"HAPPY BIRTHDAY."
Cesealia sleepily said as she yawned. She stretched, letting the warmth of the sun grace her face. "Arthur?"
Silence. He wasn't here. Yet again.
She made her way up the steps, and the crew members greeted her with nods and smiles.
"Good Morrow, my lady," one of them said.
She waved in return. Instead of starting a rebuttal, she had long given up trying to get them to understand she was not Arthur's betrothed and was as common as they are.
Perhaps she was entangling too much sea because, for some reason that reality didn't feel so unbelievable anymore. Her boots echoed off the wooden boards as she ascended.
Target acquired.
Nearby, Arthur sat slumped in a chair, dozing off in the fresh morning breeze. His arms were folded, his breathing steady, the rise and fall of his chest relaxed in sleep.
Mandoriya, who had been watching him intently, shot up when she heard approaching footsteps, looking guilty, and blurted, "Morning!"
Cesealia arched a brow but smiled. It was the first time the mermaid had spoken so readily. "Good Morning," she replied. "Are you hungry? What do you eat?"
Mandoriya hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the fabric of the loose tunic she had lent her. "Umm… I don't think you would have it."
She grinned. "Try us."
Mandoriya glanced around before admitting, "Shark."
She blinked. "Shark?"
The mermaid nodded quickly. "Not dolphin! Against the law to eat friends."
Cesealia chuckled. "Well, I'm sure we will come across one." She walked over to Arthur, who remained deep in sleep, his golden hair messy from the sea breeze. She reached out, gently brushing his bangs away from his face, her fingers lingering for just a moment.
Mandoriya tilted her head. "He is a handsome man for Twenty-Three."
Cesealia nearly choked. She pulled her hand back quickly, her face heating up. He told her his age? What else have they been talking about? She thought. "When did he tell you that?" She blurted out.
"Last night." Mandoriya looked at her innocently. "We saw the sunrise."
Were they together all night? Cesealia thought.
Mandoriya tilted her head and said, "Your Kind… mate to make mini kinds too?"
Cesealia's entire face turned crimson. "Uhhh—oh look! A feeding ground !" she said, far too loudly, pointing at the water as a distraction. "Let me ask a crew member to prepare a boat."
Before she could even turn, Mandoriya suddenly stepped up onto the ship's railing. "No, please. Too much trouble." Before she could be stopped, she dove into the sea.
"MAN OVERBOARD!" Cesealia yelled, her heart nearly stopped in the process of rushing to the railing.
Arthur jolted awake, startled by the shouting. "What—?" In his half-conscious state, he tried to stand too fast and ended up falling out of his chair with a loud thud.
He scrambled to his feet, rushing toward where Cesealia stood. Then he saw. Mandoriya wasn't drowning. No—she had transformed.
Her body shimmered as magic coursed through her, her legs no longer human but a breathtaking tail of iridescent pearls and soft blues, glimmering in the morning light. The entire ship went silent in awe. This was the first time they saw her true form.
She twirled in the water gracefully, her movements like those of a dancer. At first, she was looking for just Fish, but then she saw a better meal. Her eyes locked onto her target—a massive shark lurking below. A bit bigger than a great white. She lifted her hands, and suddenly, the water around the beast churned unnaturally. With a flick of her fingers, a glowing sphere of liquid rose from the ocean's surface, capturing the shark in a floating bubble.
Arthur could hardly believe his eyes. He'd seen magic before with Eugene and Rhyssand. Hell, it runs in his blood, but this was something else.
With another wave of Mandoriya's hand, the bubble drifted toward the ship, carrying the shark in its suspended state. Then—THUD— it landed directly onto the deck. The crew erupted into cheers.
Arthur, regaining his composure, grabbed Excalibur from his side and swiftly brought the blade down. One clean strike, and the shark lay still. Cesealia hurried to the ladder, waiting as Mandoriyah climbed back up, her magic retreating as she shifted back into her human form. The second her feet touched the deck, the crew whistled and called out. "Dinner is served!"
"Shark feast tonight!" Said another.
Cesealia laughed, shaking her head. "It seems we'll have a grand feast fit for our Prince."
Arthur's eyebrows frowned, and then realization hit him, "That's Today?"
The crew laughed.
For the first time since they had rescued her, Mandoriya smiled. A real, genuine smile.
"Happy Birthday, Arthur "
The deck of the King of the Seas was alive with celebration. Laughter rang through the air, boots thudded against wood as the crew danced, and the music of fiddles and drums filled the night.
Arthur sat back, amused, as he watched the festivities unfold.
Mandoriyah, standing beside him, tilted her head. "We do not have this kind of dancing where I come from."
Arthur smirked, extending his hand. "Then let's fix that."
She hesitated for only a moment before taking his hand. With a guiding step, he spun her onto the deck, leading her in a simple turn. She giggled, only to suddenly step on his foot. She gasped. "I'm sorry!"
Arthur chuckled. "I have three sisters—I'm used to it."
She frowned. "I thought you had two?"
Arthur froze mid-spin.
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "I don't remember telling you that."
Before he could finish that thought, A loud whistle rang through the air.
The music stopped.
He turned toward the source of the sound, only to be met with an absolutely ridiculous sight.
Cesealia.
In full pirate attire.
Her long hair tumbled down in wild waves, a large belt cinched her waist over a loose tunic—his tunic—and atop her head sat a large pirate hat, complete with a feather.
Arthur had to blink to be sure he wasn't seeing things.
Cesealia smirked at him, twirling a knife in her fingers.
"Arthur Pendragon," she declared, loud enough for the entire ship to hear. "To earn your birthday present, you must first catch me."
The crew roared.
Arthur arched a brow, intrigued. "And what shall I do with you once I do?"
Cesealia tilted her head, amusement dancing in her hazel eyes. "Let's find out." Then, without hesitation, she slashed through a rope—sending herself flying up into the sails.
Arthur grinned. Oh, she wanted a chase? he thought. She would get one.
"But—" Mandoriyah muttered.
Arthur was already moving. He leaped onto the rigging, boots catching hold as he swung himself upward, his eyes locked onto Cesealia's retreating figure.
The crew cheered as Bets were already being placed.
Cesealia landed on a beam, balancing with ease as she looked down at him with a teasing smirk. "Too slow, Captain."
Arthur chuckled darkly. His eyes glinted with challenge. The music shifted. The beat turned sharp, a fiery rhythm thrumming through the deck like a heartbeat—strings plucking in a menacing, exhilarating melody. The chase was on. Arthur lunged for her, but she twisted out of reach. slipping through his grasp like the last seven years of his life. Not again—this time—he would catch her. He pursued, boots thudding against the deck. The crew roared, stomping to the rhythm of the music, some of them dancing as if they weren't witnessing an all-out hunt between their captain and his elusive first mate.
They swung from the ropes, leaping across the sails. They landed on opposite sides of the ship, eyes locked. Cesealiasmirked, confident, breathless, thinking she was so clever. Arthur grinned back as she stepped forward. Right into his trap. With a sharp snap, the rope beneath her shifted—flipping her upside down and suspending her mid-air. She yelped, arms flailing as she dangled.
"Arthurrrr!" Cesealia shrieked, kicking lightly.
Arthur leaned against a barrel, arms crossed. "Huh," he mused, smug. "Looks like I got the catch of the day."
The crew howled with laughter.
Cesealia glared at him. "Cut me down."
Arthur tilted his head, savoring the victory. "Please?" he prompted.
She huffed. "Fine. Please cut me down."
Arthur smirked, stepping forward. running a hand over her waist as he finally cut her down. "Now, about my present," he murmured, voice low with amusement.
She huffed, brushing herself off before reaching into her tunic—pulling out a letter from inside her shirt.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "You had it there the whole time?"
Cesealia smirked, waggling the letter between her fingers. "You were supposed to retrieve it yourself when you caught me," she said, rolling her eyes. "But you cheated."
He gasped in mock offense. "I did no such thing! I won fair and square!" He gestured dramatically at the ropes still swaying in the wind. "You, my love, should know better than to challenge a starving man."
"You cheated," she repeated.
He groaned, rolling his eyes. "Fine," he muttered, snatching the letter from her grasp. He expected a simple note. A teasing remark. Maybe even a sarcastic Happy Birthday, Captain. But then he saw the seal. The royal seal. The King'sstamp. Arthur's fingers tightened around the letter as he quickly tore it open, heart hammering against his ribs.
Was this it? Had he finally—?
He scanned the page. And then…He blinked. Once. Twice. There was a single word from his father, among the words Happy Birthday were written. A hundred times. In different handwriting. Signed by every single member of his family. Even Callisto and Seraphina—who had left behind scribbled, tiny initials next to their names. Arthur exhaled, his hands lowering as he let out a breathless chuckle.
Cesealia studied his expression carefully. "What does it say?"
Arthur shook his head, a slow, disbelieving smile tugging at his lips. "It says…" He swallowed, a warmth settling in his chest. "…Happy Birthday."
The scent of roasted shark filled the salty night air, the flames from the firepit crackling as laughter echoed across the deck. Tonight, the ship's usual dining hall couldn't hold their feast, not when their catch was this large. So they ate under the stars, surrounded by the open sea, their bellies full and their spirits high. One by one, the crew told stories—some wild, some ridiculous, and some even downright impossible. Tales of sea monsters, of lost treasures, of near-death escapes, and divine encounters.
Arthur listened with amusement, adding a few of his own, but as the night stretched on, his mind drifted.
He missed home; The lively breakfasts where his family bickered over everything from politics to who was stealing whose clothes. The extravagant dinners where no one ever quite sat in their assigned seats. There had never been a birthday he had not shared with his sister. Hell, he barely got away from being born on the same day. There had never been a time when the sound of his mother's laughter could no longer be heard, the weight of his father's gaze, Elaine's endless prattle about suitors, Eugene's sarcastic remarks, and Artizea's violence disgusted as training. He had sent letters, of course. But nothing could replace the warmth of their presence, the chaos of it all—the love of it all.
Cesealia, ever perceptive, caught him staring out at the waves, his expression distant. Without a word, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. "You made me a promise, birthday boy," she murmured.
Arthur blinked, startled at first, then a small smile curved his lips. "I did, didn't I?"
Just as he was about to lean in, their lips were mere inches apart. A very drunk mermaid waddled into view.
"Oh, shit," Arthur muttered under his breath.
Cesealia groaned and turned to see Mandoriya stumbling toward them, her lilac hair slightly disheveled, eyes glazed over with what could only be described as pure intoxication.
Behind her, the second mate—one of the younger crewmen—stood looking thoroughly mortified. He saluted stiffly.
"Your Grace," he stammered. "I—I didn't know—I mean, she asked what it was, and she wanted to try it—"
Arthur raised a hand, already exasperated. "At ease."
The man exhaled in relief, nodded, and then promptly fled back into the depths of the drunken crew.
Arthur sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. Only now did he truly take in the state of the deck. His entire crew? Wasted. Drunk as sailors. The irony. When he turned back to Cesealia, she was already pinching the bridge of her nose.
"I'll look after her," she sighed.
Arthur winced. "I'm sorry, love."
She shook her head. "It's fine—really."
Before she could turn away, he caught her by the waist and pulled her into a deep kiss—one that stole her breath, one that left her blushing despite the years they'd spent together. When he pulled back, he smirked.
"I'll make it up to you, I promise."
She huffed, trying to act unaffected, but her flushed cheeks betrayed her. "Goodnight, Arthur."
"Goodnight," he replied softly.
Cesealia led a very tipsy mermaid away, leaving Arthur standing alone at the railing. Once again. She slipped through his fingers .