Chapter 6 - The Mermaid Princess's Little Brother

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

And, as I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

Glen Christian Ander, the First Prince of the Southern Kingdom of Fyun, descended once more into the hidden grotto this evening, awaiting the arrival of the dolphin. There was something special he longed to share with his dear companion. A golden-haired youth from the nearby land of Oden, close to the northern kingdom, had recently captured his attention. This youth, though unfamiliar with the most basic customs—such as the proper way to brew tea—was diligent and quick to learn, always asking the right questions and working with remarkable devotion.

 

From morning until night, the prince observed how Rito, in every spare moment, devoted himself to his studies. At first, Glen found it amusing, but slowly a tinge of loneliness crept into his heart. Rito showed no eagerness to forge a friendship with the prince, and Glen even began to envy the court ladies who frequently conversed with him. These were curious changes in Glen's heart, and he was eager to confide in the dolphin about this newfound joy.

 

No other companionship brought Glen as much pleasure as his solitary moments, and his lack of interest in others had always been a problem—a flaw, some might say.

 

(Tonight, too, he is absent… They seem to have traded places, Rito and the dolphin. I haven't seen my friend since this young man arrived. I hope he is doing well…)

 

Sitting on the steps of the grotto, Glen found himself brooding over troubling thoughts of what might have befallen the dolphin. In this land, there were no dolphin hunters, nor any large sea creatures that might prey upon him. But neither was a certainty, and the absence of the dolphin—who once came to him every night—now stretched into several days, stirring a sense of dread in the prince's chest.

 

(I was going to introduce you to Rito when you returned. For some reason, I believe the two of you would get along splendidly. How happy the boy would be to see your magnificent leaps…)

 

Glen sighed and gazed upward. The grotto, lined with small boats along the pier, was not vast, but the ceiling arched high. The mere thought of the dolphin leaping through the air, splashing water in all directions, made the silence of the place feel unbearable. Though Glen had witnessed this scene fewer than ten times, it had already become something he took for granted. At first, Rito's presence had filled the void left by the dolphin's absence, but now, as uncertainty gnawed at his heart, he felt a hollow place inside.

 

"Lord Glen, so this is where you've been. It's quite cool this evening, so I brought you a coat," a voice called out.

 

Footsteps echoed, and Rito appeared in the underground grotto. His arrival brought warmth, yet Glen's eyes remained fixed on the iron gate, still waiting for his aquatic friend to appear. At any moment, a welcoming chirp might ring out, and the dolphin would emerge on this side of the barrier. Though unseen, Glen could still feel his friend's presence.

 

"Rito, each night I meet my dear friend here. He's a gentle soul and a fine listener."

 

"Oh… I see…"

 

"He's a dolphin, with eyes as kind as yours. In fact, your eyes share the same shade—a twilight sky, noble blue with just a touch of violet."

 

"Noble…"

 

"It's no flattery. You're a refined young man—perhaps a bit reserved, but quick to understand whatever task is before you. The court ladies speak highly of you. And I, of course, agree with them."

 

Glen smiled, patting the stone step beside him in invitation. He unfurled his coat and draped it over Rito, who was dressed more lightly than him.

 

"Lord Glen… You needn't…"

 

"You'll catch a cold otherwise."

 

"I hail from the northern regions, my lord. The winter of Fyun is no challenge for me."

 

"Ah, so it is. But still, let me leave it as it is."

 

Glen wrapped his arm around Rito's shoulders, the coat shielding him from the chill. Rito lowered his gaze, a blush warming his cheeks. The grotto, lit by countless tiny flames, was bathed in a flickering honey-colored light, casting soft shadows on the youth's face. His lips, too, were kissed by the glow, making them seem all the more inviting, as though they begged to be touched—not just his shoulders, but also those cheeks, and those lips.

 

(This feeling… I've never felt this before…)

 

Glen had seen many beautiful young men and women in his life, their alabaster skin and ethereal presence making them seem like creatures from a fairy tale. Compared to the familiar faces of Fyun, they appeared otherworldly. But no matter how beautiful they were, they seemed more like ornaments than beings who evoked the desire to touch.

 

"The dolphin, who came to me every night, hasn't appeared since you arrived, as if he exchanged his place with you."

 

"I'm sorry…"

 

"There's no need to apologize. It's merely an unfortunate coincidence. I had so wished to introduce the two of you, but now I hope that wherever he is, he is happy. He understood my words, almost like a person… He was a clever dolphin, always nodding along as if in agreement."

 

"Lord Glen… It's alright. I'm certain he's safe and well. I, uh… grew up on a small island, surrounded by the sea. My way of thinking is quite similar to that of a dolphin's."

 

"Is that why it feels as though I'm in the company of my dolphin when I'm with you?"

 

Glen chuckled, and though Rito looked a little flustered, he opened his mouth again.

 

"Um, it's bold of me to say, but… could I, perhaps, take the dolphin's place? I'm only a page who serves you, Lord Glen, not well-educated, and I understand my station is far below yours. But I wish, in any small way, to be of help to you, my lord…"

 

As he gazed into the young man's solitary eye, the loneliness that had weighed upon the prince's heart dissolved into the air. Many had tried to draw close to him with similar words, but in Rito's gaze, there shone a sincerity unlike any other. He was as pure as a heart untouched by malice, beautiful and unspoiled.

 

"To be a friend, status matters not. My dear friend was a dolphin, and he bore no title."

 

"Lord Glen…"

 

"I confided in the dolphin my troubles, though he could not speak a word in return, could he? Even though I called him a friend, I often wondered if we were truly equals… At times, I felt guilt over it. But you, Rito, you can speak. You can share with me your worries and your grievances. I would be happy if you trusted me, just as I would the dolphin."

 

Beside his sweet and gentle companion, Glen felt a warmth that chased away the chill. Simply sitting by Rito's side brought a pleasant comfort, one that made him wish for the moment to linger. It had been the same with the dolphin, but this time, Glen's heart beat even faster.

 

"I'm already so happy to be called Lord Glen's friend… I cannot even imagine what I would have to complain about. Did you come here today to speak to the dolphin, my lord?"

 

"Yes, that's right. I intended to tell him about you, and then bring you along. I so wanted the two of you to meet. I think you would have gotten along splendidly."

 

As Glen spoke, Rito's gaze fell, a look of uncertainty clouding his features. The prince, perplexed, wondered what troubled him.

 

"At times, your expression turns strange. Have I upset you?"

 

"No, nothing of the sort. I'm just… I'm moved by how much care Lord Glen shows for the dolphin."

 

"Do you think me strange for calling a dolphin my friend?"

 

"No… Dolphins do not befriend just anyone. You are such a noble prince that even the creatures of the sea are drawn to you. It would be absurd to think of you as strange."

 

"You're kind, Rito. But tell me, what do you think would happen if I told a lady that my closest friend is a dolphin?"

 

"And… what would happen?"

 

"She would laugh at me behind her smile. She'd think me foolish or strange, perhaps only tolerating me because I'm a prince. I would see the look in her eyes, and I'd be disappointed that she didn't understand."

 

"I'm sure there are women who would understand you, Lord Glen…"

 

"Perhaps, someday I may find a woman who respects me, regardless of status. But I'm not one to look so far ahead. If someone like that were right in front of me, I would think only of them. Nothing more would be needed, I suppose."

 

"Right in front of you…"

 

"You, and none other," the prince almost said aloud. But Rito, blinking with his one bright eye, seemed not to grasp the hint. After a long, searching look from Glen, however, Rito's expression shifted. He lowered his gaze, suddenly shy, his lips parting in silent surprise.

 

"It's time to go…"

 

Before Rito could speak further, Glen placed a hand gently on his shoulder. The graceful youth stood up With the prince's support, his delicate posture as poised as ever. He glanced up, his eye wide with curiosity, like that of a dolphin. "Are you returning to your room, my lord?"

 

"Yes, I am. Thank you for keeping me company. Let us return and warm ourselves by the fire."

 

"Though I still wish to stay by your side…" Glen's unspoken sentiment lingered in the air, and Rito's face softened into a smile. How endearing it was. Never before had Glen met someone so open, so transparently sincere, his heart pure as crystal. Even if one searched the world over, such a soul would never again be found.

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