Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 102

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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After a brief rest, I woke and went to report the previous night’s events to Father. He read through the account Jack had compiled, then issued words of commendation to Asterion and granted him a paid leave of absence.
That’s right—the boy thought to preserve a life even in that urgent situation, and his judgment was truly sound. As I voiced my praise for Leon again, Father nodded in agreement and added his own words of admiration.
“I’d always seen him as just a child, but now he’s grown. He must have endured considerable shock, so find him a good place to recuperate and see that he’s well cared for.”
Realizing I hadn’t considered the trauma the boy must have experienced, I was moved by Father’s thoughtfulness and resolved to search for a pleasant resort. Since the paid leave wasn’t long, somewhere nearby seemed best.

◇ ◆ ◇

After that, everything proceeded with remarkable efficiency. Jack Brown, delighted to return to his true profession after so long, eagerly dragged the survivor into the Torture Chamber and barricaded himself inside. When the Public Security Bureau officials were later summoned, along with Martin Chatel, they witnessed the fate of the intruder—who barely retained human form—and vomited on the spot.
Martin claimed I’d agreed to his handling of Asterion, but I’d never heard such a thing and had never given any approval. I pointed out that this was entirely his own misunderstanding, and the man glared at me with murderous intent.
“In any case, this is Rocksburg Territory in the Alein Kingdom, everyone here is my person, and you have no allies whatsoever. That much is fact.”
I handed the Public Security Bureau official a bribe and received custody of Martin in accordance with territorial law.
He would now go to Uncle’s Residence and work at the Corn Farm, where he’d learn the joy of labor. Martin would become an important bargaining chip when I later negotiated with the head of the Chatel House, so I couldn’t simply let him go.
I sent Uncle a letter saying I was sending him a farm laborer and asking him to take good care of Martin Chatel, and I sent a separate letter to Jang Brown, who oversaw the Marquis Territory’s security. I offered him comfort and encouragement, saying I’d sent him and Benjamin some entertainment to pass the time, so things should remain quiet for a while. Jang sent back a grateful reply along with a hair ornament he’d made himself—a mano carved into the shape of a rose.
Imagining that hulking figure carving such a delicate thing with those thick hands made me laugh despite myself. He’d even thought to include a gift for me—what a good-hearted fellow. Jang really was a kind one.
In high spirits, I fastened the hair ornament Jang had given me and went to my Office. There was a queue waiting outside the door from early morning—one was Diana Cento, who’d done excellent work recently, and the other was Ram Bart, who’d come earlier than usual but found the door locked and couldn’t enter the Printing House.
Ram seemed to have found some kinship with Diana, perhaps because they both possessed hair colors that didn’t occur naturally, and clung to her without letting go. Diana, for her part, looked absolutely tormented by Ram’s attention.
“Madam, please separate me from this woman! She keeps resting her chin on my head!”
Even if the height was convenient for leaning, one shouldn’t place their chin on someone else’s head. I asked Ram to stop using Diana as a chin rest, but Ram seemed so fond of Diana that she refused to let go, hugging her tightly instead.
“No.”
“I see.”
“Are you saying you lack the ability to properly control even one subordinate, Madam?”
“She’s guaranteed freedom of action here at the Duke’s Mansion.”
Just as Jack Brown is guaranteed freedom of expression. Contractually, Ram only needs to do her printing work well; during her leisure time, she’s permitted to go anywhere and do anything. Previously, she’d even rolled around on the Duke’s Office floor playing, and that’s how she became part of the lucky letter copying workforce—need I say more?
Besides, it’s not as though she’s causing harm. What’s wrong with resting her chin a bit? When I said this to Diana, the girl bristled and raised her voice.
“What if I don’t grow taller? Doesn’t everyone say that putting heavy things on your head makes you shorter?”
Ah… Diana is fifteen, at an age when such concerns are perfectly natural. She’s already considerably smaller in stature than her peers.
“You’ll grow to your full height when the time comes.”
“That’s something only people who already have height can say. It’s deception.”
I’m not particularly tall myself, though I suppose I am a head taller than Diana.
I decided to hold my tongue, knowing that adding another word would only invite a lecture about how privileged people offering advice to the unprivileged is presumptuous, arrogant, and all manner of other criticisms.
In fact, just the other day I’d overheard Diana and Glen chatting cheerfully about a delicious croquette shop in Veloche Territory, and thinking it sounded wonderful, I’d suggested acquiring it and opening a branch here in Rocksburg Territory. For that, I’d received a look of such profound disappointment from Diana.
She’d turned away, saying a great noble doesn’t understand the hearts of commoners, and what could I have possibly said to that?
I lifted my skirt hem and pulled out the office key, which hung jingling from a wire attached to my petticoat, then opened the door. Diana, watching this with fascination, trotted in after me. When I released the key from my hand after using it, the wire wound back up and the key disappeared into my skirt with a soft rustle, and Diana’s expression became even more intrigued.
“You have many curious contraptions in your home, Madam. Like that shiny seal I saw before.”
“If you mean the one that came with the bread, the person resting on your head made it.”
“You jest.”
“I’m serious.”
Diana’s expression crumpled in an instant. I’d taken her for merely a precocious child, but she had her endearing moments too. She was certainly a girl of intense likes and dislikes.
I entered the Office and opened the windows wide as usual before settling into my seat. If I’d known beforehand that she loved novel contraptions, I would’ve ridden here on a Segway. She would’ve been absolutely astounded.
Perhaps I could use that as bait to coax her over.
“If you transfer under my command, I can provide you with even more fascinating and entertaining items.”
“I’ve completed the task you assigned, so I came to take my leave and pay my respects.”
This girl’s guard was truly ironclad. When Diana rejected my well-intentioned offer with a cutting refusal, I smiled knowingly and made it clear that her answer displeased me.
If she wanted to leave safely, she’d better learn to speak more carefully.
“As I’ve mentioned before, while I can respect you, I cannot follow you from the heart.”
“Glen is already my subordinate anyway, so whether you belong to Glen or to me makes little difference. Even if your allegiance changes, you’re free to do as you wish in Veloche Territory. If you become my person, there may come a day when you govern Veloche Territory yourself.”
“I could die for Glen, but I cannot bring myself to die for you.”
My, this little one certainly was stubborn.
“If you’re so eager to die for Glen, then you might as well die today. After all, your execution as a ringleader of the civil unrest was already confirmed.”
“That is my wish.”
Tsk. Neither persuasion nor threats worked on her. It would’ve been quite useful to have a relationship where I could summon her without going through Glen when needed.
I’d thought merely shaking things up within Chatel Corporation would be a success, but Diana exceeded my expectations by far—not just by a little, but by completely overturning the rice bowl.
With the labor union’s demonstrations and Martin Chatel, the branch director, now a slave on Uncle’s corn farm, the Chatel Department Store had been completely stripped bare by ordinary employees and reduced to ruins. Had I known this would happen, I wouldn’t have bought the surrounding land and built on it. I could’ve simply purchased an empty building and reopened it there.
Well, the expansion of business operations is still a good thing. Luke wouldn’t be satisfied with just one department store anyway.
“Fine. If you love Glen so much, spend your whole life doing petty work. I’ll mention it to Sage, so take whatever items you like.”
“Your magnanimity is truly admirable. This is precisely why I cannot help but respect you.”
“Such honeyed words from someone so small.”
“I mean it sincerely.”
Enough. Go, leave. I can’t stand the sight of that bowing. Get back to your countryside that smells of manure.
As I waved my hand dismissively to order her out, Diana chuckled and promised that whenever Glen commanded, she would return to help, then withdrew.
So she’d only obey Glen’s orders and ignore my personal requests. What a reckless little thing.
“Doesn’t she live here?”
“She prefers the countryside.”
“My goodness.”
Lam, who had silently watched Diana and me exchange words, seemed regretful as Diana slipped away from her embrace and approached me.
“Poor Rosalite. You’ve been rejected again.”
“Rejected again? It doesn’t seem like I’m rejected every time, does it?”
“But when we first met, you were rejected by the Fourth Prince after pestering him to meet, you’re frequently denied visits by the Duke, Jack Brown says he’s busy and doesn’t want to see you, and the Crown Prince and First Princess also….”
“Stop.”
That’s not fair. How much time has passed since I met you, and you’re meticulously recounting every instance I’ve been rejected? Besides, the royal family originally dislikes Rocksburg. They don’t just dislike me—Father dislikes it too.
“Poor Rosalite. Poor Rosalite.”
“Don’t cling to me, it’s hot. Don’t embrace me. I can’t breathe. Your chest is so large it covers my entire face.”
“Let me show you how much I care for you instead.”
“Your chest! I can’t breathe!”
With nothing else to do, she was clinging to me. I buried the back of my head in Lam’s chest and tossed a task to the woman.
“If you have nothing to do, make three hundred copies of this.”
“…Thirty copies?”
“Three hundred copies. I need to show them to everyone in the Duke’s Mansion, so why would I waste thirty on anyone?”
Truthfully, Ram was right—printing only thirty copies and distributing them only to the executives would have been sufficient, but out of spite, I added another zero to the number.
After hurriedly ordering Ram, who was wailing about her mana being completely drained and possibly dying, to get out of the Printing House, I instructed Lily, who’d arrived punctually, to bring me a cup of tea strong enough to wake the dead, then I rifled through the resort catalogs.
The accumulated work could wait until tomorrow, but finding a place to heal the wounded heart of Asterion was urgent.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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