Adora stared at the woman before her with shock and pity. Her husband, King Edwardo had a different expression on. It was a thrill mixed with greed and mischief. Adora didn’t appreciate that look. 
She watched him eagerly pay the sailors for her after they showed him how easily her tears formed pearls. 
“Your Highness…” She tried intervening but he raised a hand, cutting short her protest. 
“You have done us proud. I employ to work harder on the search…”
“Your majesty!” Queen Adora gasped and Edwardo stopped with an inward groan. He threw her a scolding glance and she retreated. 
“Well, as I said, you have done well. You have made Greake proud. I employ you not to relent in this heroic act. With time, our city will rise to an enviable height,” he continued.
“Thank you, your highness. We shall continue to make Greake proud,” Harold bowed. 
“Go with the guards. As promised, you will be rewarded handsomely for your efforts,” King Edwardo replied with a smile.
“We are grateful, your highness.”
Adora watched the men walk away with a frown, then turned her attention to her overexcited husband. “What did you just do, Edward?” She whispered.
“Relax, Dora, you worry too much,” he answered with a smile.
“I have every reason to be worried. These men just captured an innocent creature and brought it to you and you accepted it?” She retorted, disappointment oozing through her voice. King Edwardo sighed. He couldn’t understand why she was making a fuss out of something so minute. 
“She is not innocent, Dora. She is a siren, are you going to pretend that you don’t know what sirens are? Capturing her is simply saving the lives of other innocent men sailing the seas,” The King tried to reason with her.
Adora’s expression didn’t change. She knew very well that he was trying to manipulate her into accepting the deed. Edwardo cared about no one. There was no way the safety of ‘innocent sailors’, as he put it, bothered him. 
The man was after the money and nothing else, it pissed her off greatly.
“Who are you trying to fool, Edwardo? Have you seen the look in your eyes? You can’t possibly be considering exploiting this innocent girl!” Adora raised her voice and the king threw her a glare.
"You will not raise your voice at me in public, Adora!" He snapped and her shoulders slumped in defeat. She was tempted to point out that no one important was present but that would only escalate things and she wasn't ready for that. 
Edwardo got off the throne and approached the bleeding girl. Her long dark hair over her face conceals her delicate beauty. The king stopped beside her, delighted at the numerous pearls by her face.
"Hello there," he greeted but all he got was a grunt. His lips twitched into a smirk. "You don't have to be afraid, dear…." He started and Adora narrowed her eyes. "...all you need to do is cry us more pearls and you are free to go."
Adora deflated on her seat with a scoff. It shouldn't have surprised her. She knew the man she married. 
Initially, he married her because she was a renowned witch and was hoping to milk her powers, but then he fell helplessly in love with her. 
She couldn't say the same for the poor creature. Edwardo was not going to fall in love with her. He would make her cry until she had no more tears left. 
"Your Highness," Adora called carefully and he glanced at her. There were traces of the earlier fury but it didn't seem enough to make him react.  "I'm sorry I raised my voice at you, earlier. May I be permitted to give a suggestion?" 
"As long as it doesn't involve releasing the siren. She is now a property of Greake," King Edwardo stated. Adora bit her lip even though she wasn't going to ask him to release her. She already knew it was highly impossible.
"If you're going to keep her, can you at least put her in water?" Adora asked.
"No," the reply came sharply. "We don't know the things she is capable of, especially in her element. She will remain human from now until further notice."
Adora didn't bother arguing. From his tone, it was obvious that his mind was already made up. Nothing she said would make any difference.
"I just hope you know what you're doing, Ed. I am not comfortable with this siren-hunting idea," Adora muttered. 
Edwardo didn't hear her so he couldn't comment on it. He ordered the guards to take her and lock her away in the dungeons. 
In a flash, they were at her side, carrying out his instructions. 
Your Highness, don't you think it is dangerous sending your men with her like that?" Adora asked again and Edwardo ignored her. His ears were fast growing sick of her complaints. "I mean, she is a siren, after all. What are the chances she won't manipulate them into letting her go?"
King Edwardo stopped pacing. She had a point. He completely forgot about it because the siren didn't try to pull any stunt. 
Thinking of it now, he couldn't help but groan. What if she planned to make him drop his guard and escape?
He turned to the soldiers, panic settling deep in his stomach. He couldn't afford to lose her after rewarding such a heavy sum to the sailors. She had to earn back everything he spent on her purchase. 
"Quick, go after them with ear wax and avoid looking into her eyes. That woman cannot be trusted," He ordered. 
Adora rested on her throne, shaking her head with an inaudible scoff. Perhaps she should have kept shut, then the creature would have had the chance to escape. 
The guards returned a few minutes later, panting heavily.
"Y-Your h-highness…" he panted and Edwardo approached them, sensing trouble.
"What happened?" The king asked.
"The… the… the siren…" he stuttered.
"What happened to her? Is she dead? Speak!" The king asked impatiently.
"We went… as instructed but we… we found the men dead in the hallway and… she… she…"
"She what?" Edwardo snapped.
"She's gone."