In the heart of his secluded garden, the aging King often retreated to his beloved water fountain. He named the spot 'Monochord', after his lost happiness, embodying his desolate heart.

With a wistful gaze, he would sit by the fountain and watch the ethereal creature in its center. The widower's only source of companionship was an exceptional mermaid, Monno.

Fingers trembling, he reached out to caress the swollen belly of Monno. The look in her eyes cut deeper than any blade, prompting the King's heart to bleed.

Trapped in her watery prison, Monno fluttered her tail against the cold stone of the fountain. Her beautiful voice sang a haunting lullaby, lamenting for her unborn daughters' freedom.

Unaware of her pain, the King found solace in Monno's voice that echoed through the garden. He lost himself in her songs, reminiscent of happier times.

As the mermaid's birthing pangs grew stronger, her songs became desperate cries. Despite her suffering, the King remained in blissful ignorance, consumed by his own grief.

There, amidst the tranquility of his garden, the King and the captive mermaid shared a bond woven from strands of sorrow, aching solitude, and despair.

The King, stricken with melancholy, lifted his face from his hand. As his gaze fell upon Monno’s tear-streaked face, he finally noticed her distress.

His heart clenched in realization as he struggled to comprehend the agony looming over his lonely companion. With a pang of guilt, he acknowledged Monno's suffering.

He watched Monno writhing in her chains, her whimpers echoing through the still air. The King’s heart grieved for her, her pain mirroring his own.

Tormented by his neglect, the King sought to comfort the ailing Monno. Yet, he felt powerless, unable to ease the burden of her impending motherhood.

In a desperate bid for help, he summoned his wise old physician. The royal healer was knowledgeable, yet the world of merfolk was alien to him.

The physician studied Monno, his brows furrowed. He admitted his incapability to assist, leaving the King in deeper despair. The captive mermaid’s pangs continued unabated.

The king wandered the garden late into the night. His heart ached with guilt, he had unwittingly caused the very suffering he sought to escape in his loneliness.

In the gloom of the starlit night, the King heard a keen echo through his garden. Monno's birthing pains had reached their peak. It was time.

He hurried to the fountain, his heart pounding. With fear and anticipation, he watched, helpless, as the mermaid whimpered and thrashed. Little else could he do.

As dawn broke, the garden echoed with the sounds of new life. Monno, exhausted but relieved, cradled six tiny mermaid babies in her arms.

The King watched as the newborn mermaids twitched their tiny tails, their tiny scales glinting in the early morning light. A single tear rolled down his cheek.

Monno, now a mother, looked up at the King. Her eyes bore no resentment, only the exhaustion of dependency and a plea for mercy for her and her daughters.

The King enveloped his garden in a profound silence. He looked at the beautiful creatures before him, his heart heavy with guilt. He had taken their freedom.

His solitude had driven him to seek companionship, only to inflict the same upon Monno. The realization struck him heavily; he was the creator of her pain.

Stepping forward, the King took a deep breath. He decided to do what he could to rectify his mistake. His heart was firm; he would right his wrongs.

He commanded his blacksmith to break the chains that bound Monno. Her freedom was the least he owed her, a small atonement for his selfishness.

As the blacksmith’s hammer crashed against the chains, Monno winced. But as the links fell away, relief washed over her, her expression filled with anticipation.

The King, watching from a distance, felt his heart lighten. Monno’s freedom was a small step in alleviating his guilt and easing his lament.

The freed Monno cradled her babies, looking up at the King promisingly. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, her eyes glinted with hope.

Feeling a sense of achievement, the King ordered a larger pond for Monno and her daughters. They deserved a life of freedom and joy, not captivity and sorrow.

Monno’s face brightened as she explored the larger, free expanse of the pond. Her daughters frolicked around their mother, their joy echoing in the otherwise lonely garden.

The King watched, content. The splash of the mermaids, the cheerful gurgles of the babies, brought a smile to his face in years. His garden was alive again.

King’s actions had granted Monno and her daughters freedom and life. In turn, they had ignited a spark of happiness in his desolate heart, alleviating his haunting solitude.

Monno and her daughters brought life and laughter back to the King's garden. Their shared solitude had evolved into companionship, and his isolated heart had found solace.

The King's lament slowly faded with every delighted squeal of the mermaid babies. His garden, once a place of solitude, was now a haven of shared joy and freedom.

In the tranquil beauty of his secluded garden, the King found the companionship he sought. And in turn, Monno and her daughters found the freedom they deeply yearned for.

The sorrowful King turned guardian, learned the value of freedom and life. His lament silenced, replaced by the cheerful sounds of the free mermaids in his garden.

Amidst the blooming flowers and the playful water, the King found the solace he craved. And in doing so, he brought solace to others trapped in their own corners of the world.