Page 63 of Coral Prince Conundrum

I sit on the throne made of coral and sea glass, a chair with spikes sticking out of it at various angles. The back is lower, allowing Father to stand behind me as I gaze out at the people of the kingdom. To my right, Mother floats stalwart, and to my left, Seero and my brother stand in support, just as we rehearsed.

Father and several members of the Corali Court give the mandated speeches, and after several anxious minutes, Father floats before me.

“Do you swear to uphold the duties of the Coral Kingdom, lest you be stripped of the crown?” he asks in loud Corali words.

“I do.”

“Do you swear to put the ocean and the Corali people first?”

“I do.”

“Then repeat after me: I, Searoyal Mareflow Dagat, pledge myself to the monarchy of the Coral Kingdom, and I am honored and humbled to wear the crown, taking on the duties required for my people.”

I repeat the oath, and Father smiles, his eyes glistening. He takes off his golden coral crown and swims to the back of the throne.

He places the crown on my head and announces, “I give you…the new acting Coral King!”

The crowd erupts, but the ocean might as well be silent. Because when I take Daryl’s hand, all I see is him. In this, the most momentous occasion of my life, I would have felt nothing if I didn’t have him by my side.

I wear the crown, I’ve established peace, and I have my soulmate, mykaluluwa. With Daryl, my family, and my people before me, I know I’m exactly where I belong.

The End.