He's not here.

Bai Xing rested his head on the table in despair. He has searched all over the palace for Grey, but he couldn't find him. Was he wrong?

He abruptly sat up, startling the prince who was sitting next to him.

Could it be…he became a mermaid? It's not impossible…

He sighed. Why didn't he think about that? But if Grey became a mermaid, how was he supposed to find him?

"W-White…you look gloomier than usual. Did something happen?" the prince asked in worry.

Bai Xing shook his head. He refilled the prince's teacup. From all the serving he did in the fairytale world, he could probably be a professional butler in his real world.

Fortunately, this prince didn't really treat him as a servant, more like a friend. Maybe because he saved his life.

"You have not found the person you are looking for? If you can give me their description, I can order the guards to search for them. Maybe put out a search notice for the townspeople." The prince suggested.

Bai Xing shook his head again. He didn't know what Grey looked like in this world. The only way for him to identify Grey was from his voice, height, eyes, and he couldn't be detected in the app's directory.

Just when they could finally spend a decent amount of time together in this story…

"Then, what do you say you look around the town tomorrow? You can take one of the guards to accompany you."

"…"

That…doesn't sound like a bad idea. Maybe he could go check the sea along the way. He was pretty skillful in swimming thanks to his parents. Though he wasn't sure if he could still do it properly or not…

If Grey really did become a mermaid, he should ask for diving equipment from M…

Bai Xing nodded in agreement.

"But just because I will not be here, you cannot play around as you want, Your Highness," Bai Xing warned him, "Especially not sparring with Sir Henry."

"…" the prince looked away guiltily.

"…I will take Sir Henry with me tomorrow."

It was the prince's turn to be gloom.

As planned, Bai Xing went out the next day with Henry, a royal knight who served under the prince and was also the prince's childhood playmate.

Henry was also younger than Bai Xing, but considering their status, Bai Xing thought it was only appropriate for him to call Henry with an honorific.

"Where should we go first, Mr. White? This is the first time for you to go to town, isn't it? I'll guide you around."

Bai Xing looked at the big town in front of him in thought. After considering it for a while, he answered, "I think…I want to check the beach…"

"The beach? Not the port?" Henry raised his eyebrows, "Then, we should go by horse. It's faster that way."

They went to the palace stable and took a horse each.

"Are you familiar with horse riding?"

Bai Xing nodded and hopped onto his horse smoothly. With the saddle and rein there, it was much easier than when he rode the horse in Snow White's story. He set his posture just as Grey taught him.

They left the palace gate and sped to the beach with Henry's lead.

"Ooh, you're pretty good, Mr. White. Whoever taught you must be very skillful." Henry praised once they stopped at the periphery of the beach.

Bai Xing's lips subconsciously curved into a faint smile, "…Yes, he is."

Henry looked around the beach, "So? What…or who are we looking for here?"

"A…male." Bai Xing vaguely said before continuing forward.

Whether he was a man or a merman, he also didn't know.

As they strolled, Bai Xing whispered to his horse, "Mr. Horse, can you call one of the birds for me?"

The horse kicked up his front legs in surprise. Fortunately, Bai Xing could calm it down quickly. His face was covered by his cloak's hood, so Henry didn't see what he had just done. He reassured him that everything was fine.

The horse called down a bird and it descended down on the horse's head.

"Have you seen a man…or merman around here?"

"A merman I know not. A man I see!" the bird cried and flew away, "Strange human I lead."

Bai Xing, "…"

Is that a bird accent or something?

But he understood more or less and followed the bird. After following it for a few minutes, the bird landed down on an unknown man's head. Just from his height, Bai Xing knew it wasn't Grey.

"…A taller one." Bai Xing added when the bird went back to the horse's head.

After three times, the bird didn't give him any result. It even ended up on a statue at the last one. Bai Xing thanked it before jumping off his horse.

He stared at the sea determinedly and took off his cloak.

"Mr. White? What are you doing?" Henry also climbed down his horse.

"Swimming." Bai Xing took off his boots and vests before rolling his sleeves and trousers up.

"???" Henry was dumbfounded, "So suddenly?"

"I won't go too deep." Bai Xing stretched his muscles to warm it up.

Henry quickly held Bai Xing back when he saw Bai Xing really was going to enter the sea, "No, no, no. The sea is dangerous, Mr. White! If you want to swim, you can do so in the palace pool."

"Half an hour," Bai Xing freed his arm from Henry and plead, "Just for half an hour."

"…" Henry grunted and raised up his hands, "10 minutes! I'll drag you out after 10 minutes whether you like it or not!"

"Deal." Bai Xing nodded and immediately dove into the sea.

Henry scratched his hair in frustration and confusion, "Aren't we searching for a person? Why are you suddenly swimming?"

10 minutes were too short for Bai Xing to search around carefully. He swam back ashore in disappointment. He sat on the sand to catch his breath.

"Grey…where are you…?" he muttered and rested his head on his knees.

"You don't believe me?"

"…"

I believe you.

I believe you, so hurry up and find me.

The 2 of them returned to the palace in the evening. Bai Xing head to his room directly and took a shower. He has just finished dressing when his door was knocked.

Bai Xing opened it, "Your Highness…Forgive me–"

"Ah, no. I just want to see how you are faring. Henry told me you did not look so good."

"…" Bai Xing shook his head, "I'm…fine."

Bai Xing left his room and accompanied the prince for dinner. They didn't eat at the dining hall as usual. Instead, the prince chose to eat on the balcony facing the sea. The prince probably thought he liked looking at the sea from the time they were on the island.

Unfortunately, it only made him feel worse. He couldn't help recalling the time when he drank wine with Grey and told him his past. At that time, the scenery in front of them was also the sea.

"White, I am aware that I am younger than you and we have not known each other for that long," the prince spoke as he ate his meal, "But, as a friend, I am willing to lend an ear."

"…" Bai Xing lowered his head, "I just…want to see him."

"The person you are looking for?"

Bai Xing nodded and sighed.

"Is he a very dear friend of yours?"

"He is…" Bai Xing smiled, "Very dear."

The prince sighed and poured him a glass of wine, "I am not good at consoling people, so let me accompany you drink for tonight."

"…Your Highness, you are underaged."

"I certainly am not," the prince immediately refuted, "I'm 17!"

"…"

Uh, yes…that's why you're underaged???

"It seems that you do not know. 15 years of age is considered an adult in my kingdom."

Bai Xing took the wine bottle away from the prince, "No, it's still not good for your body."

"You are too strict on me, White. Even my mother allows me this much."

"Do you want to stop growing and ruin your head?"

The prince was shocked, "That can happen?"

"Your body is still developing, Your Highness. Wait until you are 20." Bai Xing drank a sip.

The prince finally gave up and focused on finishing his meal while Bai Xing drank. He looked at the sea in thought.

If Grey wasn't here…He should just start looking for the power source and get this world over with.

He glanced at the prince. It made him kind of regret…

He quickly erased the thought. Unlike Prince Kalid, this prince was a good person and innocent.

Bai Xing suddenly froze. He slowly stood up with his widened eyes.

"White?"

The wine glass slipped out of his fingers and crashed, waking Bai Xing up from his daze. He immediately dashed out of the balcony.