(Aileen's POV)
This room is enormous.
In some ways, it reminds me so much of my own—warm, intimate, welcoming.
Everything here smells of the sea.
Light spills everywhere, born from pink and blue reflections drifting out of water-pearls of every size.
The walls are… strange. Entirely mirrored. Not a single stretch of plain stone.
They radiate a soft warmth and feel like darkened windows facing the outside.
I can see the whole ocean floor.
And no one can see me.
The best part, though, is the bed.
Wide. Round.
With a headboard shaped like an oyster shell.
On one side stands a massive wardrobe.
Curiosity gets the better of me—I open it.
Inside: sumptuous garments, crafted in the purest and most refined style of Cloudland.
On the other side of the bed, a large chest overflows with colorful shell-bras, their cups encrusted with gemstones.
I wish Dorcha could see this.
And Grogher too—the ceiling is so high he'd fit without a problem.
To be honest, all six of us could live in here comfortably.
I miss them.
All of them.
I wonder what they're doing… what their rooms look like.
I'm sure the King and Queen prepared perfect quarters for them.
Dorcha's room must be full of swords—green and blue everywhere.
Grogher's has to be enormous. I'd love to see it.
And maybe Sidae, Raertha, and Hercules have a vast underwater meadow where they can run, race through the currents, and scratch their backs.
In the end, everything turned out fine.
There was no reason to worry.
Still… I don't really like being kept apart.
Oh well. In a couple of days we'll see each other again, and we'll tell each other everything.
Now… it's impossible to tell how long until dinner—the light never changes here.
To pass the time, I could try on some of the clothes in the wardrobe.
That way, when they come for me, I'll already be ready.
I walk over and take them in.
The fabrics… the colors…
Each one more beautiful than the last.
I put them on.
One.
Two.
What would it be like to be a mermaid…?
Three.
Four.
To have a tail…
Five.
Six.
And instead of all these heavy dresses, to wear nothing but a shell-bra.
I move to the chest and let them slide through my fingers.
They're beautiful… and they chime softly… such a sweet melody…
This one—this one is stunning.
I wonder how it would look on me…
On impulse, I undress and put it on.
Then I spin, imagining fins where my legs should be.
I look like a real mermaid!
If only it weren't for these stupid legs.
My golden eyes catch my reflection in the mirror—and suddenly, like a flash, memories crash into me.
Mom.
Dad.
My little house in the willow.
Helbert.
Dorcha. Grogher. Raertha. Sidae. Hercules.
The elves. The mission.
By all the clouds—have I lost my mind?
What am I even thinking?
I'm the Princess of Cloudland, not a mermaid.
And I have a very specific task to fulfill:
saving the world.
I should hurry, too.
So much time has passed—they'll call for me any moment.
I take off the foolish shell-bra and choose the dress I love the most.
Emerald green.
A fitted bodice, puffed shoulder straps flowing into long sleeves that taper into sharp points over my hands.
A wide skirt.
An emerald necklace, earrings, and crown.
Last of all, I slip on the matching slippers.
Incredible—they let me walk just like I would on dry land.
One last look in the mirror.
Ready.
Oh—someone's knocking.
A flicker of anxiety grips me.
"Come in," I say, my voice slightly unsteady.
The door opens, and two enchanting twin mermaids appear.
They look about my age.
Blonde hair gathered high in neat, unadorned styles.
Simple purple shell-bras.
They gaze at me in admiration.
And I can't help but admire them right back.
They're beautiful.
"Your Highness…" one of them says.
"We've come to escort you to dinner," the other adds.
I step toward them, eager to introduce myself.
"Thank you. I'm Aileen, Princess of Cloudland. You don't seem like attendants—are you princesses too?"
They glance at each other, and a veil of sadness passes over their eyes.
Oh no.
That was awkward.
"Did I say something wrong? I'm sorry," I rush to add.
"Oh, no. We are Amina…"
"…and Aura. We were princesses once. But not anymore."
What does that mean?
That can't be.
"I don't understand. You're born a princess—you can't just stop being one."
They look pained.
Aura moves her body with a delicate gesture, and images bloom in the air around us.
A people of mermaids and tritons at war with another sea-folk.
Spears, swords, tridents.
Killing. Death. Tears.
Blood. Screams. Pain. Suffering.
A mermaid and a triton stripped of their crowns.
Aura and Amina—much younger—bound by the wrists, dragged away with other survivors.
It's horrific.
I stare at them, shaken and lost.
Amina explains the meaning of the vision.
"We were the Princesses of the Oceanic Marine Realm. When it was defeated by the Realm of the Dark Abyss… we became attendants to Queen Selìna."
"But… she should at least allow you to keep your rank," I say at once. "I'll speak to her."
Their expressions change instantly—tight, shaken.
"Oh no, please, Princess. Please don't," they plead. "Our poor father's life depends on it. Please… pretend we never told you anything."
Agitated isn't the right word.
They're terrified.
Are they lying?
No. That's impossible. You can't lie about something like this.
Still… it's strange.
Defeated. Reduced to attendants.
A chance to return to being princesses—and they don't want it?
What are they afraid of?
What could the current rulers possibly do to a fallen king and two deposed princesses?
And another thing… odd.
I always believed there was only one people of the sea. One kingdom.
Apparently, that isn't true.
In any case, if they don't feel safe, I won't push.
They must have their reasons.
"As you wish," I say softly, offering them a small smile. "Let's not keep Their Majesties waiting."
They return my smile, relief and gratitude written all over their faces.
I step between them, allowing myself to be escorted toward the Grand Dining Hall.
And here we are.
Two tall tritons with long hair tied into page-like ponytails and bow ties at their necks bow to Aura and Amina, dismissing them, then gesture for me to follow.
How marvelous.
The hall is immense.
At its center stretches a long table, its surface carved from pink-veined marble, supported by elegant legs of precious larimar.
It's laid out with an astonishing abundance of food, each dish carefully arranged.
The scent, however… doesn't entirely appeal to me.
Above us hangs an enormous chandelier made of marine fireflies and gigantic pearls, filling nearly the entire ceiling and bathing the room in daylight.
I've never seen anything like it.
"Welcome, dear. Please, sit," Queen Selìna says warmly as she approaches me.
She guides me to my place.
The King is already seated.
"The dress you chose makes you even more enchanting," he remarks.
How kind.
"Thank you, Your Majesties… for this dress, for my companions, for our rooms… for everything."
"We're pleased that you're satisfied," the Queen replies.
She claps her hands, and the tritons and mermaids serving as attendants begin to bring out the dishes.
Seaweed pasta scented with marine ginger.
Shrimp in pink sauce.
Sea urchins.
Roasted swordfish.
Seaweed cake.
Fresh salmon.
Whitebait.
Anchovy fritters.
I imagine these are delicacies to them, but… it's a little unsettling.
"I thought you didn't eat your own kind…" I say, surprised.
"Oh, we don't," Selìna replies lightly. "Seaweed, shrimp, and a bit of plankton are more than enough for us. But you, dear, need a more varied diet. Eat as much as you like—this is all for you."
Wonderful…
If only there were warm, fragrant elven bread. Or vegetables. Or the exquisite dried fruit and cocoa dessert Fayrin used to make for me when I was little…
But I can't refuse, can I?
That would be rude.
Whether I like it or not, I'll manage.
I put on my most graceful smile and take the first dish placed before me.
Dinner passes in conversation—Cloudland's skies, the customs of the Dark Abyss. They tell me about charming sights to visit and promise to show me around tomorrow.
That will be fun.
"Thank you. Everything was delicious," I say when the meal ends.
"Oh, it was nothing," Selìna demurs.
Nèilos approaches me and gently places his hands on my arms.
"You must be tired. It's been a long day," he says. "Go and rest. The attendants will escort you back to your room. Sleep well—we'll leave early tomorrow. There's so much to see."
I look at them, grateful.
A sense of peace wraps around me—the same feeling I used to have when I knew I was going out with Mom and Dad.
I turn… and notice Aura and Amina watching me, their expressions tense, worried.
Honestly.
They're probably just social climbers—princesses, my foot.
Silly me, believing them.
In any case, I let them escort me back to my room.
I'm exhausted.
I slip into a warm, soft nightgown and sink into a deep sleep.
Dawn comes quickly.
I wake to the tireless work of luminous marine creatures who, at the Sovereigns' request, brighten the kingdom during those hours.
And wake me with their light.
Aura and Amina help them.
I'm not even fully awake when I sense their presence.
They're finishing arranging a stunning red velvet dress on a chair, paired with a delicate, elegant circlet set with a single ruby.
The look is completed by delightful red slippers embroidered with golden details.
It's magnificent.
But… what is that delicious scent?
I turn and notice, in one corner of the room, a small table made of pure gold.
Was it there yesterday? …Well.
What matters is what's on it.
A magnificent breakfast.
I jump up and rush to sit down.
What wonderful, flavorful seaweed!
What tasty shrimp!
I pile my plate high and devour it happily.
Mmm… incredible.
"These seaweeds are amazing! And these shrimp—absolutely exquisite!" I exclaim, eating with enthusiasm.
(Amina's POV)
How strange.
Yesterday she seemed almost repulsed by the idea of eating our food… and this morning—
"We'll inform them, Princess. The King and Queen are waiting for you in the carriage for the tour of the Realm," my sister says.
"I didn't think there were horses here," Aileen says, surprised.
Horses?
What are those?
"Oh, we've never seen horses… but perhaps," I reply carefully, "we have something similar."