The late morning sun blazed in the sky, already baking the ground with its relentless summer heat. It was monsoon season, and the oppressive warmth hinted at a storm lurking just beyond the horizon.
Ariel strolled through the bustling market stalls, taking in the vibrant array of goods—clothing, accessories, food, and more. She wore a flowing, flower-printed dress and a sun hat embroidered with delicate blossoms.
Her presence was like a beam of sunlight cutting through the crowd. Vendors and shoppers alike paused to admire her beauty, their faces lighting up as they engaged her in sweet, casual conversation.
"Our Crown Prince is very generous," one vendor said warmly.
"He established microfinancial banks and businesses for us vendors. We used to be sidelined—called the poor scum of society. We couldn't invest in our businesses or even open accounts in those big banks with all their demands. But thanks to his kindness, we can now get small loans and grants, and bank our money somewhere affordable."
Ariel smiled.
"Oh, is that so? That's really lovely. I'm glad you're happy."
"Happy? Who said anything about us being happy?"
Ariel turned to another vendor—a man sorting through a pile of clothes at his stall.
"Oh... but you just said you were grateful that the Crown Prince established those microfinancial banks and businesses to help you get by..."
"Yeah—and gave them the pleasure of milking us dry with taxes!" the man snapped.
"It's true," another vendor chimed in.
"Ever since those banks and businesses were set up, taxes have skyrocketed. Most of our hard-earned profits get sucked right back into the system."
"And don't even get us started on the tariffs being slapped on imports from other kingdoms," a third vendor added bitterly.
"Importing materials from outside the kingdom has become financial suicide. And the worst part? Those tariffs hit us—the informal sector—while the rich and powerful get away with lower rates. It's so unfair! It's like the Crown Prince wants to make life unbearable for us."
Ariel's expression softened.
"Oh my... I'm so sorry to hear that."
"Not as sorry as you'll be when the Crown Prince finds out you've been gossiping and talking dirt behind his back."
The voice was sharp, arrogant, and unmistakably annoying.
Ariel's lips curled into a slow, sinister smile.
She turned around—unhurried, unbothered—to face her second archenemy.
Leticia.
She wore a light blue strap dress and a wide-brimmed sun hat embroidered with a massive blue rose. Behind her, two guards trailed dutifully, their arms full of shopping bags.
Ariel offered a slight bow.
"Fancy meeting you here, Mrs. Dinkley."
Leticia's lips twitched in fury. She had clearly expected to be addressed by her title—but this bitch had called her Mrs. Dinkley.
How dare she.
"How rude and insolent!" she barked.
"How dare you address me in such a way! Don't you know who I am?"
Ariel smiled sweetly.
"Oh... I'm sorry, Mrs. I didn't realize you still demanded formal acknowledgment even in... places like this."
She gestured subtly to the bustling market around them.
Leticia glanced around—and realized they were in the middle of a crowded marketplace. Dozens of curious eyes were now fixed on her. Her cheeks flushed beet red.
She had almost made a scene because of the bitch.
Again.
"Well, if that's what you want," Ariel said smoothly, "then I'll gladly address you properly."
Leticia panicked.
"No! No. No. It's okay. Mmm... it's okay, Miss. No need for that here. It's... fancy to meet you too."
Ariel stifled a laugh behind a polite smile, then stepped away from the stalls and toward a quiet alley. Leticia followed.
"It is indeed," Ariel said.
"I hope you don't mind—I'm just doing a bit of shopping. And a little... engaging."
She leaned in, her voice low and laced with steel.
"After all, I might be the future Queen. Best to learn more about my subjects, don't you think?"
Leticia's eyes widened in disbelief—then she burst out laughing, drawing attention.
"Ha. Ha. Ha. Oh my goodness. You really are a crack-up, Miss. You? The future Queen?"
She scoffed.
"Please. Just because you had a cute little brunch with the Queen Dowager and the Crown Prince, you think you're getting chosen? Save the drama for the melodramatics. I'm never going to believe that."
Ariel leaned in closer, her voice a whisper now.
"Well, you'd better believe it. The royal bride selection? It's just for show. The Prince has already chosen me as his Crown Princess. So you'd better get ready to bow to me. Because I won't take it lightly if you don't."
Leticia scoffed, leaned in, and whispered,
"Listen to me, you little two-faced bitch. The only reason you're standing in front of me right now is because I haven't had time to deal with you yet. But mark my words—I'll make sure you grovel at my feet and bleed at my mercy. I already hate that face of yours. It reminds me of a bitch I once loathed. So mark my words... you're going to get what's coming to you."
Ariel smiled coldly.
"Is that a threat, Mrs. Dinkley? Because if it is, I suggest you choose your words carefully... or you'll be the one who's sorry."
Leticia snorted.
"Hmph. Sorry? I should be sorry because you think you're going to be Queen? Bitch, please. Save it. I already know the Crown Prince is a deadbeat asshole and a beast. He'd never choose a little sissy like you to be Queen. I, on the other hand, can offer him something you never could."
Ariel raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really?"
Leticia smirked.
"Yes. And it's a guarantee. I'm way better than you."
Ariel leaned in, her voice like velvet laced with venom.
"Then I guess it's true what they say about mothers and daughters... the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. A bitch will always give birth to a bitch."
Leticia's eyes widened.
"Huh—you bitch! How dare you!"
WACK!
Her hand struck Ariel's cheek with a sharp, echoing slap.
"Haaa!!!"
Gasps erupted from the crowd around them.
Ariel touched her swollen cheek, eyes glistening with tears.
"Mrs.! I already said I'd address you properly. Then why are you hitting me?"
Leticia snapped.
"Oh, shut up! No one's going to believe your little act! I'm going to tell the royal family everything—how you and your precious vendors were badmouthing the Crown Prince behind his back. And I'll gladly tell them about your blasphemous lies—claiming you've already been chosen as Crown Princess before the selection. Let's see if you're even allowed to participate after that!"
The crowd began to murmur. Whispers turned into judgmental stares. People started speaking ill of Ariel, saying Leticia was right to slap her—how dare she insult the Crown Prince, how dare she assume a title not yet earned.
Leticia smiled triumphantly, leaned in, and whispered,
"See, bitch? I told you I'd destroy you. Let's see if you ever have the guts to insult me again. And don't worry... I'm just getting started."
Ariel's lips curled into a smile. She leaned in and whispered back,
"Then I've got one word for you, Mrs. Dinkley—checkmate."
Leticia blinked, confused.
Then—
"Oh darling, I'm so glad you're finally here!"
Ariel bolted from Leticia's side and threw her arms around a man dressed in a black jacket, jeans, sneakers, and a low-brimmed cap.
She hugged his waist tightly, her voice trembling with feigned sobs.
"This woman was horrible to me... she accused me of all sorts of lies just because I didn't greet her properly."
Leticia fumed.
"That's not true, you—"
But the words died in her throat.
The man lifted his head—just enough for his face to catch the light.
Leticia's face turned ghostly pale. Her breath caught. Her knees nearly buckled.
It was him.
And in that moment, she looked like the life had been drained from her completely.
Ariel smirked as she caught the look on Leticia's face—and decided to add fuel to the fire.
"She even insulted you with horrible words," she said sweetly, loud enough for the crowd to hear.
"She called you a 'deadbeat asshole' and a monster! And when I confronted her, she hit me! She accused me of all sorts of lies. Oh, darling, look what she did to my beautiful face—it's horrible."
She gently lifted his hand and placed her swollen cheek into his palm, as if he were tenderly caressing it.
Then she looked up at him with wide, teary puppy eyes.
Leticia collapsed to the ground.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing—no, she refused to believe it.
'How? How could this be? How did that little bitch—? No. No, it can't be. This is bad. This is very, very bad.'
Meanwhile, the man standing beside Ariel—and the other man nearby—were just as stunned.
The second man's eyes were practically bulging out of his head. He hadn't expected this when he came to the market escorting the other man.
He thought the man—that man—would explode at the woman's brazen behavior. He braced for the storm he was about to unleash.
But to his utter disbelief... the man was smiling.
Still.
His eyes, golden honeydew, glinted with something unreadable.
To his horror the man even leaned in and kissed the woman's cheek.
That was the breaking point.
The second man clutched his chest, as if on the verge of cardiac arrest, and screamed in his mind.
"What the fuck!!!"