<In the hallways...>

Moon: "Sir Travis! You almost gave me an heart attack earlier!"

Moon exclaimed in an frustrated tone as she strolled down the hallways with Travis escorting by her side.

Travis: "I deeply apologise, Princess. But you were taking quite a long time to get ready so I had to make sure you're alright."

Travis explained in his usual calm manner.

Moon: "Well, I'm still here in one piece. A lady needs her time to be presentable."

Travis: "You never once cared about your appearance. Say, let me guess. You were lost in your thoughts, weren't you."

Moon sighed and knew she was caught again. Travis knew her too well to not notice the train of thoughts that had been circulating in her head.

Moon: "Yes..."

Moon's gloomy gaze was glued to the ground as Travis looked at her with concern.

Travis: "Are you worried about the banquet?"

Moon: "As a matter of fact...I'm terrified."

Travis: "Why?"

Moon didn't want to burden Travis with her problem so she was contemplating whether to trust him. What was she thinking? Of course she could. Travis had been nothing but loyal to her since day one.

Moon: "I'm afraid to face Aiden."

Travis was taken aback by her answer.

Travis: "What is there to be afraid of? I thought you and Aiden are hitting off just fine."

Moon: "No...Let's just say we had our own disagreements. I was....selfish in a way..."

Seeing the princess in this state, Travis couldn't help but comfort her by gently patting her back.

Travis: "Hey, don't say that. I may not know what happened, but I believe it's just a small misunderstanding. It's so unlikely for you two to quarrel."

Moon: "Even the closest of friends can sometimes go their separate ways."

Moon heaved a heavy sigh.

Moon: Friends...

Travis: "Wise words, my princess, but your looking at it the wrong way."

Moon gave Travis a questioning look.

Moon: "What do you mean?"

Travis: "You know, your father and I have been close friends since we were just boys. We may have our differences here and there but deep down inside, we still benefitted from each other. Strong individuals working as one. Same goes for you and Aiden."

Moon crossed her arms and keep her gaze fixated on the ground.

She gave in to the fact that she couldn't ran away from Aiden forever. Love was a mystery to her and never once on her radar. However, was her love for Aiden genuine enough for them to stay or was she just seeking for his comfort?

Moon immediately shook her head.

Travis: "We arrived, princess."

What stood before them were large doors to the Banquet. Moon tried to calmed the nerves building up inside her.

Travis: "Good luck in there, m'lady"

Moon: "Thank you, Sir Travis....wait!"

Travis: "Yes?"

Moon: "Please send my regards to Ling Ling. I hope she feeling better!'

Travis: "Y-You spoke to her...?"

Moon nodded. Travis was sceptical but accepted her request.

Travis: "Very well."

He bowed as Moon let out a smile and entered the dining room with confidence.

<In the dining hall...>

Entering the hall, all eyes fell on her in an instant. Everyone was already seated at their assigned seats and there was an empty chair right next to her mother, Rose.

Rose: "Moon, you're right on time! Come, take a seat!"

The princess shyly nodded and began walking towards her seat. Her eyes scanned the seated guests.

There was couple staring at her intensely.

Moon: They must be the Duke and Duchess of Dawnville...

Their presences did make her anxious.

Maid: "Allow me, your highness.'

A maid dragged the chair and Moon sat down, thanking her.

However, as Moon glanced up, she immediately froze. The person sitting right across her was none other than Aiden. Her heart began to accelerate at the thought of their previous rendezvous.

Moon: No! No! No! Of all people, it had to be him!

The two gazed at each other for a good minute before turning their heads away awkwardly.

Hawk: "Moon, I like you to meet the Duke and Duchess of Dawnville, along with their daughter, Lady Clarissa."

Moon: "Ah.. it's nice to meet you, your grace and your ladyship."

Duke: "It's very nice to see you too, Princess Moon."

As Moon went on to acknowledge Clare, who was seated right next to Aiden, Clare greeted her first with a moderate wave. Moon responded with a slight bow.

Suddenly, a few waiters came into the hall with plates of delicious looking food. One waiter placed the plate right in front of Moon and the others did the same to the rest.

Duke: "Thank you again for your kind invite, your Majasty."

Hawk: "There's no need to thank me. King Arthur spoke highly of your family and I wanted to get the chance to meet you all personally."

While the adults were having their own conversations, Moon can't help but stared down at her food as she picked on it with her utensils. It was as if she had lost her appetite.

She looked back up at Aiden but she witnessed him laughing along with Clare.

Clare: "It's been so long since I last saw you, Aiden. You looked like you have grown a lot!"

Aiden: "Stop teasing me, Clare! You know I still look the same as before."

Moon uncomfortably watched as Aiden and Clare were talking so comfortably with each other.

She felt so singled out in this small banquet.

Clare: "Princess Moon, it's a pleasure to see you again. I really love the dress you're wearing today, it makes you look so elegant!"

Clare showed her usual sweet smile. Moon was a little stunned but tried to return her compliment.

Moon: "Ahh...thank you. You look stunning in your outfit too, Clare."

Clare: "Really? Thank you so much!"

Moon let out a small smile but her gaze suddenly shifted from Clare to Aiden.

She wasn't going to let the tension between them ruined her mood. She cleared her throat and said.

Moon: "You look very handsome today, Aiden. The brooch you're wearing really brings out your emerald eyes."

Aiden was flustered by Moon's sudden comment as she was the first to break the silence between them. Moon tried her best not to blush at her own comment. He coughed and nervously replied.

Aiden: "T-Thank y-you..."

King Arthur: "Look, our children seems to be warming up with each other! Clarissa has always been the social butterfly so it's no surprise to see her getting along with Moon!"

Duke: "Clarissa was so excited to visit the Clarines Castle again that she couldn't stop talking about it the entire morning."

Clare: "Father! You're embarrassing me."

Duchess: "Our Clare was so excited to meet Prince Aiden and Princess Moon again! I must say, your Royal Highnesses, the rumours are true! Princess Moon is such a beauty."

Moon: "T-Thank you, your grace...but the rumours may not be always right."

Duchess: "Oh don't be silly! My point has proven the moment I laid my eyes on you!"

Hawk: "She takes after her own mother."

Rose: "Oh Hawk, stop with the flattery!"

Moon stared at her parents. They really are the most loving and ideal couple in her eyes. She wished her love life will bear a resemblance to theirs...but it was impossible.

Moon: Wait...is that...?

Her eyes widened at what she saw. The necklace Rose was wearing around her neck was the almost exactly the same as Moon's! It was part of the Barrier Crystal!!

Queen Ariette was telling the truth, her mother was a Mermaid Princess who is now a Queen of a Kingdom on land. What more does her parents mean to keep from her? Was admitting to a lie so hard for them?

Moon decided not to address this matter until the banquet was over.

Duchess: "It been forever since I last saw Clarissa and Aiden together like this. These two used to be best of friends!"

Arthur: "Our children are growing up to be fine individuals. The future of our kingdoms will be in good hands."

Hawk: "Ah yes. The alliance will be secured between the two kingdoms! Let's make a toast!"

Everyone raise their glasses up high, including Moon. (But she wasn't drinking wine or alcohol, it was just water don't worry)

Hawk: "TO PEACE AND UNITY!"

Everyone: "TO PEACE AND UNITY!!!"

After the toast, everyone brought their drinks to their lips and drank.

Duke: "King Arthur, may I have the permission to tell the Clarines Family about what we discussed earlier?"

As the Duke asked, Moon noticed King Arthur's facial expression turned a bit sorrowful. She was just as confused as her parents right now.

King Arthur: "Yes, but I would like to start of by telling them myself."

Duke: "As you wish, your majesty."

King Arthur put his glass of red wine down onto the table.

King Arthur: "You see...Aiden is not my only child. He's actually my second child...before the death of my first child."

Hawk and Rose were both very shocked. However, Moon on the other hand, was astonished by King Arthur's unforeseen confession but she was already informed about this from Aiden himself.

Aiden: "Father! Are you sure about this?"

Aiden was shown to be distress but King Arthur raises his hand in assurance.

Rose: "King Arthur, I'm so sorry. We didn't know about this."

Hawk: "We are deeply sorry for your lost, King Arthur."

King Arthur: "It's alright. I thought about it for a while now and since we have become good friends, I trust you with this information."

He proceeded with his story.

King Arthur: "After the lost of both my son and wife, it was honestly difficult to move on. The Kingdom was devastated as the citizens lost not only their Queen, but the Crowned Prince too in that short period of time. However, I couldn't let my emotions ruined the Kingdom's future. For the sake of Aiden and Dawnville, I had to push on from then."

Aiden: "Father..."

King Arthur nodded to let the Duck continued on with the tale.

Duke: "Our family was depressed by the terrible news that spreaded across the kingdom in rapid fire. In fact, the late Crowned Prince and Clarissa used to be arranged for marriage at a young age."

Moon: What?

Moon looked over at Clare in shock. The lady has her head down low after the news was shared with the Clarines Family.

Duke: "King Arthur and I planned to continue the arranged marriage by letting my daughter marry Prince Aiden instead. Clarissa is only a year older than Aiden but we feel it will be quite disrespectful to the late Crown Prince. Thus, we called it off."

Hawk: "If I'm not being rude, my king, but what was the name of late Crown Prince?"

King Arthur went silence for a moment but revealed in a low tone.

King Arthur: "Prince Elio."

<Meanwhile, in the deepest end of the Ocean...>

Back underwater, Orion was returning home after a round of exploring the Ocean in his own leisure time. He swam through the eerie looking kelp and went into the cave.

Orion: "I wonder if Mother is home..."

All of a sudden, Orion stopped in his tracks. Standing in the living area was his mother with a dark expression on her face.

???: "Welcome home, son. I see you have enjoyed yourself."

Orion: "Ummm I Guess? Why are you acting so weird today? Did one of your 'experiments fail today? I have no part in any of your findings."

His mother chuckled which creeped Orion out a little bit. Her eyes were set on him as she pulled out a book from behind.

???: "Looks familiar? I didn't know my son was rummaging through his mother's stuff without permission. That's so sneaky of you."

The book that was in her hand was the book Orion took her from her belongings, it had the word 'Darya' written on it.

Orion: "What is this about, Mother? What's so special about the book anyways? I couldn't open that thing because it was locked. And who in the name of the sea is Darya?"

His mother went from her chuckles to an evil laughter. Orion was appalled by his mother's behaviour. She swam around the living area swinging the book playfully.

???: "Oh, Orion. You have grown to be such an charismatic and smart boy. It's no use in hiding from you since you already suspected the worst to come..."

Orion: "What are you talking about? What are you hiding from me?!"

Orion clenched his fists in anger. His mother brought the book up and faced it towards him.

???: "The word 'Darya' is the name of your birth mother..."

Orion: "W-What...?"

???: "My beloved sister...who died under her own foolish actions. Her betrayal tastes sweeter than seaweed. How delightful..."

Orion: "You never told me my mother was your sister...what happened to her?"

Orion continued to demand for answers. Out of her pocket, the woman brought out a necklace with a shiny blue crystal on it.

Orion: "No...it can't be..."

???: "Oh? You recognised this crystal? It is one of a kind......a kind that is full of power and unlimited control. This also once belonged to your mother..."

The woman moved the blue crystal near the keyhole of the book and it magically opened, emitting an intense blue light.

Orion: "W-who...WHO ARE YOU?!"

???: "Who am I? *Chuckles*"

She swam closer to Orion. He couldn't believe it. The woman, swimming right in front of him, was a manipulative liar all this while.

She lied about his parents, his origins and her identity...

His -so called - foster mother brought the opened book up close to Orion. The light was blinding with power as his eyes turned from silver to blue.

Darcy: "My real name is Darcy and I'm the Enchantress of Dark Magic."

The pages of the book flipped rapidly as Orion's vision was flooded with the memories of his mother's past...

A single tear fell from Orion's eye.

Orion: "Mother......"

To be continued...

Hello everyone, it's me Chewy! And I'm back from my hiatus! Soo the reason why I have been away for such a long time is because firstly, I wanted to focus more on my studies and secondly, school is becoming more stressful each day. My updating schedule is now inaccurate but I'm going to make this clear, THIS BOOK IS NOT DISCONTINUED!!! I will try my best to write and complete this book by the end of this year. I love the 'The Legend of the Mermaid' series and it will always been my most memorable book series I have ever created. Also, a final reminder, Please stay safe at home during this pandemic and PLEASE wash your hands frequently!! That's all I have to say so I will see ya all in the next chapter! Love ya 💜