Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 71

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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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The child who had been cautiously gauging my mood like a nervous puppy timidly asked if I was angry, and after a moment’s thought, I shook my head.
I wasn’t angry. If anything, I was more surprised.
“I’m relieved. I was worried I’d done something wrong again….”
“Wrong? You’re always doing so well. Besides, what’s a little mistake? It happens between siblings, and if it’s something done outside, I’ll take responsibility and smooth it over.”
“Thank you. There’s truly no one like you, Sister.”
“Of course. Leave everything to your one and only sister.”
“Speaking of which, I haven’t received today’s physical affection yet.”
Oh, was that so?
Now that he mentioned it, I moved to sit beside Leon and gave him today’s proper warm embrace, pinched his cheek because he was so adorable, and gently patted his back.
After finishing that series of gestures, I noticed my teacup, which should have been across the table, had somehow been moved to the spot in front of where I was sitting.
“Here, Sister. Say ‘ah.'”
And he even cut a piece of his own cake to feed me.
What a good child. Isn’t that the only strawberry part on your cake? You eat mine instead.
“You need to eat fruit to grow tall. Don’t be modest—you eat the strawberry.”
“Then I won’t hold back.”
He munches away happily. Is he perhaps an angel? Leon really might be an angel, mightn’t he? How can eating look so wholesome when done by such a good child? At his age, he should eat well. Even if the result of that growth becomes the inscrutable Asterion.
“While I’m away, Leon will help out too, but I’m delegating my full authority to you, Glen, so I’m counting on you.”
“I know well that telling you otherwise would fall on deaf ears. Are you planning to take Aster as your escort?”
“Well…, that’s the thing.”
I think I’ll need to take Jack along as well.
There was that incident where Aster growled in front of Father, so I needed someone to keep him in check while I was away. Jack Brown would be perfect for that.
I glanced sidelong at Jack Brown, who was on escort duty today, and casually mentioned the idea of taking both of them, when the usually quiet Jack suddenly interjected.
“I think I’d prefer to stay here.”
“Huh? Jack, you can talk now? Congratulations.”
“I could talk from the beginning. The doctor said to keep my mouth shut if I wanted my bones to heal quickly, so I was just following that advice.”
“Good thing you listen to the doctor so well. Jack, you’re such a good person.”
I tried to examine his jawbone while praising Jack, but the gas mask got in the way and I couldn’t grab his face.
I told him to take off that gas mask and set down those strange blades in both his hands, then come closer, but Jack shook his head firmly and refused to remove the mask.
“I’d rather not. The population density here is quite high.”
“What does that have to do with taking off your gas mask?”
“If I take this off, I’d have to breathe in everyone else’s unfiltered exhaust.”
…Do you have germaphobia too?
No, in Jack’s case it seems more like obsessive-compulsive disorder….
“Anyway, I’ll have to decline. What would happen to Glen if I’m not here?”
“Why are you bringing up Glen?”
Unable to understand, I stared at Glen, and the man suddenly looked embarrassed before speaking to Jack Brown in a gentle tone, saying he was fine.
What’s this? Why are those two so close? My fiancée is being ignored, so why are you and my escort getting along so well, Glen Hofen?
“I’m not tired anymore. Don’t worry about me and go ahead.”
“What? While Glen has been growing, what have I been doing with my hands idle? Never mind that—listen to what I’m saying.”
“If you’re truly anxious about it… I’ll call Prod.”
“Hmm.”
Jack scratched the back of his head in contemplation before finally nodding and deciding to follow Glen’s wishes.
“Understood. For something like this, Prod would be better suited than me.”
So what exactly are they talking about so enthusiastically without me? Curious, I asked Jack, and the man scoffed before picking up a dagger in each hand and returning to sharpen his blades.
“It’s something the Young Lady will never know about.”
Don’t leave me out like this!
As I huffed and stomped my feet, Glen smiled as if to soothe me, saying that since things had come to this, I shouldn’t worry about the Mansion’s affairs and should just consider this a chance to rest and take a break.
Sigh, Jack Brown—remember that I’m only tolerating this because of Glen.
“I’m sorry and grateful that you always have to work hard because of me, Glen.”
“It’s fine. It’s part of my duties as your aide. Besides…”
Huh? Besides what? Why is he pausing like that?
I waited quietly for Glen to continue when, the moment he brought up a certain topic, the tea I was drinking went up my nose.
I managed not to show my embarrassment, but right now I feel like I’m dying.
“How are the preparations for our wedding coming along?”
“Cough! Cough!”
Oh no—I’d completely forgotten about it because of the blind date preparations.
Pretending to cough, I wiped the tea from my nose with my sleeve, then decided to play dumb and slip out of the office.
Besides, I had plenty to prepare from now on. Yes, that’s why I’m leaving this place. It’s definitely not because I forgot about the wedding preparations and am trying to shirk responsibility.
Using the excuse that I had business outside, I took Jack with me, rushed to Father’s library, gathered a pile of example materials for Rocksburg-style wedding ceremonies, and stuffed them into the trunk I’d prepared for going to the island.
Jack complained that I was pathetic, but after going back and forth, he promised to keep it secret from Glen and helped me anyway.
For someone who doesn’t look it, he’s surprisingly kind.

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The day of the Crown Prince’s matchmaking had arrived!
The weather was far more beautiful than expected, so I dressed in vacation attire, donned a straw hat, borrowed a pair of sunglasses from Jack’s collection, and set out to the Tourist Port of Bienar Territory with my attendants and personal luggage loaded into two carriages.
Though autumn had arrived, today the weather was exceptionally clear and pleasant. The sun blazed brilliantly while the breeze blew gently—warm enough to feel like summer itself. Had I known, I would have packed a swimsuit. I’d heard the coral reefs in that region were quite famous.
“Young Lady, you’ll hurt yourself! Please don’t run!”
But how could I not run on such a beautiful day! Jack, do you have any idea how many months it’s been since I was cooped up in the office without seeing sunlight?!
Basking in the sunlight for the first time in ages, I spread my arms wide like I was photosynthesizing and laughed as I ran about. When I spotted Theodore descending from the Royal Palace carriage procession with a smile on his face, I hurried over to greet him.
Pressing my straw hat firmly against my head to keep it from blowing away in the sea breeze, I offered my respects, but the man responded with a sneer from the very start.
“My, my. So you’re the young lady of Rocksburg. With that appearance, I mistook you for some village girl passing by.”
“Your Highness managed to arrive here bundled up so tightly on such a fine day. I’m sure the parts we can’t see are already drenched in sweat, aren’t they? Why don’t you try loosening up a bit?”
“Unlike the young lady, my sweat glands are equipped with the ability to read the atmosphere, so I refrain from such slovenly behavior. If you went around shedding your clothes so carelessly just because it’s hot, your fiancé would surely have something to say about it.”
“Unlike Your Highness, my fiancé is a kind person who only speaks sweetly to me.”
“Already under someone’s thumb, I see. How pitiful.”
“If these matchmaking meetings go well, that could become Your Highness’s future as well.”
“Hmph, that’ll never happen to me.”
That insufferable man—without even saying he was leaving, he simply turned his head and walked toward the ship.
I swung my fist at the back of his head a few times before gathering Jack and Aster to board.
This matchmaking seemed to have been arranged after the Eighth Princess of the Empire sent the first overture, so the Crown Prince’s protective detail was composed of the maximum number of elite personnel, while the Princess’s side had promised to come with minimal attendants.
When the side that initiated contact made such concessions, the Crown Prince couldn’t very well refuse the matchmaking. Moreover, from the way things were progressing, it was clear the Eighth Princess held quite favorable feelings toward the Crown Prince.
According to reports from Rocksburg informants planted in the Royal Palace, the letter that came directly to the Crown Prince revealed that the Princess had long admired him and was begging for just one meeting.
Well, I suppose…
The Crown Prince does have an excellent face, so it’s possible someone could fall for him.
Once they meet and have a few conversations, they’ll realize what an insufferable person he is. So there’s probably not much I need to do this time, right?
I hope so. I’d like to simply enjoy my vacation.
I came to the bow and watched the wind while gazing at the island we would soon reach. Since it was only five kilometers northeast of the Tourist Port, the ship quickly arrived at the Rioka Island dock. Under the direction of the Crown Prince’s chief attendant and myself, the luggage we’d brought aboard was promptly transferred to the Royal Villa.
The chief attendant and I worked together surprisingly well, finishing the luggage transfer and personnel arrangements faster than expected. Not wanting to miss this opportunity, I dragged him to a secluded spot and made him a recruitment offer to work in Rocksburg. Just then, I heard Jack shouting from the direction of the villa’s garden, where he’d been keeping watch for any arriving Royal Palace personnel.
“Young Lady! An Imperial sailing ship bearing the Empire’s flag is approaching the dock!”
Already?! What time would they have had to depart from the Empire to arrive now? Last night? Have they been sailing non-stop since last night?
Curious, I ran out to the garden and found Jack looking far more interesting than the Imperial sailing ship.
Something about those lenses… Now I understood why he’d so readily handed over the sunglasses. He’d brought along some kind of gas mask equipped with special functions.
The eye portions of Jack’s gas mask had expandable and contractible mechanisms, which appeared to function as a telescope.
Only Sage would equip Jack with something like that. I recalled how he’d staged a one-man protest in front of the Magic Research Institute not long ago, demanding new 007 equipment under the guise of protecting me. So he’d finally gotten his hands on this.
“Shall we prepare?”
“Yes. It’s only proper that we go greet them.”
Though the road to the villa was well-maintained, the villa itself was situated at a high elevation, so it would have been difficult to reach without bringing a carriage.
As for Theodore with his smiling face… he was probably… taking a nap right about now.
I couldn’t let the Princess discover the Kingdom’s shameful secret, so I’d need to manage the timing carefully.
After harnessing horses to the carriage that had been well-maintained at the villa, we quickly made our way down to the dock to receive the Eighth Princess.

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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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