Regina stepped out of the carriage and looked around. The newly renovated, grand pier was quite impressive. Rows of luxurious cruise ships were docked on either side of the snow-white walkway, their presence imposing.

“I thought you said it was just a small fishing port?”

“It was, before the redevelopment.”

Following his gaze, Regina saw parts of the old fishing village that had not yet been demolished. Shingle-roofed houses clustered together like barnacles, their walls made of stones piled by the shore. On closer inspection, the arrangement faintly resembled a slender crescent.

‘So that’s why it’s called Moon Canal (Dalsuro Port).’

As she took in her surroundings, Regina noticed something odd about a few of the houses.

“These houses… aren’t they a bit too close to the sea? The tide is out now, but when the sun goes down and the water rises, they’ll be more than half submerged.”

“I’ve always found that strange too, they don’t seem to have any particular owners. It looks like the fishermen use them as temporary shelters. Even though they quickly become mouldy and run down, no one bothers to demolish them.”

“But this time they will be demolished.”

With that, Regina let go of her curiosity. In the distance she could see workers – presumably hired by Grey – working on the demolition of the fishing village. Probably out of concern that the sight would be displeasing to the wealthy clients who would eventually use the cruise ships.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly – until the knights began to pinch their noses and grimace.

“Ugh!”

“What’s that smell?”

As the sensitive knights grumbled, Regina took a deep breath. Sure enough, a foul, musty stench mixed with the salty sea breeze.

“Maybe it’s from the construction?”

Or maybe it was because this was an estuary, where the river met the sea. That could explain the fishy smell.

“That’s probably it.”

Kiers said, pointing to the dock.

Dark pieces of what looked like building rubble were being pushed by the waves, crashing against the white stone wall. Closer inspection revealed it to be a jumble of rubbish, small fish, seaweed and various other sea creatures, all rotting together.

“The surrounding waters are completely dead. The stench of rotting seaweed and dead fish washed up on the shore every day is enough to make your nose sting.”

The fishermen’s complaints were true.

As Regina frowned and stared out at the polluted sea, Kiers cautiously added.

“Once the construction is finished, we’ll clean everything up properly.

“We’d better.”

Regina replied with a sigh.

“At this rate, there’s no chance of a mermaid coming ashore.”

Even approaching the area would probably make you sick. Not that it mattered, unless mermaids were considered pests.

Beyond the deep blue sea, the sunset had begun to colour the horizon. Just as Regina turned to leave, ready to return, something struck her as odd.

The knights, who had been moving briskly moments before, now stood motionless, like puppets whose strings had been cut.

“Hey. Wake up!”

Kiers, the only one still behaving normally, elbowed his stunned comrades. Startled, the knights jerked awake, their dazed expressions oddly familiar.

It reminded Regina of the peasants back home in Odair, who sometimes collapsed under the scorching midsummer sun. If you splashed water on their faces, they’d wake up with the same dazed expression.

“Hey. Don’t you hear anything?”

“Hear what? You want another slap to really wake you up?”

“Just listen. Someone’s singing.”

“Hear what, exactly?”

Kiers scowled and gave the knight another tap on the shoulder. The knight, who had come to his senses thanks to the physical jolt, looked surprised.

“Kiers, haven’t you lost some of your hearing? One of your eardrums was blown out in battle, remember?”

“Instead of shooting your mouth off, you should apologise to the lady!”

“My apologies. I’ll keep my head on straight from now on.”

“I’m sorry, my lady!”

Regina didn’t answer. At first she hadn’t noticed because of the sound of the waves, but now she could hear the singing as well.

Ah-how could one describe such a voice?

It wasn’t something that blew meaninglessly past like the wind. It was a diamond of sound. A tiny star that had fallen to earth by accident.

No bigger than a little fingernail, yet dazzling enough to capture the eye in an instant, its radiant sparkle spilling out like a thousand notes dancing across a sheet of music.

There was only one person in Regina’s life who could sing like that.

“The voice is getting closer.”

The knights all reached for their sword hilts at the same time. Regina was taken aback by their sharp, blade-like alertness.

“She’s just singing, isn’t she? We can just walk away.”

Regina said.

The knights, finding the situation somewhat absurd themselves, hesitated.

And yet, strangely, they couldn’t bring themselves to let go of their hilts.

It was as if every cell in their bodies, steeped in ancient memory, warned them that this voice was dangerously poisonous – deadly.

The singer appeared, stepping over the thin layer of tension that covered the air like frost.

Her face, veiled in the glow of the lengthening sunset, made one forget to breathe.

Two elegant brown hands slowly pulled back a hood that rested on her head like a crown.

Beneath it, emerald hair cascaded in waves, gleaming like polished copper in the crimson twilight.

Her features were striking and charismatic – bold and beautiful.

Slightly full lips parted in a smile that revealed white teeth, directed straight at Regina.

“It’s been a while.”

Regina had guessed who it was the moment she heard the voice – but now, seeing her face to face, her mood sank.

“Naheira.”

“Regina Odair. Or shall I call you Countess of Cabil?”

The moment Naheira spoke, the mystical atmosphere shattered like a lie.

“You haven’t changed a bit, have you?”

“Thank you. I use pearl powder in my cosmetics. Would you like some? You look like you could use it.”

She mocked Regina’s face, still scarred from a long illness, and Regina felt a surge of anger.

“I’ll pass. I’d rather die than be like you.”

“Don’t say things like that. You’ll curse yourself, especially after you’ve already touched death once, hmm?”

“You’re the one who’s upset that I didn’t die, aren’t you? You ran all the way to Cabil for nothing. What a shame.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Despite her pursuit of a married man, Naheira shamelessly denied everything.

“There must be some misunderstanding. I came here on a journey. Have you forgotten? My father used to holiday here. The sea is quite a sight, especially for a backwater like this. I come here sometimes.”

“You must be terribly bored, coming all the way to this ‘backwater’.”

“Not as much as you, stuck at home for a whole year! Ugh, you’re so annoying!”

Naheira snapped back quickly – some things obviously hadn’t changed in the past year.

“Lady, you are being rude to the mistress!”

At the knights’ rather threatening protest, they stepped forward to shield Regina.

But she raised a hand to hold them back.

Regina had never lost to Naheira – and she never intended to.

The only person she ever allowed herself to be vulnerable with was Grey Cabil.

“Well, that’s perfect. I don’t like you either. Now that we’re being honest, would you kindly leave my estate?”

“Your estate? You mean your husband’s estate.”

“His estate is mine too.”

“That might be true for most couples. But not for you two, is it? That greedy man would never share what’s his.”

The implication hit home and Regina clenched her jaw.

“Let’s not bring the family into this, Naheira. Even if you’ve run out of things to say.”

But Naheira didn’t back down. She knew exactly where to strike – Regina’s one true weakness.

“That man – does he really value and trust you just because you wear his ring? Does he include you in his work? Does he tell you where he goes, what he does or who he meets?”

“Are you out of your mind? Don’t you know what’s your concern and what isn’t?”

“Oh dear, look at you – getting all worked up. You feel it too, don’t you? That what really matters to Grey Cabil… is himself. And this golden empire he has built with his own hands.”

‘Not you, Regina.’

The unspoken truth slipped in like a needle under her fingernail – sharp, small and piercing.

Regina smiled through clenched teeth. Naheira, catching the flicker of pain, grinned.

“You really are pathetic. How long will you live under the thumb of a man who won’t even look at you?”

“Isn’t that what you are? Living under the thumb of my husband?”

Regina tilted her head, calm and cold.

“He chose me, not you. You still can’t accept that. That’s why you haunt our estate like a ghost, Naheira.”

No matter how much she called this place a backwater, Naheira had come running the moment Grey arrived. Regina pressed on the bruise and smiled sweetly.

“So – who’s really the one who can’t let go?”

“Can’t let go? Are you serious? Do you think I’d still care after seeing how pitiful your life is?”

“My life?”

Regina’s smile didn’t falter.

“It’s beautiful.”