Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 566: Meeting the King of the sea.

Like magic, it worked.

The Princess’s eyes widened. "You lost your mother too! Indeed, you do understand my pain and reaction. Others would just consider it exaggeration," she said softly. "She passed when I was seven."

"I was around the same age as you." Sunshine leaned closer, her tone gentle but deliberate. "Everyone moves on but us. It feels as though the world has forgotten our pain. It feels unfair, doesn’t it? But perhaps, we don’t have to carry it alone. We can rely on each other on those restless days when we crave their voices, whispers and warmth." Each word was chosen carefully to make the princess believe they were kindred spirits.

Which they were, in a way.

The Princess stared at her, genuinely stunned. "Such humility from one of your kind. You are from earth, aren’t you? I visited your world once and found myself appalled. Earthlings are not nice; they fill their seas with plastics and toxic waste. You make me believe that not all of your kind is cruel. " She reached out and took Sunshine’s hands in hers, her skin feeling like cool, wet silk. "Tell me, what is your name?"

Sunshine cleared her throat and smiled. "It’s Sunshine, Your High_"

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?" Vaelor’s voice boomed as he stepped back into the hall. He looked like his head was about to explode. He marched over, his eyes darting between their joined hands.

"Unhand her Earthling!" he fumed, pointing a trembling finger at Sunshine. "It is strictly forbidden to touch royal flesh! You could be executed for less, you insolent_"

"It happened so fast, my apologies Vaelor." Vortan quickly said.

Sunshine jerked her hands back to her sides as if she’d been burned. "Sorry! I didn’t_ she grabbed me unexpectedly!"

The Princess held up a hand, silencing Vaelor with a single look. She gave Sunshine a final, secret smile. "It is quite alright, Vaelor. She has a noble heart, I know one when i see one. Besides, we have some things in common." She stood up, adjusting her outfit. "I am Princess Lita, thank you Sunshine for fixing my pendant and being kind and understanding."

With a graceful tilt of her head, she and her entourage swept away. The servants sent Sunshine looks of gratefulness as they left. She would never know what a great thing she had done for them.

Vaelor stood there for a second, clearing his throat unnecessarily before smiling to clear the tension. He straightened his armor and made his face stern again. "Right. Follow me," he grumbled. Suddenly, it was as though he wanted to go lie down in a dark room instead of playing palace guide. "The King is waiting. And for the love of the stars, repairman... keep your hands to yourself."

Nine leaned in toward Sunshine as they walked. "Guess who has already started making trouble. Ha!" He raised his chin.

"Shut up, Nine," Sunshine answered, though she couldn’t stop grinning. The risk she had taken was worth it. When the princess needed a repairman, who else would she look for but the kind earthling? When Sunshine needed weapons, she had a princess to ask.

When her children needed to visit the sea world and get VIP treatment, maybe, a certain princess would be helpful. It was worth it!

Nine sidled up to Vortan, matching him stride for stride. He leaned in, his voice a sharp, annoying needle. "I really hope you’re planning on mentioning that little ’touching the royalty’ stunt to Commander Melvin," he poked. "Because if you don’t, I definitely will. I can already see him fuming and giving her an even bigger punishment. This is big, maybe he will put her in one of those scary repairmen prisons or take away her license. Ha! I do not care which one as long as she is suffering..."

Vortan’s jaw tightened so hard his facial plates made a grinding sound. He didn’t even look at Nine.

"Step away from me, Repairman," Vortan hissed as the smoky doors began to thin and swirl around them. "And for once in your life, show some respect for your supervisor. My rank isn’t a suggestion. Unless you want to be punished for that."

The smoky doors dissolved into thin air, revealing a throne room that was surprisingly...mostly empty.

Unlike the flashy hallways, this room was a temple of minimalist design. There were no golden pillars or velvet drapes. Instead, the furniture looked like it had been grown from white bone and polished obsidian.

A few sleek, backless benches floated inches off the floor, and the only sound was the faint, rhythmic slosh of water moving through hidden pipes in the walls.

In the center of it all, perched on a seat that looked far too large for him, was the King.

He wasn’t the towering, muscular warrior Sunshine had imagined. The King was short, round, and remarkably fat, resembling a very grumpy, overstuffed pufferfish in a silk robe.

"Your Majesty, Sovereign of the Seas," Vaelor announced, his voice echoing powerfully. "The Repairmen have arrived."

Vortan immediately dropped into a deep bow, his forehead nearly touching his boots.

Sunshine and Nine scrambled to follow suit. "Your majesty, sovereign of the seas, we are humbled to_ "

"Stop," the King snapped, waving a pudgy, webbed hand. "I don’t want your greetings. I don’t want your humbleness. I want my time back." He squinted at a floating holographic clock. "You are ten minutes late. Ten minutes! Do you have any idea how many royal games I have to officiate today? The crustacean races start in an hour, and the atmosphere in the stadium is currently leaking!"

Vaelor stepped forward, sweat beading on his brow. "My apologies, Your Majesty. There was a... minor disturbance in the hall. A situation involving the princess, but she is fine....no need to cause an alarm."

The King’s eyes narrowed, his double chin folding over his collar. "A disturbance? What kind of_ " He cut himself off, his gaze suddenly locking onto Sunshine.

He leaned forward, his belly pressing against the edge of his bone-white desk. He peered at her, his eyes darting up and down. "You....you earthling," he pointed a stubby finger. "Why do you look familiar? Have I seen you before? Have you repaired something here before?"

Sunshine nodded softly_ still bowing. "Yes, your highness, I have been to the Levias Sea twice."

The King frowned. "The Levias Sea is vast, where exactly have you been to?"

Sunshine asked the system because she could not remember.

[Host you have been to the abysmal forge, Southern part of the sea.]

"The southern part of the sea." Sunshine answered a little too cheerfully like she would be rewarded. Her heart was beating faster than a wild horse evading capture. Fingers crossed, she was not in trouble with the king of the sea.