The Wizard of Fairy Tale World

Chapter 55: Discovering the Girl’s Origin!

The prince’s eyes dimmed slightly.

As expected, what his father cared about was still his own reputation and political needs.

This amnesiac girl, blessed with the world’s most beautiful voice, was just another tool to him.

At just 15 years old, Prince Eric disliked those "adult" and "pragmatic" matters.

He loved hunting, sailing, reading romantic novels, epic tales, and fantastical stories of mythical creatures. He yearned for the freedom of adventure and the allure of romance.

Yet, he had to admit that the foundations of the world were precisely those "adult" and "pragmatic" things, not a teenager's romantic fantasies.

As the prince of the Western Asia Kingdom, he knew that one day he would become like his father—abandoning the ideals of today, just as his father had once abandoned his own.

For instance, Eric was aware that his father was seeking protection from Enderland, hoping to form an alliance with the northern superpower.

Common folk often whispered that Enderland was a nation of robbers, stirring unrest wherever they went. Just months ago, they had invaded the Rose Kingdom, already in turmoil due to rumors. However, for unknown reasons, they had been thwarted.

Even so, the alliance had to move forward. Politics should not be tainted by personal preferences or emotions.

“Quick, my child! Next, we must use every means available to uncover the origins of this amnesiac girl and the source of her magnificent voice!” the king exclaimed excitedly. “A girl who can sing with such a heavenly voice cannot have an ordinary background!”

In front of his bewildered son, the king began imagining all sorts of scenarios:

“If this girl belongs to the court of a powerful king or emperor, we will return her as a token of friendship and goodwill between our nations.

“This will be an invaluable bargaining chip at the negotiation table!

“But if her background is more modest, she can remain and serve our court long-term! That would be even better.

“We must also discover the source of her beautiful voice—it is so extraordinary, far beyond human limits. It cannot be natural!

“Perhaps, somewhere in this world, there exists a magical spring. If one drinks from it, anyone could sing as beautifully as she does! If our kingdom finds this precious treasure first, other nations will offer us gold for its location!”

Prince Eric lowered his head.

He felt that no matter the scenario, it seemed to diverge from his original intention.

After all, he had only wanted to help the girl recover her past.

Eric couldn’t help but wonder:

What if the girl’s voice wasn’t so breathtaking, but just ordinary? Would fate have unfolded differently?

But his father’s will was unshakable. Orders were already being issued.

The king commanded his capable subordinates to employ every method to uncover the girl’s identity.

One clever minister proposed:

“This amnesiac girl seems to have been found unconscious by the shore, likely due to a shipwreck. She may be from a distant land. This continent is vast, with hundreds of nations in the west alone, each as large as ours. Finding her origins through conventional means would be like searching for a needle in a haystack!

“Instead, we could turn to magic.

“In the northern Rose Kingdom, the former court advisor was a powerful magician who once used his magic to protect the king's life. Some say Enderland’s failure to conquer the Rose Kingdom months ago was also due to this magician.

“Even if we can’t hire such a skilled magician, we could recruit a talented diviner to use fortune-telling or astrology to uncover this girl’s past!”

The king was overjoyed but soon looked troubled.

“How can we ensure the diviners who apply are genuinely capable and not frauds?”

The clever minister suggested:

“We could hold a competition, inviting diviners from across the kingdom and even from abroad. The one with the most accurate results will be tasked with uncovering the girl’s origins.

“If the divination proves effective, we might even consider appointing them as a royal advisor.”

The king accepted this advice and offered a handsome reward for the best diviner.

Whether they were citizens of the Western Asia Kingdom or foreign experts, all were welcome to participate!

The prince, feeling melancholic, walked hand in hand with Ariel under the radiant hues of the evening sky, watching the crimson sun dip below the horizon.

“My father will soon recruit diviners across the kingdom to uncover your origins and the source of your beautiful voice,” Eric sighed. “Also, the Enderland delegation will visit our kingdom soon. My father wants you to sing for them. He is trying to form an alliance with Enderland and hopes to impress them in every way possible.”

The prince knew that the girl had now become a tool for his father.

Ariel, however, didn’t seem to mind. She mustered her courage and asked:

“Do you love me?

“I don’t care who I sing for, as long as I can stay with you forever!

“If your father values my voice so much that he allows me to remain in the palace and stay by your side, that would be perfect!”

The little mermaid understood she had to become the prince’s wife; otherwise, she could never gain an immortal soul. The curse would crush her heart and dissolve her into sea foam.

The prince held her hand, his dark eyes gazing into Ariel’s ocean-blue ones. He realized it was time to reveal the truth.

“You know…

“You’re so much like the girl who saved me that day! But not entirely the same. There are differences between you two.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“That was not long ago. I was sailing when an awful storm struck.

“Seasoned sailors often say such storms are called forth by wicked mermaids or luring ships into danger.”

No! It’s not true! Ariel screamed in her heart.

Only now did she realize how humans perceived her kind.

“If the prince knew I was a mermaid,” Ariel wondered, “would he despise me? Fear me? Hate me for deceiving him?”

The prince continued:

“I fell into the sea, but the waves pushed me ashore.

“There, a young woman saved me. In my half-conscious state, I vaguely remembered her face.

“Of all the people I’ve met, you resemble her the most. That’s why, among all the beautiful women in this palace, I’m drawn to you.

“But I know you’re not her! Your voice is much more beautiful than hers.”

Ariel’s heart shattered.

She remembered the storm.

The prince wasn’t swept ashore by the waves—she had saved him, carrying his unconscious body to the shore.

From the sea, she had watched as a human girl woke the prince.

What he truly remembered was that girl, not her.

“Oh no… Prince Eric doesn’t even know I saved him!” Ariel thought.

“Is it destiny’s cruel joke? Why do I resemble that human girl so much?”

Unwilling to accept this, Ariel asked:

“So, am I just a substitute? A replacement for the girl you truly long for because I resemble her so much?”

The prince remained silent.

The scene of the prince’s silence appeared in the mirror, visible to Rhine, Aurora, the crowned Sea King, the Grand Matron, and the other mermaid princesses in the palace.

“It’s my turn now,” Rhine declared. “I will respond to the Western Asia Kingdom’s call for diviners and reveal Ariel’s true origins!”