Inside the palace's grand hall.
The King, Queen, and Prince Eric were receiving the envoys from Engeland.
The Engeland delegation looked imposing. Half of them were powerful warriors clad in armor, their fine mail and plate displaying their military might.
The strangest figure in the entire delegation was an Old Witch—one glance was enough to tell she was a stereotypical Witch! Old and ugly, with terrifyingly sharp eyes, she wore a classic pointed hat and Witch's robes. A wooden staff rested in her hand, and every so often, she muttered something strange under her breath.
People said she was the Engeland Emperor's advisor, the oldest, wisest, most authoritative, and most formidable member of the royal coven.
The moment Ariel saw her, she felt deeply afraid. The Old Witch reminded her of the Witch in the sea and all the terrifying legends surrounding her.
But the Sea Hag was only somewhat frightening in appearance and temperament. She wasn't truly a bad person. I hope this Witch is the same, Ariel thought.
"You have crossed the seas and traveled all this way. You must have had a difficult journey. Come, taste the fine wine of our West Asia Kingdom!"
The King's face was covered in smiles as he warmly and repeatedly ordered the attendants to fill the Engeland envoys' golden cups to the brim with wine.
Prince Eric had almost never seen his father look like that, whether toward him or toward his mother, the Queen.
It made the prince deeply uneasy, because it meant his father attached extraordinary importance to forging ties with Engeland.
And his father wanted him to marry an Engeland princess! What am I supposed to do? I belong to Ariel. I absolutely can't marry anyone else. Otherwise, Ariel will turn into sea foam!
The prince worried anxiously.