Pg. 233 what Quince tells her dad
"Master Quince, let's speak above the surface," the king said, his powerful jetting past Quince.
Quince nodded firmly at the request, even though Lily's father had already looked away, kicking to the surface. He frog-pulled himself up to the top of the blue pool, taking a clear breath of air once he surfaced. Quince reached his arms out onto the rock wall of the pool, pulling himself up and onto the sand. His shorts clung, sticking to his thighs as he stood up.
Seeing the kind with legs was a little strange to Quince, kind of like seeing a teacher in the grocery store. Plus he was donning the partial-transformation scales like Lily was doing to maintain decency, although he tried not to stare. Keeping his eyes focused on the king, who stood only a little taller than Quince, he waited for him to speak first.
"You have a say in this as well," he began, still keeping that somewhat formal tone that meant he was being official in his capacity. "How do you feel about what has transpired between the two of you? Where do you stand on keeping the bond between the two of you?"
"Well, sir," Quince started, if only to make sure the king knew that he intended to answer. He wanted to consider his words carefully, because as confident as he was truly beginning to feel about his feelings, he knew that it wouldn't be fair to ignore how Lily really felt. "I... care about your daughter. I love being with her, and... I love her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. But she doesn't feel the same way."
King Whelk was only barely surprised; he had already sensed that Quince cared for Lily. His confidence was the only thing that was new to him. "Are you aware of the permanence of a bond? As I understand it, marriage on land is not as permanent as a bond is, after it is finalized. Once we pass the next lunar cycle, it cannot be severed."
Quince nodded, pushing some of his wet, blonde hair back from his forehead. "Yes, sir. Your...niece, Dosinia, explained it all to me. I've never been more confident about my feelings than I am about her, sir. I only wish she felt the same way about me, but she still can't stand me."
Once he said it, Quince knew it was true. The years he'd spent looking after her from afar, flirting and pushing her buttons, wanting to treat her like the princess he saw her as (which was even more ironic, now), all of it had built into that confidence that he felt. He loved Lily Sanderson, or Princess Waterlily, whichever name.
"One week, son. I give you one week to change her mind," the king replied.
Quince took a deep breath in, nodding in acknowledgement. One more week to remain bonded to her, to try to convince her that the future he saw with her was right for her, too. He'd opened his mouth, about to thank her father, when Lily came bounding out from the blue pool.
"No! No, we have to tell Quince about the form sharing, about how if the bond isn't severed, he and I would always have to be in the same physical form, and once I return to take my place in sourt, I'll rarely use my terraped-"
"I know," Quince interrupted. His emotions were so mixed up, conflicted about everything. Usually, Lily's presence calmed him, made him feel at home. But now, it was just a reminder of the one-week timer he'd just been given. One final week to show Lily that their relationship would be worth saving. And now, her concern for the possibility that they would remain bonded forever-what did that mean?
"What? You know what?"
"About the rules. About being stuck in the sea whenever you are."
That didn't change how he felt. Maybe two weeks ago, it would've been a rather scary thought that he wasn't ready to sign up for, but now he'd seen what they had. He'd spoken to her deeply, come to trust her even more. That connection was just getting stronger for Quince, solidifying his confidence in his love for her.
"Then why not end it now?" Lily asked, confusion and anger swirling. She raised her palms to shove his shoulders, hard. Quince barely stumbled backwards. "Are you insane?"
It was a valid question, given the circumstances.
"Probably."
"Daddy, you have to explain-"
Unwavering, her father replied, "One week. You can wait one more week. I want you to be absolutely certain about what you want. At that time you will give me your final decision, by which I will abide. If you choose to separate, I will perform the ceremony on the new moon next weekend. That timing will make the break cleaner, in any case."
The moon is connected to all of this mer-magic, too? Quince thought to himself briefly, turning to look at Lily, who stood with her jaw agape. The king stepped to his daughter and hugged her, kissed her hair, then jumped back into the ocean.
"You!" Quince stared back at the frizzy-haired princess of rage before him. "I-This-We-" then she threw her arms up in the air, "Aaargh!"