Chapter 25 - The Mermaid Princess's Little Brother

Translator's Note:

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The Anklet of Bronze〘3〙

 

 

"Tomorrow... he may appear here... but I beg of you, do him no harm. He is still a child, unacquainted with the kindness of others, but he is a good boy at heart..."

 

It might have been in vain to plead with a demon, but Julius saw something in his eyes that went beyond his first impression. No, perhaps even more than he expected—there was a glimmer of humanity and emotion. If this was but a trick to ensnare the hearts of men, he had no choice but to grasp at this fleeting hope. Please, have mercy, please, grant me this small request... Julius held back his tears as he implored the demon, as though praying to a god.

 

"I will not harm the boy."

 

"...Really?"

 

"You are a kind elder brother, worrying for your younger sibling. I know that feeling well. I had one too, but he perished from hunger."

 

The man smirked crookedly, brushing Julius's cheek before withdrawing his fingers. With a faintly sorrowful expression, he leaned in once more, pressing his lips against the young man's in a kiss as light as a feather. After this tender exchange, far sweeter than before, the dark-haired figure gazed seriously into Julius's eyes.

 

"So, what shall we do? I don't mind offering your brother a meal when he arrives... if I give you my word, can you then focus on what we are doing here?"

 

Julius hesitated but eventually nodded, praying the demon's promise held true. He ventured cautiously, asking:

 

"What is your name?"

 

"Fernan... Quite a fine name, don't you think?"

 

As soon as the answer left his lips, those same lips moved close to Julius's ear.

 

"I have not been called by my name for many years…"

 

The whisper was a melody in his ear, causing Julius to exhale softly.

 

"Fernan…"

 

Doubt and fear still gnawed at him, making it hard to trust the demon. Yet, he yearned to believe. Whether this man before him was truly a demon in the guise of a man-eating wolf or had committed great evils in the past, Julius wanted to trust in the gentleness he felt now.

 

"Do you want this?"

 

The question came with a knowing look, one that anticipated but a single answer. His eyes, burning bright, shimmered with desire. When Julius saw that smile, so at odds with a creature of darkness, his face flushed as if he stood too close to a fire.

 

"..."

 

Julius, following his instincts, gave a small nod. He longed to voice his agreement clearly, but the words failed him. In the end, he reached out, resting his hand on the man's head. Leaning in, Julius initiated a kiss of his own accord, pressing his lips to the other's, gently moving his hips.

 

"Mmh... Uhh..."

 

As he surrendered fully to the pleasure, his body began to feel lighter, almost weightless. The sensations that came from their closeness and the friction between them unwound the tight coil within him. The place touched by Fernan's fingers pulsed with each motion, seeking a deeper connection.

 

"U-uhh... ngh…"

 

"Nnn…"

 

Their bare chests pressed against each other, and Julius finally received the man's hardened flesh. His body arched unexpectedly as Fernan pulled the cushion from beneath his back, making the act easier.

 

"A-ah... Ah…"

 

The sensations were like a small spark, igniting into a blazing fire with every touch, and the fire only grew when stoked by their heated bodies. The man's shaft, so firm it was hard to believe it was flesh, filled him to the brim, while Julius's tight entrance expanded to accommodate it. Watching his reactions, Fernan moved his hips, seeking the right spot.

 

"Hah... ahh..."

 

It was the first time Julius had been made love to in this way. Despite their close physical contact, it felt strange... unfamiliar, to gaze into the other's face. When their eyes met, he was overwhelmed with deep embarrassment.

 

"You feel incredible inside, so warm and tight."

 

"Nn... ngh…"

 

When Fernan said this with a blissful expression, Julius realized what his own face must look like—perhaps even more indecent, his eyes gleaming with tears.

 

The intensity of the other's gaze was almost tangible, making Julius quickly cover his face with his hands. He turned away, closing his eyes in an attempt to hide his flushed expression.

 

"Don't hide... you look incredibly charming."

 

"U-uhh... Ah..."

 

Fernan took hold of his wrists, pulling them aside to reveal his face, then placed a kiss on his cheek.

 

"Your cheeks are burning…" a soft laugh followed, and Julius felt his face grow even hotter.

 

Bathed in the light of the moon, Fernan's face was clearly visible, which meant he too could see Julius's flushed features. Oddly enough, he had never felt this exposed before, not even when other clients took him into the woods during the day or night, where his body had been laid bare countless times. Those encounters, where he held onto a tree and simply waited for it to end, had always felt empty.

 

But this... this was entirely different. As the thought crossed his mind, Fernan pressed deeper, and under the weight of his body, the pillow beneath Julius's hips crumpled and sank.

 

"Fua... Ah…"

 

 

 

Fernan's movements ignited within him a strange satisfaction, unlike anything he had ever felt before. The quiet breaths and the pulsing within him spoke volumes of Fernan's own pleasure. When he had once sold his body, the act had felt degrading, repulsive. But now, the emotions stirred by the man he should have hated brought an unexpected joy. It no longer felt like a mere transaction, but like a shared moment between two souls.

 

"Ah... Haha!"

 

"...kgh..."

 

Not yet... I don't want this to end... Such was the desire stirring within him. He longed for the dark-haired man to continue, to keep moving with that fierce rhythm, awakening a sweet pain deep within his body. There was a place inside him, a hidden spot, that filled him with unbelievable pleasure every time Fernan's thrusts struck it. He wanted more, wanted him to push even harder against that sensitive spot.

 

"Your hips... they're trembling, moving to meet mine. It's both lewd and endearing…"

 

"Ah, fua... Ah!"

 

"I'm less and less inclined to let you go home. I do hope these aren't just your practiced tricks…"

 

With a forceful motion, Fernan lifted him by the knees, shifting slightly so their connection was less complete. "No, I don't want to let him go…" Julius thought, just as the man thrust deeply again, filling the brief void with such intensity that it turned his fleeting loneliness to dust.

 

"Fua-aa... Ah... Ah!"

 

He hadn't realized there could be depths within him that he hadn't known existed. The bed shook beneath them with every powerful motion, and Julius felt like he was drowning, overwhelmed by both exhilaration and a desperate need for air. Inside, two conflicting desires battled—one to reach the peak of pleasure, the other to delay the end as long as possible.

 

Suddenly, a thought struck him—he wanted to see it. He wanted to witness Fernan's face in that final moment of release. Not just see it but feel it, to experience it with every fiber of his being.

 

To feel with his sensitive, aching flesh the heat of those thick, viscous jets...

 

"Haa... Fu-u…"

 

"Ngh!…"

 

When Julius wrapped his arms around Fernan's shoulders, the man suddenly stilled his hips. With a surge of powerful release, pleasure erupted, spilling into Julius and leaving its heated mark.

 

"N-n... Mnn!"

 

From their closely entwined bodies came the scent of Julius's own release. The scent of youth, mixed with the slickness of sweat and skin. What should have disgusted him now felt... pleasant. The signal of their shared climax should have brought joy, yet it left an odd sense of loneliness in its wake.

 

"Ngh... Nn..."

 

Was this the end?... Now, like all the others, would he look at him coldly, with disdain, having taken what he wanted?

 

"Don't make that sad face. It's not over yet, relax. Do you feel it?"

 

"Ah..."

 

Fernan, his breath still unsteady, gave a soft thrust, and as though life had been poured back into him, his member grew hard once more. There was no sign of exhaustion, and the pulsing heat radiated down to Julius's very bones.

 

"...Don't you think we're a perfect match? I hope I'm not alone in savoring this..."

 

"Fernan..."

 

In his elation, Julius hadn't realized he had spoken his name. The man's eyes crinkled with satisfaction. Julius confirmed his feelings by looking into his face—this man was nothing like those who had bought him. If this difference was due to Fernan being a demon, then perhaps Julius would need to reconsider his views on monsters. Or maybe... Fernan was the only one of his kind, truly unique among them.

 

"And what is your name?" Fernan asked.

 

"Julius..."

 

"A fine name—it suits you well."

 

As Fernan smiled, warmth spread through Julius's chest. He found himself wanting to know more about the man before him, to learn everything Fernan could share, both the things he knew and the mysteries yet to be uncovered. He longed to bask in the joy of their conversation until the morning light.

 

***

 

Awoken by the piercing chirping of birds, Julius lay with his head upon the pillow, staring up at the skylight. Draped with linen, the window let in bright beams of sunlight through its corners. The room was bathed in light and warmth. As he realized the sun had already reached its zenith, clarity suddenly returned to his foggy mind.

 

"..."

 

He sat up abruptly, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar attic filled with books. This wasn't his home.

 

The moment he understood that, memories of Theo and the night with Fernan flooded back. It had been a sweet, languid night... almost like a fairytale. Yet he wasn't sure if it had been real or if he was even truly awake now.

 

(Theo...)

 

Unable to think clearly, Julius leapt out of bed. Crawling across the floor, he grabbed hold of a small red ladder and peered down.

 

"Please, please, let him be safe..." he prayed, or perhaps he was denying reality, until he heard Theo's laughter from below. Yet, afraid it was only in his mind, Julius swallowed and strained to listen. There it was again—that voice.

 

It was unmistakably Theo's, mingling with the deep tones of a man's voice. Cautiously peering down, Julius saw his younger brother, unharmed, seated at the dining table. Theo was peeling the skin from round fruits. Across from him sat Fernan, though only his hand was visible. Still, the hand looked distinctly human.

 

"Hey, look, look! I peeled this one perfectly. Isn't it nice?"

 

"Yes, you've done well. But there are still some sprouts... The sprouts of a potato are poisonous, so it can be dangerous if you don't cut them out. You need to remove the sprout and the surrounding area, like this."

 

Julius listened to their conversation as he hurriedly pulled on his clothes, which lay crumpled by the bed.

 

(Potatoes?... That devilish plant?)

 

Unsure whether to eavesdrop further or descend to join them, Julius dressed quietly but quickly.

 

"Anyone can easily grow potatoes in a garden. If they were spread across the world, no one would ever go hungry. Isn't that wonderful? You can simply bake or steam them, and with a little salt, they taste even better."

 

"Yeah, I know. I ate a lot yesterday."

 

"If you stay with me and help with my work, you'll be able to eat them every day. In any case, help me convince your handsome brother. I feel like it was destiny that brought us together."

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