"I'm not even the crown prince why should I tie myself down to that snobbish princess for life,mother?Do you even care about what I want."Kael shouted.
"That is precisely why you should marry her,you are not the crown prince and you should find a way to ensure you have a strong foothold in the palace and maybe the king might like you more.I am your mother and I know what is best for you."Rina tried to explain calmly.
"What is best for me,"Kael scoffed,"or what might get you closer to the king and earn you a title.I have always gone along with all your demands but this is the height of it,think of other ways to get the king's affection."
Kael left the room like a storm held tightly in check, the silence as he left was louder than any outburst.He couldn't do it,he wouldn't marry some arrogant,over-polished princess just to please his father.
He ducked into the side gardens and into the dark narrow paths that led to the enclosed sides of the seashore.
Kael didn't come here for any particular reason,his feet led him to the seashore.The tide was pulling out and the air felt heavy.
Something moved near the rocks,a flash of pale tender skin,long hair tangled in seaweed,a pair of green enchanting eyes bore into his and he froze.
"Is this where you come to sulk when things don't go your way,princey"She whispered,her voice hoarse like it hadn't been used in ages.Kael's heart beat
quickened.
"Who are you and how do you know me."Kael asked despite his mind cautioning him against it.
"No one important,just someone who knows better than to tie herself down just to please some self obsessed nobodies."she replied as her green eyes openly raked over his body.Her open scrutinisation left him rooted to the ground,,speechless.
"A,,,re you real?"He managed to stammer.
"Well that's quite a rude question to ask someone who is literally before you,,,or are you questioning your sanity."She said as she moved towards the deeper ends of the water."Oh and the name is Lyra,,,I won't be here when you come next time."She said as she stared off into the sea.
"How do you know I'll come back."Kael asked as he started registering what was going on.
She put on an all knowing smile,"Well,,you've already found your way back,a second time won't be that hard,,Kael."she whispered his name as she disappeared into the waves and a green tail splashed the water behind her.That's when Kael realized he had been talking to a mermaid.He had heard stories of a legendary creature who lurked within the waters but had never considered them to be true, considering the fact that he had been hearing the stories since he was a child.Until she said his name like it already belonged to her.
His breath hitched,not out of fear but awe and a tinge of guilt.He had mocked those whispered childhood stories and yet she was real.
Kael stood there for longer than he should have,eyes scaling the sea hoping she might rise again and laugh at him for believing.She didn't.
"Lyra,"he whispered to the wind,calling out as if it meant something.Then he turned back dejectedly and walked through the dark paths he had taken.It was late but he didn't rush, let them wonder where he went.
The guards didn't speak as Kael passed by,but their silence wasn't respectful,instead it was as if they were laughing at him deep down.
He hadn't even made it to the alley that led to his room when a reproachful voice stopped him.
"Did you enjoy your little tantrum?"His mother stood infront of the alley arms crossed and her body draped in a robe.
Kael made an attempt to move past her, "I am talking to you,Kael."
He didn't look at her."If you have something to say, just say it."
"Oh I will she snapped."You missed the engagement dinner and embarrassed your father.We had to postpone it."
"I don't remember agreeing to any engagement."Kael countered and resolutely walked out without sparing his mother a single glance.
"And I never agreed to raise a prince who acts like a beggar's bastard,but here I am."
He flinched not at the insult but at how little it hurt now.
"I needed air."He muttered.
"You think your father will keep tolerating this behaviour?You have no title,no heirship,no power.This marriage is your only chance to hold a name."
"What if I don't want a title?"Kael countered.
"Then stop living like you deserve one."
Kael turned and met her gaze and for the first time he wondered;what would they do if he didn't come back next time.
He left without another word,his mind occupied with what happened at sea and the thought of never coming back lingering in his mind.
"Look who who finally crawled out of the mud and found his way back to the palace."A voice drawled from the shadows.
Kael didn't even need to look ,only one person in the palace could make insults sound like music,Prince Theron.The crown prince.Always watching and always a step ahead even when he pretended not to care.
Kael always wondered why he had to be such a schemer when he had the throne all to himself.
Theron pushed himself off the pillar he had been leaning against ,arms crossed and smile too sharp to be friendly.
Kael ignored him and kept walking but Theron insisted on following.
"You missed a lovely dinner.Your sweet mother kept toasting at your betrothal like it was an already signed and sealed deal.Too bad you weren't there to lighten it up with some blushing.But not to worry there will be a next time."
Kael stopped just for a second.
"I'm tired Theron.Find someone else who matters to bother."
"Ouch,how cruel."He stepped back with a boastful smirk on his face."I was just offering the attention no one seems to care enough to bother offering you around here.Goodnight dear brother."Theron left feeling too smug with himself.
The king appeared at the end of the hall ,flanked on both sides by his guards. He didn't stop,he simply passed Kael a glance like he was just some unimportant mannequin,a single glance.
That single glance was enough to speak volumes,no anger nor disappointment,just indifference as if Kael wasn't even worth a reprimand anymore.
Kael's feet felt heavy,he couldn't walk he found himself rooted to the ground,back straight while staring at the cold floor.
His fists hurt,his throat burned and his heart roared in his ears.
He wanted to scream ,curse at the whole world.But in the end he could not get himself to do anything because that was what was expected from him.
The pressure kept building and building,he finally broke,pushed to the edge,
That night marked the end of the Kael everyone knew.