BR 2.7

The horse he had prepared led them into the woods behind the mansion. They ran and ran, enduring fierce stares from creatures that could have been wild beasts or demonic beasts.

Passing through the deep, dense forest, they crossed a crumbling section of wall barely wide enough for a horse and escaped the mansion grounds.

Erons’s initial excitement at his first ride quickly turned to disappointment. This kind of pain was new to him. Every time the horse galloped, his entire body ached, especially his lower back. Yet, he felt too embarrassed to burrow deeper into the arms already tightly holding him, so Erons clung to the saddle, gritting his teeth.

The horse stopped in a forest near the city center, where several buildings were visible. After running for quite some time, they had finally reached the outskirts of the estate.

“Was it painful?”
“No. I was fine.”
“Liar.”
“What…?”

The man jabbed his waist repeatedly.

“You’re hurt.”
“… How did you know?”
“You don’t even know how to ride a horse. It’d be weird if it didn’t hurt. Come here. I’ll help you down.”

He reached out his arms toward Erons, signaling for him to climb off. Erons wanted to dismount on his own, but given his current condition, doing so would surely mean plummeting to the ground. 

With no other choice, Erons threw himself toward him. He caught Erons, who seemed to collapse into his arms, gently, and set him down on the ground.

“Thank you.”
“Stay close. Don’t get distracted or you’ll lose your way.”
“Huh? Ah, over there…!”

While going out to play like this was nice, Erons’s worry outweighed his excitement. He hadn’t exactly gotten permission to leave. He hurriedly grabbed the hem of the robe of the figure walking a few steps ahead of him.

“What if the Duke finds out I snuck out? I snuck out without permission. If I get caught, I’ll…“

Erons bit his lip and bowed his head deeply. Even though he’d followed this far, he seemed suddenly afraid of the consequences he might face.

“If you want, you can stay here all night. I’ve made arrangements for that. So don’t worry and just come with me.“
”Really? Can I really stay here all night? But won’t the Duke find out?“
”Seems like you don’t trust my word?“
”Ah, no! Absolutely not! I believe you!“
”Then that’s settled. Come on.”

He reached out his hand again. This time, it wasn’t an invitation to be lifted, but a gesture to take it. As Erons hesitated, flustered, he seized Erons’s hand first.

“Ah… Yes. I understand.”
Gelbin is always pretty crowded. The streets are confusing too, so it’s easy to get lost if you’re not careful. Even if it’s inconvenient, it’s safer to hold on like this.“
”Ah…”

Convinced immediately, Erons clutched his hand tightly as they made their way out of the forest.

As they entered the city center, a flood of voices poured in, words he couldn’t even make out.

Merchants were hawking their wares, citizens were swayed by their pitches, and children were running about with toys as big as themselves.

“There really are a lot of people.”
“Seems especially crowded today. We picked the wrong day. Sorry about that.”
“No! Just getting out like this is great enough. But, eh –!”

“Waaah!” The child’s cry, heard from somewhere, was truly deafening. So startling that even Erons joined in, bellowing back.

They looked around, searching for the source of the sound. Then, far off, a child who looked about eight or nine years old was clutching his mother’s skirt and rolling around on the dirt ground.

“Buy me that! Buy me that!”
“I said no! Stop being so stubborn!”

The child cried, and the mother looked flustered. What the child was pointing at was a fruit juice sold at a shabby street stall, one that certainly didn’t look expensive.

“Not at all. You can buy it for 100 cents. You can’t say it’s expensive.”
“100 cents…”

Judging by their worn-out clothes, they didn’t seem to be living a life of plenty. How poor must they be that they couldn’t easily buy juice, and all they could do was try to calm the crying child?

A hundred cents isn’t even half of the standard donation of five hundred cents, yet the child must be so desperate to cling like that.

Watching the child, Erons felt a flood of emotions. The child’s tantrum didn’t feel like someone else’s. He vividly remembered how often he had thrown tantrums like that child when he was little, and how harshly he had been scolded each time.

He was projecting his own childhood onto the child.

Unable to take his eyes off them, Erons rummaged through his pocket. But he had no money on him, having come out suddenly.

As Erons looked dejected, the man suddenly darted off somewhere, leaving Erons behind. Erons started to follow him but stopped, staring blankly at the man’s actions.

He bought two bottles of juice from a street vendor and handed one to each of the child and the mother. The child’s mother waved them off, refusing, but he pressed both bottles into the child’s hands. The child jumped up and down with joy, and the mother thanked him repeatedly, apologizing profusely.

Though he was Fedor’s twin, he was so different from Fedor. Fedor would have said, “Let’s hurry up, it’s too noisy here.” 

The child began running toward him as he smiled at that heartwarming scene.

“Big brother! Thank you!”
“Huh? Me…? No. Hey, that big brother bought it for you. I don’t have any money.”
“No! The uncle said he bought it because big brother told him to?”

… Uncle?

“Phew… Ha ha ha! Yeah, enjoy it. One’s for your mom. Got it?”
“Yeah! Bye!”
“Bye.”

The child ran into his mother’s arms, and the man walked back toward Erons. He abruptly handed Erons something identical to what he’d bought for the child.

He pushed it forward.

“That juice from earlier? Are you giving this to me?”
“Yeah. Looks like you really want to stay out until nightfall. If you keep hanging around places like this, your stamina will run out fast. Thought I’d better give you a sugar boost beforehand.”
“Um, I was wondering…”
“Hm?”

Could he have been looking out for me? 

Realizing that someone he thought had no interest in him was actually concerned about him made Erons feel strangely happy.

It was a different kind of subtle pleasure from when Fedor’s behavior toward him had changed.

“No, nothing. But why just one?”
“I don’t really like sweet stuff. Drink it.”
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

Taking the bottle from him, Erons immediately bit down on the straw. A sip released a sweet mango aroma, and as he sipped, he was surprised to find the pulp chewy and unexpectedly delicious. Honestly, he hadn’t expected much from something sold at a street stall.

“It’s delicious…”
”Glad you like it.“
”So this is why that kid clung to his mom so much. It’s really delicious. Want to try a sip?“
”No thanks.“
”Seriously. It’s really good though… “

His fading words carried a hint of sulkiness. 

What’s the big deal about one sip of juice? 

Pulling the hand holding the juice, the man took the straw Erons had been sipping from.

“… It’s too sweet after all.”

He took only the tiniest sip, barely noticeable, yet the moment the sweetness touched his tongue, he immediately scowled. It tasted mostly of mango’s natural sweetness, with little added sugar, yet to him, it seemed like nothing but an unpleasant, cloying sweetness.

He wiped the juice off his lips. But for some reason, it looked so sexy that Erons couldn’t take his eyes off his hands.

“What? Are you upset because there’s less for you now? I didn’t drink much on purpose.”
“Ah, no! Absolutely not! You can have all of this! Go ahead!”
“It’s fine. One sip is enough. I bought it for you anyway, so you drink it.“
”Yes… Thank you.”

Why? 

It felt like his heartbeat was speeding up little by little. 

The fact that he bought juice for Erons, the way he bit the straw without hesitation after his lips touched it, the way he said he bought it for him – somehow, that honesty felt good.

It wasn’t like it was the first kindness he’d ever received.

Chewing on the straw, he glanced sideways at him. When their eyes met, Erons quickly turned his head away, avoiding his gaze.

Could it be… he’d been watching me like that the whole time?

It was the moment he realized, belatedly, that the person he thought had no interest in him was actually pouring all their attention into him. That’s why he’d felt like he was being subtly looked after.

His gaze, seemingly indifferent yet piercingly fixed on Erons, was brimming with interest.

It didn’t seem to carry any special feelings, though. 

Starting with that gaze that secretly watched over him, his kindness and consideration seeped out through his words and actions. 

They hadn’t even seen each other for a few days, and he still didn’t know his name, yet seeing him act this way toward him made Erons feel a fuzzy, indescribable sensation.

… This feels weird. I can almost hear my heart beating in my ears.

From that moment, Erons found himself preoccupied with him. His entire being was maddeningly focused on him. 

Erons’s heart, fluttering ever so slightly, was completely unknown to him. 

He suggested heading further into the bustling area and took Erons’s hand again. Just like he had a moment ago. He held it exactly the same way, yet now it felt different.

Was it because he was getting butterflies? He wanted to get closer to him.

He wanted to talk more. To do that, he needed to know his name first.

“Um… what’s your name?”

It was a ridiculous situation – calling him “um” because he didn’t even know the name of the brother he’d lived under the same roof with for over a week. 

It wasn’t like the mansion had no servants; he could have asked them. Why hadn’t he thought of that until now?

A strangely uncomfortable awkwardness hung in the air, as though he’d never been addressed that way before.

“Urno Debelov.”
“So you’re Urno. I’m –.”
“Erons.”
“You knew?”
“Because you said it while kissing me.”
“…Could we forget about that?”

It was impossible not to feel embarrassed. His blunt mention of the word kiss made Erons blush fiercely. He found it hard to even look at Urno.

It wasn’t just the height difference; whenever he turned his head, it wasn’t Urno’s face he saw, but those full lips he’d stolen a kiss from, constantly catching his eye.

”Mr. Urno, about that over there…”
“Don’t call me Mr. Just call me brother.”
“Brother? But I can’t even call Mr. Fedor brother yet…”
“That’s his problem. I’m different. You’re going to be my little brother anyway.”
“Yes. His Grace the Duke kindly said he would take me in.”

Erons smiled shyly. Hehe, the sound of his laughter clearly showed his joy. Urno, who laughed along with him, placed his hand lightly on Erons’s head.

“Since Fedor won’t be a good older brother, I should be one for you.”

He hadn’t expected those words.

Hearing such words from someone other than Nike surprised Erons a little. Maybe even a lot.

He was shocked.

“You’re already such a good older brother… It’s more than I deserve.”
“What did I do?”
“You brought me out.”
“What’s the big deal about something anyone could have done?”

No, nobody could have taken me out. I know that better than anyone.

“Then why did you ask me to come out?”
“Just because.”
“Just because? Without any reason?”
“Yeah.”

Of course, it wasn’t entirely just because. He had been staring at Urno with eyes that were practically burning holes through him, eyes that screamed he was trapped in his room and desperate to get out.

He tried to ignore it, but how could he ignore that desperate, pleading gaze? 

After that, preparing to leave and seeking out Erons was an impulsive decision.

“Thank you. This is the first time I’ve been outside the mansion.”
“You said you’ve been here for two months.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“That’s practically imprisonment.”
“Well, yes… but His Grace said it was because he feared I might be in danger. So I’ve been trying to endure it somehow, but it’s been hard. It’s just so stifling.”

“So that’s why you were reading that book in there?”
“Yes. Lord Fedor gave it to me.”
“…Fedor?”
“Yes. He told me to take it.”

The only possession Erons owned, kept in a pocket attached to his saddle. He could have left it at the mansion, but Erons had carried it here, clutching it like a treasure.

It was a ghost-crying situation. Fedor, who only ever took from others, had given a gift. And the recipient of his first gift was none other than that lowborn boy who considered even meeting his gaze filthy.

“Is that book…?”

“Hello!”
“Eek!”

A woman suddenly popped out, nearly causing Erons to fall over in shock. Fortunately, Urno caught him by the waist, preventing that. Worried she might be here to harm him, Urno quickly hid Erons behind him.

“Who are you?”
“Sorry for startling you, sir. I’m not some weirdo, so don’t be too wary. There’s a play scheduled for tonight at the fountain in the square. Only the most talented actors in Gelbin were handpicked, so please come see it! Here, this is the poster. Bye!”

The woman who had forced the poster into Urno and Erons’s hands vanished just like that. 

Having unwittingly accepted the poster, they didn’t immediately throw it away but paused to read it briefly. Urno passed it to Erons without reading more than a few words, and Erons stared at it blankly.

“You want to see it, don’t you?”

Erons’s eyes were full of curiosity and interest.

“Huh? Ah, no! I mean –”
“You can be honest and say you want to see it. We’ve got plenty of time anyway. 7 PM isn’t that late, but if you’re okay with it, I was thinking we could see this and then go out for dinner.”
“The play? You really want to go see it? Can I go see the play?”
“Of course.”

A glow instantly spread across Erons’s face. 

He’d only ever heard about plays, never seen one himself, and truthfully, he’d wanted to see one so badly. 

But he couldn’t bring himself to say he wanted to go, and was about to give up, so Urno’s ready acceptance made him incredibly happy.

“Thank you, brother!”

Urno took Erons everywhere he seemed interested in. The weapon shop, the bookstore, the art shop. And to top it off, even the art museum.

By the time they finished watching the street theater last, the sun was setting.

“The play was super fun!”
“Glad you enjoyed it.”
“What about you? Did you enjoy it?”
“… Yeah.”

No, not at all.

The play had a mediocre story and terrible acting, making it utterly boring. Just looking at the actors’ names on the poster told you everything. They were all names notorious for bad acting. 

But so what if it wasn’t fun? So what if the acting was bad? 

As long as Erons liked it that much, it was fine.

As the hour grew late, the lights in the downtown shops and street stalls began to fade one by one. When the moon rose and the bustling district fell completely dark, the taverns on the outskirts started lighting up, one after another.

“What kind of place is that? Why are they lighting up now? Have you been there, brother?”
“You mean the taverns? Of course.”
“So, what’s it like over there?”
“Noisy.”
“Me…?”
“…What?”

At Erons’s question, Urno almost burst out laughing. How could he even think that? Didn’t he just ask about the tavern a moment ago? It was the first time he somewhat understood Fedor’s comment that Erons was amusing. The way he innocently blurted out something completely random with wide, clueless eyes was so pure that it practically begged for a prank.

“I said the place is noisy, not you. They mainly sell booze, so drunken brawls are commonplace. And everyone’s got such powerful voices, it’s a miracle the building doesn’t collapse.”
“Sounds fun.”
“Not at all. If anything, it’s dangerous.”
“Really? Then what did you do over there?”
“I drank.”
“What does the liquor taste like?”
“It tastes awful.”
“Isn’t there any good liquor?”
“There is some, but it’s expensive, so places like that don’t usually carry it. Even if they sold it, nobody would buy it. Commoners mostly buy the cheapest booze and drink it straight.”

It had been so long since he’d had a conversation like this. Even when Urno said something trivial, it was still interesting.

Stories about people’s lives were always fascinating. These were tales from outside the mansion he’d never heard from Fedor, Nike, or even Lelis. No one had ever told him these things.

It was as if they had deliberately coordinated their silence. They had slowly, completely cut Erons off from the outside world.

“I know a tavern. The snacks aren’t half bad. How about we grab dinner there?”
“Can I go into the tavern too?”
“If you’re over twenty, you can go in anytime.”
“I want to go! I’m over twenty, so I can go, right?”
“Yes.”

When Urno entered the tavern, the owner led them to the most expensive room. Still, it couldn’t compare to a room in the mansion.

The first thing Erons said after sitting down was about age. “How old are you, brother?”

“Same as Fedor. We’re twins.”
“How old is Lord Fedor?”
“… You don’t even know that guy’s age?”
“No one knows his age.”
“Twenty-four. You?”
“I’m twenty-one.”

“What about our father’s age?”
“Yeah, I don’t know.”
“He’d be pretty disappointed. He’s forty-six, our father.”
“… His Grace? He’s that old?”
“Is that so surprising?”
“I thought he’d be forty at most. He looks so young.”
“If the son is twenty-four, the father can’t possibly be forty.”
“Ah? Now that you mention it, you’re right.”

They grew noticeably closer. Over a slightly late dinner, Erons, who had never tasted alcohol before, drank juice, while Urno drank wine.

Though Urno did most of the talking, they conversed so much that they didn’t leave the city until dawn, when even the taverns were closing their doors.

— 

Riding back on horseback was indeed an arduous journey. Though there was no risk of being spotted by Nike, Erons was anxious, so Urno urged the horse on and galloped swiftly.

At a speed far faster than last time, Erons’s body ached terribly, and he nearly threw up everything he’d eaten at the tavern. So he resolved: He would learn horseback riding no matter what.

“Go inside now.”
“What about you, brother?”
“I have to go home.”
“You’re leaving….”

They had only just grown close… 

The reality of having to part ways with him was unbearably harsh for Erons. He hadn’t come even once before during the months Erons had spent at the mansion, and even if he said he would come again, how soon could he really return?

“I’ll come again, so don’t be sad.”
“You have to come back soon, brother.”
“Hmm, that’s not something I can just decide.”

His face, now in shadow, clearly showed disappointment. He even looked sad. 

Urno chuckled softly, then ruffled Erons’s hair.

“If my little brother says so, then so be it.”

… Why do you keep making my heart flutter like this?

His face, his tone, even his actions were quite similar to Nike’s, yet the feeling he gave was completely different.

Urno’s affectionate touch stirred the dormant feelings in his chest once more. He tried to calm himself, thinking that he shouldn’t feel this way, that he was now family, but the effort was futile.

Urno, bathed in the morning sun just climbing over the mountain, shimmered even more beautifully. His dark hair, contrasting with his fair skin, fluttered in the wind, and his blinking eyes sparkled brilliantly, radiating a blue light as if jewels were embedded within.

How could that be a person? It’s a sculpture.

“You’re beautiful…”
“What?”
”…What?”
“You said that I’m beautiful.”
“… Ah…”

Erons flushed bright red. He’d blurted out what he’d been thinking out loud. He couldn’t help it. 

Possessing an elegance that reached its peak, Urno was simply too beautiful.

“Well, um, your face…“
”… Me? My face?“
”… Yes.”

He’d heard his looks complimented so many times that it felt like his ears were bleeding, like scabs had formed only to be torn off, leaving fresh wounds bleeding anew. 

He never denied it, nor did he ever admit it, but Urno knew. That his face, the spitting image of his father, was exceptionally striking. 

Even so, being called beautiful was a first, and he didn’t know how to react.

“…. We should get going soon. We need to arrive before it gets too late.”
“Yes. Be careful. Ah, brother!”
“Hm?”
“That… on the day we first met, the lips… I’m sorry. I really didn’t know. I didn’t know Lord Fedor was just teasing…”

Erons cautiously offered his apology. He didn’t know when he might see him again.

With his rough hand, he rubbed Erons’s cheek. “Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t your fault. See you next time.”

Soon, he slapped the horse’s haunches, and it galloped off. Watching the receding figure grow smaller, Erons kept waving toward him even after Urno disappeared.

He etched that face clearly into his trembling heart. 

The face that had smiled while touching his cheek.