CHAPTER 393: AN UNEXPECTED INCIDENT

Nana and Silvanus quickly followed Nicole’s example and bowed as well. They didn’t even know whether their movements were correct. Did Nicole really not give them a single lesson on proper etiquette beforehand?

The Queen lifted her hand. Her fingers were long and slender, almost nothing but bone, far longer than normal. She parted her lips, her voice melodic yet no less authoritative: "Rise."

The word sounded soft, yet its resonance carried through the entire palace.

The guards reacted at once, loyal and reverent as they turned toward their queen. Her children also gazed at her with admiration. Just her voice alone was enough to place her above all, commanding the respect of every citizen of Aqualon.

Nicole immediately straightened up, and Silvanus and Nana followed after.

Nicole smiled, her young voice clear yet never lacking in presence. "Esteemed Queen Thalassa, on behalf of Lumina, I present an invitation to Your Majesty. We sincerely hope you will attend the celebration of Lumina’s 100th anniversary, to strengthen the bonds of peace and friendship between Humans and Merfolk in particular, and between the land and the sea as a whole. All of Lumina extends this invitation with heartfelt respect."

As she spoke, Nicole lifted both hands. Light gathered in her palms, quickly forming a gold-edged invitation card, shimmering with drifting motes of light.

An attendant below the steps immediately came forward to receive the invitation from Nicole’s hands.

Another attendant smiled and said, "Honored guests, having traveled a long way, Her Majesty wishes to invite you to your quarters to rest and prepare for the grand banquet tonight."

Silvanus looked up. High above, the princes and princesses watched them, smiling with prideful elegance. The Queen remained as she always appeared—calm, regal, her eyes hidden behind her coral mask, impossible to read.

Nicole lowered her gaze and spoke softly, "We thank Her Majesty."

They were then led by the attendant to their new quarters, located in another palace within Aqualon’s vast royal complex.

The moment the attendant left and the doors closed, Nana immediately punched the wall in frustration, then said nothing as she dropped into a chair.

Silvanus held Vivian in his arms and examined their new surroundings.

The architecture was inlaid with gold, glittering beautifully. Coral formations served as decorations. Silvanus even saw large flowering plants with glowing blossoms like lanterns. They were slightly taller than he was, gently swaying.

If not for the bubbles occasionally floating upward, it would have been difficult to believe they were deep beneath the ocean.

Nicole smiled at Nana, asking gently, "What’s wrong? Who made our princess upset?"

Nicole’s voice was already childish by nature, and using that tone—like she was talking to a little kid—only made Nana feel even more infantilized.

Her face flushed as she looked at Nicole, unsure whether it was anger or embarrassment. "Don’t talk to me in that voice."

Nicole covered her mouth and giggled. "My my, so fierce. You’re scaring me."

Then she even hugged herself and swayed dramatically.

Nana fell silent, pressing her lips together tightly as she sat to the side.

Nicole opened one of the three rooms there and said, "Alright, get some rest." She smiled, her gaze drifting slightly. "Tonight’s banquet will be a bit tiring."

Nana let out a cold laugh. "Tiring? Don’t tell me these fish expect their guests to do the work for them?"

But by then, Nicole’s door had already closed, and no one answered Nana’s question.

Nana frowned, shot Silvanus a glare, then went to the room she chose.

Silvanus: "..."

Vivian stood on Silvanus’s shoulder on its hind legs, its front paws wobbling above his head as it spoke lightly, "She has issues with her own emotions."

Silvanus said nothing as he walked toward his room. Vivian instantly fell backward off him, drifting in the water.

She flailed her limbs, using her usual doggy-paddle style to follow after Silvanus.

Inside the room, there was only a bed and a small vanity combined with a bedside cabinet.

The bed was even more extravagant—an enormous opened seashell, large enough for two people to lie in. Inside it was lined with bedding—no, probably sea grass and kelp—with gemstones and pearls scattered everywhere. The edges were inlaid with gold and mother-of-pearl.

Vivian dramatically covered her face. "I’m going blind. Is there anywhere here without gold? These fish should feel lucky dragons can’t swim."

Silvanus held Vivian and sat on the bed. Hearing that, he couldn’t help but laugh. "Dragons can’t swim, huh? Ha ha?"

It was clearly written in books that Dragons were capable of everything, and the world should be grateful they didn’t decide to flatten all of existence.

Vivian lifted her chin proudly. "They only know how to breathe fire."

Then she stood up on her hind legs, front paws flailing on both sides like wings, mouth wide open as she hissed repeatedly—as if hissing enough times would eventually produce fire.

"Ha ha ha, ha ha ha!"

Silvanus burst out laughing, nearly doubled over.

He picked Vivian up with both hands, holding her aloft. Vivian kept her pose, mouth still open, hissing nonstop as if she were truly breathing fire.

Silvanus laughed loudly. "Alright, ha ha ha, stop flapping, you’re not even a Dragon so why are you—"

"Fwoosh!"

Silvanus didn’t even finish his sentence before a burst of flame suddenly came out of Vivian’s mouth. No—calling it a flame was generous. It was more like a tiny puff of fire followed by a thick cloud of black smoke, all of it sprayed directly into Silvanus’s face.

He didn’t even have time to dodge. All he could do was shut his eyes tightly in defeat.

His entire face was smeared in black soot, pitch-dark in every direction.

Vivian was still frozen with her mouth open. The moment she saw what happened, she snapped her mouth shut instantly, her eyes darting everywhere in pure guilt.

Silvanus coughed, opened his eyes, and lifted a hand to touch his face. When he lowered it, his palm was also covered in soot.

Silvanus: "..."

He stared at Vivian, saying nothing.

Vivian gave a sheepish, miserable little laugh. "I really didn’t mean to..." She didn’t even know she could breathe fire!

Silvanus’s expression darkened. He grabbed Vivian and proceeded to wipe his face clean using her soft, beautiful fur.

Vivian’s jaw dropped. She stared at Silvanus in utter disbelief.

A while later, the man and his pet sat together on the bed.

Silvanus rested his elbows on his knees, head slightly raised. His face was blotched with black and white, lips pressed together tightly.

As for Vivian—no one knew when she learned to sit on her backside like a human. She sprawled with her hind legs stretched out, her front paws placed on either side of her, her whole body scrunched up. Her usually white-silver fur was now speckled with soot, making her look like she had just crawled out of a chimney.

"Why...? We’re clearly underwater, aren’t we?"

Vivian muttered, sounding as if she were questioning her entire existence. As she spoke, she lifted her front paws to rub her face, as if trying to scrub herself clean.

Silvanus cupped water in his palms and splashed it on his face, but it did nothing.

Clearly, their understanding of Aqualon was far too limited. Silvanus could only pick up Vivian and head out, searching for a bathroom.

Yes—a bathroom. At the bottom of the sea. Ha.