Pr/editor: Helen, Raven
“Did you hide already?”
There was no answer to the question, and Rayan turned around, his tightly closed eyes slightly opened. Jurgen and a few of the maids stood at the doorway, but there was no sign of the seeker.
“I will find her.”
Rayan raised his voice, as if to be heard, before turning on his heel. He didn’t need to search hard. A pair of tiny feet appeared beneath the curtains that fluttered gently in the breeze, and when he caught sight of them and turned to Jürgen, he shook his head gently.
“…Where is she?”
Rayan pretended not to see it and deliberately walked past the curtain to the other side. It was an awkward, stiff maneuver that felt more like a stunt than a skillful one to him, but he could hear the other person chuckling under her breath.
Knowing where she was hiding, Rayan deliberately shuffled around. The initial laughter gradually faded, as he continued to wander about. Unable to find her, he stamped his feet as though he was frustrated. Then the curtains rustled.
Rayan took another glance at Jurgen. This time, he nodded.
“Found you.”
He lifted the hem of the curtain. The hiding child giggled and jumped for a wide hug. Rayan had to bend at the waist for Marielle.
“How did you find me?”
Marielle’s cheeks were red.
“…”
It was obvious from first sight, but Rayan knew he shouldn’t answer that way.
Marielle had approached him unexpectedly a few hours ago, her eyes sparkling and overjoyed. Her pleas for Rayan had been so loud that the nanny who had been chasing after her, complained that she should take care of herself.
Rayan spent the entire time scurrying about, hiding, and searching for Marielle. It blocked out any thoughts that he might have had when he was alone.
“Let’s do it again. Uh, let Marielle do it this time.”
“Your Highness Mariellle.”
“Eh?”
“Why don’t you take a break and play hide-and-seek later? The chef has prepared a fresh apple pie for the two of you along with some tea.”
Even though it was merely hide-and-seek, it was hard labor. Jurgen, observing Rayan’s tired expression, interjected.
“We also have crepes, Your Highness’s favorite.”
Marielle’s nanny chimed in. Torn between wanting to play more and wanting a snack, Marielle’s eyes twinkled in defeat at her nanny’s words.
“We’ll have a snack and then play again. Okay?”
Just in case Marielle changed her mind, Jurgen hurriedly sent his servants to bring in dessert. The aroma of sweetness and black tea immediately permeated the room.
The child was full of life and talked incessantly.
“I love to play like this, but Mrs Feld says I must not because I’m ten years old. I am the noblest lady in Hesseles, so I must act appropriately.”
She began with a well-founded complaint, “Jessie pretends to be a grown-up already. Of course, we are already ladies.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Vtf klcmfv ja tfg oglfcv’r mtjcuf.
“Mjl… Ejsjc, sbe mjc’a vb atja. Tbe tjnf ab xffq qijslcu tlvf-jcv-rffx klat wf, jcv lc atf klcafg kf mjc yeliv j rcbkwjc abufatfg. Yxjs?”
Lfg fsfygbkr kfgf gjlrfv, jr lo rtf kjr cba ublcu ab ajxf ‘cb’ obg jc jcrkfg. Obbxlcu ja Zjglfiif’r obgxfv tjcv kluuilcu lc atf jlg, Ejsjc mbeivc’a rjs jcsatlcu. Pa kbeiv yf abb mgefi ab kjla obg atf cfza alwf. Lf vlvc’a kjca ab ilf ab Zjglfiif, ktb tjv rtbkc tlw agfwfcvber xlcvcfrr.
“You have cream on the corner of your mouth.”
“Huh?”
He deliberately deflected, and Marielle blushed and hurriedly wiped the corner of her mouth. If that wasn’t enough, she even asked the nanny if she still had it. He could not help but laugh at how adorable she was.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because you are cute.”
“…Oh.”
Marielle narrowed her eyes at the offhanded answer.
“You can’t say cute to a lady.”
“Then?”
“You say beautiful!”
At Marielle’s insistence, the people standing behind her bit their lips and turned their heads as if to stifle their laughter. Eventually, there was a muffled chuckle, which Marielle thankully didn’t hear.
“Yes. Beautiful, Marielle.”
She was grateful that Rayan had told her exactly what she wanted to hear. Distracted by Rayan, Marielle tightened her grasp on the fork and lowered her gaze. She was sulking. He gave her what she wanted, and she turned away. Rayan tilted his head to look at Marielle.
“…You know what, will you marry me?”
Suddenly, Marielle’s head snapped up, and she looked straight at Rayan, making an unexpected proposal. The sound of breaths being sucked in were heard here and there. The nanny nearly fainted.
“I will be good to you. Okay?”
The child, who didn’t know her nanny, who looked like she might collapse at any moment, promised with her eyes shining. Rayan looked bewildered and shook his head.
“Why?”
At the sign of rejection, Marielle was visibly disappointed, her tiny lips pouting like a bird’s beak.
“I can’t because I have someone I like.”
“Who?”
“…”
“Brother? Is it because you like him?”
Rayan hesitated for a moment.
“…Mhm.”
The hesitation wasn’t long. He would never be able to tell Erich, but at least one person should know how he feels about him. He loved him. Rayan smiled softly as he pondered the confession that lingered between his closed lips.
“Tsk.” Marielle spat out quickly. The fork she was using to flatten the pancakes was tinged with bitterness.
“Rayan is an idiot.”
“You are right. I am an idiot.”
“No, you are not an idiot…”
When Rayan complied, Marielle fidgeted in bewilderment, as if she’d been told what she didn’t want to hear. She blinked wide-eyed, unsure of how to turn the conversation around, her fork still in her hand as she pondered. Rayan waited patiently for Marielle.
“That’s right. Did you hear that?”
“Heard what?”
“A rumor that there is a real mermaid in the palace.”
There was a hint of excitement in her voice as if she did believe that there couldn’t be a mermaid if there was a fairy.
“…”
Rayan was at a loss for words. When he was asked if he was a fairy or a water spirit, he did not hesitate because that’s not who he was. But mermaids were different. He was aware of the background behind such legislation in Atisa. Erich was the only one who knew he was a mermaid, past or present, and he should be the only one.
“Isn’t it fascinating? You have never seen one in the lake, hm?”
Marielle sounded excited. There was not a single negative emotion in her, not even a hint of hesitation or dread of mermaids. Rayan felt slightly reassured.
“Marielle.”
The door opened and Erich’s voice cut in. Rayan turned his head. It had been two days. Amidst the confusion, though attempting to conceal any sign of joy that suddenly slipped into his subconscious, it couldn’t help but reveal itself.
Erich called Marielle’s name, but his gaze was fixed on Rayan.
“You should leave now, the history teacher will be here soon.”
“… Brother said I could come.”
“I didn’t mean you should neglect your studies. Now go.”
Erich waved his hand and ushered Marielle away. Huffing, Marielle slid down from her chair and hid behind Rayan.
“You would be a good ten year old if you listen to me.”
“I’m going to be a naughty ten year old, and I’m going to do whatever I want!”
Seeing Marielle being stubborn and refusing to go, Erich glared at the nanny. She gently coaxed Marielle with her unrivaled skill of words. Finally, Marielle gave in to her nanny and stormed out of the room in tears, leaving Erich with Rayan.
Rayan looked at Erich.
Erich did the same.
Jurgen glanced at them, and then dismissed the servants.
“Uh…”
He had heard he was too busy to come as he was preparing for the hunting festival, and the question ‘Are you not so busy now?’ was on his lips, but he swallowed it. Somehow it would sound like he missed him.
“Oh, um… Marielle was talking about mermaids…”
“Marielle?”
“She has been going to the lake a lot lately. I wonder if anyone has seen me.”
He should have been more careful. Erich wouldn’t like it if he encouraged him. He was concerned about causing him any inconvenience.
“Did Marielle say anything in particular?”
“No. Just that, she had heard rumors of mermaids… Is there something else?”
“No. Nothing like that.”
Erhart, who had stiffened up the moment Rayan mentioned the mermaids, was relieved by what happened next. The rumors were not so flimsy and fanciful after all. Come to think of it, there was no way he could have told a mere ten-year-old princess a rumor in its entirety.
The war that broke out between mermaids and humans hundreds of years ago, the cruelty of mermaids, and the fact that the recent paranormal activity in Arhen was actually the work of mermaids.
It also contained some very malicious information. It took something that people thought was just a fairy tale fantasy and made it real, and attached fear to it. It wouldn’t take long for it to become more malicious.
As soon as Erhart heard of it from his aides, he gave orders to crack down on it and came running to Rayan, fearing he would hear something weird and take it too seriously.
“It is none of your concern.”
There was one more thing to do before the lake at Rene Palace could be expanded. Rather than simply dismissing the rumors, he needed to address their fears and lay the groundwork for a fundamental coexistence between the two races, so that living here wouldn’t be so difficult for Rayan.
“The only thing you need to worry about is your health.”
Once he reassured him, other things came into focus. Though it had only been two days, it felt like a long time had passed. Ryan’s presence had become even fainter. He wouldn’t be surprised if he disappeared at any moment. Erhart regretted the last few days of not looking for him, making excuses as if he were in control of his emotions.
“How is it that you seem to be getting thinner day by day?”
He walked over and cupped his dry cheeks. Rayan frowned at Erhart, who gave him a hard stare.
“What?”
“Your cheeks.”
“Ah.”
His outstretched fingers touched the wound. The tips of his fingers were tickling his cheek, and he flinched away from any possible contact.
“It’s nothing.”
He hoped he wouldn’t be so concerned when he saw the injury, but now that he had seen it for himself, he wasn’t so sure. A tiny flicker of amusement flashed through his eyes, but a look of concern dug into the back of his mind.
“Do you have any animals you would like to keep?”
Erich pulled Rayan into a hug.
“Huh?”
“A rabbit? A fox? Or maybe a bird?”
He will get him what he wants, whatever it was. Holding him close, he whispered in a low tone against his ear, his voice tickling his ear.
“…”
Nibbling at his lip, knowing he shouldn’t be expecting anything, Rayan pulled away as he felt his breath caught in his throat. It’s a good thing he was being held, so Erich didn’t notice his abnormality.
He hugged him back without a word.
And just like that… The end was slowly approaching.
Thanks for the update 🌹
Muito obrigada! Essa história é maravilhosa… Meu coração tá em frangalhos
Thx for the ch (ㅅ˘ㅂ˘)