SMITTEN

"What are you doing here, female human?" Marina gritted her teeth as she saw Lady Aisha walking along the corridors of the Castle.

'Did Lord Lycano just let her go that easily?' She crossed her arms as she felt her temperature shoot up.

"Wasn't I supposed to be here? I think it is I who should be asking that, my lady. This is my home," Lady Aisha said as she tilted her chin.

Then she added, "You know, I think you should put the lid on, my lady. You can back off now."

She gave her a tepid respectful smile before bowing again. 

"So you're acting high and mighty now?" Marina's eyes blazed with fury as her shrill voice filled the hallways.

She recalled how the King told her how he truly felt for this woman.. He was marrying her not just for convenience but for companionship.

She must have an idea about it, that's why she was this arrogant. 

One of her eyebrows shot up as she eyed her from head to foot. She was about to answer back when the female human spoke again. 

"If you have nothing else to say to me, I would take my leave. I need to prepare for my wedding with the King tomorrow. If you'll excuse me," Lady Aisha bowed down to her.

Her graceful act were the exact opposite of her words. It would make anyone think that she has been a Gaean for a long time. 

The female servants who were accompanying her bowed down as Lady Aisha turned around and walked away. 

The lamp that Lady Aisha's servant was carrying was now lighting the hallways farther and farther away from her. 

She was aware that it was already nearing the curfew and everyone was about to be in their quarters, lords and servants alike.

There were some lords and ladies who stayed at the Castle, so they could attend the wedding ceremony tomorrow. 

But Marina recalled the reason why she was there. She must stop the wedding at all costs!

If she could not get to the hard-headed King, maybe she could break through the female human.

Marina went after her. Fortunately, Lady Aisha has not gone too far. She was at the royal kitchen, sitting at a table while her servants served her food. 

It was Marina's first time in the royal kitchen, and she was very uncomfortable. Still, she managed to stay and asked Lady Aisha, "Can we talk?" 

She flipped her wavy curls away from her face, hoping it would make her less intimidating.

Fortunately, Lady Aisha responded in a positive manner. 

"Sure, have a seat," Lady Aisha said after gulping down a bowl of soup in a nonchalant way. 

"Gosh, I must be really starving," Lady Aisha said as she rubbed her stomach. 

Then she lifted the bowl up and requested, "Can I have some more, please? Thank you," she grinned at the servant before facing her. "Oh, do you want some, my lady?"

Lady Marina was stunned at her indifferent attitude. She shook her head and sat in front of her. 

'I knew she saw us then. Doesn't she care about the King, as he did to her?' 

Marina put the thought aside as she cleared her throat. She hoped she could convince her about her situation. 

"I will be honest with you. It's not that I have something against you. I just want what's best for Gaea," Marina said sincerely as she leaned forward and clasped her hands on the table. 

Lady Aisha seemed to know that she was telling the truth as she stopped eating, wiped her lips with a napkin, and looked her in the eye. 

"I know the Great Theos chose you to be a member of the Tribal Council for that reason. You may not believe me since I have just been here for a short period of time. But I also want what's best for Gaea. Maybe not as much as you do, though" she replied as her bronze eyes glanced down while she shrugged her shoulders and drew in a deep breath.

Marina's lips curved in a slight smile as she recalled how she was anointed to be a part of the Tribal Council decades ago. The priests declared that the Great Theos had chosen her. It was still a mystery to her until now. Have the Great Theos seen her devotion to their homeland?

But what astounded her was Lady Aisha's concern for Gaea. She thought that she was a fun-loving young girl who just wanted to play around. 

"Does that mean that you understand me? Humans can never be accepted in Gaea. It will be hard for you and your child if ever you get to bear one. It will be beneficial for you if you would just leave," Marina said with a pleading voice. 

"But what if I am the chosen one? And I am the only one who can give Gaea an heir for the King? Would you not support me for the sake of Gaea?" Aisha asked with a determined expression written all over her face.

The servants were now removing Lady Aisha's utensils, taking away the hindrances between them. Now, she could see her calm and focused gait clearly.

The curfew bell had already sounded, announcing that the fires should be covered up or deaden and that everyone was about to be in their quarters, lords and servants alike. 

Anyone who would be caught out in the hallways will be punished, as these were not tolerated in the Castle.

But Marina was frozen on her feet. Her lips were drained with blood as she replied, "Are you the Chosen One?" 

She gulped as her mind screamed, "No!"

But Lady Aisha nodded her head and replied, "It wasn't my choice, either. But I respect the decision of The Great Theos."

Then she stood up and bowed to her, "I better leave now, my lady. Good night and see you tomorrow." 

But Marina couldn't even stand up. "That couldn't be. The Great Theos wouldn't approve of that."

Her fists clenched underneath the table as just the thought made her cringe. 

To her shock, Lady Aisha just pressed her lips before uttering, "Actually, he was the one who told me about it."

Marina stood up in a flash. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. No one has ever seen the Great Theos nor talked to him except the King!

The female human must be bluffing! 

"You're just lying because you want to be with the King! You just want to be the queen!" 

But Lady Aisha just drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them, they were lighted with a fiery gaze, making Lady Marina back out a little. 

"You can ask him yourself if you want. To be honest, I really hate you for seducing the King behind my back, even casting bad omens against a baby who wasn't even born yet. But now that you have become transparent to me somehow, it made me want to forgive you. A little. Goodbye, Lady Marina," she uttered in a strong voice, which was so unlike her, before stomping her feet out.

Lady Aisha left together with her servants, leaving a stunned mermaid behind. 

Marina's jaw dropped as she thought, 'How could she be so confident? Has she really talked with the Great Theos?'

Her throat constricted, making it painful for her to swallow. Her eyes went blurry as all hope in her heart vanished. 

The curfew bell kept on ringing, but her knees were too weak to stand up. 

Even with the cold midnight air, her lungs seem to lack the right amount of air to breathe. 

The Great Theos' statements were law. It could not be contradicted even by the King. She hung her head in defeat. 

The last bell has stopped ringing, making Marina stand up. She has to oblige to the rules of the Castle as the King doesn't tolerate disobedience even with the aristocrats. 

She dragged her feet back to her Chamber as she fell, the whole world collapsed on her. 

There's no chance of her being the queen anymore. There was no chance to bear the King's child. 

She recalled Lady Aisha's statement a while ago about her backing off.

'Should I really just let her be the queen and support her childbearing for the sake of Gaea?'

Marina tilted her head to her side as she pursed her lips. 

She was now at the door of her Chamber. She decided to unlock it and went inside, planning to think about it as she slept.

To her surprise, Lord Lycano was there waiting for her. 

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What defines us isn't where we're going, but where we've been. Although there are places and people we will never see again, and although we move on and let them go, they remain a part of who we are.

There are things that will never change, things we will carry along with us always. But as we venture into the murky future, we must find our strength by learning to leave things behind."

― Brigid Gorry-Hines