★ The Pirate and The Mermaid [Giant/Tiny]★

XI - A Prince(ss)' Teaparty

"Kaine, would you like some tea?" Mariana asked, her voice soft and filled with anticipation. She was seated on a meticulously arranged miniature table, her dress shimmering like the surface of a sunlit ocean. The pearl tiara on her head caught the light, casting a gentle glow around her. The tea set she had chosen was her finest, each piece a delicate masterpiece of coral and iridescent pearls. This tea party was her dream come true, and she wanted every detail to be perfect.

Kaine loomed above the scene, looking both uncertain and awkward. His cheeks were flushed with a deep red, and he fidgeted in the frilly dress he had reluctantly worn. It was a stark departure from his usual attire, making him feel conspicuous and out of place. "It's fine, you're doing well," Mariana reassured him, trying to ease his anxiety. He accidentally slammed his goblet down a bit too forcefully, causing the table to shake. Mariana squeaked and clung to the edge, her heart racing from the sudden jolt. Kaine, immediately noticing her fearful reaction, held his head in his hands out of embarrassment, he didn't mean to scare her.

"No, I'm not," Kaine mumbled, his voice strained. He buried his face in his hands, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar situation. "I'm rubbish at this princess stuff."

Mariana's heart ached at seeing him so distressed. "You're not that bad, besides I'm happy you agreed, no one ever does these things with me," she said gently, hoping to lift his spirits. Her eyes sparkled with appreciation as he raised his goblet again. "Anything for you," he said with a wink, and Mariana couldn't help but squeal with joy, her cheeks flushing with happiness.

"Can I play with your hair?" she asked eagerly, her eyes shining with excitement. Kaine nodded slowly, curiosity piqued. "Yeah, but I'm really thirsty. Can I have some tea now?" he asked, grinning.

Mariana eagerly reached for her enchanted teapot, her face glowing with pride. "You know, this teapot is special," she said, her fingers caressing its intricate design. "I enchanted it myself." Kaine's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "You can enchant things? Wizards spend years mastering that, and you use it on a teapot?" he asked, amusement coloring his voice. Mariana nodded, her smile unwavering. "Yeah, I'm the only one in my family who can do it. They don't even know how," she explained, her tone a mix of pride and mystery.

As Mariana poured the tea into Kaine's goblet, she almost filled it to the brim. Kaine, imagining the possibilities, suddenly said, "Hey, I've got a sword. Could you make it sharper and...uh, more impressive?"

Mariana's eyes twinkled with mischief. "How about I give it the 'bane of arthropods'?" she suggested teasingly. Kaine looked puzzled. "What...?" he asked, confusion mixing with curiosity.

"I'm not really sure how to enchant weapons," Mariana admitted with a shrug. "I usually use my magic for everyday items. This teapot never runs out of tea as long as I add certain herbs. My pillow is always perfectly fluffy and cool, and my blanket stays just right when I'm sleeping."

Kaine listened intently, his fascination growing. "Daddy never let me near weapons—only my sisters," Mariana confided softly, holding her teacup close. Her voice held a note of regret. Kaine's expression softened as he reached out to gently rub her fin ear. "Hey, it's okay. If you can't do it, you can't. I won't force you. But if you want to learn, I'll show you all my blades," he offered sincerely.

Mariana's face lit up with gratitude. As Kaine took a sip from his cup, his eyes widened in pleasure. He grabbed a small piece from the biscuit tray—one of the sea cookies she had baked—and popped it into his mouth. "Nice," he said with a smile, clearly enjoying the treat.

Mariana giggled, her heart swelling with affection. "By the way, thanks for wearing that dress. It took me ages to make," she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. Though the dress was a bit out of his comfort zone, Kaine had worn it to fit the theme of the tea party. "Yeah, but I fear I might look just a tiny bit prettier than you," he teased, causing Mariana to burst into laughter.