Chapter 26 - The Mermaid Princess's Little Brother

Translator's Note:

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The Ring of Silver〘1〙

 

 

As the moon, once full on the night of their meeting, slowly waned and waxed anew, Julius embarked on a journey with his beloved, Fernan. Of course, his younger brother Theo accompanied them, as always.

 

The two brothers, once dwellers of a poor northern village, had endured cruel treatment from their father and stepmother. Seeking refuge from their harsh reality, they fled. Deep in the Black and Lost Forest, they encountered Fernan, and it was there that Julius received a most extraordinary proposal of marriage. For an entire month, he lived in Fernan's crimson house, helping with research, tending the garden, keeping the home in order, and playing with his little brother. And by night, he shared Fernan's bed in a tender embrace of love. Those days were the happiest of his life.

 

And so, it was with a touch of sadness that Julius left that house behind, though their journey held a noble purpose. They traveled to share a wondrous new food, hoping to save others from the scourge of hunger.

 

"...Mmm…"

 

In a quiet inn, where they had stopped to rest, Julius and Fernan stifled their voices, lost in each other's embrace. By day, they were noble in their mission, but by night, they were simply lovers. With Theo sleeping soundly beside them, they refrained from indulgence most nights, but every now and then, the desire to touch became too overwhelming to resist.

 

(... My voice…)

 

Julius, nestled in Fernan's bed, bit down on his lip to suppress a moan that threatened to escape. They had only one room, and throughout the journey, they had held back their deepest desires. But now, every caress felt unbearably intense.

 

"Haa… Ghh…"

 

Fernan's hands roamed Julius's body as the young man lay beside him, his back pressed firmly against his lover's chest. Fernan's warmth seeped into Julius's very bones, igniting his body with a flame that could not be extinguished. Fernan's strong hands toyed with Julius's nipples and teased his trembling length. Their bodies moved beneath the blanket in a secret dance, careful not to disturb Theo who slumbered nearby.

 

"Julius…"

 

"Mmm…"

 

Fernan's deep, masculine voice whispered his name, soft and seductive, like a dream. The mere sound of it sent shivers down Julius's spine. Fernan's hands were as skilled as his voice, stroking Julius in ways that left him breathless, as if his whole body was being sculpted under Fernan's expert touch. His fingers rolled and teased, coaxing Julius to the brink of madness.

 

"Haa… Ah…"

 

The heat between them intensified, Fernan's hardened flesh nestled tightly between Julius's thighs, moving slowly, rhythmically, as they tried not to stir the bed too much. But eventually, the bed began to tremble under their weight, shaking with the passion they tried so hard to suppress.

 

"...!"

 

Julius clasped Fernan's shaft with both hands, squeezing and stroking, trying to mimic the feeling of being filled, though they could not go further. The constant worry about the bed next to them, where Theo slept, tugged at his thoughts. Theo was usually a sound sleeper, but exceptions always existed. It was difficult to fully lose himself in the moment with his brother so close by.

 

"...Ghh!"

 

"N-n... Ah…"

 

Their release came in each other's hands, bringing a moment of quiet bliss. Fernan leaned in to kiss Julius, and for a moment, the world seemed perfect. Yet something still burned deep inside Julius, an aching need left unfulfilled.

 

Still, he said nothing. The memories of his past as a male prostitute weighed heavily on him. He dared not be too forward, too brazen. Instead, he simply smiled shyly and whispered, "I should go back to bed. Goodnight."

 

But as he lay in the bed next to Theo, a pang of loneliness pierced his heart. Why hadn't Fernan stopped him? Why hadn't he pulled him close and whispered, "Don't go," before ravishing him with wild abandon, ignoring his half-hearted pleas of "No... Stop"? He imagined Fernan pushing him down, the bed creaking beneath them, and in that fiery moment, all thoughts of Theo would disappear, leaving only the bliss of their passion.

 

Such fantasies were, of course, dangerous in reality. Yet Julius returned to his bed, still hoping, still yearning, that Fernan would call him back.

 

"Goodnight…"

 

He told himself he was content, that he was happy. But it was not enough. Even now, it wasn't too late. Julius wished for Fernan to rise from the bed, to come to him once more, to throw off the blankets and sneak into his embrace. He couldn't quite believe how much desire burned within his unsatisfied body.

 

***

 

The golden light of the morning sun banished the lingering shadows of his midnight desires. In the fresh dawn, all that had troubled him in the night seemed like nothing more than a distant dream. As Julius gently shaved Fernan's face, he silently thanked the sun for its steady return. Though the madness of passion danced in his head during the moonlit hours, the morning always restored his calm.

 

"There, all done," he said softly, "I trimmed your hair just a bit to make you look like a proper gentleman."

 

"Hey, now, what do you mean 'look like'? I am a proper gentleman, don't you think?" Fernan chuckled, his voice lighthearted.

 

In a small room at the inn, this had become their daily ritual. Julius would carefully tend to Fernan's face, smoothing away the stubble that gave him such a stern appearance, and together they would venture out into the village. Today, as usual, Julius was pleased with his work. He reached to untie his apron, ready to finish, expecting Fernan to smile and say his usual "Thank you." But as their eyes met in the reflection of the hand mirror, something changed.

 

Fernan's deep black eyes held Julius' gaze through the glass, a look so intense that Julius found himself unable to look away. It was as if the mirror had become a window to his soul, and Fernan's gaze was pulling him in.

 

"Thank you," Fernan said, his voice rich with affection. "Now, look at this face. Isn't it the face of a handsome young man? Have you fallen for me all over again?"

 

Julius froze. For a moment, his breath stopped. He could have easily joked back, laughed and teased like they often did, but something strange happened. The words caught in his throat, and his lips, usually so quick with a witty reply, refused to move.

 

"Julius?"

 

Fernan's voice held a note of concern, and Julius knew he had to say something, anything. He had to break the tension, return to their normal rhythm, and take off the apron as if nothing had happened. But though he knew this, his hands and mouth refused to obey.

 

In the mirror, his beloved Fernan looked at him with warmth and kindness. This was the man who cooked with care, who shared his laughter and his life. Julius loved him deeply, more than words could say. Yet in moments like these, when they were so close, Julius found himself unable to act as he wished.

 

How he longed for Fernan to see through his awkwardness, to understand the silent words his heart screamed: "I love you." Why couldn't he express it? Back in Fernan's home, everything had been so simple. It was only on this journey, and especially since arriving in this village, that these emotions had begun to overwhelm him.

 

"Why did you go quiet all of a sudden? Am I really too handsome for words after that shave?" Fernan's playful tone tried to lighten the atmosphere.

 

"Ah… please, finish the rest yourself. I need to check on Theo." The words tumbled out, unbidden, and even Julius was surprised by them. He saw Fernan's face fall, just slightly, and a more serious expression crossed his features. A complete failure... Even though he thought so, the atmosphere that had been lost could no longer be restored.

 

"You've been difficult to talk to lately," Fernan said with a sigh, running a hand over his now smooth skin. He placed the mirror face down on the table with a quiet clatter—not a violent sound, but loud enough to echo in Julius' heart.

 

"I'll be back by noon," Julius muttered, before hastily leaving the room. He left behind the apron, the razor, the warm water. and no doubt a confused and disappointed Julius.

 

As he descended the dimly lit staircase to the inn's first floor, Julius felt lost in his own mind. How he wished he could rewind time and undo his foolish words. It was only natural to care about the person you love, to try and make each moment with them special, yet here he was, unable to do even that. He loathed himself for it.

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