Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 152

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

The carriage prepared by Rohil was heading to the Conference Hall—nothing but the Conference Hall. The dignitaries from each nation would gather there, exchange pleasantries, gently set the stage for the sea anemone talks, seal the conference proceedings, hold a banquet when the time came, and then formally vote tomorrow afternoon.
While we worked in the Conference Hall, it fell to the servants to manage lodgings, transport luggage, and prepare for emergencies. Violet had been elected to lead them.
It was a result born purely from Violet’s extensive experience. This time around, I could see the moment when Violet had become the most senior by rank, all thanks to Leon’s long and healthy survival.
Father would have faced serious trouble if we’d brought all the veterans, so most of them were practically newcomers. Still, watching Violet and Lily scold the younger servants and strut about with authority was both amusing and heartwarming.
Ah, living this long makes me sentimental about the strangest things. It brings tears to my eyes. But this isn’t the time for that.
“Young Duke. According to the directions, that appears to be the Conference Hall.”
No, no, no!
I let out an internal scream at Glen’s words and peered out the window. There, on a subtly sloped hillside, stood a dome-shaped Conference Hall, with what looked like a Guest Lodging hotel building right beside it.
Why is it so close! Why is the Conference Hall so near the harbor!
As I fidgeted and tapped my knees anxiously, Capo gently scolded me.
“I don’t know what’s troubling you, but since we’ve come this far, you might as well accept it. With your brother-in-law here too, wouldn’t it be wonderful if the two of you could spend a vacation together?”
That’s not it, sister! The Duke I see all the time, but if I miss this chance with the Third Prince, who knows when I’ll see him again!
Overcome with impatience, I bounced my legs so hard I nearly shook myself apart, then whipped my head around to look behind. In the carriage directly behind us was Luke, looking thoroughly dejected. Aster and Jack were trying to comfort him, but it was no use. Neither Luke nor I would have come all this way if we’d thought we’d miss the Third Prince.
Who cares about the sea anemone talks! Our Crown Prince will handle it brilliantly! Why did we come here anyway!
So I swiftly pushed the carriage window open as far as it would go.
“…Rosalite?”
Glen stopped calling me Young Duke and spoke in a dazed voice, but I had already made my decision. Come what may, I was going to meet the Third Prince.
“It’s dangerous! Rosalite! Wait!”
I leaned out the window and used every muscle in my body, honed through years of dancing, to pull myself onto the carriage roof. As I gripped the decorative ridges on the roof and took my stance, people all around began shouting at me.
“Young Lady! Have you lost your mind!”
“Rosalite! You’ll get hurt! Come down!”
“Stop the carriage! It would be better to stop it!”
“If you stop suddenly, my sister will be in even more danger!”
Good—if the carriage kept moving at this speed, I could jump back just a little and land on the roof of the carriage behind us. This was something we already knew from science experiments about inertia when objects move at constant velocity. Long live mandatory education! My twelve years weren’t wasted!
“Conversion. Electromagnetic force. Maximum release.”
Besides, even if I stumbled on landing, the electromagnetic force would keep me stuck to the carriage ridges. It was like having a safety harness. Realizing this, Papa leaned out the window to check on me and suddenly screamed.
“My daughter! Don’t get hurt playing around!”
“Yes, Papa!”
Hyah!
I pushed off from where I stood and leaped into the air, executing a graceful swallow dive before landing on the roof of Luke’s carriage. Just as I’d anticipated, my hands and feet stuck firmly to the ridges without any wobble, allowing me to crouch down steadily.
“You’ll get hurt!”
Glen’s voice scattered like a scream. Fine—all I had to do now was commandeer the carriage Luke was in and head back to the harbor.
“Go on ahead, Duke! Give my regards to the Crown Prince!”
I leaped down to the driver’s seat, seized the reins, and changed direction. The horses were startled, but you should be grateful to me—you’re about to witness something far more spectacular. You’re all mares, aren’t you? You lucky creatures, you’re getting a show thanks to me today!
“Papa, please take good care of Serena! I have a brief errand to run!”
“Very well! Go without worry and return safely!”
I drove the carriage eagerly toward the harbor. I already knew which dock the ship from the Empire would arrive at. All that remained was to wait for the Third Prince to arrive.

◇ ◆ ◇

As I pulled the carriage up to the dock, Luke and Jack descended to bombard me with endless nagging. What if I got hurt? I could die. If I was going to die anyway, at least produce an heir before I go. Even if I loved spinning in the air while dancing, I shouldn’t do it on top of a carriage. And so on and so forth.
I plugged my ears and pretended not to hear, so both of them grew so exasperated they could only beat their chests. Only Aster approached me, gently brushing the dust from my clothes. As the nagging finally seemed to subside, I lowered my hands, and Aster spoke to me with unusual seriousness.
“I always believed you would succeed, Young Lady.”
Right. You understand me better than I expected. Though I must say, your faith in me borders on excessive.
Satisfied with this, I nodded, and Luke came over to tidy my disheveled hair.
“You didn’t need to do something so dangerous. If you had explained things properly to Glen, he would have let you go.”
“If your boyfriend was ignoring you and said he was going to see some woman, would you just let him go?”
“….”
“….”
“No.”
“Exactly.”
“It’s remarkable that you’re still alive. If it were me, I would have stabbed you and died together.”
Child, don’t your thoughts take such extreme turns? I recall how he’d suddenly change one day and try to stab me. When was that again—the fifth loop?
“Is that the ship Young Lady was waiting for?”
Where? Where, where! Jack pulled out the telescope attached to his gas mask, and I scanned the sea with my naked eye, spotting only a single point that could be a ship.
“Is it an Imperial ship? Does it have the Imperial flag?”
“Yes. And there’s a sculpture of a bald old man with a distinctly cultish stench at the bow.”
“Hey, that person might be important in another country’s religion. Don’t be disrespectful. Speak more politely.”
“Then, a sculpture of a bald elderly man who looks like he’s intoxicated by the scent of religious incense.”
“That’s better. Good boy, Jack Brown.”
I quickly pulled a candy from my petticoat and gave it to Jack, then headed toward the dock. At the thought of seeing the Third Prince soon, I couldn’t help but squeal with excitement. I held Luke’s hand and danced, trying to calm my racing heart as we checked each other’s appearance.
Hair check, jewelry check, clothing wrinkles check, debris check.
Beautiful and neat! We are the pride of Rocksburg!
After shouting our victory chant with Luke, I stood demurely waiting for the ship. As the vessel entered the harbor, port workers and carriages prepared by Rohil rushed forward. Once the ship had fully dropped anchor, the disembarkation procedures began.
The Prince’s attendants descended first and transferred the luggage to carriages. Marius was clearly intent on keeping me in suspense—not a single hair of his had come into view yet. Only what appeared to be a chamberlain, a maidservant, and people of seemingly little importance had disembarked.
This person seemed unimportant, that person too, and the next one as well—ugh! When on earth was Marius going to appear?
“Rose, Rose! What’s this? You’ve come to greet me?”
Was that Marius?! Someone with a similar tone of voice was greeting me, so I quickly turned my head, but it was only Lucilucil standing there.
I had no interest in him whatsoever, so I turned my attention back to the ship.
Third Prince! You did bring the Third Prince, right?! This sculpture of a bald old man with a distinctly cultish stench at the bow is making me feel uneasy. Something feels ominous. Just looking at that sculpture feels ominous. It’s ugly. Why do they carry around something like that on a ship? It looks like bad luck incarnate!
“I thought something was off when he specifically singled me out and asked me to attend the talks. If he’s actively participating even in official settings, then even I have to admit it’s bewildering.”
“….”
“…Rose, Rose?”
Why is this man annoyingly waving his hand in front of me?
I glared at Lucilucil once and turned toward Luke. It didn’t seem like simply waiting was the right approach.
‘Luke, you’re certain that Marius is coming on this ship, right? He didn’t arrive separately or anything?’
‘That couldn’t be. The relationship between those two isn’t like yours with the Crown Prince. Why would they go to the trouble twice?’
『Wait a moment. Why are you suddenly speaking the Imperial tongue? And since you seem like you might get hurt, shouldn’t you pay me a little attention?』
Fine, let’s head up then. Even though an Imperial ship is treated as Imperial territory, we’ve already docked in Rohil, so the Captain should be willing to show some flexibility.
『Listen here, Rose.』
『Get out of the way! Lucius!』
I was swamped with work, so why did he keep bothering me? The moment I pushed Lucius aside, the man stumbled backward and vanished from my sight. I seized the opportunity to lead the children aboard, and I spotted Prince Marius resting in the shade beneath the ship’s cabin.
『Kyaaaah! Prince Marius!』
『Your Highness Prince Marius!』
As I rushed over with exaggerated concern, Prince Marius merely nodded his head with a weary expression. How strange—our usually vibrant Prince Marius looked so wilted and exhausted. Was it seasickness? Surely the attendants of the Largol Imperial Family hadn’t neglected to provide him with seasickness medicine!
『Are you alright? Your complexion looks quite poor. Is it seasickness? Shall I fetch you some medicine?』
『No, it’s not that….』
Seeing Prince Marius in such poor condition, I skipped the introductions and checked on his wellbeing first. I had Aster bring a cool glass of water, then I placed my bare hand on his forehead and felt his neck—he definitely seemed to have a slight fever.
『You have a fever. Are you exhausted? If you’re coming down with a cold, perhaps you should rest…!』
『No, it’s that….』
『That?』
『Somehow…, it’s hot.』
『….』
Ah…, if that’s the issue…, well…..

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