Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 212

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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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With Lucilucil finally moving aside, I managed to get up and continued my evening meal while discussing accommodations for Leon and Jack Brown with the others.The Emperor had granted me the highest authority within the Internal Affairs Bureau, which had naturally sparked discontent among the concubines. But by orchestrating this spectacle today—scolding me and imposing a confinement—he would give them the satisfaction they craved.Remarkably efficient. Not a single coin spent to appease the concubines’ grievances. It seemed the Emperor’s experience ruling for years had honed his political acumen to an extraordinary degree.”Since I assisted His Majesty today, he’ll surely grant me a knighthood and a position as commander of the Imperial Guard without hesitation. Go and claim them.””How did I end up with such a woman…””If you find it distasteful, you may withdraw. I shall simply return to being an ordinary Duke’s heir.””Distasteful or not, what choice do I have? I’ve already made the promise.””Then if you dislike it, let’s call it off?”Why do you only drink? Answer me, will you.I pressed him further, but Lucilucil merely sighed and continued drinking. Leon sighed and drank as well, and since everyone was drinking, I found myself compelled to join them. Truly. It wasn’t that I desperately wanted to drink—it was simply that the atmosphere demanded it, and I had no choice but to yield to circumstance.Having consumed what could no longer be distinguished as dinner or appetizers, the three of us held hands, sang songs, and rode a carriage back to the Crown Prince’s Palace. All three of us were thoroughly intoxicated, so with the Maidservants’ assistance, we barely managed to bathe, change into our nightclothes, and prepare for bed. Then Lucilucil, without a shred of hesitation, followed me into my chamber.”Lucilucil. Are you sleeping with me again?””Why? Do you object?””No, well… not exactly an objection.”I sleep better when someone’s beside me. Lucilucil has no particular sleeping habits to speak of, so it’s not a problem.I told him to do as he pleased and climbed into bed. Lucilucil promptly nestled against my side, while Leon, lying on the floor, fell asleep the moment his head touched the pillow.And Jack Brown, who appeared to have relieved considerable stress through some activity in the Basement and wore a rather satisfied expression, shot me a glare and frowned.”Please keep your distance. It’s hot.””I’m hot too.””That’s exactly why you should move away.”Was this man drunk? He wasn’t listening to a word I said.Lucilucil brazenly claimed my arm as a pillow, then began caressing my waist with wandering hands, attempting to slide upward. I swatted the back of his hand repeatedly in reprimand, but the scoundrel merely stifled his laughter and refused to stop.With children present, his behavior was utterly shameless. I pressed my heel firmly against his shin, and the rustling of the blankets grew so loud that Jack Brown, who had been trying to sleep, sat up.”Damn it! Seriously?!”At Jack’s sharp rebuke, Lucilucil froze. The man’s intoxication seemed to lift somewhat as he quickly straightened himself and cleared his throat awkwardly.”When you pretend not to notice, there’s nothing he won’t do.”Jack was furious. The boy huffed indignantly and pulled the blanket over his head, while Lucilucil, embarrassed, squeezed his eyes shut and made an effort to sleep. At least the man had enough shame to recognize his impropriety.I apologized to Jack on Lucilucil’s behalf and, after adjusting my pillow, fell asleep.When I woke, the arm I had lent to Lucilucil had gone completely numb.
Because the Emperor gave me the highest authority in the Internal Affairs Bureau, discontent must have erupted among the concubines, but if he puts on a show like this today, yells at me, and punishes me with confinement, the concubines would secretly be delighted.
It’s extremely efficient. I didn’t spend a single coin soothing the concubines’ hearts, did I? Anyway, since the Emperor hasn’t just been doing this for a day or two, his skills are nothing ordinary.
“Since I helped the Emperor today, he will gladly grant me a knighthood and the position of Imperial Guard Commander. Just go and obtain them.”
“How did I end up with a woman like this…”
“If you wish to withdraw, you may do so. I will simply return to being an ordinary Duke’s heir.”
“What choice do I have? I’ve already made the promise.”
“Well, if you don’t like it, why don’t we just quit?”
Hey, why are you just drinking? Answer me.
I kept pressing the issue, but Lucilucil just sighed and kept drinking. Leon sighed and drank too, and since everyone was drinking, I had no choice but to drink along with them. Seriously. It wasn’t that I wanted to drink—it’s just that since everyone else was doing it, the atmosphere was what it was, and I was forced to drink whether I liked it or not.
We ate our fill of food—whether it was already dinner or just snacks, we couldn’t tell—and all holding hands, singing songs, we rode back to the Crown Prince’s Palace in the carriage. The three of us were all tipsy, so with the help of the Maidservants we barely managed to wash up, change into our nightclothes, and finish preparing for bed, when Lucilucil casually followed me into the room.
“Lucilucil. Are you sleeping with me again?”
“Why. Do you have a complaint?”
“No, well, I wouldn’t say I’m dissatisfied.”
When there’s someone next to me, I fall asleep easily. Lucilucil doesn’t have any particular sleep habits, so it doesn’t really matter.
I spat out “I’ll handle it myself” and climbed into bed, where Lucilucil whimpered and curled up beside me, while Leon, lying on the floor, fell asleep the moment his head touched the pillow.
And Mr. Jack Brown, who seemed quite relieved, as if he had relieved his stress through some kind of activity in the basement, glanced at me and frowned.
“Please step back a bit. It’s hot.”
“I’m hot too.”
“So just back off.”
Is this guy drunk or something? He’s not listening to a word I’m saying.
Lucilucil arbitrarily took my arm and used it as a pillow, then while fidgeting with his hand, he started toying with my waist and tried to gradually move his hand upward, so I swatted the back of his hand to scold him, but the bastard just stifled his laughter and wouldn’t stop.
The kids were there too, and being so reckless, they kept stomping on my shins with their feet. The rustling sound of the blankets must have been loud enough that Mr. Jack Brown, who had been lying down to sleep, sat up.
“Ugh, seriously! That’s so annoying!”
Jack shouted angrily, and Lucilucil stopped. Then the man seemed to sober up a bit, quickly straightened his posture, and cleared his throat with a few fake coughs.
“Since you’re pretending not to know, there’s nothing you won’t do.”
Jack was angry. When the child huffed and pulled the blanket over his head, Lucilucil closed his eyes tight and tried to sleep, apparently embarrassed. At least this guy knows enough to feel ashamed.
I apologized to Jack instead and fluffed the pillow before falling asleep.
When I woke up, my arm that I had given to Lucilucil was extremely numb.

◇ ◆ ◇

As expected, I received a confinement order and spent a period of self-reflection in the Crown Prince’s Palace. Jack received the knighthood he’d always dreamed of, and Leon somehow managed to secure the position of Honorary Commander of the Imperial Guard.
Asterion strutted about the Imperial Guard with my prestige at his back, became the subject of vicious gossip—the most clichéd kind—and even received a duel challenge.
Of course, Leon won overwhelmingly. He didn’t even use his aura, yet his opponent suffered injuries severe enough to require a priest’s intervention. We had established our presence within two days of entering the palace, and bribes came in an endless procession daily.
These weren’t directed at Lucilucil—they were all gifts sent to curry favor with Leon and me. I sent back everything edible, conducted mana detection to filter out anything suspicious, and punished those who sent them. My reputation and notoriety spread simultaneously throughout the Imperial Palace.
I was treated with extraordinary reverence in the Imperial Palace. The Emperor and I were like two peas in a pod. The concubines of the Concubine Palace bowed their heads to me, and nobles waited prostrate before the Crown Prince’s Palace gates just to catch a glimpse of my face.
My life was on the straight and narrow path to success. Now I just needed to hold the wedding ceremony and the game would be over. If I bore the Emperor’s grandson and became the Empress Dowager, I’d leave my name in world history. Lucilucil seemed like the type to die young anyway, so I should prepare for a regency in advance.
I hummed a little tune as I flipped through catalogs of ceremonial robes for the wedding. My authority was so immense that designs arrived in life-size form, and I had to have them spread out in the Crown Prince’s Palace Garden and brought to me one by one.
Recently, when I mentioned to the Emperor that I was short on attendants, an enormous number of people arrived. As a result, I experienced a form of command I’d never encountered before in my life.
First, since someone as noble as me couldn’t have my feet touch the ground, a bed-shaped palanquin was provided, complete with bearers. And since someone as exalted as me couldn’t have harsh sunlight directly touch my skin, a dedicated attendant was assigned to hold an umbrella, a maidservant was assigned to fan me, and another was assigned to feed me fruit whenever my mouth grew bored.
Ah, I was so happy. So comfortable. I was so pampered I couldn’t keep my wits about me. With a single finger’s gesture, a maidservant brought the next design to show me the wedding robe. When I opened my mouth, a maidservant plucked a grape and popped it in.
“This dress is beautiful, but I wonder if it can truly support my beauty.”
“A most wise observation, Your Highness. Bring the next one.”
Hahahaha, “Your Highness” this and “Your Highness” that! I’ve heard it all now, Rosalite Rocksburg is dying of laughter!
I burst into laughter, clutching my belly, and the attendants around me grew concerned for my wellbeing and called for a priest. I waved them off, saying nothing was wrong, and they retreated. Jack Brown, dressed in fine clothes befitting his new status, approached me.
“Young Lady. Everything is wonderful, but haven’t you forgotten our original purpose?”
“Huh? Original purpose?”
“Wow… this is driving me crazy.”
I propped my head up with my arm and lay on my side, accepting another grape. I mumbled and beckoned Jack closer, and he whispered in my ear.
“Celin. Have you forgotten about the Masked Woman?”
“Oh no!”
That’s right! We came here to catch Celin! Wait, how many days have we been at Lucilucil’s place? And these people still have no news?!
“Hey! How long have we been here?!”
“Well… about a week, I’d say.”
“What are these people even doing?!”
“I’d like to know that myself.”
Fair point!
I was exasperated that the Celine Subjugation Team had sent no word, but thinking that success or failure hadn’t been determined yet, I obediently lay back down.
“Well… they’ll show up when the time comes.”
“You’re quite carefree. At this rate, you’ll end up marrying Lucilucil.”
So what if I do marry him? If I marry, I marry—what’s the difference? When I mentioned it the other day, Lucilucil said he’d bring all my family members and take responsibility for them. He even said Glen was acceptable. The work is lighter than when I was in Aleine, my body is more comfortable. Being Crown Princess is the best.
“Jack Brown.”
“Yes.”
“You know what…”
“Yes.”
“I think imperial life suits my temperament.”
“How annoying.”
Hey, what kind of manner of speech is that to your master? I was scolding the grumbling Jack when the Crown Prince arrived at the main gate. This man kept coming and going—bringing his entourage to work, returning for lunch, returning for tea, returning for dinner. He came and went at all hours, and even after the Emperor pointed out his excessive absence, he kept sneaking back in.
I didn’t even bother to greet him. I just lay there watching Lucilucil approach, and the man pouted with a dissatisfied expression.
“You’ve truly become a member of the Imperial Palace. It’s like watching my mother.”
“You’ve become quite the Imperial Palace person. It’s like seeing Mother as she was in life.”
“Aren’t you being rather harsh with your words?”
“Harsh? My mother was the Emperor’s favored concubine.”
“Don’t say such cutting things. I have no intention of letting you go.”
When I pulled the man who had bent his waist to meet my gaze closer and rubbed my cheek against his, Lucilucil flinched. This mother complex of his was truly something. Even though she was already gone, the moment her name was mentioned, he swayed like a reed in the wind.
“Of course. Did you really think I would let you go so easily from the start?”
Though that remained to be seen.
When I simply smiled without answering, the man’s face turned sullen as if his pride had been wounded somewhere. When I kissed him to soothe his mood, he readily parted his lips, and Jack let out a series of heavy sighs, covering his own eyes with his hand.
We’d been together for just a week, and I’d seen this more than once or twice, yet he remained remarkably consistent.
“Why does he keep covering his eyes?”
“He says the sight is unbearable.”
“He’ll see far worse soon enough.”
“That’s a matter for later, isn’t it?”
This man with his paranoia had postponed even the wedding until after the war ended, yet he boasted so freely.
Thinking I should call a maidservant to offer him refreshments before sending him off, I noticed something dark gathering like storm clouds approaching from far away.
Strangely enough, I could hear the sound of things being destroyed, and that nostalgic crackling of electricity. I descended from the palanquin and stretched my neck to gaze toward that direction, and even from this distance, I could see a massive form kicking up dust as it approached at tremendous speed. It was Peter Brown.
“Daughter! Daughterrrrr!”
Moreover, it appeared that Sage was riding atop Peter. At Papa’s voice crying out whether I was safe, I raised my own voice in joy.
“Papaaaa!”
Ah, so something has been resolved after all! Though the chain around my neck remained, it seemed that Papa had come looking for me since the main business had been settled to some degree.
I did my utmost to signal that I was at the Crown Prince’s Palace and moved to greet Sage. A person of my noble standing should not normally set foot on the ground, but from this moment forward, I had become somewhat less noble, so I had no choice but to run on my own feet.
“Wait.”
But Lucilucil gripped my wrist firmly and would not let go. His voice seemed tinged with anger, and I wondered if he was upset, but his expression revealed no clear signs of rage.
Rather… he seemed desperate.
“Where are you going? I haven’t given you permission to leave.”
What was this man saying? He was joking entirely. When had I ever been someone who came when called and left when dismissed? Though Lucilucil did have status and justification, so I had been relatively inclined to follow his wishes. His misunderstanding was so severe that I could only laugh.
I confirmed Sage’s position once more, then smiled silently at the man. Papa must have heard my voice, for he was now heading in the correct direction toward the Crown Prince’s Palace.
“I have received much kindness from you, Prince Lucius.”
Thanks to you, my time in the Imperial Palace has been nothing short of delightful.
As I offered my final farewell, the man’s desperate expression crumbled.

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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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