Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 247

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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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“Your grandmother?”
A fountain pen came flying at my head again. I dodged it quickly this time, but knowing that this reflexive speed had been honed by my Predecessor made me feel oddly conflicted.

My foresight isn’t the kind of ability that can be wrong. If it failed, it must mean my fate ends here.

If only the Predecessor would just admit to senility when it happens. I continuously reset myself, maintaining a fresh and healthy mind, but the Predecessor isn’t in the same situation as me, is he? If the battery’s getting old and misfiring, I could understand that. But why does he keep bringing up today and tomorrow in such a disheartening way?
When I voiced my honest thoughts, the Predecessor simply wrote “head” in concise characters. I’m not some ten-year-old child. Why do you keep trying to flick my forehead?

I could always expose how you called Benjamin “older brother” when you first arrived and got sent to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

I tore up the page the Predecessor had used into small pieces, stuffed them in my mouth, and swallowed them whole. There might be some lead in the ink, but this much won’t kill me.
“My forehead exists for you, Your Majesty.”
As I finished speaking and squeezed my eyes shut, I heard a sharp crack against my head, and the pen returned to its place. It wasn’t even that loud a sound, yet my entire skull rattled. So this is what they call experience.

The only point we could both agree on was an exit permit.

Ah, so you already knew what I came to ask about. You truly are my Predecessor. But still—an exit permit? You think Magnus will accept just that? The man who was prepared for a magical confrontation?

You’ve already built up his sympathy.

Ah… well, that’s true, but no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t imagine those morally deficient grand mages being satisfied with just an exit permit, so I kept hesitating. Then the Predecessor added one more line. I’m certain this is the answer, and the reason is that we won’t know how they’ll react until we see it ourselves… Heh, truly a remarkable fellow.
“Thank you for your wisdom. I’m busy, so I’ll be going. If you have time, please look after Eri for me.”

I’m not the one in charge of entertaining Elpium.

“I trust you! You don’t have anything else to do anyway!”
The Predecessor seemed to be scribbling curses about me, but I pretended not to notice and shouted that there were plenty of jingling toys in the second drawer of the playroom cabinet before making my escape.

I ignored Lucilucil’s greeting as I rushed past, barely making it in time for Jack Brown’s photoshoot.
Our Rocksburg Territory’s representative beauty had been assigned to promote the project Luke was planning this time, and the shooting location was the gleaming new Annex Building’s Orchestra Instrument Room.
The atmosphere-dampening instrument room held the makeup artist, the lighting director, and most importantly, Ram Bart, while Luke himself attended despite his busy schedule. The promotional slogan was “The emotion of a concert hall in our living room,” and we decided to capture the essence of “the only drug permitted by the nation—music.”
Thus Jack was dressed in a black suit that covered him completely from head to toe, his hair slicked back in an all-back style, creating an absolutely lethal and aesthetic look that was, well… quite stirring to the heart.
“You’re so handsome, Jack Brown! You’re the best! Aleine is the best!”
I caught my breath and cheered at the sight of Jack in all his glory. That image of his, processed through Ram Bart’s lens, would soon adorn the walls of the Rocksburg Department Store. The fan club members would go absolutely wild for a while.
Beyond the money we’d earn from the phonograph and record business, I felt both proud and deeply moved seeing Jack—who normally showed no interest in appearance—looking so magnificent.
“Don’t say things you don’t mean. You’re just flattering me to sell me off.”
“What are you talking about, Jack? I’m telling you I like your face. Haven’t I said so before?”
“That’s exactly why it’s insincere. I know my face is ordinary.”
“No, it’s not. Why won’t you believe me? You definitely have appeal, don’t you? Otherwise, why would you have a fan club?”
“That’s only because I’m artificially promoted throughout the Territory. When people are accustomed to the Crown Prince’s or Glen’s appearance, anything I say falls flat—they see right through the lie.”
“I’m telling you it’s not a lie!”
“Then tell me what’s handsome about me! You can’t, can you? Exactly! You only see me in terms of money anyway!”
This fool really knows how to put himself down. Of course, having spent my days looking at Theodore, Glen, and Lucilucil, my standards are admittedly high, but even so, Jack has his own distinct charm, doesn’t he?
I narrowed my eyes slightly at Jack, feeling a bit provoked.
“Do you really want me to say it? Are you sure you won’t regret hearing it?”
“I’ll see through any flattery anyway. Haven’t I served you for a year or two?”
“What I’m about to say is completely sincere, and I’ve been planning to keep my mouth shut forever because I thought it might give you chills. If you really want to hear it, I’ll tell you. You’re absolutely sure you won’t regret it?”
“…What is it? Why are you being so ominous? Whatever you say, I—”
“Honestly, I think the pale skin visible between your sleeves and gloves is incredibly sensual.”
“…”
Jack’s mouth fell open and he looked at me like I was trash. But I wouldn’t stop. This was your own doing. I was genuinely planning to take this to my grave. But since you provoked me like that, how could I not speak it aloud?
“Personally, I call that pale, slender wrist skin the absolute territory of a torture specialist. Throughout my entire life, I’ve resisted the urge to slip my fingers into those sleeves about three times.”
Jack shuddered and covered his wrists with his hands. But I wasn’t finished yet.
“And whether you’re in casual clothes or your uniform, the way you button up to your neck—there’s something erotic about it.”
“Oh, Mother…”
The fact that he doesn’t look that way but still wraps himself up so tightly—isn’t that a bit much? Can’t one feel that way? As I pointed out Jack’s buttons without hesitation, my son, who had been directing the shoot, suddenly interjected.
“I concur, Rosalite. I refrained from mentioning it until now out of propriety, but Jack Brown is indeed sensual.”
“Right?”
“Yes!”
As expected, Luke, you understand your mother’s heart. Emboldened by Luke’s agreement, I decided to push further.
“And when you’re wearing that gas mask, you look the most suspicious in the world, but when you take it off and that innocent face emerges, flushed and glistening with sweat—it awakens my sadistic side.”
“Pervert!”
At my mention of sadism, Jack searched for his gas mask, saying he wouldn’t breathe the same air as me, and then received a scolding from the makeup team about ruining his makeup. Hehe, now that I’ve said all that, Jack should feel the sincerity in my compliment about his handsomeness.
“Wrap him up nice and tight. He sells better covered than uncovered.”
“Understood, Rosalite.”
“Keep the chest modest.”
“Emphasize the slenderness.”
You know well. Yes, you’ll handle it perfectly, Luke. The shoot proceeded whether Jack protested and threatened to report us to the Public Security Bureau or not. As I held the sample photos Ram had printed and discussed them with Luke, I suggested we try spraying some water on him, and Luke moved to push Jack into the fountain.
With a splash, Jack tumbled into the water, and as his well-tailored suit became drenched, he swept his wet hair back with visible irritation. I seized the moment without hesitation and urged Ram forward.
“Did you see that, Ram Bart? Capture every water droplet! That’s it! That expression right there!”
“Why do both Rosalite and Leon have so many demands!”
It’s the same blood running through our veins, that’s why! I pestered Ram relentlessly, experimenting with sepia toning and black-and-white processing, deliberating back and forth until I settled on black-and-white, my eyes glistening with tears.
This was it. Exactly this. The phonograph I was supposed to promote wasn’t even visible, but did that matter now? Jack’s photo spread was absolutely stunning. This would work. This was the photograph.
“I absolutely love this Jack.”
“So do I.”
“Make me ten copies of this.”
“Me too.”
Hehehehe, I’d have to print a ton of these and file them away in my prenatal education collection. Marius has his natural sexiness, sure, but the kind of allure that blooms from one’s true nature and the shadows of the heart—that’s a different caliber of appeal entirely, wouldn’t you say?
Of course, Asterion and Lucilucil possessed the deepest darkness in our household, but I couldn’t exactly abandon their character development, so Jack Brown was the perfect subject.
After that, Luke and I held hands and called out to Baby Luke, continuing to shoot until Jack wept. We’d already selected photos for the department store wall advertisements, but driven by our own selfish desires, we kept the photo session going indefinitely, until Jack finally burst into tears.
Afraid he might threaten to resign, I handed things over to Luke and fled once more.
Today, it seemed all I’d been doing was running away. Was this merely a coincidence piling up, or was my unconscious mind prioritizing escape as an option?
“…!”
“Rosalite.”
It was unconscious! My id was at work! Damn it!
I ran into Glen at the corner and quickly changed direction. I had to escape. If I could just get away now, I could avoid receiving any letter—a resignation notice, a leave request, or a transfer request to Hofen Territory. Glen was a man of propriety and formality, so as long as I didn’t receive the notice, he wouldn’t act on anything.
“Rosalite!”
I lifted the hem of my dress and was about to bolt when I heard something crash behind me. The sound was quite heavy, so I turned back to check if Glen had been hurt, only to find, surprisingly, that the Crown Prince had fallen to the ground.
“Are you alright!”
Oh goodness, what is this? Did he lose his cane? Did he trip because of the height difference between the corridor floor and the garden? I should have had a ramp installed here. I hadn’t thought it through.
“If you run away like that, Rosalite…”
Moreover, Glen had begun shedding tears profusely. Oh, what do I do? He’s truly broken down. While the Crown Prince does cry from time to time, I’d rarely seen him sob like this, and I was utterly flustered.
“If you truly run away, Rosalite, I… I won’t be able to stop you!”
Was it really something worth crying over like that? I didn’t fully understand, but I decided to comfort him and pulled the man into an embrace. Glen wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my shoulder.
As I spent a long while simply stroking his back, servants passed by, and with their assistance, I was able to move to a table on the terrace.

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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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