#437 The Jealous Ones

I am a young, noble lady named Black Bass.

And today, I feel quite unpleasant.

I was born into one of the most prestigious families that has strong ties with the royal family and wields absolute power.

Having such a background, I deserve to be given the highest position.

In other words, Mermaid Queen.

If I am the best in all aspects of life, including lineage and social class, wouldn’t it be natural for men to come and ask for my hand in marriage?

The current king is too old to be considered a marriage candidate, but even if I were to remove him from the list, they say his son, Arowana, is quite the prince charming.

Being the first prince, he will eventually succeed his father and become the mermaid king.

I’d say that with such a position, I’m a good match for him.

Very well, Prince Arowana.

I acknowledge you as my future partner.

But it’s too early for you to rejoice.

I’m not as cheap as to make the first move just because I’ve made up my mind.

If you really want me, you’ll have to come for me.

When it comes to love, taking the initiative is important.

Whoever shows the first sign of affection makes all the difference.

Love is war!

The one who falls in love first loses!

That’s why I have to get Prince Arowana to like me!

I won’t let him marry me until he’s fallen head over heels to the point of offering the entire nation’s wealth.

Fortunately, I am the daughter of the most prestigious family in the Mermaid Kingdom!

Once word of my fame spreads, I’m sure he will come to me.

All I have to do is to wait gracefully till my prey is caught in the trap.

And so, time passes as I wait for my prince...

One year...

Two years...

Three years...

Four years...

Five years...

***

Twelve years have passed.

And yet, Prince Arowana has yet to come.

Why?!

I am the daughter of the most famous family and have been waiting for him for a long time. Why hasn’t he come yet?

Does he have barnacles for eyes?!

I am almost past marriageable age, and my parents are urging me to get married to anyone before my next birthday.

They say so, but the fact that I’m barely within the suitable age range means it’s most likely over for me!

How can a lady like me still get a good man?!

No, thank you! I would never want to marry a middle-class merman!

Besides, what’s wrong with Prince Arowana?!

I’ve lost more than a decade of my life waiting for him. He has to take responsibility for this and marry me!

Aren’t mermen supposed to visit and propose to his future wife right away?

Even if he does come now, I won’t accept his proposal until gets down on his knees and begs me at least four times!

It’s his punishment for making me wait so long!

Amid my irritation, I hear something unbelievable from my father.

“Oh, by the way, about Prince Arowana...”

Prince Arowana?

What about him?

Has he finally come to propose to me with half the nation as dowry?!

“I heard he’s getting married soon.”

With me?!

“What makes you think so? Of course not.”

Huh?! If the prince is getting married, it has to be with the best lady in the nation!

And that’s me!

“Best lady? Who? You’re nothing but rotten deadstock.”

Shut up, old man!

...But I can’t believe this!

That damn prince. He kept me waiting for so long, and now he’s going to flat-out ignore me?!

How dare he toy with a woman’s naivete!

If that’s how he wants to play, well, I have something up my sleeve, too!

I’ll make him pay for the 12 years he made me waste!

***

And when the time came to act, I met allies.

What allies, you ask?

“Prince Arowana tricked us!”

“I adored him so much, but he never dared look my way!”

“Me too! Every night, I went to bed after chanting a spell to make sure my feelings would reach him! It didn’t work at all!”

These are all lamentations of women who weren’t noticed by their romantic interest.

Adoration, prayers, charms.

That’s not enough to make the other person feel your affection!

Though I suppose I’m not one to talk.

“Ah, so that means... All of you gathered here...!”

Are like me, who have hidden feelings for Prince Arowana.

Were there this many of us?!

I guess he’s bound to be popular and all since he’s the prince!

Here in the secret underground meeting place, dozens of heartbroken fiancées (self-proclaimed) have gathered.

Including me.

“...We are all comrades,” I say to unite us all. “We have been betrayed. We adored Prince Arowana so much, but he trampled on our feelings. He chose a nobody over me, the chosen one!”

“Excuse me?! Chosen one who?!”

“I am the one who should’ve been chosen by the prince! Don’t butt in this, old hag!”

“Look who’s talking!”

We’re not united at all!

Everyone thinks they’re number one and looks down on everyone else.

What a bunch of egotistic women!

This is why Prince Arowana doesn’t bat even an eyelash on you all!

“...No, now isn’t the time to be divided. We have but one enemy!”

“Enemy?!”

“That’s right. It’s the one and only abominable adulterer who took Prince Arowana away from us!”

I didn’t come here without a plan!

I already have all the information I need on the enemy we need to defeat!

“This woman named Puffer seems to be from a commoner’s family.”

“A plebeian?!”

“Unforgivable! I can’t let such a lowly woman snatch away the prince’s affection!”

“A noble lady like me is a more fitting wife for the prince!”

It seems the ladies gathered here are all from prestigious families.

Well, it’s an obvious condition if you wish to win the prince’s love, I suppose.

Unfortunately, Prince Arowana chose this Puffer of all people.

For a pleb, she sure doesn’t know her place!

“It’s up to us noble ladies to teach that woman a lesson she’ll never forget.”

“Hear, hear!”

“Don’t let that plebeian girl get away with this!”

“Let’s drag that woman down and ask Prince Arowana to choose a truly worthy queen!”

Our hearts are finally in the right place!

This is all the prince’s fault. He chose a commoner over me, a noble.

We have to set things right!

“We’ll carry out our plan on the day of their wedding! It’s the perfect opportunity to kick out the commoner and have the prince marry one of us then and there!”

Well, I know he’ll choose me for sure, though.

“Let’s unite our hearts and face this adversary together! For our future!”

“FOR OUR HAPPINESS!!!”

And so, our meeting came to an amicable conclusion.

But shortly after...

“Um... excuse me,” says a timid-looking mermaid. “I’d like to clarify something. Is this Puffer the very same Witch of the Bitter Cold from the Six Mad Witches?”

“?”

Wait, the Six Mad Witches?

As in, the most sinister potion compounders in the mermaid realm?

If I recall, Princess Platy is one of them...

With just that brief comment, one-third of the ladies gave up and left.