Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 101

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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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Chapter 101

Halbern Manor had grown noticeably livelier than before.
“Do I really have to eat this?”
“The Crown Prince has ordered that you finish every last bit.”
Surprisingly, my most dreaded time of day was no longer exercise, but the hour devoted to consuming whatever tonic or elixir Fession had sent—I couldn’t quite tell which.
“What on earth did he put in this…?”
“Dew from Medion Mountain, a rare medicinal herb found only on Itatel Plain, herbs said to aid in vital recovery and vitality, and…”
What had started as an ordinary brown tonic had gradually turned green, then black. Today it was purple.
Is this poison?
“What if I die from drinking this?”
“It has undergone rigorous verification by both the Holy Temple and the Magic Tower, so there is no cause for concern.”
“No, this looks like something that would kill me, no matter how I look at it.”
At this point, calling it an elixir was just cruel mockery.
I didn’t want to drink it.
Drinking concoctions like this had never actually made anyone healthier. I stole glances at both Mehren and Father, but Mehren was quietly averting his eyes while Father wore an amused grin.
“Itatel Plain herbs are difficult to procure—that shows real dedication.”
“Indeed. I hear the Crown Prince will soon embark on a Martial Training Expedition to secure the ingredients for the elixir.”
“Remarkable commitment.”
Father smiled warmly.
“Aren’t you pleased, my dear?”
Pleased, he asks.
“Father, would you like to drink some?”
“I’ll pass.”
…
I harbored serious doubts about whether this mixture actually worked, yet everyone but me seemed convinced of its miraculous effects.
The Childcare Unit especially bordered on fanaticism.
“You couldn’t even run before, but now you can move about more freely!”
“It’s all thanks to the elixir!”
Surely that’s just from consistent exercise building up your strength?
“Since this is a precious elixir that money alone cannot procure, you must consume every drop!”
Faced with their earnest stares, I resigned myself to my inescapable fate.
Holding my breath, I forced down the otherworldly-tasting elixir with a series of gulps.
“Such devotion. Shall I get some for myself as well?”
Pffft.
I shook my head vigorously.
Father, who had been resting his chin on his hand watching me drink the elixir, chuckled.
When I glared at him with fresh annoyance, he finally stopped laughing and put on a dejected expression. As if that would work on me.
“Why aren’t you working, Father?”
“Mehren is more than capable.”
“You’re slacking off?”
“You know that expression?”
“I feel sorry for Mehren.”
“What about me?”
“You deserve no pity.”
“My, my.”
Father extended his hand with a sorrowful expression.
“Shall we go play?”

* * *

Father was a strange man.
His temperament was difficult.
Perhaps I should abandon the idea of growing closer to him.
“Why are you running away, my dear?”
Father chuckled and lightly poked my cheek. My soft cheek compressed under the touch.
“You asked me to play.”
You did ask to play, but not like this.
Anger surged up from my core.
“Am I a dog?!”
Sitting still himself while I chased after whatever he threw—was that supposed to be play?
“Are you mocking me right now?!”
“Constant movement makes you healthier.”
“What about you?”
“I’m already healthy.”
…
We’ll settle this later.
I’ll be a terrible daughter. A truly terrible daughter!
“If you don’t like that, shall we play something else?”
“No thanks—I’m done playing with you!”
Ha ha.
Finding my irritation endearing, Father suddenly pulled me into an embrace.
“Let go!”
“No. We need to spend more time together to grow closer.”
“I don’t want to grow closer to you anymore.”
“But I want to grow closer to you.”
The longer I spent with this man, the less our father-daughter bond deepened, and the more my anger accumulated.
His antics had finally resolved my lingering question: how did the typically composed Mehren become so temperamental whenever Father was involved?
This man had a gift for infuriating people.
“How did Mehren ever agree to play with someone like him?”
“I’ve often wondered. It was undoubtedly the worst decision of my life.”
“But you ended up meeting me.”
“Upon reflection, it seems it was the best decision after all.”
“I like Mother.”
“I like you too.”
“And Father?”
Do I need to answer that?
Surely he understood where he stood. When I stared pointedly at him, Father’s expression grew sad.
“Father’s feelings are hurt.”
Whether his feelings are hurt or not is hardly my concern.
Yet gazing at Father’s face up close, my resolve wavered slightly.
This face, after all…
…was a treasure of humanity that should be preserved as a national heirloom and passed down through generations.
“Since all you have to recommend you is your face, you should treasure it above all else. Understood?”
I’m only being kind to you because of that face!
At my unexpectedly earnest advice, Father tilted his head and smiled quietly.
“You sound like Edrang.”
“Who is that?”
“The Emperor of this nation.”
…
It appears His Imperial Majesty shares the same opinion as I do.
As I felt an oddly one-sided kinship with the supreme ruler of the realm, Father extended his hand once more.
“Let’s go play something else.”
Hmph!
I knew exactly what you were trying to do!
“I’m serious.”
Ugh, hmph.
“My dear.”
Looking at Father’s face—those melancholy eyes, that pitiful downturned gaze—I found myself unable to resist.
…
When I came to my senses, I had already taken Father’s hand.
“No! This shouldn’t happen!”
Mehren, save me!
I turned to Mehren with a desperate look, only to find him clutching his head.
“My lord.”
“No, she’s mine. I’m not giving her back.”
…
Mehren’s pointed gaze—as if to say “What am I supposed to do with this man?”—followed me, but Father merely grinned smugly as he held me close.
“I have a gift for you.”
“A gift?”
Had he brought some doll or other trinket?
As if he’d fool me that easily!
“…Wow.”
He had.
But, that said…
“Instruments?”
How could I possibly resist seeing a room filled with every conceivable type of instrument, starting with a grand piano?
“They’re all yours now. Take them.”
Father casually transferred ownership to me.
“What is all this?”
There was a massive Grand Piano, an Organ, Timpani, even a drum. Horn, Contrabass, Cello, Viola, and Violin.
“Wait, why is there a Pipa here?”
And a Trombone and Trumpet too. A Harp was thrown in for good measure.
One could form an entire orchestra with this collection.
Seeing every instrument in existence seemingly scraped together in one place, a question suddenly occurred to me.
“Why are you giving me all this?”
“Thought you might need them.”
“Me?”
“You played something.”
Father smiled and hummed the Greeting of Love Melody.
“Ah.”
“It sounded beautiful.”
So that performance actually reached Father’s ears. I thought it was just my personal nightmare.
“Where did you learn?”
…
I couldn’t very well say “Emmanuel Conservatory,” so I just blinked.
“Did Mehren teach you?”
I stared into empty space.
That evasion had created an awkward moment once before.
Fortunately, I had parted ways with Mehren before entering the gift room, so I avoided the uncomfortable situation this time.
“Play something for me.”
But I only really knew how to play Violin and Piano.
I was proficient enough at Piano, but Violin was where my true skill lay.
“Hmm.”
I pressed the piano keys to check the tuning. Perhaps I should play piano for a change?
“Sigh.”
Old habits die hard, they say, and my hands inevitably turned toward the Violin.
Compared to modern Violins, its shape was crude, yet it was still excellent. The history of Violin development in this world seemed equally advanced.
The real problem was the other equipment. There was no chin rest, no shoulder rest, and the rosin…
“There’s Rosin.”
Violin demands practice daily—miss one day and you know it, miss three days and the audience knows it—but I felt no pressure.
I’d been making my living from this my whole life.
Even with an unfamiliar new Violin and a new bow…
It was possible.
“Listen.”
My own private concert hall with just Father as the audience.
Zing.
A melody beginning with a single note.
A soft, captivating melody that sparkled like a small star in the night sky.

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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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