Cherreads

Chapter 5 - Impossible

The word echoed inside my head like thunder.

"Strip."

For a moment, I honestly believed I heard wrong..My brain refused to process it.

Did… did he just tell me to strip?

I blinked rapidly, staring at him through the crystal ball, waiting for him to correct himself. Maybe the ocean distorted his voice. Maybe this devil king had said something else entirely.

But no…he simply stood there.

Calm like the ocean,Unmoving,watching me.

His silver eyes held mine without mercy, without embarrassment, without even the smallest hint of hesitation.

Oh Buddha.He was serious.

"M-Me?" I pointed at myself, my voice cracking embarrassingly. "You mean… me?"

His expression didn't change.Not even a little.

The two shark bodyguards behind him stiffened awkwardly, clearly unsure whether they should remain or disappear.

Even they looked uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, my heart was beating like it wanted to escape my chest and swim away on its own.

Strip?Why would he ask that?

Was this some kind of royal punishment? A ritual? An execution preparation?

Oh no.

Maybe they remove clothes before eating prisoners.

My imagination immediately betrayed me.

Images of giant royal sharks sitting around a dining table flashed in my mind and I nearly fainted.

"I—I think there's been a misunderstanding," I rushed out, waving my hands nervously. "I am very skinny. Not tasty at all. You won't enjoy eating me."

Silence sliced through everywhere.

The Emperor stared at me.

Triton coughed and Moana quickly lowered her head to hide what suspiciously looked like amusement.

Azarus slowly tilted his head, studying me as if I were the most confusing creature he had ever encountered.

Then his lips moved again.

"Strip."

This time, his voice carried authority.

Not loud,Not angry…Just absolute.

The air itself seemed to obey him.A strange pressure wrapped around the crystal ball, and suddenly I felt warm energy brush against my skin.

Before I could react—My clothes vanished.

Gone…just… gone.

"AHHHHH!!!"I screamed, instantly crouching down and covering myself with both arms.

Heat rushed to my face so violently I thought I might bust.

He stripped me?!

Without even touching me?!

"What kind of shameless emperor are you?!" I cried internally while trying very hard not to die from embarrassment.

My breathing became uneven as I curled into myself, wishing the crystal ball would swallow me whole.

I dared to peek up.

Which was a big mistake because he was still watching me closely.

Not lustfully.not cruelly…just… observing.

Like a scientist studying an unknown species.

Which somehow made it worse.His eyes moved slowly across me, analyzing every detail as though confirming something important.

Why was he looking so serious?!Was he inspecting me?!

Am I some kind of sea experiment?!

I swallowed hard, my voice trembling.

"C-Can I at least ask why?"

He stepped closer.

The ocean around him stirred gently, responding to his presence like loyal servants.

Even the light seemed to bend toward him.

He raised his hand again.Instinctively, I flinched.

But instead of touching me, glowing blue symbols appeared around the crystal ball, circling it like living magic.

The symbols shimmered… then seeped through the glass.

Cold energy brushed my skin.

I gasped.

It didn't hurt,It felt like water recognizing me.

Like the ocean itself was… listening.

Azarus's eyes narrowed slightly.Confusion flickered across his face.

For the first time since meeting him, the Almighty Emperor looked uncertain.

He whispered something in a language I didn't understand.

The glowing symbols reacted violently.They rejected me.

The light shattered into tiny sparks and disappeared.The entire hall fell silent.

Triton and Moana exchanged shocked glances.

Azarus froze.His gaze snapped back to mine, sharper now, deeper, searching.

Something had gone wrong.Very wrong.

His hand suddenly pierced through the crystal ball again.

I gasped as his fingers stopped inches away from my cheek.

So close.I could feel the cold power radiating from him.

He hesitated.The mighty Ocean Emperor… hesitated.

Our eyes locked.And for a strange moment, fear left me completely.

All I could see was him.The terrifying ruler of the ocean,the beautiful devil.

The lonely man hidden behind absolute power.

His fingers twitched slightly, as if fighting the urge to touch me.

Just suddenly—He withdrew his hand.

The crystal ball sealed instantly.

Azarus turned away sharply.

"Cover her."

His voice sounded different…Lower and Controlled.

A glowing fabric formed around my body, wrapping me gently like flowing water until I was fully dressed again.

I released the breath I didn't realize I was holding.

Thank goodness.I was seconds away from dying of embarrassment.

But my relief didn't last long.Because something felt… strange.

The Emperor wasn't looking at me anymore.

He stood with his back facing me, shoulders tense.As if I had unsettled him.

A helpless human trapped in a floating glass ball.

What just happened?Why did his magic react like that?Why did he look… shaken?

"Leave," Azarus commanded quietly.

Triton and Moana bowed immediately.The crystal ball lifted into the air again, carrying me away from him.

Panic rose instantly.Wait,That's it?

He's sending me away?I leaned forward desperately.

"Wait!" I shouted. "Are you just going to leave me confused like this?"

He didn't give out any response or reaction

The distance between us increased.My chest tightened unexpectedly.

Why did I suddenly feel disappointed?

I barely knew him.He terrified me.And yet…

I wanted him to look at me again.Just once more.

As the doors of the chamber began closing, I saw him turn his head only slightly.

His silver eyes met mine one last time.

It was Unreadable,dangerous and Curious.

Then the doors shut completely.And I was gone.

Back inside the silent chamber, Emperor Azarus remained unmoving.

The ocean currents slowed around him.

His hand lifted slowly, staring at his own fingers.

The same fingers that had almost touched her.

His eyes darkened."Impossible…" he murmured.

The ancient detection spell had rejected her.

Which meant only one thing.The creature inside the crystal ball…Was not born of the ocean.And yet—

The ocean itself responded to her.Azarus's gaze hardened.

For the first time in centuries…Something existed beyond his understanding and he wanted to know why.

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