Nero is aware of the fact that he knows next to nothing about the circumstances of his birth. It didn’t matter how much digging he did or how many times he asked his father, he never learned anything. It wasn’t fair at all. It felt like everyone in the Glassy Sea knew about Nero’s birth except for Nero himself.

No one would tell him. No one bothered. Whenever Nero asked, they were either too busy or decided they knew nothing.

It isn’t fair. 

Nero sighs, watching his two sisters and brother crowd around their mother. She was a sight to behold, considering that she was Queen Lucia of the Glassy Sea. She exuded grace and elegance; a true beauty. Her hair was brown, long and silky. Her eyes were gentle and as blue as the sea, and her tail was a pale blue with delicate scales.

Nero looks nothing like her. He never had.

He continues to watch as the queen and his siblings start playing in the seaweed. His little sisters, Titania and Nebula swam around the plant eagerly, evading their mother at every turn. His brother, Caspian, wasn’t really playing, but Nero could tell he was enjoying himself.

Not wanting them to notice him, Nero pushes away from the rock he was laying on, beginning to swim around the edge of the courtyard. He faintly hears Caspian call his name but continues deeper into the castle.

It’s not like they had anything to talk about anyway.

Caspian only pitied him.

“Ah, Nero. I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”

Nero freezes, biting his lip as his father, King Artem, approaches him. He found his father’s presence overwhelming and Nero shrank back instinctively.

“Your mother tells me that you’ve rejected all the suitors that I sent your way,” the king sighs. “Is something wrong?”

Nero was the first-born of King Artem. As such, he was expected to take the throne once he came of age.

“I-It isn’t me,” Nero begins. “None of them were interested. I couldn’t possibly pick someone who has no desire to be with me.”

“Nero…”

“They all...found me repulsive,” Nero admits, crossing his arms. “Like I’m a monster.”

He didn’t know a better way to explain it. It never mattered how kind Nero tried to be, nor how cordial. Every suitor had no interest in him whatsoever.

“You aren’t a monster!” The king says before Nero can swim past him.

“Then, what am I?!” Nero sobs. “Why won’t you tell me what’s wrong with me?!”

“There’s nothing wrong with you,” he insists, placing his hand on Nero’s shoulder.

“You’re only saying that because I’m your son…”

“Nero, you’re special.”

Special? What was so great about being special? All being special had ever gotten him was scorn from others, mockery, exclusion, and loneliness that could never be filled. Nero was special and he didn’t even have the faintest reason why.

“Listen to me,” King Artem begins. “There’s nothing wrong with being different.”

“Really?!” Nero says. “Nothing?! Tell that to every servant that shies away from me-”

“Nero.”

“Every suitor that refuses to look at me-”

“Nero.”

“Everyone talks about me when they think I’m not around and my own mother wants nothing to do with me!”

King Artem looks at Nero wide-eyed. Nero claps his hands over his mouth, backing away slowly.

“Father...I…”

“Artem! There’s-oh!”

Nero jumps at the sound of the queen’s voice, darting past the king. He hears her call his name but ignores her frantic voice.

He didn’t wish to see her. Not even a little bit.