On the other side of the deck, Henry found Elsa leaning on the wooden railing.
"Nice speech." She commented with a smile.
"Thanks. Just things you needed to know before you inherit the throne." Henry shrugged his shoulders, prompting Elsa to look at him.
"Speaking of inheriting the throne, do you still qualify for it? What if your siblings have already gotten hold of your position?" There was a clear concern in her tone. She can't imagine what it feels like to be stripped of something that is supposed to be yours.
"There are so many factors that will make it hard for them to take it. The people don't like them, the Grand Duke is not on their side, and lastly, I doubt my master will support them considering he's probably watching this exact moment a few days ago." Henry still couldn't forget the fact that Master Elias is studying divination and is capable of seeing the future.
Now that Henry has thought of it, is that why the Water Bubble and Wind Barrier are the first two spells that he made him learn, perhaps he predicted his 'death' in a different timeline where he didn't learn those spells?
'If so, then I need to properly express my gratitude to him.' Henry made a small note in his mind.
"What do you mean?" Elsa was confused by Henry's words.
Henry explained thoroughly, "Master Pabbie told me that Master Elias can see the future. Haven't seen it yet but I don't think Master Pabbie would find any benefits in lying to me."
He then continued, this time, he changed the topic, "So what was that about earlier?" With his one elbow leaning on the railing and his body facing Elsa, Henry cast a seductive smile towards her.
Elsa froze in her place, from the movement of her throat to the widening of her eyes, Henry could tell she was nervous.
"W-What was what about earlier?" She gave a nervous chuckle.
"I don't know…I was hoping I could still claim what was robbed from me earlier." To give a hint, Henry's eyes slowly trailed from hers, then down to her nose, and finally, her soft pink lips.
Everything about her beauty is natural. Unlike in his previous world where makeup is a major thing in a woman's life, in this world, makeup is only reserved for major events—not in everyday life.
Elsa obviously noticed how his eyes moved and she couldn't help but get flustered, she opened her mouth and stuttered, "H-Henry?"
"Yes?" Henry responded while leaning closer to her.
With a gulp of her saliva and hearing the loud thrumming of her heartbeat that kept beating faster as time went on, she continued, "Can I…tell you something? Promise me you won't laugh?"
Henry smirked and raised his left hand with palm facing her, "I solemnly swear that I won't laugh at whatever you're about to say."
Bearing a hopeful look on her face, she finally confessed with her breath hitching by the end.
"I-I like you, Henry."
———
"Dad! What have you done! We left them there! They're gonna die!" Inside Atlantis's familiar throne field, Ariel was throwing a tantrum while her father stayed seated on his throne. Around him were Ariel's sisters that are staring at her in concern.
With a stone-cold expression on his face, King Triton replied, "You have no idea what a human is capable of, Ariel. I've seen them wage wars over petty meanings. I've witnessed the destruction of nature because of them. They steal, they kill, they rape and all the vile things you can think of have been committed by their kind!"
Ariel still protested, remembering all of Henry's advice for her, "But so are the merfolk! You're just describing the rotten apples among them but not the good ones! Humans can also be kind, Dad!"
King Triton rubbed his forehead at his daughter's argument. She was right and he doesn't have anything to say against it.
In the end, he pulled his trump card, "I am your father, Ariel. And you will do as I say. Stay here in the palace until you've learned your mistake." His voice then took a soft turn, "I already lost your mother and I can't lose you too."
Behind him, the sisters turned to look at one another. There were a few indescribable expressions on their faces but one could be recognized as hurt.
King Triton hasn't realized it yet but he has just declared something that has been plaguing their minds.
Ariel thinned her lips. What can she say in return to that? The mention of her mother brought back bad memories and made her speechless.
With a deep sigh of relief, King Triton waved his hand, "Just go to your room, Ariel. You need to rest."
She did as he said and left the throne field.
"The rest of you girls can also go." King Triton continued.
With another glance at one another, they nodded their heads respectively and left, following their youngest sister.
———
Arriving at the chamber where their rooms are located, all the sisters slowly approached Ariel's room. Unlike humans, each of their room are made of large clams that consist of a simple bed inside. To merfolks like them, bedrooms are only used for one thing. Sleeping.
"Ariel?" The eldest, Aquatta, knocked on the clamshell before waiting for a response.
"….go away." A silent whisper rang inside.
Aquatta turned back to her sisters and gained a bunch of nods of encouragement. So with a deep breath, she knocked again.
"Ariel, it's me, Aqua. Can we talk?" Then another silence.
Just as Aquatta was about to knock and call again, the clamshell was finally lifted open, revealing a gloomy Ariel looking on the ground.
"Oh, Ariel." Aquatta looked at her in pity as she pulled her into a hug.
Ariel's lips quivered as tears were threatening to fall from her eyes, "Dad is angry at me. I'm a dumb mermaid."
"No, you're not, Ariel. You're different, but in a good way." Atinna swam forward, hugging Ariel's left arm as she continued, "You are unique, dear sister. Unlike us, you know how to make yourself and everyone around you, happy."
Ariel sniffed, wiping off her tears as she looked at her, "Sniff! Really?"
All of the sisters nodded their heads in agreement. Although they all knew that Ariel was their father's favourite due to her looks being closer to their mother compared to them, they didn't hold it against her.
They're already contented and happy as they were and they're not gonna let jealousy for parental love destroy that.
"So, I heard this Henry was the one who saved you? What was he like?" As soon as Andrina brought up the topic, the others immediately exploded into discussion towards Ariel.
"Is he strong?"
"How big are his muscles?"
"Did he sing as he slaughtered his way to save you?"
"Hurry! Spill the details!"
Ariel, overwhelmed by the urging of her sisters and the main topic of the discussion, found herself blushing heavily as she recalled when she first saw Henry's face as he saved her.
Her previous sadness over getting scolded by her father finally disappeared, replaced by bubbling excitement as she shared what she experienced with them.
———
Back on the Lioncrest Ship, Henry was in the cabin by himself, sitting atop the bed as he recalled Elsa's confession to him earlier. Although he already expected it, hearing it from face to face is an entirely different thing, so he got flustered as he replied to her.
He can vividly remember what they talked about earlier.
———
[Flashback]
"D-Don't just gawk at me. At least say something." Elsa embarrassingly blushed after noticing Henry's stare right as she just confessed her feelings.
Henry blinked several times, "I-I'm sorry, I wasn't gawking. I was just…speechless."
There's no need for hesitation to answer because he feels the same.
So he blurted out, "I like you too."
That seemed to hit the nail in the coffin as before he could say anything or at least register Elsa's reaction, she suddenly fidgeted and fiddled with her fingers before leaning forward and kissing him.
On the lips this time. Before running away all flustered again, leaving Henry unable to process the few seconds of what just transpired.
'…That was my first kiss in both my previous and current life.' He muttered to himself as he touched his lips, the feeling of her soft lips touching his was unforgettable.
Unknowingly, he licked his own lips after, perhaps hoping there'd be an aftertaste.
[End of Flashback]
———
Even until now, Henry couldn't forget that feeling so he locked himself down here in the cabin in hopes of distracting himself with other things.
Such as recalling the fight with the two monsters earlier.
He had been lucky. Or more like, his talent probably saved the day.
That move he made earlier, is not part of his arsenal, and it's simply a result of something that is caused by perhaps, his talent? He's not sure.
"I feel like I can do it again…" He murmured to himself, closing his eyes and focusing on the Magic Hymn of Fire Magic.
Earlier, the thump of his Fire Magic's Hymn was beating faster and faster the more he forced it to. He doesn't know how he did it. It just came to him, like something natural.
"It's a good trump card but the after-effects are a bit bad," Henry muttered to himself, his entire mental energy is near zero, it he forced himself to use magic again, he might pass out on the spot.
Not to mention, the strain on his body. Considering his magic consumes both mental and stamina, the latter part takes a huge toll. It's a good thing that Henry didn't use it all during that time or else, he might've missed the baby Scylla. Worse, embarrass himself in front of Elsa.
"It might take more than a single day to recover myself. For now, let's avoid using magic." He muttered to himself before finally standing up, stretching his limbs after an hour of sitting.
As he descended back onto the ship's deck, he noticed a small crowd forming around Elsa.
"Are you really Princess Elsa? I-I'm a citizen of Arendelle! I once served bread to your father, the King!"
"Perhaps God has heard our prayers and sent you and Prince Henry to save us!"
"Is what my eyes saw earlier true? Do you really have the powers of ice?"
"Isn't it sorcery?"
In the middle of the crowd, Elsa was doing her best to accommodate them, answering each question with a careful approach.
Fortunately, Henry decided to come and help her.
"If you guys don't mind. But I'll borrow her for a while." As soon as they heard Henry's voice from behind, they quickly parted on each side like how Moses parted the sea.
They nodded their heads like pecking chickens. Meanwhile, Henry grabbed Elsa's hand and dragged her out of the crowd.
Once they reach the other end of the ship, which is empty, Elsa allowed herself to sigh in relief, "Thank you, Henry. I don't know what to say to make them leave me alone."
"It's fine. For things like that, you don't need to be shy to excuse yourself. If you're gonna be a Queen someday, things like that should come as naturally as breathing to you."
Elsa nodded her head, understanding Henry's point.
However, the memory of her kissing Henry on the lips earlier suddenly jumped into her mind and she immediately got flustered.
Obviously, Henry noticed this, "About earlier…" Perhaps it's for the better to talk about it right now rather than later.
He immediately got her attention as soon as she heard his words, "W-What about it?"
"I was thinking of the consequences if we ever both…you know, become official. It's going to be hard for the both of us. We're destined to inherit a throne and if we continue to follow our feelings, it would make it harder not just for us but also for our respective Kingdoms…"
Elsa felt her breath hitch, "Are you…rejecting?" There was a sound of sorrow in her tone and Henry didn't like it so he immediately clarified.
"No! That's not what I meant. I just want to say that we need to think further about this. I was thinking of going home first and talking to my parents about it. If ever, my father might propose to make Arendelle a vassal of the Lioncrest Kingdom."
Elsa frowned at this, "A vassal?" Obviously, she's aware of its term and she can't imagine being the one to make her Kingdom serve under another.
Henry nodded his head, "It's not like we're unfamiliar with the term. Thousands of years ago, the Five Great Kingdoms used to be united under a single Empire but were divided into five for reasons unknown even until now." He remembered reading about it once from the royal library.
He turned to Elsa to gauge her reaction but when he noticed her expression, he made another suggestion, "Or perhaps, our Kingdoms can form their own Federation." Henry rubbed his chin, "Though either of the two would be hard to implement since the Southern Isles are located between us."
———————————-
[I can see the backlash about how Henry had to forgive and even apologize for the sake of the people who blamed him. Well, don't blame the writing, blame the character. I made him that way in order to make the transition in his character development more noticeable in the future chapters and besides, his fame as a good Samaritan is not for show.]