Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 195
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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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And so time flowed onward until the afternoon of the banquet itself. I endured Violet’s ministrations as she adorned my hair with cubic zirconia and topaz, styled it into an updo, teased the front into volume, and finally secured a tiara comb—only then was I finally released.
Since I would need to dance, I’d prioritized practicality for my dress and shoes, which only intensified the servants’ fervor in arranging my hair. My head felt impossibly heavy. Between the teasing, extensions, and ornaments, surely it all weighed ten kilograms.
At this rate, I’d break my neck attempting an aerial turn. When I voiced my complaint, Violet and the other grooming specialists unanimously insisted I refrain from such acrobatics at the banquet.
But if I don’t do aerial turns, what’s the point of dancing?
“Sister!”
Ah, there he was at last!
I’d anticipated Leon would charge at me with a body tackle and braced myself accordingly, but the boy surprised me by seizing my waist and hoisting me aloft, spinning me in circles.
“You’re beautiful!”
No, no, no—my neck’s going to snap, my neck, it’s going to snap!
The boy had grown so much that he tossed me about like an object. I scolded Jack Brown, standing beside Leon, to restrain the child, whereupon Jack immediately hurled a punch at Leon.
Leon set me down gently and dodged Jack’s strike, then crouched and rose, driving his palm upward into Jack’s armpit. Jack swung his arm to minimize the impact, planted his opposite arm on the ground as a pivot, and hooked his leg around Leon’s neck.
He twisted his body once before locking his leg, and the recoil alone from returning to position snapped Leon’s neck around sharply. The technique looked lethal—my skin crawled—but Leon simply rotated his entire body in the direction Jack was twisting, as though responding to Capo’s instructions, and neutralized the move.
“Tsk!”
“Ugh!”
Don’t you two regret that. Be grateful no one got hurt—why do you both look disappointed you couldn’t break each other’s necks?
“Please don’t fight….”
“We weren’t fighting, sir.”
“We’ve never fought, Sister!”
Fine…, if that’s what you say, then that’s what it was…. I have no idea. Look, fight if you must—I don’t care anymore—just don’t get injured.
“….”
Come to think of it, isn’t this something Father says all the time? I see…, spend enough time around the Browns, and their words become your own.
“More importantly, the commission you requested is complete!”
Oh…. He actually made it?
The chain between the shackles was too short for dancing, so I’d demanded either that it be lengthened or the restraints removed. Jack had promised to extend it.
Since it was a banquet and I’d insisted the chain be rose gold and glimmering beautifully, I hadn’t expected him to actually deliver in a single day…. This boy’s craftsmanship is impressive…. Blast it.
“Rosie!”
Goodness! Enemy spotted ahead!
I’d been making rounds to ensure the children were ready and preparations for receiving guests were complete when my mother appeared before me, dressed in terrifying finery.
Where on earth did she procure such a beautiful dress overnight? Fashion cycles endlessly, so she’d likely altered something from her past wardrobe…. But the condition is impeccable! What is that platinum ornament—it’s absolutely stunning! Why didn’t anyone give me something like that?
“Leon! Jack! Formation breakthrough!”
“Yes, Sister!”
“Yes, Young Lady!”
In any case, I couldn’t afford to be caught now. I issued my usual orders to Leon and Jack and limbered up. A breakthrough formation is simple enough—take the lead and charge forward, dragging everyone along.
While I prepared, Leon and Jack fearlessly engaged my mother. Unlike before, she now recognized them as worthy opponents and refrained from lethal techniques, trading blows with them. When she saw an opening, she pushed both their chests with her palms.
To my eyes, it was merely a simple push, yet the children tumbled backward considerably. Such raw, brutal strength. How could a human body generate such power?
“Sister! Now’s the moment!”
“Let’s go!”
With Leon cupping his hands to form a stepping stone, I stepped on his palms and bounded upward, then used Jack’s shoulders as my next platform before launching myself to grasp Mother’s shoulders. As I spun through the air and landed, cubic zirconia and topaz tumbled from my hair—but apologizing to Violet could wait.
When I tried to wrap the chain of the shackles around Mother’s neck and pull, she mistook my attempt for a simple chokehold and grabbed the chain, trying to force it open with brute strength. Of course, she was sorely mistaken if she thought I’d resort to such one-dimensional tactics.
“Object designation! Attack formula! Release!”
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
Gold’s electrical conductivity is 71.8! Rose gold is even a copper alloy! True, the shackles had no safety mechanism for me, so I shrieked just as loudly as Mother did—but there was one crucial difference between us.
I had allies!
“Leon, Jack, run! Let’s go, quickly!”
“Yes, Young Lady!”
“Yes, Sister!”
Finally, I could move about with peace of mind. Behind us, Violet was furious about the hair ornaments, and Mother was wailing that Rosie wouldn’t play with her—but honestly, that wasn’t my concern. I had a party to attend.
It had been so long since so many people gathered in one place, and I could dance to my heart’s content. Today was party time from afternoon through the night and into the dawn of a new sun.
If my affiliation were with that certain company, I’d be singing right now. Something like, “Tonight’s the first dance party in a year—should I go for the blues or the cha-cha-cha?” I’d do them all anyway.
“One! Two! Cha-cha-cha!”
To pass the time on the way, I pulled Leon’s hand and danced the cha-cha-cha down the corridor toward the Dance Hall. Nothing beats the cha-cha-cha for straight-line travel. My steps flew forward, swift and light.
I was already greeting the invited guests filling the Banquet Hall as I danced through the corridor. Along the way, I spotted a small pink-haired child who seemed out of place at a dance party, and worried they might have lost their parents, I struck up a conversation—only to discover that this little one was actually the Fourth Prince from across the sea.
He was still here at our house?
I let out a genuine cry of surprise, and this pink-haired brat came after me, threatening to kill me. I scrambled onto Leon’s back and fled.
A party, a party! As the sun set, the dancing truly began!
I’d sent out three hundred formal invitations alone. With partners, accompanying families, and distant relatives who showed up without invitations, our house was now teeming with roughly a thousand people enjoying themselves in a festival of revelry.
We’d opened half the Main Building excluding the work areas, and the Dance Hall and Garden sparkled with lights, the Carriage Parking Lot was packed, servants bustled about, and food and drink flowed endlessly.
This was no longer a mere party—it was a festival. Looking back over the past few decades, even the Royal Palace had never held a gathering of this scale.
It was certainly a joyous occasion, with the Duchess of Rocksburg returning home after twenty years, but I’d wondered if it was wise to gather so many people during wartime and celebrate so lavishly. Yet the people’s sentiment had actually stabilized. It seemed the common folk’s judgment was that if Rocksburg was throwing such a grand celebration, the nation wasn’t in mortal danger.
After all, Rocksburg would be the first to flee with their wealth if the nation fell. As long as they’re sitting put, merrily celebrating, it’s actually reassuring. They’re treated as a sort of totem—as long as they don’t leave the country, things should be fine.
“Rosalite-sama!”
Oh my, who’s this? It’s Janet! I’d thought she wouldn’t be able to return after being taken away by Dorothy, but here she is so soon.
Wondering if she wanted to dance with me again, I gently patted the young lady who’d rushed over in trousers and asked how she’d been. Janet answered that she’d had to offer ten good-child stickers just to attend this gathering.
Hmm… well. I’m terribly curious what good-child stickers are, but I’ll refrain from asking.
“Rosalite-sama, have you begun your first dance yet? If not, may I have the honor?”
“Oh no. The guest of honor hasn’t started yet—how could I go first? Besides, I need to respect the order. Isn’t Glen supposed to be first?”
“Then I’ll take the second dance!”
“That’s already promised. Leon was quick to claim it.”
“What about the third?”
“Oh dear, it turns out the Bienar Young Duke is attending as well.”
“…What about the fourth?”
“Well… I already asked Luke first, so I can’t back out now…”
“What about the fifth?”
“You’re really persistent, aren’t you.”
“What about the fifth?”
“The Duke of Rocksburg.”
“And the sixth?”
“The Duchess of Rocksburg.”
“And the seventh!”
“That’s right! The seventh has no prior engagement!”
“I’m delighted! Lucky seven!”
Yes, I’m glad you’re pleased about it.
I introduced Janet to the younger ladies from our cadet branch and resumed my patrol of the Banquet Hall. That pink-haired little thing was searching for our Aster with such intensity, but Aster had vanished without a trace since this morning.
The moment I woke up, she whispered that she’d hide and watch over me so that pink-haired girl wouldn’t discover her, then disappeared without a sound. Just how many talents was this child concealing? I thought she had no aptitude for anything, yet she could hide without making a sound and move without a trace? William would covet such skills.
“Jack Brown.”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
“Do you know where Aster is hiding?”
“It’s infuriating to admit, but I’m afraid I don’t know either.”
What on earth was Aster doing? Judging by how the portions of food at the banquet kept mysteriously dwindling, she was definitely somewhere here, but…
“Hey!”
Oh, that sharp tone—wasn’t that Four Spans? I’d better hurry over before she starts complaining like an old curmudgeon.
I’d expected her to come out of boredom if she hadn’t been drinking, but I never imagined she’d arrive dressed so elaborately with an escort in tow…
The closer I approached Four Spans, the more my eyes were drawn to John. Who was this strikingly handsome man? Of all the John Browns I’d ever seen in my life, this was by far the most beautiful.
“You, John Brown.”
“Yes?”
“Why are you ignoring me?”
“Why did you dress up like this? What’s in your hair? Did you use something on it? Did you get your hair styled?”
“Well, that is…”
“Yikes! Rosalite Rocksburg! Aren’t you listening to me?!”
“And this outfit—I’ve never seen you wear formal robes like this before. Did you have it tailored?”
“No, it’s not that… It’s just a dress I wore once at the appointment ceremony and haven’t worn since…”
“You stubborn thing, you never greet me first!”
Ugh!
My shin! That pint-sized brat kicked my shin again!
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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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