Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 47

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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 could accept that she was beautiful, but… pitiful? Had I misunderstood the dictionary definition of the word? Wasn’t “pitiful charm” usually reserved for describing someone like Glen?
“Sigh…”
After a moment’s hesitation, I realized this was no time for such deliberation. I quickly seized Aster’s hand and dragged her directly before the Fourth Prince. If I was to complete my duties and return to the Kingdom, I couldn’t afford to be choosy about my methods. I had to use every tool at my disposal.
“Aster, this is the Fourth Prince of the Largol Empire. Pay your respects.”
“…? I’m Aster Brown.”
As I attempted to close the distance between them, Aster seemed bewildered but ultimately complied with my intentions.
The Prince, finding Aster within arm’s reach, initially fumbled through the Imperial tongue before realizing she spoke only the Kingdom language. He then switched to fluent Alein Kingdom speech.
“I, I am Nerva Tianuus Largol, the fourth heir to the throne of the Largol Empire. It is an honor to meet someone as beautiful as Miss Aster.”
“…I’m honored as well?”
Aster, gauging my reaction carefully, hesitantly extended her hand for a handshake when I gestured encouragingly.
Ha. “Miss Aster”… even I had never heard him use such a term before. Poor Aster must be utterly bewildered.
“Is this your first time in the Empire? You must have endured quite the arduous journey from so far away.”
The Fourth Prince produced a handkerchief and meticulously wiped down the guest sofa before offering it to Aster. She cast a confused glance at me, as if suggesting I sit first, but the invitation wasn’t extended to me—if I sat, I’d only invite ridicule.
I pressed down on Aster’s shoulder to urge her to sit without hesitation, and the woman promptly collapsed onto the sofa with a flustered expression.
Naturally, the bastard never offered me a seat.
“From distant Alein to Largol… oh, no! I don’t mean you’re unwelcome! I truly welcome you! Thank you so much for coming!”
But I already explained the purpose of our visit earlier.
With a faint hope, I stood beside Aster and whispered into her ear. I asked her to relay that the Third Prince of our country had become obsessed with our Princess, and to urgently request his assistance in arranging her repatriation. Aster recited my words verbatim without a single error, and the Fourth Prince laughed good-naturedly.
“Ah, that matter! That’s child’s play! What could I possibly be unable to accomplish in the Empire!”
Watching the short man laugh heartily, indignation surged within me.
This bastard—when I begged him before, he said he’d merely consider it. When I asked him to reconsider and struck his desk, he glared at me as if he’d kill me. And now this?
But business was business, and I couldn’t let personal grievances interfere. I suppressed my anger and relayed the next request to Aster. She seemed increasingly uncomfortable sitting there, but this wasn’t the time to consider her convenience.
“And… if it’s possible, I would like to meet with His Holiness the Pope…”
“If you accompany me, it should be fine. I’ll arrange the schedule soon.”
This is driving me insane.
Feeling as though I might lose my mind, I pressed my temples firmly with my palms and desperately considered whether there was anything else I could extract from the Fourth Prince. The man offered Aster a glass of water—not me—and proceeded to have an animated tea time with her, chattering away merrily.
Though Aster repeatedly glanced at me and suggested I sit as well, the Fourth Prince steadfastly refused to grant me permission to join them.
“Oh, I wish I could talk more, but I have an important engagement next. Still, how fortunate this is. What perfect timing you had in finding me. Had you arrived even slightly later, I wouldn’t have been at the palace.”
“Ah… yes…”
“Miss Aster is truly fortunate. I hear you’re currently staying at Lucius’s palace—that one-eyed, brutish-looking man’s residence? Living in such a gloomy place will rot a person’s spirit. My guest chamber faces due south with excellent sunlight, and I’ve just refurbished all the furniture to be sturdy and refined. Why don’t you move your quarters there? I’ll have everything prepared.”
Remarkable. Just moments ago he was issuing a guest restriction order, and now he’s preparing rooms.
The man summoned a maidservant and ordered her to arrange accommodations for Aster and her entourage. He then bowed respectfully to Aster and, seeming reluctant to part, even kissed the back of her hand before departing.
Sitting alone on the sofa, Aster uttered a sentence I had never heard from her lips in all my years.
“I want to go home, miss.”
Not until the business is concluded.
I soothed and coaxed Aster to persevere until our tasks were complete, then followed a maidservant’s guidance to the assigned guest chamber.
I had harbored a premonition this might happen, but I never expected that Prince to give Aster the finest room and assign me the small adjoining chamber.

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Over the past two days, I’d kept a watchful eye, wondering if the Fourth Prince had merely promised the Third Prince’s repatriation to appease Aster without genuine intent. Yet to my surprise, he was diligently preparing the request for the Emperor’s approval, honoring his word with meticulous care.
Once my belongings had been transferred from the First Prince’s Palace and Noitram’s Elite had completed their relocation, the First Prince requested an audience with me. He praised my temperament as quite remarkable, though I couldn’t bring myself to accept the compliment graciously.
No, that wasn’t my doing at all—it was Aster who….
In the Fourth Prince’s Palace’s guest chamber—or rather, the small room where I actually resided—I couldn’t very well summon the First Prince to my modest quarters, so I received him in Aster’s spacious guest chamber. There, I gossiped with him about how the Fourth Prince seemed to have lost his mind.
After some time had passed, a maidservant knocked and entered. Aster had gone out riding for a picnic after the Fourth Prince had pestered her into it, so the chamber was empty. I wondered what this could be about.
『Miss Rocksburg. This is for you.』
The maidservant explained it was a surprise gift to be kept safe until Aster’s return, and after asking me to deliver it along with the enclosed card, she left the chamber.
Curious about what gift warranted such a large box, I carefully opened it and found jewelry adorned with gemstones and a crimson dress inside. I closed the box again.
Sigh.
How was I supposed to explain this to Aster?
『It seems that Nerva fellow has taken quite a fancy to Miss Rocksburg. Judging by all these gifts, anyway.』
『Ha. You already know, yet you ask deliberately?』
『True enough.』
『You’re quite the troublemaker.』
The moment we exchanged greetings in Aster’s chamber, he’d opened the door to my small room and burst into uproarious laughter—he clearly knew the situation.
He thanked me, saying he couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed so hard his belly ached. But I felt no joy at his gratitude. Besides, the small room was perfectly livable—it had a bed, bookshelves, a window, and even space for a tea table.
It was sufficient for sleeping alone. The problem was that Aster refused to use her spacious bedroom and instead squeezed into my cramped bed.
『You should understand that having gone to such lengths, you’d best not expect to set foot in your homeland unscathed.』
You can say that again.
His words carried both substance and barbs—a clear declaration that he wouldn’t leave me in peace. I sipped the lemon tea I’d brewed myself and sighed heavily. Some of my diplomatic achievements in the Empire had been gifts from the First Prince, hoping I wouldn’t resent him for failing to secure the Third Prince’s repatriation. But now that I’d caused a scene and gotten involved with the Fourth Prince….
Anyone would view me unfavorably for accomplishing everything I wished and departing. The First Prince himself, the nobles under his command, the Fourth Prince’s faction, and even the Temple—those who despised the Heretical Sect—would all be grinding their teeth at me.
But regarding the Fourth Prince, I felt only wronged. I’d never anticipated he would become so infatuated with Aster.
『Of course, should you wish to naturalize, I would accept asylum applications from your entire household.』
『Ah, but there’s so much work waiting for me back home.』
『Work can only be done by the living, can it not?』
『In Alein, I’m living comfortably with the Crown Prince’s favor. Why would I start from scratch in a foreign land? What good is such a meager existence?』
『It seems I’ve heard every excuse there is.』
Since Lucius appeared deeply displeased, I feigned indifference and asked if he’d like another cup of tea. The maidservants here, apparently instructed by the Fourth Prince, refused to attend to me, so I had no choice but to serve myself. Amused by the sight, the First Prince deliberately poured the remaining tea into a potted plant and put me to work.
『You have such a pleasant disposition. How can someone be so charming?』
『I hear that often.』
『Yes. Hear it often and live very, very long.』
I wanted to grab that blindfold and yank it clean off. Then Lucius would clutch his face and writhe in agony.
The thought amused me so much I smirked as I returned to the table with properly steeped black tea, each cup garnished with a thin slice of lemon floating on top.
『You seem more practiced at brewing tea than at imagining things.』
『Coffee grows tedious after a while, so I’ve grown accustomed to tea.』
『That’s not quite what I meant….』
Then what did he mean?
Caffeine may be a necessity of life, but when you drink nothing but coffee day after day, there comes a point where merely smelling it makes you nauseous. To prepare for such moments, I’ve created numerous recipes to replenish my caffeine intake through various methods.
My Office drink bar contained not only coffee but also black tea and green tea leaves, various fruit syrups for arrangements, and even cocoa powder from a special recipe created by a certain kitchen staff member of the Rocksburg House.
The other day, I tricked Leon into thinking it was sweet and gave him sugarless hot chocolate—watching him unable to spit it out and only tear up was absolutely hilarious.
As I recalled that and chuckled to myself, the First Prince’s expression grew sour.
『You certainly live life with enjoyment.』
『Isn’t that better than living miserably?』
『No. Seeing you laugh in this situation makes me wonder if you’ve lost your mind.』
This situation? Ah, he meant the threat that I wouldn’t set foot on my homeland alive?
Well, so be it if I die. I found the prospect of returning home without completing my mission far more stressful than facing death—more so than the sixteen-year-old Rosalite would have. It hardly mattered to me.
The Third Prince would return to his homeland, and now I could focus solely on my own affairs. I am now a free Rosalite!
As long as I fulfill Leon’s wish, I can act freely…!
“….”
Oh no, Leon!
I should have asked about Leon’s wish, damn it!
It’s been about two years since I first asked him—surely he’s developed some personal desires by now? Things like not wanting to work anymore, not wanting to study?
…But if Leon stops working, things become difficult for me, and my confidence in telling him that studying doesn’t matter approaches zero. What should I do?
Still, having entered the Duke’s House and received meals, he should fulfill his assigned duties, and studying too—what benefit is there to me if Leon studies? What do I gain? It all contributes to the future of Aster’s life, which is precisely why I’m having him do it.

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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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