Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 236

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

I told myself that I would carry this foreign sensation for the rest of my life. Every time my ear felt irritated, I would think of Lucilucil. While managing it, I would remember Lucilucil. And whenever the earring dangled against my ear, hatred and affection would sprout anew—or so he said. The look in Lucilucil’s eyes as he spoke those words was absolutely unhinged, which terrified me immensely.
I had resisted so fiercely, saying it hurt and I didn’t want to do it, but Lucilucil forcibly grabbed my earlobe and pierced it. As I cried out in pain, this madman brought a mirror and held it up to compare his earring with mine.
“I told you the pain would only last a moment. Rose-shaped platinum filigree with a blue diamond. It suits you perfectly.”
Well… it is beautiful, I suppose.
I swallowed antibiotics and painkillers, then brushed my hair back and examined the mirror. It was a fine piece—one that suited me and harmonized well with the other earrings Lucilucil wore. I had to admit that the one we shared was noticeably thicker and more ornate than the previous two, which pleased me somewhat.
It’s a minor thing, but there is one problem…
“Isn’t your ear heavy?”
“I’m used to it, so it’s fine.”
“I see…”
It would probably feel much lighter if you removed those other two pairs of earrings.
When I pouted and expressed my displeasure, the man embraced me from behind and laughed heartily.
“You have your adorable moments too. This is a mark of mourning and remembrance. Those women who were sacrificed because of my mother—if not for me, there would be no one left to remember them.”
“Is it like a national merit award?”
“You could say it’s similar.”
If it’s a national merit award, then there’s no helping it. I reluctantly accepted it while still pouting, and this man began coddling me excessively, asking why I was being so cute today, hugging and nuzzling me, pinching my cheeks and rubbing them.
“If I may be so bold, this is Rosalite’s office. Perhaps it would be appropriate for Lucilucil to return to his duties…”
Let me see what time it is… Lucilucil does have to report to the Private Military Unit soon. But then again, we haven’t been married that long. Perhaps Lucilucil wants to savor the newlywed feeling a bit longer, so it wouldn’t hurt to be flexible about this.
I was about to hint at this to Glen when I heard clumsy Largol being spoken from Leon’s direction.
‘Leave while I’m asking nicely, Lucilucil.’
…
“Brother-in-law. What did you just say?”
Oh dear, our Leon made quite a blunder. Lucilucil, whose displeasure was evident at a glance, continued to pester me while speaking, and Asterion looked flustered before apologizing to Lucilucil.
“My apologies. It seems I unnecessarily used my poor Largol. What I meant to say was, ‘Please return to your duties, Lucilucil.'”
“Do you think that excuse will work?”
“I sincerely apologize for offending you. I merely wished to remind you of the pleasant times we shared in the Empire…”
“Are you trying to pick a fight?”
That’s enough. Leon is already reflecting on his mistake.
The silver-haired, blue-eyed handsome man Asterion was so flustered by his own actions that tears were beginning to well up in his eyes. There was no need to make him cry over a simple language barrier.
As I gently reasoned with Lucilucil, the man let out a strange cry before approaching Glen.
“Gazelle, how many years have you lived with that one?”
“Eight years.”
“It’s a miracle you haven’t died from stress.”
“I’ve come close to death several times, though.”
Hmm… the husbands get along well. My household is harmonious today as well. I hummed contentedly and read the complaint letter that Duke Bienar had sent.
It seemed His Grace had finally realized that the sewage treatment plant construction he had carelessly approved years ago in a drunken stupor was an unfair deal. Back then, the sewage flowing from Rocksburg was merely domestic wastewater, but ever since factories began sprouting up in the outer regions of the territory, genuine industrial wastewater had been flowing out.
I neatly folded the letter in which he complained that the annual rent I paid couldn’t even cover the wastewater purification costs, and fed it into the shredder.
This is not my concern. Wasn’t it His Grace himself who, feeling good from the entertainment and my jingling earrings, granted a hundred-year lease on that land? We will pay the rent faithfully for the next hundred years and use Bienar’s borrowed land as a sewage treatment plant. There is no withdrawal. Once the seal is stamped, it’s done. Perhaps one should be more careful when signing contracts. In any case, this is not my fault.
“In any case, the Young Lady made a mistake, and a letter and a person have arrived.”
Good heavens! How does this fellow manage to read my mind so perfectly? Why does he always show up at precisely the moment I’m being blamed for something?
Jack sauntered in with a snack dangling from his mouth, tossed a letter onto my desk, and quickly covered his ears. What? Why is he doing that? Why suddenly block his ears?
“Ro, ro, ro, Rosalite!”
Kyaaah! My eardrums! They’re going to burst!
The woman who came rushing in with a voice that seemed to carry some sort of inner power was clutching an assortment of peculiar items in both hands. A walker, a rattle, a baby blanket, and was that… a children’s train toy that’s all the rage these days?
The engine compartment had a seat for a child around five years old, with cargo cars trailing behind it in succession. The design was identical to the train currently crossing Rocksburg, and it even used magic crystals as its power source. In other words, it was the latest toy you could only find in Aleine, and it had quite the reputation for being dreadfully expensive. The Rocksburg Department Store sold them as custom orders, but since my child hadn’t even learned to walk yet, I hadn’t bothered purchasing one. With that single toy, I could have built something as grand as Lucius Palace and laughed about it.
“I have returned! I have returned, Rosalite! I, who have collected all the good child stamps, have returned! Where is Little Rosalite? But first, you must have worked so hard! Rosalite!”
“Calm yourself. Eri is in the room next door.”
“Ahhhhhhh! A voice so noble after such a long time! How sacred! How sublime!”
Someone get Janet out of here. At my command, Jack grabbed the hem of Janet Edanelli’s coat and dragged her away. Before leaving the office, he informed me that the letter had come from Crowley Territory.
Oh, Crowley Territory? Was this a reply to the letter I sent before? Since the previous correspondence had been quite brief, I’d expected a short response, but I never imagined it would contain something like this, which is why my head tilted involuntarily in confusion.
The letter contained nothing but the words “Coming now.”
“What was that just now?”
“I beg your pardon? There was nothing just now, and I heard nothing at all.”
“Seeing how much my brother-in-law dislikes it, is he on our side?”
“No… that is not the case, Lucilucil.”
Is there nothing more? Is that really all? Unable to comprehend why the reply was in such a state, I shook out the envelope, but not a speck of dust emerged. Is he coming? Is he just coming now?
“Ahhhhhhh!”
Why is she acting like that again!
Janet, whom I’d sent away, had been guided by Jack to Eri’s playroom, where she was shrieking Eri’s name while crying out about nobility and sublimity. But before long, the screaming stopped, and Eri’s Nanny entered my office.
“Please do not let this person enter. The Young Lady is having a fit.”
The woman, who boasted a height greater than Aster’s, looked like a survivor of the end times as she carried Janet in one hand and dropped her into my office. I did prioritize selecting healthy individuals to be the child’s nanny, but… it seemed I’d ended up choosing an overwhelmingly strong woman.
“Understood. Tell her to be careful.”
“Thank you, Young Master.”
Well… she does her job well, so I have no regrets about my choice. Even when Eri cried and wailed, the moment she was held in her nanny’s arms, her tears would stop instantly, which I found endlessly fascinating.
Child-rearing is truly a matter of experience. A child who whines constantly at other times becomes an angel the moment she’s in front of her nanny.
“Janet Edanelli. If you do not speak quietly from this moment on, I will have you thrown out of this Mansion.”
“Yes. I will speak softly. Yes. I apologize.”
As always, this little one’s responses were first-rate. She sealed her lips and approached me, sniffing and holding my hand while crying silently. This was, though not quite as much as Leon, honestly… creepy.
“Child, that’s creepy.”
“Yes. I apologize. Yes.”
“So then. What brings you here? What is this about collecting all the good child stamps?”
Finally, I’d get to learn what those blasted good child stamps actually were!
I pressed my lips together to hide my excitement and waited for Janet’s answer. The woman then handed me a resume and spoke with pride.
“Collecting all the good child stamps means that the Edanelli Family recognizes me as a proper adult, a super he…, no, rather. In any case, they grant me permission to become independent, which is the same as allowing me to find employment anywhere and even hire sidekicks as a super he…, no, that’s not it either. Anyway, it’s something along those lines.”
“I see.”
Just as my own household throws successor candidates into practical work immediately after their education, the Edanelli Family must have such a tradition. So that’s why Father’s threat of taking away the good child stamps worked before. If the stamps were taken, independence would be delayed.
“That said, you could have gone anywhere. Why did you specifically come to Rocksburg?”
“Serving by your side, Rosalite, is my destiny, my fate, my calling, and my heaven-ordained purpose! If I could die alongside you, Rosalite, that is all I desire! If I could die for you, Rosalite, that would be the fulfillment of all my wishes!”
“Be quiet.”
“Yes. My apologies. Yes.”
Well, in any case, it’s better to have her here by my side than to have Dorothy worrying about me being so far away.
I nodded and flipped through the resume Janet had handed me. Let’s see… what position should I give our dear Janet so that word spreads of my excellent judgment?
“….”
Capable of using ranged aura, proficient in horseback riding, completed firefighting training, completed assault course training, completed emergency medical training, holds navigator’s license, experienced in tactical marching, experienced commanding a mountain cavalry unit in the war against Largol, conversational in Largol language (cannot read or write), fluent in Cerepia language, capable of assassinating Asterion.
Even if I pretend not to see that last item… have I really been wasting someone like this on clerical work?
Shocked, I gestured to Lucilucil and thrust the resume toward him. His face brightened at once, and he grasped Janet’s hand firmly.
“Why don’t you try your hand at being a Thousand Commander this time?”
“What is a Thousand Commander?”
“Ah, our Rocksburg Private Military Unit underwent a major restructuring of ranks this time….”
“I apologize. I was hoping to apply for a desk position.”
“….”
“….”
What? Why would someone with your experience want desk work?

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