Ball of Nothing

Chapter 630 - Royal Date and Stalkers (4)

The story wasn't bad, and the acting was acceptable. However, Zero couldn't fully enjoy it because of his need to maintain his cold and icy image, unimpressed by everything. Queen Leah didn't seem to mind, but he could see how quickly she was starting to be annoyed at the repetitive gag lines and attempts for Zero to feel her up like a scum.

It was evident that the royalties were not pleased with the actors and their poor portrayal of their personalities. Queen Leah felt angry on Zero's behalf. Why did they think this sweet child would act like her fifty-ninth ex-lover? Was this how the merfolks saw all her suitors?

Also, there was one thing that Queen Leah saw, and it made her very uncomfortable. Was she really a very needy person who often clung to her lovers once they 'won' her over? The actress depicted her as shallow-minded rather than classy and wise. Was this how her people saw her?

Truen cringed hard at what he was about to do. The kissing scene was coming up, and thankfully, the minor actor he was replacing had a scene. In the original scene, the minor actor was part of the grand date's entourage arranged by the prince consort before he proposed, and the couple kissed. Truen grabbed his flowers and followed the other minor actors, concealing his evil intentions.

"Oh, queen of the ocean! Can you hear my heart beating for you? Every breath that I own is yours for the claiming. Your existence is like oxygen for my land-dwelling lungs and your beauty, the only sun in my world."

That line was super cringy, but the crowd behind them cheered loudly, excited for what was about to happen. Queen Leah raised a brow, and Zero appeared clueless. Only Truen, who watched the play earlier, knew what was coming up.

The actress who played Queen Leah turned around with a very dramatic look of disbelief when the actor who played the prince consort got onto one knee and presented a medium-sized clam that opened up beautifully, revealing a pearl ring within.

Zero almost applauded. He knew this scene. When Poseidon and Medusa got married, they did something similar. How wonderful for them! Then, he stopped in his thoughts. Wait, weren't the actors impersonating him and Queen Leah? He quickly glanced at the great water sprite to observe her reaction. Did she enjoy this kind of thing?

Truen was ready. The actress fake cried tears of joy and was about to leap into the prince consort's arms for a kiss when flower petals started falling over them. The actress felt a sudden uncontrollable itch and started sneezing badly as the prince consort actor, who puckered his lips ready for a kiss, stood there looking silly at how the play was going south.

Soon, Truen and the minor actors had to come in to try to 'salvage' the play, and it ended as a horrible disaster. The more they tried to pick up the flowers, the messier it became. Truen didn't stop subtly casting wind magic to knock things over and constantly bumped into people, tugging their clothes when nobody was looking and causing them to fall over.

It was so ridiculous that even Queen Leah couldn't hold back her mirth. It started with a small puff of laughter, but it soon escalated into unbridled hoots and a little snorting. She never laughed so hard at something before, and Zero joined in, clapping when the actors started shouting at each other, forgetting their roles.

The minor maid actress knocked into the queen actress, and the tiara fell. Someone picked it up and proclaimed themselves the new ruler of Indra Seagloo and demanded they stopped the nuisance when the prince consort tackled them to demand the crown back. Truen urged the other minor actors to dogpile the prince consort, tumbling on the ground, and some wigs fell.

From behind, Priscilla didn't know what was happening. She was afraid of the worst, but the play was more of a disaster than she thought that worked out favourably. If it wasn't for that one minor actor acting in an inexperienced manner to trigger this train wreck of a performance, the queen might really have her head later.

It didn't take long for the townsfolk to join in the fray and tossed things onto the stage. Queen Leah asked for her purse and showered the acting troupe with shiny precious sea crystals that everyone grappled for. Nobody paid much attention to the royalties, and Queen Leah tugged Zero along, who was dying from laughter, back to their carriage.

Priscilla didn't miss her opportunity to make up for her mistakes. The royal coachman steered the carriage away quickly and brought the royal members away from the chaotic streets.

"Change of plans," Queen Leah told the royal coachman. "Let's go to the farms instead. I want to ride a seahorse alone with my consort."

"Yes, your majesty!"

Zero's transformation magic unravelled the moment they had some privacy in the carriage. It was hard to maintain his magic when he laughed so hard. Honestly, Truen did an excellent job making this play enjoyable and saving the day. Queen Leah's mood was turning sour after the first half of the play, but his witty interruptions saved them all.

"You ride seahorses in Indra Seagloo?" Zero couldn't help but ask. He thought they didn't ride horses or seahorses because they had carriages powered by water engines.

Queen Leah nodded. "We're going to the farm that is located near my royal stable. I thought you could use a break away from keeping up that stiff character in public."

Indeed, Zero preferred the ability to freely express himself. Acting was difficult! Even if Eros was right, it just wasn't Zero's character to be that kind of jerk. He didn't think the actor and actress impersonating them during the play were accurate. If anything, it would feel like mockery from another angle. He wondered if Queen Leah was feeling alright after watching it. IN his eyes, she wasn't a petty-minded and shallow woman who only cared about how her lover worshipped her. She was a very independent and capable woman who ruled a country and protected her people. After staying in the coral palace for a week, Zero knew how hard this queen worked behind the scenes. She was very much like Sylvia, minus the obsession to bring her child back to life.

As the carriage pulled to a stop at a very peaceful and quiet farm, Zero peered out of the tiny glass window. Are those... sea wheat?