#441 Regal Succession

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?”

“Ahem, ahem!”

Queen Mahi and King Nagus speak, and the pleasant talks fade.

They must have something serious to announce.

“First of all, I would like to thank you for gathering here today. My son Arowana and his wife Puffer are blessed to have such wonderful friends.”

“Ahem!”

“As you know, my son Arowana is King Nagus’ eldest child and is the first in line to the throne. If things continue as they are, the next mermaid king will undoubtedly be him.”

“Aheeeem!”

“And today, Puffer, who has become Arowana’s wife, will succeed me as the next mermaid queen.”

“Ahemahemahem!!!”

It looks to me like everyone in the hall is annoyed by the “ahems.”

“Wu’s his problem? He keeps sayin’ ahem.”

“He should just let the hag do all the talking.”

Hey! Songokufon! Veil!

Watch your tongues!

“Both of them have overcome many trials and have reached perfection in mind, body, and spirit. Even if we were to relinquish our title right here and now, I’m confident they will do just fine.”

“Mother...?!”

Prince Arowana bursts into tears at these words.

The queen speaks not only for herself but also for King Nagus, who has lost his speech after a past incident.

Therefore, his mother’s words are twice as sentimental.

The bride, Puffer, wipes away her husband’s tears with her handkerchief.

“And so...” Queen Mahi continues. “We are bequeathing our throne today.”

“Waiiiiiiiiiit!”

A big announcement out of the blue said so casually.

Thanks to that, Prince Arowana is getting all bashful, pressing the queen for answers.

“Surely, you’re joking, Mother!”

“I would never say such a thing in jest, especially in a public place like this, my dear.”

“True...!”

We have diplomats among the audience, after all.

“So... Father abdicating his position as king means you’ll no longer be a queen too, right? And then, I’ll become Mermaid King?”

“Yes. What else could it mean?”

“Umm...!”

Prince Arowana crumbles after his doubts are cleared.

“My child, Mommy is just relaying Darling’s decision to you.”

“Aheeeeem!”

So, that’s why King Nagus has been ahem-ing non-stop?

To assure us that it is his decision?

“As I said before, you are already fit to be king that we can give you the throne at any time. But the sooner, the better, as they say.”

“But it’s still so sudden...!”

“Well, once you succeed to the throne, there will have to be a coronation ceremony and other related events... We need to gather people once more. If that’s the case, it’d be more economical to do it now. Don’t you agree?”

“That’s your reason?!”

The queen thinks two steps ahead.

It’s like celebrating birthdays near Christmas on the same date to save time and money.

“If everyone were to go home today and were asked to come again tomorrow for the coronation ceremony, they’d probably think it’s a hassle, wouldn’t they?”

Many of the audience look away eloquently.

“And a cooldown period has to be at least a year from now if there will be any. We also want to retire soon. I hope you understand, dear.”

“But-!”

Prince Arowana is confused by the sudden turn of events.

I guess he wasn’t informed about any of this in private.

Why did they surprise him so?

A woman’s hand gently grasps Prince Arowana’s flailing hands.

“...Puffer?”

“Keep your calm. Representatives from every nation are watching.”

She’s right; the world’s dignitaries are watching with bated breath.

In this situation, panicking would only lower his reputation.

“...”

Prince Arowana breathes in deep...

“...Puffer.”

He looks at the companion he will be with forever.

It’s not just his problem anymore.

If he changes, so must she.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be wherever you go, so first...”

“Sorry.”

Prince Arowana kneels before his parents once again.

“I, Arowana, will fulfill the heavy responsibility of the Mermaid King at the risk of my own life. I will serve my country and my people, not disgracing my predecessor.”

“Ahem.”

King Nagus presents a golden trident, a replica of the sacred weapon.

A replica of the sea god Poseidon’s most powerful blade, reduced in size so that mortals could wield it.

Even so, it’s a deadly weapon no ordinary man is not meant to touch.

Moreover, it’s a sovereign’s seal only the man at the top of the mermaid race is allowed to possess.

King Nagus passing the trident to Prince Arowana also means giving his position and authority as a parent to his child.

Prince Arowana stands up and holds the sacred object with both hands.

At this moment, he is no longer a prince.

A new king is born in this world.

“I hereby proclaim!”

Prince, or rather, King Arowana, raises the trident high.

“I am Mermaid King Arowana! I serve the Mermaid Kingdom, its people, and the whole world in peace!”

A thunderous round of applause erupts.

This is proof that all those gathered here have recognized and congratulated the new mermaid king.

I’m sure no one wanted to go through the trouble of coming back here for the coronation at a later date.

They wanted everything settled all at once.

And then, there’s Puffer, the new mermaid queen, standing by the mermaid king’s side.

Their new beginning will lead them to a new road.

It will be bumpy with many hiccups, but I’m sure they’ll pull through.

King Arowana.

And Queen Puffer.

A new form of a married couple is born.

***

And so, Prince Arowana and Puffer’s wedding was wrapped up nicely.

We can no longer call him Prince, but since it’s too formal to call him King, we have settled on just Arowana.

He may have been promoted to a higher rank, but his name has a more casual tone to it now.

That being said, Arowana and Puffer will always be our dear friends, so we will still visit each other should the opportunity arise.

If anything, those with bigger changes in their lives are...

“Ahh, this weight is finally off our shoulders!”

“Ahem!”

Now that they’re retired, Mr. Nagus and Mrs. Mahi, who are no longer king and queen, will have much more free time.

I haven’t the slightest clue what they’ll do...!