Page 51 of Mermaid on Heels
Luke took to the dais with such graceful steps that Liriya’s eyes couldn’t help but track. He faced the audience. Cedric followed and stood at his left, while other men—probably his advisors and main courtiers—flanked either side of the dais.
The music stopped and everyone stared, holding their breath. Liriya’s hand clutched the neckline of her dress, feeling the woven blue stones cool against her palm. It was time to announce the elites.
The stifled giggle of the girls reached her ears, the room so quiet that she could pick each voice that murmured or whispered. Everyone was excited, but she couldn’t find herself sharing it. All she felt was confusion, uncertainty, and dread. She began to wish Ella were here, feeling the dire need of her middle sister like never before.
She wanted Ella to scold her for agreeing with Luke to be his elite, to tell her that she was stupid to feel something for a human king, that it was all impossible when she was the crown princess of their kingdom. Liriya wanted her sister to ask her,how could you possibly think of romancing and marrying a human when our mother and our people are under a siren enchantment that we have yet to figure out how to break?
“I had the privilege of dancing with some of the lovely young ladies present tonight, and as you’ve all been waiting, the time has finally come where I’ll choose the elites I’d pick my bride from.” Luke stared at the attendees before him, his eyes shining with the genuine smile on his face that alone said he was feeling content.
He was happy. Was it because of her?
Liriya’s heart clenched and a longing arose in her as she recalled the same light in his eyes when she had agreed to give him a chance. His intentions for her were genuine.
Luke’s eyes came to rest on Liriya for a brief moment, which alone made her heart jump even though she already knew she was one of the elites, and moved on.
“I’ll call the ladies by name and they shall come forth towards the dais,” he said and announced the first one, “Princess Aeira of Garbia.”
The dark-haired princess moved towards the dais. Luke stretched out his hand to her and a few women sighed dreamily as she accepted it after rising from her curtsey. Princess Aeira’s smile was bright as she moved past him and stood behind him on his right.
Luke turned to the crowd. “Princess Lora of Halboon.”
A beautiful, golden-haired girl in a red gown and around Liriya’s age stepped forward from the line of the crowd where Liriya stood, and approached the young king. She curtsied and he helped her to the dais like Princess Aeira. She took her place, smiling down at the people with a small wave.
“Lady Sandra Moore of Geeshire.”
“Lady Serra White of Poronell.”
“Lady Riley Denson of Ravenvalley.”
The announced young ladies stepped forward, one after another, and fell into a curtsey before the king. He offered his hand to each of them and helped them to the dais.
After Lady Riley positioned herself among the elites, the crowd held their breath, waiting for the king to announce the final elite.
“It’s probably going to be her, that one in the blue gown who danced with the king twice.” Liriya heard someone murmur somewhere in the room at the same time Luke’s eyes came to rest on her. The light in his eyes outshone the hundred lights lighting the ballroom.
“Princess Liriyalda of Pearltuna.”
Liriya’s breath hitched in her throat.
“Princess? I thought she was aLady.”
“Certainly the king won’t make a mistake.”
“She does look like one though.”
“She’s aprincessnow?” Among the sea of whispers and murmurs on her way towards Luke, Liriya recognized one of the triplets’ voices. Normally, she would’ve smirked, at least inwardly, but right now she was too taken at being addressed by her original title.
“Gracious heavens, Liriya, look at you!” Liriya’s head absently turned to where Bianca stood, as soon as she picked up on her murmur. She caught her best friend’s prideful gaze and exchanged a small smile with her before turning back to the king.
Unlike he did with the other elites, Luke took a step down to her before holding out his hand. Liriya accepted it with her free hand that wasn’t holding her mask and fan, their eyes not breaking contact as she dipped into a curtsey. There was it again, the look in his eyes that consumed her, looking at her like she was the most precious thing in the world—like shewashis whole world.
I see our future when I look into your eyes.
His words rang in her head as she straightened and let him lead her up to the dais. As they stood face to face, her eyes questioned him why he had addressed her by her original title. As though reading her mind, Luke smiled gently and spoke in a murmur, “You’re a princess, whether or not you were stripped from your crown.”
Those words undid something deep in her, warmth settling at the center of her chest, and her face rested with a small smile. She squeezed Luke’s hand and moved to stand at his right with the elites, dropping her hand from his. Gracing them with a smile, she turned and faced the audience.
The crowd broke into applause, but most of the young candidates wore scowls and fanned their faces instead. Bianca was clapping and cheering with her arms flailing in the air, her joy infectious. Liriya stifled a laugh, though it didn’t ease the sudden wave of nervousness that washed over her.