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Eric wandered to the shore, drawn by the sound of Ariel’s voice within Vanessa and bewitched by her magic. To say he had any thoughts or feelings of his own would be a great exaggeration. Or better, purely inaccurate.
It was a little unfair bewitching him like that, but Ursula didn’t want to leave anything to chance. She could have simply lured him by employing Ariel’s voice alone, without witchery, and he would have thought it was Vanessa who had saved his life, but time was running thin and she needed to be sure Eric wouldn’t fall in love with Ariel. She needed Ariel’s soul.
Had she any empathy left in her, she would have felt sorry for the poor prince, dizzy-eyed and befogged as he was. He seemed like a decent fellow: quiet, sweet, humble. Rather moral…and far too handsome. When he approached Ursula in the fog, his eyes dazed by her magic, she sighed.
He finds this human shell beautiful. Not Ursula—he finds Vanessa beautiful.
She had never been loved for herself by anyone but the human who had adopted her. Her father. He had loved her even when she had transformed into something monstrous, ugly, and foul, as her brother had called her.
Never mind the past! she thought. None of that will matter. Not when both the land and sea are mine.
Dearest Princess Tulip Morningstar,
It is with deepest regret to you and your family that I write you this missive. That I should behave so dastardly is an utter mystery to me and leaves me feeling quite ashamed. My only defense—a poor one—is that I was quite unlike myself when performing those actions. Indeed it felt as if I was possessed by another and unable to enforce my own will. I must assure you, madam, that actions such as those are entirely out of my nature, all except for my proclamations of love for you. (Though I might have chosen a more suitable fashion to declare them.)
I must confess that I have loved you for some time. Ever since I saw you on the shores of your father’s lands, coming forth from the sea like a silent mourning goddess, I have loved you, and I have watched you since as you’ve flourished into a strong, intelligent young woman. I had intended to present myself to your father’s court in the proper manner, to be introduced officially, so you may consider a courtship, but I fear recent events have sullied your view of me. If that is the case, dear princess, I will not repudiate your feelings. I only want to bestow my deepest regrets and sincerest feelings of love and devotion to the most intriguing young woman I have ever had the pleasure of laying eyes upon.
Always at your service,
Prince Popinjay
Tulip sat gobsmacked, with the letter from Prince Popinjay in her hands.
She hadn’t the words to tell Nanny what he had written—she hadn’t fully processed what it meant—so she simply handed the letter over so Nanny might read it herself.
“Well, he is rather gifted at expressing himself! Better, I daresay, than he is at ramming down castle gates!”
Tulip was still in a daze. “Nanny, do you think what he says is true? Were those men under some sort of enchantment?”
Nanny knew very well they had been.
“Yes, my dear, they were.”
Tulip looked at her skeptically. “Why didn’t you say so before?”
Nanny sighed. “Because, my dear, you would have given me the look you’re giving me now, like poor Nanny has lost her mind. And honestly, I had more pressing matters at hand, trying to summon Circe and contending with Ursula when she showed up in Circe’s place. But trust me, my darling girl, those men were enchanted and your prince can hardly be held accountable for his actions.”
Tulip’s face squished up with displeasure.
“He’s not my prince!”
Nanny laughed.
“If you say so, dear. But he sounds very much like your prince to me!”
Tulip hated this feeling. The last time she had felt this way, she had been utterly humiliated and deeply hurt. She couldn’t imagine allowing herself to be charmed by another handsome man only to be heartbroken again. But she was different now, wasn’t she? Stronger, bolder, and indeed more worldly. And it seemed those were the very qualities the prince admired in her.
“I wish Circe were here, Nanny. She’d know what I should do.”
Nanny sighed. “I believe Circe would tell you to write this gentleman back, thank him for his kind words, and extend an invitation to tea.”
Tulip smiled.
“Do you really think so?”
“I do, my dear.”
“Then I think I will!” said Tulip with a quick kiss for Nanny on her soft powdery cheek. Then she dashed out of the room so she might write the letter. Nanny laughed. How she had longed to see Tulip so happy again, and she felt Popinjay’s intentions were honorable. But she’d better take a closer look at him just in case. He’s a fine fellow for a human, said Pflanze in Nanny’s head. And I am sure Tulip will be quite happy with him, but we have to focus on Circe. I’m afraid she’s in grave danger. I fear we all are.
