Page 19 of Mermaid on Heels
She hoped it wasn’t; there was no turning back now, especially when their presence had already snagged the interested attention of a man or two. Liriya groaned inwardly; were males of all races the same as the mermen she knew?
They walked further, slowly, glancing around at the big and small stalls of different kinds, in marvel. Everywhere, everyone was chatting with each other about the upcoming ball, their voices loud altogether.
Liriya noticed three girls around her age in the middle of the road, feet away from them, chattering animatedly and giggling excitedly as they fanned their faces with their hand-fans. They wore the fanciest of dresses compared to the others present at the market, and bonnets on their heads.
If Liriya didn’t know what humans looked like already and these girls were the first she met, she would have thought that the bonnets were a part of their heads.
“Oh, how kind of Prince Luke to invite even the unfortunate of souls to his majestic palace,” one of the girls said, glancing at a certain red-haired girl around their age who stood not so far from them, outside a vegetable stall, her words undoubtedly directed at her.
“Clearly misfortunate,” another one agreed, throwing the red-haired girl a dirty look.
Whether she heard their mean compliment or not, the redhead didn’t turn but continued to pick vegetables and put them in her basket. Liriya frowned as she glanced at the girl. Her attire did seem less fancy even though she didn’t know anything about humans’ dresses yet: faded and smudged with dirt. While, the mean girls wore stiff, bright, and neat ones that were flawless and beautiful—if Liriya had to admit. However, the description seemed too poor to match their attitude.
Liriya felt her blood boil and the princess in her, which she had buried for the last three months, surfaced. Liriya wasn’t raised to watch and tolerate such actions, and before she realized, she started talking.
“That is treason.”
Her sisters swiveled to her at her unexpected outburst. The first girl turned as well, along with the other two, her eyes slightly wide as she looked at Liriya from head to toe.
“I beg your pardon?”
“If the prince finds them fortunate enough to be invited to his majestic palace, then what you just said is treason.”
The girl blinked twice, staring at her, and then composed herself. “Did I ask you?”
“Well, you seemed to be talking to the public more than just yourselves, so I thought I could join,” Liriya responded casually, with a sarcastic edge to her voice.
“How dare you talk to me like that, you filthy peasant!” the girl snapped. “Do you realize who I am—whoweare?”
“Probably one of the citizens the prince’s herald previously invited to the palace, showing no partiality to their status or ranking.” Liriya shrugged casually, a challenge in her voice, daring them to deny it.
“Liriya, this is not good. People are watching,” Ella said in an undertone.
Liriya cast a glance about her surroundings and saw that they were the center of attention. The bustling square had fallen silent watching her and the three girls. Even the shopkeepers poked their heads out of the stalls eagerly.
The girl in front of her fumed in rage, her face turning red with fury. The other two glared with disdain. Liriya assumed they were sisters; they looked almost identical.
“We are the triplet daughters of the earl of Ornwall, a respected member of the court. And you, peasant, should show your respect!” one of them spat, extremely ticked off.
“Oh, so I suppose that is what you think of everyone who is below your position?” Liriya arched a perfect eyebrow at her. “I am sorry. I do not respect someone for their title but only the ones with nobleheartslike the prince himself, who counts unfortunate souls likeusworthy enough to be invited to his majestic home.”
A woman or two gasped nearby but Liriya didn’t care. She didn’t fear humans, not anymore, not since realizing that they were equally biased and vulnerable as the merfolk in her own kingdom. Mama was right after all; the only difference between human race and Merfolk was their tail and legs, the attitude and all were just the same.
“I am going to report your misbehavior to our father!” One of them stomped their foot on the ground, an action Liriya couldn’t register as what or done why, while another one said, “Are you a princess who became a peasant overnight or something? Because you three look like you could belong in a king’s palace, except for your nightgowns.”
The triplets burst into a fit of high-pitched, mocking giggles.
Liriya tried not to blink. What was anightgown?Some dress humans wore at night? Was that what she and her sisters wearing now? She felt dumbstruck, and the girl who made the remark smirked in triumph; the malice in her eyes reminding her of Faelina.
“Oh, did the cat get your tongue?” The girl jutted out her chin with a snort and turned to her sisters. “Come on, let’s go.” They turned on their heels and waved at someone, summoning them. “Footman! Bring the carriage here!”
Ella leaned to Liriya, staring after them, murmuring, “I know catfish, but what is acat?”
“No idea,” Liriya murmured back and her eyes widened at the thing that approached the triplet sisters.
It was a fancy carriage pulled by black horses, and the sound of its hooves sent Liriya’s heart do a drum roll. Sessa clung to her arm at the sight of them and Liriya assumed it was a land animal. She tried to look not too shocked for their own sake; better act everything was normal than giving themselves away for suspicion.
Pushing down the fear that clawed at her at the sight of the majestic animals, which no other human seemed to be afraid of, Liriya put on a brave face and watched the triplet sisters climb into the carriage. It took off, riding out of the marketplace, and she barely stopped herself from placing a hand on her chest.