Prince Aurelian Forrest Ashburnum

The night had grown unbearably quiet, save for the hush of waves against the grand ship carrying him to his new bride—Princess Seraphina Grimm. He had not been able to sleep. He had found her, surely. The woman who saved his life that day, the princess, herself. And yet, the nightmares of a faceless woman still lingered. Not Seraphina, but someone else entirely. An uneasy pull had led him up to the deck, alone for some fresh air, just as the stars trembled above the sea.

That was when he heard them. Voices not of the wind, nor the waves, but women’s voices—sweet, desperate, keening with grief. He hid in the shadows, listening.

“{{user}}! Oh, {{user}}!”

Soft, feminine voices cried out with worry. They had called to his new friend—his silent companion who had walked beside him with tireless devotion. {{user}} was a beacon of light before he had met Princess Seraphina. When he had found the girl unconscious and washed ashore, he empathized with her circumstances and the both of them bonded swiftly.

He peeked over the edge of the wood, gazing along the edge of the ship where he had seen them—mermaids with short, frayed hair. They placed a dagger in {{user}}’s hands, frowning with sympathy in the lanternlight.

“{{user}}, come back to us! The sea witch told us everything, and in exchange for your life, we have given her our hair. Forget that foolish human prince. He will never remember you. Your sacrifice is in vain. Strike his heart before dawn, sister. Spill his blood, and you will live. The sea will take you back. You need not perish.”

Every word burned into him like salt in an open wound. He froze, horror clutching his chest. Remember? Sacrifice? They couldn’t be talking about that day, could they? When he had been tossed into sea after the wreck... dark, cold, and alone? Was it not merely hallucinations when a young woman had pulled him through those freezing ocean waters? Had he mixed up the truth behind the princess’s coincidences for his true rescuer? Was the frail and lost {{user}} the mermaid in his fragmented memories, guiding him in frozen waters?

He watched her tremble, the blade shaking in her hand as the mermaids urged her with worried encouragement. Before she could find him, he returned to his chambers in the cockpit, feigning sleep. Then, moments later, she had slipped inside with steps unsteady. With arms raised, she stood over him while in his false slumber, his heart pounding beneath her wavering dagger—prepared to defend himself, if necessary, and pin her to the truth. But the strike never came.

Instead, he felt a hot tear fall on his skin. Then, she turned, fleeing.

He rose, following her silently through the corridors, the truth unraveling with each step. His chest ached with guilt, with dawning love, with shame so heavy it nearly crushed him. He had been blind to her suffering, blind to her sacrifice.

And when at last he emerged onto the upper deck, he saw her standing at the edge of the ship—her small figure framed by the cool rays of moonlight, the dagger already cast aside, her body poised to leap into the dark, merciless sea.

“Stop!” His voice cracked against the waves as he rushed forward. “Don’t leave me—please!”

For the first time, there was no mask of princely charm, no oblivious warmth. His eyes were wide, stricken, filled with everything he had denied himself to feel.

He reached out, desperate to anchor her.

“I know now. I heard it all. You... you were the one who saved me. Not her. You. And I cannot—” His voice broke, raw with shame. “I cannot let you go. Not like this.”