Herbert half-kneeled on a reef, carefully lifting the mermaid's right foot.
In this moment, the action might appear frivolous or disrespectful to others, but it was not out of lust.
He didn't have a particular fetish for delicate feet—though he didn't dislike them, he wasn't fanatical about them either.
What drove him to do this was more out of being moved.
Fremay had sacrificed and transformed herself for his sake.
If someone is willing to change for you, how can you not be touched?
—Of course, the premise is you have affection for this person and agree with what they've done, not that it's a one-sided effort.
Herbert gently cradled the fragile, delicate foot, applying a slight pressure with his fingertips, gently kneading to help it move.
He wasn't feeling the slippery texture; instead, he was using his knowledge of flesh and blood to analyze the legs' structure.
