Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 150

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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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Perhaps because I sneezed the moment I woke, Glen placed a concerned hand upon my forehead.
“You have a slight fever, my lord. Might I suggest taking the day as leave? After yesterday’s ordeal, surely rest would serve you well.”
“No. I haven’t finalized the trade agreement yet, and there will be official documents from the Royal Palace awaiting my attention. I must go.”
Those who witnessed the scene firsthand must be present for the proceedings to move swiftly. Duke Neitram has surely already prepared for his visit to the Royal Palace. I need only move forward. Only I.
“Leon will assume my duties as acting successor to the Duke, but I’m entrusting all my authority to you, Glen. If that brat Leon tries to overstep, discipline him thoroughly.”
“My lord, that is hardly the concern. Surely even a single day of proper rest would——”
“Nonsense, it’s merely a slight fever. Otherwise, I’m perfectly sound.”
I deliberately swung my arms in circles to demonstrate my vitality, then rose from the bed. Ah, how liberating it felt to leave the desk behind and venture into fieldwork for once.
Leon had recovered fragments of his memories from the previous cycle, and his competence had improved fivefold. With Glen, who was naturally skilled, and Janet beside him, the Office would function flawlessly in my absence. Particularly since Glen was my husband—he could autonomously handle matters requiring only the Duke’s Successor’s approval, and his decisions had never disappointed me. Truly, husband and wife could read each other’s minds. Glen would delegate anything too delicate to Leon, who would handle it discreetly.
My current team had reached the very pinnacle of what the Duke’s Successor Office could aspire to become. Perfection itself. If this wasn’t utopia, then what could possibly be?
After dressing with Violet’s assistance beyond the partition, I approached Glen, who waited for me, intending to give him my customary morning kiss—but I hesitated. I had sneezed rather badly earlier, after all. Transmitting illness would be catastrophic.
“I entrust the household matters to you. I shall take my leave now.”
As I hastened my steps, Glen grasped my shoulder firmly and planted a kiss upon my cheek. Startled—for he had never initiated such affection before—I turned to look at him, only to see his face flush crimson as he averted his gaze, staring into empty space.
“P-please take care. Do not overexert yourself.”
Hehe, hihihi, naturally I should. At whose behest would I not? I adored Glen so desperately that I kissed his cheek, then his nose, then his forehead, and finally his lips with playful pecks.
The man protested and fled.
Ah, what energy this gives me. I shall utterly devastate those Largol Embassy dogs at the Royal Palace.
I received word from Jack that Aster and Serena remained in sleep mode, and I set out for the Royal Palace. Along the way, Duke Neitram, who shared my carriage, sneezed repeatedly, so we wrapped ourselves together in the same blanket and relied upon each other’s warmth.
As we arrived at the Main Palace and passed through increasingly crowded corridors, the Duke’s eyes gradually transformed into those of a murderer. This man truly lives an exhausting life.

As a witness present at the scene of yesterday’s anemone attack, I entered the conference room only to find our King, the Largol Ambassador, and the Federation Ambassador all gathered together with deeply furrowed brows. Our King cast a reproachful glance as he watched the Duke and me bundled up in blankets.
“You two… Is there some disease that kills you if you show me even a shred of dignity once?”
“There’s no remedy for the cold, Your Majesty.”
“If the sight displeases you, simply turn up the heating, Your Majesty.”
“You saw the thin ice forming all the way to the coastal region, did you not, Your Majesty?”
“Surely you’ve already inspected the scene, Your Majesty?”
“The head of state must set an example, Your Majesty.”
“When leadership grows lazy, the nation faces ruin, Your Majesty.”
“We trust in you, Your Majesty.”
“Please honor our loyalty, Your Majesty.”
“Enough. Be silent and sit.”
Though his words were harsh, the moment the Duke and I removed our blankets and sat down, His Majesty had attendants prepare personal braziers and position them beside us. People simply lack the capacity for cruelty. His nature is fundamentally kind.
The Maidservants had prepared warm grain tea as well, and as I sipped it, I caught the Largol Ambassador’s gaping mouth spouting words.
“King Laios, forgive my presumption, but I confess I do not understand why we have been summoned.”
“Because I summoned you. Me.”
The very nation that conjured that monster dares to evade responsibility.
Regardless of whether the Largol Ambassador glared or not, I drank deeply of the sweet grain tea and opened my mouth with deliberate calm.
“It is quite audacious of the nation that unleashed this creature upon Aleine.”
“What evidence do you possess for such an accusation, Duke’s Daughter? Should you speak based merely on conjecture, you risk bringing harm not only to Rocksburg but to all of Aleine.”
“The First Prince of Largol sent an official document bearing the Largol Imperial seal, warning that Empress Aidemoc had orchestrated this plot. This constitutes circumstantial evidence.”
“Surely, to condemn someone based solely on circumstantial evidence is….”
“The True Magic Tower Master, the pinnacle of all Magic Tower Masters, has testified that this anemone is an ancient creature that only the summoning priests of the Joraab Religion of the Largol Empire can invoke. As the True Magic Tower Master belongs to no nation and is an influential figure, this testimony holds validity under international law, and the witness is currently under Rocksburg’s protection. If you feel wronged, you may summon all three nations’ Magic Tower Masters for investigation. However, since the source of the incident originates from Largol, should the investigation delay and the ice melt, causing greater damage, Largol will bear full responsibility. Is that acceptable?”
“That is….”
“You would shoulder that responsibility alone? My, what a patriotic martyr the great Largol Empire has cultivated. Such selfless sacrifice is beyond imitation—I find myself compelled to offer my utmost respect.”
The Largol Ambassador, seething with indignation, fell silent with a stifled sound. Then the Federation Ambassador, who had been quiet until now, interjected.
“That creature now lies frozen in the territorial waters between Aleine and the Cerepia Federation. We wish to hold Aleine responsible for diverting the creature toward Cerepia when it was originally heading toward Aleine.”
“What nonsense is this?”
“We have testimony. There was an attack from a passenger ship belonging to Aleine.”
“Does that witness possess the credibility of the True Magic Tower Master? Bring them. Bring them and have them testify.”
“That is…, they are merely common citizens….”
“If you question someone’s account, produce a credible witness! A witness! The Duke and I were at the scene! Duke Noctram! Did the Lusilu Ship influence the creature’s trajectory? We merely observed!”
“I concur. The Rocksburg Young Lady and I were merely anxious, pacing nervously, wondering what would happen if that creature reached Bienar.”
“Do you hear? To overturn this testimony, produce a witness more credible than us!”
As I brought my teacup down sharply against the table, the Federation Ambassador’s expression twisted, and he averted his gaze from me. Good. Now is the moment. Your Majesty, now is the time to broach the main matter.
“Now then, let us all calm ourselves. Rather than quarreling among ourselves, should we not convene a three-nation conference without delay? This is a matter upon which the fate of nations rests.”
Precisely. That is it. Escalate matters swiftly. Give them no time to think, convene the leadership conference, enlarge the issue from the start, then extract substantial compensation for damages.
“Aleine shall send Crown Prince Theodore as its representative, and I propose the Rocksburg Young Lady accompany him as his attendant. What are the opinions of the ambassadors of both nations?”
“She would be accompanying us?”
“No, surely the Young Duke must be occupied with other matters….”
She goes precisely because she is occupied. With leisure as a pretext, but with a clear purpose. When His Majesty pressed for swift decisions as time was running out before the ice melted, the Federation side agreed to send the Federation Vice-Minister as their representative, while the Empire’s side remained silent for a long while.
They all played their cards—the Crown Prince and the Federation Vice-Minister—so naturally I had to counter with someone of equal standing. If the negotiations went poorly, it would be a disaster, so their concern was understandable.
“In that case, our side would propose the Fourth Prince, Your Highness….”
“No. I would prefer Prince Marius.”
As I spoke with conviction, the Largol Ambassador’s eyes widened in shock. How amusing—he must be flustered. After all, I’d just asked them to send that fool to an international conference.
“Wait. Duke’s Daughter. Prince Marius? When the brilliant Crown Prince of Aleine and the esteemed Federation Vice-Minister are attending, how could Prince Marius possibly be suitable?”
“Why not? Prince Marius is the son of Empress Aidemoc, whom His Imperial Majesty favors most dearly, and he stands third in line to the throne of the great Largol Empire.”
As I smiled and sought agreement from the others, the King nodded without hesitation, and the Federation Ambassador also smiled, calculating that Prince Marius would be an easy opponent to handle.
“That won’t do. The Fourth Prince will be attending on our behalf. Prince Marius is out of the question.”
“Well, if you insist, we could always have the three nations’ Magic Towers send representatives to investigate the sea anemone instead….”
“Ugh!”
The Largol Ambassador certainly had good color in his face. His complexion was absolutely flushed and pale by turns.
The man even tore at his own hair, and after much deliberation, he clung to me pleadingly.
“At the very least, Prince Lucius. Please allow Prince Lucius to accompany us. Aleine also has the Duke’s Daughter attending as a retinue, does it not?”
I knew this man was from the Fourth Prince’s faction. Yet he made this proposal knowing the credit would go to the First Prince—he must truly be desperate.
As long as I could meet Prince Marius, nothing else mattered to me. I gave the King a subtle glance, and he reached a satisfactory conclusion.
“Then let everyone prepare and gather in four days. As for the venue, I think Rohil from among the Federation’s territories would be ideal.”
“We’ll have the Federation contact Rohil accordingly. That island is politically neutral, and it’s conveniently close to all three nations, so I agree as well.”
“Largol has no objections to the location either.”
Wow, so I could actually go sightseeing in the famous tourist destination of Rohil with the Third Prince in tow? I’d hit the jackpot. If this wasn’t a stroke of luck, what was?
Rohil was renowned as a tourist nation with perpetual early-summer weather and emerald-hued coastlines. I’d heard the streets were lined with palm trees, the people were kind, and their fashion was remarkably open.
Geographically, it was actually closer to either Aleine or Largol, but having had no contact with neighboring nations for so long, the cultural differences were stark enough that it preferred to remain independent and part of the Federation.

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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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