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

XVII - OxySpot

"Miss Mariana, your condition seems to be stable, but I think you should stop exerting yourself," Dr. Eman explained, his eyes fixed on Mariana as she sat on the bed, her head lowered. The royal infirmary was far too familiar to her; after all, she was the one who frequented it the most.

"I'm guessing you've been getting excited recently over your husband—" he joked, and Mariana immediately flinched, feeling her face flush with embarrassment.

"He's not my husband!" she squeaked, glancing at Cove, who was absorbed in his work but still ensured she was well taken care of. He wasn't processing anything they said, though.

"Of course," Dr. Eman continued, smirking. "Well, your father seemed furious at him yesterday." He chuckled to himself as he rummaged through his drawers to grab Mariana's usual dose of tablets.

"I didn't realize my lipstick would mark Kaine's face," Mariana whined, lifting her hair to show Dr. Eman her fins. He gently tugged at them, testing how far they could expand, and then paused when he noticed something.

Mariana had an oxy spot, a mark that appeared in mermaids when they took in too much oxygen. The solution was simple: stop going to the surface. If left untreated, it could lead to a fever—or worse.

"Your Highness," Dr. Eman called, his tone drawing Cove's attention. Cove swam over, concern evident on his face.

"She has an oxy spot," Eman pointed out, circling the small lump on her skin.

"How do we get rid of it?" Cove asked urgently, leaning in for a closer look.

Dr. Eman straightened, his tone becoming more serious. "The best way is for her to remain submerged in water for a short period, without making any trips to the surface. Rest and hydration are key. However, I must stress she avoids any strenuous activity or excitement." He handed Mariana a small container of tablets, adding, "These will help with the symptoms, but she needs to stay below the surface for at least two days."

Mariana sighed deeply, her body slumping with frustration. "Two days? Daddy, I'm supposed to meet Kaine at the surface today. He'll worry if I don't show up." Her voice was tinged with exasperation, though she already felt lightheaded from the effort of sitting upright.

Cove crossed his arms, his expression firm. "You're not going anywhere, Mariana. Your health comes first. Kaine will understand."

Her fins flicked in irritation. "He won't. He'll think I'm ignoring him, and you know how stubborn he can be."

"Stubborn?" Cove raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with amusement. "That's rich, coming from the most stubborn daughter in all the seas. You've been pushing yourself for weeks, and I've let it slide. But no more. You're staying home."

"But Kaine—" she protested weakly, but the words faded as she felt a wave of dizziness. Her father caught her and gently laid her down in his arms, carrying her to her bedroom. "Thank you, Eman," he nodded, bowing slightly before taking her away, reaching her room in an instant.

"Daddy, no," Mariana mumbled, the oxy spot throbbing with each passing moment.

Cove smiled softly, tucking her in with her favorite plushies, fluffing her pillow, and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "How about this?" he began. "I'll fairy mail Kaine and see when he can come visit?"

Mariana nodded weakly, a faint smile on her lips. "Thanks, Daddy," she mumbled as sleep quickly claimed her.

Cove wasted no time writing a letter to Kaine. As he prepared to send it, a better idea crossed his mind...

Kaine paced back and forth near the shore, his brow furrowed, arms tightly crossed over his chest. His boots kicked up sand as he impatiently glanced out over the water, hoping to spot any sign of Mariana. The day had already dragged on longer than he'd anticipated, yet still, there was no sign of her.