21 part 21

Zui and Conch begin to dance in the croud of people. Zui's eyes were fixed on his.

Conch-

So, princess. Care to explain what that bout was?

Zui-

I'm sorry. Is it wrong of me to point out someone else's wrongs to another?

Conch-

No. Not really. But I'm sure the king minds that fact quite a bit, don't you?

Zui-

Eheh...

Conch-

So. What are you trying to do with me?

Zui-

Only express my gratitude.

Conch-

Uh huh. And I take it stalking me is the best way to go about doing that, your majesty?

Zui-

What-!? I'm not stalking you!

Conch-

Then how did you know this was me?

Zui-

Uh...

Conch-

Stalking. Watching me through that clamshell of yours. Here.

Conch takes out his shell and hands it to her.

Conch-

Next time try to be a little more discrete about your intentions.

The song ends and their dance is over. They now head to their original partners. Zui is sad that Conch gave back the shell.

Meanwhile, Coral and Titan walking the room with Megan.

Titan-

... Mr. Coral. Tell me about yourselves. What brought you two to the islands? Other than dumb luck from a ship wreck.

Coral-

Ah... Well. W-we were traveling between islands as tradesmen originally. Fishing, hunting and diving to look for good to sell and trade so we could make a simple living on one of those islands. Then there was this horrifically grand storm...

Coral expresses a sign of guilt and sadness as he tells this 'story'.

Coral-

I don't recall everything in it... But I do remember the last thing I saw after, our crew captain had abandoned us to fend for ourselves. Conch and I were lucky to be a drift instead of dead and we found the captains escaped ship with him dead on it. Served him right...

Coral relaxes again with a stretch from his arms.

Coral-

So we took the ship through over the body as a means of a proper sea grave for him and the crew we lost, did our best to continue forward. We used our skills to fish and look for goods that could help us survive the sea. Before we realized it we were swept into the docks of this island. You are right to say that it was dumb luck that we even got here. Conch noticed the gate surrounding the island when we settled earlier. He was horrified at the fact that we should be dead.

Titan-

That is... Quite the tale. You and your brother must be favored by the sea itself to have come such a ways.

Coral-

... I suppose. Regardless, I'm happy we are here. And proud that we've been given the chance to start over.

Titan smiles at him and pats his back.

Titan-

That you should be.

Coral looks to the king who gave him a look of proud admiration. He bought the story, hook, line and sinker. Coral smiles back at him goofily to end his extravagant tale with relief.

Conch-

You seem to have made a new friend, coral.

Titan-

In me he has. He was just telling me of your journey here. I admire both of you for your brave, strong hearts and your luck that is favored by the sea.

Conch looks to Coral who looks back at him nervously. He had to say something.

Conch-

... I see. M'lady, If you will?

Zui walk to Titan and stands at his side. Aurora takes the opportunity to leave her fathers side and take her place by Conch who looks to her with disinterest and guides her off elsewhere.

Conch-

Come on, Coral. We should enjoy a little more of the ball.

Coral-

Right, coming. My dear?

Coral bows and offers his hand to Megan and they follow after Conch and Aurora.

Zui waits for them to vanish in the crowd, then goes to sit down. Titan follows her in wonder.

Conch decides to walk to the other side of the ballroom and stands against the wall. Coral had joined the ball with Aurora and Megan for a group dance. After a while of watching Coral and the girls enjoy their time, Conch decides to leave the crowd and walk outside for some air. The guards at the door look to him in confusion for a moment, when he asked for a quiet place to relax. They escort him to the center garden where he could sit under the pale moonlight, taking in the sea salted air. A warm wind starts to blow past him gently and he allows it to sweep past his head and shoulders. He is at peace in his mind for a moment when a voice calls to him.

Conch?

He wakes from his short trance and looks over his shoulder to find princess Zui standing behind him alone.

Conch-

Yes?

Zui-

So this is where you had run off to.

Conch-

*snicker*Why? Where you looking for me?

Zui-

Uh... Well. Yes, actually.

Conch-

Well you found me. Why?

Zui-

... I'm not too sure myself really.

Conch-

Now that's pretty vague. Don't you think?

Zui-

I could say its because I don't want to be around king Titan for too long... But that would only be half the truth.

Conch-

So you sought me out in hopes of my company instead?

Zui-

... That wouldn't be a lie either, I suppose.

Conch-

...!? *chuckle* you're a strange princess, your majesty.

Zui-

...why are you here? Your brother is having fun inside without you.

Conch-

I only came because it would be rude not to, since it was a personal request that we attend. I'm not really one for the social lifestyle.

Zui-

... Would you mind if I joined you here?

Conch-

... I suppose not. Though I don't think his highness would be happy about you keeping company with a strange man you hardly know.

Zui-

... Well I may be his betrothed, but I would like to chose where I spend my time at least. I'm not his child.

Conch-

*chuckle* fare enough.

Conch makes room on the bench amd Zui takes the seat next to him. Conch closes his eyes and returns to his peaceful trance. Zui studies him for a moment then joins in the meditation.

Zui wakes from her trance that felt as if it lasted hours. She looks to find Conch out of his seat. She looks around and finds him talking to Coral. She wonders what they were saying and tries to hide that she was listening in.

Coral-

Lord Titan wants to talk to you about the story I told him about how we got here. Something about our origin. I told him we were originally tradesmen that would fish and dive for secrets in the sea. Got in a ship wreck from a harsh storm, found our crew captain, that abandoned us all, dead on the boat we have. And we never found any of our other mates. And by some miracle we ended up here, alive. We used our skills as fishers to live off of the sea for a while.

Conch-

Well... I guess I better be the one to elaborate with other details you might have "left out". Though I don't think I can elaberate on much.

Coral-

Hah! Good one. Come on before I have to deal with another one of his sudden calls of questioning and curiosity.

Conch-

He's that bad for you huh? Careful. You might end up in a sudden panic attack from him getting friendly all of a sudden.

Coral-

A little late for that. For the love of pearl...

Conch-

I'll be there in a bit. Give me a moment.

Coral-

Yeah sure. Just hurry up with your moon bathing.

Conch-

Stop calling it that! You make it sound perverted!

Coral returns to the ball. Once he was far enough, conch taps on Zui's shoulder lightly. She looks to him with a dazed. However conch was no fool.

Conch-

If you're going to pretend to be sleeping you might wanna do a better job at it.

Zui-

...!! Eheh... What did your brother mean earlier? About your story?

Zui stands and dusts off her gown.

Conch-

That doesn't really concern you now, does it?

Zui-

... R-right. Of course not. I'm sorry.

Conch-

... You sould really be careful with that curiosity of yours, your majesty. It could get you in trouble.

Zui-

... Is that a threat?

Conch-

A warning. Come on. We should both head back before someone gets suspicion.

Zui-

Right.

Zui follows Conch back to the castle.