Page 18 of Mermaid on Heels
“I do not know that.” Liriya frowned as she considered Ella’s words. “But look on the bright side, if they capture us and get us to their ships, we can always jump into the water and we are free.” She offered a confident smile to her sisters, and equally confident smiles lit their faces.
“You are always our bright side, Liriya.” Sessa stepped to her side from behind, grinning, and hugged her.
“She is right,” Ella added, hugging her from the other side. “You are our best bright side, and without you we cannot survive.”
Liriya felt a burning sensation in her eyes and they turned damp. Partially wondering what was happening with her eyes, she hugged her sisters, holding them like a treasure. “Aw, I love you.”
“We love you—”
“Attention citizens of Lectoria!” The male voice pierced through the air, interrupting Ella’s words and catching their attention. “Your attention please, ladies and gentlemen of Delkaria!”
“Lectoria?” Sessa inquired in a baffled tone. “That is the name of this place?”
“So what is Delkaria, then?” Ella added.
“I think,” Liriya began thoughtfully. “Lectoria is the name of the kingdom and Delkaria is… well, supposedly this very place.”
The male voice continued.
“Our cherished Crown Prince and soon-to-be King, His Royal Highness Luke, shall ascend the throne on the eighteenth of this month, the Sunday after the next. All denizens of Lectoria, regardless of station, are invited to gather at the grand Lestoshire Palace to glimpse His Royal Highness as crowned King. Furthermore, on the evening next, a royal ball shall grace the palace halls. Let it be known that all citizens, males aged above eighteen and females above sixteen are enjoined to partake in the revelry, celebrating the dawn of a new era under the rule of our splendid King in our wondrous and flourishing realm of Lectoria. I reiterate…”
The man happened to be the royal herald, and he repeated the announcement in his high-pitched voice.
“Liriya…” Sessa breathed in astonishment. “We could go! Every citizen is invited!”
“But we are not citizens.” Liriya frowned.
“Do not be ridiculous.” Ella admonished her. “How does anyone know if we are or are not?”
“I do not even know where the palace is!” Liriya shook her head, already feeling the pressure of the situation weighing down on her shoulders. “So how am I supposed to get us there?”
“We could always ask for some help.” Ella encouraged her.
“Or—Iknow! How about we go to the herald and ask him to take us to Luke?” Sessa suggested, hopefully.
“Says a princess who knows that making acquaintance with a royal is not the easiest thing in the sea,” Ella muttered under her breath.
“And in case you forgot, Princess Ellatora, we are not in thesea,” Sessa countered with a smug smile instead of her usual narrowed eyes. “Besides, weareroyals. We could simply tell the herald that we are Princesses of Pearltuna seeking to make acquaintance with His Royal Highness Luke.”
“And then what? What will you say when he asks, where is Pearltuna? Under the sea?”
“Yes!” Sessa’s aquamarine eyes did narrow this time.
Ella burst out with laughter—throwing her head back and clutching her stomach.
“What?” Sessa demanded in pure irritation as Liriya too joined in the laughter, almost as hysteric as Ella.
“Sweetheart,” Liriya choked out in between her laughter and tried to calm down before continuing, “That simply will not work, especially when we know nothing about humans and their ways. The royal method here could be different from ours, and making acquaintance with a royal is not all that easy whether it is underwater or on land, I believe.”
“You tell me how we are going to see Luke, then.” Sessa folded her arms across her chest, a challenge in her eyes. When she was annoyed, especially made fun when she was very serious about what she said, Sessa was unpredictable. One could only expect the worst of reactions from the youngest princess and sweetheart of Pearltuna.
“Well, I think the only option is to find some help.”
Liriya led her sisters towards the marketplace. As they neared the humans and took them in, they thought their attire was weird.
“What are those things they have covered their feet with?” Sessa wondered, gesturing to the boots men wore. “Is it… Is it inappropriate even to show your feet?” she asked, looking down at her own sand-covered feet nervously.
The thought struck with Liriya genuine confusion and discomfort. “Uh… I do not know…”