"Hey, hey, did you hear that? Queen Otohime just said the Celestial Dragons sent Fish-Man Island a letter?"
"Yeah, apparently they'll support our petition."
"The Celestial Dragons are actually going to support our petition?"
"No way."
The Fish-Men below the platform were still murmuring among themselves. Standing above them on the podium, Queen Otohime naturally saw all their reactions. But after coming this far, how could she turn back?
To her, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity-an opportunity to fulfill her dream of letting the people of Fish-Man Island live beneath the real sun, without divisions between races, without prejudice or discrimination.
"Though my feelings are complicated..."
Queen Otohime once again raised the letter from the Celestial Dragons and spoke.
"What we need next, then, is more signatures."
"All I can do now is quietly wait for each of you to make your decision."
"So please, show your willingness to coexist with humans, and your willingness to move to the surface!"
Queen Otohime spread her arms with boundless enthusiasm and called out.
Silence...
A deathly silence. There was none of the eager rush Queen Otohime had imagined would come "naturally," nor even the insults and jeers she had "prepared herself for." There was only this humiliating silence that crushed her confidence.
Queen Otohime still held her arms high, as though waiting for the scene she hoped for to appear. But her expression slowly stiffened and crumpled, her once-enthusiastic smile leaving only embarrassment behind.
"Please, everyone! Please sign!"
Queen Otohime had dropped to her knees to plead. It was hard to imagine a member of royalty doing such a thing.
Yet Queen Otohime had done it, even though she was still met with indifference.
"Ah..."
A profound sense of helplessness swept over Queen Otohime's heart, and she sank to the ground in