She Belongs To The Devil

It was already evening.

Ariel was in her room. She was instructing Osanna on what to include and what not to include in her luggage.

"Osanna, you don't have to pack those beauty thingies. You know I barely use them," Ariel instructed her personal maid.

However, Osanna put it inside the luggage anyway. "You are going to a foreign Kingdom. I have to do my best to refine your looks."

"Oh, right. Did you pack your luggage as well? You're coming with me, aren't you?"

Osanna gave a polite smile to the Princess and agreed. "How can I ever leave your side, Ariel? Who will help you with your dress and everything if I am not there with you?"

"You are right. I will be a mess without you," Ariel giggled and lay down on her bed.

A little later, Adeline came to Ariel's room. She had some papers in her hand.

"Mom, I hope you are not here to give me reading materials," Ariel pouted when she saw those papers.

Adeline laughed and sat on Ariel's bed. "I'm sorry but I think I will have to trouble you for some study tonight. The travel was agreed to on such short notice that you don't have any time to spare. But I have prepared a few bullet points that you need to know about Brenalia and Romania."

"Do I have to read all those? It's already dusk and I am already sleepy." Ariel raised her brows and gave a puppy-eyed look to her mother.

But Adeline wasn't going to get soft towards her daughter because of that look, unlike Theodore.

Adeline caressed her daughter's hair and said, "You have to go through all of these unless you want to look like some proxy and not a real Princess. You understand what I am saying, right?"

Ariel was still pouting but she gave a nod. "If I don't read those, I will look like a fool in front of them."

"Yes," Adeline chuckled and patted her daughter's cheek.

She put those papers beside Ariel's pillow and then further lectured her on how she was supposed to behave while she was there in those Kingdoms as their guest.

"Firstly, please don't fight with the Crown Prince; not verbally and definitely not physically. Secondly, don't go around without any company. Stay with your cousins and Kenneth at all times. Thirdly, don't show off your powers unless absolutely necessary. Fourth, be polite to your hosts."

Ariel kept on listening to her mother's lecture for almost half an hour. The list went on and on.

Ariel almost fell asleep once or twice.

And finally, Ariel sat up and hugged her mother out of the blue. "Mom, stop. You don't have to be so worried. Grandma will be looking after me from above. And I will have my cousins with me."

Adeline let out a sigh and stroked her daughter's back. Ariel was right. Since Ariel had barely left the Palace, Adeline was greatly worried. She didn't want the relatives from Theodore's side to give another traumatic experience to Ariel.

However, at the same time, Adeline wanted her daughter to live like a free spirit. She wanted Ariel to have a good time.

Adeline kissed Ariel's forehead and looked at her beautiful face. "You have the pendant that your father gave you, right?"

Ariel pulled out the pendant in the shape of a pair of wings and nodded, "I wear it daily."

Adeline cupped her daughter's cheeks and asked, "I know that nothing will go south with your grandma watching over you. But if you do get stuck in any problem which you can't get out of and if your grandma doesn't come to your rescue in time, remember to call your Dad."

"I will," Ariel gave a reassuring smile to her mother and hugged her again.

Adeline also hugged Ariel tightly. And she whispered to her, "And don't forget to eat and sleep in time. And the travel by ocean can get a little uncomfortable. Make sure that you take care of your health."

"I will." Ariel kissed her mother on the cheek and lovingly whispered, "I love you so much, Mom. I am going to miss you. We should travel together the next time. Just the three of us."

Adeline smiled and agreed. "Yes, the three of us will travel together. And I love you too."

Ariel then picked up the papers that Adeline had given her. She waved it and said, "Now, I will do some reading. You should go and rest."

"Okay, see you at dinner. Everyone will gather in the main dining hall tonight." Adeline caressed her daughter's cheek and then left for her room.

Ariel unwillingly began to go through the economical summary that her mother had given her.

---

All the Royals gathered together to have dinner together. Find adventures on empire

Adeline and Theodore sat down at the head of the table. Ariel and Kenneth sat opposite each other and next to the monarchs. While the others took their respective seats.

"I am so ready to cross the ocean and see Brenalia and Romania," Zach was the first one to break the ice. "I've packed two luggage and also a lot of coins. I am going to buy tons of souvenirs."

"Those coins will be deducted from your monthly allowance. So spend wisely," Fenris instantly gave a glare to his son so that he wouldn't spend too much money.

Zach pretended not to hear his father and focused his attention on the Crown Prince. "Your Highness, I never got to ask you… Are there many hybrids in Brenalia?"

Kenneth cleared his throat and answered, "I don't think so. As far as I am aware, I am the only hybrid. We don't have enhanced humans on that part of the land. So I was excited when I came here and saw all of you."

Zach looked confused. He chewed his food fast and swallowed. And he asked again, "There aren't enhanced humans? What about your pare– ahh!" He glanced at his mother and raised his brows to ask why she stepped on his toe.

Kenneth smiled at Nefriti and said, "It's alright. It's not a secret anyway."

He then glanced at Zach and answered, "I am the adoptive son of my parents. They said some villager found me in a box at the shore. But no one came near me because of the color of my eyes."

His pupils dilated when he further explained the story he had heard many times. "The news of a demon baby spread like a wildfire and reached the ears of the King and the Queen. They ordered their guards to bring me to the Palace. They were childless so they decided to raise me despite my red eyes."

Zach felt sorry for asking that question to him. But he couldn't help but ask further questions since it looked like only he was out of the loop.

"And didn't your adoptive parents get scared when they found out that... umm… that you were special?"

Kenneth gave a sad smile and answered, "They were terrified when I accidentally killed a maid on the night of a full moon. It happened when I was eleven years old. I don't recall anything from that night but I heard that I drank her blood and devoured her like a monster."

He gulped down a whole glass of water and resumed, "My father had locked me up in the dungeon for more than a year. Thankfully, my mother never gave up on me. She somehow came across a coven of wizards who told her that I could be a normal kid if I learned to control my demons."

"They helped me a lot." Kenneth looked down at his plate and slowly cut his food.

Ariel could see Kenneth's sad face even though he was looking down. The whole dining hall became gloomy because of his sad story.

So Ariel looked at everyone and asked with a serious tone, "Alright, enough about him. Will someone tell me if the fishes attack the ship while we are in the Ocean? What if they think that the ship is their food and try to eat it along with us?"

Kenneth laughed and looked at Ariel. "I won't let the fishes eat you, Ariel. I can communicate with them so I will order them not to attack us."

"Really? Why didn't I know this before?" Ariel, again, believed Kenneth without questioning.

Kenneth burst into laughter. And so did the others.

Theodore face-palmed himself and shook his head. "When will my daughter start to get sarcasm?"