Page 78 of Mermaid on Heels
“Princess Liriya, why aren’t you joining us?” Lady Serra called over to her.
Liriya turned to them and saw every pair of eyes, including their lady’s maids who had been summoned to aid them, turn on her. Heat crawled up her neck. She smiled politely and shook her head. “I do not… I do not really do that.”
The girls’ eyes widened and Liriya wished she could shrink. Was this something that she wassupposedto know as a human royalty?
“Not even your sisters?”
“No—”
“Actually, Pearltunian royals are different. Princess Liriya told me that their castle is on a cliff next to the sea and their entire family is sea lovers. Therefore, they know everything about the sea and sea activities because that’s what they’re taught since childhood, instead of the activities we know such as archery, and horseback riding.” Cedric finished with a grin.
“Oh,” Princess Lora said, and they all looked rather taken with the information Cedric provided—and somehow satisfied too. Liriya fought her grin and glanced at Cedric thankfully; he had saved them again.
Cedric sent them a secretive wink.
“That sounds great. But, would you like to give this a try?” Lady Sabrina extended her bow and arrow towards Liriya’s direction.
“That’s right. Come on, you three. I’ll teach you.” Cedric waved them over.Ever the tutor.
Liriya felt she had no choice. She walked towards them, leaving the shade of the tree, with her sisters, not missing the long-suffering look Ella gave her. The next moment, the three of them were standing on the shooting line, facing their targets that were fifty yards away, holding the bows and the blunted arrows clumsily in position—following Cedric’s example and instructions.
“And release,” Cedric said at last and released his. The arrow sliced through the air and hit bull’s eye. He smiled in satisfaction and turned to them.
Ella released hers, but it didn’t go any farther than ten yards before landing pathetically in the lawn. When Sessa released hers, somehow, both her bow and arrow fell to the ground at her feet. Someone held back a laugh in the background and Liriya lowered her bow, heart squeezing to see her little sister frowning down at her failed attempt.
“I guess our fingers are rather blunt,” Ella joked, adding a nervous laugh to her words.
“But it can be trained.” Cedric put down his bow and approached her. He came to stand on her left and placed his hand on her arm, positioning her.
“What are you doing?” Ella hissed at him.
“Well, what does it look like?”
“I do not need your help.”
“Everyone needs help, dolphin girl.”
Ella gasped, but didn’t turn around to face him or step back from his hold. “I swear, if you call me that again…” She let the threat hang in the air.
“You’ll do what, dolphin princess?” Cedric continued to taunt her as he placed his hand on hers and positioned them correctly on the weapon.
Ella pursed her lips tight and stayed silent while he positioned her, though Liriya heard her grit her teeth. She could almost tell that her sister was planning the suitable payback for him in her head. Ella stood straight and bold, like a fierce warrior, her eyes flaring at the target when Cedric was done.
“Now, release.”
Ella fired the arrow and it flew towards the target, but landed on the grass at its foot. Cedric clapped his hands when she turned to him.
“Now you are teasing me.”
“Hey, that’s calledprogress,” Cedric defended.
“Oh, really?” Ella flipped her hair from her shoulder and shot him a victorious smirk. “Then I should continue picturing your face on the target and one day I will hit it.”
Cedric burst with laughter.
“And what do we have here?” Princess Aeira’s voice drawled from behind and Liriya’s head whipped around to see her and Luke approaching them. Princes Aeira had her arm linked through Luke’s and a bright smile on her beautiful face.
Liriya’s eyes latched on Luke and a strange urge filled her entire being to step forth and tear him off from the other girl’s hold. She couldn’t yet figure out what had happened to her after returning from the sunrise viewing on the balcony. With her defenses all but sweetly destroyed, she had been feeling wildly protective over him.