The Little Leeches Act Three: Love Blossoms
The silence was throughout the room. Everyone, the king and queen, maids and butlers, and maybe even some of the gardeners outside quiet because of Floyd's sudden whisper of happiness. When previously, he was very mute, and so was his twin.
Nonetheless, it was Queen Icabeth who cut the silence with a piercing screech.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Icabeth screeched in surprise, "Riddle. My beloved boy, what is the meaning of this? You barely know this man and you are proposing your love and devotion to him?"
"Mother, I have already mentioned that I have known Floyd for years, so long that it was inevitable that I would have fallen for him and now I have taken my chance to make my wrong a right. This is what I wanted."
"Really?" Floyd questioned.
"Yes," Riddle answered, his hand holding Floyd's hand. "I have forgotten to give you this, it suits you."
The lovely ring was now on Floyd's finger, not minding that Floyd staring at it.
"I love it!" Floyd laughs, looking at the ring.
"I know you are excited, but please remain calm," Azul managed to chuckle, not able to hide his happiness, with more reasons than one.
"Well, congratulations!" Cheered Julius happily, "At the end of this week, we'll have a massive celebration of the love between Riddle and Floyd. And of course, we will still have a beautiful engagement party for Trey as well, now please let us eat and we'll discuss party favors afterwards."
Everyone agreed as they began to eat again, now chatting about the engagement and with Floyd getting his voice back, was leading the conversation without much consequences, much to Azul's dismay. But seeing how happy his friend was, which was a major contradiction to his previously sad nature only a few days prior, made Azul happy, now having one more objective.
💞
Floyd was laughing to himself, in the ballroom, looking at the ring in his hand. His mystic hums cause those to stop and listen, an effect of a mermaid's voice. But Floyd was so happy, just knowing what the ring symbolized, based on what he learned.
"I can tell you like the ring," Riddle spoke up, "You know, I saw that ring and I knew you'd love it."
"Aquamarine is the jewel of the sea, and when given to someone, it symbolizes bond and hope for the mermaid." Floyd managed to speak, still distracted.
"Oh, now I'm extreamly happy to give you that ring."
Floyd looks back at Riddle and rushes to his side, presenting the rose gold rose-shaped ring he found earlier that day, with a goofy smile on his face.
"I forgot to give you your own ring," Floyd beamed, "I meant to at the table but Goldfishie beat me to it so here you go!"
Riddle's face becomes red and he lets Floyd put the ring on his finger, not expecting to wear a ring on his own, especially after his proposal. But he managed a smile.
"Thank you, Floyd. Where did you found this? I don't think you found it in the sea like you normally would."
"Well, it happened today, and I took the oppunuinity. Because it reminded me of you when I saw it at the merchant's stand." Floyd blurted out, still happy about it.
"Floyd," Riddle started, "when we visited the shop, you wanted the necklace. I don't recall giving you coins for shopping either, so the only possible reason you could've had this is that you stole it. You stole the ring. Floyd, you could've asked me for it, why did you steal?"
"Because it would've been obvious but I never thought about it until I saw it so I didn't think of the consequences. I just wanted to show my love for you like I see humans do when I was younger."
Riddle sighs and looks back at Floyd.
"Fine, but please don't do it again. And I do like it, despite it being stolen. And you are right, humans do give rings as a symbol of love, but not just any love, it's love for eternity, to be with the one you love until you die."
"I think I remember you telling me that once, but I never understood it."
"You'll understand once we wed, Floyd, and trust me, I am quite impatient to see that day."
Floyd laughs and brings Riddle into a hug. "I thought I was supposed to say that."
"I wanted to beat you to it."
Floyd laughs again and kisses Riddle, more happier than ever.
💞
"I may say," Trey laughs, "Your brother must be really special to Riddle for him to interrupt dinner with such a majestic proposal. I never thought to see the day where Riddle has found someone he loved that much."
He hands Jade a nice cup of tea on his balcony, with Jade looking into the ocean.
"I mean, this was the same Riddle who once told me that love is a illusion, and not real. But it was from Icabeth when we were children, so I can imagine what other nonsense she filled his brain with. I wouldn't be able handle it."
Jade covers his hand, after taking a quick sip.
"Oh, I guess you wouldn't have tea often, hmm?" Trey chuckled.
Trey smiled and took Jade's hand, which was still holding the tea, and began carefully to blow on it. Jade didn't know how badly his hands were trembling once Trey's hands held his. He managed to keep his cool once Trey brought his hands back to him.
Without missing a beat, Jade took another sip and sighed in contentment.
"It is so delightful to have a nice time with you after what happened at the pond," Trey nervously gulped, "I did think you would be mad at me after that, but once you gave me the hat, all my fears just disapeared. You just made my day and watching you ate any dessert with that twinkle in your eye made you incredibly adorable."
Throughout his life, Jade would have never considered himself adorable past his childhood years. Handsome, sure. Perfectly fine, practically normal. Creppy-looking, rude but something he accepted long ago, but adorable? Never in his life would someone, let alone a human, call him adorable like he was a small child, made him stop and look at Trey, trying to see any trace of teasing or anything that wasn't genuine but with that smile, Jade couldn't help but smile back, just happy.
Jade grinned and happily drank his tea again, listening to Trey's rambling.
After a while, Trey quickly left, grabbed a nicely wrapped present, and handed it to Jade.
"Open it," Trey expressed, "I got in the market and was supposed to give it to you at the boat ride but you know, the accident but now is incredibly perfect."
Jade looked at the present and carefully opened it to reveal a beautiful jade-carved mermaid, which fit perfectly in Jade's hands.
"I would call it My Little Mermaid," Trey chuckled, "but I thought it would've been better to give it to you. I may or may not had gotten it because of your name."
Jade managed a silent laugh and held the statue delicately.
Suddenly, as if the world was against them, a gust of wind flew passed, causing some things in Trey's room to fly around. Some papers flew towards them, almost flying onto the garden below, if it wasn't for Jade, grabbing some stuff before they flew down.
It did almost cause Jade to almost fall over, before Trey grabbed him, pulling him onto the balcony, now panting on the floor.
Trey looked up at Jade, who looked down at him. Both panting and blushing from the contact of them, being very close together. Trey was just mesmerized by Jade, not saying a single word, and just staring. The only that took him out of his concentration was a hand on his cheek, checking if he was okay.
Trey's eyes still entranced by Jade, carefully felt his hand with his.
The only thing he managed to say was:
"It's you…You."
Trey got up, making Jade stumble onto him, holding onto him.
"It was you," Trey repeated, "you saved me, and you…you sang to me, I think…ugh, my head."
Jade got up and tried to feel Trey's head for a bump, worried he had harmed himself saving Jade. But what startled him was a laugh, a happy laugh, a laugh that reminded him of the moment he was Trey on the boat on his birthday, laughing with many people, a day where Jade was conflicted with his feelings, especially for a human he barely knew, but that laugh made Jade feel all those abandoned feelings.
As much as Jade wanted to deny his claim, because of the fear of his reaction, he just couldn't.
A drawn photo nearby caught Jade's attention. It was a drawing of him, an exact copy of him. He was now shocked and scared, but not knowing what to express, he just expressed surprise.
He knew, even without a voice, there was no convincing Trey that it was him that night.
But that almost didn't matter when Trey got up, with Jade in his arms, filled with joy.
"I can't believe it," Trey laughed, "Look at you, just like the moment I saw you that day. I thought I dreamed of you, like many told me but I knew if I waited long enough, I would find you."
Jade, once put down, just shook his head. He had a sad look as he touched his throat, reminding Trey, but mostly himself that he does not speak, so how could he prove it with song?
Trey stopped those thoughts with a smile.
"Jade, I know I am forward with my claim, but I," he sighed, "I'm so sure that you are the one, but you should deny it. Deny me this satifaction, because I know I was too strong. But please,"
Not bearing to heart Trey's voice break with sadness, Jade just gulped, looked at the paper, and showed Trey, showing him that he wasn't denying Trey, giving him satisfaction.
"I knew it," Trey just managed to say.
Jade hugged Trey and looked down at the garden. He felt an odd sense of happiness, but somehow deep in his soul, he knew it wouldn't last, and he just wanted to be held, like he always wanted.
💞
Winifred grumbled to herself as she looked into her Bubble of Sight, now frustrated. Seeing Jade cuddled against the man of her daughter's affection made her laugh in anger. She knew at this moment, even with Jade's memory wipe, he was still within Trey's memory, a memory of love, which she could not erase, just clouded it, which was unfortunate.
She already lost one voice that belonged to Floyd, someone that she barely kept her eyes on, but it was her downfall.
But she adored her daughter, Amphrite, so when she fell for a human prince, she did so much that fateful night.
💞
It was a day when Winifred saw Amphrite humming and singing to herself, playing with her jewelry. It wasn't that odd when it came to her daughter, but her singing was…uplifting, a song of love and hope. It made Winifred curious so she asked her daughter what made her daughter absolutely so happy.
Turns out, when searching for ingredients for potions and spells, she heard a flute melody and went to hear it. When she does, she sees a young prince, playing a beautiful flute and a beautiful melody was heard. She loved his golden eyes and just watched him, which felt like hours to her. So, for days on end, she found him playing a flute or playing with his little animal companion. It made her neglect her duties, which Winifred did notice.
Once he heard that the next day was his birthday, she wanted to introduce herself, no matter what line she would cross.
So when she told her mother, Winifred decided on a scheme that could leave Trey in Amphirite's arms. Which led to the storm that caused a major shipwreck, resulting in casualties, something she enjoyed.
But when Amphitrite came by sobbing, Winifred knew there was a massive shell in her plan.
She was told that the prince was saved by an eel merman, who was singing to him, now imprinting himself into the prince's memory. She watched in heartbreak as the prince's hand touched the merman's, now proven of their newfound bond, especially under the Coral Moon, which was rumored to create that bond if a human saw, felt, or heard a merman, just like the Coral Princess before them.
After the description, Winifred knew who that merman was. Jade Leech, twin brother of Floyd Leech, both friends of her sister's young son, Azul. She also knew about Floyd's collection of human stuff, which she knew made him an easy target for her deals.
A merman loving the human world? Such a naive soul.
When she felt the heartbreak of Floyd, she knew how to get back at Jade for stealing the Prince from her daughter. Using Floyd to get what she wanted was surprisingly too easy, so she was glad that heartbroken state clouded his judgment, even when Jade tried to steer Floyd away.
But it was more exciting when Floyd grabbed the scale of his twin and splashed it into the bowl, which forced Jade into his mess and her deals. Adding onto it, she had to tamper with Jade so he would simply forget about the true love kiss, Amphirite's request.
But now, she saw Jade, with the prince happy to figure out who Jade was.
Now she has to cheat even more.
💞
"Amphirite!"
Winifred looked over at her daughter, heartbroken by the sight the bubble presented.
"I have decided that we need to cheat, even if I had to use magic with my damn bare hands," Winifred hissed, "that stupid boy swam over to many hills and that prince is already on his knees, already in love, when it should be you, my sweet treasure, you should've been the one he should be happy for and I'm sick of it."
"I should've been the one," Amphrite whimpered, "that should've been me! I saw him first so he's mine! I won't that stupid eel steal him from me…and I know how.."
Amphitrite grinned and swam up to Jade's voice, hidden within her mother's neck. She held it close to her, having a twisted expression.
She managed to bring some stuff down into the cauldron, surprising her mother. But that surprise turned into delight as she swam back and as Amphitrite swam down and began to chant to the sky, causing a storm above. She laughed as the cauldron's spell began to cover them in smoke, her laughter filled the grotto as her voice began to mimic Jade's, and her body morphed into a human's, along with Winifred's.
"And that's why you are my precious daughter."
💞
Jade woke up with the smell of food, opened his eyes, and got up to follow it. He couldn't help it, he was just entranced by it.
Only a few days and Jade was interested in human food, eating it, or in this case, smelling it. It was such an odd smell, but it was so delightful to follow, but he managed to. Despite the guards all around the castle, none were seen by Jade or were just ignoring him.
Jade finally entered the kitchen and hid to look at the chef who made the wonderful meal.
The chef he saw was Trey, who was humming to himself as he created some egg omelets, fluffy pancakes, and different variations of jam. Strangely only for one, Jade noticed and decided to walk forward. When he did, he accidentally trampled a barrel of fish, startling Trey. Jade sank to avoid suspicion, but a small chuckle made him realize he was spotted.
"There's better places to hide than the ground, you know," Trey joked, offering his hands, "here, let me help you up."
Jade blushes takes his hand, and is lifted.
"I see you smelled my breakfast in bed, for you. Though, I hoped you were actually in bed when I presented to you," Trey sputtered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Jade looks at the tray of food and smiles.
"Well, I remembered you liked the breakfast I made, so I decided to make one, just for you."
Jade managed a silent smile, quickly turned, and walked up the stairs to his room, confusing Trey.
"What are you…"
Jade looks back and uses his hand to allude Trey to follow him, with the food he made.
Once they went back to Jade's room, Jade went back to his bed let Trey set the tray down, and gave him a glass of orange juice, which he drank happily.
"Well, I'm glad you allowed me to serve you in your bed," Trey sighed in relief and sat down next to Jade, "I wanted to make sure you…were ok, after last night. I felt bad about that whole debuckle. I put you in that uncomfortable situation."
Jade shakes his head, eating his pancake, now happy.
"Well, I also have one more thing," Trey gulped softly and presented a rose to Jade, "I saw you staring at them on the balcony and I thought you would want one. But I might find some mushrooms for you later on."
Jade's eyes beamed at the mention of mushrooms, and the land's nature. Another thing he was interested in, was mainly due to the mushrooms and flowers around the kingdom.
"I should get going," Trey spoke up, "Father really needs me for the ball tomorrow, and I can't keep him waiting. But how about one thing before I go?"
Jade looked back at Trey and saw him going forward, presumably for a kiss. Caught off guard, he dipped his finger in jam and poked Trey's nose, smiling.
Trey, now surprised, laughed and wiped it off. "Alrighty, I'll leave."
Jade watched Trey get up and leave, still smiling to himself. It made his heart beat with a proud proclamation of love, so once the door was closed, he swooned and continued to eat the lovely breakfast on his plate.
12 notes
·
View notes