Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 250

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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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The Royal Palace Banquet Hall was teeming with children. Here was the Crown Prince, unable to produce even a single heir, yet his relatives seemed to be thriving. Blonde-haired, blue-eyed little ones scurried about in droves—quite the spectacle, I must say.Well, of course, they’d scraped together every blood relative and distant relation imaginable, just to make their mark in case of unforeseen circumstances. Over a year had passed since the marriage with no news, so perhaps they harbored hopes of adopting an heir. Theodore certainly didn’t inspire much confidence at first glance, after all.”Please wait a moment. I shall announce your arrival.”
Well… to be honest, I gathered every relative I could find, both blood and non-blood, just to cover my bases in case something happens. And since it’s been over a year since he got married with no news, there’s also this hope that maybe he’ll adopt a child. Theodore doesn’t exactly look trustworthy at first glance, after all.
“Please wait a moment. I will inform you of my position.”
Huh? Why were they announcing guests so formally today? I found it curious, so I waited while holding Eri, and our family’s arrival was announced in quite an interesting manner.
“The Young Duke of Rocksburg and his entourage are entering!”
Ha! So I’m the star of this children’s celebration since I’m the one who gave birth! As we entered the Banquet Hall, the King and Queen sat in the place of honor, with Theodore and Capo beside them wearing awkward smiles, while Four Spans openly displayed a sour expression.
If the mother of the child is the star, then as the representative of our group, I should pay my respects. When I asked Father for permission, he shook his shoulders with laughter and gestured for me to go ahead and speak.
With the Duke’s approval, there was no need to hesitate. Holding Eri with my husbands flanking either side, I greeted the King and Queen gracefully, introduced my husbands, and then approached the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
“It has been quite some time. Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Crown Princess—I’ve been so consumed with my recovery after childbirth that I scarcely noticed time passing.”
“Indeed… you’ve worked hard.”
“It is a relief above all else that my sister is safe.”
“Behold, this child is Elpium Rocksburg. My pride and joy, my firstborn, and the future heir to Rocksburg.”
“….”
“….”
“Goodness, I’ve been so busy I haven’t seen the sky in ages, but the moment I made up my mind—boom!—everything just fell into place, smooth as silk! And here I am, having given birth! This means Rocksburg is set for the next fifty years! We have an heir! Under me! We have an heir!”
“Since your visit to the palace has been such a long time coming, you should greet the others as well. It would be a waste of your time to spend it all with us, would it not?”
“No, no, absolutely not! A waste? Your Highness, you wound me! I hold the Crown Prince and Crown Princess in the highest esteem and respect, so I could happily remain here for a thousand years, conversing with you both. Truly.”
Ha, haha—they say married couples grow to resemble each other, and Capo’s smile had become exactly like the Crown Prince’s.
As I teased them thus, the woman’s face grew even wider with laughter, her teeth gritted tightly as she spoke.
“When I first met you, I thought you were dignified and principled—so much so that even as your senior, I had much to learn. Yet after bearing a child, why have you become childish instead?”
“You observed correctly. I remain dignified and principled, but what has changed is that Capo has become the Crown Princess.”
“I still hold the position of Capo.”
“But are you not the Crown Princess of Alein before that?”
You should have settled the matter cleanly from the start. Then I wouldn’t have had to listen to my teasing. As I continued to boast about the child, expound upon childbirth and the difficulties of child-rearing, insisting that one must see a child to become human, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s complexions grew increasingly pallid, while Four Spans, who had been pretending not to exist beside them, quietly rose to her feet.
I had no intention of letting Princess Grace slip away.
“My, my, Princess Grace—the very same Grace who failed to marry even once while my husband married three times. Where are you sneaking off to so quietly? The restroom?”
“Shut your mouth.”
“You’re as beautiful as ever today, and as your subject, I am thoroughly satisfied. You haven’t aged a day. How is it you haven’t grown even a span taller?”
“Come here a moment.”
“Oh my, the esteemed Princess commands it, so of course I must obey. By the way, is that dress newly tailored? It’s quite lovely—it matches our dining table pattern exactly.”
I’d exchanged pleasantries with the royal family well enough, and I obediently followed as Four Spans beckoned me along. Holding Eri, I trotted after her all the way to a secluded corridor, where she lifted the hem of her dress and promptly kicked me.
“I’ve been watching, and you just keep acting up!”
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
My shins! My poor shins! Why does this peanut try to destroy my shins every time we meet?
As I hopped about clutching my injured leg, Eri cried out in sympathy, and seeing my precarious state, Four Spans quickly caught Eri in her arms.
“Hey! What are you doing hopping around like that—you’ll drop the child!”
“You’re the one who kicked me! It hurts like death!”
“What kind of mother doesn’t cry when her child acts out like that? Isn’t that strange?”
What’s strange is your kicking habit!
I lifted my skirt to check if there were any bruises, when Eri, who had been pouting, suddenly stretched out her hand and snatched Four Spans’ glasses. As if exacting her own revenge, Eri threw the glasses far away and laughed with a bright smile.
“Well done, Eri! That’s the Rocksburg way!”
“My glasses! My glasses! Where does this child come from!”
Four Spans muttered about her glasses while feeling her way along the floor. Normally John would have picked them up for her, but since he was away visiting our mother, Four Spans had no choice but to do it herself.
Well, there was nothing for it. I had to pick them up.
“If you want them, catch me!”
“Ahhhhh!”
I quickly snatched up the glasses and bolted, handing Eri off to her nanny as I dashed out into the corridor, then sprinted through the halls. Along the way, I greeted the Noitram family and Dorothy, watched Janet getting pinched, did a thorough lap of the Banquet Hall to exercise the Princess, and was finally stopped by John Brown.
“Please stop. You’re not a child anymore, my lady.”
Oh, I’m still in my early twenties, which is far younger compared to Four Spans. As I protested with exaggerated gestures, John lifted me up to stop me and took the glasses, handing them back to Four Spans.
“I thought she’d mature after having a child, but she’s gotten worse!”
Your Highness, people don’t change, whether they bear children or grandchildren.
As I murmured those words with a melancholic tone, Four Spans cursed me for being so clever and pouted.
“A tiny thing like you, already having children.”
“Grace was very concerned about you, my lady.”
“Hey! When did I ever say I was concerned!”
There she goes again, kicking at my shins. But John, accustomed to it, swallowed the pain and kept his eyes fixed on my mother.
This man, somehow captivated by such a wild, untamed spirit. Anyway, since John was distracted, it would be easy to coax the Princess. I sidled up to Four Spans in the friendliest manner and made a gesture of clinking glasses with my hand.
“Four Spans, it’s been so long since we’ve met. How about a drink? I’ve gotten my hands on something absolutely exquisite.”
“Theodore won’t work out, so you’re trying to attach yourself to me instead? No. I can’t accommodate just you, let alone your entire household.”
“Come now, Your Highness, why be so harsh? Whether it’s just me or a few more family members, isn’t it all the same?”
“How is that the same! You have your husband and your father—that’s two each, you fool!”
This Princess speaks strangely. How could I have two fathers? I have one father and one Papa. And when people gather, doesn’t that mean more people to drink with? How can someone so clever understand only one thing and miss the other?
As I continued coaxing Four Spans, I noticed the atmosphere around us beginning to stir. In this peaceful Banquet Hall where children played and adults mingled, someone seemed about to make a bombshell announcement, drawing everyone’s attention.
What’s this? Is someone really trying to adopt a child since they can’t have one? Worried, I glanced toward the King, and strangely, Father was standing solemnly beside Laios.
Why is he standing like that over there? Why is His Majesty making a seat for Father while discussing recent happenings? Why is he holding a glass? What? Is there something to celebrate?
“On this joyous day when His Majesty has graced us with a banquet, I have something momentous to announce.”
What? A major announcement? Excuse me. The young Duke of Rocksburg hasn’t received any prior notice. If Father has something to say at the banquet, shouldn’t I, as his heir, know about it?
Something felt wrong, and my mouth went dry. I noticed Count Crowley looking at Father with utter disdain. From the situation, did that grandfather know about this?
“I shall soon step down from the position of Duke of Rocksburg. The next Duke will, of course, be Rosalite Rocksburg.”
What? So suddenly? I was just talking about camping with the Princess’s family while having a drinking party.
At Father’s declaration that he would give up his dukedom, everyone in the Banquet Hall turned to stare at me. As Father removed the ring bearing the Rocksburg Ducal seal from his finger and prepared to hand it to me, the crowd parted like the Red Sea, opening a path to me.
Some even began clapping, and the atmosphere was being drawn toward a forced emotional moment, when I was pushed forward by the crowd’s encouragement until I stood before Father.
Edward Rocksburg, who had orchestrated this atmosphere, wore a seemingly benevolent expression as he tried to slip the ring onto my hand.
“From now on, you are the Duke of Rocksburg.”
At that chillingly gentle tone, my mind snapped into focus. If I got swept up in this, I was finished. I clenched my fist to prevent Father from putting the ring on my hand and twisted his wrist sharply.
“What are you doing, Duke?”
“Tsk.”
What are you trying to pull here?
What? You want me to step down as Duke? So after you inherited the Dukedom and worked for a few years, you’re already thinking of retirement? That’s not right.
“The minimum retirement age in Rocksburg is sixty. You’re still sharp and vigorous—this shouldn’t be happening.”
“You have an heir now, a husband, a younger sibling, and plenty of hands to help. The Mansion will run fine without me.”
“It’s not just one person leaving. If the Duke steps back from the front lines, the Duchess comes with him.”
“This is why sharp-witted little ones are troublesome.”
What scheme is this! He’d been quiet all this time, and now suddenly he doesn’t want to work? When I stubbornly resisted, swearing I’d rather die than wear that ring, Father urged me to hurry up and accept the Dukedom, saying he had good reason. But I refused. I absolutely refused. I wasn’t mentally prepared, and for the foreseeable future, I had no desire to climb into that grueling position even if it killed me. Besides, if Father retired early, that meant I’d have to work even more. Was he insane? If he kept this up, I’d take Papa and disappear into the True Magic Tower.
No, absolutely not. Even if it kills me, no. I’m not mentally prepared yet, and for the time being, I have no desire to climb to that dangerous position even if it means death. Above all, if Father retires early, that means I’ll have to work even more. Am I crazy? If he keeps pushing like this, I might just end up taking Papa and entering the True Magic Tower.
“Stubborn little thing. This situation is unavoidable. Can’t you compromise a bit?”
Your Majesty, please stay out of this! You’re not going to do the work for me, so why are you interfering?
I was swallowing those words that had risen to my throat, debating whether to sweep Father’s legs out from under him, when Count Crowley let out a heavy sigh and gripped Father’s shoulder.
“Don’t be like that. Be honest about it. Who cares if it’s embarrassing? With a younger sibling on the way, that takes priority.”
A younger sibling? But my only sibling is Asterion…
Looking at Mother and Father as they said something I couldn’t accept, I saw them both blushing shamefully.
Mortified, flustered, and furious, I swept Father’s legs out from under him as planned and turned toward Mother.
“Why don’t you just pass that wretched Dukedom to my younger sibling?”
I meant every word.

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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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