COMPLETED
Nereida has always been shackled to her royal duties as princess of Triteria, and when her kingdom becomes involved in a series of mysterious vanishings and deaths she begins to seek answers. Rebels soon shatter her world, and she finds he...
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"Ye dare to make claims against mine own daughter, Edmar?" King Arran barked his question at the tall, slender merman, but his tone carried a warning that matched the look in his eyes. The hall was silent aside from the occasional whispers as the Triterians watched the scene. Never before had such accusations been made, especially against royalty, and I could feel the many eyes of judgment on me. I held onto my composure; I could not be seen as weak at the moment, or else I'd lose their support before ever receiving it.
"Yer Majesty," Edmar started, his voice taut with tension, folding his hands in front of him, "we are livin' in different times. Those who were to be of high regard and rankin' have revealed themselves to have insidious intentions. All I ask... is for Princess Nereida to answer some pending questions about what was overheard."
"Are you referring to when you listened to my conversation with my maid, Edmar? Forgive me if I'm wrong, but since when was the king's advisor so interested in the gossip between two companions?" I asked, my voice steady, my eyes challenged to his motives.
"When they are gossiping about befriendin' humans, one does tend to listen out of concern, princess." My eyes widened, and the few whispers stopped entirely. Edmar's suggestion of intermingling with humans in front of the entire hall destroyed my plans of telling my father alone. The rules were broken, and my anxiety was presently displayed on my face.
"What are ye speakin' about?" King Arran questioned.
"What I am referring to, sire, is that the Princess has taken up with humans. She told her handmaiden that while she was away, she was living amongst them, as one of them." With that statement, Edmar sealed not only his fate but also my own. Gasps were heard throughout the room, and everyone was in awe of the scene. It was not normal to have a royal be targeted so openly.
"THAT IS ENOUGH! I will not hear of this anymore!" King Arran shouted. "You forget yourself, Edmar."
"With all due respect, yer Majesty, the right of speech allows me to make my claims, and the princess now has the opportunity to confirm or deny these accusations. I only ask that the truth come forth," Edmar countered. I could see the fury in my father's eyes, but he sat back on his throne and turned to look at me.
"Niri, please address these accusations to the court." I nodded and swam down from my throne into the middle of the hall. My pulse quickened, and despite the cold waters, I felt as if the sun's rays were all over, burning me from the inside out. This would have to be the moment, my one shot of swaying the people of Triteria. If they heard my story and believed it, I hoped it would convince my father that not all humans were evil, so I had to make it the most incontestable.
"I..." my voice cracked briefly, and I cleared it. "I cannot deny these claims. I did live among humans while I was away." But before I could continue, the cries of outrage reverberated throughout the hall. As my eyes looked up at my family, I could not decipher what my father was thinking. His expression matched my brothers'; it was utterly unreadable and more terrifying than anger.
