Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 212

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 212: Fish That Shouldn’t Exist**

Silas had never really paid much mind to the small fish that swam lazily in the corner of the tank. They were just background noise in his life, a mere distraction from the weightier matters that occupied his thoughts.

But today was different. As he watched the vivid pink fish puffing out bubbles, a sudden impulse took hold of him. Without a second thought, he plucked a leaf from one of the plants in the tank and let it float down into the water.

The instant the leaf made contact with the surface, the pink fish zipped out from its hiding spot, its tiny mouth eagerly biting into the succulent green offering.

Emma’s gaze was fixed on the scene unfolding before her. “It eats your leaves, not fish food?” she asked, her voice laced with surprise.

Silas couldn’t help but grin at the unexpected turn of events. “Maybe it’s a vegetarian,” he replied playfully, a spark of delight in his eyes.

He gently took Emma’s hand, feeling the warmth of her skin against his, and guided her back to the couch, where they could sit side by side.

Leaning in closer, he lowered his voice, letting it drift into a whisper that tickled her ear. “Emma, I think I might know where all the missing fish have gone.”

Her eyes widened with intrigue. “You do? Already?”

Emma’s expression was a mix of disbelief and curiosity. “Tell me—where did they go?”

Silas leaned even closer, his lips just brushing against her ear as he spoke, “They were eaten. Do you remember the Merfolk King, Kieran Vale, the one everyone’s been searching for lately? I think he’s hiding here—somewhere on our estate.”

Emma’s eyes grew even larger, a flicker of excitement mixed with apprehension dancing in her gaze. “He’s here? Where?”

The moment the words escaped her lips, she turned abruptly towards the fish tank, her grip tightening on Silas’ sleeve. “You mean that little fish is eating your leaf?”

She had never once considered the pink fish to be anything out of the ordinary. It had been a gift from Aria, a token of friendship, but now it seemed to hold a deeper significance, different from the others swimming aimlessly.

“What are you two up to?”

Lucien strolled out of the kitchen, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of Silas and Emma nestled closely together. Nearby, Marcus lounged on the couch, blissfully unaware of the unfolding drama.

Silas’ expression brightened at the sight of Lucien, a glimmer of excitement igniting in his eyes.

He approached Lucien with purpose, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “I was just telling Emma about the Merfolk King that Aurelia has been searching for—Kieran.”

With a knowing look, he pressed further, “Didn’t you mention yesterday that you had news about him? Did you manage to track him down?”

Lucien shook his head, a hint of frustration creeping into his tone. “No. Kieran is exceptionally good at hiding. Aurelia has practically turned the entire Central Planet upside down, and still, there’s no sign of him.”

“Why the sudden interest in him?” Lucien shot Silas a skeptical glance. “You’ve never cared about anything that didn’t directly concern you.”

It was a fair point—Silas had always been self-centered, his focus primarily on matters that affected him personally.

Raising an eyebrow, Silas feigned nonchalance. “If I help you find him, what’s in it for me?”

Lucien was taken aback, momentarily speechless. It was true—Commander Hamblin was not one to offer his services without expecting something in return.

He turned to leave, but Silas stopped him, gesturing toward the distant fish tank. “He’s not in the lake,” Silas said, his voice steady. “He’s probably hiding among the few little pink fish your sister gave Emma.”

Lucien froze, a sudden realization dawning on him. He had never considered those fish as anything more than a benign gift from Aria. Surely, before handing them over to Emma, his sister had ensured they were free of any issues, having them checked by the Aurelia Elders.

It should have been impossible for there to be any complications.

Silas continued, “And think about it. Kieran knows you’ve been searching for him, yet he’s managed to stay hidden all this time, masquerading as an ordinary fish. Even if you confront him now, he’ll never admit who he really is. Why not invite a few of those Merfolk elders here to identify him? They should recognize their king, right?”

Lucien considered this, nodding slowly as the logic sank in.

With newfound urgency, he opened his lightcore and sent a message to his assistant, instructing him to summon the Merfolk elders to the estate.

Once he finished, he turned his gaze to Emma, who was still standing by the couch, an air of anticipation surrounding her.

“Emma, what would you like for lunch? Corvin has returned to the Ravaryn, so I’ll be cooking today.”

“I’m fine with anything,” Emma replied, a smile gracing her lips. She was never one to be picky.

In fact, all the dishes she had taught Lucien and Corvin to prepare were her absolute favorites.

Whatever they decided to cook, she was sure to enjoy.

Her eyes flicked over to Marcus, who remained blissfully asleep on the couch, completely oblivious to the whirlwind of events unfolding around him.