Lucian was escorted to the grand dining chamber, a majestic hall sculpted from polished coral and pearl. The walls shimmered with bioluminescent shells, and soft aquatic melodies drifted through the currents.
King Triton and the mersisters were already seated around the long coral table. The only vacant seat was beside Ariel—and also next to the king himself. Without hesitation, Lucian swam over and settled into it, nodding politely.
The table was a masterpiece of underwater cuisine. Elegant coral platters held an array of colorful dishes: delicate kelp noodles twined with salt coral, vibrant coralfruit slices that glowed with soft hues, and tiny glowvine berries nestled in open clamshells. Translucent jelly-based desserts shimmered like moonlight, while warm bubbleleaf broth gave off a rich, herbal scent. Shell cups held floating orbs of bright red juice—Tideberry nectar, glowing faintly in the dim light.
Lucian's gaze lingered on the drinks. The way the crimson orbs hovered perfectly in the water, unmixed and intact, puzzled him. He reached for one curiously and tilted it slightly. The liquid inside didn't leak or dissolve—it remained suspended, as if wrapped in an invisible film.
Ariel giggled softly. "Haven't you seen Tideberry nectar before?"
Lucian blinked. "Uh... no."
"I see," Ariel smiled. "Our chefs use special magic to prepare things like this. It's called the Pearlwrap Charm. It wraps the drink in a thin membrane that keeps it separate from the seawater. But when you drink it—" she leaned forward and demonstrated by sipping from her orb, which bloomed open like a soft petal against her lips, "—the taste is released. Clever, right?"
Lucian mirrored her, pressing the orb to his mouth. The outer layer parted like a blooming flower, and the sweet, tangy juice spilled into his mouth. It was delicious—refreshing, with a hint of salt and fruit.
"Wow..." he murmured, genuinely impressed.
As the meal continued, Lucian found himself enchanted by the merfolk world. Every dish had a story. The kelp noodles were harvested from gardens near volcanic vents. The hotspring salt cakes were baked using geothermal steam. Even the cutlery was grown from coral, shaped into utensils with magic and patience.
King Triton watched Lucian carefully from across the table. There was a curious furrow in his brow, his gaze lingering just a moment too long. He had noticed something, the way Lucian marveled at things no native-born merfolk would find unusual. But for now, he said nothing, choosing instead to let the conversation flow.
As dinner continued, Ariel eagerly introduced Lucian to more dishes, excitedly pointing out her favorites.
But one detail stood out to him more than the food: there were no forks. Only curved spoons made of polished shell, and what resembled coral-carved knives. No tridents or pronged utensils anywhere in sight.
'How odd'
As they ate, the mersisters couldn't help but steal glances at Lucian—some subtle, others not so much. The atmosphere was relaxed, laughter drifting like warm currents through the dining hall.
Andrina leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand with a sly smile. "So, where's Simba?"
Lucian gave a small smile, setting down his spoon. "He's resting in the room. He seemed tired after the swim here."
"Oh, I have to see him again," Alana gushed. "He's adorable."
Attina raised an eyebrow. "Where on earth did you even find a merlion egg?"
Lucian shrugged. "Let's just say... fate has a weird sense of humor."
The sisters all made a collective "oooh" at his vague answer, teasing smirks on their faces.
Arista laughed. "He's full of secrets."
"Well, if we're talking mysteries," Adella chimed in, twirling a strand of seaweed around her forkless knife, "I'm more curious how you're eating our kingdom's coralfruit like a pro. Most newcomers wrinkle their noses."
Lucian grinned. "It's surprisingly sweet. I didn't expect that. I thought it'd be like biting into a rock."
He took another bite of the coralfruit, grateful for the slight change in topic. The fruit was sweet and sharp, almost like biting into a chilled plum with the texture of melon.
Aquata chuckled. "That's 'cause you're eating deepwater coralfruit. The ones that grow in warmer currents are spicy."
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Spicy coral?"
"It'll burn your tongue," Ariel added, giggling. "Sebastian once mistook one for a glowberry and nearly fainted."
"And he screamed like a crab on a hot rock!" Arista said dramatically, mimicking the shriek with a pitch-perfect imitation.
Laughter rippled across the table.
Lucian smiled as he eyed the glowing orbs of jelly on a polished shell platter. "What are these? They look like... glowing pearls?"
"Jellyfruit," Ariel answered. "Made from jellyfish extract. The chefs use a magic membrane to keep them from dissolving in the water."
"Oh, right," Lucian said, examining the soft, shimmering orb in his spoon. "It's got a bubble-like texture. Is this what gives them their glow?"
"Nope!" Andrina said. "It's deep trench algae—completely harmless, but it makes your tongue glow for a few minutes after eating."
Lucian popped two into his mouth. "...Oh. That's... that's weird."
The sisters giggled as his eyes widened in surprise.
"I told you not to eat two at once," Aquata said with mock concern. "Now your tongue's gonna sparkle for an hour."
"You said it late," Lucian said, earning a round of laughs.
Across the table, Triton still hadn't spoken much. His large trident leaned against the table beside him, glowing softly.
The meal went on, with more questions from the sisters—some about where he came from (which he improvised, unable to reveal his part-human nature), some about his adventures, and others just playful teasing.
When the meal ended, King Triton stood. "Lucian, come with me. I'd like to speak with you privately."
The mersisters exchanged glances but didn't protest. They offered goodnights and drifted off to their rooms, leaving Lucian alone with the king.
Triton led him through coral archways into a large, dome-shaped chamber adorned with glowing barnacle lanterns and cascading seagrass drapes. His private quarters.
"Have a seat," the king said, gesturing to a smooth shell bench opposite him.
Lucian obeyed, sitting upright as Triton settled into a coral throne-like seat.
"I brought you here," Triton began, "so we can speak merman to merman—not as king and subject."
Lucian nodded silently, meeting the king's gaze.
"Let me be blunt: you're not fully merman, are you?"
Lucian didn't answer right away. "Why do you think of that?"
Triton steepled his fingers. "When I asked Sebastian about Ariel's interest, he told me she was infatuated with a human. I was furious at first... but then Andrina corrected him, saying you were a merman. That's when I began to suspect something... unusual."
Lucian leaned back slightly, listening.
"And now that I've seen you—your awe at things any sea-born would take for granted, your mannerisms, and most of all... the merlion. A creature thought to be extinct since the Tideborn vanished. All of it confirms it."
Lucian sighed, eyes heavy. "...You're kind of right. I'm not fully a merman."
"A Tideborn?" Triton asked.
"Yeah." Lucian gave a soft laugh. "I guess my cover was blown the moment I got excited over jellyfruit and bubbleleaf."
Triton chuckled. "Maybe. But don't worry—I don't intend to pry into your past."
He leaned forward, voice lowering slightly. "However, there's something we must agree upon."
Lucian tensed slightly. "Which is?"
"I don't want Ariel getting more involved with the human world. Not yet. It's far more cruel than she imagines."
Lucian was quiet for a moment before replying. "I understand your concern, Your Majesty... But you can't keep her caged forever. Curiosity may kill the sealion—but experience often saves the soul."
Triton stared at him. Then, slowly, he nodded. "A fair point. But for now, I still want her to stay out of the human world."
Lucian nodded.
As the tension dissolved. Triton reached for his drink again, taking a long sip. Then he asked, almost too casually, "So... when will you marry my daughter?"
Lucian choked, nearly spitting his Tideberry juice across the room. "W-what?!"
Triton smiled knowingly. "Don't play coy. You're not that dense. My youngest clearly has feelings for you."
Lucian coughed, trying to recover his composure. "I-I'm aware... but we're not that close. Not like that."
"Arranged marriages are still common in many kingdoms," Triton said. "Some couples fall in love after the ceremony, not before."
"That's true," Lucian said carefully. "But... for now, I think we should get to know each other more. Whether it becomes something real or just a passing feeling we'll only know in time."
Triton nodded again, this time with a quiet smile. "Fair point."
_________
[A/N: Hey, Phoenix here! I just want to sincerely thank you all—I never expected this fic to hit #2 in the rankings! Your support means the world.
Also, quick question: does anyone happen to know what happened to that fanfic where the MC transmigrates into The Conjuring universe? It was a really good read. If anyone knows the raws or any info on it, please let me know!
That's all for now—have a great day!]