We had tried countless delicacies—grilled fish wrapped in seaweed, glowing coral fruit that popped with sweetness, even sothing called "lava shrimp," which stead as I bit into it.
Every ti we stopped at a stall, Fiona didn’t even blink at the price. She tossed out gold coins like they were pebbles—each one landing with a satisfying clink. It was as if money ant nothing to her.
She bought food for both of us without hesitation, her face bright and cheerful, while I just watched in quiet confusion.
She didn’t seem worried about running out of funds... not even slightly. Gold coins. Not bronze. Not silver. Gold. Was she wealthy? Or just careless?
Before I could ask, she turned to with a soft, lodic voice.
"Co," she said, her tone gentle and inviting. "Let show you my room."
I nodded silently, curiosity sparking in my chest. Who was this girl, really? She gave comfort so effortlessly... her voice alone felt like a warm blanket draped over my heart. And yet—
Suddenly, an image flashed through my mind. Lucy.
Her bright smile. The way she used to cling to my arm when she got excited. The sound of her laughter echoing through my head
I gasped and clutched my chest.
My breath hitched. I felt like I was suffocating.
Was this... pain?
Was I allergic to happiness now?
The thought was almost laughable. And yet the tightness in my chest wouldn’t go away. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think straight.
I sighed inwardly. I wasn’t just lost in this strange underwater Continent—I was lost inside myself.
What kept going wasn’t hope or courage. It was obligation. The people I had promised things to.
Alisa—I swore I’d visit her again.
Evelyn—I promised we’d train together.
Elizabeth... Sophia—I still wanted to know them better. To understand them.
But Lucy?
Every ti I thought of her, my heart trembled.
Was it guilt?
Was it... love?
I didn’t even know anymore.
Fiona must’ve noticed sothing was wrong. She glanced at , her smile fading into a worried frown.
"Are you okay?" she asked gently.
She didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, she reached up and began patting my head softly, her fingers brushing through my hair. Her touch was warm, comforting—but it made my heart ache even more.
I clenched my teeth.
Without thinking, I pushed her hand away.
She stumbled back a step, surprised. Her eyes widened, but not with anger. Just concern.
She looked at for a long mont. We’d only known each other for a few hours, and yet... she had seen enough to understand.
She didn’t speak. She didn’t scold . She simply took a breath and gave space.
The silence between us said more than words ever could.
As we continued walking, the weight of what I’d done hit . Sha bubbled up from my chest, and I turned to her with a heavy heart.
"I’m sorry," I murmured. "That’s... not really my personality. I just... there’s been a lot going on."
My voice cracked slightly near the end.
Fiona didn’t say anything at first. She just nodded.
"I understand," she said quietly, looking away. "I’ve had days like that too."
She glanced up ahead at a massive castle in the distance. It shimred like a gemstone under the sea’s light, grand and elegant.
"So people think living there would be a dream," she murmured.
I followed her gaze.
"But to ... it looks like a cage," she added softly.
I glanced at her. She was smiling, but it was a sad, distant smile—like soone trying to rember how it felt to be free.
We finally arrived at a large house. It was less like a mansion and more like a grand apartnt building, made from smooth pearl-like stone and reinforced with coral beams. Dozens of rfolk swam or walked in and out.
"This is were my room is"pointing at a Door
I blinked.
She lived in an apartnt?
But... she had spent gold coins like they were trash. How could soone so generous—so wealthy, apparently—live sowhere so modest?
It didn’t add up.
I was growing more curious by the second, but I didn’t push her. Instead, I followed her up the spiral stairs, made of water-smoothed wood.
She led down a warm, lantern-lit hallway. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was clean and peaceful.
Then, she stopped in front of a door. Her expression shifted—first surprise, then horror.
She slowly reached for the handle, then pushed it open.
Inside stood a stunning woman, tall and graceful. Her silver hair flowed like silk down her back, and her piercing green eyes locked onto us the mont we entered. She wore a deep red dress that hugged her figure, accentuating her curves and power.
Unlike Fiona’s soft pink tail, this woman’s scales were a slightly different hue—pink at the tail but with more prominent pink patterns across her cheeks.
She exuded authority. Control. Power.
Her gaze shifted from Fiona to —and her expression hardened.
Fiona froze beside , visibly shaken. Her hands clenched at her sides, her lips trembled.
And then, to my shock, she slipped behind and whispered, "Please... help ."
Her voice was low, desperate.
"Help you?" I whispered back. "What’s going on?"
I barely had ti to process before the silver-haired woman’s eyes landed on —and then, above .
She is atleast already a 7 Star making Gulp her aura alone is really strong...
She saw the glowing starfish floating above my shoulder. Her expression changed instantly.
"A human?" she said quietly, voice filled with curiosity.
Then her gaze moved to the divine mark—the Starfish that hovered like a blessing above .
Recognition dawned in her eyes.
She stepped forward slowly, her tone more respectful now. "I see. That explains why you’re still alive."
Her voice was calm, but her presence was suffocating.
Even Fiona seed to shrink under her.
I sighed, my eyes cautiously scanning the elegant woman who radiated authority like a queen.
"May I know who you are?" I asked, my voice calm but wary.
She pressed two fingers to her temples, clearly irritated. "I’m Miss Fiona’s older sister. Andrea," she replied sharply, her tone cold and precise. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "And you?"
I hesitated, glancing at Fiona instinctively. The little scales on her face, once a soft red now glowed with a deeper, purer hue—matching the color of her tail. So this... was her true form?
Before I could speak,The White staff inside speaks with a deep sigh"That girl... is a Princess of this Kingdom."
My eyes twitched in surprise. A princess?
I turned back to Fiona, still stunned. All the puzzle pieces started clicking together—the way she threw gold coins like trash, her curiosity about humans, and how she had so freely wandered the city.
She wasn’t so ordinary girl. She was royalty.
Shaking off the shock, I composed myself and stepped forward. "I’m Akashi," I said earnestly. "She’s helped a lot. Guided through unfamiliar places... I could even say she’s my benefactor."
Andrea gave a long, unreadable look, then nodded once—curt, emotionless. "Noted."
She turned to Fiona, her voice suddenly sharp like the snap of a whip. "Co with . You’re not to run off again."
Fiona, still peeking from behind , pouted adorably. "D-Don’t wanna," she muttered, her voice small and childish.
I blinked. This elegant Girl is a princess... was now acting like a sulking child?
What followed could only be described as a verbal duel between siblings.
"This isn’t up for discussion," Andrea snapped. "You have duties, responsibilities, Fiona. The entire Family has been worried sick."
Fiona folded her arms with a huff. "inside the castle is boring! It’s always etings and rules and posture classes! I wanted to explore for once. I wanted to live."
"And your responsibilities as a princess?" Andrea countered, her voice rising. "They don’t just disappear because you’re bored."
"And what if I am bored? What if I want to explore and eat street food Fiona shot back.
Their voices overlapped—Fiona’s energetic and emotional, Andrea’s cold and composed. I stood awkwardly between them like an unfortunate referee caught in a family drama I barely understood.
Eventually, Andrea had enough. She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Then she reached out and grabbed Fiona firmly by the arm.
"Enough. We’re going."
Fiona pouted even deeper, resisting slightly but not struggling. Their eyes t—sisters locked in silent conflict.
Before turning to leave, Fiona looked at one last ti. Her expression softened into a warm, bittersweet smile.
Then, with a mischievous wink, she reached into a pouch tied to her waist and handed a small object—the key to her room.
"And here," she added, slipping ten gold coins into my hand so fast I almost dropped them. "For your food or comfort or whatever. Don’t waste it!"
I was stunned. "Fiona—"
But she leaned in close, her eyes glimring with mischief. Her voice was barely a whisper. "Thanks. I had a great ti. We’ll definitely et again."
She winked again, a playful grin lighting up her features.
My heart gave a quiet tug as I watched her. srizing didn’t even begin to describe her in that mont. For a second, the weight on my chest—mories of Lucy, the guilt, the pain—lifted just a little.
I chuckled softly despite myself.
Andrea, standing beside her with a tired expression, only sighed. She made no move to stop Fiona’s parting gifts—nor did she seem concerned about the gold coins or the room key.
As they walked away, Fiona glanced over her shoulder one last ti, her hand lifting in a small wave.
Then they disappeared into the corridor, leaving behind a strange warmth in my chest... and a silent room filled with quiet thoughts.
I stared at the golden coins in my hand.
A princess, huh?
[Since I’ve got my First Golden Ticket i Released 6 extra Chapter The More i got I’ll occasionally Release alot of Chap TvT]
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