high hunting success. Far higher than they have managed in years." She tilted her head, a faint curiosity threading her tone. "Tell me, Luris—why is that?"

Luris swallowed, his head still bowed. "The human we rescued… he is the one hunting for them. Without him, they would barely be able to feed themselves." His words quickened as though to defend himself. "Lady Wannre, I sent him myself. He is there to show the yellow-tailed they cannot survive without our aid. He is a spy of mine—"

Her hand lifted slightly, and the motion alone was enough to halt his words. A sigh escaped her lips, tinged with boredom.

"See, Luris… I care little for how you manage them. In truth, I care even less if the yellow-tailed decide to form a separate nation altogether."

Luris's hands tightened on his tail. His throat worked, but he forced himself into silence.

Wannre's tone dropped lower, quieter, and yet every word carried weight. "What I do care about… is incompetence. As long as they remain incapable, they pose no threat. But this human… his presence will give them more than food. He will give them hope. Drive. The ambition to improve themselves."

Her gaze sharpened, a flicker of something darker passing in her eyes. "And that is something I cannot allow."

She tilted her head slightly, almost playfully, though her words were anything but light.

"You hold to your ideals of uniting the merfolk, of equality in the depths. But remember this, Luris—there is no equality here. Not in the ocean. For if we desire to live that is."

Luris swallowed hard and bowed deeper. "I understand. I will speak with the human. I will make certain he stops aiding them."

For a moment, Wannre seemed lost in thought, her gaze drifting to the far wall as if she could see beyond the room itself. Then, a faint smile curved her lips.

"Actually… I have a better idea. Bring him here. Anyone who can hunt so effectively in our waters is not just a pawn—he is… interesting. And strength like his is worth seeing with my own eyes."

Luris rose to his feet, his head lowered once more. "As you wish, Lady Wannre. I will set out immediately to bring him before you."

She yawned softly, the motion graceful yet almost feline in its languor, and waved her hand dismissively. "Good. Now go. Let me sleep."

Without waiting for further response, she drifted back toward her bed, curling upon it with ease. Luris lingered only long enough to ensure the door closed quietly behind him before leaving to fulfill her command.

Outside the castle walls, Luris spotted Muirs pacing back and forth in front of the gates, his hands fidgeting and his tail flicking in restless arcs. The younger merman's eyes lit up the moment he saw his brother emerge from within.

Without hesitation, Muirs swam toward him, his voice quick with urgency. "Hey, Luris! What happened? Did everything go well, or… did she try something annoying again?"

Luris's gills flared wide as he exhaled slowly, letting the pressure bleed out of his chest. "I'm fine," he replied, though the weight in his tone betrayed his tension. "And no, she didn't do anything unreasonable this time. She just… wants to meet with Arawn. Now everything is in his hands. How he chooses to deal with her is not my concern. My work here is done… Somewhat."

Muirs gave a small nod, though his eyes were still tight with worry. Trying to lighten the mood, he flashed a faint grin. "All right then. Let's forget about those unpleasant thoughts. Come on, let's swim around the district for a bit, clear our heads."

But Luris shook his head. "No. Not yet. I need to contact Arawn first. She's invited him for today—she seems genuinely intent on meeting him."

The faint amusement on Muirs's face faded. "Brother… by any chance, do you think she intends to use him? As medium against the Yellow-tailed? To suppress them further?"

Luris swallowed hard, a rare hesitation crossing his features. "I hope not," he murmured. "I really hope not. Because if she does… we wouldn't be able to stop her. And from what I've heard—Arawn isn't someone to be trifled with. His strength… it's said to rival the top commanders of the Red-tailed army."

Muirs's brow furrowed. "It's not just his strength," he said quietly. "Wannre is as cunning as they say, she will twist his ideals entirely. Make him see things her way."

A low laugh escaped Luris—dry, without warmth. "Hah… you're still too young, Muirs. She wouldn't even need to twist anything. Arawn… he's after something. Information. I'm not certain why, but he's searching for it. If she simply hands him what he wants, he'll walk to her side of his own accord."

Muirs's fins twitched. "Then… can't we do the same? Give him what he's looking for?"

Luris's gaze hardened, and his voice dropped to a grim whisper. "No. We'd be dead before we could even answer anything…"