After my sister and I used a potion that enhances fertility, our father sent us off to marry into the merfolk clan. In my previous life, I chose the burly and rough silver-tailed merman and gave birth to several high-ranking black-tailed merfolk children. As a mother of esteemed lineage, I became the merfolk crown princess, enjoying a life of luxury and privilege, and gained a lifespan extending over centuries. My sister, on the other hand, chose the purple-tailed merman and only gave birth to the lowest-ranking red-tailed merfolk, becoming scorned by the merfolk clan. Driven mad by envy, she stole my life essence and chopped me into pieces to feed the piranhas. When I opened my eyes again, it was the day of our marriage alliance. Eagerly, my sister chose the silver-tailed merman, unaware that her dream of rising through motherhood wasn't so easily realized. This silver-tailed merman was infamous for his cruel and unrestrained nature, with a particular penchant for tormenting expectant mothers. "Kylie, I want to marry the fourth silver-tailed prince, Blaine." My ninth sister, Leland, tugged at my sleeve, acting coy. "I know you love beauty, so you'll definitely choose the sixth purple-tailed prince, Liam. But I think Blaine is quite manly." "Kylie, I fell for Blaine at first sight. You'll surely pick the handsome sixth prince, won't you?" She looked at me with a smile, her eyes carrying a hint of threat. In an instant, I realized she too had been reborn. Father had a good relationship with the merfolk king and arranged for a marriage alliance between the two clans. Humans and merfolk had difficulty producing offspring. To prevent a decline in descendants, Father had me and the other sisters take a palace secret medicine. Only Leland and I successfully became fertile women. In my previous life, Leland, accustomed to living in luxury at the palace, was particularly picky. She fancied the handsome sixth prince and despised Blaine for his ugliness and ruggedness, persuading me with just a few words to choose Blaine. Not long after, I gave birth to the highest-ranking black-tailed merfolk child. It had been a millennium since a black-tailed merfolk was last born. I continued to have black-tailed children for several births. The merfolk king was overjoyed and made Blaine the crown prince. I, too, became the merfolk crown princess, enjoying wealth and status thanks to my high-born children. Meanwhile, Leland gave birth to a red-tailed merfolk, becoming a royal disgrace, and faced endless ridicule from the merfolk. Driven mad with jealousy, she took advantage of my weakened state after giving birth to my ninth child, stole my life essence that allowed me to live underwater, and chopped me into pieces for the piranhas. Before I could say a word, I noticed Blaine looking at me sinisterly. This merman despised anyone mentioning his appearance. In our past life, Leland insulted him as ugly and disgusting, offending him, and after giving birth to a red-tailed merfolk, he disfigured her face and threw her to the lower-class merfolk. Leland intentionally spoke this way to provoke Blaine into taking revenge on me as well. But she had no idea that being Blaine's consort was even more torturous. Blaine was lecherous, constantly pulling me into intimate encounters without regard for my ability to endure. Especially during my pregnancies, his methods of torment became more elaborate, often involving other male and female merfolk. Consequently, I bore nine children in three years. He completely treated me as merely a means to fulfill his desires and bear offspring. Since Leland was so fond of him, why would I stand in her way? I was more than happy to let her have him.

"Since my dear sister fancies the Fourth Prince, how could I take away what you love?" Leland smiled triumphantly, "Thank you, Kylie, for letting me have my way. This time, it will be me who gives birth to the legendary black-tailed merman offspring, me who becomes the Crown Princess, and me who enjoys a lifespan of hundreds of years!" I pretended not to understand and walked over to Liam. I addressed him properly, "My lord and husband." Liam gave me a shy smile, "Wife." Leland quickly approached Blaine, clinging to his arm and playfully exclaimed, "Husband, I will be your wife from now on. You must treat me well." "Of course, " Blaine replied, clearly pleased with Leland. Even before they left, Blaine's eyes were already turning red, desire almost spilling from them. It wasn't until the Merman King cheerfully instructed the two princes to take their brides to the bridal chamber that Blaine eagerly swept Leland into his arms and hurried away. As they departed, Leland cast a deliberate glance my way. With a coy pretense of shyness, she told Liam, "My lord and husband, I can walk on my own." I returned her smile. I sincerely hope that once she sees Blaine's true nature, she can still maintain that innocent and romantic demeanor. I followed Liam to his residence. At the entrance, we were greeted by a whimsical parade of little fish and humble mermen, there to welcome the bride. Seeing me, they joyfully circled around. "The Consort is so beautiful; she and our Sixth Prince are a perfect match!" "Their offspring will surely be the most beautiful!" "Wow, we have a beautiful consort now!" I was momentarily stunned. I hadn't expected fish to welcome me at the door. In my past life, I reluctantly chose Blaine. He took me away and tormented me for three days and nights without ever respecting me. Noticing my unease, Liam looked at the enthusiastic little fish and mermen with a mix of helplessness and amusement. "You're all quite the noisy bunch. Stop gawking and get back to work." Yet he instinctively shielded me with his hands to prevent the little fish and mermen from crowding me. "We know, we know, our Sixth Prince dotes on his bride, " one cheeky merman said before obediently dispersing. Liam looked at me with concern, "It's alright now. If you can't handle these lively little fish and mermen, just send them away. They wouldn't dare harm you." His actions made me laugh, "I'm fine. It's just a pleasant surprise." In the past life, even after choosing Liam, Leland still wasn't satisfied.

After the bath, Liam carefully laid me on the bed. He produced a separated life force gem for me, his face tinged with a slight blush. "That kind of activity is intense, and the breathing charm you took will lose its effect. When a merman marries a human wife, he must separate half of his life force gem to allow her to live underwater normally." I looked up at him, feeling warmth in my heart. Liam was significantly better than Blaine in so many ways. In my past life, I didn't know I needed to take my husband's life force gem beforehand. Blaine never thought to offer me his life force gem; instead, when the breathing charm lost its effect, he watched me struggle for breath, nearly passing out, and became more violent and excited. Only when I was on the brink of death did he reluctantly share his life force gem with me. His gem, like him, was filthy and foul. Liam's life force gem, however, was beautiful. I tilted my head back and swallowed it, my tongue accidentally brushing against his fingers. Liam's face turned even redder as he awkwardly undressed me, staring at my long, pale legs, momentarily stunned. "They're unusual, aren't they?" Some mermen find human legs unusual compared to their own tails. Blaine had said that to me before. Liam hurriedly denied it, his ears turning crimson, "No, no, my lady's legs are beautiful. I even forgot how humans and mermen are supposed to unite as described in the guides." I couldn't help but laugh at his awkwardness, "Where are your guides?" Liam felt a bit guilty, "... under the bed." Now I understood why he was always blushing, "Bring them out." "What for?" "I'm worried you might forget, or remember and then suddenly forget again. You can learn while you read." Not only was Liam blushing, but his neck and body turned hot, his scales involuntarily opening. However, being new to romance, he was too nervous throughout the process. Even with illustrations in the guides, he couldn't succeed. In the end, he could only hold me and apologetically say, "... I'm sorry." I smoothed his brow, "We have plenty of time, there's no rush." Liam knew I was somewhat apprehensive about consummating, so he wasn't in a hurry. Worried I might feel lonely in the unfamiliar mansion, he took me out every day to explore the underwater world. In my past life, I only knew the merman palace was the largest and most intimidating. But after Liam took me out, I realized how narrow-minded I had been before. After spending several days in the bustling marketplace, I met many other races and made quite a few friends. I learned about Leland's pregnancy from a new friend. Rumor had it she conceived after spending three days and nights in the bridal chamber with Blaine. A fish doctor confirmed she was carrying twins. I wasn't surprised. Leland was a woman with exceptional child-bearing capability praised by royalty, and with Blaine's relentless demands, how could she not conceive? "Liam, Father wants us to go over." When Liam took me to see the Merman King, Leland and Blaine were already there. Leland's face had an odd flush, and her belly was prominently rounded. The Merman King was overjoyed, saying, "The Fourth Princess truly lives up to being a woman with exceptional child-bearing capability praised by royalty. The Sixth Princess, you should hurry up and bring some liveliness to the palace." Leland gently caressed her belly, as if it held a precious treasure. "Father, my husband and I are deeply in love and cherish young ones. Why not leave the task of producing mermen to me?" "Kylie took half a year to become a woman with exceptional child-bearing capability praised by royalty, three months longer than me. It seems her fertility isn't as strong, so let's not trouble her." Blaine, with his mind on the throne, chimed in, "Father, however many young mermen you want, let Leland give birth to them." The Merman King was, of course, pleased, "Then as the Fourth Princess says!" Liam, displeased, defended me, "Father, it's all my fault. I haven't fulfilled my duties as a husband." I didn't care what they said. But hearing Liam belittle himself to defend me made my eyes a bit misty.