A few months later the royals met together again. In the previous months I had pleaded and begged with my parents to change their minds but had come to learn that If I refused I could cause the death and destruction of my clan. "Papa?." I asked, a sniffle leaving my nose. "When will I be leaving? It's not soon is it? I don't want to leave you and mother." The King turned to look on at me, large hand resting in my hair. "Not yet darling, you are far too young, It will happen when you turn 18." Seven years, well that wasn't too bad? Was it?" My lips twisted but I nodded my head, no longer putting up a fight, how bad could it be?
"Princess Azriella is coming to stay with us for a few months, her mother wishes for her to show you the way of their nation, she does this in hopes of garnering your favour, but in the end darling you must choose based on who you develop feelings for or believe that you could develop feelings for, I want my daughter to have the world, I want you to have love." A small smile rested on my lips, father was the kindest merman I had known. No wonder he was king, no wonder the most beautiful mermaid was his wife. "Will the shark Prince be visiting also? He does not have a sister to send instead." My father pet my hair, a chuckle in his throat. I was highly confused, what was so funny?
"Darling Pearl, both males will be visiting you often, they will do everything and anything to garner your affection, to be wedded to a mermaid Princess is something all seafolk dream of. You are adorable now but one day your beauty will best even your mothers, you will understand when the time comes, A Mermaid Princess is a rare jewel that only the best may harness." I didn't like the idea of being seen as something for another to harness, couldn't I harness myself? Why must I be a rare jewel? How can a living creature be seen as a possession? Mona's red eyes flickered from the back of my fathers head to my eyes as he held me to his chest.
"Your highness the princess needs her sleep soon, she will be ready tomorrow morning for the arrival of Princess Azriella. Father nodded giving me one last cuddle. "Be good for Mona little guppy!" I nodded vigorously, a grin sliding up my lips. "Sleep tight darling." Before I could blink father was gone from my chambers and Mona was pulling me into my kelp bed. Making sure I was tucked in tight and comfortable. "What story would you like tonight princess?" I slowly pretended to fall asleep as Mona read stories about the three nations. Once she was done she pecked my forehead and swam out of the room.
I left it a little while before sneaking out and darting towards the balcony of the great hall, I would often sneak out here to listen to my parents talk and deal with the issues within the kingdom. "We demand the king take a second bride! An heir must be established for the safety of our nation and the virality of the royal family. King Atlantic, what say you?" I immediately recognized the man that spoke Lord Beck, he was a lord that owned a large portion of the kelp and seaweed farms and was well known for his large family, having fourteen sons and four daughters, it was not uncommon for a merman of noble birth to have many wives, noble females were rare and born a lot less often these days, by marrying a bunch of common mermaids to a royal blooded lord he had a good chance of producing more royal females.
Five of his powerful sons stood behind him, their thick muscles and good looks causing the women in the room to swoon, royal blood automatically gave you beauty and good genes, the common merfolk could not dream to achieve the looks of a royal. A princesss..Well they would be the most beautiful of them all. It saddened me that the Merfolk cared more about looks than personality. What could beauty achieve? What about intelligence? It felt wrong to me, as if they were all under a spell. No wonder the other's thought us brainless. However the one thing that beauty did bring was our power, the Dazzle, the more beautiful the more powerful, but most used it for selfish reasons, even mother used it to gain affections, many believed that she had used her dazzle to entrance my father into making her the Queen.
My father grit his teeth, golden eyes flashing with rage. "I will decide if I take another wife.. We have been trying for a prince, I am sure with some patience it will happen in no time." Annoyance radiated off of the court, mother sat in her throne, long pale hair dancing around her. "The King can make this decision on his own, but if he decides that he doesn't need another bride you must accept it!" "Witch!" River yelled, one of Lord Beck's five sons. Beck watched on arms tightly crossed over his bare chest. Even for a sixty year old he was attractive and well built. "What did you call me!" My mother hissed zipping away form her throne to cup the young lord's face in her hand. "I dare you call me that again." Her beauty radiated but something sinister lay beneath. "I will not allow you to hypnotise me Queen!" Beck grabbed his son pulling him to stand behind him, the young male shivering from the intensity that radiated off of my mothers glare.
"Get your son in order Lord Beck, or I will have him executed.. That goes for any other that dares call me by that title!" A gasp left the lord before he whispered for the others to escort the male out of the court. "King, I beg off you, I have two beautiful daughters who are ripe of age and unwedded. I beg you to take one as your bride, this kingdom depends on you to carry on our royal family's legacy, you must bring a male to the throne! You must!" Mother placed her delicate hand on the Kings chest, even I could tell that she was silently begging for him to refuse. His golden eyes reached hers but quickly turned away towards Beck. "Fine. I will meet with them soon, I will choose one to be my concubine, but no other female shall ever be my Queen." The lord nodded with pride, the rest of the court roaring with glee. I gasped a little too loud and before I could swim away mother's sharp teal eyes met mine.
"!!Princess Pearl!!" Mother shrieked. "What on earth are you doing awake!! How dare you listen in on the courts private meeting!" Guards pulled me down from the balcony towards my mothers arms. She stared up at me in disbelief! "What are you doing up petal?" My father asked pulling me to sit on his lap. Tears flew away from my teal eyes, I was truly embarrassed and ashamed but I also knew that crying would help me get away without punishment. "I'm sorry papa I had a nightmare." "Liar!" My mother barked grabbing me from my fathers arms. "How dare you go against us! One day Pearl you will learn what happens to princesses who disobey their parents!" I shivered, fearful of my mother who was now on a warpath. "I'm sorry momma! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to but is papa really going to get married again? Am I going to have a second mother?" That did it.
Something sharp lashed against my face, the sting burning my skin..She slapped me..My own mother slapped me. Silence filled the air as I drew in a giant breath "PAPA!!" I screamed, the shrill noise causing glass lanterns to break. I was suddenly hauled away, my father's thick arms encasing me. "How could you Silvina! Your own daughter! You are growing to be out of control! Guards escort the Queen back to our chambers, I draw this meeting to a close! Shame flooded the Queen's petite features as I watched her being escorted away, my small arm reaching out as my father held me to his chest. Hiccups and whimpers left my lips, my face buried into my fathers long dark blue hair. "Why did she hit me..What did I say?" His hand rubbed the back of my head. "Don't worry about it petal, your mother is having some troubles at the moment, I promise everything will be ok. When I get married you must not call the second wife your mother, it will upset the Queen." I nodded my head, maybe that was what upset the Queen.
"I wont. But do you have to get married? Won't you hurt mother's feelings?" He cleared his throat, silent for the longest moment. "Sometimes a King has to do what is best for his kingdom. Now, you better get to sleep, I am sure Mona is furious!" He placed me down knocking on my own bedroom door. "I am sorry papa..I just..I was curious." His sad smile grew into a grin. "Of course you were, it is alright to be curious but if a rule is put into place and you clearly know the rule you must abide by it. If you are curious you must keep it till the day time and we can find something for you to explore. Ok. You promise not to do this again?" I nodded beaming up to my kind father. "I promise papa!" I was lying of course, nothing could stop my inquisitive nature. "Alright, now get some sleep we will be getting up early to meet with Princess Azriella." I nodded vigorously before turning to meet the burning gaze of my nanny Mona.
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