Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 102

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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 102

I’d expected it to be difficult, even for someone like me who never forgets a musical score after seeing it once, even for a child prodigy who’d been playing Violin since age three—not having performed in such a long time should have made it grueling.
Yet without piano accompaniment, the rich aria of the Violin still poured forth beautifully.
Estrellita by Manuel Ponce.
A Violin miniature, originally a vocal piece, arranged by the master Yasha Heifetz.
Zing.
A soft, soothing melody like stars twinkling in the night sky. The kind of tune that made you want to sink into pleasant dreams—it melted over my ears like warm cream.
It was repertoire I’d often performed, typically reserved for Recital Encores.
Zing.
As the bow lifted from the strings and the music ended, I exhaled with a fullness that nearly overwhelmed me.
‘Even with this body, playing a single piece is exhausting.’
My left arm trembled as it relaxed from holding the posture.
If I’d attempted even a virtuosic piece, I’d have collapsed for the rest of the day.
“Ah…….”
“Wow.”
At the low sighs from behind me, I turned carelessly—only to find people crowded thickly around us.
“Huh?”
Why were there people there?
“They came in one by one, entranced as if spellbound by your playing.”
People had paused mid-step, gathered at the doorway, and listened to the music in hushed anticipation.
“You can’t perform anywhere and everywhere, my child.”
“Why not?”
“Because crowds this size will keep gathering.”
I couldn’t argue with the light jest. Right now Father was with me, so they didn’t approach readily—but the servants’ eyes gleamed so intently when they looked at me that it was burdensome.
“That was such a wonderful song!”
“Wow, miss. You can play instruments too?”
“You must be a prodigy. How did you manage that?”
A wave of applause erupted.
“I’ve never heard music like this before.”
“She was crying. Because the song was so beautiful…….”
“I always thought I didn’t understand why people listened to music.”
“Even with my untrained ear, it was magnificent.”
It wasn’t even a proper performance, yet the response was overwhelming—I didn’t know what to do with myself.
“Would you play for us again?”
“I’d like to, but my arm…….”
When I showed them my trembling left arm, they all looked disappointed.
“Miss!”
Yukaadan somehow emerged from the crowd and hurried to massage my arm.
“It doesn’t hurt, does it?”
“Just fatigued.”
If I was struggling after three minutes, I couldn’t even attempt a symphony lasting over ten minutes. This was the first time I realized how demanding the basic Violin posture—holding the instrument level—actually was.
Whether it was weak fingers or something else, I’d felt a few moments where the intonation slipped, despite proper fingering.
Though the discrepancy was so minute that few would notice.
‘Still, a performance must be flawless.’
That’s what courtesy to the audience demands.
I wished my body had been healthier.
It was amusing that I’d come to regret my physical state only now.
Health…….
Could I ever become healthy?
“Why that expression all of a sudden?”
Father reached out and touched my cheek.
“Just.
“Just?”
“I wanted to live.”
“Then live.”
It wasn’t that simple, which is why I was like this. Amused by my discontent, Father chuckled softly.
“Children shouldn’t think thoughts like that.”
“Wasn’t it said, don’t yearn for what you cannot have?”
“Who said something like that?”
“I don’t know. Can’t remember.”
“But no one knows whether something is beyond your reach or within it.”
“Do you know what I want to have?”
At my words—partly bitter—a searching gaze fixed upon me.
“Shall I hand you the whole world?”
“I’m not interested in such things.”
I’d known I wouldn’t live long, yet attachment to this life had blossomed.
Fession who loved me, Yukaadan and Mehren and Father, Harun and the Twin.
I’d met so many good people that I already understood how precious what I held now was—yet my greed kept growing.
And greed always brings punishment.
“Ah.”
Suddenly a large hand covered my forehead and ruffled my hair mercilessly.
With disheveled hair and eyes narrowed at Father, when our gazes met, he smiled beautifully with creased eyes.
“Why are you tormenting me?”
“Because you’re making a strange face.”
“It’s not a strange face.”
“Smile. It suits my daughter better.”
I puffed out my cheeks.
“Your laughing is annoying.”
“Again with the formality? Have I lost the privilege of ‘Father’?”
I stuck out my lips and pouted, and Father lifted me into his arms.
I need to wipe the Rosin.
I looked up at him while still holding the Violin. Even from this angle, there was no humiliation—that was cheating.
“Was my performance bad?”
“No. It was wonderful.”
“Then why won’t you compliment me? You just make that serious face.”
“Because our daughter is…… so extraordinary?”
What was that? Like I’m bowing to receive praise?
When I glared at him, Father laughed and touched my cheek lightly. What was he thinking now?
“Don’t perform in front of mages.”
“Why?”
“Because if a mage heard this performance, I think they’d go mad.”
“?”
I asked what that meant, but Father just laughed.

* * *

In the vast plaza at the heart of the Imperial Capital, gathered crowds gazed upward.
As white clouds hung like a painting against the clear blue sky dispersed gradually, the edge of the Floating Island came into view.
“Wow-!”
“It’s the Sky Tower!”
As the Floating Island, which normally remained at an altitude where stars were visible, descended lower, an enormous tower appeared—so vast it seemed to pierce the heavens, its top nowhere in sight.
The holy ground of mages, the headquarters of the Magic Tower.
The homeland of all mages.
At the appearance of the Sky Tower in Albrecht for the first time in 154 years, the crowd roared with joy.

* * *

The imperial palace reception room.
Emperor Edward was troubled.
“Even now, wouldn’t Abdication to Fession work?”
“Do you truly believe it would?”
The grandest social event of the Founding Festival had concluded brilliantly, but truly, the Festival was only now beginning.
Social gatherings and festivals cascading throughout the Capital.
And the largest auction of the central continent, starting today and lasting four days.
“All I want is to enjoy a peaceful everyday life with Azeni. Why does the Empire require so much attention?”
The appearance of the Sky Tower had been anticipated.
But what troubled Emperor Edward now was a different matter.
“Your Majesty, the distinguished guest has arrived.”
The master of the Sky Tower, the Tower Master of all towers, the ideal of all mages.
The Grand Archmage Mercedes.
At the arrival of a figure worthy of history books, Emperor Edward drew a deep sigh.
What on earth could move such a personage to leave her seat?
“Has there still been no word from Halbern? Is he refusing tonight’s dinner as well?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. The Grand Duke reports that excessive use of abilities has left him immobilized.”
“He simply doesn’t want to come.”
Emperor Edward scowled, recalling how the man had vanished on the first night of the ball, taking only his daughter with him.
“Call him again. Bring him here!”
“Your Majesty…….”
“I want to hear about his wife too. Bring him at once!”
“…….”
“Should I send Fession instead?”
Already his son was making a fuss about wanting to visit Halbern.
He’d been holding him back, afraid of losing his heir if sent without precaution—but…….
“Your Majesty, you must attend the audience chamber.”
“Right. Let’s hear what business the Sky Tower has with me.”
That was when it happened.
“Your Majesty, an urgent dispatch from Duke Idikels!”
The world would not let Emperor Edward rest.

* * *

Duke Idikels, Terrence, gazed out at the unchangingly clear and bright southern sky once more, silently wishing for Emperor Edward’s longevity.
Mainly, he hoped the Emperor would live long—because only then could he extract proper compensation for all this suffering!
Faital, the Southern Kingdom, maintained a perpetually temperate climate thanks to the blessings of some ancient deity, and though smaller than Albrecht in territory, it was a prosperous nation.
A pleasant place to live, truly—but…….
‘I want to go home.’
Six years ago he’d been dispatched suddenly, and somehow he was still trapped here. Duke Idikels’ heart yearned only for his homeland.
Tap. Tap.
The rhythmic tapping of fingers on the desk—a metronome-like sound—pulled the Duke from his reverie.
When he turned, the gloomy interior came into view, standing in stark contrast to the cheerful weather outside.
Even gloomier than the room itself was its master.
The true ruler of Faital in the Southern Kingdom.
The Regent, Ludwig van Rokk.
“The Grand Duke of Halbern has returned to the Imperial Capital?”

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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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