Page 54 of Coral Prince Conundrum
“So, what did Seero say about the practices of Tishman’s Fishery?” I ask with a smirk.
Dad frowns and turns up the TV volume. I laugh so hard my ribs start to hurt again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Daryl
Despite knowing it’s a bad idea, I tune in to a news website on my laptop. I’m sitting on the couch in my dad’s living room, biting my thumbnail. The lower floor of his suburban mansion has become my catch-all quarters for my recovery. I have a tiny fold-out desk with my computer, and clothes and snacks are littered around the pull-out couch.
My wounds and lungs have healed well in the past three weeks, but I’m still not one-hundred-percent strong. Layla and Justice have visited me on occasion, and I’ve given them the G-rated version of my adventures in the Coral Kingdom. If either of them were here right now, they’d likely tell me not to open the video in front of me.
But, like doom-scrolling, this torture has its own allure, so I do it anyway.Click.
The voiceover announces, “And seen here, leaving the summit building, Searoyal Dagat, the prince of the Coral Kingdom, an obscure island nation in the Pacific, has been incredibly active at United Regions meetings.”
My heart skips a beat at seeing the man I love wearing a traditional green tunic coupled with a more European-style pair of dark trousers and brown loafers. He’s walking down the stepsof some random building in Sydney, one of the various meeting spots of the worldwide organization, the UR.
The voiceover continues, “His Highness the prince has offered to assist several other countries with marine wildlife studies in an effort to prevent the extinction of endangered fish species. He has presented treaties that would foster international relations and guidance on environmental issues pertaining to ocean life. All the while, he has stated that fishing corporations can remain active with some proposed changes. Searoyal Dagat has begun what he is calling a new era of globalization and open borders for the Coral Kingdom. Additionally, he claims it to be a new age of peace across the seas.”
I watch as images flash on the screen of him speaking at a podium in front of dozens of world leaders. He seems so regal, and I watch another B-roll of him shaking hands with presumably other politicians as he strides down a hallway. He’s so much more confident than the man I used to practice speeches with at the hotel.
I touch his face, all dark skin and brown eyes, on the screen.
“In other kingdom news, we review the Fire Realm and the recent dramatic turn of events, when?—”
Not caring about the rest of the news, I click off the video and close my laptop. My eyes burn, but I refuse to shed any tears. This is what we both wanted. The Coral Kingdom has chosen peace, and Seero is leading his people to be a presence around the world. I should be thrilled.
But the pain of missing him feels like drowning all over again.
The doorbell rings, so I immediately dart up and hobble to the door on my crutches. My breathing is back to normal, but I still can’t walk independently without the metal under my arms. Still, I’ll take any excuse to distract myself from the news. Idon’t even care that I’m in my boxers and a wrinkly tank top, I need to get up and maybe breathe in air from the outside world. The doorbell rings again, so I holler, “Just a minute!” The deliveryman will have to wait.
When I open the door, my eyebrows jump. “Justice? What are you doing here?” I don’t recall him saying he was going to visit today.
“I’m here to be your fairy godmother.” He strides in, and it’s then that I notice he’s dressed in a nice suit. I close the door and stare at him. My coworker has been in a chipper mood since his drama with magical fae people was resolved.
In the foyer, he spins on his heels and says, “I’m taking you to the ball, Cinderella. Or was it the mouse that took her to the ball? Or a pumpkin?” He shakes his head. “Whatever, let’s go.”
“Huh?” I frown. “I’m…not going.”
“Oh, yes, you are,” Dad says. He strides up to Justice, holding two hangers of dry-cleaned clothes. Justice grins and nods. “I called your best friend here.”
“Well, he called Layla first,” Justice corrects. “But she’ssuperbusy setting up. So I’m here to take you to the gala.”
“What?” Since when are Justice and my dad scheming together?
“The Renversé Hotel Masquerade Ball,” Justice says. “Don’t tell me you’re going to skip out on the biggest social event of the year. For charity.” He emphasizes that last word, and Dad simply nods.
I’m too bewildered to say anything. Of course I know about the huge event, but I haven’t exactly been social since I got back to America. Now these two have coordinated to make me go to a dance?
“But…I can’t go.”
“Why not?” Dad quirks an eyebrow and glances at the messy living room where I sleep. “It’s not like you’re preoccupied.”
“Eating takeout nonstop doesn’t count as occupied,” Justice murmurs.
I blink at them, then reply, “I’m not…um…”
“I have fine clothes pressed and ready for you.” Dad thrusts the garments in my hand. “And I already paid for your ticket and then some. It wasn’t an insubstantial donation.”
