Nero sits in his room quietly, watching as schools of fish swim idly by. He already misses his own freedom, even though for a long time, the most Nero really did was linger around the castle, sometimes sneaking away to explore the Icy Ravine.

Now that he couldn’t, being around the castle had become horribly dull.

His mother and Zander had made the days more lively, to the point that when Nero returned to the castle, the solitude almost felt suffocating. No one ever spoke to him and his siblings evaded him. The only one that truly acknowledged him was his father and he had grown busy ever since the arrangement had been made.

The week was coming to its conclusion and as Rene had promised, preparations for the wedding were already underway. Queen Lucia had asked Nero if she wanted to come see the decorations, but Nero refused.

Gossip around the castle had increased tremendously, as the staff wondered how such a union came to be. Some suggested that Faris had been brainwashed. Others considered the idea that his father had dirt on the Antella Family from years back and was using it to blackmail them. Then there were a few that suggested Nero had cast a spell on Faris that made him see Nero as a woman instead of a man.

Which would’ve been impossible. Nero didn’t know any magic. His mother had barely gotten a chance to teach him.

Not to mention, he had no intention of getting Faris to like him. What was the point? They weren’t getting married because they were in love. They were only getting married because both of them were in hot water with the Council. The Antella’s owed them money and Nero was to be punished for acts of “treason”.

He’s essentially a criminal and the castle was his prison.

Faris is the unfortunate warden.

With a huff, slumps into his clamshell bed, not noticing the door to his room had opened up until it gets slammed shut. Nero sits up in surprise but looks away when he realizes its only Faris.

Faris isn’t bad looking, not by a long shot, but Nero hates acknowledging that such an attraction to Faris exists. He had a sturdy build with a sculpted face to match. His tail was a dark red color and his unkempt locks were a light silver.

Nero imagines he’d like Faris more if he didn’t have such a bad memory of him. He remembers those emerald-colored eyes that were intense rather than soft and the heated words that still haunt him now.

“Dinner’s in an hour. You might as well come out.”

“I’m not hungry…”

“You never are,” Faris sighs. “It’s a miracle that you’ve even grown this much. You used to be so scrawny, it was ridiculous.”

“Why’s it matter to you?”

“Because I’m the one that has to keep an eye on you,” Faris says, swimming over to the bed. He grabs Nero by the chin. “The Council will kill me if something happens to you. I can’t let you starve, I can’t let you leave, and in a way...I can’t let you out of my sight! Do you know how stressful this is?”

“I’m not a child, Faris,” Nero reminds him. “I don’t require your constant watch. The guards already have that covered.”

“I know that. I can’t go anywhere without hearing about the Monster and the Pet. I thought my home was toxic but this is ridiculous. I can’t believe I’m stuck in this shithole with you…”

He lets go of Nero’s chin, sitting beside him without a word. Nero eyes him curiously. Faris takes a deep breath before turning to look Nero in the eyes.

“When did they start calling you that?”

“You should know...they got it from you,” Nero mumbles. “Does ‘I’ll never marry a monster like you’, ring a bell?”

Faris bites his lip, looking away in shame.

“Do you know how long that stuck with me?” Nero asks. “The words rang in my ears day in and day out. I didn’t know if there was something wrong with me or--”

“No. It was just the foolish words of an upset child. A child that knew absolutely nothing.”

“What are you saying then?”

“I’m saying that I wonder what things would’ve been like if I had embraced you all those years ago. Do you think things would’ve been different?”

Nero shrugs, his eyes drifting back out to the open sea. Could something so simple really have changed things? Nero isn’t so sure. He’s certain that even if Faris had accepted him, nothing would’ve changed. He still would’ve been the scorned Prince of the Glassy Sea. He’d still be undesirable.

But maybe…

“Nero, are you--ah.”

Both Nero and Faris turn their gazes towards the open door, surprised to see Caspian staring back at them. Nero’s brother looks away quickly.

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t know Faris was with you. Um...there’s some Mer looking for you. He said his name was Zander.”

“W-What? Where is he?” Nero asks, pushing himself up from the bed.

“He was in the garden. I-I’m not sure how he got in but--”

“Where is he?!”

“The garden! He’s in the garden!”

Nero swims past Caspian in a rush, almost knocking him over in the process. He couldn’t contain his excitement, not even for a second. He weaves past servant after servant, a smile tugging at his lips as he nears the Seaweed Garden. Even the snide comments he hears along the way couldn’t sway him.

Because sitting in the middle of the garden, was Zander, who locks eyes with Nero the second he enters the garden.

“You’re actually here!” Nero cries, launching himself at Zander so quickly that he sends the other Mer flying.

“G-Get off of me!” Zander shouts, pushing Nero weakly. “N-Nero!”

“I missed you…I really missed you…”

Zander sighs, relenting as Nero hugs him tighter. He runs his fingers through Nero’s hair, twisting a stray lock around his index finger.

“I...missed you too, Nero,” he admits. “Lady Kirin misses you even more.”

“How is she?!”

“She was devastated at first, but pretty quickly she became enraged. Yet, she knew that her presence would only make matters worse. So, she gave me this.”

Zander opens the palm of his hand carefully, revealing a small vial. The liquid inside was as dark as the night sky.

“What is it?” Nero asks, taking the vial from his hand.

“She said it was a way out. What it’ll do to you, I can’t say. She wouldn’t tell me. All she wanted to do was give you a choice. Whether you take it is up to you.”

“Mother…”

“Please think on it,” Zander says sincerely. “And if you have anything to take care of, I’d do it now rather than later.”

“Like what? I’m sure the Ravine is heavily guarded and--”

“Didn’t you make a shoddy promise with that captain?”

Nero blushes.

“H-How do you know about that?!”

“Does it matter?” he asks. “Look, if you’re gonna go say goodbye, you better hurry up. I can stall for time.”

“How--”

Before Nero can finish his question, Zander snaps his fingers. A bright light engulfs Zander’s body, so much so that Nero has to shield his eyes. When the light finally fades, Nero’s eyes widen at the sight before him.

He was staring right back at himself. The look-a-like smiles.

“W-What? Where--”

“It’s still me, Nero,” the look-a-like says in Zander’s voice. “I’m just borrowing your form for a while.”

“But--”

“No more questions!” Zander interrupts, dragging Nero towards the nearby gate. “Listen, I managed to knock out the guards just outside that gate. If you don’t go now, you might not get another chance. Go see the captain and try to see Lady Kirin if you can. Just don’t waste any time.”

“Zander…”

With a soft smile, Zander pushes Nero outside the gate. Before Nero can protest, he hears Faris calling for him, sounding terribly annoyed.

Without looking back, Nero rushes to the surface.