Page 114 of Mermaid on Heels

“And, to strip the siren of her power, you need the Dolphin’s Songflute—it is said to be a significant object and the only thing that can mute her.”

Liriya’s eyes widened in realization and she glanced at Papa to see the same realization dawning on his face. “The artifact of Oceantuna.”

“Precisely.” King Valdemar nodded. “You need to get the siren singing, and when she does, her victim,” he spared a glance at Liriya, “should play it while their mind replays what the wrongdoer has done to them and the others. It is like you are directing the flute and showing it what its music should do. Therefore, to undo the wrongdoer and her works, the flute does exactly what should be done—muting the siren.”

Liriya released a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. Again, a simple task. They could do it. And the result wouldn’t be Faelina’s destruction—as Liriya had always wanted—but Faelina’s second chance at life. After learning about the wayward sirens yesterday, it was what she and Papa wanted for Faelina, to give Faelina what she seemed to have lacked her whole life and led her into this evilness;love.

Only, Liriya prayed that a mute Faelina wouldn’t harden her exterior.

Papa thanked King Valdemar and his subjects, and accepted his offer to help to bring all the Pearltunians to the surface. He turned to Liriya after the decision was made, declaring that they should start today.

“You stay here, angelfish—”

Liriya shook her head abruptly, to show herutmostprotest, and opened her notebook to scribble down.

I have a better plan. I will take the siren men to Pearltuna, remove the enchanted pearls from the borders, and let them in to take the people up to the surface. You can come with us to show me the direction since I do not know the location. So—

“And what do you wantmeto do?” Papa’s voice asked from behind Liriya, having read over her shoulder, amusement lacing his voice.

Liriya craned her neck to give him a funny look before she continued scribbling.

I was not done explaining, though. So, while the siren men and I help our people, you, Papa, can go and request an audience with the king of Oceantuna—

“No, no—”

Liriya turned and pinned him with a look that made him clamp his mouth shut, with an amused smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “You have been silencing me for the last two days more than you have in all your years, you know that, little fish?”

Liriya smirked.

And you have been cutting me off all the same, Papa.

Hearing him chuckle, she continued.

No more protests, please. We have only a few days left, and traveling to Lectoria alone takes two days’ journey. We need to utilize the time we have, so please do this for me. I can do this Papa, trust me, and I want you to go to King Alton now.

Liriya turned to him with pleading eyes that she knew would melt his heart into a puddle—it always had.

Papa sighed and tilted his head. “Alright, I shall go meet with King Alton. And you will be in charge, Crown Princess Liriya.” He placed his hands on both her shoulders and looked down at her with pride in his eyes. “But I shall only be leaving after we get your mother to the surface. I shall tell our people to work together with our siren friends, explain them how they have helped us and that we are no longer enemies—remember, I promised to be your voice, angelfish, and I will be. Then, I shall leave the rest to you and your mother and depart to Oceantuna. What do you say?”

Alright.Liriya mouthed, deeply touched, and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tight. Pulling apart, she began scribbling again.

When you are with King Alton, alone, ask him if he had a sister named Atlana—

“Yes, he had, I knew her,” Papa interrupted. “But why—” he paused, realization dawning on him.

Liriya feigned patience to remain calm, interrupted once again. As long as he realized what she was trying to say and saved her fingers from scribbling, she didn’t mind.

“I almost forgot! King Alton is your Luke’s maternal uncle, is he not?” Liriya nodded in confirmation, her heart fluttering and lips trembling with a smile to hear him say,your Luke. “Alright, I shall let him know that. It is what you want me to do, right?”

Liriya nodded once again.

Yes. Tell him that Luke will be more than happy to meet his mother’s brother. Oh, and please add that sadly, Queen Atlana passed away years ago. Or else King Alton might hope to be reunited with her.

Hearing Papa say, “Sure, my angelfish,” Liriya closed the book and hugged him again.

Then, Liriya handed her notebook and quill to Aeira to keep them safe, and prepared to dive. The Garbian royals promised to wait until they returned; they had left the castle saying it was for a full-day leisure trip and had a cook aboard to make meals for them, too.

Liriya kicked off her slippers and dived from the ship with Papa. Once transformed, they took off their garments and placed them on the small boat lowered for them.

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