Chapter 27 - 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.

The Ring of Silver〘2〙

 

 

Later, after Fernan had returned to the inn and Julius accompanied him to visit several homes, they parted under the crimson evening sky, having worked diligently to spread the gift of potatoes to the villagers. There was still time before dinner, but Julius felt a creeping anxiety about being alone with Fernan again, worried that he might say or do something foolish. So he resolved to occupy himself until those awkward feelings passed.

 

The children's gathering spot was near a small forest—not as vast and foreboding as the Lost Forest where Fernan lived. Theo, who had been playing there with the village children ever since they arrived, reminded Julius so much of himself when he was younger. Yet the expression on his brother's face was completely different—Theo was laughing brightly, climbing trees and chatting with his friends, his face beaming like a little sun.

 

"Brother, is it time for dinner already?"

 

"I've come to fetch you, but it's a bit early, isn't it?"

 

"Too early! I still want to play with everyone. Don't you want some time alone with Fernan, brother?"

 

Julius froze at Theo's words as he descended from the tree. He had never expected his little brother to say such a thing.

 

"That's not it at all..."

 

"Really? I always thought grown-ups liked to have fun with other grown-ups, so I tried not to get in the way."

 

Theo grinned as if to say, "See? I'm being good, aren't I?" His flaxen hair and eyes, bathed in the golden light of sunset, glowed like warm caramel. Looking at his younger brother, Julius felt a pang of discomfort at his own behavior. Living together in one room at the inn, he had often felt a deep desire to be alone with Fernan. It wasn't that he had grown to resent Theo, but perhaps, in some way, those feelings had slipped through and become noticeable.

 

"Brother, are you okay? You seem a little distracted."

 

"Sorry, I was lost in thought. Ah... it's still early for dinner. Shall we visit the night market? Or would you rather play a little longer?"

 

"Let's go to the night market! I'll just say goodbye to everyone."

 

Theo dashed off to bid farewell to his friends who were still climbing trees, and when he returned, he cheerfully declared, "They've been saying that my brother is very handsome!"

 

"That's not true, but thank you."

 

"You are handsome. There are a lot of people in this village, but I think you're the best-looking of them all."

 

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Theo. Everyone sees their beloved as the most beautiful."

 

"Then for me, you're the best."

 

"And for me, Theo is the sweetest."

 

Julius smiled and ruffled his younger brother's hair before they held hands and began walking toward the village square. The sun had not yet set, but the sky was already awash in red, signaling the opening of the night market.

 

"Is it nice to have so many friends to play with?"

 

"Yeah! The people here are kind. They don't call Fernan a demon or throw stones at us. And the innkeeper is really nice too."

 

That was likely because they were far from the Black Forest, but Julius chose not to mention it. "Yes, they are," he simply replied with a smile. In the villages they had passed through before, especially those near the ominous forest, they had encountered harsh cruelty. Fernan, the mysterious scholar, had only wanted to share the gift of potatoes—a miraculous plant that could stave off hunger. But despite his good intentions, they had been chased away, pelted with stones, and left to sleep on the streets. Yet in those dark days, Julius had not felt the heavy burden on his heart that weighed upon him now.

 

"Waaah... the night market is amazing! It's nearly dark, but everything sparkles. Look at those strange candles! And the masks... can we look at them?" Theo tugged at his brother's hand, his excitement pulling Julius out of his brooding thoughts. As they walked down the bustling street lined with stalls, Julius couldn't help but feel his heart lighten, even if only a little. Watching Theo so full of joy reminded him of the days when they had lived in the northern village, where everyone knew Julius as nothing more than a cheap whore. Back then, no parent allowed their children to play with Theo, the brother of a prostitute, and Theo had been so lonely. Now, the boy seemed truly happy, and Julius couldn't help but wonder if he had been too greedy, asking for too much.

 

"About this morning... I'll apologize when we get back," Julius murmured under his breath, as the night market bustled around them. He was rehearsing what he would say to Fernan—words of apology, words to make peace. He turned them over in his mind, crafting each sentence carefully.

 

But before he could complete his thoughts, the very vision he was imagining appeared before him, real as day. Fernan stood in the crowded square, the night deepening around him, flanked by two enchanting women who clung to his arms. Neither wore the anklets that marked them as female prostitutes, but from their shapely forms and bold demeanor, they seemed to be tavern women nonetheless.

 

"They're probably just trying to lure him into the tavern... stay calm..." Julius told himself. But calm was far from what he felt.

 

"...I'll take this one, please," he blurted, reaching hastily for a clown mask and pulling it over his face. Then, he stepped behind Theo, gripping his brother's shoulders to keep him from turning around. Through the narrow eyeholes of the mask, Julius watched as one of the women reached up to touch Fernan's face, her delicate fingers hovering near the cheeks that Julius had so lovingly tended to that very morning.

 

"...Ahh..." A searing pain shot through Julius's heart, as though someone had branded his face with a burning iron. His features hardened into stone as he unconsciously tightened his grip on Theo's shoulders, digging his nails into the boy's skin.

 

"Ouch! That hurts, brother!" Theo yelped, snapping Julius back to reality.

 

"Are you really going to buy that mask?" Theo asked, oblivious to the storm raging in his brother's heart.

 

Julius nodded wordlessly, paying the street vendor and leaving the mask on his face, unable to take it off. Tears threatened to spill at any moment, and he found himself relying on the mask's painted smile to hide his anguish.

 

***

 

As twilight settled over the quiet inn, the three of them gathered for their evening meal, just as they had every night before. Seated in the modest dining room on the inn's ground floor, they dined on simple fare, yet there was something special on the table this time—a dish made from the potatoes Fernan had grown himself. The innkeeper had been introduced to these miraculous tubers long before anyone else in the village, and now their pale-yellow flesh graced the dinner plates. In time, these humble roots would save many from hunger. Surely, in the near future, Fernan would become renowned across the land, celebrated for his contributions.

 

(He lives so far from the world, in such a remote place, that he chose me, a man, as his companion. But deep down, I know he'd rather have a woman. One day, a sweet, innocent girl will fall in love with him, and he will fall for her too...)

 

When that day comes, Julius would be told it was over. He wondered if those parting words, "Let's remain good friends," would slip from Fernan's smiling lips.

 

"Julius, you look pale. Are you feeling unwell?"

 

Fernan's voice broke into his reverie, pulling him back from his dark thoughts. Julius had forgotten they were in the middle of dinner.

 

"You know," Theo piped up, "my brother bought a cursed mask! That's why he's not feeling well. Fernan, you should take him to the church tomorrow."

 

"A cursed mask, is that it?" Fernan raised an eyebrow.

 

"Yes! He's been acting strange ever since he put it on. It's like his soul has been drained."

 

Fernan chuckled, though a hint of concern colored his tone. "You tell me not to waste money, and then you go and buy something like this? If you wanted one so badly, I could have made you a better one."

 

Julius cast his gaze down. "I'm sorry... I didn't even use my own money..."

 

"No, no, that's not what I meant..." Fernan sighed, his expression turning awkward. There was a faint shadow of discomfort in his eyes as well, and he exhaled wearily. Julius thought perhaps Fernan was already growing tired of him, long before that perfect girl even appeared. The thought made him wish he could vanish on the spot.

 

"Fernan, don't be mad at my brother. It's my fault—I asked him to get the mask," Theo interjected, his voice small but earnest.

 

"Theo..." Julius murmured, touched by his brother's words. Though it wasn't entirely true. Theo had been intrigued by a different mask—one with the split faces of a rabbit and a fox.

 

Instead of offering thanks, Julius wrapped his arms around the boy's shoulders. He might never become a parent, but in that moment, he understood the love one felt for a child. He was happy to have someone dear to him, someone for whom he would gladly lay down his life. Even if he lost his lover, he would still have Theo, his precious younger brother.

 

(It's alright. As long as I have Theo, I...)

 

Julius, once a boy marked by the copper anklet of a prostitute, who had sold his body to men, had merely indulged in a fleeting dream of unattainable luxury. He should have known better than to hope.

 

"Hey, I'm not angry," Fernan reassured, his voice gentle. "It's just... it's not pleasant to eat while staring at such sour faces, you know? I apologize if I said anything wrong. So please, put on a kinder expression."

 

"Sorry..." Julius whispered, still unable to lift his head. He could feel the tension in the air and longed to flee, but he stayed rooted to his seat. Before him sat the potato soup Fernan had lovingly cultivated, yet today, it held no flavor for him. The sweetness of the potato eluded his tongue, leaving only the taste of salt.

 

"Perhaps you saw me with that tavern girl earlier? I only asked her to introduce me to some important people," Fernan suddenly explained, as if reading his thoughts.

 

"I see," Julius murmured in response. He had never truly doubted Fernan's intentions. Yet one day, Fernan would find success, and with it, a bride worthy of his achievements. The fact that he proposed to Julius, a man, could become a past that he did not want to remember.

Last Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter