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

XIX - Abandonment

"Psst, Mariana," a hushed voice called, and the gentle shake of her shoulder stirred her from slumber. Blinking sleepily, Mariana tilted her head upward to see Dr. Eman leaning over her, his caramel skin catching the faint light filtering through her room. A jagged scar crossed his forehead, a testament to his adventurous past. His golden fins shimmered faintly in the water, matching his tail as he hovered beside her bed.

"Eman?" she murmured, her voice soft and laced with sleep.

Eman, a prodigy among merfolk physicians, was only a few years older than her but carried himself with a maturity that belied his age. Yet his loyalty to Mariana wasn't born solely out of duty—it was friendship. Despite his intelligence and skill, he remained grounded, drawn to Mariana's warmth and her endless supply of gossip, a rarity in the royal court.

"You're awake," he noted, adjusting his glasses even though they weren't necessary for seeing her. Without them, he appeared boyish, but with them, he exuded an aura of competence. "Your condition is stable," he continued with a reassuring smile. "You'll be able to go to the surface again soon."

Mariana's sleepy eyes widened with excitement, her face lighting up like the sun. "Really? I'm all better?" she squeaked, already sitting up eagerly.

Eman raised a brow, his smile turning sly. "No."

Her excitement deflated as she slumped back, groaning. "Eman!"

"But," he interrupted, "if I told you 'no,' you'd sneak out anyway. So, I waited until your health improved. One little swim shouldn't hurt you—just this once." He ruffled her hair, earning a brilliant grin from the princess.

Before he could say another word, Mariana darted out of bed, her fins kicking up a flurry of bubbles as she hurried to get ready.

"Wait, Mariana—" Eman tried to stop her, but she was already halfway out the window. "I meant tomorrow, not the middle of the night!" he shouted after her, but it was no use. The mermaid was gone, her laughter fading as she ascended toward the surface.

Mariana, filled with the kind of uncontainable joy only freedom could bring, swam with abandon, the moonlight glinting off her teal hair as it flowed behind her. She was too distracted by thoughts of seeing her beloved Kaine to notice the quiet stillness of the night.

Breaking through the surface, she gasped as the cool air kissed her face. Only then did she realize the absurdity of her timing—Kaine was surely asleep.

With a sheepish sigh, Mariana decided to make the best of her midnight outing. She twirled and leapt through the waves, revelling in her regained freedom. It wasn't long before a stray piece of paper struck her face, clinging to her damp skin.

"What the—" Mariana muttered, wrestling the disintegrating land-paper from her face. Her irritation gave way to curiosity as she noticed writing on it.

"'From Bea,'" she read aloud, her brows furrowing.

Who was Bea? The question barely had time to settle before she noticed more pieces of paper drifting in the water around her. Someone had torn the letter to shreds and carelessly thrown it into her ocean.

Her ocean.

Mariana's jaw clenched with indignation as she scanned her surroundings, her eyes narrowing when she spotted a figure standing near the entrance of a familiar cave—the same cave where Kaine had let her paint his nails.

Without hesitation, she directed a stream of water toward the figure, striking their back with precision. The person yelped, slipping and landing with a thud that sent tremors through the earth. Mariana smirked triumphantly as the figure turned toward her.