The heavy coral doors burst open, a rush of water swept into the chamber, unraveling Shui Yi's seaweed braids. The King stood at the entrance, his armor gleaming with golden markings, glowing faintly in the bioluminescent light. The ancient coral walls shimmered with an ethereal pulse, casting ghostly shadows.
His nostrils flared as he stepped into the chamber, his jaw clenched. His eyes, usually steady and composed, were now burning with frustration. His hand tightened around the hilt of his trident, the weapon pulsing with an ominous luster. The weight of his role as both a father and a sovereign crushed him, forcing him to maintain composure. For a moment, his towering figure seemed to hesitate, the painful struggle to control his irritation evident.
The deafening silence was the cue for the subordinates to flee from the scene. Their monarch wanted to have a private conversation with his daughter.
"Tell me," he spoke finally. "Who did you give your sacred pearl to?"
Shui Yi had never feared her father, but tonight, seeing him this furious shook her to her core. Her hands balled into fists at her sides, her pulse quickening, and the knot in her stomach tightened with each word. How had it come to this? She had always thought saving someone's life was the right thing to do, believing her actions—though impulsive—were done out of kindness, out of a need to help. But now, a deep sense of dread settled over her. Was she doing the right thing, or was it false compassion?
"I didn't give my sacred pearl to anyone... I don't carry it with me," she replied, forcing herself to meet his gaze. Her voice trembled, but she masked the fear clawing at her chest.
Her father inhaled sharply, his nostrils still flaring as his piercing gaze locked onto her. His hands curled into tight fists. She could see the tension in his body, as if he were stifling barely contained outrage. The ocean around them rippled; its calm surface shuddered, reflecting the storm brewing inside him. "Do you know where you keep your sacred pearl?"
"Yes," she answered quickly, a nervous lump forming in her throat. "In my jewelry box..."
His eyes widened, shaking his head. He rubbed his temples and sighed. "Child, do you even know what a sacred pearl is?"
She avoided his gaze, staring at the floor, her throat constricting as she could no longer keep up the façade. She pursed her lips and shook her head, her cursed white hair veiling her face.
He exhaled a long, weary sigh that betrayed his disappointment. With a wave of his hand, the water around them responded. A gentle current lifted her chin, guiding her gaze upward. As it did, the tail of her hair waved in front of her face. "Your discolored hair is a sign that you no longer have the sacred pearl within you."
"What?" Her fingers instinctively reached for her hair. She clung to any excuse she could grasp, any hope that this wasn't real, that she had misinterpreted.
He cleared his throat, his voice breaking with restraint. "Shui Yi, did you give someone something precious to you?"
Trying to follow his prompt, she muttered, "I gave it to a wounded merfolk..."
The room darkened, the water's reflection growing tumultuous mirroring his rising temper. "Child, do not lie to me."
She flinched, her fingers digging into her palms, her breath caught in her chest as she stammered, "I—I only wanted to help..."
"Help?!" The currents swirl violently around them. "You are a princess of the sea," he grated, advancing through the water.
His towering body cast a long, imposing shadow over her. "Your sacred pearl is not something you give away like a trinket."
She gulped, eyes cast down, shoulders slumped, shrinking under his intense gaze. "Then... explain it to me."
A long silence echoed between them, broken by the sound of small bubbles popping against the coral walls. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, trying to control the rage surging through him. The water around them continued to ripple, reflecting his internal conflict. When he finally spoke again, his voice had lowered, tinged with concern. "The sacred pearl is not just a symbol of your lineage. It is not just a part of you. It is your very essence. Your life force."
Her lips parted, but no sound came out. The consequence of her actions crashed over her, and she couldn't utter a word to defend herself.
The King's voice cut through the silence. "You did not simply help a wounded merfolk. You have tethered your life to theirs."
Shui Yi felt the blood drain from her face, the truth sinking in. Tethered... her life? She recalled how her body had weakened after she tried to resuscitate the mysterious stranger who transformed into an eel. How could that act of kindness change her life?
***
The King attentively studied his daughter's reaction. For the first time, she looked shaken, and he could see the dawning realization in her jaundiced eyes. His expression softened, as he watched his daughter grapple with the truth. "If your mother were here..." he faltered, briefly lost his composure, then steadied. "She would have taught you these things."
For a moment, he wished things had been different for both of their sakes. If only his wife were still here. She had given her life to pass the sacred pearl to their daughter, and her last dying wish had been to shield their daughter from the burden of her actions. He didn't have the heart to tell her.
His chest tightened as he watched his daughter lower her gaze, unable to meet his eyes. The realization of her mistake settled heavily on her. The guilt that flashed across her face almost broke him. He knew this wasn't her fault at all—it was the thief's fault.
"Father, I'm sorry... I didn't know," she whispered, her voice cracking.
"No," his tone now resigned, weary. "You wouldn't have known."
He took a step back, his regal posture returning as the ruler of the sea. The burden of the sovereign clashed with his protective nature. There was no other choice. His daughter had made a grave mistake, but he loved her dearly. "That is why I must fix this."
"Fix...?"
His expression toughened, the burden of his decision settling on his shoulders. His gaze softened slightly as he looked at her, though the pain in his eyes was evident. There was no turning back now. The bond between them—so fragile, so precious—had been torn. It was his duty, as a father and a king, to mend it, no matter the cost.
He lifted his trident, the ancient weapon engraved with the symbols of their lineage, pulsing with a radiant light. "We must get your sacred pearl back."
She tugged at his arm, her lips quivering as she shook her head.
The King raised his arm higher above his head. The trident trembled, its energy expanding. Power surged from the trident, and the princess gasped as the currents stirred, twisting and spiraling outward from the golden tip. His eyes glowed with the intensity of the magic he invoked, the weapon levitating from his grip.
"Let the ocean guide me to the bond that has been forged. Lead me to the carrier of my daughter's sacred pearl."
"No..." she whispered, pulling at his arm in vain. "Please, Father, I beg you. Don't do this."
But he had made his decision, and there was no room for mercy.
The trident hovered, then flew across the chamber, pausing mid-water before coming to a sudden halt. Its tip slowly lowered, pointing directly at the unassuming eel resting by her bedside.