Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 253

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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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“What, what?! You said you were the Duke’s own brother! Were you lying?!”
“No. I am Eddie’s true brother.”
“And I am Eddie’s true nephew.”
“Don’t call him Eddie. I might kill him with my own hands.”
Eddie, calm down. I know he’s a thorn in your side, but without Uncle Louis and Benjamin, who will manage Diamond?
I worried that Eddie might let personal feelings ruin matters, but he proceeded to lay out what he claimed were perfectly sound reasons with the air of someone determined to be heard.
“Here’s your first clue: Diamond Territory is very close to Rocksburg Territory. And I have one grown grandson. A child I love more than life itself.”
“So, so what does that have to do with anything?!”
Good heavens! Father had thought that far ahead?! The moment I heard his opening words, I grasped his entire intention and clapped my hand over my mouth in astonishment. I’d been wrestling with what to do for Luke lately, especially after having Eri, and Father had been grappling with the same concern.
Just as I love Luke, Father loves his grandson!
“In a typical Rocksburg family, a boy his age would be independent and then some. But Luke arrived in Rocksburg at a late age and has never even served as a lord’s aide. He’s been raised like a precious jewel.”
“Ah…, yes.”
“Both Rosalite and I thought that since things had come to this, we might as well give him a title in name only and keep him by our side for life. But as it happens, the Rocksburg Ducal House possesses only the most valuable titles!”
That’s right. My son was already of considerable age, yet wandering about without a proper title reflected poorly on the Duke’s House, so I’d worried greatly.
I’d wanted to give him something like a barony or marquessate—a noble name without actual lands. But thinking about it, Rocksburg had been so consumed by ruthless pragmatism over the years that we’d stripped away only the profitable territories, so if I gave the boy a title, I’d have no choice but to send him far away.
Though his talents are exceptional, I couldn’t bear to send a child who’d never managed lands on his own. That’s why I’ve entrusted him only with the Department Store until now.
But what if Uncle Louis and Benjamin passed away? Diamond would naturally revert to Rocksburg, and we could give Luke the neighboring territory just a thirty-minute carriage ride away. At that distance, commuting to the Department Store would be easy, and it was close enough that we could visit without burden.
What’s this? There’d be nothing but good outcomes if those two died?
“Wait, Father. Diamond Territory is more demanding than you think. Luke isn’t ready yet.”
“He’s my grandson. You manage it, so there’s no reason Luke couldn’t.”
“My corn farm uses special fertilizer—it will wither and die without me!”
“I’ll burn that man-eating cornfield to the ground!”
“What are you saying, you brat?!”
“Why am I your child? I’m the late Duke’s child!”
Good grief, people, think of your ages. Being blood brothers, they squabbled like children. There came sounds of scuffling from within, and both Yuri and Magnus hastily intervened, pleading with them to stop fighting.
In the chaos, only Benjamin remained serene. The man spoke in a calm, measured voice.
“I have no attachment to territories, Duke. If you spare my life, I will work in the Duke’s Household for the rest of my days. Please employ me as a gardener, making use of my skills.”
“No.”
“Oh, oh! I can do gardening work too! Please employ me as well!”
“Weren’t you planning to return to Cerepia once you got your hostages back?”
“That was the plan, but! If I could work beside Rosetta and Leon and the Blue Ribbon pirate, I could ask for nothing more!”
“I should burn every last one of those books.”
Father pondered for a while, then suggested to Benjamin and Yuri that if they wished to seek employment, they should start by writing a résumé—it was only proper. This man truly was obsessed with principles and procedure.
Knock, knock.
“Might I enter, Duke?”
“Come in.”
“Oh, oh, wait just a moment. I’m currently occupying this space, so the permission is mine to give.”
“Pardon my intrusion.”
I entered quietly, offering formal greetings to Father and Uncle Louis, then waved at Yuri with a cheerful hello. Yuri seemed absolutely delighted that I’d acknowledged him first, breaking into a radiant smile as he bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle.
“As I mentioned to Magnus, we cannot lower the character assessment hurdle to prevent a second Celin incident. However, what if we were to implement an external pass system?”
“An external pass?”
“Yes. Magnus surely sympathizes with the children feeling suffocated by confinement in the Tower. If they sign a pledge not to cause trouble and obtain an extended external pass, with each Tower Master taking responsibility for their whereabouts, I will consult with Sage on the matter.”
“Ah, I see. Since this mana restraint device that Sage created leaves even me powerless, high-ranking mages of the sixth circle and above could certainly apply freely!”
Well, well… the conversation had taken quite the turn. Then again, Magnus had essentially risen to action solely because of Yuri, so he would naturally be satisfied with a proposal that guaranteed at least minimal freedom for mages who failed the character assessment.
Even if Yuri harbored no malicious intent, with such tremendous power in the hands of that scatterbrained fool, there was no telling what catastrophic accident he might cause. By completely blocking his ability to use magic, Magnus could rest easy. Ah, the Predecessor was truly remarkable. I should bow in reverence to the Predecessor.
“Understood. Let us compromise on those terms. I will personally persuade the others in the Alliance.”
“Yes, then discuss the specifics with Sage.”
“I feel as though I keep imposing upon the Young Lady. My apologies.”
“Not at all. Papa’s affairs are my affairs.”
Magnus showed Yuri all ten of his fingers, telling him to remain calm and wait, then headed toward Sage’s magical research chamber to determine the detailed provisions of the agreement.
As everything proceeded smoothly toward resolution, Yuri knelt on the floor and diligently filled out his resume, while Father approached him with a look of disappointment.
“So. You’re not going to kill those people?”
“Ah, well… I apologize. I’ve never actually killed anyone. It was all bluster.”
“Tch.”
Father seemed desperately eager to dispose of Uncle Louis himself, seizing the opportunity. He pressed the boy, questioning what he’d been doing all these years without killing a single person… but really, why must he constantly push someone who’s lived so virtuously?
“We have sufficient gardeners. We don’t hire anyone without considerable experience. And Benjamin, you return home.”
The Duke, apparently frustrated that matters weren’t proceeding as desired, tore Benjamin’s resume to shreds. The way he used his hands instead of the shredder nearby suggested he truly wanted to rip it to pieces before his very eyes.
“Here! I’ve finished! Rozeta!”
“My name is Rosalite.”
“Yes! Rosalite!”
I wondered if he truly understood anything. I glanced sideways at Yuri, who was grinning sheepishly, and examined the resume. On the official Rocksburg Duchy form that Father had provided, the name “Yuri Andreevich” was written in crooked, childish handwriting.
The script looked like something a kindergartener had painstakingly written, and when I checked the final education section… there was no education listed at all.
Wondering if he simply hadn’t received any home education, I looked at his personal information, only to find the parental names section was blank.
“….”
Well, he was born a slave, so it’s possible he had no parents… but given that his name is Andreevich, wouldn’t he have had a father? In Cerepia, don’t they typically write the father’s name after the surname? Yuri Andreevich means “Yuri, son of Andre,” doesn’t it?
Clinging to this thread of hope, I read his self-introduction, and the very first sentence was quite striking.

I was told my father’s name was Andre. When I was two years old, he abandoned me and attempted to flee with another female slave, but was caught and beaten to death, or so I’m told.

Zoraab, please grant me the strength not to hire this child out of mere pity.
I wanted to close my eyes tight and discard the paper, but my habit of reading entire paragraphs meant I finished the entire self-introduction.
Yuri had been conscripted into labor from the age of three and survived on a single potato and salt per meal until turning fifteen. After being rescued by Magnus and entering the Magic Tower, she’d even gained weight on her skeletal frame—quite the luxury—but since eating little and working much was her specialty, all she needed was a place to sleep under a roof and one black bread per meal.
Though her specialty was magic, she was confident in physical labor too, and she’d grown accustomed to springing awake at her master’s call, even from sleep—because she’d been whipped whenever she was even slightly late.
“Hired.”
Ugh! Blast it, I’d blurted out “hired” without even thinking!
Shocked at my own words, I clapped my hand over my mouth, but Father looked at me with eyes full of pity and took the resume from my hands to examine it. Exactly three seconds later, the Duke lifted his head to gaze at the ceiling before speaking softly.
“Hired.”
“Wonderful! She’s hired! I’ll go tell Magnus right away!”
You should have at least resisted, you fool.
Still… perhaps it worked out well. With her working here, Sage would be nearby, making it convenient to manage the mana restraint device. And easier to keep watch too…
Since the hiring decision was already made, Father and I discussed Yuri’s wages and lodging, but Uncle Louis and Benjamin, curious about what we’d seen that left us breathless, picked up the resume to examine it.
Not long after, the two from Diamante House began laughing—pfft, pfft—delighted that Yuri was an amusing little thing. Did those two actually possess human hearts? How could they laugh at that?
I decided to leave the matter of their treatment to Father and make my escape. As I fled, I sent word to my husbands that the situation was resolved and all was safe now, then stopped by the correspondence room with my Predecessor.
Since he was the one who suggested the pass idea, surely he’d notice my current worries and provide an answer.
Lately I’d been wondering if I was relying on my Predecessor too much, entrusting my intellect to him, and whether I’d end up like Aster if this continued…
But what does it matter? If it’s comfortable, that’s all that matters. Living like Aster wasn’t so bad either. If there’s someone to think for me, it’s better to leave the thinking to them. This doesn’t contradict Rocksburg’s virtues either, so I was simply doing what I ought to do.
Humming away, I went to the correspondence room and called out for my Predecessor, but the fountain pen didn’t budge. Wondering if this brilliant genius had already written an answer, I opened the notebook, only to find words that were absolutely dreadful.

I love you, Mother. Without you, I’d die of loneliness. Even if I become Duke, please don’t leave me.

“…No.”
I hate this. No. Don’t do this.
Dumbfounded, I screamed and searched for my Predecessor. But he wasn’t here—there was no answer—and only my shout echoed through the corridor. I wrote a single line saying I absolutely couldn’t do this and left. The correspondence notebook between my Predecessor and me remained unupdated for quite some time.

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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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