Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 192

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

Since it seemed I no longer needed to step forward, I approached Father and reported what had just transpired. Given how much he’d insisted on communication, he’d surely sulk if I withheld information. Besides, my circumstances were already largely exposed, so concealing new details would be pointless. It was better to share everything and find solutions together.
“Rosie! Rosie! Goodness! You’ve grown so much! Rosie, it’s Mother! Look at me!”
She was terribly loud. When I was ignorant of the facts, I’d simply cowered and treated her with reverence, but now that I understood what suffering this body had endured because of her during childhood, I felt no need to honor her. Most importantly, I’d grasped how to handle her by observing Father.
“I greet you, Duchess of Rocksburg.”
As I bowed respectfully, Mother’s eyes immediately glistened with tears.
“No! Call me Mother! Eddie! Eddie taught Rosie something strange! What should I do! Just recently she was so adorable calling me Mother, Mother!”
“Please be quiet, Duchess of Rocksburg. I intend to have an important conversation with the Duke now.”
“That’s right, Duchess of Rocksburg. Hold your tongue and get to work.”
“Father!”
Mother shrieked and hoisted the massive stone block that had once been a staircase, urging Leon to hurry. When she insisted they clear it quickly so she could see Father and me, Leon surprisingly answered, “Yes, Mother!” and Mother threw the stone, attempted to quarrel with Leon, then was scolded by Father.
Leon, you truly are… unshakeable no matter what adversity you face. I should learn from you. I never thought there would come a day when I’d think his qualities were genuinely admirable and worth emulating.
“So. What’s this important matter?”
“Ah, yes.”
I concisely reported what Lam and Peter had discovered regarding the dormant Excalibur, the reboot situation, and my conjecture that the replacement battery apparently becomes fuel for regression magic upon death.
After listening to my entire explanation, Father nodded thoughtfully for a long moment, then extended his hand toward me.
“Yes, you’ve done excellently.”
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
It hurts! It hurts so much! My ears hurt! No more ear massage! No pain! No pain! Make the pain stop!
Bound by rope and unable to resist effectively, I had no choice but to twist my body away from Father and roll across the ground. It ached terribly. I was rolling frantically across the floor, but the pain wouldn’t subside.
“Please calm yourself, Rosalite!”
Glen, save me!
At my cry, Jack lifted me up and Glen rubbed my ears soothingly.
“Are you alright? Shall I rub them more?”
“Yes, do it more. I’m in terrible pain.”
As I whined and Glen rubbed more vigorously, even blowing gently to soothe me, Mother apparently felt so wronged that she let out a piercing wail.
“What are you doing! Who do you think you are, clinging to Rosie like that! I want to be affectionate with Eddie too! It’s so unfair! Why am I the only one working! Make that little brat do it! Tell me where this freeloader even came from!”
Mother, why would you wound Leon like that? Even if Leon’s heart has grown steel-strong this cycle, that remark would surely hurt… yet he wasn’t hurt at all. He’s working away cheerfully.
But Father seemed bothered, so he picked up a stone fragment at his feet and hurled it at Mother with all his strength.
“He’s not a freeloader—he’s my son! How many times must I say it!”
Well done, Father! You’re always right! I can’t just sit idle then. Let me add my support.
“That’s correct. Leon is my brother. Unlike certain others, I’ve lived with him for more than half my life.”
“That’s strange. All the Rocksburgs are strange.”
“I love you, Sister! I was moved to tears! Not just half a lifetime, but I shall dedicate my entire future to you!”
“He’s strange too.”
If you found us all so strange, you shouldn’t have married into Rocksburg in the first place.
As I clicked my tongue, Father handed me a whip and instructed me to crack it sharply if anyone grew lazy. He said he would leave this place to me and prepare a status report on everything that had happened so far—something even Maria could understand—but…
I naturally agreed. Truth be told, I’d been wanting to try this.
I watched Father and William return to the Office, then spun around and cracked the whip. Even bound as I was, I could manage a whip strike if I rotated my entire body.
How thrilling. The crack-crack sound was absolutely delightful.
“Slack off and I won’t feed you!”
I’d been wanting to say that! How exhilarating!
As I spun on my legs as an axis, cracking the whip, Mother grumbled but diligently hauled stones. Starting tomorrow, Mother and Leon would begin the marble work again. With Mother helping, progress would be faster than before, but honestly, our Mansion’s Entrance Hall never seemed to catch a break.
“So, Rosie. Who’s that man glued to your side? Did you adopt a new brother while I was away?”
Excuse me, how in any way does this man look like my brother to you?
As I cleared my throat awkwardly, Glen stepped forward with quick wit and introduced himself.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Duchess. I am… I am… the person who regards Rosalite as my wife… or rather, contractually speaking…”
What, at this point, what’s all this talk about contracts? If he’s my husband, he’s simply my husband. Surely you’re not planning to break the contract soon? How much time is left on the auto-renewal?
“What! Rosie got married?! What nonsense! A baby like you getting married—what kind of marriage is that! Are you in your right mind?!”
“If I mention she also has a son, you might faint.”
“Heeeeek!”
Mother clutched the back of her neck. As the Duchess feigned collapse from shock, the silver-haired, dark-eyed handsome man Asterion, showing no sign of backing down, cried out “Mother!” and tried to support her, but Mother shook off Leon’s hand as if disgusted.
Leon seemed entirely unbothered by such clear rejection. Truly unshakeable, Leon. I’d always thought that only swaying like reeds and zelkova trees in life’s storms was the truth, but perhaps such steadfast and upright determination was also a splendid way to live.
Going so straight without wavering even drew my admiration. Was that child really the same person who chose death over a man’s touch? My admiration had turned to amazement. If my hands were free, I would have applauded.
“Hey! Hey, get away! Won’t you get away?! You look like some Cerepia deer with that face!”
A Cerepia deer—that would be the white-rumped deer you could see near Noctram in our country. Hmm… he does resemble one. The stubborn way Mother trembles in fear yet clings to me without letting go is similar too. Because of that creature’s appetite, it’s designated as a pest in Cerepia, eating all the crops in human settlements even unto death.
“The Duchess has been away from the Mansion for so long that she doesn’t understand how things work here. Please be understanding.”
“Yes, yes. I’m quite all right.”
“Now, don’t be nervous. No matter what anyone says, you’re my husband. You should carry yourself with confidence.”
This fellow seems quite frightened. He suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace. But since his trembling stopped, I relaxed—only for Father, who’d gone to write an explanation, to return and brief Mother on everything that had happened.
In the meantime, William Brown had positioned himself in Father’s blind spot and was making all sorts of provocations at Mother—raising his middle finger and making strange faces—though there was no need to mention it.
“What! Our Rosie wandered alone for sixty-some years without my knowing! And after barely catching that mad woman recently, she released her with her own hands, then got swindled by a contract renewal and became a backup battery?!”
You truly are Serena’s loyal hound. How can your reactions be so consistently the same?
“That blasted Serena! Still soft on her crazy descendant!”
Ah. So Mother knew about it too. If I’d known beforehand, I wouldn’t have had Celin present while Serena was there.
I thought she genuinely hated her, the way she kept saying she’d kill her at drinking gatherings. I never imagined it was just an elderly sentiment, that false “I should die soon” feeling.
Anyway, it’s raining. Why does it always drizzle whenever Mother comes? I heard something pattering against the window, so I checked outside and saw quite heavy rain falling.
Having seen something ghost-like earlier, the atmosphere felt desolate. The broken stone rubble seemed roughly cleared, so I suggested we wash Mother and disperse for the day—when Father said something unexpected.
“Very well. Once everyone is properly prepared, gather in Rosalite and Glen’s Marital Bedroom.”
“Heeeeek! The Marital Bedroom?!”
“Is that all right with you, Mother!”
“Don’t call me Mother—it’s creepy!”
Excuse me, ignoring that local broadcast over there, what did you just say, Father? Gather? In the Marital Bedroom? If it’s Rosalite and Glen’s Marital Bedroom, isn’t that my room?
“Excuse me, Duke. Why are we gathering in my room?”
“Obviously. You might try to take your own life again. We all need to keep watch.”
No, listen, even so, we have privacy. Why are you all coming to the Marital Bedroom! It’s the Marital Bedroom! What if we… you know… do that? I was actually planning to do it tonight! If you ruin the mood, you’re taking responsibility?!
“I agree, Duke.”
Glen, you shouldn’t agree! There’s a chance we could have a rendezvous tonight with the mood being good! Look! I’m bound! Don’t you know about bondage play? Everyone loves bondage play, you fool!
I let out an exasperated cry of “Enough! Enough!” and Glen staggered backward, blood rushing to his head, while Father hurried over and massaged my ears.
Father nagged me to watch my mouth, and just then a desolate chill intensified from somewhere, followed by the sound of stone crumbling.
“What? Rosie is trying to throw her life away?”
Mother muttered ominously and plunged her hand into the pile of rubble. Not only that—she was crushing marble into powder with nothing but the grip of her bare hand. Terrifying. It was a frightening display of strength. Was this what Uncle Diamond had meant when he spoke of gorilla-like power?
“Where did Serena and that mad woman go? Just tell me the direction.”
You just arrived home—and now you’re leaving again!
Mother was radiating such murderous intent that she looked ready to tear those two apart on the spot, so no one dared step forward. Most tellingly, Leon, who stood closest to her, was completely terrified and was already pointing toward Bienar Harbor.
If I let her go like this, something terrible would happen. I had that premonition, but my feet wouldn’t move, when suddenly someone burst through the entrance hall doors.
The man who threw the door open with such force it nearly shattered was drenched in rain, his wet crimson hair tied carelessly, and he held a strange scrap of paper in his hand.
“Mother! I have news!”
Oh my—my Luke just called me Mother of his own volition! Wasn’t this the first time since the day he said he was going to see Marius? My heart swelled with emotion and I felt tears welling up, but Luke thrust the paper forward like a credential and cried out again.
“If you do not reflect on your actions, I will refuse to eat starting today!”
What kind of thunderbolt is this? Refusing to eat?!

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