Chae-hee, the only daughter among many sons born to the highest-ranking official of Hongmun-gwan (the Office of Special Advisors in the Joseon Dynasty), is sent to Eunwol Temple after attempting to flee her home to escape an arranged marriage. There, she rescues Rin, a young mermaid who is injured. Despite their language barrier, Chae-hee and Rin form a deep bond through gestures and glances. Spending time with Rin, who is so free and true to his feelings, Chae-hee becomes more reluctant to return home, where numerous obligations await her. Soon, she receives news about the set wedding date. While pacing along the beach
anxiously, Chae-hee encounters Rin, now fully grown as a mermaid. Chae-hee discovers that Rin sacrificed his hair in a desperate attempt to communicate with her, leading her to decide to become a mermaid and leave with him… They become each other’s sole salvation, but can they overcome even the crisis of death?

The author altered the genders of Rin, a male mermaid, and Chae-hee, a daughter of a political mogul, placing them as the central characters in a reimagined version of the beloved fairy tale, The Little Mermaid, set on the shores of Joseon. Alongside these primary
characters, the novel brings to life supporting figures such as Mal-saeng, the steadfast nanny always at Chaehee’s side, Tae-geun, Chae-hee’s father willing to do anything to protect her, and the former mermaid patriarch, exiled from mermaid society. This careful depiction turns the story into a well-crafted romance drama.