THE REBORN MERMAID

CHAPTER 12

The palace of Azurith Kingdom remained heavy with sadness after the attack on Pearl.

The joyful celebration that once filled the kingdom had vanished completely.

Music no longer echoed through the royal halls.

The glowing sea lanterns had been dimmed.

Even the fish that once danced happily around the palace now swam quietly through the darkened waters.

Everyone feared the same thing—

Someone inside the kingdom had tried to kill the future queen.

Inside her chambers, Pearl sat silently beside the balcony while soft ocean currents drifted around her silver hair.

She looked weaker now.

Sadder.

The pain of losing her child still lingered heavily inside her heart.

Sometimes she placed a trembling hand against her stomach unconsciously before remembering the baby was gone.

And every single time—

Her chest shattered all over again.

Queen Queen Seraphine stayed close to her constantly, refusing to let Pearl remain alone for too long.

“You need rest,” the queen whispered gently.

Pearl gave a faint nod.

But her thoughts remained elsewhere.

On the poison.

On the strange healer.

On the terrifying realization that someone wanted her dead.

“I still don’t understand,” Pearl murmured quietly.

The queen looked toward her sadly.

“What is it?”

Pearl lowered her gaze.

“She seemed kind.”

Confusion filled her voice.

“That healer… she looked harmless.”

Queen Seraphine sat beside her daughter carefully.

“Evil people often hide behind kindness.”

Pearl swallowed painfully.

“I never thought someone capable of murder would smile at me so warmly.”

The innocence in her voice broke the queen’s heart.

Pearl truly could not imagine someone hating her enough to destroy both her and her child.

And because of that—

She still suspected nobody close to her.

Meanwhile, somewhere else inside the palace—

Ella stood silently inside her chambers after hearing the news.

Pearl had survived.

The guards failed to find the disguised healer.

And now the entire kingdom was searching for answers.

Rage burned violently inside Ella’s chest.

She grabbed a crystal vase nearby and hurled it across the room.

It shattered loudly against the wall.

“How is she still alive?” Ella hissed angrily.

Her breathing became uneven as jealousy twisted deeper inside her.

Pearl survived again.

Pearl always survived.

Always loved.

Always protected.

Ella clenched her fists tightly.

But despite her anger—

One thought still brought her satisfaction.

The child was dead.

A slow smile appeared on her lips.

At least that part of the plan succeeded.

No child would tie Charles to Pearl now.

No royal heir.

No happy family.

That alone eased some of the hatred boiling inside her chest.

A soft knock suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

Ella immediately straightened herself.

“Come in.”

The chamber doors opened slowly.

Charles entered.

The moment he saw the broken glass across the floor, he sighed heavily.

“You need to calm down.”

Ella laughed coldly.

“She survived.”

Charles looked exhausted.

“And your reaction to that is anger?”

Ella crossed her arms.

“She was supposed to die.”

Charles immediately lowered his voice.

“Stop saying that so loudly.”

Ella rolled her eyes.

“You’re afraid of everything lately.”

Charles looked away.

Because deep inside—

Fear was exactly what he felt.

Fear of being exposed.

Fear of what they had become.

And strangely—

Fear of losing Pearl too.

Meanwhile, far outside the palace gates, the ocean currents suddenly shifted strangely.

The royal guards stationed near the entrance tightened their grip on their weapons as a dark figure slowly emerged from the deeper waters.

A man.

Tall.

Unfamiliar.

And unlike anyone they had ever seen before.

His skin was unnaturally pale.

Almost white as moonlight.

Long silver hair floated around him while dark markings covered parts of his neck and arms like ancient symbols.

Even the water around him moved strangely.

The guards exchanged nervous glances immediately.

One stepped forward cautiously.

“State your name and purpose.”

The stranger lifted his eyes slowly toward the palace towering above him.

His gaze was cold.

Unreadable.

Almost inhuman.

Then finally—

He spoke.

“I came for the royal blood that was poisoned.”

The guards froze instantly.

A strange silence spread through the water.

“How do you know about that?” one guard asked nervously.

The pale stranger said nothing for a moment.

Only continued staring toward the palace.

Then slowly—

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

And somehow—

That smile felt more dangerous than the dark ocean itself.