Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 103

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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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I flipped through the catalog while writing a letter to Sage, asking him not to be upset if Diana came to visit. After sending it via Aster, who had just arrived at work, to Sage’s Magic Research Institute, I noticed something odd—Asterion had arrived before Glen.
“Did you sleep well last night, Sister?”
“Yes, I slept soundly. Come here for a moment.”
At my gesture, Asterion plopped down on my desk as usual, crossed his legs, and looked at me. I had spoiled him far too much.
“Asterion. Stand up straight. How old are you and you’re still doing this?”
“You’ll forgive me anyway, Sister.”
“No. This won’t do. Think about your size. You’re already bigger than the Duke now.”
Don’t you dare puff out those cheeks now that you’re all grown up. It’s adorable.
When he crossed his arms and huffed mischievously at my warning, I decided to let it slide one last time—then pinched his thigh.
“Listen when I’m being nice about it.”
“You’re not hitting me, are you?”
“Is a pinch even in the same category as hitting?”
But Asterion seemed to have felt quite a bit of pain from where I pinched him, because he immediately got down from the desk and rubbed his thigh vigorously. Hmm… I thought I hadn’t used much force, but perhaps I’d caught a sensitive spot. Thin skin can hurt quite easily if you touch it wrong. I hope it doesn’t bruise.
“Does it hurt a lot? Come here.”
Feeling apologetic, I rubbed the pinched area with my palm, and the boy twisted his entire body, tensing his leg as if ticklish. He did the same thing the other night—he must be quite ticklish.
“Hee, hehe.”
Bear with it so the pain goes away, I said over and over, but Leon wouldn’t stop laughing, and his leg began to tense more and more beneath my hand.
When Asterion tensed his leg hard, somehow… this… was… oh.
“You’re in better shape than you look, Leon.”
“Stop, please stop, Sister, haha!”
Having felt the firm muscle in his thigh, I wondered if the rest of his body was the same, so I touched Leon’s abdomen and kneaded his waist. Oh, abs. Oh, such a firm waist.
When had this soft boy become like this?
“Hick, stop…! Haha!”
Since Asterion was gasping for breath, I was about to stop, when suddenly the boy made a strangled sound and started to fall backward. Oh no, he’d hurt his head.
Since my desk was scattered with sharp objects, I quickly stood up, caught Leon’s head, wrapped my arms around his back, and cushioned his fall.
Ink and pens clattered to the floor with a loud crash, but fortunately Leon seemed unharmed. My hand hurt terribly, but that was a hundred times better than an inkwell or fountain pen nib piercing the boy’s skull.
“Are you hurt anywhere? I’m sorry. I went too far.”
“I’m fine. But Sister, are you injured…?”
My hand stung, but it wouldn’t interfere with my work. And what did it matter if I was hurt? It was protecting my younger brother—a wound of honor, you could say.
When I smiled and said as much, Asterion squirmed considerably in my arms, then gripped my shoulders tightly. Thinking he wanted me to help him up, I braced my hand on the desk and pulled Leon’s waist to lift him—when the office door creaked open.
I lifted my head, thinking it must be Glen Hofen Rocksburg arriving for work, and there stood my husband, Glen Hofen. The moment our eyes met, he approached at a speed that seemed impossible for someone who walked with a cane, then swiftly drew a paper knife from my pen holder and plunged it directly into the spot where Leon’s forehead had been.
I say “had been” because, fortunately, Asterion had deftly dodged the knife.
“Glen, what are you doing?”
“My hand slipped.”
“Since when does someone whose hand slips grip the knife so firmly…?”
“If it slipped, then it slipped.”
Hmm… fine. I understand. I get it, so stop with that Crown Prince smile. I think I’m going to develop trauma from that.
“It seems Glen has misunderstood the situation. My sister was merely trying to catch me before I fell.”
“Misunderstood? What could possibly be misunderstood about this?”
“I agree with my sister that there’s no room for misinterpretation, but those with twisted minds and perverse inclinations do tend to view such things oddly. Haha, as someone with upright and wholesome sensibilities, I simply cannot fathom their perspective.”
I don’t know the details, but if you’re happy, that’s enough.
Leon laughed so heartily that I attempted to laugh along, signaling that I harbored no discomfort about the matter. But then Glen suddenly seized Asterion by the collar. Ah, no—why must you escalate the atmosphere like this, Prince?
Above all, since Glen had extended his hand first, if Leon attempted to resist under the guise of self-defense, my husband would undoubtedly get the worst of it, and his honor would plummet. I cannot bear to witness such a sight. The hierarchy must be restored before it becomes irreversible.
“Asterion. You should apologize.”
I told Glen to release his grip and then soothed him. Whenever a problem arose between them, I always sided with Glen. Hadn’t that household problem-solver Jack Brown said as much? I always sided with Glen. I existed for the purpose of siding with Glen!
“Sister, what have I done wrong…?”
“The Prince made no misunderstanding whatsoever. When someone hastily speculates and speaks sarcastically, anyone would become upset.”
I squeezed Glen’s hand reassuringly, and he reciprocated the gesture. Good, it seemed the Prince’s anger had subsided. Jack Brown should have witnessed this. I had done it. I had prevented the Prince’s hurt feelings through my own efforts!
“…I apologize. I spoke out of turn.”
That’s right, my younger brother did well. Despite his quirks, he’s truly kind-hearted. He knows how to apologize immediately when he’s made a mistake. It’s rather admirable.
Asterion promptly bowed and admitted his fault, but the Prince appeared bewildered. He simply stared at Leon with an odd expression, so I had to instruct Glen on what he should do next.
“Prince. You must demonstrate magnanimity as a superior.”
“Ah, yes. I myself seem to have acted too hastily…”
Glen, who appeared awkward as if receiving an apology for the first time, eventually trailed off uncertainly. Apparently feeling he had done enough, Leon abruptly turned and announced he was going for a walk.
That boy must have accumulated quite a bit of resentment—being suddenly grabbed by the collar, forced to apologize insincerely, and all the rest.
Besides, I had called Asterion to look through vacation catalogs together, but he had left. After a moment’s consideration, I pulled Glen along by the hand and showed him the curated list of vacation destinations.
Father’s Eastern Coastal Villa, which he had purchased with emergency savings; Edanelli’s directly-operated casino town; and a mountain lodge in the Marquis Territory equipped with skiing facilities. I presented these options to the Prince, hoping he would choose one for an outing. The man studied the catalog for a long while before asking a question.
“Does the Duke’s villa have venomous jellyfish?”
“I’m not sure about that. Given the current season, why would jellyfish appear?”
“Then, are there cliffs surrounding the mountain lodge?”
“There would be on the advanced course.”
“I think the mountain lodge would be nice. Benjamin would surely treat my younger cousin well when he visits.”
Oh, that’s right. Benjamin was in the Marquis Territory. I hadn’t considered that, so I hastily tore up the mountain lodge catalog and threw it in the trash. If I sent him there, Leon would die. Benjamin would definitely push Asterion off the cliff while asking, “If someone falls from this cliff, do they die?”
“You’ve accomplished something great, Glen. We cannot send our precious younger brother to such a den of demons.”
The Prince clicked his tongue, but he wouldn’t consider my true intentions. I saw nothing. I heard nothing. Therefore, I would say nothing.
I was sorting through accumulated tasks, starting with the most urgent, when Asterion returned after his mood had improved. When lunchtime arrived, I intended to have a proper conversation with Leon, so I grabbed the boy and began dragging him outside. Fortunately, the Prince pretended not to notice and suggested to Aster that they eat separately.
Now I could comfortably take a model prisoner’s walk with Leon. I took his hand and entered the walking path, but as soon as we were away from prying eyes, my brother tried to pull his hand away and pouted.
“Why did you want to see me? Why not spend time with Glen, whom you’re so devoted to?”
“How could I not understand what’s bothering you? Cheer up. I had to preserve Glen’s dignity in that situation.”
“Is my dignity worthless then?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. Clever Asterion, why are you being like this today?”
I held Leon’s hand as he kept trying to pull away and poked his ribs repeatedly. Though he must have been ticklish, he kept his expression stern, so I spoke the words that would directly soothe his heart.
“Haven’t I told you countless times? Glen is temporary. You are permanent. Glen won’t work here forever, so the master must treat him well.”
“How many years have you been saying that? I’m afraid my sister will end up living her whole life with Glen.”
Surely that won’t happen. As the Prince gradually rises in status among the great nobility, he’ll eventually become independent from here. And even before that, once he finds a beautiful bride, he’ll leave soon enough.
In my honest heart, I wish he would remain by my side as my aide forever, but I cannot obstruct such a promising young man’s path to success.
“Besides, our Asterion is turning twenty soon. Is there nothing you wish to have?”
“You’re deflecting again.”
If you’ve already figured it out, just let it slide and give your sister a break.
When I offered to grant Leon whatever he wished, the boy grumbled but eventually stated his desire.
“Then, I’ll obtain a pair of rings. Will you wear one with me?”
“Huh? Together?”
What is that supposed to be? A friendship ring? I’ve seen friends and sisters match them before, but…
“Is that not acceptable?”
When I showed my hesitation, Leon pouted dramatically and thrust out his lower lip again.
“You wear the same ring as Glen without ever removing it. Why can’t you match one with your younger brother?”
“That’s not a wedding ring.”
“You wear matching rings with strangers once you turn your back, yet you won’t match one with your sibling. What’s the reason?”
Hmm… Leon, you certainly construct your arguments quite persuasively. It’s a skill necessary for negotiations. Your teacher taught you well.
“Where would I wear it?”
“On your pinky finger.”
“The pinky finger, then…”
It wouldn’t interfere with my work, and when others asked, I could casually mention matching a ring with my younger brother.
After thinking it over and nodding in agreement, Asterion exclaimed his gratitude repeatedly. He insisted he would handle the material and design of the ring himself, so I only needed to prepare my finger. When I offered to cover the cost, the boy adamantly refused.
He argued that wearing the ring for life was the gift itself, and insisted on bearing the expense. I found myself unable to counter Asterion’s determination.
Well, if he insists on covering the cost, let him have his way. I’m not complaining about saving money.
Fortunately, his mood brightened over the ring matter, and the boy chattered away about the ring’s shape and which gemstone to set, while I suggested using a colored stone so the design wouldn’t overlap with my wedding ring.

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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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