A Merman's Tale

Seirra: Chapter Fourteen

     “So that’s why you’re always with him. Are you sure you’re not his girlfriend?”

     A choking sound followed by someone coughing.

     “What? Of course not! Besides, he’s supposed to marry you remember? It’s his duty. And yours.”

     “Hmph. I’m not going back to Aquania. I don’t care if they get discovered. It’s not my business. It never was.”

     The sound of a chair’s legs scraping the floor as someone obviously stood up.

     “But, Marina…”

     Their voices slowly penetrated my mind and their words began to form meaning. I felt terribly tired but as usual, I didn’t feel any kind of pain. A merman’s ability only removed pain but never the feeling of exhaustion. For one, to be able to cure, one must use their own energy. And that was why it was never advisable to fight again right after healing anybody.

     “You’re obviously in love with the Celari. If I don’t go back with him, he’ll remain available.”

     A short pause.

     “But he wouldn’t be mine, either.”

     I mentally winced. Even though my eyes were closed, I knew just how Margaret looked like as she said that statement. I had been with her in the past twenty days and it was hard not to recognize what her words and facial expressions meant.

     She was that easy to read.

     Talking with her grandfather almost every night was a huge influence as well. It was like the stories were enough to make me feel that I knew Margaret my whole life. Ever since I started my search for Marina, I had been careful not to get too close with a female human companion. It was difficult to keep my distance from Margaret, though. That first day I saw her as she made her way to the small cave by the beach, I felt as though a strong magnet had started pulling me to her.

     As if I needed to be with her.

     As if she was the girl I was looking for.

     As if she was my princess.

     I was a Celari however. I was bounded by my duty to my people and no matter how much I wanted to be with Margaret, I couldn’t.

     So I fought the attraction, kept my distance, and hid behind smiles and jokes.

     Then we found Marina. I had expected her to be as pretty as the other royals but she was more than that. In all truth, she was probably the most beautiful princess of Aquania. With that I had no excuse not to fall in love with her once we were back in our kingdom.

     Unfortunately, all I felt when I see the princess was either irritation or responsibility. Because of that, I knew that I would forever be unfair to her when we got married. Like I’ve convinced her to go back to Aquania.

     I didn’t know whether this complication was good or not but knowing that we’re short on time was making me desperate. It was also making me miserable, knowing that once the remaining nine days were over, I would never get to see Margaret ever again. And she would forever forget about me.

     Which should be good.

     Hearing the sadness in her voice was enough to make me want to give up my tail and live as a Huntre—just like what Grampa did.

     But I knew that Margaret would never forgive herself if I did something like that. She knew what was at risk and she was a woman who puts others first before herself.