Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 29

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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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“Elizabeth!”
The moment I called out her name in front of the Stables, a sleek black horse with her mane braided in elegant plaits trotted out eagerly.
Since I hadn’t taken her out for some time, the moment she emerged, I soothed her nickering with gentle words and tender caresses along her neck, then summoned Jack, who was preparing the saddle, and had him fetch only a bridle, which I fastened onto Elizabeth.
Heh. Between Elizabeth and me, such cumbersome tack was entirely unnecessary.
“Kneel!”
At my command, Elizabeth bent her knees and lowered herself before me. I vaulted onto her bareback without saddle or blanket, and as she rose with practiced ease, she carried me forward with a rhythmic clip-clop, circling around Jack.
“I’ve been curious about this for a while—is this a horse or something else?”
“You’ll see soon enough. More importantly, I’m going ahead. Jack, bring your credentials and meet me at the Crown Prince’s Palace.”
Let’s go, Elizabeth!
I gave Elizabeth a light tap on her hindquarters, and she began with a leisurely walk before gradually accelerating.
Passing through the Duke’s Mansion gates and cutting across Alexandrite Luxury Street—the most expensive real estate in Rocksburg Duchy—I reached the Royal Palace’s main entrance in exactly fifteen minutes. After showing the Rocksburg Family seal ring to the guards and confirming my identity, I passed through the main gates in three minutes, then rode another five minutes to the Crown Prince’s Palace before dismounting from Elizabeth with a flourish.
“Wait for me!”
Elizabeth whinnied in response to my words, so assured of her obedience, I strode into the Entrance Hall and, seeing the Maidservants hurrying toward me, raised my voice.
“Your Highness! Crown Prince Theodore! Your beloved Rosalite Rocksburg has arrived!”
Too impatient to wait for a Maidservant to announce me properly, I climbed the stairs to the second floor toward the Office where the Crown Prince would be, continuing to announce my arrival loudly.
If I wasn’t careful, Glen would end up leaving home, and I had no time for formalities or propriety. I had only my business in mind as I swept through the Crown Prince’s Palace, brushing past the attendants who tried to block my path.
“Crown Prince! Your Highness! Rosalite Rocksburg, whom you favor most dearly, has come to see you!”
Pushing past the attendants and Maidservants, I finally threw open the Office doors, but the interior was devoid of any presence.
Had he gone out for lunch?
Then I’d have to head to the Dining Hall.
Just as I was turning to leave with that thought, I spotted Theodore in casual clothes, his face wearing a smile.
I had never been so delighted to see him before, but the moment I observed the Crown Prince before me, all joy evaporated. His hair was disheveled, he was dragging his slippers, and everything about his appearance screamed that he’d just woken up from sleep.
“What is to become of this realm…”
“Is that what someone who barges in unannounced should be saying?”
“When the sun is high in the sky, unless the nation faces ruin…”
“Are we finished with the last words?”
This boy was being unreasonable, arbitrarily deciding my final words like that. Seeing my conversation partner yawning repeatedly and in poor spirits, I decided to skip the pleasantries and get to the point.
“I wish to see His Majesty the King.”
“Submit a petition to the Secretary’s Office, and you’ll receive a response within four days. Surely the Rocksburg Duke taught you this much?”
“I must see him at once.”
“I’ll cheer you on.”
“I possess evidence of embezzlement committed by the Second Prince’s nanny during the renovation work one year and seven months ago.”
“If it’s counsel from Rosalite Rocksburg, whom I hold most dear, I cannot refuse to listen.”
I knew he’d take interest in matters concerning the Second Prince.
The Crown Prince gestured for me to continue and led me to the Reception Room, where he had a Maidservant erect a wooden partition. From behind the divider, I could hear rustling sounds—it seemed he was changing clothes.
Though I thought it unnecessary for him to hide a body of no consequence, I reasoned that even the Crown Prince had his own sense of modesty, so I held my tongue.
“What exactly is this evidence? Surely you’re not merely carrying a single ledger as circumstantial proof?”
“Rest assured. I’ve secured the ledgers, personnel records of those involved in the construction at the time, all documentation proving the nanny’s familial connections, and even witness testimonies.”
“Does Rocksburg spend the entire day excavating Royal Family scandals?”
“Not exclusively.”
I dig into other families’ secrets as well, after all.
Having spoken nothing but the truth, I watched Theodore’s disheveled hair as I finished changing into fresh clothes and emerged looking presentable.
“I arrived in haste empty-handed. I’ll have someone deliver the documents later, but I’d appreciate it if you could arrange an audience with His Majesty first.”
“The Royal Family doesn’t accept payment on credit.”
“If I cannot see His Majesty now, I will lose my betrothed. Should Glen Hofen leave me, I will abandon everything and marry you instead, Theodore.”
“Perhaps credit arrangements are acceptable after all.”
Theodore, recoiling as if he’d heard something dreadful, rose from his seat insisting we depart immediately to meet the King. While I was pleased my persuasion had succeeded, I couldn’t ignore him ordering the carriage prepared.
If we dawdled too long, Father might arrive first, risking the King noticing and going into hiding.
“We haven’t time for that. Elizabeth is outside—let’s go there.”
“Who is Elizabeth?”
Never mind.
I answered carelessly and seized the Crown Prince’s hand, pulling him along. Hurry, hurry. Explaining would waste over ten minutes.
I rushed down the stairs, confirmed Jack had arrived at the entrance hall, and instructed him to guide Father to the Audience Chamber upon his arrival at the Main Palace. Then I gently stroked Elizabeth, who waited obediently.
“Sit!”
I commanded.
I mounted Elizabeth’s back as she settled onto the ground and patted the spare seat behind me, yet for some reason Theodore simply stared at me blankly.
“What are you doing? Get on.”
“You’re asking me to ride behind you?”
“Yes.”
If he truly objected, he could impose on Jack instead—why was he hesitating like this? As the man stood motionless for far too long, my anxiety mounting, I clicked my tongue and spoke.
I possessed a magical word that would move him instantly.
“Marriage.”
The Crown Prince settled behind me without hesitation.
I pulled the reins to raise Elizabeth and guided the Crown Prince’s hands to wrap around my waist, then instructed firmly.
“Hold tight. There’s no remedy for falling off.”
The Crown Prince pressed against me, embracing my waist so firmly that I coughed involuntarily. It was only natural, but he truly seemed desperate not to be injured.

I leaped down from the carriage before Elizabeth came to a halt at the steps leading to the Main Palace where the Audience Chamber stood, extending my hand to Theodore.
The man stared at my outstretched hand with a bewildered expression before dismounting on his own. Embarrassed by the rejected gesture, I clenched my fist and hastened forward.
“What was that just now?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you going to pretend you don’t know?”
This fellow was persistent. It wasn’t an insurmountable problem, but it was humiliating enough that I wanted to keep silent. However, the Crown Prince was at an age where curiosity knew no bounds, so he continued pressing me for answers.
Since he kept asking all the way to the Audience Chamber where we would meet His Majesty, I decided to simply answer him. I cleared my throat once and told him the truth.
“It’s a habit I have. I made a mistake. Are you satisfied?”
“A habit you have?”
As Theodore pondered the meaning of my words, he seemed to arrive at the correct conclusion, his expression turning horrified. But when I move about with Glen, it’s faster and more convenient for both of us to hold hands or support each other, so I’ve developed the habit unconsciously. Well, what can I say.
“How touchingly close you two are.”
“We’re somewhat—”
“Then how did two people so close end up in a situation where you might separate?”
“That’s… a complicated matter.”
I was struggling to explain when the Crown Prince, who had raised the topic, suddenly waved his hand dismissively. Saying he had been hasty, he urged me not to speak of it and opened the door to the Secretary’s Office adjoining the Audience Chamber, suggesting we hurry along.
When Theodore informed the highest-ranking official there that he wished to see His Majesty, the response came that His Majesty had finished his afternoon nap and would emerge shortly.
“What is this nation coming to…?”
“Surely a brief rest is necessary when attending to state affairs, is it not?”
Don’t tell me you were also napping earlier?
My mind reeled at the thought of whether this was truly the heart of the nation or a royal nursery, when word came that His Majesty had completed his preparations for the audience.
When the Four Great Ducal Houses submit an audience request, days pass without approval, yet the moment his son calls, he emerges so promptly.
Still, I suppose I should be grateful that father and son get along so well, though I’m not quite sure what to make of it.
“Well then, shall we go?”
Come to think of it, this was my first time meeting His Majesty in this cycle. Even beyond the twenty-second cycle, His Majesty had always despised our family so thoroughly that across all my previous lives, the number of times I’d met the King could be counted on one hand.
What manner of person was the current King, Laios Alein?
I entered the Audience Chamber while still pondering this, and the moment I confirmed that His Majesty was casually seated upon the throne with his legs crossed, attended by only two royal guards, I could do nothing but laugh. The man wore comfortable clothing and bore the expression of someone not fully awake from sleep—exactly the same drowsy look Theodore had worn while rubbing his eyes and yawning. It wasn’t a metaphor; he really had been napping.
“My son. Why is Little Rocksburg here?”
“I am deeply sorry to call upon you at such an early hour, Your Majesty. I, Rosalite Rocksburg of the Rocksburg Ducal House, am young and inexperienced, lacking in perception and courtesy. I failed to reach the obvious conclusion that Your Majesty would be resting at such an early hour. I humbly beseech your boundless magnanimity to overlook my shortcomings and grant me your benevolent guidance for the good of the realm.”
“Little Rocksburg speaks as much as Eddy does.”
My father’s name is Edward, not Eddy. I wish he wouldn’t shorten it so carelessly. It’s absolutely revolting.
His Majesty, covering his ears in a manner I’d seen many times before, shook his head while flaunting his long, flowing golden hair as if he couldn’t hear my words, then asked Theodore what business had brought him here.
Since the Crown Prince himself had no business with His Majesty, the man simply stared blankly at me, and His Majesty, as if something had occurred to him, dropped his playful expression and hardened his face.
“Wait, Little Stubborn One, you don’t mean to say—”
His Majesty hesitated and rose from his seat when a commotion erupted outside. It was likely the voices of the royal guards and His Majesty’s secretaries.
They would be doing their duty, desperately holding back the Duke, William, and Jack Brown, while William, leading the charge, would be pushing through all who stood in his way without hesitation.
A scream was heard.
Voices pleading that this couldn’t happen were heard.
With a loud crash, the Audience Chamber door burst open.
The enormous door panel, its hinges completely torn away by the excessive force of William’s kick, collapsed with a thunderous sound.

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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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