Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 270

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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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I went to Jack Brown and persuaded him that ghosts don’t exist in this world, then together we headed toward Lucilucil Palace. And at the palace gates, I shouted with all my might.
“Lucilucil! You should be ashamed of yourself!”
As I bellowed, I tensed my abdomen and found myself swinging one arm wildly, just as I had during the protest with Diana. Jack Brown, matching my energy, was also shouting “Awaken! Awaken!”
“There’s no response, is there?”
“Should we climb the wall?”
“And he has mobility issues too.”
“The management closes the gates frequently, so I’m used to it.”
Of course, in most cases the management refers to the Rocksburg Mansion or Luke’s Department Store, which is rather ironic. Both Rosalite and Luke were displeased that I, despite being a minor nobleman, wouldn’t take Rocksburg’s side. But if I’m being honest, I’m a social underdog, and if I must choose sides, I stand with the workers.
“Heave!”
The wall was quite high, and I couldn’t manage it alone. With Jack Brown’s assistance, I entered the palace grounds. In the garden, Lucilucil, wearing a blindfold, was playing a game of tag with something whitish that vaguely resembled Rosalite, both moving about frantically.
“What is that?”
“Could that be Lucilucil’s inner darkness?”
“He looks like he’s having fun though?”
That’s true. While observing Lucilucil and the fake Rosalite to understand the situation, I noticed both were dressed in traditional Largol attire.
Lucilucil was draped in red velvet like an emperor, while the fake Rosalite wore black pearl ornaments said to be bestowed only upon favored concubines.
“….”
“….”
From this, one could infer.
“Hmm….”
“If the Young Lady finds out, that man will be in serious trouble.”
That is… whether you call it Lucilucil’s inner darkness or the deepest desire hidden within his heart, it seems…
“He couldn’t let go of the imperial throne, could he?”
“And it seems he wanted to have the Young Lady as the empress of the Imperial Palace?”
After all this time has passed, one would think he’d developed the ability to face reality. But if by some chance Lucilucil became emperor and Rosalite became empress or chief of the Concubine Palace, wouldn’t the outcome be obvious? Anyone from Rocksburg could easily deduce it.
“Ahem.”
I cleared my throat and explained reality to Lucilucil.
“Lucilucil! If Rosalite became the empress of Largol! You would be the first victim!”
She would have purged you first and set up a puppet emperor, wouldn’t she? Then while wielding power from the shadows, she would have transferred Largol’s abundant resources to Rocksburg. If things went well, an independent Rocksburg nation might have emerged in Rosalite’s generation.
『Krgh!』
So there was a sore spot after all. Lucilucil clutched his chest with Leon’s characteristic “Krgh!” groan. The shape of what appeared to be Rosalite transformed into a faceless woman.
『M-Mother…!』
Ah, so this is the true form of his inner darkness. The shape became clearer too.
“Jack Brown!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
As the woman raised a blade toward Lucilucil’s eyes, I quickly deployed Jack Brown. With nothing but a palm-sized can opener, the man blocked her attack and swiftly subdued her, binding her tightly with restraint rope.
“Lucilucil, this is Rocksburg. Why are you worrying about things that don’t need to happen?”
『You damned fool…』
“And don’t burden the children with your anxieties. Marie and Lily are stressed enough.”
How much had I let it show for the children’s greatest fear to be the end of their childhood? When I submitted the words written in my notebook as evidence and added that Marie and Lily’s pranks had intensified precisely because of this, Lucilucil’s face drained of all color.
“The little ones were worried about that?”
“Yes. Even young, they are Rocksburg. They see right through your past, and they’ve already sensed every responsibility that will fall upon them in the future.”
“That’s serious. Children should play freely.”
Lucilucil seemed so lenient that it bordered on negligence. When I suggested letting Marie and Lily experience even half the education Eri was receiving, Lucilucil’s face darkened.
“You need to ease up too. That’s why Elpium is worried about hair loss at her age.”
“H-hair loss?!”
“Yes. Lately her hair has been falling out unusually, and she’s quite distressed about it.”
There’s no hair loss gene on either side of the family, so why would Eri worry about such a thing! I countered with scientific evidence, but the man crossed his arms and pinpointed Eri’s condition with a look of exasperation.
“The primary cause of alopecia areata is stress.”
“But surely the Previous Generation Duke endured that much?”
“Times have changed. We’ve even gradually started a five-day work week.”
“That is….”
Well, that may be true….
So which subjects should I reduce? Foreign languages are best acquired young for efficiency, so I can’t cut those. Economics is crucial for understanding current affairs, so I can’t cut that. Humanities and sociology are intertwined with economics, so I can’t cut those. There’s no better way to grasp the zeitgeist than through literature, so I can’t cut that either….
“There are no subjects I can…cut….”
“Poor Eri, having such a father.”
“Lucilucil, please let Marie and Lily play with Tyler. It would be the most effective way to dispel the darkness in their hearts.”
If their own father directly told them that even the Emperor of Largol and the Pope don’t have to do what they don’t want to do, the children would feel reassured. As I explained the commotion caused by the ‘heart darkness remover’ running wild and added my opinion, the man’s expression grew reluctant.
“Still, since we have the opportunity, we should do what we can….”
“You just said children should play! At least let them be comfortable while they’re young!”
“Tsk.”
Lucilucil clicked his tongue and disappeared into the palace, his massive chest heaving. I found his attitude utterly disagreeable, so I clicked my tongue in turn and barely managed to suppress my hand from rising to my chest.
“Don’t mind it. The Young Lady said that Glen’s charm doesn’t come from his pecs.”
“…I didn’t say anything like that?”
“No, that’s just how it is.”
…Let’s say that’s true. I don’t concern myself with trivial matters. …Really, I don’t!!
Anyway, I seem to have resolved quite a bit of darkness, but how much more remains? Since Eri is apparently stressed, darkness must have manifested there as well. As I headed toward the Main Building, I witnessed a peculiar sight.
“Luke Chatel! Luke Chatel, my son!”
“Kyaaaaa!”
My eldest son Luke was fleeing from the Chatel Patriarch.
“Wh-wait, wh-what are you saying!”
I limped forward as quickly as I could to block the Chatel Patriarch.
“Luke Rocksberg is my son! Don’t speak such nonsense about him being your son!”
More than ten years have passed since Luke became my child, so why does this darkness still exist? Luke had adapted sufficiently to Rocksburg, and there seemed to be no other concerns.
“Don’t be ridiculous! You were swayed by Rosalite Rocksburg’s will! You never once thought of Luke as your own child!”
“N-no, that’s not true?!”
Luke had been harboring this worry. While it’s true that Rosalite forcefully proceeded with the adoption, I consented to accepting Luke as my son, and I have considered him my child ever since. Of course, the Rocksburg Duchy House must continue through Rosalite’s bloodline, so I will establish Elpium as the next patriarch, but that doesn’t mean Luke isn’t my son.
“Luke is my son! I don’t know what Lucilucil thinks, but I consented to Luke’s adoption, and I attended every procedure for him!”
What could possibly be making Luke so anxious? The fear of being sent back to Chatel—would it have been resolved if I’d granted him territory or a title? But that was a method Rosalite and Eddie, the Previous Generation, had hesitated over and rejected. Rocksburg possessed only choice territories and titles, and they hadn’t wanted to send Luke far away.
“Luke, I will give our Luke the Hofen Territory!”
Ah, that’s right. How could I have overlooked something so simple? If there was no suitable territory among Rocksburg’s domains, I could simply give him mine. The Hofen Territory had my trusted associates occupying key positions, and Philip was serving as acting lord, so Luke wouldn’t need to concern himself with it separately. Besides, it was only natural for a father to pass his name down to his son.
“Glen…? The Hofen Territory, you say.”
“I will discuss this seriously with Rosalite afterward. I am Luke’s father, and I have the right to pass my name to him!”
“Oh, Glen…”
As the Chatel Patriarch’s form grew faint, Luke suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist and burst into tears.
“Waaah! F-Father! Father! Is it… is it really okay to call you Father?”
“Of course. From the day I adopted you, I have always been your father.”
“Waaaaaah!”
I understand his emotions are overwhelming, but could he please let go? He’s heavy. As I wobbled on the cane I was leaning on, struggling under his weight, Jack Brown wiped his eyes and gently pried Luke away from me.
“Young Master, please compose yourself. Glen is having difficulty.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, sniff.”

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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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