Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 104

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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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Episode 104

Mehren let out a pained groan.
“So you’re planning to start a war?”
“There’s nothing I couldn’t do.”
“But the current Emperor—”
“Does Ed’s opinion matter?”
The candid gleam in those eyes revealed the truth, and Mehren understood: his lord was truly mad. Properly, thoroughly mad.
He was capable of committing treasonous acts without a second thought.
“……How have you managed to stay quiet this whole time?”
“Because there were more important things than grinding that fool to dust.”
If you asked Valere about priorities, Arelin would always rank first.
Above revenge, above Halbern, above his own life.
“Ha. Fine. Do as you please. When have you ever listened to me anyway?”
“I listen very well.”
“Since when.”
“Mehren.”
“What.”
“You’re the only one who has to stay on my side.”
Mehren’s face twisted into a grimace.
“I have no one but you now.”
“…….”
“You know that.”
Mehren clicked his tongue.
Where was this nonsense coming from?
“Go say things like that to a woman.”
“You’re heartless, Mehren.”
“It’s creepy.”
“But the woman—”
Valere’s eyes crinkled with amusement.
“—doesn’t understand me the way you do.”
“I don’t want to understand you either.”
“Ha ha ha. You’re joking, right?”
This infuriating bastard.
Yet whenever he revealed this weakness, Mehren found himself unable to turn away—a contradiction he’d long since accepted.
“I think I’ll live.”
Valere exhaled against Mehren’s shoulder, where he’d leaned without permission.
“I really missed you. The Northern Fortress is so dreary and tedious. Jaren thinks of nothing but dragons, the other knights are desperate to leave, and I have no one to keep me entertained.”
Mehren tried to push away the whining Valere, but his strength wasn’t equal to the task. Exasperation flashed across his face.
“Don’t I deserve your pity?”
“I deserve it more.”
A grumbling complaint hung in the air, followed by silence. Familiar, comfortable silence. Both men found themselves swept back into childhood nostalgia.
“Mehren.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
Valere rested his cheek against Mehren’s shoulder, watching Arelin through the window.
My precious, beloved daughter.
“Without you, Halbern wouldn’t exist.”
“…….”
“I would have burned it all to ash and buried it.”
The Ability Aftereffects seemed severe. It had been a long time since Valere showed such weakness.
Mehren let him lean there as he wished, saying nothing.
“You won’t leave me, will you?”
His voice had darkened, tinged with a poignance that felt sharper today.
“You won’t abandon me, right?”
“I will.”
“Heartless.”
Valere ran a hand through his hair and laughed openly.
“That’s why I like you.”
“…….”
“Because whenever I disappoint you, you’ll leave without hesitation and never look back.”
Hearing him whisper that he wanted help staying human, Mehren hid the turbulence rising in his chest.
“I miss my sister…….”
That damned bastard. He won’t let me hate him.

* * *

I had reset my life’s goals.
Before, I’d planned to drift along and die when my time came, but things had changed so much that I needed to revise them.
First goal: get healthy.
“If I just get healthy, everything’s solved.”
I was dutifully taking the medicinal tonics I hated and exercising regularly, but I knew the truth.
My illness wasn’t a simple sickness.
‘I need to find a way to get healthy.’
It was a vague, difficult goal, but not entirely impossible.
After all, I’d read the novel, hadn’t I? I was the only ‘reader’ in this world.
Only I knew the future of this world.
“There was supposed to be an item that grants any wish.”
I strained my memory to compile a list of items I might need besides healing items, and the methods to obtain them.
“But I should prepare for the worst case. For when I die.”
By nature, I was someone who anticipated pessimistic outcomes first and prepared contingencies.
Even when preparing for competitions, I’d think about failing first and have a Plan B ready.
So my second goal was Plan B: ensure that Halbern doesn’t decline even if I die.
And finally, before I go, make as many happy memories as I can with the people around me!
“Alright, so I need to prevent Halbern’s decline first.”
This should be easy enough.
I got to my feet and made my way to Mehren’s office.
“Arelin? What brings you here?”
“Mehren.”
“Yes.”
I spoke to him in a serious tone.
“Even if I die, you can’t leave Halbern.”
“……Pardon?”
Mehren looked at me as if to ask what I was saying, his expression tense.
There was a deeper meaning to this. Halbern’s decline would begin the moment Mehren left. If he just stayed, things would work out somehow.
I grabbed the bewildered Mehren and even hooked our pinkies together.
“You absolutely can’t leave. You understand?”
Though still bemused, Mehren nodded.
“Yes, I understand.”
Good. One problem solved.

* * *

Playing a piece after lunch had become my daily routine.
The instruments were either Violin or Piano.
The pieces were whatever came to mind.
I still couldn’t play anything longer than five minutes, but that didn’t matter. Everyone loved it anyway.
“Wow.”
“Isn’t she a prodigy?”
This hour had become a performance time that everyone in the Manor—regardless of station—looked forward to.
What had started in the Instrument Room my father gave me had transformed into a stage in the Manor Hall that the servants had voluntarily built for me.
“How do you play such music…….”
“Every day feels fresh.”
Watching people enchanted after the music ended was a small joy of mine.
Yes. Bach is wonderful.
The problem started with the twins, whom I’d called for a favor.
The moment the performance ended, Ciel grabbed my hand eagerly.
“Arelin!”
“What?”
Why are you calling my name properly like that?
I watched guardedly as Ciel’s eyes sparkled with an unbearable excitement.
“Let’s perform together!”
“Perform?”
Out of nowhere?
“This time, Sperom is opening an enormous Albrecht Arts Center on Prude Street, and what if you performed there?”
Wasn’t that where the Auction was being held? I’d been keeping an eye on it, hoping the item I was looking for might appear.
I’d called the twins partly to get their help regarding the Auction without Mehren or Father knowing…….
When did this turn into me performing?
“If it’s you, it would definitely be a performance for the history books—!”
“No.”
“……!”
Ciel’s face fell.
“Why not? Why wouldn’t you share such beautiful music with everyone?”
“I’m sharing it with you all.”
“This kind of music needs to be heard by everyone. It needs to be spread far and wide. It’s genius music no one has ever heard before!”
Since I only played the best pieces composed by geniuses, such praise was inevitable.
But to perform, I’d need at least three pieces in my repertoire, and doing multiple pieces in succession with my pathetic stamina was impossible.
“My stamina won’t allow more than one piece. It’s too hard.”
“Then just play one piece!”
“That’s not really…….”
There’s a courtesy to those who came to listen.
Just as Ciel, burning with a sense of mission to share this art with the world, pressed further—
“I oppose it.”
Noel suddenly objected.
“If Arelin’s performances become famous and everyone in the world knows about them, my chances to hear her will decrease. I don’t like that.”
“What?”
“I want to listen to Arelin’s music alone.”
Ciel and Noel glared at each other.
“You already only perform once a day, and if you add a concert on top of that, what do you think will happen?”
“That doesn’t matter. Something this incredible shouldn’t stay hidden!”
“I don’t care. I’m against it.”
Sparks flew through the air.
Ciel and Noel’s expressions turned nasty in an instant.
What’s happening here?
“Noel, why are you being so selfish?”
“What? How is that selfish? What’s wrong with wanting to keep something good for yourself?”
Why are they suddenly fighting?
Browning’s eyes widened in surprise at the twins’ unexpected conflict.
Noel bristled.
“You’re always like this, Ciel. You never think of others. Arelin said she didn’t want to, didn’t she?”
“When did Arelin ever say she didn’t want to? She said she didn’t have the stamina. Noel, why are you being so irritating?”
Ciel raised his voice as well.
Noel’s face twisted sharply, and the two stared at each other before suddenly turning to me.
“Arelin, you choose!”
“Who—?!”
They’re turning this on me?
“……?”
I was utterly bewildered.

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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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