Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 63

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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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Glen had never properly learned to ride, and Dylan, amusing himself, had put Glen on a horse and made him gallop. The fall happened, and Glen’s leg was crushed when the horse’s hoof struck him.Diamante, concerned that this accident might hinder Dylan’s succession to the Marquis House in any way, decided to bury the incident itself. Since the riding accident had never occurred, no doctor was called, and Glen received no proper treatment.It was only later that Benjamin Diamante, the eldest son of Uncle Louis’s household—my first cousin, in other words—discovered Glen suffering alone and called for help. But by then, the shattered bone fragments were causing internal bleeding, and the blood vessels had swollen beyond repair.Benjamin looked into the details separately, but even when Glen heard he might never use his leg again, he desperately denied it—insisting he had simply fallen on his own and that his mother and Dylan were not responsible.In any case, this incident became the reason Glen still limped. Both Uncle Louis and Father received reports about it, but since Glen was not strictly speaking a member of our household and there was neither reason nor justification to protect him, they left his treatment to Diamante and abandoned him to his fate.Father and I only began to care now that we’ve learned how useful Glen is. We have no shame in dwelling on what happened in the past and holding her accountable. But the very person who first treated Glen as if he didn’t exist now speaks of her precious son—it was enough to make me scoff.”Since you’re here anyway, why don’t you tour the neighborhood? Don’t bother my precious husband.”I understood that Dylan, who had been pouring all his support into this, had become difficult, but she couldn’t just come at me like this without restraint.Glen had come to find me to protect his younger brother and mother from Benjamin, whose intentions I couldn’t fathom. Yet that man was scheming how to squeeze every last bit of benefit from Glen. What a mess.The end times. Truly the end times.”Lily. Prepare paper. I need to send word to Glen.””Yes, Young Master.”Seeing how that lady was coming at me like this, I had no idea what she might say to Glen. I should give him advance warning not to entertain her.
Diamante, worried that this accident might hinder Dylan’s succession to the dukedom in any way, decided to bury the accident itself at the time, and since the fall from a horse never happened in the first place, she did not call for a Doctor, leaving Glen without proper treatment.
It was only later that Benjamin Diamante, the eldest son of Uncle Louis’s household and my distant cousin, discovered Glen suffering alone and called for help, but by then the shattered bone fragments were already causing internal bleeding and the blood vessels had ruptured so severely that there was nothing more that could be done.
I heard that while Benjamin looked into the details of what happened separately, even when Glen heard that he might not be able to use his legs in the future, he insisted on denying it desperately, saying that he had fallen on his own and that his mother and Dylan had nothing to do with it.
In any case, this incident became the cause of Glen’s limp that persists to this day, and while both Uncle Louis and the Duke were informed of the matter, Glen was not strictly a member of our household, nor was there reason or justification to protect him, so they left his treatment to Diamante and abandoned him.
Now that both Father and I have come to recognize Glen’s usefulness, we’re simply trying to move past it, so I have no shame in not dwelling on what happened in the past or holding her accountable. However, the very person who treated Glen as if he didn’t exist is now talking about her precious son, which is nothing but laughable.
“Since you’re already here, why don’t you look around the neighborhood before you go? And please don’t bother my precious husband.”
I understand Dylan’s position became difficult after he put all his support behind Jiwon, but he can’t just come at me like this without any regard for the situation.
Glen came to find me to protect his younger brother and mother from Benjamin, whose intentions were completely unclear, but that guy just keeps scheming on how to shake me down for everything I’m worth. This is ridiculous.
The end times are here. It’s the apocalypse.
“Lily. Prepare the paper. I need to contact Glen.”
“Yes, young master.”
Seeing that woman coming at me like this made me wonder what she might say to Glen. I should have given him a heads-up beforehand to not engage with her.

◇ ◆ ◇

Days passed after I sent the letter to Glen, and Diamante returned home, apparently finished with her sightseeing in the Capital. And surprisingly, a reply came back from Glen.Since he had come directly to the Duke’s Mansion before to discuss the marriage contract, he must have found time in his schedule now.The thought that the lord of Beloche Territory would soon leave a deputy in his domain and return to the Duchy filled me with joy, but after I opened the letter and read its contents, my expression twisted entirely.In Glen Hofen’s own handwriting, it stated that his mother had fallen gravely ill, and he was asking permission to delegate territory management to Philip and visit the Diamante Territory.That lady really does want to become critically ill in my hands, doesn’t she.I did not grant Glen’s request.
Before, he was busy enough to come directly to the Duke’s Mansion to make a marriage contract, so it seems he has some free time now.
I was in a great mood thinking that the lord of Veloce would soon return to the Duchy after leaving a representative in charge of his territory, but after opening the letter and checking its contents, my expression crumpled completely.
It contained a handwritten letter from Glen Hofen requesting permission from his mother, stating that since she was gravely ill, he wished to entrust the management of his territory to Philip and travel to the Diamond Territory.
You really want to end up seriously hurt by my hands, don’t you?
I did not grant Glen’s request.

Over the following days, letters continued to arrive from Glen Hofen, the filial son of the century.
When I had sent my letter of reflection, he could barely manage to write an extra character, yet somehow he had mastered cursive writing and now penned lengthy letters seeking my permission at every turn. The man who had completed a manual for emergencies regarding the delegation of territory management added a postscript begging me to allow him to visit his mother.
Honestly, I had no desire to grant him any concessions, but since I was curious to see this emergency manual myself, I sent letters of inquiry to Benjamin Diamante and Jean Brown of the Marquis Territory.
I asked how the Marquise was faring, hearing she was quite unwell, but both men replied that Diamante was in excellent health. I enclosed their response in an envelope and sent it to Beloche Territory, requesting a copy of the emergency manual.
Thanks to the testimony of Benjamin Diamante and Jean Brown, Glen seemed satisfied, and afterward the man stopped pestering me and sent a separate copy of the emergency manual I had requested.
Truly, it was Glen. He had documented the emergency protocols so meticulously for situations that might arise during his superior’s absence.
Since the Duke’s Mansion also had a response manual for the Duke’s sudden illness, I modified it using that as reference and, having drafted the revised manual proposal under the joint names of Rosalite Rocksburg and Glen Hofen, I scheduled an appointment and knocked on my father’s office door to obtain his approval.
After receiving permission to enter, I stepped inside, and the first thing that caught my eye were four portraits placed in the corner of the room.
I recognized every face. After all, those who had ultimately married the Crown Prince in the previous rounds had largely come from among these four. So this day has finally arrived.
“Are these matchmaking photographs?”
“Yes.”
Father’s expression looked more resolute than ever.
Yes, it’s truly time to let her go now. Soon she’ll be twenty-eight. We’ve been praying that at least an engagement could be arranged, if not marriage itself.
The Crown Prince himself would undoubtedly be suffering under pressure from the King and Queen.
“Let me first show you what I mentioned.”
As I handed the manual I wished to revise to Father, he swept his eyes across the entire document, nodded with a satisfied expression.
No matter how many times I repeated my cycles, I could never master that skill. How on earth does he read through everything so quickly?
“How is Glen doing these days?”
“The filial son of the century, upon hearing that the Marquise was ill, nearly abandoned his territory to rush to the Marquis Territory, but thanks to my dissuasion, he is diligently fulfilling his duties as lord.”
“His mother is gravely ill, so surely such a matter would warrant—”
“No. The lady is in perfect health.”
“Even if she weren’t ill, if he wishes to visit his mother, that’s something you could easily permit at your own discretion, is it not?”
“There would be no benefit to the young lord in meeting her.”
As my stance grew firm, Father fell silent, and William stepped forward cautiously. That man who usually said nothing but “It’s all the young lady’s fault” now uttered something different.
“This is a sensitive matter, so it’s best not to interfere. And the young lady has not spoken incorrectly.”
I never thought the day would come when this man would take my side.
With fresh emotions, I received the revised proposal bearing Father’s seal and attempted to withdraw quietly, but the Duke seemed to have more business with me.
“Rather, Rosalite. There’s something I need to have delivered to His Highness soon.”
Something?
At Father’s words, I reflexively glanced at the portraits and quickly surmised what proposal Father might make.
With portraits lined up throughout the room and talk of something that needs to be delivered to His Highness, it could only be about conveying the matchmaking prospects. To broach this topic, it would be easier to apply pressure by sending someone from among the Four Great Ducal Houses.
The Dukes are busy, so naturally one of the heirs would go. Ideally, someone close in age to His Highness with an already stable household would be best.
Since the other party cannot find fault, one simply needs to nag about getting married and return after making a fuss—quite an enjoyable task. Besides, I have important business with His Highness that I needed to attend to anyway.
“I’ll go! Let me go!”
“Do you understand what this task entails?”
“To nag His Highness about getting married and return, is it not?”
“It’s not just nagging. You must also secure a promise that he’ll meet with the matchmaking candidates.”
“I’ll stay at the Royal Palace for three nights and four days, and torment him even while he sleeps until I obtain a firm answer.”
“That won’t do. Maximum one night.”
“Two nights.”
“One night.”
“Rock, paper, scissors.”
“Fine.”
Please, let fortune smile upon me!
Father called out “Rock, paper, scissors!” with vigor, and we both thrust out our arms to settle the match. In the end, I lost and tore at my hair in frustration.
I should have thrown scissors. I should have thrown scissors!
“One night. The date is the day after tomorrow at 3 in the afternoon.”
Ugh, how infuriating. If this man works well, dances well, and even has good luck, what on earth is his shortcoming? Does he have no eye for women? Does he have strange taste in women? But isn’t that less of a shortcoming and more of a pitiful flaw?
“Isn’t the schedule rather tight?”
“I ran into Edanelli at the ball the other day and hastily extracted this promise from His Highness.”
“Did you enjoy the ball?”
“It was exhilarating.”
“You abandoned your daughter and went out to play alone, so you must have enjoyed yourself without a shred of guilt.”
“Why don’t you ask that accomplished Papa to take you along?”
Huh? Accomplished Papa? Is he talking about Sage?
Bewildered by the sudden mention of that person, Father furrowed his brow deeply and told me to take the portrait and matchmaking documents and look them over carefully.
I suppose I’ll need to go through them methodically, so I’ll head back soon, but… Papa? Why is that coming up now?
I had Aster carry the luggage and was about to leave Father’s office when William moved his lips toward me. Though he made no sound, I could read those words as clearly as if they’d been shouted, and I understood instinctively.
Young Lady, you were in the wrong.
I wondered if I’d let this one slide today without hearing it.

◇ ◆ ◇

I really do need to expand the office.
As I reviewed the matchmaking documents for the Crown Prince, I gazed at the increasingly cluttered interior and thought sincerely about it.
When urgent luggage arrives, there’s nowhere to set things down. It hadn’t been a problem until now, but reflecting on how this situation arose, it was largely due to Jack Brown’s prominence.
That man spent his idle hours beside me polishing weapons, designing new ones, tinkering away at prototypes, or assembling bottle ships—so a workshop had already claimed the space by the window.
Aster never caused such problems because he only ate during his free time, which I suppose was my oversight.
Lily and Violet each had small rooms where they could rest, yet my guards had no such space. That seemed rather odd.
While expanding, it would be good to bring in more bookshelves and create a separate archive. Leon and Glen also needed personal spaces. If the two of them were cramped together, it would be inconvenient, so it would be better to place them on opposite sides relative to me.
This will require major renovations. Simply expanding this office won’t solve the problem. I should find a suitable location and build a new office, and while I’m at it, create a dedicated printing room for Ram Bart to use beside it. I should also urgently construct a home for Peter Brown, Jack Brown’s pet rabbit.
That rabbit is so large that its feed costs are astronomical, and since it eats so much, it produces an equally enormous amount of waste—Brown and Sage’s complaints have been endless.
A spacious office, a new printing room, cozy rest areas for the staff, modern refreshment facilities, an archive, a rabbit house, waste disposal facilities.
The sound of construction won’t cease in this house for a while. I should post a notice asking for understanding regarding the noise.
“Aster! Bring me the secondary letterhead and official documents!”
“Yes, Young Lady!”
Besides, if it’s construction, I already have talented people in mind.

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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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