Meanwhile, in the palace above the water, Prince Arinzé, son of King Embaku, was dealing with his own struggles. His father had summoned him to the throne room for yet another conversation that had become all too familiar.
“Son,” said the king, “I have received another message from King Madou. His daughter would be an excellent match for an alliance.”
The prince ran a hand through his dark hair, visibly tired.
“Father, I understand. But—”
“But what?” roared King Embaku, slamming his fist on the table. “Every young woman in the kingdom has been presented to you. What more do you want?”
“I want to marry for love,” Arinzé replied softly. “Is that so wrong?”
“Love?” scoffed the king. “Love is a luxury we cannot afford. We need stability.”
“And what about me? My future?” the prince murmured.
“Your future is the kingdom!” shouted the king. “When will you understand that your personal desires do not matter?”
“My personal desires should matter too, Father. Times are changing. Things should change as well,” Arinzé replied.
“Get out,” said the king in an icy voice. “Out of my sight until you are ready to behave like a prince.”
Seeking comfort, Arinzé went alone to the Muya River. The moon cast a silver glow over the water. Sitting on a tree trunk, he stared at the calm waves, trying to soothe his troubled mind.
That was when he saw her.
A head emerged from the water, followed by shoulders and a face of breathtaking beauty—a mermaid. Her scales glimmered in a brilliant blue. Their eyes met. Neither of them moved.
“You should not be here. It is dangerous,” said Arinzé.
“I know,” Stella said, moving closer to the shore, “but I had to see what the world above looks like. The air, the sounds, the light—it is so different. My name is Arinzé.”
“I’m Stella. This is the first time I have seen the surface. Is that the moon?”
“Yes,” said Arinzé, pointing to the sky. “And those are the stars.”
“They are beautiful,” she breathed, her eyes full of wonder. “We see some light under the water, but nothing this beautiful.”
They talked all night, sharing their worlds. Arinzé told her about life in the palace, his father’s pressure, and his dream of finding love. Stella told him about the underwater kingdom, her father’s wisdom, and her endless curiosity.
The hours passed like minutes.
“I have to go back,” Stella said as she saw dawn approaching. “My mother will worry.”
“Will you come back tomorrow night?” Arinzé asked hopefully.
She hesitated, then nodded.
“Yes. But we must be careful.”
When she returned, Mother Ado was waiting for her, her face full of worry.
“Where were you?” she asked in a harsh voice.
“I… I just wanted to see the surface,” Stella stammered.
“Have you lost your mind?” cried Mother Ado. “They would kill you if they saw you up there!”
“Mother, maybe they are not all as cruel as you think.”
“Not cruel?” she exclaimed. “They would kill you without hesitation. Promise me you will never go back to the surface.”
But Stella could not make that promise.
Night after night, she met Arinzé by the riverbank. They shared their dreams, their pain, and little by little, their hearts. Their love grew despite the danger surrounding them.
