Chapter 9

Lior crafted a set of jewelry from the pearls. He also wove merfolk silk into loose, comfortable gowns for me, adorning them with bright pearls. The little fish and young merfolk often gathered around me, sharing amusing stories from outside. Eventually, they learned to perform opera and put on a serious show for Lior and me. By the end, everyone was laughing—not at the story, but at their hilariously exaggerated expressions. As my belly grew larger, everyone became extra careful around me,...