The death of my mother, of my father, the abuse I suffered from my stepmother and stepsister, the loss of the title, riches, power, and luxury that came with being a princess, the years of servitude and contempt I had had to endure, after a lifetime misfortune and misery, the betrayal of a trusted friend was just too much for me to bear. I simply could not summon the words to voice my pain, anger, and humiliation. I simply started to scream and bawl and babble a mixture of enraged curses and self-pitying whimpers.

I am sure that everyone in the ballroom turned to witness this spectacle, though my own eyes were blinded by tears. The fact that I might be recognized was far from my mind; I needed to vent my emotions so badly. Suddenly, I heard his voice.

"Nerita! You don't understand! I-"

"Nerita?" I heard the queen and her daughter say in almost identical bewildered and angry tones, not quite in unison. Overcome by rage, there was no room in my heart to fear their wrath. Let them tear me to pieces, for all I care, I thought. I have nothing to live for.

"I understand completely!" I screamed, directing the storm of emotion at him. "You tricked me, you lied to me, you made me think that you actually cared about me!" I looked up at him for a moment, then turned away; the sight of his face made me sick inside.

"I swear to you, Nerita, I had no idea this was going to happen! I only learned of this betrothal tonight!"

"Why should I believe you? You lied to me about who you were!"

"I never pretended to be anyone else!" he protested.

"But you never told me the whole truth, either! You royals are all alike, you're all just a bunch of lying, sneaky, decietful sons and daughters of whores!" I shouted with all my strength. "I'm leaving this horrible place forever! And as for you, Dylan Sachiel," I paused to look up and hold his gaze, "I hope my life is never again poisoned by your presence, and if you died a lonely death in the deepest waters of the ocean, it would make me a very happy woman."

With that I stormed out of the palace as fast as I could, fearing the pursuit of the queen, her bodyguards, or worse yet, Dylan himself. I had no idea where I would go. I vowed never to return to Atalanta, and never to seek refuge in Pacificus. I knew of other undersea kingdoms, but these were hundreds, even thousands of miles away. Besides, word traveled surprisingly quickly, and if the queen wanted me back, she would find me easily enough. Thoughts of suicide swam through my head before I realized my future home was right in front of me, plain as the nose on my face...or the ring on my finger. Tightly clenching my fists in determination, I headed for the shallow waters of the coast.