Chapter 21 - The Mermaid Princess's Little Brother

Translator's Note:

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Glen emerged from the witch's lair and returned to his homeland, the task set before him weighing heavily on his mind. His body, now accustomed to his environment, moved swiftly, gliding through the water without the need to break the surface. He reached the shore with astonishing speed.

 

(It is still night… the sky to the east is still dark…)

 

With the dagger in hand, the prince stepped onto the sand, his eyes fixed on the deep hues of the night sky. It seemed he had a few hours left before dawn. He realized, with some astonishment, just how quickly he had returned. Glen could see the flickering of torch flames along the sandy beach and in the gardens of the manor. Voices of guards reached his ears, calling out in search of the prince who had vanished into the sea, clad only in his undergarments. The number of guards had nearly quadrupled since his disappearance, and it was clear that reinforcements had come from the palace.

 

Faced with the reality of his situation, Glen found himself unable to call out and reassure them of his safety. Instead, he stood at a distance, watching. The events beneath the sea felt like a dream, yet they had really occurred. Rito's presence lingered in his hand—this dagger was the undeniable proof. Clutching its hilt, Glen felt as if he were once more walking the moonlit beach, hand in hand with Rito.

 

"Rito… what am I to do?"

 

Fully out of the water now, the prince gazed at the sapphire, crafted from Rito's eye. He knew well what the witch required of him—Elsa's body—and as he had swum, he had thought of how he might kill her. In his current position, reaching her would be effortless. All he had to do was dress up, mount a horse, and ride to the Hazes Prison, to the northern tower.

 

Even as he envisioned plunging the dagger into her delicate chest, his heart did not ache. He harbored resentment toward Elsa for Rito's death and suspected her of stealing the brooch. Of course, Glen had made mistakes as well, but even setting those aside, there was enough fury in him to wish her executed. Nothing, it seemed, stood in his way of taking her heart to bring the merman prince back to life.

 

(Rito, why would you stop me?)

 

Though Glen's resolve was firm, he was held back by Rito. An unseen bond connected their hearts, a bond inexplicable to others, perhaps even to the witch. He felt Rito's disagreement, as if the boy were gently opposing his plan.

 

In truth, Glen didn't want to know what Rito was feeling at that moment. He wanted to kill Elsa, even if it meant disregarding the young merman's wishes. But Rito held him back. The blue stone embedded in the hilt seemed to forbid it entirely… a prohibition so strong, Glen could not ignore it.

 

"You do not want this. You don't wish for me to kill… Is that what you're thinking? You truly are kind."

 

With weary steps, Glen began to make his way toward the manor. The beach was full of guards still searching for him. Though they hadn't yet noticed him, many were looking out to sea, meaning he would inevitably be spotted if he drew closer. The prince had no desire to cause a commotion, but he knew there was no way forward until he reached the manor. After all, he wore nothing but seawater-soaked undergarments, and his appearance was wild and unkempt. In such a state, who would believe that it's the prince who's visiting the Hazes Prison?

 

(...gh...)

 

As he walked along the shore, Glen continued to sense Rito's emotions through the dagger. The idea of dressing up, going to Elsa, and killing her—such thoughts were swiftly quelled by the merman's presence. The sapphire reminded him to stay his hand.

 

(Rito, I'm glad I can sense your feelings like this… You must feel how happy I am to be connected with you again, don't you?)

 

"Even so, please, allow me to do this..." Glen whispered to himself as he approached the manor. A guard carrying a torch finally noticed him and shouted, "Your Highness!"

 

***

 

After vanishing for half a day, stirring quite the commotion in the palace, Glen returned, offering his apologies to his parents for the worry he had caused. He strolled through the palace gardens with his younger brother, Hans, whom he had not seen in a long while, and spent three quiet days, always keeping the dagger with Rito's eye by his side. His parents, not leaving him any choice, eventually urged him to attend a ball. As before, the noble ladies gathered around him, but the prince had no desire to speak or dance. He attempted to slip away, but was intercepted by even more determined married women and widows, eager to pry into how he had spent the past six months.

 

"You've lost a bit of weight. And you don't look all that well."

 

"Still, you remain the most handsome man in the land."

 

"Indeed... You seem more somber, but it only adds to your romantic allure. Lovesick, perhaps?"

 

Despite the autumn season, it was still hot in Fyun, and the women wore dresses with open sleeves. The young maidens bloomed like flowers, while the married ladies wore gowns of more subdued tones, yet as soon as they opened their mouths, all distinctions faded. One glance at their faces, brimming with curiosity and hidden intentions, was enough to make Glen wish to escape as quickly as possible.

 

The scent of perfume, the pointless chatter, the light of the chandeliers—everything in this place filled him with revulsion. Even the usually pleasant music of the orchestra rang in his ears with dissonance.

 

"Why do you even bother asking me, if you love gossip so much? My beloved was poisoned by my former fiancée. Does that not count as love's suffering?"

 

His sharp reply seemed to freeze the air around him. His words were cold, yet he felt no regret. He bore no ill will toward the palace, nor toward his parents, and his younger brother, who had grown so swiftly, was exceptionally dear to him. But for Glen, this place no longer felt like home.

 

"Your Highness, I apologize if I have upset you..."

 

"Forgive me. Please, enjoy your evening."

 

Glen turned his back on the silenced women and left the hall. Now that Rito would not permit him to kill Elsa, he had no idea what to do. For the past three days, he had tried to act as a dutiful prince, loving his parents and younger brother, but in truth, he longed for only one thing. He wanted to bring Rito back to life, by any means possible.

 

"Rito... I cannot bear this any longer..."

 

The emotions and desires he sensed from the dagger offered him no comfort; they only made him more keenly aware that Rito's body was no more. Of course, it was far more than nothing, yet it still caused him its own brand of torment. At night, his chest seemed on the verge of tearing apart. The prince was not so selfless as to be satisfied with half-measures, and it pained him deeply to know that there was a way to revive Rito, and yet he could not act upon it. Why should he hold back when the means to bring the boy back were within his reach? No matter the sin he might carry...

 

"...gh!"

 

Glen walked the palace corridors in his red ceremonial attire, stopping to gaze at his reflection in a grand mirror. The past six months had left him in such a state that he nearly questioned who the man staring back at him was. In the glass, he saw the man who had been called "the most handsome man in the kingdom." A young man with neatly trimmed black hair and smooth bronze skin, dressed in fine attire, stood studying his own reflection.

 

"Plunge the dagger into the heart of the most beautiful person in the land and let the stone drink his blood..."

 

The witch's words suddenly resurfaced in his mind, and with a sigh, Glen touched the mirror. Was he still attractive, even now, after losing so much weight and strength? If so, perhaps he could revive Rito without Elsa's blood. If he were to plunge the dagger into his own broad chest, there was a chance a miracle would occur.

 

"Of course… my blood… I'll just use my blood…"

 

A sudden revelation struck him, like a bolt of lightning, and his heartbeats quickened at the thought of being able to touch a living, breathing Rito again. If the blood of the kingdom's fairest woman was forbidden, then the kingdom's fairest man would willingly offer his own to the dagger. Elsa's life was hers to keep, but his life—his life was his own to give.

 

"What harm is there in spilling blood for the one you love?"

 

The dagger at his waist began to pulse with a wave of negative emotion.

 

"No, Master Glen, return to your senses..." Rito's voice pleaded softly from within.

 

But the prince's resolve proved stronger than the merman's protest. His body was already in motion.

 

"Stop! Don't..." Despite the forceful opposition, Glen made his way toward the grotto.

 

"Rito... just be silent already! Let me do as I wish!"

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