Ocean Eyes

Too Many Things at Once

There's always something you regret not doing, like for example: right now I'm regretting not buying the tea while I was at the market half a week ago. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against tea since I actually love it, but I'm too immersed in my own world that sometimes I forget it exists.

"Yeah... there's like a bunch of leaves outside if you know what I mean..." Travis looked at me as if I had grown another head. "What? It's a common fact that you can make tea with practically anything, plus, that's how our ancestors did it. Right?"
     "Well... I wouldn't mind drinking some tea made with the wild and unknown properties of a randomly picked leaf." After saying that he arched one of his light brown and grayish eyebrows at me- I guess it's a very bad idea when you think about it that way- and with that said, I sat down on the wooden stool second to his.
    
"So... What now?" The emotional moment a while ago had left an awkward atmosphere, I tried but everything I did just felt idiotic in some way.
    
I was brushing my hands against my trousers when I realized how filthy I was. "What now? Umm... Can I ask why you're wearing a fisherman's uniform?" Oh boy, I would have gone straight home and cleaned up if I knew he was coming. "You, more than anyone should know how risky it is to have a job that requires a lot of physical strength, and why a fisherman? I mean... fisherwoman?"
     "Well... It's a good pay, and I'm in charge of mostly the cleaning and the cooking, so I wouldn't really call myself a... fisherwoman?" My excuse appeared to go through one of his ears and out through the other.
    
"...But it is still out in the ocean, what if you fall in the water and then your tail comes out? What if they find out tha-"
     "Hey! Wait! Don't you know that I can control my shift? Even if I fall on the water I can maintain my human appearance, unlike Dad. Have you forgotten I'm half-human?" It looked like he did forget because he seemed to have calmed down at my explanation.
     "Oh... Yeah, I almost forgot about that... Hehe, sorry." I couldn't blame him for worrying, my first week of work with Winston had me scared to my wits. "But... I still don't agree, a girl your age shouldn't be doing heavy labor like that. You should be hanging out with your lady friends and getting married."
     "Uh, no thanks... I'm perfectly fine as it is, and I don't plan on getting engaged anytime soon, much less getting married." I stood from where I was and went to get two cups of water. "Also, my main objective right now is to find a way to break into the royal library."
    
I snorted at my own joke and Travis got completely taken aback for a second and then he began giggling along with me. I had forgotten how contagious his laugh was. "Ha! Oh boy! And I thought you were a sweet blueberry, turns out your actually sour and sneaky." He winked at me, but that just made me cringe.

"Alright, let's stop right there. You're making me cringe."

"Haha, fine, but if you really want to have a pass to the royal library, why don't you apply for Nordia's Royal Academy?" Honestly, that was the most absurd thing I've heard this week. It was so absurd that I tried not to laugh at it because Travis seemed to be very serious about it. "I know that it may sound wacky to you since only the nobility can apply for it, but none of the rules said that you have to be born a noble. Right?"

Whatever he was trying to say caught my attention- what does he mean by that? Is there a way for me to become a noble without having to do a crazy job for the king and the kingdom- maybe since he mentioned marriage earlier he probably wants me to marry into the nobility, but then I won't be able to attend the Academy or the library since I don't know what type of nobleman I'd be marrying.
    
"I don't like to think about it but, Miriam and Nessie are gone and that means that you're an orphan. It's not good for a child to grow up without an adults supervision, do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
     "But I'm eighteen so I'm not underage anymore- wait... hold on, why did you talk about the fact of me being an orphan?" I hope he's not trying to sell me to some noble family with weird habits. I don't think he'll do something like that, right?
     "Hmm... I thought you would've caught on by now but I was wrong." I had drunk all the water in my cup so I went to get some more to cool my throat. "I guess I'll just ask you directly. How 'bout becoming my daughter?" I almost choked myself with the water when he said that.

I took a moment to swallow the water. "WHAT?! Are you a noble?!" I was genuinely shocked. Travis looked like one of those poor scholars that gave free lessons to children who couldn't afford it.
     "Yes? You didn't know that?"
     "If you don't tell me then, of course, I  won't know."
     "Well... actually I'm Travis Finley von Maddock, the Marquess of Elenore. You should address me as your lord but since you're gonna be my daughter soon, there will be no need." The fact about him revealing his title had me more surprised than when he willingly declared he would become my father without asking for my permission.
     "Do I have a right to refuse you from adopting me?" That was the only thing I could come up with at the moment.
     "I don't think you do, plus, you don't have a reason to. Everything is in your favor so please don't refuse it." That was in fact very reasonable, but being alone in the world for seven years taught me enough to know that some things seemed too good to be true.
     "But here's the question, what would you get out of it?" I was already making multiple theories in my head of why he would want to adopt a commoner, especially something like me.
     "Well... I guess you won't leave me alone 'till I tell ya, huh?" -What did you expect? For me to go along with you just like that? I'm not stupid- "Ok, did you know that I'm already forty-eight years old and I have yet to bear an heir? Why you ask?... Because the only woman I was willing to be with was your mother, but unfortunately she married Nessie and then that lead to you. So you could say that you're the closest thing I can have to a daughter." -Wait, what?! Since when? This is way too much information! But, is there anything else I don't know?- "And also, I can tell that you have the potential of becoming an amazing mage, especially with your dad's blood running through your veins."

I'm usually very good at taking information fast and easy, but this was just very mind-blowing-so that means that every time Travis came to visit us was because he wanted to be with my mom?- and I thought he was my uncle until I turned nine.
     "So? Will you let me adopt you or not?" I repeated everything he said to me in my mind "...There's a private pool on my backyard and there's also an infinite amount of sweet's and foreign dishes that I'm sure you will enjoy."- bloody hell! He won't even let me think of a reason to refuse him!- "Oh! And let's not forget the tea-"
     "Are you seriously trying to bribe me right now?" Travis parted his thin discolored lips but I raised my pointer finger at him before he could speak his mind. "You know what, I already know what the answer to that is, so don't say anything." This was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity and I was being too paranoid about it. "I guess this is probably for the best..."
     "Can I take that as a 'yes'?"
     "Sure, why not? There's nothing for me to lose. Right?"
     "Actually... I might have to get rid of your last name, Miss Anders."

I knew it. Everything does come with a price. And for me... that was my identity.