Page 50 of Mermaid on Heels
“You feel all strange sensations inside you when I call your name, when I touch you and hold you, and you’re afraid of that feeling.” Luke pointed out, and the light in his eyes scared her.
“I do not know what you are talking about,” she defended with a catch in her voice.
He arched an eyebrow at her. “Do you have a lover back in Pearltuna, then?”
“What?” Her eyes widened in horror. “No, of course not!”
A small smile pulled the corner of his lips at her exclamation. “Oh Liriya, there’s no doubt why you were all warm and comfortable in the beginning and became cold and distant a moment ago. You feel that pull between us and you’re terrified of the feeling.”
Liriya gaped at him. Was she an open shell?
“I get it. You’re new at this. But you have nothing to be afraid of—of me or of love. I will never force you to choose between your kingdom and me, Liriya, but I want you to give me a chance. Let me know you, little mermaid, I want to know you andyouto knowme. I know you’re uncertain about what you feel; let me help you with it. Be my elite, and give me a chance. By the end of the second week when I’m supposed to announce my bride, if you realize your heart doesn’t belong with me… you can leave me. I won’t stop you.”
Liriya stared at him helplessly. He was all right about her, he saw through her sudden-made façade—he sawher. She wanted that, she wanted all that, but he was right, she was terrified.
Terrified, torn, and uncertain.
Through the tears filling her eyes, she saw him step closer and cup her face lovingly. It took all her willpower not to lean into his touch and ignite his hope for her.
“My dear Liriya, I have faith in what I see,” Luke said, looking into her eyes. “So please, give me a chance.”
Drowning in his perfect ocean-blue eyes, Liriya couldn’t even imagine saying no. She noddedyes.
Chapter 12
“… five, four, three, two, one!”
Midnight struck and the masks of everyone gathered in the ballroom came off.
Liriya joined in the ritual, carefully removing her own mask, feeling the cool rush of air against her face as it was unveiled. She couldn’t help but smile, her eyes scanning the jubilant crowd, searching for the familiar faces of Bianca and Gezer.
Having returned to the ballroom with Luke earlier, they shared another dance at his request—with her standing on his boots again—and the memory of their graceful movements was still fresh in her mind. As the evening progressed, Luke danced with a few other candidates as well.
“You?”
Liriya turned to the familiar feminine voice on her left, and seeing Hannah, one of the triplets, she smiled slightly smug. She didn’t know whether the shocked inquiry was because she had two dances with the king or because of her dress, recalling the sisters’ envying words about hers and Bianca’s gowns.
“Hello there, good to see you too,” Liriya greeted the blonde girl whose eyes were wide as she stared at her. “In case you are wondering who the other girl was with me earlier, it was Bianca—Bianca Bartholomew. She is the seamstress of both our gowns.”
Hannah’s jaw went slack for a moment but she composed herself and fanned her face. “Oh, I must say, I haven’t seen such wasted works in my entire life of fashion before.”
“Oh please.” Liriya scoffed, blood boiling in her veins. “Admit it, you are jealous.”
“Jealous?” The girl gasped dramatically. “Jealous of a peasant girl? That’s the last thing I felt when I saw you two wearing these…” She eyed Liriya’s gown, her eyes speaking the opposite.
“Oh, but if I heard you and your sisters right, you sounded nothingbutjealous and envious of my best friend’s work. What was it again? Oh!Where did they get those gowns from? Mama, I want one like that! I want to know who the seamstress is! Look, it is shimmering with each movement!”
Liriya smirked in triumph at the dumbstruck look on the other girl’s face. Oh, how much she had wanted to say that,andmore—if they continued to bully her friend.
“The last time we met—technically the first time, too—you asked if the cat got my tongue. No, it did not. My tongue is still here, so you better watch yours next time you talk about Bianca in front of me.”
The blonde girl composed herself again and sneered at Liriya. “Oh, what would you do,LadyLiriyalda? Wherever you got that title from, I have no idea, but I am the daughter of the earl of Ornwall and you will regret what you just said to me. Mark my words, dear.”
“Marked, already.” Liriya shot her a sweet smile before moving away from her; anywhere away from the triplets was better. Her eyes kept searching for a glimpse of Bianca and found her with Gezer, as expected, laughing and talking on the other end of the room.
As much as she wanted to go to them, she decided against it and let them enjoy their time alone uninterrupted. Looking away from them, her eyes met with Luke’s, who stood just down the dais, talking with Cedric and a few other men.
He smiled. She smiled back, ignoring how her stomach restarted fluttering.