“All our rulers are born into their positions, except of course for mayors, who are elected. Emperors or empresses are chosen from the kings or queens by a high council, if there is a need.”

Shelly scanned the chart. She knew from the lessons her grandfather taught her when she was a small fry that Trident City belonged to the Western Oceans. It was governed by King Rudolph and Queen Edwina. Shelly knew that even brothers and sisters of the kings and queens were royalty, and their children were princes and princesses.

Shelly’s grandfather hadn’t been strict about much of her education, but he had made sure she was taught everything on the chart. He had made it into a fun mermaid-royal guessing game, so Shelly even knew the location of most royals’ castles and estates. She’d never actually seen one, since none of them were near Trident City, but it had been interesting to learn about. Maybe merology class would be easy.

Rocky pointed to the lowest level of the chart. “My dad is the mayor of Trident City,” he bragged.

Pearl raised her hand. “My cousin is married to Duke Armas of Vortex,” she said. “A duke is higher up on the chart than a mayor.”

“Yes,” Madame Hippocampus agreed, “but a princess is on a higher level than a duke. And, class, we are honored to have one in this very class.” Everyone gasped and glanced at each other.

A princess? Shelly looked around the room. Who in the ocean could it be? She hoped it was her good friend Echo. They’d known each other since they were small fry. Echo would be a fantastic princess. She loved wearing glittering plankton bows in her dark curly hair, so she’d adore a princess’s jewels.

If it wasn’t Echo, Shelly wanted the princess to be her new buddy Kiki. After all, Kiki was from a part of the ocean very far away. Maybe she was princess of the Eastern Oceans.

“Who is it?” Pearl demanded. “Maybe it’s me. My father did give me a crown for my birthday one year. Oh, I hope it’s me! I would have special royal tutors and my pick of all the jewels in the sea, and the Rays would play music at all my parties!”

Shelly scrunched her nose. She really hoped Pearl wasn’t a princess. With her gold tail, blond hair, and pointy nose, Pearl already thought she was better than everyone else. After all, lots of small fry played at being princesses and wearing crowns.

“Why, it’s Shelly Siren, of course,” Madame Hippocampus said. “I assumed you all knew. Queen Edwina is Shelly’s great-aunt.”

All eyes turned to Shelly, who felt herself turning every shade of red. What is Madame saying? she thought in a panic.

“Shelly!” Pearl screeched. “She can’t be a princess!”

“No way!” screamed Rocky.

“Why not?” Echo said. “Shelly would make a wonderful princess.”