Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 139

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

I grabbed the chair and smashed through the living room’s floor-to-ceiling window with a satisfying crash. They must have used plain glass—it shattered beautifully. I could have sworn I’d mandated protective film between panes for any building over ten stories. These fools would be paying building code violation fines later.
“To be honest, I have a fear of heights.”
“There’s nothing we can do about it now. Try to overcome it.”
This Lucilucil—never complains about pain, yet chatters endlessly about everything else. I pulled the wire from my watch, wrapped it securely around a pillar, and hung from it with Lucilucil.
It was something Jack and I rode around on regularly for fun, so it would easily support both our weights.
“Now, jump down. You learned this during fire safety drills, didn’t you?”
“What is that?”
“What exactly do they teach in the Largol Imperial Palace?”
“One thing I can say with absolute certainty—Rocksburg is the one that’s strange.”
The man sighed deeply, his expression turning grim, and positioned himself at the window. Still, having endured countless trials in the Imperial Palace, his resolve came swiftly.
Lucilucil took a sharp breath and jumped.
“That’s it, well done! One, two! Brace! One, two! Jump!”
“Stop making such a racket! Quiet!”
Lucilucil gripped the wire and bounded down the building’s exterior wall in rhythmic leaps. Of course he’d do well when ordered—he didn’t become first in line for the throne for nothing. Funny, my own country had a Crown Princess just like this, willing to do anything when push came to shove.
My mouth tasted bitter for some reason, but since the ground was near, I jumped down first and called for Elizabeth. I drew my dagger to sever the wire, noticing Lucilucil was drenched in sweat.
“What’s wrong? You’re sweating in this cold. Are you hot?”
“Cold sweat. Can’t you tell?”
I didn’t have thermal sensors installed in my eyes—how was I supposed to know if sweat was cold or warm?
Thinking it was a pointless remark, I severed the wire cleanly and carefully sheathed the dagger. They said it contained pufferfish toxin, so I had to handle it with extreme care.
“Neigh!”
Ah! I heard my name being called—Elizabeth! My prized steed indeed!
I vaulted onto the horse and extended my hand to Lucilucil. Given the urgency, he didn’t hesitate to mount behind me, gripping my waist to avoid obstructing my vision.
“They’re past the lobby! Get them!”
My, they’ve already descended to the first floor? Elizabeth’s swift hooves would easily outpace them, but why not give them a little scare?
“Lucilucil! If anyone catches up, grab my hat and throw it at them!”
“Why the hat?!”
“Just do it when I say!”
When I spoke in commanding tones, Lucilucil grumbled but seized the hat and hurled it at the pursuers. Simultaneously, a strange, ominous sound emanated from it. It was certainly not the cute sort of device with just saw-blade teeth protruding slightly.
The shockwave from the cleaving air reached even the back of my head.
“Aaaahhh!”
From what I could hear, more than one assassin was screaming. What on earth had the Princess given me?!
“Rosalite! What kind of weapon did you give me?! What if someone gets hurt?!”
I didn’t know it was like that either, you fool! Worry about me instead—I’ve been wearing this mass-destruction device on my head all day! Are only your bones precious?!

Lucilucil and I bickered the entire way to the Duke’s Mansion, and by the time we crossed the gates, we were both gasping for breath, unable to manage anything but ragged panting.
We had barely reached the Entrance Hall when we dismounted, still catching our breath, and the servants—apparently forewarned—rushed out to drape blankets across our shoulders.
“Rosalite.”
“What now? What is it? What’s your problem?”
“Have you no interest in taking a position as Empress?”
“Empress of the Largol Empire?”
“Indeed.”
“Why would I marry an old man when I have a young, vigorous husband at my side?”
“I’m speaking of the future Emperor’s Empress, not the current Emperor’s.”
“I’m understanding this correctly, aren’t I?”
“….”
“….”
Lucilucil threw off his blanket and reached toward me—clearly intending to massage my ears—so I swiftly extended my own arms and seized both his wrists firmly.
“How am I old? Have you ever seen an old man this vibrant!”
“Compared to twenty-three, you’re ancient! You’re nearly forty—where’s your conscience!”
“Who’s nearly forty! I’m still in my mid-thirties!”
“Numbers are always rounded up!”
“Who decided that!”
“I did!”
This Lucilucil wretch always leaves me breathless!
We were locked in a hand-to-hand struggle when Father arrived with William, likely having heard the news and come out of concern—though strangely, this scene felt familiar somehow.
Father observed us for a long moment, his eyes narrowing, then rather than offering gentle words of caution lest we injure ourselves, he intervened directly.
“If I may be so bold, Lucilucil.”
“Does Rocksburg suffer from some hereditary condition that prevents proper pronunciation of names?”
“Rosalite is unsuited for the position of Empress. Above all, she is destined to become the next Duke.”
“I hear your younger sibling also received succession training. Since it’s Rocksburg anyway, couldn’t he simply become Duke?”
“By that logic, since they’re similarly featured, you might as well take Asterion as Empress.”
“….”
“….”
Ah, that’s my Father for you. No one in the realm surpasses him at catching people’s words and spinning sophistry.
“Moreover, Leon would be far better suited to the role of Empress. She would perform the duties far more brilliantly than Rosalite ever could.”
“…We’ll discuss this another time.”
“Of course. Should the opportunity arise.”
Excellent—truly worthy of the Rocksburg Duke. A man who has never lost a single debate in his entire life.
Lucilucil conceded defeat, and we each retired to rest. I had a Doctor assigned to the Crown Prince and ordered his room prepared. Irritating fellow though he is, watching him endure such pain without a single complaint was rather pitiful.
In any case, I could finally rest. I postponed discussion of William’s report and subsequent measures until tomorrow, and made my way to my chambers with a retinue of attendants in tow.
But along the way, Leon suddenly emerged and threw his arms around me.
“Sister!”
Oh dear, why is he clinging to me again?
I attempted to peel Leon away as usual, but something seemed amiss with the boy. His complexion was pallid, and his entire body trembled.
“Am I… am I being sold off to become the Empress?”
“….”
So you’ve been harboring such needless worries all this time.
Leon must have overheard our earlier conversation, for tears glistened in her eyes as she rattled off the reasons why she could never become Empress.
“How am I supposed to live separated from you, Sister! I… I can’t even speak the Imperial language properly! My Largol is so inadequate that my teacher’s evaluation was merely ‘excellent’ instead of ‘very excellent’! You know this yourself, Sister!”
…Were you actually picking a fight just now? But observing her demeanor, there was no hint of boasting in her words, so I gently stroked Leon’s back to calm her down.
“Put your mind at ease. The Duke was merely trying to discourage the Crown Prince. Who would ever think of sending you away?”
“But what if he doesn’t give up? What if circumstances truly become unfavorable and I end up having to go?”
“….”
I hadn’t considered that possibility. No, even if circumstances became impossibly dire, there’s no way Leon would be taken as Empress….
“…!”
Oh no! This was a BL novel!
Goodness…, I’d completely forgotten. Perhaps because I’d raised her to be so bold and strong, and no men had ever approached her, I’d utterly lost sight of this fact.
Heh heh, well, it’s actually fortunate that no strange men have become entangled with her. But what should I say, hmm…, I’m such an idiot.
“Don’t worry. I stake my honor on this—my one and only sibling will never become Empress.”
“Is that truly so?”
“Yes, of course.”
Leon seemed somewhat calmed, though she was still trembling, so I took the child’s hand and walked toward my chamber.
“Sleep in the adjacent room tonight. I’ll hold your hand until you fall asleep.”
Trembling like this, she certainly won’t be able to sleep properly.
I brought Leon to the bed in the adjoining room as promised and held her hand firmly until she drifted off. After she’d been nodding off for a while, I finally sensed Leon slipping into slumber, so I carefully released her hand and returned to my own chamber.
With the maids’ assistance, I washed refreshingly and dressed in my nightclothes, then lay upon the plush bed with my eyes tightly closed. After wandering about all day, the moment my head touched the pillow, I experienced the miracle of falling asleep instantly.

◇ ◆ ◇

Dawn broke.
That daylight bandit Lucilucil extorted money from me to recover the earrings, squeezed out William’s report, tortured the assassins to uncover the mastermind and extracted a promise to announce it officially, declared that the watch with its continuously extending wire looked far too useful to pass up and took the child’s toy, claimed he couldn’t bear to wear the coat I’d bought him on the journey back to the Imperial Palace and stripped Asterion’s high-grade coat as well before boarding the ship and departing.
Phew, finally gone. I’d conducted a losing transaction against that bandit Lucilucil, but sending him home left me feeling completely relieved.
Things should be quiet for a while. I returned to routine duties to handle the work that Leon and Luke had graciously set aside for me. The work was tedious, but my mind felt more at ease than when dealing with Lucilucil. Moreover, Janet Edanelli came to visit the Duke’s Mansion, saying she wanted to keep the promise she’d made last time.
I thought it was merely a polite gesture, but she actually came and helped with the work—truly a girl with a beautiful heart. Janet said she would stay here until Glen returns, so I had another desk brought into the Office and prepared a Guest Room for her.
When she insisted on sleeping in the room next to mine even if it killed her, I relented, and Leon picked up a triangle ruler and threw it, which Janet caught, spun around, and threw back at Leon.
…I understand those two are delighted to see each other, but why are they throwing a triangle ruler around? Is this how young people play these days? Truly a dangerous game.
In any case, since it was the sort of play where one wrong move could injure an innocent bystander, when I told them to exercise restraint, both of them smiled broadly and said they would obey.
They play a bit roughly, but both listen well and respond very politely. I felt reassured and continued with my duties, then enjoyed dinner with a peaceful heart for the first time in a while, washed up, and went to bed.
If only every day could be like today. It would be even better if Glen returns soon.
I yawned repeatedly and tossed about. The blanket was so warm and comfortable. Sleep was coming gently, and I was just closing my eyes when my pinky finger suddenly vibrated with a drrrrrr sound.
Beep beep beep weeeeee!
And a siren blared on top of that. I opened my eyes and saw the ring flashing brilliantly. I’d simply asked Leon to set up a device so I could know if anything happened to him, but why did he modify it to make this laser gun sound?
“This household! There’s never a peaceful day!”
Furious, I grabbed my pillow and struck the bed repeatedly. After venting my frustration that way for a while, I dressed and set out to find Leon.
Since it was bedtime, he likely hadn’t left the Annex Building.

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