Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 135

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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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The one saving grace was that most of the passengers appeared to be Aleine citizens, and they simply dismissed Lucius as some sort of madman.
I hurried forward with Elizabeth to put an end to this display of lunacy. The man, recognizing me despite my hat pulled low, suddenly hurled the basket of pollen into the sea and greeted me warmly.
“How long has it been! It’s been ages, Rosalite.”
“Rosalite? That’s embarrassing. Please, just get on board.”
“You changed my name to Lucius, and you thought I’d let that slide?”
“You’re right, I was wrong. Please, just get on. I’m begging you.”
As I clasped my hands together in supplication, the man made a sulking sound and spread both arms wide. That wasn’t… surely he didn’t mean for me to embrace him like Capo would. What on earth was he doing?
“What is this?”
“I only have entry permission for Rocksburg Territory. I can’t set foot on Bienar soil.”
Ah… so what? Did he want me to carry him?
I seriously wondered what sins I’d committed in my past life to become entangled with this man. After a moment of genuine contemplation, I dropped to one knee before him and patted my thigh.
“Here, step on this and mount the horse. Since I’m from Rocksburg, my knee is essentially Rocksburg Territory.”
“That’s quite the sophistry.”
“My family members are full of such arguments.”
“How could I possibly step on a young lady’s knee? I’m not so lacking in propriety.”
“I’m married now, so I’m not a lady anymore. I’m a married woman. Please, feel free to step.”
“If anything, that makes it even more improper.”
You’re the one blocking the staircase and preventing people from disembarking—that’s far more improper. Please, just stop.
Deciding I’d wasted enough time, I stood up and circled behind Elizabeth, chanting the activation word for physical enhancement before hoisting Lucius into my arms.
Caught completely off guard, the man gasped, and he remained silent with wide eyes until I forced him onto Elizabeth and settled behind him to take the reins.
“Pardon me for a moment.”
I was going to tear off that insufferable prince’s cloak.
It was too conspicuous, emblazoned with the Imperial flag, and its style was distinctly different from Aleine fashion, making it uncomfortable to look at. So I simply yanked the man’s crimson cloak off and threw it into the sea before urging the horse forward.
In an instant, deprived of his winter garment, the man shrieked, wrapping his upper body with both arms.
“You harlot! I’ve suspected for some time that you’ve had improper designs on my body!”
“Ha. The accusation is so absurd I can’t even muster the will to refute it.”
“Wait. I’m actually getting angry now. Are you saying my body has no value?”
“Yes.”
His Majesty glares at me with his one eye with tremendous intensity. What do you expect? I’m very strict when it comes to men’s bodies. Admittedly, he seems to have gained some muscle since I last saw him, but it’s just aging muscle. Compared to the Third Prince, the elasticity is completely different.
“When you usually say annoying things like that, how do people typically hit you?”
“Do you think I’d teach you that?”
“Otherwise I might just punch you.”
“…I get my ears massaged.”
The moment I finished speaking, Lucius grabbed my ear and pulled.
I shrieked, but Elizabeth, indifferent to her master’s cries, simply snorted and galloped all the way to Rocksburg Territory.
Somehow this horse seems absolutely smitten with Lucius. When I had him ride on her back earlier, she showed no resistance and was delighted. I can’t fathom this creature’s taste. After the Crown Prince, now Lucius…?
Does this mare simply prefer powerful men?

Upon entering Rocksburg Territory, I went straight into a ready-made clothing shop and bought a coat, which I promptly dressed the Crown Prince in. He resisted quite stubbornly, insisting that he would wear nothing but custom-tailored garments, but when I told him that if he wanted to freeze to death in this cold, that was his prerogative, he quietly donned the coat and stepped outside.
So then… what exactly were we supposed to do now?
I had come out with no plan whatsoever, lacking any enthusiasm for a date with the Third Prince, so I couldn’t think of a suitable place to go.
I vaguely steered us toward the Central Park, sat Lucius down on a bench, and bought three crepes loaded with whipped cream and crunchy bits from a street vendor.
I popped one into Elizabeth’s mouth, handed another to Lucius, and then sat beside him with the remaining one, munching away loudly while pondering where we should go next.
The man, who had been eating his crepe expressionlessly, showed a hint of surprise at the crunchy bits crumbling inside his mouth.
“The texture is quite interesting.”
Lucius, having offered that single observation, smiled faintly.
Huh… I don’t think I’ve ever seen him express emotion while eating before.
As I chewed on my crepe with that thought in mind, something suddenly occurred to me. Despite having dined alongside Lucius on numerous occasions, he had never once commented on the taste of anything, nor did he ever seem to particularly enjoy those meals.
Well, it’s possible my family is simply unusual in finding mealtimes to be the happiest and most enjoyable part of the day. But it was strange that the Crown Prince hadn’t even made polite remarks about the Alein Kingdom’s cuisine agreeing with his palate during our first meeting. When I went to the Empire and he kept pestering me to brew tea, I once served him coffee with an excessive amount of acacia honey out of spite, and he drank it without complaint.
Back then, I simply thought he was no ordinary man…
“Lucius.”
“What is it, Rosalite?”
“Can you not taste things?”
“….”
Oh, I hit the mark. Well… it happens to people.
“You have terrible intuition about most things, yet you’re remarkably good at reading this.”
“What do you mean I lack intuition? I hear all the time that I have a keen eye for detail.”
“Ha ha.”
Hey. That’s far more insulting than an outright curse, you know? Keep provoking me like this, and I’ll make sure to upset you too.
“You smell things just fine, though. So it’s not a physical problem—it must be psychological, right? I suppose living in the Imperial Court, where people die of boredom at the drop of a hat, would cause considerable stress.”
“Ever since Mother attempted to poison me, nothing tastes like anything anymore.”
“….”
“….”
“I apologize.”
“Your apology is accepted.”
Good grief, what do I do about this atmosphere? I can barely breathe.
I ate my crepe without knowing whether it was going into my nose or my mouth, and my throat tightened so much I had to pound my chest. The Third Prince seemed concerned for me, though his concern likely lacked sincerity.
Since things have already gone awry, I might as well be direct. Completely direct.
“What scheme brings you all the way here this time?”
“You make it sound as though I visit Aleine solely for ulterior motives.”
“Because that’s exactly what you do.”
At my response, the man gazed into the distance and wore a melancholic expression. My premonition was not good.
“It seems Mother intends to cast me out entirely this time, so I’ve simply fled for a while.”
“….”
“….”
“You’re not joking?”
“I speak in earnest.”
Oh, come on. Save me, you old fool. What heinous crime are you planning to drag me into this time?
After devouring all the crepes, I jammed my hat down tight and wrung it in my hands, and for some reason Lucius found this absolutely hilarious, bursting into booming laughter.
Fine, let’s say it’s true that the Crown Prince is currently fighting for his life against his own mother. But Lucius wasn’t the type to passively accept such a threat—he’d fight back with everything he had—so I was consumed with anxiety.
What else could happen? Every time I got entangled with this man, nothing but terrifying events unfolded. I’d been confined in the Crown Prince’s Palace despite having free access, encountered a giant squid in the open sea, slept alongside a murderer on a storm-ravaged island—the list went on.
The last one was probably something even Lucius hadn’t anticipated, but one thing was certain: this man had crossed the sea with the express purpose of destroying my life.
“How on earth did you manage to collect all the seals?”
“I diligently bought squid bread.”
“If you don’t want to die, don’t forget this is my home turf.”
“Once Kaina Chatel got involved, they were gathered in no time. I heard even Largol Rodel pitched in.”
I’d even collaborated with Chatel this time, and he repaid me with betrayal. Just you wait, you old bastard—I’m going to make you pay for this.
Did you think our household only had one or two people with a grudge against Chatel? Jack Brown, Luke, me… Well, that’s only three, not one or two. Anyway, if I catch you slipping up even once, I won’t let you off easy.
“Oh.”
Speaking of Chatel, that play I approved last time is being performed now, isn’t it?
From the park, I could see the massive Rocksburg Department Store and Cultural Center at a glance, so I stood up from my seat. Come to think of it, for a date, watching a play in a dimly lit theater was standard. Not that I had any intention of doing anything untoward to the Crown Prince just because the lights were off. Still, it was important to follow proper protocol.
One way or another, Lucius had collected all the seals and earned his date privilege. Since it was a prize bearing Rocksburg’s name, I had to see it through with sincerity.
“Shall we go? The play my son reviewed for accuracy is being performed at the Cultural Center, is it not?”
“Your son? If he’s your son, then he must be the one I’ve heard rumors about…”
“Yes. Luke Rocksberg—the one who found his true family while serving Chatel.”
“Pfft!”
Did this old man have wind trapped in his lungs or something? Why did he suddenly burst out laughing?
The man who had been stifling his laughter finally erupted into a full belly laugh, tears streaming down his face. After confirming Luke’s age and my own age once more, he heard my answer and began sobbing so hard he collapsed onto the bench.
This man was just crying. He was laughing so hard his stomach hurt, and he was weeping from the pain of it all.
“So. Will you go see it, or not?”
“I’m going. No matter what happens, I have to see that and come back.”
The man who had been laughing hysterically could barely walk, so he even needed my support to mount his horse. I climbed up behind the Crown Prince, took the reins, and galloped to the Rocksburg Cultural Center, entrusted Elizabeth to a staff member, and found the theater hall.
After purchasing tickets for Rocksburg Theater Hall No. 1, which had the most seating, we bought snacks and waited to enter.
As we approached the entrance of Theater Hall No. 1, I saw a life-sized panel displaying the title of the play about to be performed. Upon reading the title “In Search of Mother: Thirty Thousand Miles,” Lucius collapsed to the floor once again, convulsing with laughter.
Because the man was striking the ground in what looked like a fit, an usher rushed over in alarm and asked if we needed to call a Doctor. I couldn’t exactly tell her that Lucius was simply out of his mind, so I spent a moment in awkward explanation of his condition.

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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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