Chapter 17 - 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.

"At that time, Lord Glen had already grown distant from me... so why?" Rito whispered.

 

"Because His Highness is in love with you. I realized it before anyone else did."

 

Elsa held the teacup to her lips, inhaling the aroma but not sipping from it. She smiled, that same dazzling smile of the kingdom's most beautiful woman, and said softly, "It's all in the past now. You have won." Though her words were light, there was a sorrowful undercurrent in her smile—a bittersweetness that could not be denied.

 

"Shall we drink to our reconciliation? Though it's only tea, after all…" she suggested.

 

"Reconciliation?"

 

"Yes," Elsa replied. "His Highness loves you. All your transgressions have been forgiven... and even the Queen has begun to accept you, at least in part. Meanwhile, although I have been envied at the start, rumors have swirled about my supposed selfishness and cruelty towards His Highness, or that I flirted with other men at court. I've lost to you, a man, and in doing so, I've disappointed the Queen... I have no more hope. No matter how beautiful I may be, I don't think I have any future left."

 

"Lady Elsa..." Rito's heart ached. He wanted to tell her that surely, one day, she would find someone who would love her dearly. But he knew how cruel that would sound at this moment, and so he remained silent.

 

He took his own cup and sniffed the strong scent of mint. The powerful fragrance overwhelmed the more subtle notes of the black tea beneath.

 

"Let us drink," Elsa said.

 

Without exchanging toasts, Rito drank from his cup, meeting Elsa's gaze as he did. The warm liquid touched his lips, but strangely, he felt a coolness spread through his mouth. At the same time, there was a peculiar warmth—a strange sensation indeed. The taste was unlike anything he had expected.

 

After the first few sips, he thought it was merely the mint, but by the third, he realized there was a bitterness far stronger than it should have been. His lips and tongue, still tingling with a lingering chill, began to feel slightly numb.

 

"There's something odd about the taste of this tea... Perhaps the mint has spoiled. Lady Elsa, I think you shouldn't drink it," Rito said quickly, leaning forward to stop her before she took a sip.

 

As he moved closer, he saw Elsa's eyes widen in horror. Her tanned skin grew pale, her complexion mottled with fear. She looked as though she had seen something truly dreadful. Yet, Rito could not understand what had frightened her so.

 

"I'll brew a fresh pot right away," Rito offered. "Let's skip the mint today."

 

"I... I'm returning home," Elsa stammered. "There's no need to see me off..."

 

As Rito moved to clear their cups, Elsa suddenly leapt to her feet. Without a word, she fled from the terrace, running swiftly toward her carriage, which awaited her not far from the house. She clambered into it with desperate urgency.

 

(What happened? Why the sudden haste...?)

 

Rito pondered in confusion, watching her retreat.

 

In his bewilderment, he followed after her, stepping into the garden to offer a final farewell. But before he could say a word, her carriage took off in a flash. At the same moment, another carriage was approaching from the opposite direction, one that Rito recognized immediately—it was Glen's.

 

"...Ah?" Rito murmured in disbelief.

 

It was an utterly senseless scene—Elsa's carriage sped past, barely grazing Glen's, showing no sign of courtesy or recognition, even though he was a prince. Though their engagement had been broken, it was a severe breach of etiquette. Rito stood frozen in the garden, staring in shock, while Glen, having just dismounted from his carriage, watched his former betrothed's retreat with a puzzled frown. He didn't appear angry, only confused.

 

"Lord Glen, welcome back. I've been waiting for you," Rito greeted him.

 

"Rito, I'm home," Glen replied, his tone laced with curiosity. "What just happened? It looked as though Elsa was inside that carriage, but it's as if she didn't notice mine at all... like I had become a ghost."

 

Glen's attempt at humor was met with a bitter laugh, clearly unsettled by Elsa's strange behavior. Glen looked more radiant than ever, glowing with newfound freedom. Dressed in a pale blue suit of fine fabric, his form was elegantly outlined, accentuating his princely charm and fine physique.

 

"But why was Elsa here in the first place?" He asked, his face clouded with concern as he glanced at her distant carriage. "Is everything alright?"

 

Rito smiled gently, grateful for Glen's worry. "She left in a hurry, without even finishing her tea. But no, there was no trouble. We simply talked on the terrace."

 

"I see... And what did you discuss?" Glen inquired.

 

"About Lady Elsa's future, among other things. Given her circumstances, I couldn't offer her idle comfort... but I do hope she finds happiness," Rito said softly.

 

"Why would you wish for that?" Glen asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

 

"Isn't it sad to love someone yet not wish happiness for one another?" Rito replied.

 

"Ah, I see... I suppose I should learn to think that way too," Glen admitted with a quiet sigh. "But... it's quite difficult."

 

"Difficult?" Rito asked, puzzled.

 

"Yes, difficult," Glen murmured, his breath catching as he reached out to gently smooth Rito's sun-warmed hair. His fingers slid down to cup Rito's cheeks, cradling his face in hands imbued with the warmth of the afternoon. Leaning in, Glen pressed a soft kiss to Rito's forehead.

 

"If there was another who loved you as much as I do," Glen whispered, his voice low, "all I would think of is a duel, or worse, eliminating my rival entirely. Even if that man withdrew, I would still worry about the future... Ah, but I suppose I could wish him happiness—if he marries, starts a family, and forgets about you."

 

"My lord, Glen... That's not the reason I wish happiness for Lady Elsa," Rito said, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

 

"I know. I'm a selfish man. I can only think of you and myself, even if it means causing her pain. But your heart, Rito... It's like the sea—vast, clear, and pure," Glen said, his voice full of admiration.

 

"The sea can be cruel at times," Rito remarked quietly.

 

"Can you be cruel as well?" Glen asked with a playful glint in his eye.

 

"In some cases..." Rito admitted, smiling shyly.

 

With a bashful smile, Rito leaned in and kissed Glen in the flower-scented garden. As their lips met, the warmth between them grew, hands instinctively moving to cradle each other's necks, pulling their faces closer. Their lips pressed together, soft and yielding, their tongues entwining in a dance as sweet as it was passionate.

 

"Mmn... ngh..." Glen murmured, lost in the moment.

 

In the shadows of a nearby tree, where neither the handmaidens nor the servants could see, the prince and his beloved kissed, savoring each tender moment. Rito's body, accustomed to Glen's nightly affections, began to stir with heat, and he longed to be swept into the prince's embrace once more. It was still early, but as dinnertime approached, Rito found himself yearning for more than just a kiss—he wanted Glen's touch upon his whole body, to feel his lover's desire.

 

But just as the tender moment deepened, it was abruptly interrupted by the strangest sound—a series of pained gasps from Glen. Rito, startled, pulled back and opened his eyes, gazing at Glen's lips, which had moments ago been pressed against his own. To his horror, they had turned a deep shade of purple. And it wasn't just his lips—Glen's tongue, too, had darkened ominously. His face, however, remained unaffected, pale yet unchanged.

 

"Guh... ah... ngh..." Glen groaned, clutching at his throat, his hands trembling as he struggled for air.

Last Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter