Serena woke up feeling… strange. She wasn't sick, nor did she feel weak, but there was an unsettling heaviness in her chest that she couldn't explain. Something felt off, as though the air in the room carried a message she couldn't quite decipher. She turned lazily to her side and froze.
Her window was wide open.
The curtains drifted softly with the breeze, swaying like ghostly hands brushing the floor.
"Did you open the window?" Serena asked quietly, looking over at Maria, who had just entered to help her get ready for the day.
Maria paused, glancing at the window before shaking her head. "No, my lady. It was open when I walked in."
Hun? I remember closing it before I went to bed, Serena thought, her brows knitting together. Her confusion must have been obvious, because Maria tilted her head with concern.
"Is something wrong, my lady?" Maria asked gently.
Serena shook her head quickly, brushing the thought away even though her stomach tightened with unease. "No, nothing. Just thinking about my lessons today. Let's get ready."
Maria nodded and moved efficiently around her, helping her wash, change, and prepare for the morning. Serena allowed herself to be guided, though her mind kept drifting back to the open window, the cold breeze, and the strange feeling inside her chest.
Once dressed, she examined herself briefly in the mirror. She looked… pretty. Almost brighter than usual, despite the nagging tension she felt. "Let's head to the dining table. The king is expecting me," she said.
"I'm afraid I can't accompany you today. There are errands I have to run in the kitchen," Maria replied apologetically.
"That's fine." Serena gave her a small smile and stepped out of her room.
As she walked through the palace corridors, she prepared herself mentally. She knew she would be seeing the Princess Amelia and she really didn't want to but the king had asked her to join him for breakfast, and she had no authority to deny the invitation.
She was almost getting to the hall when a sharp pain shot through her head like a knife, she squinted her eyes in pain, the pain lasted for about two minutes before it disappeared. Serena was finally able to breathe, unexpected blood dripped down her nose.
She pulled out a hankerchif to wipe the blood off, her eyes widening in shock. What is happening to me? I wasn't sick before going to bed last night. Serena thought to herself.
A guard walked by. "Lady Serena, the king awaits your presence." his voice brought her back to reality, she quickly kept the hankerchif and nodded.
"Sure, I'll be there." she responded. The guard nodded before leaving giving her space to thow the handkerchief away.
She inhaled deeply before stepping into the dining hall.
The king and Princess Amelia were already seated, waiting for her. "Good morning, Your Majesty. Your Highness," Serena greeted with a curt bow.
"Come sit. We've been waiting," Alexander said, pointing to the empty chair beside him.
Serena nodded, keeping her gaze lowered. She could feel Princess Amelia's sharp stare stabbing into her skin as she took her seat. The air around the princess felt heated and prickly with jealousy.
"Princess Amelia, this is Serena. Serena, this is Princess Amelia of Greenville," Alexander introduced, sounding bored, as though the entire formality irritated him.
Serena kept her eyes on her plate, but she could feel Amelia's anger like a flame licking her cheek. "Your Majesty… who is she?" Amelia asked sharply, placing her hand pointedly over Alexander's. Her gaze flickered to the bracelet on Serena's wrist—the same bracelet the king had bought yesterday in the market.
Her expression shifted for a moment. Suspicion. Jealousy. Shock.
Alexander pulled his hand away immediately, making Amelia stiffen.
"A guest of mine. Now let's eat," he replied curtly.
Serena swallowed and picked up her spoon. The food looked delicious, and she took a few quiet bites. But halfway through, another sharp ache struck her forehead. She winced, placing her spoon down as she pressed a hand to her temples.
Alexander noticed immediately.
"Are you alright? You're barely eating," he asked, his voice unexpectedly soft, drawing both Amelia's and Serena's attention.
Serena forced a small smile and reached for her spoon again.
"I—"
She didn't finish. "Your Majesty," Amelia cut in sweetly, "I really loved that bread yesterday. I was hoping you could take me back there."
Alexander looked ready to respond, irritation flashing in his eyes, when the doors opened suddenly.
Arthur rushed in, walking straight to the king.
"Your Majesty, I'm really sorry to disturb you but—" he paused not knowing how to put it.
"What is the problem?" Alexander asked, he hated when Arthur paused between his speech. Both Amelia and Serena stared at him.
"Amethyst has gone missing, the guards and everyone are searching for her." He said taking them all by surprise. Serena eyes widen, the princess missing, how? They saw each other yesterday how could she get missing.
Alexander's face darkened instantly. He dropped his spoon and stood up, his entire demeanor shifting into cold, dangerous authority.
"What happened?" he demanded as he strode out of the dining hall with Arthur close behind.
Serena's chest tightened painfully. A stabbing ache spread beneath her ribs as if something inside her was being pulled just then her eyes widen in realization.
"I know where she is." Serena whispered. She stood up quickly and ran out of the dining room leaving Amelia who was still recovering from the news.
Outside the palace, guards were gathered in distress. Princess Amethyst's personal maid, Vera, knelt crying before the king.
"I—I don't know, Your Majesty," Vera sobbed. "When I went to attend to the princess this morning… she wasn't in her room. I checked the garden, but she wasn't there either. I asked everyone. No one saw her."
Arthur frowned deeply. "Are you telling me no one in this palace saw the princess leave?"
All the servants questioned shook their heads. It was unbelievable. Absurd.
Then a guard ran up to them. "Your Majesty! Lord Arthur! We found a trace near the river."
"Lead the way," Alexander said sharply.
They followed the guard to the back of the castle, past the gardens and toward the rocky hill behind the palace. At the top of the hill lay a shawl.
The guard picked it up and handed it to the king. "This belongs to the princess. She wears it often."
Arthur stepped closer to the cliff's edge. Below was deep water. "What could this mean…?" he murmured. "she couldn't have fallen into the water. What is she even doing here?" Arthur asked, this all seemed weird.
"Send guards to search everywhere around here. We—"
"Your Majesty," a voice interrupted.
All three men turned.
Serena approached them, her expression pale but determined. Arthur signalled the guard to leave and he did immediately.
"She fell down the hill," Serena said firmly. "The princess is drowning. She's in danger. We need to act fast."
Arthur stared at her. "How did you know we were here?"
Alexander's brows tightened as his gaze slowly scanned her. She was dressed differently now, a light white dress that ended above her knees.
"That's not important," Serena replied quickly. "The princess is drowning. Please—we have to hurry."
"How do you know that?" Alexander's voice turned cold, demanding, suspicious. Her mysterious behavior was pushing his patience.
Serena didn't have time for this. "Your Majesty, Lord Arthur… I'll bring the princess. Wait for me at the shallow part of the river."
Before they could respond,She jumped.
Both men flinched in shock.
Just before she disappeared beneath the water, her legs transformed, shimmering under the sunlight. A beautiful tail flashed into view, light blue scales glimmering like emeralds as she swam deeper into the water.
Arthur gasped. "She's… a mermaid?"
Alexander's expression remained unreadable. "She showed signs," he said quietly. "I suspected it."
The two men turned and hurried down toward the riverbank as the water below rippled violently.