CHAPTER 17
805 Words
Pearl stood outside Queen Queen Seraphine’s chambers nervously.
For several seconds, she almost changed her mind.
Something about the mysterious pale man unsettled her deeply, but she still didn’t want her mother thinking she doubted her.
Finally, the doors opened.
Queen Seraphine smiled softly upon seeing her daughter.
“Pearl.”
Pearl returned a small smile.
“Can I come in?”
“Of course.”
The queen moved aside, allowing Pearl into the chamber.
The room smelled faintly of sea herbs and glowing water flowers. Soft blue lantern fish floated near the ceiling, lighting the chamber gently.
Pearl sat carefully beside her mother.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Queen Seraphine reached for Pearl’s hand lovingly.
“How are you feeling today?”
Pearl nodded faintly.
“Better than before.”
“That’s good.”
The queen looked relieved.
Pearl hesitated briefly before speaking again.
“Father said the guards still haven’t found the healer.”
A shadow crossed the queen’s face instantly.
“No. They haven’t.”
Pearl looked down sadly.
“I still can’t believe someone wanted to hurt me.”
The queen gently rubbed her hand.
“Not everyone who smiles at you wishes you well.”
Pearl swallowed quietly.
The words felt strangely deeper than they sounded.
Trying not to raise suspicion, Pearl slowly changed the topic.
“The palace feels strange lately.”
Queen Seraphine looked at her carefully.
“What do you mean?”
“Everyone seems tense.”
Pearl forced a small laugh.
“Even you.”
The queen immediately looked away slightly.
“I’m only worried about you.”
Pearl studied her mother quietly.
Then softly—
“Mother… who was the man at the gates?”
Silence instantly filled the room.
The queen froze.
Only for a second.
But Pearl noticed it.
Queen Seraphine slowly turned back toward her daughter.
“Why are you asking about him?”
Pearl quickly shook her head.
“I was only curious.”
The queen remained silent.
Pearl tried to sound casual.
“The servants keep talking about him.”
Still—
The queen did not answer immediately.
Instead, she stood slowly and walked toward the glowing window corals nearby.
Pearl frowned slightly.
Her mother looked nervous again.
Finally, Queen Seraphine spoke quietly.
“There are some things in life…”
She paused softly.
“Some mistakes people make in the past.”
Pearl listened carefully.
The queen’s eyes lowered sadly.
“I do not regret those mistakes.”
Then her voice weakened slightly.
“But perhaps… I should never have made them.”
Pearl blinked in confusion.
“What does that mean?”
But Queen Seraphine simply shook her head.
“It’s nothing you need to worry about.”
Pearl stood slowly now.
“Mother—”
“I said it’s nothing.”
The queen’s voice came out firmer this time.
Not angry.
But final.
Pearl slowly fell silent.
She could tell her mother did not want to continue the conversation.
And strangely—
The sadness in the queen’s eyes made Pearl feel guilty for even asking.
Unknown to both of them—
Far away inside her own chambers, Ella listened carefully through the enchanted water pearl hidden inside Pearl’s hair.
Every word.
Every pause.
Every nervous breath.
Ella sat completely still as the magic carried their conversation directly to her.
Her eyes narrowed slowly.
So the queen truly was hiding something.
And whatever it was—
It involved regret.
Ella smiled faintly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Back inside the queen’s chambers, Pearl slowly moved toward the doors.
“I’m sorry if I upset you.”
Queen Seraphine quickly softened again.
“You didn’t.”
Pearl gave a small nod before finally leaving the room.
The moment the doors closed behind her, the queen released a shaky breath.
Fear filled her expression once more.
Meanwhile, Pearl walked quietly through the palace corridors, deep in thought.
None of her mother’s answers made sense.
But at the same time—
She didn’t feel like the queen was dangerous.
Only troubled.
As Pearl turned a corner, she spotted Ella waiting nearby.
Ella immediately approached her.
“Well?” she asked carefully.
Pearl sighed softly.
“Mother said it’s nothing.”
Ella hid her satisfaction perfectly.
“And the man?”
Pearl shook her head.
“She didn’t explain much.”
Then Pearl added honestly—
“She just said there are mistakes she made in the past that she doesn’t regret… but maybe she shouldn’t have made them.”
Ella’s eyes darkened slightly.
Exactly the same words she had already heard through the enchanted pearl.
But Pearl had no idea.
Pearl still believed the conversation remained private between her and her mother.
And as Ella stared quietly at her sister—
A dangerous new curiosity began growing inside her mind.
- Writer
