Page 33 of Mermaid on Heels
“But Gezer will be waiting for you.”
“Who knows?” Bianca lifted a shoulder.
Liriya rolled her eyes at her. “That man fancies you, Bia.”
“I hope.” Bianca shrugged again and laughed.
“I forgot to tell you something, being distracted with all the preparation for tonight since returning from the castle yesterday…”
“Oh, what is it?”
“I think the king noticed me yesterday.”
Bianca gaped at her before saying, “Impossible.”
“I know, right? I thought I was imagining it at first, but he looked at me again. Three times—nofour,if I count him watching me from behind the balcony window.”
“What?” Bianca gasped before realization dawned on her. “Oh, I forgot; your eyesight is sharper than humans. I think I did notice his gaze latching onto our direction butalas, I didn’t have mer-eyes to see clearly.”
Liriya laughed at her words. “Ella noticed too, and she has been teasing me about it. But… how do you think… I mean, itisimpossible that he could—”
“I don’t think anyone needs to have a sharp eye to pick out a mermaid in the middle of a crowd. Liriya, you three have skin texture that sparkles like diamonds under the sun and glows under the moon; so it’s no surprise he noticed you among the sun-kissed-skinned commoners anddully-fair-skinned nobles.”
“You are funny, has anyone told you that?” Liriya asked, stifling her laugh.
“Only my best friend every time I told her something serious andshethought it was funny.” Bianca narrowed her eyes playfully, folding her arms.
Liriya rolled her eyes with a smile. She did have friends back home, daughters of the courtiers, but none of them was someone she called herbestfriend. She knew that they wanted to be her friends because she was the princess, and they always treated her like royalty. Abacus was the only genuine friend she had, yet he treated her for who she was.
But Bianca was different; a kind of different friend that Liriya had always wanted. She was cool and funny, liked to speak her mind, refreshingly chirpy, humble and genuine and a lot more. With her, Liriya felt the exact way she had always wished—like a commoner. Altogether, Liriya loved her new best friend and couldn’t be more thankful for her.
“So, I’m guessing that meeting with the king isn’t going to be a challenge now?”
Liriya looked at Bianca and groaned when she saw her smirk. “Please, not you too.”
“What?You’vebeen taking advantage of every opportunity to tease me about Gezer. Don’t you think I have the right too?” Bianca defended with a laugh.
“Fine,” Liriya grumbled and Bianca giggled.
When they neared the castle, Liriya looked outside her window and saw the streets bathed in yellow lights. Her heartbeat raced when she heard several carriages ahead and behind them. They passed the castle gates and Liriya lost her breath at the sight her eyes met.
The Lestoshire Castle couldn’t be more magnificent than this, she thought. Even the wordmagnificentfelt like an understatement.
When the carriage stopped, the footman disembarked to open their door and helped them outside. Liriya turned and saw uncountable carriages rolling in through the castle gates, ten times fancier than theirs. Her anxiety increased, but she stood tall.
I am a princess, I should not be intimidated, and I certainly can do this.
Thanking their coachman, Liriya smoothed a hand over her bodice and looked up at the magnificent building. Towering marble columns, each adorned with ivy and climber roses, flanked the entrance. A red carpet flowed down the grand stairs made of stone and wrought iron that led to the massive doors where guards in resplendent uniforms and matching masks stood, welcoming the arriving guests and directing them towards the ballroom.
Liriya glanced at Bianca, sharing a giddy smile, before gathering her skirts and climbing up. Men and women in opulent attire were both behind and ahead of them. When she and Bianca reached the top, however, the guard on their right asked a question that made Bianca almost swivel back in surprise.
“Your age, ladies?”
“Ourwhat?” Bianca countered.
“Me eighteen and her nineteen,” Liriya replied politely, for the both of them.
The man, who seemed to be in his late twenties, nodded and gestured inside. “Please move to the right.”