Part of Your World

"This is not a princess thing!" Isabella had lost count of how many times she had heard this phrase in her life. Everyone considered her fascination with the sea "enchanting," as long as she stayed behind the castle walls just watching it, or just dipping her feet in the water on her morning walks. But sailing? Never! This was for gentlemen, not for fragile princesses. "The sea is a dangerous place, Isabella, and no man has ever been able to unravel its mysteries. The sea is not your place and never will be," her father had first told her at the age of ten and had kept saying ever since, forbidding her to get close to the harbor.

But of course every rule has its exception, and how could her father deny her a birthday wish? Instead of silk dresses and diamonds, her only request had been a party on the high seas aboard the most majestic ship the King owned.

And a party on the high seas she got. On her birthday the ship had been moored in the harbor and carefully decorated, ready to welcome the royal family and their guests on such a special date.

Her father had never understood her fascination with the sea. And how would he understand? Unlike Isabella, who seemed to listen to music in the roar of the waves and saw beauty in its creatures, for him the sea was nothing but saltwater filled with unknown monsters. And, of course, a convenient transportation for his trade. But seeing his daughter's blue eyes sparkle as she stepped on deck, he set his questions aside for a day. He wouldn't let anything ruin Isabella's day.

***

While the human kingdom celebrated the birthday of Princess Isabella, the maritime kingdom also prepared a special celebration. The performance of Queen Margaret's youngest daughter. A concert had been planned at the palace and everyone was invited to witness Princess Charlotte singing for the first time on stage, following the oldest tradition of the kingdom. Since childhood, rumors had been rushing through the realm that her voice was the most beautiful of all seven seas. As well as the rumors that Charlotte had an indomitable personality.

Both were correct, but that day everyone would have confirmation of only one of them.

Instead of preparing for the concert with her sisters, Charlotte had once again gone in search of her human treasures. She knew that her contact with the world above was forbidden, but nothing prevented her from exploring what fell into the sea.

Entering the shipwreck, Charlotte began to pick up objects that were scattered around the place and looked at them in awe. How could a world that did such wonderful things be as dangerous as her mother always said? It was hard to believe. Charlotte kept swimming to choose what to bring to her collection. It all seemed interesting, but her bag wouldn't allow her to carry more than a few cutlery and a pipe. She would be back for the rest some other day, but at that moment the princess needed to go home or she would be late for the concert.

When she was out of the wreckage, a shadow darkened her vision, followed by several loud crashes on the surface.

"What's this?" Charlotte muttered to herself before waving her fin, rising until she could see colors exploding in the sky, filling her surprised eyes with dazzle. And now that she was no longer underwater, it was possible to hear more than just the bursts of fireworks.

Music. Coming straight from a ship.

Without a second thought, she quickly approached, scaling the ship's hull until she could watch the party through a small opening that gave her a reasonable view of what was happening.

Her mouth and eyes opened in amazement; The mermaid had never seen humans so close.

A band played a lively tune while women and men danced, laughed and drank. Her eyes roamed over every detail, every object, clothing and face. And among so many faces, one caught her attention quickly.