I was going to spat out some facts. While we were from two completely different realms, I assumed - I prayed - that mermen and mermaids shared the same or similar morals with humans. A merman or mermaid would not fall in love with a sea creature, such as a fish or a shark, regardless if it had high intelligence like Triste. I would have loved if Triste were human, I admit. Then I would hurry into his loving arms and smother him with kisses without hesitation or being judged. He would definitely be the most handsome human. And have a six-pack!

Unfortunately, he was brought into the world as a wolf. A talking wolf who can decipher between good and sin. And I as a human. God created us what we are because we are perfect in His Image. We can do nothing to alter our physical bodies no matter how hard we try. We will be playing God and risking our health if we change any part of our unique selves. We should be happy for what and who we are.

Does this include my status? Should I also be happy for being a princess instead of trying to escape my duties?

I opened my mouth, but the only word that slipped out was a "Woah!"

Ginger yanked on my arm - my arm nearly snapping in two - and we started diving like torpedoes deeper down the ocean. Lake, I mean. Mermaid Lake is as enormous as an ocean. Perhaps more enormous.

"Before I forget to ask..." I said. "...are there mermen or mermaids in the ocean? Know any of them?"

Our brightly-colored tails made swishing noises as they bobbed up and down in sync against the warm water. I was quickly getting used to being an actual mermaid. If not for my wolf family and Tabceo, I would have stayed a mermaid to hide from my parents and their guards.

Would King Trifacha have ratted me out?

"Not that I know of," Ginger answered. "But in Forlot's ponds and other lakes, there might be either a merman or mermaid waiting to burst out of the water and play." We stopped inches from the ground covered in pebbles and turned our heads towards each other. "Hey, Maria. After we finish speaking with King Trifacha, would you like to spend more time here and hang out with me and my friends? We have always dreamed of playing with a human."

"Another time. I need to save my wolf family from...my own parents. But first, I must learn more about the odd pendant. It may be the key to rescuing all the wolves."

"Why would your parents kidnap the wolves whom you love?"

"They are dirtbags wanting to keep me in a small box."

"Your parents or the wolves?"

"My parents. They have always been like that. I figured that they would have changed for the better after many years of me absent from the castle. But their hearts did not change in the slightest. I am so disappointed how I wound up with not one, but two greedy parents."

I was taken aback when she flung her arms around me, hugging me.

"You are lucky that you did not wind up like them."

I hugged her back. I smiled because of her concern and kindness. "It was not luck. It was God."

"Ready to meet King Trifacha in all his glory?"

"A bit nervous, but yes. But your king is not as glorious as God."

Before us was the king's humungous castle that I could not stop gushing over. It is more pleasing to the human eyes than my parents' - which is dull and depressing. It is decorated in white-yellow swirls from top to bottom. Seashells of different shapes and bright colors lined up around the castle, one line at the top, one in the center, and one at the bottom.

"Like the seashells?" Ginger asked.

"They are marvelous. May I touch them?"

"Knock yourself out. But please do not try pulling them off. King Trifacha would not like it."

"I would not try ruining a remarkable castle like this." I tested my tail and swam up to the middle section of the castle. I placed a hand on a shiny, rainbow seashell and dragged my fingers down it. My body and tail tingled. I tapped my fingers on the smooth seashell. I shouted, "I can do ASMR on the shells!"

"'ASMR'?"

"Yes!"

"What is ASMR?"

"Swim up here. I will show you."

Ginger quickly joined me. "You told me seconds earlier that you are ready to meet the king."

"Not my exact words."

"Still, you agreed."

"We will see King...whatever that his name is and—"

"King Trifacha."

"I will call him the king."

"And Your Majesty when you are in his presence - even though that you are technically a princess."

"My parents stopped being my parents once I stumbled across the wolves and their den."

"Why do you still call them your parents?"

"What else can I call them?"

"How you described them earlier. Dirtbags."

"Other people will not know who I am talking about."

"They will as you tell your story of how you became the generous and courageous Maria."

"Thanks. I would not be where I am today without God and the wolves."

"After you rescue your wolf family - your true family - I would love meeting them. If it is not much trouble."

"Sure. You will want a wolf as your friend after meeting them."

"Wish that we had neat animals like wolves down here. Alas, we have to settle with little fish only knowing how to swim and discuss nonsense."

A school of fish was swimming past us. One of the little fish halted and faced us. The ends of its mouth pointed down. Its eyes looked like puppy eyes. "I-I am not good enough to be your friend because of how I was born?"

"Uh...help me out, Maria."