SMITTEN - Chapter 114

MARINA

Feeling great about her newfound complicated relationship with Lord Lycano and the effectiveness of their plan, Marina decided to shop* around Market Town.

Her fellow mermaids and mermen were not used to leaving out of the sea at will. Those who were of low status could not even change to a human form. The others need water in just a few hours of being out of it, or else they would die.

She was given the privilege of being able to transform to a human and back to mermaid form whenever she wanted to as the Lady of the Gaean Seas and a member of the Tribal Council.

As she glanced around, she noticed different items that her fellow sea creatures would be interested to see.

One particular item caught her eyes. And it was a vase with its mouth shaped like a mermaid’s tail, and the mermaids were playing with each other at the base.

“How lovely my buyer is today. For your admirable beauty alone, I could get that for you for half a price, my lady,” the seller said in an enticing manner.

Marina didn’t put anything on her face, so she would look ordinary and not be noticed by anyone. So when she was complimented by the merchant, she was flattered at once.

With a smile, she was about to bring out an Argentum from her purse, planning to not get the change, when someone spoke beside her.

“Do not be deceived by its outward appearance, my lady,” she said.

Before she knew it, she picked up the vase and showed her the inside part. They were already marred with cracks.

Marina’s jaw dropped in surprise. She should have known. But she was deceived by the seller’s flattery.

She immediately crossed her arms at the seller and smirked at him.

“Be careful of whom you are talking to, sir. Perhaps, she could be a powerful mermaid who could sink your goods underwater with just a wave of her hand,” she cursed at him, making the man’s face pallid white.

Then she swiveled to the lady beside her and was about to thank her when she realized that she was someone who she didn’t want to meet, even accidentally.

Her face immediately scowled. “I know it’s broken. I just like its outward design. That’s all.” Then she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

Meeting her at the Tea Party wasn’t their first encounter. They have confronted each other because of the rumors that they have been saying against her, making her hate them even before the female human arrived at Gaea.

“I have no problem with that, my lady. I just thought that you might be buying a  fake,” she smiled at her awkwardly before she added, “I better be going now. My husband might have not eaten anything yet. He was one of those who were repairing the shops that were broken down last time.”

She lifted a lunch bucket and grinned at her.

One of Marina’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Why is she being nice to me? Does she need anything?’ She gazed at her from head to foot.

‘She looked shabby, from her hair to her shoes. Of course, she could need a lot of things,’ Marina concluded.

But her interest was piqued as she mentioned the recent chaos in the Market Town.

To be honest, she has no idea who the man is and if he works alone, or if he has someone backing him up.

Knowing that Estella was one of the queens of rumors, she nonchalantly asked her, “Have they found out who the culprit is?”

She slowly walked to the next shop as if motioning Estella to follow her, in which she obliged.

Lord Varo has told her and Lord Lycano that the man was already dead. But all the royal guards have been mobilized to search for connections related to the man.

“It is too late, my lady. The culprit is already dead,” Estella excitedly told her, perhaps a manifestation of her love of gossip.

“I see,” Marina shrugged in an indifferent way. But deep inside, she was saying, ‘And I thought I would get something out of you.’

She was about to walk away when Estella added, “Do not worry, my lady. I think they already found someone who was connected to him. But I guess you would have known it by now.”

At her words, Marina immediately swiveled around to face her. “What do you mean by that?”

Estella’s finger flew to her parted lips. “Oh, you didn’t know yet?” It was Lord Lycano. But it hasn’t been proven yet. Someone just saw the culprit coming out of his storehouse -” Estella was continuing on with the story.

But Marina couldn’t hear her anymore as she rushed to the storehouse that was owned by Lord Lycano.

To her bewilderment, he was already being escorted away by the royal guards.

Their eyes met, revealing both their appalled emotions at what was taking place.

Marina’s eyes almost welled up at the scenario. Everything was running smoothly with her plan, now backed up by his involvement. But what is this? It’s even just the first part of the plan.

Marina felt her throat hurt, seeing Lord Lycano also like that. Her knees went weak. But she tried to stand tall and remain calm in the horrendous scenario.

“What is happening, my lord?” she thought out loud, in a voice filled with regret and disappointment.

Lord Lycanio immediately shook his head. “I didn’t do it. It wasn’t me. I promise,” he firmly stated.

Marina gazed at him with his pupils dilated in disbelief at his unfortunate state. It seemed like he was telling the truth.

She could sense that he wanted to transform into his werewolf form and kill the royal guards right then and there, as his fangs were creeping out.

She immediately went to him and touched his arm. “I believe you. Settle this in a diplomatic way. I’ll see what I can do,” she said to him, seemingly calming his irritated nerves.

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True understanding and mutual respect do not bridge blames, destructive, negative criticisms, false excuses, and gossip.