Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 230

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

Admittedly, with Nerva’s distant relation, I would receive a considerably lower rank, but the difference between having something and having nothing is still substantial. I would grant the child a countship upon reaching adulthood, and as for the power—once it transfers to Largol, I can reclaim it gradually.
When we clashed with the Pope at the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Guard never fell for my honeyed words. The support that the Imperial Guard and Largol’s soldiers held for Lucilucil was genuine. It would endure. With merely the name of being Lucilucil’s child, military personnel would turn their allegiance.
“Ha ha, ha ha ha!”
This man was laughing at last. He lifted me up with a spin, then chided me for losing so much weight and told me to eat more.
“When will I give birth?”
“Seven months remain. And my belly is not some reservation-based hotel—your words are quite rude.”
I kicked Lucilucil’s shin hard, and though he yelped, he grinned widely. Then he said something absolutely horrifying without hesitation.
“I suspected as much—that bastard Nerva stopped sending even the High Priest last month and supported the whole thing. He must have realized the child’s situation midway. Ha ha, serves him right!”
What? That’s terrifying! You mean he branded it with heated metal? Didn’t it leave a scar? Secondary infection? As I grew concerned and began undressing him to check, he answered that he’d received full treatment before being sent to Alein, so it was fine.
“It was worth enduring. It was fortunate you didn’t die in exile.”
“Why would Lucilucil die? I must see the child and the grandchildren too.”
And in that process, shouldn’t I also inscribe my name into the Largol Imperial lineage? Once our child ascends to the throne, I would simply erase that bastard Nerva’s name and etch Lucilucil’s name in the position of the Former Emperor.
“I don’t covet the Empress’s seat, but I should try sitting in the Empress Dowager’s seat. Once I hold that position, I won’t have to work, will I?”
“If you didn’t want to work, you could have just played around even as Empress.”
“If I’m not going to work, why become Empress!”
A person must have a sense of responsibility—responsibility! Why would someone who doesn’t want to work become Empress! You should step down immediately! As I burst out loudly, Lucilucil told me to calm down and held me while laughing heartily again.
“I see. So that’s what you meant by the gift you prepared.”
“Be grateful you married well. Without me, who would look after a Lucilucil without the Crown Prince title or any of its attributes?”
“But you said I had excessive attributes even without the Crown Prince position?”
That’s true. You’re cutest when you say irritating things like that. As I said so, Lucilucil, who had been kissing me repeatedly, bit my neck hard again. Was this man a dog in his past life—why does he keep biting!
“That medicinal tea also strengthens the digestive system, so some food will go down. Let’s have lunch together for the first time in a while.”
What on earth was that tea made from? Even a primitive imperial court has things to learn. That tea must have been developed and refined for the wellbeing of imperial heirs. In Largol, imperial family members are like superior beings above ordinary people.
I entrusted the lunch menu to Lien and Camille, then went to fetch Glen. Thinking we would all eat together, I brought Glen to Lucilucil’s table, and the man complained that I hadn’t even called Gazelle.
As he adjusted his posture and moved his chair, Glen’s expression turned quite unpleasant and he reached for his cane. When Glen slid his cane beneath the tablecloth, Lucilucil’s expression also became quite fierce.
“It seems Gazelle has forgotten how to be human these days.”
“The seat appears uncomfortable for you. If you have nowhere to put your legs, the chairs over in the Main Hall Dining Room are quite large.”
“Ha ha ha ha, ungrateful despite being saved.”
“That’s what I should say. Don’t come crying to me for my protection later.”
“Is that a threat?”
“No. You’ll understand once you experience what Leon does.”
Sigh, I know you two get along well, so stop kicking under the table. I watched the tablecloth moving and tapped both their thighs.
Since my nausea had disappeared, I was enjoying the sunshine and the gentle breeze for the first time in a while when Lucilucil’s attendants brought out the food. It had the distinctive aroma of Largol spices, but strangely my appetite returned. It was just the right amount of stimulation, I’d say.
Since it was thin food that required little chewing, I emptied one bowl quickly and ordered them to bring more.
Glen seemed to be eating well too, and it would have been disastrous without Lucilucil. As I praised him sincerely and took his hand, Glen flashed a Crown Prince smile. I felt like I might choke.

◇ ◆ ◇

Thanks to Lucilucil passing all of the Imperial Palace’s secret recipes to the sous chef, Glen and I grew heavier with each passing day, and the Duke’s Mansion’s operations returned to normal.
It was peaceful, uneventful days. With Mother and Brown returning to work, my workload decreased significantly, and I even found myself with leisure time to enjoy my hobbies and listen to Glen’s complaints.
Of course, Aster still seemed traumatized by those three months in Largol and refused to leave my side all day, so I ended up sleeping in the marital bed with Aster squeezed in between Glen and me every night, and Lucilucil kept screaming and throwing fits whenever bored, complaining that all the Rocksburg soldiers were blockheads, but we managed to endure it somehow.
I felt a bit of wounded pride wondering if our soldiers were really that incompetent, but if Lucilucil—who once commanded the entire Largol Military—said so, then it must be true. Father and I are completely ignorant in military matters, so what would we know anyway?
The former top commander of the Largol Military toured our Private Soldier Training Ground and the Public Security Bureau, then threw a fit saying the soldiers’ discipline wasn’t properly established…. I just accepted it as the way things were….
“Rosalite!”
My goodness, who is this? Isn’t this our eldest son, Luke Rocksberg?
Someone came thundering through the door, and I thought Lucilucil had come to throw another fit, but when the door opened, a welcome face appeared. Luke, who hadn’t visited the Mansion in quite some time, handed Glen and me a bouquet of flowers and placed a three-dimensional chess board prototype on the guest table with a loud thunk.
“What is that! What on earth is that!”
“Huh? A three-dimensional chess board?”
“No! That song!”
Ah, that. I stroked my chin as something came to mind, and Jack Brown, who had been standing behind Aster as he clung to my side muttering to himself, stepped forward knowingly.
“Oh, you mean that song? The one that’s been trending lately. I quite like it.”
Karl and Quill, being sensitive to trends, already knew about it, but it had even reached Jack’s ears? It must have really caught on. All the effort I put into spreading it by treating the Rocksburg Territory children to delicious food paid off.
“What were you thinking! Are you insane! Yes! Rosalite is insane!”
Oh, don’t say that to make your mother sad. Glen and I will have a legitimate heir born between us, and your mother came up with this measure after much deliberation so you wouldn’t feel left out.
“A song? What song, Sister?”
My goodness, Leon doesn’t know yet? Hehe, how behind the times. No wonder he doesn’t know what’s happening in the world when he’s always writing strange gospel collections or whatever.
I cleared my throat to inform Leon, and as I sang enthusiastically with rhythm, Jack Brown, who already knew the song, took up the chorus.
“Baby Luke!”
“Doo-roo-roo-doo-roo!”
“Baby Luke!”
“Doo-roo-roo-doo-roo!”
“Baby Luke!”
“Doo-roo-roo-doo-roo!”
“Baby Luke!”
“Ahhhhh! Ugh! Ahhhhhhh!”
Luke Rocksberg tore at his hair as if he were going mad from the torment. Glen, who had been watching us sing with applause and delight, spoke with the benevolent smile of a loving father.
“I think it’s a good idea too, Luke. Even if I have biological children of my own…, Luke, you are my precious son.”
Oh my, how touching.
Glen scratched his cheek bashfully, and tears suddenly burst from my eyes. Wasn’t this the first time Glen had so firmly declared that Luke was his son?
I couldn’t let this heartwarming moment pass without song, so I continued singing with a tearful voice. After Baby Luke came the Mama Rosie part, and there was also a Papa Glen part. As I kept singing, Leon raised his hand and asked a question.
“Me too! Sister! I’m also Luke’s uncle! Do I have a part!”
“Of course you do! Uncle Leon!”
“Doo-roo-roo-doo-roo!”
Don’t worry, this song has everyone in our household’s name except Mother.
Since the simple melody repeated, Leon quickly learned the song and sang along. After witnessing this beautiful sight of us all singing together, Luke’s expression darkened tremendously, and he pointed an accusing finger at me.
“I’m going to sue you!”
What? Luke? Are you saying that to your mother? Why would you sue me?

◇ ◆ ◇

This brat actually sued me. What exactly is a son in his adolescence? I don’t think I ever talked back to Father like this. I’ve committed fraud, but I’ve never been sued. And of all places, this is the Alein Royal Court. Luke determined that the Rocksburg court would be biased in my favor as a minor noble, so he designated the trial venue here instead.
The charge Luke brought against me was defamation. Not only did I call my thirty-year-old son “Baby,” but I also spread a mocking song about him throughout the Rocksburg Territory. According to Luke, he suffered ridicule and emotional harm not just from the Rocksburg Branch Family but from the territory’s residents as well.
By Luke’s account, the stress prevented him from concentrating on work, which negatively impacted sales. He presented figures showing a significant decline in net revenue compared to last year—but isn’t this season naturally a slow period anyway? Last year we had the miraculous Jack Brown Road campaign. How cowardly of him to collaborate with Chatel and then bring last year’s data for comparison! Despicable!
This scoundrel! So shameless! He’s grown well! But if I were him, I would’ve brought the gross revenue statement instead of net revenue to show more dramatic figures! That’s the only disappointment here!
“Are you ready?”
“Ready!”
“Ready!”
“Shall we begin?”
“Begin!”
“Begin!”
Of course, I came thoroughly prepared for this courtroom battle. As the first step, I brought Quill and Karl to testify before the judge that this song was not something that could damage Luke’s reputation.
The song I spread became popular as a children’s playground rhyme, used for various purposes like jump rope and jacks games, and kindergartens even adopted it as an exercise song. I would have liked to collect royalties if I could. Since Alein hasn’t yet developed a concept of intellectual property rights for songs, I couldn’t make any money from it, but at least I could prove that this composition didn’t turn Luke into a laughingstock.

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