Chapter 4 (1/2)

This is the 4th chapter of a story I a titled “House Ephemera” (蜉蝣の家) by Hatasu shi+kishi+ma (識島果)

Thanks to Sherayuki for helping proofread this chapter

You can read the full japanese text of this chapter

See which contains a brief synopsis and links to other chapters (as they are posted)

As usual, whether I continue translating this will depend on feedback/views fro a cos I should translate

Chapter 4: Levin's Letter (2)

The boat advanced, sliding across the glossy, black surface of the still lake Thesound of water I sat directly across hi equally silent

Observing hi a face possessing both elegance and nobility Smooth, nearly transparent skin conjured to h down the center, his well-forentle curves His distinctive black hair brushed against his forehead-I was suddenly overwhelht could be said to have a texture, that would surely be it But,else, his beautiful aolden, they reflected the silverysoftly in the darkness

His features stood out starkly in the darkness, and my eyes, the eyes of a small boy, detected a particular specific youthfulness there: he was older than Nigel although significantly younger than my father At the tie, and as a result I gradually began to tense up in his presence I had been so excited at first that it didn't bother me, but I was an introverted child by nature

He stared quietly ateyes, then lifted up the pair of oars out from the water My curiosity about his intention was ephemeral: he immediately tried to hand them to me

”Try roith these”

I had, in fact, wanted to try using the oars, so I cautiously took the hian to gradually drift in the opposite direction, then suddenly lurched to one side with a splash I panicked and tried to paddle water, but the oars only bobbed up to the surface The boat swayed back and forth and I screamed Eyes opened wide in surprise, the man quickly took the oars back and stabilized the boat Everything had happened in a blink of an eye When he saw the hed out loud The pleasant sound of his chuckling gently caressed the surface of the water, for an arc that softly expanded outward

”It looks like it will take some time for you to learn how to row properly”

After

Once the boat reached the lake's center, he stopped rowing For a tiazed at the ripples rocking the boat ever so slightly as if savoring this serene moment

The perfectly cal the starry night sky, the two of us on a boat floating through the tranquil Milky Way I got the feeling that ere the only two re in the space between lake and sky

By that tiain

”Who are you?” I said in a hushed voice bordering on a whisper, as if afraid of being heard by someone