Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 118

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

After unpacking in our room, exploring the nearby area, and dining together, the sun was beginning to set. The Edanelli Casino Town, renowned as a city that never sleeps, was just entering its most beautiful hour.
The timing was perfect—surely now was the moment to indulge in gambling.
I attempted to lead our group into the VIP Casino operated directly by House Edanelli, but unfortunately we hit a dress code requirement right at the entrance.
It appeared an event was underway, likely because the current Duke would soon be stepping down. We were informed that men should wear clothing from the Duke’s personal collection, which was available in various sizes, while women needed to enter adorned with flowers favored by the Duchess.
For us women, simply pinning freesias in our hair or on our clothes would suffice, but the boys would find it rather troublesome—having to change clothes and leave their original garments behind.
“….”
Wait. The Duke’s clothing? Those pieces that were completely ripped, deeply plunging, and scandalously backless?
The casino attendant happened to be wearing one from the Duke’s collection, so I stared at it intently before scrutinizing each of the men in our party.
“Perfect.”
Bravo. Superb bravo.
Completely ripped, deeply plunging, scandalously backless—thank you. Thank you very much.
“Lily, Violet, I’m counting on you for what comes next.”
“I shall do my utmost, Young Lady.”
“Leave it to us, Young Lady.”
Yes, I trust you both. Especially with Violet’s eye for detail—whatever she brings back will be a masterpiece.
I grabbed a handful of freesias from the arrangement at the entrance, tucking half into my hair and half into Aster’s chest. Since Aster needed to change clothes, I discreetly called over a female attendant, showed her Aster’s chest to confirm she was female, and only then were we finally allowed to enter.
I exchanged all my money for chips. It was an enjoyable time of gambling.

And now we’ve reached this predicament.
I sat at a blackjack table, rubbing my arms vigorously to ward off the cold while wearing nothing but a slip. If you wonder why the VIP Casino was so cold, it was simply because I was sitting in a chair wearing only an underskirt.
I hadn’t noticed how drafty this place was while fully clothed.
“Will you stay?”
“Wait. Just a moment.”
Ugh.
This is driving me mad—why another fifteen? If this continues, the dealer will win, so I absolutely must take another card, but the number is ambiguous enough that I risk busting.
But then again… surely not. What are the odds another seven or higher appears? Even if my luck is terrible today, surely… in this case, I really should…!
“Hit! Hit! Give me another card!”
I took another card from the dealer and squeezed my eyes shut. Praying for a six or lower, I cautiously opened them to see a red card with the number ten staring back at me.
I busted.
“The dealer wins. The pawnshop is to the left of the chip exchange.”
I already know that, you wretched thing. They cleaned me out completely until I had nothing but this slip—how could I not know?
As I sat tearing at my hair, my last resort barely intact, Aster appeared at my shoulder wearing only a sleeveless shirt and pants, barefoot. Despite her pitiful state, she made a proposal without a hint of shame.
“Young Lady, I still have my pants.”
“If you take those off, you’ll have nothing but underwear left. Absolutely not.”
“I don’t mind being in just my underwear.”
No, I mind.
It looks terrible, and if the Brown Couple found out later that I’d stripped a grown woman and dragged her around like this, I’d never hear the end of it.
So this is the final choice, then. Thanks to the slip dress design, I’d managed to pawn off everything until the very last moment, but now it was time to make a decision.
Stockings or a bra?
Since this was a functional bra made by Violet, it was probably worth more, but honestly, taking it off in public felt… awkward. And if I removed my stockings, I’d be absolutely freezing.
I wanted to scrape together enough money to redeem at least the front panel of my dress before the others noticed. Getting caught by the group would be embarrassing enough, but Luke would definitely lecture me endlessly. Wasn’t this whole mess because I’d recklessly thrown everything at the problem, just like Luke always warned?
“What is that getup?”
“!”
Oh, you startled me!
I spun around, thinking the children had caught me, only to find a familiar-looking Crown Prince standing there. With his blonde hair and that silly grin, he really was our neighborhood Crown Prince.
“…What exactly is that getup?”
“I asked first, didn’t I?”
That was quite the eyesore.
Our neighborhood Crown Prince was… well, how should I even describe it? He looked like Zeus’s attendant from Greek mythology, and oh, look at those bare thighs below, what on earth was that?
“Aren’t you ashamed to be dressed like that?”
“Why do you keep saying exactly what I want to say?”
No, actually the slip dress seemed better in comparison.
His Highness appeared to have lost all sense of shame, clinging to a single golden button to barely maintain the form of a fluttering tunic. Whether he was trying to show off, he wore some strange wreath on his head, and his feet were wrapped in something that was neither shoe nor lace.
“Please, don’t go around telling people you know me.”
“When did we ever become acquainted?”
“I’m almost thirty years old.”
“And you don’t think you’re approaching thirty?”
Yes, I’ve been stuck under thirty for decades now.
The retort rose to my throat, but I swallowed it down and stood up. No, arguing today would put me at a disadvantage. I needed to go make my choice at the pawnshop.
“Wait. Why are you avoiding me?”
“Who said I was avoiding you?”
“You’re clearly avoiding me right now.”
“I’m going to the pawnshop to make a choice. Don’t follow me.”
“Even if you’re shameless like a Young Lady, isn’t it embarrassing to show bare skin in front of me?”
What nonsense was that?
The moment I heard Theodore’s words, goosebumps erupted from my lower back all the way to the nape of my neck, and I shuddered violently. That was horrifying. The most horrifying thing I’d heard all year.
Every single word he chose was grotesque beyond horrifying. Bare skin, embarrassing—what kind of ridiculous thing was he saying?
I opened my eyes wide to protest, but then I heard the voice of the one person I least wanted to encounter in this moment.
“Rosalite!”
“Kyaaaah!”
Luke! It’s Luke! Luke, I’m sorry! I’m sorry for being such a mother!
I was so startled that I immediately hid behind the Crown Prince. If I were alone, the children would surely lecture me further, but if I used Theodore as a shield, even Luke, Glen, and Jack Brown would maintain at least basic courtesy.
For the first time, I was grateful for Theodore’s presence. With that thought, I clung tightly to his back and grabbed his clothing, when suddenly I heard a sharp *ting* sound.
…Ting?
Why did I hear a ting sound?
The sound was so peculiar that I traced its source with my eyes, and there—a single golden button was flying in a parabolic arc. The fabric I’d grabbed from His Highness felt oddly heavier.
“….”
Oh….
What do I do?
I’m afraid to lift my head. Because a long white strip of fabric was dangling from my hand.
I already suspected what consequences that flying button had caused, but I couldn’t respond easily.
“I’m terribly sorry.”
I barely managed an apology in an ant-sized voice. The man remained completely motionless.

◇ ◆ ◇

Silence hung heavy in the Guest Chamber of the VIP Casino. Outside, people were likely enjoying gambling and eagerly expanding their networks at the VIP Casino’s invitation, creating an exciting and lively atmosphere, but this room remained quiet.
Theodore was changing clothes and lying on the sofa to cool down, two Royal Family maidservants beside him fanning him, two palace knights brought as guards. Including me, six people existed in this room, yet no one spoke.
Well…, what…, after something like that happened, how could anyone dare open their mouth in this place unless the Crown Prince himself broke the silence first?
Of course, if this were the usual me, I would have mercilessly spewed a hundred words to mock the Crown Prince for his shameful display in front of all these people, but standing as the perpetrator, I couldn’t even squeak.
My legs were starting to go numb. I’d been kneeling continuously since he was brought here, so blood wasn’t flowing to my lower body.
Still, Jack had quickly snatched the fabric scrap from me and wrapped Theodore up, so I figured few people had witnessed his embarrassing state.
Besides, he was wearing underwear, wasn’t he? It’s not like his bare backside was exposed to the whole world, so getting this angry seemed a bit, well, I did it by accident, so it felt unreasonable or whatever.
“You’re thinking this is just an accident and I’m being too harsh.”
“Yes.”
“Close your mouth.”
No, you asked first and now you want me to close my mouth? As I pouted at his arbitrary behavior, our neighborhood Crown Prince threw a sofa cushion at me.
I could have dodged it, but I deliberately took the hit. If his anger cools this way, I’m getting off cheap. It was like hitting the jackpot.
“You’re thinking if you take a few hits and wrap this up, you’ll get off cheap.”
“Yes.”
“Close your mouth.”
This time a bright red apple flew at me. That would hurt if it hit. I should dodge.
As I quickly tilted my head to avoid the apple, the man laughed with displeasure and reproached me.
“Why are you dodging this one?”
“….”
“Speak.”
“You told me to close my mouth.”
“You have no sense of reading the room whatsoever.”
To be frank, I have no reason to worry about his moods, so what can I do about that?
I was itching to say that, but Theodore suddenly frowned for a moment and said something strange.
“How did you even get here?”
“…I received a reward vacation?”
“You think I’d believe that?”
“No, believe it or not, we came on a family group trip….”
“Obviously you had your subordinates find out my schedule.”
“Excuse me, are we actually having a conversation right now?”
Lately I’ve been having communication problems with the people around me—has my Aleine vocabulary deteriorated that much?
True, most of my correspondence beyond official documents had been pen pal exchanges with Lucius—so naturally, my colloquial Imperial has improved considerably. I wonder if I’ve fallen into that peculiar linguistic limbo where using both languages simultaneously has left me unable to properly command either one.
I’ve considered ending my pen pal correspondence with Lucius, but the man writes with such wit and charm that I find myself unable to stop. Besides, through our letters I gain access to rumors circulating within the Imperial Court and valuable intelligence on profitable ventures—it’s proven quite beneficial, all things considered.
“Since you wish it so ardently, I shall permit you to escort the new Duke of Edanelli to his inauguration ceremony.”

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