A Hundred Pendants On the Sea Bed

(2) Palace Troubles

In the morning Parlor didn't do his typical games and tricks. Instead of nearly busting down the door, he knocked. Instead of doing some ridiculous trick to cheer you up, he sighed. The touchy subject was one he liked treading nowhere near.

"Are you ready to go? You have everything you need?" Parlor asked all sighing though a little more chipper then before.

You simply nodded in confirmation as it was too early for idle conversation.

   

   "You should probably-" he spoke while turning around towards you, stopping when seeing you already summoned a bubble around your head. A few seconds afterwards, the royal transportation animal ascended into the water filled bubble that contained the palace.

   Parlor still seemed upset.

   "If you feel bad then those glances and stares from the people around, pretend they're for you. I already said it's okay but clearly you want a punishment so there." In this time you where aggravated, not caring of the lace of detest or harshness to your words. The playfulness and joy that was in you was dwindling more and more since you where left at your aunt and uncle's place that Parlor was also a usual visitor at. It shines at times but, due to this secret, it's fading. Slowly but unmistakable.

   As expected some of the guards, and other people in the palace, have curious glances and whispered to one another clearly talking about the mermaid with a bubble to breathe with.

These looks continued even until the thrown room where the king was present.

Even in the presence of the king many stared in question, king Neptune even had to take a double take.

"So this is your niece, Inventor Parlor?" He motioned towards you, though because of his size he really could have been motioning towards either one of you.

"Yes your majesty." He gave a bow to keep his favour to the king.

"Guards, everyone, would you allow me to speak to these two alone?" The King questioned kindly, though it was more of an order then anything else. Some of the responded with a 'yes your majesty' though one of the higher up question him.

"But your majesty is-" his words fell short as he was interrupted by the harsh pound of King Neptune's trident against the ground. He further questioned no more and left the king's side.

"Why the bubble? Parlor. I've heard of a maiden who traded her ability to breathe underwater for the beauty of her scales though I don't believe it to be true."

"No your majesty it isn't. She is indeed human." Parlor was a different man around in the king's prescience, he revealed the secret his brother and sister-in-law tried to keep for so long and he's behaving.

"I see and why is this a secret?" The king retaliated his statement with another question. "There are humans freely on this island besides her and not in disguise."

"I-I-I know..." Parlor stuttered, this was new. He only ever stuttered when flat out drunk but never sober. "It was her late mother's request to let her live a normal life here on fishman island. I was requested to make her a tail by my brother and his wife. I respected their wishes is all." Parlor seemed nerve wracked. Who knew a king could make someone who is typically goofy into a shy and scared person.

   "I see...Jamon." The king held it back but he finally spit out jamon, it was as speech habit that became more apparent when hearing him talk. "Young lady how do you feel about all do this?"

    No one had asked that before.

   "It does bother me your majesty but, I've lived with it so far." He nodded listening to the honest truth you've spoken though you couldn't keep your mouth shut and had to say the other thing on your mind. "Your majesty if it's okay I'd like to ask a question."

   "Go ahead." The king responded, only quietly muttering jamon afterwards.

   "Is it true the princess stays locked away in her room all day?" When you asked this Parlor gave you the weirdest and strangest look as if to say 'would you really ask the king that?'

   "Yes it is, you must know. It's to protect her."

   "I was just wandering. She must get lonely then." You talked with the king casually. Parlor kept giving you the strange look. You didn't even doubt how you where talking to him though the king didn't seem any different toward it.

   "If that is how you feel about it I could allow you to visit her for five minutes." The king responded, actually somewhat hopeful his daughter could make a friend.

   The look you gave in respond of that was gleaming of hope. You'd always heard the princess was a nice mermaid and dreamed of meeting her. She was still just another individual but something always made you want to meet her. Something.

    "Guards!" The king raised his voice a bit more so the guards could come in though they heard and and came scrambling in like the king was being attacked or something. "Would you mind escorting the royal inventor's niece to see my daughter?" They seemed a little shocked but obeyed nonetheless.

You weren't going to protest seeing as the king and your uncle had actual things to discuss not relating towards you or your secret.