Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 34

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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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Several nobles and wealthy merchants from the Duchy had learned about my menstrual cycle, but since I’d thoroughly teased Leon about it, I found the whole affair quite worthwhile.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone menstruates. Period cramps vary from person to person, but it’s a common ailment we all endure.”
“Could we please stop talking about this, Sister?”
“Didn’t you come here because of your period?”
“I did not!”
If it wasn’t that, then it wasn’t—so why was he shouting about it?
As I replied with indifference, Leon cleared his throat awkwardly, fumbled with something in his pocket, and placed it on the desk before sliding it toward me.
It was wrapped beautifully, which naturally aroused my suspicion. Today wasn’t my birthday, and… wait, could it be?
“Is this a gift to commemorate the end of my period?”
“Please stop talking about my period!”
Why was he shouting again?
Had he learned this from Glen? When did his voice become so loud? It was strange—he hadn’t even hit puberty yet, but his vocal cords had somehow strengthened considerably.
…Speaking of Glen, I should send him another reflection letter today. Though I still hadn’t received a reply.
“It’s just that I interfered with your work and caused you considerable trouble…”
“But you already apologized for that, and I already forgave you.”
“Still, my heart remains unsettled.”
Why was he dwelling on something already settled?
However, receiving a gift wasn’t an unpleasant thing, so I unwrapped it with genuine delight to examine its contents.
Inside the box were numerous small objects shaped like half a finger, apparently made of rubber. If that was the case, their purpose became immediately clear.
“This… this is…!”
Finger cots! These were finger cots, weren’t they?
Upon confirming Leon’s gift, I was overjoyed, slipping a cot onto my finger and turning a page of paper with it.
It turned beautifully! Of course it did! They were finger cots, after all!
“Where on earth did you buy these? They don’t even sell them at the Chatel Department!”
With these, I could finally bid farewell to the days of pressing my fingers into damp sponges until my fingerprints wore away completely. The fact that there was a merchant producing finger cots made me think I should allocate substantial business subsidies to them. Leon wore such a proud expression that I began to suspect something.
Could it be… Leon, you didn’t…?
“I purchased the molds and materials and made them myself, Sister.”
“What am I to do? My brother must be a genius.”
But how on earth did he make these? Can rubber be melted? And where did he even obtain rubber sap in the first place? Surely he didn’t venture all the way to the southern jungles of the Kingdom?
In any case, the pages turned so beautifully that my joy overflowed, and I sprang from my seat, spreading both arms toward Leon.
Leon hesitated for only three seconds before hurrying toward me and collapsing into my embrace.
“Oh, how good you are, how very good. Thinking of your sister like this.”
I was so proud of Leon that I stroked him from the crown of his head down to his lower back, and my wonderful brother laughed softly, burying his face in my chest.
He bent his knees to lower himself for the embrace, searching for where to place his hands before grasping my waist and fidgeting slightly. At seventeen, he still enjoyed being held by his sister—what was I to do about such a thing?
The thought that this adorable creature would one day become Aster was something I couldn’t believe, no matter how many times I witnessed it.
“Young Master! Young Master, are you here!”
What was all this commotion?
I was spending quality time with my only younger brother when someone called for me from outside the door. Without so much as a courtesy announcement, the servant from the Main Building knocked twice and burst through—but before I could voice my displeasure, he announced joyful news that lifted my spirits entirely.
“Young Master! A letter has arrived from Glen Hofen of Beloche Territory!”
“What?!”
Since this was the letter I’d been waiting for, I unceremoniously dumped Leon from my lap and rushed toward the servant bearing the correspondence. The sound of Leon tumbling backward reached my ears—a consequence of my rather forceful removal—but that hardly mattered now.
“Hand it over!”
I snatched the letter from the servant, broke the seal, and unfolded its contents.
Wait—why would he use parchment for a personal letter? Now that I thought about it, the seal bore the Rocksburg House crest quite beautifully, which made me uneasy enough to narrow my eyes as I read Glen’s words.
“….”
But honestly, there was no need to read this carefully—it all registered at a glance.
With a deflated sigh, I glanced at the ceiling once more before reading the parchment again. It contained only:

One mobile infantry company suitable for mountainous terrain.

That was all.
What on earth had Glen learned from Father?
Watching him embody the principle of stating only essential business with his entire being brought tears to my eyes. I could have sworn he wasn’t like this before. When he returns, I’ll have to make sure Father can’t play with him anymore.
“What is this? No matter how important his position as a lord, isn’t this far too disrespectful to you, Sister?”
Leon, who had tumbled backward moments earlier, sprang to his feet and read over my shoulder, his voice indignant.
When had he gotten so close?
Seeing that his training was progressing well, I wanted to give him a commendation stamp, but his sudden proximity startled me enough to raise goosebumps.
“Don’t be like that. The Duke typically communicates this way as well.”
“The Duke is the Duke, so he may do as he pleases, but this fellow—Glen surely isn’t beneath you in station. I dislike and resent that you’re being treated this way.”
“What hierarchy exists between betrothed?”
Besides, once I marry him, he’ll be Rocksburg too. Glen Hofen Rocksburg. How fitting that name sounds.
“Let me see….”
But I shouldn’t linger on this—if I’ve received a support request, I need to quickly select personnel.
I pulled Volume 13 of the personnel registry for those drawing salaries from the Rocksburg Ducal House, confirmed Will Brown’s file on the first page, and flipped through rapidly.
Ah, here he is—Prod. Real name unknown, birthplace unknown, age appears to be early thirties. This man working under Will Brown was, to my knowledge, the most underhanded tactician I knew.
He had been commander of a mercenary company based along the border between the Cerepia Federation and the Alein Kingdom, and for the right price, he’d fight for either side—Cerepia or our Northern Duchy of Alein—turning the entire war into chaos through methods so cowardly they were almost impressive.
Once, when his mercenary company faced annihilation, he asked the opposing commander for a one-on-one duel, claiming he wished to die honorably as at least a low-ranking knight, and requested time to bid farewell to his subordinates—all while appearing resolved to die nobly. Then he had his men breach the dams upstream, drowning the enemy forces stationed in the lowlands. For the record, Prod had never held any knightly title, then or now.
Beyond that, there were countless other atrocities: dressing as a woman to infiltrate the Cerepia Federation’s command quarters, seducing the commander into bed, then stabbing him in the abdomen and poisoning him; attacking a certain territory in the Northern Duchy of Alein by feigning a small-scale assault, infiltrating the castle to prepare for arson, then burning a quarter of the castle town with torches when the lord returned and threatening to slaughter all the territory’s people if they didn’t surrender. The list was too long to count on all fingers and toes.
It was Will Brown who, after years of investigation and surveillance, discovered where Prod’s family lived. And it was Father who threatened him—keep your family alive by entering my service—forcing the negotiation.
It’s debatable who was the greater villain, but regardless, Prod was recruited into the Ducal House for substantial compensation and now worked diligently with his former mercenary company under our employ.
To deal with the bandit group that had a schemer exploiting Sage, I’d need to assign Glen someone of this caliber.
“Lily! Parchment!”
“Yes, Young Master.”
From what I recalled, Prod’s current subordinates numbered fewer than fifty, so I’d have Will assign additional personnel to send to Glen.
After completing the letter to Will, I signed it “Rosalite Rocksburg,” rolled the parchment, sealed it with wax, pressed the Rocksburg seal firmly, and handed it to the servant who’d brought Glen’s letter, instructing him to deliver it to Will Brown.
That matter was settled. Since Leon was here, I might as well proceed with that task.
“Leon.”
“Yes, Sister.”
“What do you think about inviting the Third Prince to the Duke’s Mansion?”
“Pardon?”
Odd—Leon’s expression didn’t look good at all.
Rarely did Leon, who wore the face of someone who’d bitten into a worm, furrow his brows so deeply as he questioned me back.
“Sister, do you perhaps fancy him?”
“What a strange question. I cannot fathom how one could dislike someone with a robust chest and an apple-shaped posterior.”
“Pfft!”
Why on earth was this boy like this?
Leon pressed his own chest and made a “pfft” sound, then grabbed his buttocks with both hands before making another “pfft” sound and slammed my desk, thrusting his face forward.
Good heavens, what had gotten into him? Why was he acting so strangely? Soon the Royal Family would dispatch a healing mage to treat Sage, so perhaps I should have Leon examined as well?
“If Sister wishes it, I must comply. However, I have one request.”
“A request?”
“Please entrust the Third Prince’s escort to me.”
“That won’t do.”
“Pfft!”
I wasn’t entirely sure, but you certainly seemed fond of that phrase.
In any case, unlike before, I couldn’t discern what the Third Prince’s true intentions were, so I couldn’t simply attach Leon to him. Moreover, the Third Prince seemed quite taken with Leon.
He already seemed somewhat lacking in sense, and if the Third Prince were to throw a tantrum about taking Leon back to the Empire, it would prove troublesome to resolve.
“Then please grant me this much at least: when you guide the Third Prince, you must not go alone. Either accompany me, or arrange substantial escorts including Jack and Aster.”
My, had Leon also sensed that something about the Third Prince seemed off? Truly, my clever brother was living up to expectations.
Finding his words reasonable, I nodded and, as a thought occurred to me, picked up my quill once more.
“Very well. Then summon Luke Chatel.”
“Why him specifically?”
“I caused him trouble last time. This is a good opportunity to apologize and have him meet the Third Prince as well. Thanks to you, Leon, I’ll accomplish two things at once. I’m grateful.”
“Pfft!”
Whoever taught him that sound deserved interrogation.
Deciding to summon the instructors for questioning at some point, I drafted a letter to Luke asking if he would join me in inviting the Third Prince to the Duke’s Mansion, then checked the time.
A suitable hour. After lunch, I could ask Father about it during our walk.
“Aster.”
I asked Aster, who was still eating tacos, if she might be willing to spare one for Leon. Since only two tortillas remained, it was a difficult request, but I wagered on the possibility that she might already be full.
“This is precisely the portion I brought for Miss and myself.”
“So if I give my share to Leon….”
“Miss already ate earlier.”
But I’d only eaten one? I was about to add more when I reconsidered and rose from my seat. This wasn’t the first or second time this had happened—why should I press Aster about her eating habits?
Deciding to have Leon’s lunch brought separately from the Dining Hall, I informed the two maids that I would be leaving the Office briefly, then took Aster, who held one taco in each hand, and Leon, whose hands were empty.
Leon and I requested a sandwich each from the kitchen staff and stepped outside, while Aster, who had finished her tacos in the meantime, carried her own sandwich in her mouth and followed behind with our milk cups in hand.

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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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