The Mermaid King Begged Me to Return Episode 1

Episode: 1Episodes: 40

Episode 1 recap

At a palace banquet, young Prince Leo rejects Ryla and chooses Aissa as his mother. An overturned vessel then sparks flames across the room. King Aiden ignores a burned and bleeding Ryla, choosing to shield Aissa and Leo instead. Flashbacks detail Ryla's celestial sacrifices and near-fatal childbirth for Aiden. Back in the present, Aiden scoffs at the idea of Ryla leaving. Ryla steps outside and shatters her Mermaid's Kiss pendant.

Episodes

40 Episodes

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4

Episode 1 Scene by Scene

00:00: Leo Rejects His Mother
In the undersea banquet hall, Prince Leo publicly turns away from Ryla. He tells everyone he does not want her as his mother anymore. He then runs straight into the arms of the red-haired noblewoman, Aissa.
00:27: Flames in the Banquet Hall
A fiery vessel overturns and ignites flames in the palace hall. The fire cuts and burns Ryla. King Aiden ignores his injured wife and sprints right past her to shield Aissa and Leo from harm.
00:49: Ryla's Heavenly Sacrifice
A flashback reveals Ryla in the celestial realm standing before the gods. She endures painful lashes and willingly gives up her divine status. She gives up her immortal life so she can descend into the ocean for Aiden.
01:15: Vows and Childbirth
In a past memory, Aiden gives Ryla the Mermaid's Kiss and promises to cherish her forever. Later, in their undersea bedchamber, Ryla goes through a harrowing labor and nearly dies giving birth to their son, Prince Leo.
02:03: Aiden's Careless Dismissal
Aiden and Leo tend to a minor burn on Aissa's skin while Ryla stands by wounded. When Aissa asks whether Aiden will go after Ryla, the king boasts that Ryla is mortal now and cannot abandon him.
02:29: Shattering the Mermaid's Kiss
Ryla walks outside the undersea palace alone. She remembers that destroying the Mermaid's Kiss will break her marriage bond and return her celestial power. She tightens her hand around the magical pendant and crushes it to pieces.

Key Lines from Episode 1

“I don't want you to be my mommy!”
Leo · Leo shouts this at Ryla before the crowd in the banquet hall.

“I like her. I want Aissa to be my mommy.”
Leo · Leo declares this while running to hug Aissa instead of Ryla.

“No need. She's human now. She can't ever leave me.”
Aiden · Aiden says this to Aissa when asked if he will pursue Ryla.

“To reclaim your godhood, you must crush the Mermaid's Kiss and sever the bond of love.”
Goddess elder · The elder explains the condition for Ryla to regain her divine powers.

How Episode 1 Ends

Ryla stands alone outside the palace gates, holding the Mermaid's Kiss. Remembering the elder's words, she clenches her hand tightly and crushes the pendant. The shattered jewel releases an explosion of radiant celestial light into the dark sea. Will this decisive act break her marriage to Aiden and immediately bring back her stolen goddess powers for good?