Your Past - Marine Antoine
I should have only trusted my treasure and my treasure alone, after all.
I stared coldly towards the iron bars before me.
I was still a queen until last night, and now I’m just a normal seafolk waiting for my turn to be executed.
My prison was put on the sandy beach at land, in fear of me getting away through water.
We seafolk live in the sea, where our environment could drastically change in just a blink of an eye.
But the currency of gold coins and gems won’t change that easily. That is why we seafolks are obsessed with riches and treasures.
I got into this situation because of a weird move I made. You could say I put this upon myself.
I heard that the neighboring seafolk country was having financial difficulties, and oh my kind heart couldn't just let the people there to rot, so I offered them financial assistance.
Alas, it brought me to the point of poverty in just a single night. I ended up with not even a single penny left to my name.
When I thought the people around me would offer the same kindness I offered to others, they quickly turned their back when they knew I had no riches left to give them.
Just before my execution, a human king appeared in front of my bars. I remember this human.
Last night, he quietly visited my residence alone, and asked me numerous times to join the next Lispia Council meeting.
I had no interest in meetings where other races also took part in it, so I immediately told him to leave.
It surprised me that he still hasn't left this country by now.
“King Eida, was it? Greetings to you.
As shameful as it is for me to ask this, but can you release me from my bars?”
I implored knowing full well that he probably will not heed my request,
and was expecting him to turn me down.
Yet, he quickly nods with a warm smile on his face.
“Of course, O queen of the sea.
My name is Eida. I will save you.”
King Eida then handed me a heavy package. The content was a rich profusion of gems and gold coins, enough to even get me back my position as the queen.
After he handed me all those treasures, he left before the other seafolks came back.
I then gave those seafolks many of said treasures, and they let me be the queen once more.
What a swerve of attitude, yes. But that is just how the seafolks are.
10 years ago, I decided to participate in the Lispia Council meeting.
I was thinking of giving back to King Eida for all his help.
But I also have another goal in mind.
King Eida once said to me, in a place called the Holy City of Kataliah, there exists a surfeit of gems and treasures. If I vote in favor to the peace agreement set to be discussed in the next Lispia Council meeting, he will give all of those treasures to me in 10 years.
If I could have that much treasure, I could bring together all of the seafolk to unite as a whole.
When that happens, my status will so easily waver no more.
And for that, I kept this talk an absolute secret from the other seafolks.
This is a deal only I and King Eida know.
It is almost exactly 10 years after that.
King Eida called us race representatives again for a meeting he named “Recouncil.”
And it is time for me to claim my promised treasure.
But recently, I have been thinking.
If only I could make my country become a nation well-ordered by rules and peace, without relying on riches nor treasures…
Such thoughts was floating around, and knowing what a forlorn hope it is, it dissipates from my head like bubbles amidst the sea.
With such going on in my head, I head towards the Loden castle where King Eida resides.