Meanwhile, in the depths of a particular ocean where the darkness was illuminated by the glowing light of bioluminescent creatures, there was a huge castle that stood tall and majestic in the Merfolk kingdom.
Inside this castle, Ariel could be seen standing before a mirror in her bedchambers as she fidgeted with the laces of her corset. "Why won't this thing fit?" She grumbled as she tried to make the corset of her dress fit her body.
Karen was also in the room with Ariel and she watched as her queen struggled with the corset.
A smile appeared on the beautiful maid's face, then she straightened her glasses before standing behind Ariel. "Relax, Your Majesty, let me help," Then she gently pried Ariel's fingers away from the lace.
While Karen worked to tighten the corset, Ariel's face reddened as she felt it tightening around her waist. "It feels tighter than usual," Ariel complained.
"Maybe it's because it's been a while since you last wore it."
"You're right, Karen, but even so, it shouldn't be this tight."
"I understand, Your Majesty, I'll try to make it less painful."
"Thank you, Karen."
"You're welcome," Karen continued to do what she was doing, but Ariel still felt the same way. "It's still tight. I think the corset might have shrunk. "
"Perhaps, the corset isn't the one that has shrunk, rather... there are other factors," Karen said teasingly.
Ariel's eyes narrowed after hearing what Karen said. "What are you trying to say, Karen?"
"Well, Your Majesty has been enjoying the royal feasts quite... enthusiastically of late. So, maybe, just maybe, you're... expanding?"
Ariel's cheeks flushed and she turned around to look at Karen. "Karen, how dare you!"
Karen noticed the furious look on Ariel's face and she swiftly tried to appease her queen. "Forgive me, Your Majesty! I merely meant that perhaps a slight alteration to the corset would–"
Ariel interrupted her with a stern tone. "Fine, make sure that it is altered, Karen, immediately."
Karen bowed before scurrying off to summon the royal seamstress, but while she was doing this, Ariel turned around to look at her reflection in the mirror with a look of concern etched on her face.
'I know I have been eating a lot recently, but is this true?'
Ariel continued to check herself out while posing in front of the mirror, almost as though she was posing for a camera.
She kept doing this until Karen returned to continue helping her dress up.
Now, Karen was standing behind Ariel, and helping her to dress up, but she could also hear Ariel humming to herself.
Karen noticed the smile on Ariel's face while she hummed a song to herself.
It was easy for Karen to see that Ariel couldn't wait to leave the kingdom. "I think someone is excited to leave the kingdom."
Realizing what Karen was talking about, Ariel giggled and replied. "Maybe, I am."
"Are you that eager to watch the tournament?" Since Ariel was also an Apex Mage in the mortal realm, she had been invited to watch the upcoming tournament.
However, this wasn't the reason why she was eager to leave the kingdom.
"Nope, I just can't wait to see Evelyn again. I've missed her."
Karen felt the same way as well. She missed her friend, Elena, and she couldn't wait to see her again either.
"Don't you miss your Underlings as well?"
"Of course, I do, but I'm also upset with the two of them. How could they not send a message to this goddess for months, making me worried for so long."
"Well, you could have simply visited the elf kingdom if you wanted to." Stay connected with m-v l|e'-novelhall.net
"If I did that, they'll know I've missed them and that I visited the kingdom to see them."
"Is that bad?"
"You don't get it, Karen. They're my cute underlings. It's expected of them to miss me a lot more than I–" Ariel was suddenly interrupted by the huge amount of astral energy she sensed from a far distance.
Karen noticed how Ariel suddenly stopped talking and faced her direction, so she asked. "Your Majesty, is something wrong?"
However, Ariel didn't reply. Instead, she continued to face the direction until her lips slowly widened into a smile.