Chapter 30 - The Mermaid Princess's Little Brother

Translator's Note:

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The Bracelet of Gold〘1〙

 

 

It had been six long years since Theo and his beloved older brother fled from their father and cruel stepmother...

 

Now, Theo lived with Julius and his husband, Fernan, in a new home. They had moved in just ten days prior, after wandering for some time before returning to the red house in the Black Forest. But now, they had settled here, in a place Julius deemed perfect for a peaceful life.

 

Each time Fernan jested about setting off on another adventure, Julius would stare at him in surprise and ask, "Haven't you had your fill yet?" But in truth, he deeply respected Fernan's passion for exploration.

 

Late one night, as Theo lay awake, his ears caught the faint creak of something above him. The sound was coming from the upstairs bedroom, but why was it so loud? Theo couldn't quite understand.

 

(Creak... creak... beds shouldn't make that much noise, right?)

 

Restless, Theo tossed and turned in his bed on the ground floor, trying to see if he could replicate the sound. Even when he threw his whole body onto the bed, it made a similar noise, but it wasn't quite the same as what he heard from upstairs.

 

He had noticed the strange sound on their very first night in the new house, while he had stayed up late cleaning. Right above him was the bedroom where Fernan and Julius slept. If he listened closely, the creaking would go on for a while, growing softer and then louder again. It was not a sound you'd notice if you were already asleep, but to Theo, who was awake, it was rather unsettling.

 

And the next morning, after that noise had filled the night, Julius had overslept. Fernan had prepared breakfast. But on nights when the creaking didn't occur, it was his brother who made breakfast. Over the past ten days, this pattern hadn't changed.

 

(Last night... the creaking was there again... The bed is new, so why would it break already? Maybe Fernan is restless in his sleep, and that's why my brother can't sleep either?)

 

Theo lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling in his dimly lit room. The sounds would speed up and slow down, repeating over and over, and just when the creaking seemed to grow particularly intense, it would suddenly stop—just like always. It was all so strange, even for a restless sleeper.

 

(Maybe... I should ask about it tomorrow?)

 

Pondering the mystery on his own wasn't going to help, so Theo resolved to ask Julius in the morning. Whispering a soft "Goodnight" to the floor above, he pulled the covers up to his chin and drifted off to sleep.

 

Sure enough, the next morning, Julius was late to rise again, and breakfast was once more prepared by Fernan. They had a simple meal of potato soup, raisin buns, scrambled eggs, and fresh milk.

 

Theo had meant to ask his brother about the noisy bed, but as he set the table with Fernan, he changed his mind. If the newly bought bed was defective, it might upset them both.

 

"I'll fix it in secret," he thought to himself.

 

Thanks to his friendship with the carpenter's son from the village they used to live in, Theo had learned how to make simple furniture, like small cabinets. If he could repair the bed without them noticing, his brother and Fernan would be pleasantly surprised.

 

"Good morning... Sorry I overslept," Julius said as he finally joined them at the table.

 

As was his custom, Julius kissed Theo on the cheek first, then gave a soft peck to Fernan, who was standing beside him. His older brother, with his flaxen hair, gentle eyes, and creamy skin, was Theo's pride and joy. Julius always looked beautiful, but curiously, on the mornings after he overslept, he seemed even more radiant.

 

"Julius, you look wonderful today," Theo remarked.

 

"Thank you..." Julius replied, his voice warm.

 

Fernan, who had wrapped an arm around Julius' waist, kissed both of his cheeks and then lightly kissed his lips. Theo thought their bond was remarkable—they brought out the best in one another. Since being with Fernan, Julius had begun to study reading and writing diligently and had become more mindful of his appearance. In turn, Fernan had focused his efforts on producing and selling dyes and medicines to ensure their livelihood.

 

But perhaps the greatest achievement was that Fernan's success in spreading the cultivation of potatoes had saved the kingdom from famine, earning him both a house and a royal grant for further research.

 

And so, they had come to live in this new home, not far from the town surrounding the royal castle. It was a modest cottage, just big enough for their needs, yet it boasted vast land for experiments and a splendid greenhouse.

 

"Theo, we've nearly finished settling in. Why don't we visit the town today?" Julius suggested over breakfast. "It's time we made some new friends."

 

It was only then, over the morning meal, that Theo first considered going into town. Even though they had moved here ten days ago, he hadn't yet ventured out.

 

"Could we catch a ride with someone going that way? Or perhaps we could walk?" Theo asked, unsure.

 

"It's only a few minutes' walk," Julius replied with a smile. "We could stroll there and take a carriage back. I wanted to go for a walk, but it would be a waste of time if we both went. So, might I ask you for a favor?"

 

Theo nodded thoughtfully at his brother's suggestion. Normally, he would be excited at the prospect of making new friends, but today, something else occupied his mind. His thoughts were fixated on fixing the creaky bed where Julius and Fernan slept.

 

"What's wrong, Theo?" Fernan asked, his gaze piercing as he looked at the boy. "You don't seem your usual cheerful self. Are you feeling lonely without any friends?"

 

Theo shook his head quickly. "No, I'm not lonely. I have you and my brother. I'm sure I'll make friends soon."

 

"You're good at that," Fernan chuckled, his rough laugh softened by the shadow of his unshaven beard. "As for me, I find it tiresome to deal with people... though perhaps it's easier if you only meet them once. Superficial or deep relationship—both have their merits."

 

"You're strange," Theo said with a laugh.

 

"There are plenty of strange folk among researchers," Fernan teased, ruffling Theo's hair. "Grow up to be normal and friendly, just like you are now."

 

"Hey!" Theo protested, smiling as he swatted Fernan's hand away. "Don't treat me like a child!"

 

Though Julius was Theo's older brother, Fernan felt like a father to him. Still, to avoid drawing attention or judgment, Theo kept quiet about the fact that they were married. He didn't fully understand why he needed to keep this secret, but his brother had asked him to, so he complied.

 

He knew that such unions between men were rare and considered something special. To Theo, anything that was unique or different had a certain charm, though he also understood that many people in the world disapproved of things that were "special."

 

After traveling for six long years, Theo had learned how to blend into society when needed.

 

"Brother... I don't think I'll be able to do the favor you asked today," Theo said hesitantly. "If it's urgent, maybe you should go yourself?"

 

"Why not, Theo?" Julius asked, concerned.

 

"I've still got some cleaning to finish. I can't leave right now," Theo replied.

 

"Well then," Fernan interjected with a grin, "why don't we both go together, Julius? It would be nice to take a stroll into town, browse the shops, and take a carriage back home, wouldn't it?"

 

Julius readily agreed, and Theo let out a quiet sigh of relief, thankful that he wouldn't have to explain himself further. With the two of them out of the house, he would have the perfect opportunity to fix the bed in peace.

 

If he managed to repair it before they returned, not only would his brother and Fernan be pleased, but he himself would finally be able to enjoy a quiet night's sleep, killing two birds with one stone.

 

***

 

After breakfast, the pair set off for the town, and Theo, now left to his own devices, hurried upstairs with tools in hand. Armed with nothing more than a wooden mallet and some old nails, he was determined to find the source of the bed's creaking and mend it as best as he could. However, after a thorough inspection, no obvious flaws presented themselves, leaving Theo uncertain of where to begin.

 

(Hmm, perhaps a stack of books could serve as additional support for the center?)

 

With this thought, Theo bent down, pulling out the suitcases that lay hidden beneath the bed. Opening one with little care, he found an assortment of forgotten items—a clown mask they had once bought at a night market, and a myriad of other trinkets he vaguely remembered.

 

But then something else caught his eye.

 

"This... this bracelet..."

 

Theo's heart quickened as he uncovered a bronze bracelet at the bottom of the chest. All thoughts of repairing the bed were forgotten as he gazed at the familiar ornament. This bracelet had once belonged to Julius, his beloved brother.

 

He hadn't thought of it in ages, but now, seeing the intricate patterns engraved on the surface, nostalgia flooded his heart. The bracelet had adorned Julius' ankle in their younger days. Theo still remembered the time he had lamented to their father about the unfairness of his brother having such a fine bracelet while he had none. To this, their father had replied, "You are too young now, but one day I shall buy one for you too." Theo had held onto that promise eagerly. Yet they had fled their home before that promise could be fulfilled.

 

(But Julius doesn't need it anymore, does he? Perhaps... perhaps I could have it?)

 

Theo slipped the bracelet onto his ankle, rolling up his trousers to admire how it fit.

 

The bronze band glimmered faintly against the pale skin of his ankle, just as it had in his memories. The young man couldn't help but feel that, in some way, wearing the bracelet brought him closer to his brother.

 

(I wish I could show it to others. It fits me now, doesn't it? No one can say I'm too young for it anymore. Julius doesn't wear it now—maybe he'd let me keep it?)

 

Theo, with a small smile, paced around the room, the mallet still in his hand, his eyes constantly drifting down to his adorned ankle. If he hurried to town now, perhaps he could catch up to Julius and Fernan. They might be walking leisurely, lost in conversation, and he could surprise them, show off his find, and they could stroll through the markets together. The thought filled him with excitement, and before long, Theo was in his room, gathering his things, eager to follow them. 

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