Back in the sea, Panther Lily took his new role very seriously. Whenever Juvia ventured outside the castle, he followed her closely, constantly critiquing her singing. This effectively limited her visits to the surface, just as Gajeel had hoped. However, there were times when lessons couldn't keep her occupied, prompting Lily to explore alternative strategies. One such approach was encouraging her to socialize with other merfolk, though this often backfired.

For instance, that evening, they spotted three mermaids tossing a shell back and forth.

"Good afternoon, everyone! Do you need an extra player?" he called, gesturing toward Juvia.

Juvia smiled warmly at them, but the other mermaids regarded her with puzzled expressions, as they often did.

"Sorry," one of them said. "But there are already three of us, and we just don't have space for another player."

"Why don't you swim up and find a human to play with?" another remarked cruelly. "Humans like weird things."

"How dare you speak to the princess that way!" Lily interjected. "Where is your sense of respect? When the king hears about this—"

"Forget it, Lily. It's not worth it," Juvia replied, her voice heavy with melancholy.

"They can't get away with this!" the sea cat insisted. "You are the sister of a king! You deserve respect and dignity! You shouldn't be mocked and insulted!"

"I'm used to it, Lily. Just let it go."

With that, she began to swim away, and Lily followed, deep in thought. Was this how it felt to be the sea princess? Constantly disrespected by her own people? Did Gajeel know? No, if he did, he would have ensured it never happened again.

"Juvia, I think you need to tell Gajeel about this."

"I don't want to tell him," she replied. "And I don't want you to tell him either. I can't expect him to solve all my problems."

Juvia swam into her secret garden, pausing to tend to her flowers and admire the painting her friend Lucy had given her. Why couldn't others see the beauty the world above offered? Why did they assume she was strange just because her views differed? Why couldn't they at least try to be kind or perhaps be her friend? What was so wrong with her?

"I hate being different as much as I love it," she mused aloud. "I just don't understand. Everyone is unique, so why does it feel like I'm the only one who is?"

"Maybe if you tried to act more like everyone else," Lily suggested.

"I've tried that," Juvia replied. "It doesn't change anything."

"Maybe if you put in a little more effort—"

"Lily, if I did that, I wouldn't be me anymore. I get that changing a few things about myself might help me fit in, but no one is satisfied with just a few changes. They want every aspect of me to change, and I just can't do that."

She sighed gloomily, and Conlan nuzzled up to her side, offering comfort.

"Sometimes I feel like I don't really belong here. Like I should be somewhere else."

"That's ridiculous," Panther Lily said. "Where else could you possibly belong?"

"I don't know. Somewhere people don't laugh and gossip about me. Somewhere I could fit in. Somewhere there's at least one person who understands me and appreciates me for who I am. Someone I can relate to."

"You know what you need to feel better?" Lily said. "Focus on your music. You can't get into trouble if you keep practicing your singing."

"Lily, I've practiced until my throat is sore. I need a break."

"Very well. Take an hour to relax. But afterward, it's back to practice, practice, practice."

However, no more practicing would take place that evening, for at that moment, a shadow passed overhead. Juvia looked up and swam toward the surface to see what it was. As she bobbed her head out of the water, she realized the shadow belonged to a ship. Her curiosity piqued, she moved closer to the vessel for a glimpse of what might be aboard.

When Juvia reached the ship, she swam close and perched on a ledge that offered a view of the deck while keeping her hidden from human sight. Music and laughter echoed from above, and hundreds of lamps illuminated the scene. She watched as the crew danced, drank rum, and reveled in each other's company. Then, one crew member captured her attention.

A young man stood at the center, unlike anyone she had ever seen. His rugged dark hair framed gentle eyes, and a carefree smile lit up his face as he laughed with his companions. Juvia found herself breathless; he was the most handsome man she had ever encountered. Her admiration deepened when he began to dance. As another crew member played a lively tune on his flute, the young man's feet tapped out exquisite rhythms, radiating joy from the depths of his heart to the tips of his toes. His movements were intricate, captivating, and divine.

"He's wonderful," she thought, awestruck by his passionate movements. "I wish I knew who he was."

He was Prince Gray of the Verdenshav Kingdom, celebrating his eighteenth birthday at his favorite place in the world—a ship in the middle of the sea. This made him incredibly happy and excited. He was grateful that Lahar had allowed him to celebrate this way instead of enduring one of those tedious balls where he would have to meet countless women and choose a bride. Unfortunately, while that wasn't happening today, it would eventually.

"I don't want to be king," Gray said, irritation creeping into his voice as Lahar broached the topic again.

"I swore an oath to your father on his deathbed to prepare you for your royal duties once you turned eighteen," Lahar replied. "I also promised him I would see you married to a suitable young lady."

"I know, I know," Gray said, visibly annoyed.

"I've introduced you to several lovely and charming prospects, but you've dismissed them all."

"That's because those ladies are awful! Sure, they're pretty, but they're vain, shallow, and spoiled. None of them even like the beach, and have you ever tried taking any of them sailing? It's a joke."

"Sea-faring as a hobby is not a requirement for a future queen."

"Fine, but what about respect? None of those girls respected me. Ur told me they laughed at my voice behind my back. You know how much that bothers me."

Gray was different from most people in his kingdom. Verdenshav prized music above all, and having a good singing voice was essential. Tragically, Gray had been born with a vocal disorder that left him unable to sing; when he tried, his voice cracked, producing an awful sound. It was humiliating for him to be a prince in a kingdom that valued song, yet be unable to sing. Even worse, some had the audacity to mock him for it.

"Face it! I'm a laughingstock to them."

"You are not a laughingstock. You are the Prince of Verdenshav," Lahar argued.

"Not to them. They don't take me seriously because I don't fit their idea of a proper prince. What world could I marry someone like that?"

Juvia couldn't help but empathize with the prince. He was just like her—a child of royalty, yet mocked for not conforming to expectations. She wondered if they ever met, would he find her odd or accept her quirky nature?

"The Princess of Lazan City might be different," Lahar suggested. "They say she's beautiful and refined. I'm sure she wouldn't dare laugh at your... condition, sire."

"Still, I can't marry someone I don't even know."

"I understand. That's why the sultan and I think it best for you to spend the summer together. You could get to know each other and fall in love naturally, just like your parents did."

"I guess. What else do you know about her?"

"That's all, but I'm sure you'll be pleased."

"I don't know," Gray sighed. "I'm sure she's nice, but I'm not looking for a princess. I want someone different—like me."

"I'm different," Juvia thought eagerly. "Everyone says so, and for once, I'm glad of it."

Oh, how Juvia wanted to call out to him, to tell him she understood what it meant to be different. But she knew it would be dangerous to make contact with another human.

"Juvia, there you are!" Panther Lily called, hopping up beside her. "What are you doing so close to hu—"

Juvia quickly covered his mouth.

"Lily, be quiet! They'll hear you," she whispered.

He nodded, eyes wide.

"Sorry," he whispered back. "But what do you think you're doing? This is too close. What if someone sees you?"

"Calm down. I'm perfectly safe and hidden here."

"I don't like this. Only bad things happen when you get too close to humans. You should go home. Now. It's getting late."

Yet despite his warnings, she couldn't tear herself away from the ship and the handsome young prince. She wanted to learn everything about him.

Suddenly, dark clouds gathered, and the waves grew higher. Thunder rumbled, lightning struck, and the wind howled. The ship rocked violently, and Juvia and Lily struggled to maintain their balance. A storm was brewing.

"Stand fast! Secure the rigging! Batten down the hatches!" the captain shouted.

Gray and the crew scrambled to secure the ship, but their efforts were in vain; the storm intensified. The vessel pitched wildly on the towering waves, and with another crack of lightning, it began to splinter. The crew rushed to the lifeboats, lowering them into the sea—their only chance for survival. In the chaos, Gray's foot became entangled in a rope. As he stopped to free himself, a massive wave crashed over him, throwing him into the sea.

"Man overboard!" a crew member shouted.

"Prince Gray!" Lahar cried in horror.

Acting on instinct, Juvia dodged debris, desperately searching for the boy swept away by the wave.

"I must find him!" she told herself. "He must not die!"

At last, she spotted him struggling to keep his head above water. Exhaustion overtook him, and he sank like a stone. Juvia immediately dove after him, wrapping her arms around him and lifting his head above the surface. She swam through the turbulent waves, determined to reach the nearest shore.