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

XXII - The Sisters

"Baby sister?" Pearl called, glancing around for the youngest of the sea princesses — Mariana. All the sisters had shown up that day, surprising their father with an unexpected visit. Some had children clinging to them, others came alone, but there was one glaring absence. Mariana was nowhere to be seen.

"She's probably holed up in her room again," Coralyn muttered. "Flower crowns, romance novels, or asleep."

"HEY!" Cove's voice boomed, drawing all eyes to him. Towering even among his daughters, Cove still had to look up at a few — some had inherited their mother's absurdly tall stature. "YOU CAN'T JUST BARGE IN HERE AND LET YOUR GUPPIES DESTROY EVERYTHING!"

He gestured in exasperation at his grandchildren, who were currently throwing priceless heirlooms at each other like seaweed balls. He loved them all dearly, but today was supposed to be peaceful. Mariana was out on a date. No royal disputes. No council meetings. Just rest.

"Sorry, Pa," Lirae mumbled, folding her arms. With short blonde hair and pale blue eyes, she looked uncannily like a female version of him — minus the patience. "But where's Marianne? We brought her a list of suitors from every sea we rule over."

With that, the sisters dumped a monstrous stack of colorful papers in front of him. Cove sighed deeply.

"You girls..."

"I think my choices are the best," Serelle cut in sweetly, pointing at her neatly arranged purple sheets. "They're all gentle, good-hearted souls—"

It was all downhill from there.

Soon, all the sisters were arguing, shouting over one another, and sending their kids to sabotage each other's lists in a full-blown underwater war of matchmaking.

"GIRLS!" Cove tried again, but the daughters barely glanced his way before continuing.

"MARIANA ALREADY—"

"What about Uncle Kaine?" a tiny voice piped up. The room fell still.

Then, like a school of startled fish, the guppies lit up.

"UNCLE KAINE!"

"The big scary one!"

"No, no, the nice monster!"

"I thought Uncle Kaine was a myth!" Pearl blinked, crouching beside her kids.

"Nope, he's real! Super big!" one of them chirped, the others nodding in chorus.

"Kaine?" Coralyn echoed, confused. "Who's Kaine?"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you," Cove sighed, rubbing his temples. "Mariana is on a date with her fiancé — no, boyfriend — Prince Kaine Pyror."

"WHAT?!" they all screamed in unison.

Pearl had dismissed him as one of Mariana's bedtime stories — a fictional monster prince meant to scare them into behaving. Not an actual suitor.

"What sea is he from?" Pearl asked, flipping through the pile. "Maybe we recommended him and forgot."

"He's not from the sea," Cove said flatly.

"Huh?" Serelle blinked.

And that's when it happened. A low rumble shook the coral walls, followed by Mariana's unmistakable giggle and a deep, melodic hum.

The sisters rushed to the window.

Outside, they saw him — a massive merman with two tails, towering like a myth reborn.

"Kaine, let me go," Mariana giggled, swatting at his lips as he continued peppering her chest and neck with kisses.

"No. The date's not over. Maybe I stay the night, and we talk about our future," he murmured, gently lifting her hand to admire the bangle she proudly wore.