Secrets of the Azure Sea - Chapter 35
“Um, Zanarf, were you born on this island?” Floria changed the subject in embarrassment.
She had been curious since arriving on this island. The islanders had dark chestnut-colored hair and eyes. None of the islanders had jet-black hair like Zanarf and sapphire eyes.
Zanarf’s expression darkened for a moment.
“No, I wasn’t.”
“Then a nearby island?”
“…No. I was found as a baby, crying in a small boat that had washed ashore. I must have drifted here, lucky enough to escape the whirlpool.”
“…What?”
Floria was speechless.
Zanarf looked at the distant horizon and then squinted dazzlingly as if trying to see further beyond it.
“The blue markings on my body aren’t tattoos. It’s a birthmark I’ve had since I was a baby. My parents probably found them unsettling and abandoned me because of them.”
“No way…”
“There is an old legend about this island. It says that a blue heron, the incarnation of the island’s god, will one day take human form and bring eternal happiness to the island. The little boat I happened to be in happened to have a blue heron on board.While I was drifting in the sea, the blue heron was protecting me as a baby by providing shade during the day and warmth at night, and even brought me water. The elder, seeing this, declared me the incarnation of the legendary god and raised me as his son.”
Floria did not know what to say. Birthmark or no birthmark, he was still their son.how could anyone abandon their child and even throw their son into the sea?
“Leaving the legend aside, the elder and this island saved my life. That’s why I’ll do everything I can to protect its people.”
Floria clutched the Yuna flower tightly and leaned closer to Zanarf.
She would never leave his side.
No matter what happens in the future.
For a while longer, Floria explored the market with Zanarf. The islanders warmly accepted her as Zanarf’s bride.
Though she was his wife, the nickname “Parrot Princess” had stuck, and she was greeted as such at every stall. It was embarrassing to think that her childish mishap had become known all over the island.
Zanarf, sensing her shyness, linked hands with Floria and introduced her to each stall lined up at the market. Then, cheerful voices would come from all over the place.
“Zanarf-sama, Parrot Princess, how about this?”
Turning toward the voice, Floria saw a stall selling coral and shell ornaments.
“Wow, these are beautiful…”
Combs and mirrors adorned with coral, earrings and bracelets made from iridescent shells—each piece was exquisite.
“Are these shells?” she asked, holding up one that shimmered with an otherworldly glow.
“That’s a nautilus shell. The island’s women use them for decoration.”
Floria was captivated by the natural beauty of the shells. In her homeland, shell accessories were unheard of. People favored elaborately decorated gems such as large emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. They were expensive and beautiful, but they were decorated by human hands in a flashy way. But here, everything was a gift from nature. She never thought natural coral or shellfish would be so colorful and beautiful.
As she admired the pieces, Zanarf whispered, “Pick out whatever you like.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine.”
“Don’t hold back. If you don’t buy anything once in a while, the market’s sales will suffer.”
“That’s right! Zanarf-sama doesn’t visit the market and drops money very often. Come on, Princess, please buy lots of things today. Then I can also buy some snacks for the children waiting for me at home!”
Laughter erupted around them.
Reluctantly, Floria decided to buy a few things.
“Then, may I have these coral combs and mirrors? Three of each, please—one for me, one for Aura, and one for Kyrie. Could you wrap them separately?”
“Of course!”
The vendor, delighted with the large order, began packaging the items.
As Floria browsed the other ornaments, her eyes landed on a beautiful pearl pendant.
“Oh, how lovely…”
The round, white pearl glowed with a delicate radiance.
“As expected, the Parrot Princess has an eye for beauty! That’s a rare pearl. Around here, men give pearl pendants to the women they love. Zanarf-sama, how about this one for the princess?”
The vendor held out the largest pearl pendant to Zanarf.
But Zanarf shook his head.
“No, we’ll save that for another time.”
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