Lust and Greed Comes With Trickery
1164 Words
It's already night time, and the fortress of Poseidon is as lit as always. The fortress is having a tribute to Queen Amphitrite's birthday, hosting a seven-day celebration.
It's the sixth night, and its excitement didn't reach King Triton who is sulking in one of the balconies of the keep.
"There you are, my friend! I've been looking for you!" Poseidon boomed with two cups on his mighty hands, handing one to the king.
"Thank you, my lord." King Triton sips on the cup, keeping the glum expression.
"What's upsetting you, my king? It's my queen's birthday! We should celebrate!"
King Triton tears his lips from the cup.
"My apologies. I'm just bothered with this mermaid. I want her yet she doesn't seem to be bewitched by my charms."
"She must be so beautiful to have you this bothered. You usually will just move on or just bribe her!"
"That's the problem! She doesn't want anything at all."
"That's rubbish! Every creature has something he desires!"
"But this one doesn't have, sire." King Triton says in annoyance, gulping his drink in one go.
Poseidon sipped his cupped in wonder, and an idea pops in his head.
"You know my friend, creatures like such haven't fallen in love yet, have they? They don't know how to fight for something they don't have in the first place, right?" Poseidon suggests.
"I agree, my lord. I encourage freedom in my kingdom, and that's what all she wants, and it’s something that I cannot completely get rid her of."
"Yes, yes. Quite a rebellious fellow she is right?" Poseidon egged.
King Triton nods, his eyes and mind wander.
"So how about we make her want something she can't have? Make her love something she can't hold, she can't touch, make her love something she shouldn't be in love with in the first place?" Poseidon laid out.
King Triton's eyebrows rose in realization.
"And how are we supposed to do that, my lord?"
"I have this nuisance of a ghost, scaring these humans in this island and drowning sailors in the waters. These people, I'm telling you, is annoying me with their prayers, to give this ghost rest. You know I can't do give my blessing, unless there is someone who wants the ghost and the ghost himself to be freed!"
King Triton nods with his eyes full wonder, signalling the god to keep going. The god just smiled, scheming the cruelest ploy yet.
"I have a plan, but in one condition."
"What is it, sire?"
"Must you kill one creature of mine in the future because of your lust, I will punish you and your kingdom, King Triton." Poseidon offered, with a stern face.
King Triton laughed.
"My lord, when did I ever do such a thing? I swear by the River Styx, I will not put any of your creatures in danger."
Poseidon relaxed.
"Alright then, my king. Listen."
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A knock on the door startled Soleil and Aria one afternoon.
"Are you expecting someone, Soleil?" Aria asked as she puts down her cup of tea on the smooth coffee table made of rock.
Soleil shrugged, not that she knows anyone who’s friendly to visit her. Might be one of her suitors again. "Who's there?" Soleil asked meekly.
"Royal Guards, ma'am." The sea carried a deep merman voice’s vibrations along its currents.
"Royal Guards ma'am, who?" Soleil and Aria both said.
"...Just Royal Guards, ma'am."
Soleil and Aria shared some giggles, before Soleil straightened herself up and opened the door.
"Good twilight, Lady Soleil." The royal guards greeted her.
"Good twilight, what are you doing here?" Soleil inquired.
"We've come to announce that King Triton would like to invite you to dinner tonight at his palace."
Soleil and Aria looked at each other.
Soleil sighed glumly.
"Can you please tell him that I'm not interested in him, and a fancy dinner won't make any difference?" Soleil pleaded, eyes full of frustration and annoyance.
"I'm sorry, Lady Soleil, but I believe that his majesty wants to discuss more important matters with you, and it is quite urgent." The guard said at his defense.
Soleil and Aria looked at each other once again.
"I see no harm on doing it, Soleil." Aria softly said.
Soleil sighed for the umpteenth time.
"Alright. I shall dine with King Triton tonight." Soleil confirmed with the guards.
The royal guards bow to her, then left.
"So shall we dress you up?" Aria wiggled her brows at Soleil as she closed the door.
Soleil just glared at her. Aria just let out an airy laugh.
“At least don’t let me look like a fool?” Soleil sighed in defeat.
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"Lady Soleil has arrived." A royal guard announced as Soleil made her entrance to the king's dining area.
Soleil bowed accordingly to King Triton.
King Triton approached Soleil, his charisma oozing at each swish of his coral red tail.
"My, my, Lady Soleil. You look beautiful." King Triton guffawed.
"Thank you, my lord." Soleil said keeping a straight line with her lips.
Soleil’s adventurous mind never thought she wanted to be home at once in her whole life. Staying at home was a more pleasing idea than being with the king.
King Triton led her to the full dining table, and offered her a seat like the well-mannered king that he is. He went to his, and smiled.
"Let's feast." He said with jolly authority.
As King Triton began to tackle the meal before him, he noticed that the lady isn't touching her food.
"What's wrong, Lady Soleil?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, my lord, but I don't really plan to stay that long. I just came to discuss this important matter with you." Soleil straightforwardly said.
King Triton laid his cutleries carefully, then clasped his hands with a smirk.
"Very well then." He said enigmatically.
Soleil kept looking at him with a sceptical mind, waiting for his continuation.
"I heard you have been venturing up to the surface, several times, sometimes with the company of your friend, Aria."
Soleil froze with her eyes wide.
"You know that's quite a dangerous act that could expose our kind, right?" King Triton said with a knowing malicious look.
Soleil guiltily nodded.
“Humans are known to be vicious and wicked. They’ve killed hundreds of mermen! How can you be so daring to be in the same depths as they are?”
"My apologies, your majesty." Soleil said, hanging her head low.
"And why,” The king started his question.
Soleil mentally prepared herself. This is the end of her exploration. Her curiosities. Her dreams of wanting to be in the same sphere of living with the humans. Her endless thirst of knowledge about the world above. The king will throw her in the dungeons! And she dragged her only good friend with her!
Poor Aria. She shouldn’t have forced her to come with her to the surface. She started to collect her reasons and gathered all the courage to smoothen out her wrongdoings with the king. Or at least let Aria out of this! She doesn’t want her friend to hate her. She doesn’t want-
“Why are you apologizing, my lady?"
Soleil looked up in confusion.
"I, in fact, praise you for being brave and quick for not being caught by humans! Such bravery is very admirable." King Triton praised with a wink.
Soleil tried to keep a straight face.
What is the king playing?
- Writer
