Chapter 8 - The Mermaid Princess's Little Brother

Translator's Note:

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Not long after Rito had dressed, a soft knock echoed through the door. In the dim room, lit by the flickering glow of six candles, Rito hastily reached for his robe. Curiosity welled within him—who could it be at such a late hour? Had something happened? Yet, at the same time, a quiet hope stirred in his heart, as he imagined Glen standing on the other side. Perhaps the prince, with a puzzled look, would say, "I cannot seem to sleep," or, "I am worried about the dolphin. Will you come with me to the underground grotto?" Or maybe even, "I'm cold. Could you brew some tea?"

 

Rito, lost in these imagined scenarios, quickly shook himself back to reality and called out, "Yes, I'm coming."

 

When he opened the door, hoping to see Glen, it was indeed the prince who stood before him. But rather than his usual gentle smile, Glen's brows were furrowed, and a severe expression darkened his face.

 

"Rito, forgive me for coming so late. May I seek refuge here tonight?"

 

"Oh, L-Lord Glen!" Rito stammered.

 

Without another word, the prince slipped into the room, closing and locking the door behind him. In the soft, orange glow of the candles, Glen let out a deep sigh, as though trying to rid himself of some poison that clung to his very soul.

 

"Elsa, at my mother's urging, crept into my chambers tonight."

 

"What?!"

 

"I never imagined the queen would send an unmarried girl to do something so disgraceful… I nearly had a heart attack. No doubt, Elsa had no choice but to obey the queen's command, but she must have been disgusted with herself for going so far. And of course, I could not lay a hand on a chaste maiden."

 

Understanding now what Glen meant by seeking refuge, Rito found he could no longer look the prince in the eye. A whirlwind of emotions churned inside him, and he feared they would show plainly on his face if he dared to meet Glen's gaze.

 

"Allow me to stay here for a while," the prince continued. "Elsa may persist in following my mother's orders, but eventually, she will tire and leave."

 

Though Rito murmured his agreement, his heart was heavy. One day, Glen would marry Elsa—that was the wish of his parents, the ones who had raised him. And from the prince's words, it was clear that he had already shared a room with a woman who had lost her chastity... These thoughts weighed upon Rito's chest like a stone.

 

He hated thinking that Glen might love someone else, even in the past. Even if it had been nothing more than a fleeting indulgence, a passing fling between a man and a woman, the very thought filled Rito with dread. The same applied to the future—he could not bear to imagine Glen lying down with anyone but him.

 

"It's so dark in here… let me light more candles," Rito said, his voice strained as he moved toward the candelabra. But before he could take more than a few steps, Glen's voice stopped him.

 

"This much is enough."

 

In truth, the best way to pass a sleepless night was to read, but the dim light made that impossible. Rito wondered how they might spend this time together instead.

 

(If only I were a woman… we could lie together, skin against skin… kissing, embracing… sharing a sweet, tender night…)

 

In this land, it would be difficult for a pale-skinned maiden to become the prince's bride. But they could still fall in love. "We cannot marry, but I care for you," Glen might say. And in his strong arms, Rito, honest and vulnerable, would whisper, "I love you." Beneath countless kisses, the sheets would rustle and crumple...

 

"Am I to blame because a nobleman's daughter crept into a man's bedchamber at night? I had hoped for a brief freedom after my younger brother's birth, but now…" Glen's voice pulled Rito back from his thoughts.

 

The young prince, seated in a chair, looked utterly drained, both physically and emotionally. Not knowing how to comfort him, Rito picked up a blanket and said softly, "I'll make some tea." He too needed time to sort through the turmoil in his own heart. His mind was still racing with thoughts he did not wish to entertain.

 

"No need for tea. Stay here."

 

As Rito began to drape the blanket over Glen's long legs, the prince suddenly reached out, catching his wrist and pulling him down to sit beside him. Rito was completely captivated by the touch of Glen's fingers. Neither of them spoke. Though they sat facing each other, their eyes never met. Slowly, Glen's hand moved, his fingers tracing the back of Rito's hand, until they intertwined. Glen's palm pressed against the back of Rito's hand, their fingers locking together tightly.

 

"Recently, I've been thinking of nothing but this... What if things were different?" Glen's voice was low, almost a whisper.

 

"L-Lord Glen?" Rito stammered.

 

"In a world different from this one, we could be closer than we are now. That is what I dream of... both when I sleep and when I wake..."

 

Glen's gaze remained fixed on the bookshelf before him, and he murmured, "It hurts… in my chest..."

 

For a moment, Rito doubted his own ears, but then the meaning of the words hit him. Glen's heart ached, just as his own did, with thoughts of what could have been.

 

Rito felt the same way. "Thinking of you brings me such joy… but also pain..." he wanted to say, but he fought back the urge to cry and instead gently squeezed the prince's fingers in return.

 

It all felt like a dream, yet this was undeniably reality. And if he was not mistaken, it was possible—just possible—that Glen might care for him. If only they were not of the same gender, if only Rito were of the Fyun people… It seemed that this was also the very dream Glen longed for—a dream different from the harsh reality. In that world, they could have been so much more than just friends.

 

"Lord Glen…" Rito whispered.

 

He wanted to apologize—to say, "Forgive me for being nothing more than a simple human, forgive me for not being a woman or someone of the Fyun people…" But the words caught in his throat, and instead, he raised his eyes to look at the prince. At that very moment, Glen reached out and drew him close.

 

Before Rito could even gasp, the prince's lips were upon his. This kiss was nothing like the ones he had shared with him in the form of a dolphin. Glen's expression was serious, even pained, as he pressed their lips together.

 

"Mmn…"

 

The prince held him by the neck, deepening their kiss. Rito's soft lips trembled and parted, allowing Glen's hot tongue to invade. There was no scent of alcohol, but the taste of wine lingered on Glen's lips.

 

"Ah, perhaps it's because of the wine…" Rito thought, realizing what might be happening.

 

Glen was likely drunk. This was not a friendly kiss, but perhaps it shouldn't be mistaken for a lover's kiss either. The prince had never been able to handle alcohol well, and tonight, his mind was likely clouded by alcohol.

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