Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 98

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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 finished laughing, drank a glass of milk, and recounted the harrowing tale of what I’d experienced today. Remembering her expression made me shudder again.
“Glen was wearing the Crown Prince smile.”
“What’s that?”
“You know, the one Theodore does all the time—like this, grinning wide, like this.”
I pulled at the corners of my mouth with my fingers to demonstrate, and Jack let out an “Oh…” before nodding knowingly. Then, as if there was nothing more to consider, he spoke.
“The Young Lady must have done something wrong.”
“I didn’t!”
This time I was genuinely indignant! I hadn’t done anything wrong, I tell you!
As I recounted everything that had happened throughout the day, Jack Brown rubbed his dry face with his palms as if washing it.
“Where exactly did the Young Lady go wrong?”
“What did I do?”
“If Leon said he was dumping all his work on the Young Lady and going out to play with his girlfriend, what would you think?”
“I’d tell him to have fun.”
“And if His Highness abandoned his duties, dumped everything on the Young Lady, and went to take a nap?”
“That’s asking for death.”
Wait.
No, but—Glen and I are different. When he comes back from playing, I can easily handle the work I’ve put off. Besides, taking a nap and going to monitor Leon are completely different situations!
“It seems His Highness places great importance on nap time.”
“Important? It’s just an excuse because he doesn’t want to work!”
“And monitoring the young master under the guise of supervision—that sounds impressive?”
Wait.
No, no, don’t give in. I still don’t accept this.
“No, it’s just that you don’t understand—there are deeper circumstances here.”
“That’s precisely the problem—you don’t understand.”
Wait.
You know, now that I think about it, he’s right. A petty person truly understands another petty person’s heart best.
“Well, it’s not like that, you see…”
“Beyond that, he’s accumulated quite a lot, hasn’t he? The grievances from the warm embrace period with the young master, not being allowed to touch the fountain pen, giving the forbidden fountain pen to the young master, taking the young master’s side, the sweet rice punch, commuting together with the young master, visiting the young master’s room on weekends, inviting the Third Prince without warning, going to the island with the Crown Prince, and calling that merchant who looks like a courtesan’s older brother every week.”
“Wait. There’s that much?”
“I told you there was a lot.”
At this rate, he’ll even hold it against me if I sneeze while working.
“Normally in situations like this, we’d have family time to soothe feelings.”
“If it’s a gift you want, I can provide anything.”
“I said time. Did you understand what I meant?”
Why is he sighing again? He’s discouraging me. If my words were wrong, just say so.
As I sat there silently munching on snacks, Jack seemed to take pity on me, swallowed, and offered his suggestion.
“Let me explain what family service typically means, so listen carefully.”
“Yes, I will.”
If I’m going to listen, I shouldn’t mess it up. I nodded and listened to what Jack was saying, writing down what he told me to write as well.
What the man emphasized in particular was that whenever Leon and Glen fought, I should side with Glen as much as possible—he said this was so important that I should write it on large paper and review it three times a day.

◇ ◆ ◇

This is the first time I’m attending a banquet alone with Asterion.
Since Asterion was representing our house today, I dressed relatively modestly and waited for Leon while holding a parasol lightly in my hand.
Today’s outdoor banquet held in the Princess Palace Garden had no particularly grand reason—the Queen hosted it to commemorate the Four-span Princess’s month of abstinence.
I suspected the Princess would be too embarrassed to leave the palace, and it seemed like it would turn into a simple gathering where people would admire the flowers, enjoy themselves, and then part ways.
That’s why I prepared a parasol, worried the sun might be too harsh. It was an essential item for a lady going flower viewing.
“Sister! You’re beautiful today as well!”
I already knew that, but shouting it the entire way while running from ten meters away was embarrassing. It was like how calling a fool a fool carries sincerity and becomes an insult—telling a beautiful person they’re beautiful makes you feel their sincerity in return, and it’s mortifying.
“Thank you, Asterion. That beetle-colored vest you’re wearing today is quite lovely.”
“It’s not beetle-colored—it’s greenery silk. Karl and Quill will be disappointed.”
So that beetle color is this year’s color that Karl Brown and Quill Brown chose? No wonder when I went out beyond the gate last time, I said there was some grasshopper or cricket-like person standing there.
I’m not doubting their fashion sense, but sometimes they select colors that ordinary people simply can’t understand.
The twins serving as our house’s gatekeepers change the color and design of their gatekeeper uniforms every year, and their taste is so trendy that the clothing and accessories in the colors and designs chosen by Karl and Quill every year become fashionable, so whenever the new year arrives, the owners of tailoring shops set up shop in front of the Rocksburg Duchy’s gate.
Hmm, Rose Quartz and Serenity, which were trendy last year, I also thought were pretty, so I had Violet make several dresses, but this year I’m not quite sure about it…
“Let’s go, Sister. It’s a bit early, but it should be fine for us.”
Of course it would be. Who would dare obstruct the Rocksburg procession? Well, there are about three people who come to mind if someone were to block the way, but in that case, I could just counter by bringing out the Rocksburg Duke.
If I use Father, I’ll have to write a reflection essay again, but there’s no need to worry about something that hasn’t even happened. Leon and I rode horses side by side toward the Royal Palace. Since we were just going out for a bit anyway, there was no need to prepare a carriage or anything. My face was the pass, and today, I was the one accompanying Leon.

Upon arriving at the Princess Palace, I instructed an attendant to prepare the finest accommodations and provisions for Elizabeth, then tossed him a gold coin. The man bowed, accepting his orders, and led Elizabeth to the quarters where the Crown Prince’s and John Brown’s personal horses were kept.
A horse bearing the Duke’s House commendation deserved nothing less than the finest wherever it went.
Since I’d promised to stay within five meters of Leon for the entire day, I linked my arm firmly through his, shared a parasol with him, and spent the afternoon admiring the flowers.
Early autumn weather—nothing quite like it. The ground blazed with autumn roses in full bloom, and the trees were beginning to turn their colors in the most exquisite way. It was a sight worth savoring.
The building where the Princess currently resided had historically served as the residence for Crown Princes and Crown Princesses, so it had been constructed with lavish expense and offered much to admire. The garden was arranged so that different flowers bloomed with each season, and there was even an artificial lake in the back courtyard where one could enjoy boating.
It would have been rather stingy for the palace to cast out someone who had once been Crown Princess simply because she’d lost that title. So the King and my father had conspired to construct a new Crown Prince’s Palace, allowing the Four-span Princess to continue living here.
Since I was already enjoying such luxuries, I might as well indulge them fully—especially with weather this fine. And if he hadn’t touched alcohol for a month, then he needed sunlight and fresh air in his sober mind. Spending all day cooped up in a room only darkened one’s temperament. Sunlight was good for depression, wasn’t it?
“Sister, shall we go dance?”
Now that was music to my ears.
The invited guests were beginning to arrive and mingle, and the orchestra had started playing on the stage. I took Leon’s hand and stepped onto the dance floor before anyone else. Since everyone knew we would be opening the dancing, Leon and I had the stage entirely to ourselves until the music changed.
After we finished our waltz, others began dancing with their partners. Exhilarated, I spun around with Leon for thirty minutes straight before suddenly noticing something peculiar.
Asterion hadn’t greeted anyone.
Did the boy have no friends?
Surely he must know at least a few people, even if he had no close friends.
In my case, I knew the young countess spinning beside me, the unmarried gentleman from the Edanelli branch waiting by the stage for me to change partners, those out boating, those admiring the autumn foliage, all the young ladies in the rose garden competing with the roses over who was more beautiful—I knew them all and greeted them without fail whenever we met at parties.
Everyone seemed eager to enjoy themselves freely after exchanging greetings with Leon and me, yet this boy showed such a lack of social awareness.
“Asterion.”
“Yes, Sister.”
“Do you have no friends?”
“No.”
Indeed, our Asterion was remarkably composed wherever he went. He’d attended the King’s and Queen’s birthday celebrations with the whole family, and Father had even taken him to the Royal Palace to walk about leisurely, so he must have known some faces. Yet somehow the boy remained so distant.
A person only needed to avoid stepping in filth; befriending someone with strong pectoral muscles or well-developed glutes was perfectly fine, and they’d even visit home sometimes. How wonderful. Especially for me.
“I’ve sheltered and raised you, but at your age, it wouldn’t hurt to have acquaintances you correspond with occasionally, exchanging letters and such.”
“That’s unnecessary.”
“The young lord of the Bienar household, or the second son of the Homewood Count—they’re quite diligent with good temperaments, aren’t they? I forgot to ask his name, but there’s also a pleasant young lady from the Edanelli branch with a bright disposition and good character.”
“I have no desire to be close to anyone but you, Sister.”
Even if you are a sister-complex, your personality is far too strange.
“Didn’t you say confidently that you’d handle interacting with people?”
“You were the one who told me to avoid mingling with others as much as possible.”
“There is such a thing as moderation in all matters.”
So go inform people that Rocksburg is well today. We don’t want them worrying something’s happened to our house.
As I explained this carefully, Asterion reluctantly finished dancing and bowed to me. When I offered to introduce him to people, the boy flatly refused, saying he’d decided not to take the initiative today, and went off to greet others.
Since I’d promised to remain within five meters of him, I simply opened a parasol and lingered near Asterion. Then someone I’d met quite recently approached me.
“I thought you were too busy to attend the banquet. Young Lady of Rocksburg.”
“Well, well. Isn’t this Martin Chatel?”
“It’s Milton Chatel.”
“I’m too tired to even bother hitting you now, Martin Chatel.”
“It’s Milton Chatel.”
Since I’d rejected all his requests for meetings until now, I smiled gently at Martin as he twisted his words awkwardly in greeting.
This pea-sized creature thinking he could meet me face-to-face on his own. Besides, there’s that gift you promised me. I won’t even prepare a negotiation table until I’ve confirmed it.
“Sister! I’m bored out of my mind!”
Fine. Go on then.

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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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