Sea Foam

Chapter 4

Mathias was confused. Which wasn't all that surprising, but it did make him upset. He certainly loved Bella, but he just couldn't marry her. He would, for the sake of his country, it was just hard to imagine when he thought of Bella as a sister.

Then there was Lukas. Goofy, crazy, temperamental, beautiful, Lukas. Mathias was afraid he was falling for the mermaid, and fast. All he wanted to do was hold him and show him the kingdom and kiss him and- Mathias quickly pushed any other thoughts of that away as he entered the kitchen.

"Hey, Kyra," Mathias greeted the pastry chef. "Have you seen Kia?"

Kyra, an adorably plump girl with a long braid smiled and bowed. "Prince Mathias! Such a pleasure!" When she stood from her bow, she waved at the cellar. "Kia is getting the ingredients for tomorrow's feast."

"There's a feast tomorrow?" Mathias asked.

"Princess Bella told us that you wanted a feast to celebrate the Mermaid Lukas." Kyra explained.

Mathias frowned. "I never said that."

"Should I call it off, Your Highness?" Kyra asked, obviously unsteady.

"No, no. It's a great idea. Just don't take orders that are from me unless they're directly from me." Mathias smiled to ease the girl.

She nodded, her dark hair swaying behind her.

The cellar door swung open and Kia, Kyra's identical twin sister emerged. Her arms were full of bottles and bowls and other various things. "Kyra, we really need to clean out down there. I could hardly find anything!"

"Should I send someone down to help?" Mathias asked with a grin.

Kia startled and quickly fell into a bow. "Prince Mathias, I didn't know you were here!"

"That's quite alright," Mathias said. He took a large bowl from the girl and carried it to the counter.

"What can I do for you?" Kia spread the rest of her armful on the counter.

"My guest would like a snack. Probably something to help him sleep," Mathias replied. "And no sea creatures."

The girls laughed. "I'll see what we can do," Kyra said.

"We'll send it up as soon as it's ready," Kia began to putter around the kitchen.

"Do you want it to sent to your room, Prince?" Kyra asked, taking a bag from Kia and setting it on the counter.

"Yes, that would be great," with a wave, Mathias left the kitchen. Now he had to find Bella and ask her about the feast.

He found the princess in the throne room. She was talking softly to her guard, a tall man with a stern face with a scar through his brow and hair that rivaled' Mathias's.

"Bella," he called. "What are you doing in here?"

The girl jumped and looked wildly around before finding the prince. "Mathias! You scared me!"

"My apologies," Mathias looked between the two. "I was just trying to find you."

Bella smiled. "I've just been roaming around. Did you find your mermaid?"

"Yes, he's in his room," Mathias replied.

"Don't you mean tank?" Bella cackled at her lame joke. Mathias didn't even crack a smile. Though the expression had always come easy to him, he couldn't muster one up.

"So, you've planned a feast for tomorrow," Mathias said after Bella reigned in her laugh.

"I thought it would be an excellent way of welcoming the mermaid-"

"His name is Lukas."

The princess continued like Mathias hadn't spoke. "Into our kingdom. Don't you?"

"Well, yes-"

"Then I don't see the issue," Bella threw her hands delicately into the air.

"The issue is that you ordered Kia and Kyra to make a feast without telling me," Mathias frowned.

"They are servants, and I am a princess, they live to do my bidding."

"That may be, but you can't give them orders without consulting me. They work in my castle, not yours."

"We'll be married soon enough and that will no longer be an issue," Bella smiled sourly.

Mathias sighed. "That's not the point, Bella."

The girl waved her hand. "It doesn't matter. Why don't you go see your mermaid or something?"

"Bella-"

"Shoo, shoo. Don't worry about me, I know where my rooms are," she waved her hand and turned back to the guard, completely dismissing Mathias.

The prince huffed and turned on his heel. He marched back to his room, mumbling under his breath.

When he got to his door, Kia, or was that Kyra? Mathias squinted and saw the girl had a bit of flour on her cheeks. It was Kyra.

"Is that my snack?" Mathias grinned, letting all his worries sink to the back of his mind.

"Yes, Prince. We have a shortbread cookie with a jelly center and some sweet tea," Kyra held the tray out for Mathias to inspect.

With an easy smile, Mathias took the silver tray from Kyra. "Perfect, I'm sure Lukas will love it."

"The mermaid?"

Mathias gave her a knowing smile. "Would you like to meet him?"

"May I? He won't be too upset?" Kyra asked.

"No, no. I'm sure he'll love it," Mathias jerked his head to Lukas's door. "This way."

The girl followed him closely, her giddiness practically dripping off her. Mathias knocked by kicking the door softly. "Lukas? It's Mathias, I brought you a snack."

The door jiggled a bit, but didn't open. Then there was a loud bang. "How does this stupid thing open?"

Mathias swallowed a laugh. "Stand back, I'll get it," he looked at Kyra. "Will you open that?"

"Ah, yes," she swung the door slowly open, afraid to hit the mermaid.

"You have to twist the thingy?" Lukas asked. He had watched the strange sphere on the door move before it was able to open.

Mathias walked in the room and grinned. "Yes, sorry about that. I didn't even think to show you."

"It is alright, I am just glad you came back" Lukas trailed after Mathias. Then he saw the girl out of the corner of his eye. "Who is this?"

"That's Kyra, she wanted to meet you," Mathias placed placed hand on Lukas's shoulder.

"Why do you want to meet me? The other girl was horrid," Lukas folded his arms.

Kyra stared at Lukas in awe. "I just wanted to meet you. My sister will be so jealous I got to meet a mermaid," she floated to Lukas. Her eyes were wide. "What color is your tail?"

"Blue," Lukas said simply.

Mathias grinned. "It's not just blue," he stood beside Kyra. "See his eyes? Blue as the ocean during the full moon," Kyra nodded. "That's what his tail looks like."

Lukas blushed and tucked a stray hair behind his ear.

"Whoa, it sounds beautiful," Kyra whispered. "Is it smooth or is it scales?"

"Have you seen a dolphin before?" Lukas asked. At Kyra's nod, Lukas continued. "It is just like a dolphin's tail, but I do not have the fin on my back and the ends of my tail are almost see-through."

"That's amazing. I can't wait to see it," Kyra grinned. "I better get going now, I have a feast to prepare for you!"

"Take care, Kyra," Mathias held the door open as the girl left. "Will you send someone up with hot water for a bath?"

"Of course, Prince!"

Once the door was closed, Lukas frowned. "What was that about?"

"What do you mean?" Mathias wandered over to the pastries. He picked one up and sniffed at it before popping it in his mouth.

"Who was that girl? And what is a feast? And why do I have one?" Lukas trailed after the prince and picked up his own pastry.

"Her name is Kyra, she works in the kitchens," Mathias licked some white powder off his fingers. Lukas took a bite of the warm cookie. It was sweet and gooey. Lukas loved it. "A feast is a big meal, usually to honor someone. Bella thought it would be a nice way to welcome you."

Lukas frowned. "I do not like Bella."

"Blunt, aren't you?" Mathias grinned. "She's a lot to handle sometimes, you just have to get to know her."

"I do not want to get to know her. She is...different," Lukas finished his pastry and sat on the bed.

"What do you mean?" it was Mathias's turn to frown.

"She is not like you, or Kyra. The princess is mean," Lukas said. "Have you not noticed?"

Mathias said nothing. He did, in fact, notice. Bella had been rude to Lukas since she arrived. And the mysterious whispering didn't help. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, making it even more messy. "Yes, but don't tell her."

"Do not worry. I have no intention of seeing her again," Lukas said. He picked up another pastry.

"Weeeelll…" Mathias scrunched his face.

"What?" Lukas said with a glare.

"The three of us are going to see the town tomorrow. And she'll be at your showing and the feast," Mathias replied. "She is their future queen, it would be good for the citizens to see her trying to make peace with the merfolk."

"She is not making peace with me, she is threatening me," Lukas said. He knew it sounded a tad crazy, but the way Bella had looked at him and talked at him made him want to control her mind and make her jump into deep water. He just knew something was off about her.

"She didn't threaten you-" Lukas scoffed. "She just doesn't like competition. And right now, you have my attention and she doesn't like it."

Lukas just scowled and folded his arms.

Mathias couldn't help the fond smile that made its way to his lips. Lukas was just so cute when he was grumpy. "I promise she won't do anything to you."

"What happens if you have to choose between us? I am just a mermaid, she is your childhood friend and fiance. I do not stand a chance." Lukas one he was being kind of ridiculous, but he couldn't help but feel his life was at stake.

"It won't come to that," Mathias said gently. "You don't need to worry."

Lukas glared for about fifteen seconds, then sighed. "If you say so."

Mathias grinned. He was tempted to place a kiss on the mermaid's head. He wasn't sure why he wanted to, but thought it was the moment for it. He reached out to touch Lukas's hair when there was a knock on the door.

Lukas jumped and looked at it wearily.

"I'll get it, just wait here," Mathias smiled. Lukas gave a quick nod, and the prince crossed the floor.

He swung the door open to reveal two young boy servants. They quickly silenced their conversation to bow their heads, unable to do a proper bow because of the tub full of steaming water they held. "My Prince!" they said in unison.

"Hello, Jack, Troy. Come in," Mathias stepped aside and the boys quickly shuffled in.

Lukas was slightly taken aback by how Mathias treated his staff. Princess Bella had bossed her guards around, but Mathias seemed to know everyone's name and was nice to them. Lukas thought it was rather great Mathias was so kind to those below him.

"Is that the mermaid?" one boy asked. He had curly jet black hair and wonderfully dark skin. His fawn brown eyes completed his look.

"That's him, Jack. Why don't you two put that in the bathtub, then we can have a proper introduction?" Mathias opened the bathroom door and the boys quickly shuffled inside.

"Oh, sir, Princess Bella wanted to confirm the time you were going out tomorrow," Tony said as they poured the water in the big porcelain tub. He was the exact opposite of Jack. Blond hair, pale skin that only burned and never tanned and pale blue eyes.

Mathias frowned. "When did she tell you this?"

"When we arrived at the door," Jack said. "Princess Bella and her guard were staring at it."

Lukas felt his heart rate pick up. What would happen if Bella heard what they were saying about her? She wouldn't hurt Lukas, would she?

"I see," Mathias said. "That's good to know, thank you."

The boys smiled at each other. "Can we meet the mermaid now?" Troy asked shyly.

"Right, of course," Mathias held his hand out to Lukas. The mermaid stood and offered a weak smile at the two servants. "Troy, Jack, this is the Mermaid Lukas."

Troy and Jack lowered their heads in a bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you," they said in unison.

Lukas forced a smile and was pleasant for their visit. Finally, Mathias kicked them out and began to show Lukas the bathtub. He struggled to pay attention though. He kept thinking that Princess Bella had heard them talking about her. And what she would do now that she knew Lukas most definitely did not like her.