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Chapter 6

Ibarely set my napkin on the table before Dad calls over a servant to take me to the academy.

“Mom!” I beg her with my eyes to talk to Dad since anything I say seems to be taken as a direct assault on his authority.

She kisses me on the cheek. “You’ll do fantastic. I know you’ll do us proud.”

I stare at her. “You’re going to let a servant take me? You two aren’t coming?”

Dad shakes his head and rises. “We have important business to attend.”

“Won’t you check in on me?”

“Of course. The staff will keep us informed.”

What a jerk. All he cares about is being king. Now that he has the position he’s apparently been dreaming about, being a dad is just an inconvenience. If only I could get him alone in a room to tell him off. At least I won’t have to look at his face once I’m at the academy.

Mom rises and wraps her arms around me. “I’ll miss you, sweetheart. But your dad is right. School is where you belong. You’ll learn all you need to know there.”

Or I’ll just fall behind in my real studies. I can’t wait to get back to the land and my old life. Hopefully I can do that before everyone forgets about me.

Dad just nods at me before returning to his throne.

I bite back an annoyed comment before turning around. I nearly bump into a mermaid with a pink tail and brown hair, who can’t be much older than me.

She bows. “I’m here to take you to the academy.”

“You don’t have to bow.”

“I do, your highness.” She bows again.

This is going to get old really fast.

“Okay.” I turn around to say goodbye to my parents, but they’re both surrounded by servants and royal officials. Guess I know where I stand. So, I spin around to the servant. “Let’s go, then.”

“Follow me.” She bows yet again before leading me out of the room and through a maze of hallways.

We leave through a side door of the castle. I knew there were multiple exits. We face an underwater version of a forest. It’s filled with deep sea plants, thicker than any woods I’ve ever seen. The colors are unlike anything I’ve seen on land. As many dark colors as bright. Foliage in every shape imaginable, including stars and twisty swirls. The only thing I can think to compare it to would be the game Candy Land.

The servant heads straight for the forest.

“We’re going in there?”

She glances back at me. “Yes, your majesty.”

“Can you just call me by my name?”

Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head.

“Why not?”

“It would be an abomination.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, m’lady.”

I hold back an eye roll. “Then at least let me call you by your name.”