When we reached the palace, I headed straight for the nursery wing. The beavers had finished the rough digging for the pool, and thanks to the spring-fed line, it was already filled with cool, fresh water. It wasn't 'royal reef' standard yet, but it was clean.
When I got there, I didn't just drop him in. Instead, I sat on the edge of the stone basin first, letting my legs dangle in the water. My waist was absolutely throbbing from the walk, and the cool water felt like heaven.
"Okay, Melo," I said, gently sliding him into the basin. "This is the deal. You're clearly bored and looking for a fight because you think being 'the second prince' means you're just a backup for Thalor. But in this kingdom? I don't need backups. I need specialists."
He floated on his back, his purple hair spreading out like seaweed. He looked less like a brat and more like a curious cub now.
"Specialists? For what? You're a land female. You build boxes out of rocks."
