Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 154

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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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While everyone except Lucilucil was laughing and chatting away, the carriage arrived at the Conference Hall. I couldn’t figure out what exactly Lucilucil disliked about me—he just parroted back everything I said with things like “Is that so?” or “Aren’t you embarrassed?” in that annoying way of his.
No, people’s speech naturally changes when they’re being polite—where does this guy get off mimicking people’s words like some kind of child? I’ve had a feeling about this for a while now, but Lucilucil is clearly immature. The guy just hasn’t grown up. Ugh, tsk.
“Please don’t feel bad. I’m sure Older Brother didn’t mean any harm by it.”
If that weren’t malicious, then only good people would exist in this world, wouldn’t they? I was about to grumble like that, but when I caught sight of Marius in his short-sleeved suit, I decided to let it go.
“What I mean is, if you had such a cool and pretty ramie suit, why were you insisting on wearing those thick clothes? This fabric looks like it has great ventilation, and with the inner wear slightly showing through underneath, it’s absolutely perfect.”
While maintaining the distinctive appearance of the Empire’s traditional clothing, it shows everything that needs to be shown and even manages functionality with good ventilation. Is this what fashion diplomacy is? Once you see the Third Prince, anyone will have the Empire people’s attire burned into their eyes. It’s the best. The Largol designer is the best, the best!
“Ohoho, of course. I am well aware that Lord Lucius has quite the playful nature.”
“I am well aware of it.”
I’m about to just rip this thing apart!
While Marius was getting out of the carriage, I reached out to yank and strike that bastard’s pirate eyepatch, but that cunning Lucilucil defended himself. We grabbed each other’s hands and glared at each other, each scheming to land a blow, when that sly bastard Luke quickly grabbed Marius’s hand and pulled him down.
“Thank you for your consideration, Prince Marius.”
“Ah, I, to the Duke’s Daughter… No, that’s not it.”
Oh my goodness! I was just reaching out my hand to give it to you! Oh no! Did I raise my son just to see him end up like this! Oh dear! Oh my!
I was pounding my chest in frustration, but this son of a bitch went ahead and entered the Conference Hall holding Marius’s hand as if he were being escorted.
Ugh, that guy’s driving me crazy. So now he’s just going around calling himself a Rocksburg gentleman? Like he’s got no one to fear?
“Your son is really smart and cute.”
“I know. Keep your mouth shut.”
“This isn’t even your home ground, so why are you being so picky?”
“Lucilucil doesn’t have a home ground either, does he? Rohil is a neutral country.”
“Rohil is a Federation nation, but geographically closer to Largol, so its defense forces rely on our country for 80 percent of the weapons and cannon powder they equip. With just one order from me, your country could become nothing but ashes.”
“Well said. Eight out of ten? The ten out of ten magic stone used in Rohil is Aleine Mountain, and every mercenary mage dispatched is an Alein Kingdom citizen. With just one word from me, you could become an ice sculpture like that sea anemone over there!”
“Is Aleine’s only thing to brag about just the Masu Stone!?”
“If you get a magic stone, the game’s over! If you think it’s unfair, go find a vein and mine a magic stone yourself!”
This guy is underestimating mana stone. The fact that our country has large deposits of mana stone wasn’t simply a matter of having abundant resources to sell off. It meant the land itself had tremendous mana emissions and cohesion, and in such an environment, the mage population naturally had no choice but to grow.
Then does it end at the line that there are simply many mages? That is also not the case. Currently, the officially identified mage population is approximately one mage per thousand people in Aleine, and considering those who have not registered, we can estimate that the actual number is even higher.
So what I’m trying to say in the end is this: Aleine is a country where human rights standards are quite high regardless of age or gender. If you ignore or persecute someone for being powerless or low-status, or for being young or old, you might suddenly find that the weak person awakens as a mage one day and your head gets smashed in.
A mage constitution isn’t determined from birth—it suddenly manifests when someone’s compatible attributes or mana sensitivity suddenly awakens during their life. So if you treat someone like a dog just because they’re not a mage, you might get your head smashed in the next day.
Because of that threat of not knowing when their heads might get smashed in, mutual respect was established, and even though they found each other distasteful, they at least observed proper etiquette with one another. Laws were quickly refined and became concrete, and since there was no discrimination in the appointment of talented people, the nation developed with a solid foundation from within.
Our country began as a unification of five tribal nations, and the reason we’ve been able to maintain our lineage as the Alein Kingdom without fracture is that we’ve diligently read each other’s faces because none of us wanted our heads bashed in. Greater violence is the source of human rights enhancement. After all, no one in this world wants to get their head smashed in.
Of course, not everyone can be equally polite and intellectually refined, so there are plenty of people who don’t think ahead and live without tomorrow. For example, Dylan, or Dylan Diamante.
“Ugh! That damn Aleine! They should either invade quickly or do something!”
“Try saying that in the Conference Hall! It’s an international issue, an international issue!”
Anyway, this man grew up as the First Prince of the Empire, so there’s nothing he’s afraid of, nothing at all. Oh, come to think of it, my mother was scared though. Like how Empress Aidemoc’s foot caught fire a few days ago, and there’s something I want to ask about it.
“Then let’s go!”
“Yes! Let’s go!”
Ugh. Why am I walking into the Conference Hall holding this guy’s hand? When I came to my senses, I realized I was somehow caught up in it and being escorted, but something about it looked really weird.
Wait, isn’t it quite strange that I’m entering with an escort from the First Prince of the Largol Empire when my husband is alive and well? Just as I’m trying to distance myself from Lucilucil after noticing that, an announcement spreads through the Conference Hall that Lucius Iddemock of Largol and Rosalite Rocksburg are making a joint entrance.
The person presumed to be the Federation Vice-Minister was staring at me in bewilderment. Our neighborhood Crown Prince was glowering at me with a twisted expression. Capo, who was plastered against the Crown Prince’s side, alternated her gaze between me and Glen, looking utterly confused.
And Glen, whom I’d sent to the conference hall earlier, had tracked me down with uncanny precision and limped toward me. Cold sweat seemed to trickle down my spine. How was I going to overcome this crisis? Glen was breaking into a Crown Prince Smile. I had to block that Crown Prince Smile at all costs.
I decided to strike first before Glen could open his mouth. This was it. There was no other way!
“Prince Lucius! This is my one and only husband, Glen Hofen Rocksburg! Come now, my sweet honey! Greet His Highness!”
Rosalite’s preemptive strike! Glen’s smile guard crumbled! The effect was tremendous!
Glen was flustered by my outburst, stammered, and offered a greeting in halting Imperial.
“Glen, Hofen Rocksburg. My wife, she has, caused trouble.”
Oh, thank goodness. So Glen could speak Imperial. Heirs who inherit titles typically acquire foreign languages as essential education during heir training, but Glen had lost his father at a young age and entered Uncle Louis’s mansion, so I’d been anxious. Fortunately, that worry was unfounded.
“Husband? …What is this?”
Calling someone else’s husband “this”—what kind of manner of speech was that, Lucilucil? My feelings were so hurt that I jabbed him hard in the ribs with my elbow, and though the man coughed and sputtered, he didn’t release my hand.
“No, but Rose-Rose, you don’t usually like flat-chested men. To think such a chaff-like fellow is your husband—I’m simply astounded.”
“Chaff? He’s a grain of wheat ripened full with wisdom—a precious, plump kernel.”
“So you admit he’s like wheat straw.”
“Slender has its own charm.”
“If you have the talent to find charm in the charmless, why don’t you explore my charm? It would overflow.”
“What are you going on about, you old fool.”
“Who’s old? Answer the official document about the next Empress appointment already.”
“That official document meant that? I blew my nose with it and threw it away.”
“I could just take it and flee to the Empire.”
“Do you even have the strength for that? Won’t your back give out? Think of your age.”
Since he kept going on about getting a job in the Empire, I retorted back and forth as usual, but Glen seemed uneasy.
The man alternated his gaze between me and Lucilucil, trembling with the expression of a Thomson’s gazelle before a predator. Then he carefully extended his arm and placed his hand over mine, which was held by Prince Lucius.
“M-my wife….”
“….”
“….”
What was this? Was he suggesting we go to the bedroom right now?
Glen was terrified of Prince Lucius, yet he gripped my hand firmly and wouldn’t let go. I could feel him trembling sweetly, and I was actually considering just finding a room and going in, when Lucilucil started doing something ridiculous.
The man, as if profoundly moved by Glen’s actions, embraced both Glen and me while spouting nonsense.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be magnanimous and permit you to remain as Rose-Rose’s lover.”
“No, not a lover—my legitimate husband.”
“M-my wife, I mean my wife, sir.”
He’s going to cry—stop teasing him!
I shook off Lucilucil’s hand and settled Glen in the Aleine guest seats. Goodness, I came to see Prince Marius and ended up witnessing all sorts of spectacles. Speaking of which, where is Prince Marius?
“Glen, are you alright?”
“Yes, yes. I’m calming down now.”
“Have you seen Prince Marius anywhere?”
“….”
Why is he preparing another Crown Prince Smile? Was that technique something that could be used repeatedly even after being broken?

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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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