Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 130

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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 130

Life in Faital proved more pleasant than expected.
“Starting today, I am Gelda, and I shall have the honor of attending to you, young lady.”
They’d even assigned a maid who spoke the common continental tongue, and more than anything—no scolding for sleeping late, no fussing if I woke past dawn, no one breathing down my neck about anything.
‘What is this freedom?’
No one forcing me to exercise, no walks urged upon me, no mysterious elixirs or poisons thrust into my hands, and since none of my three daily meals passed through Fession’s hands, the food was actually delicious—even the sweets were sweet and tasty.
A life where no one tormented me!
“I’m free.”
This was the Emperor’s imprisonment?
If this was what confinement looked like, I could endure it for a lifetime—
‘No, snap out of it!’
I haven’t yielded yet. I won’t surrender to this comfort!
Hum-hum—
“No, I’m not playing anything. Too bothersome.”
Hum—!
“What? You’re saying I’ve already surrendered? Ethel, how could you say something so harsh?”
The maids who’d been feeding and lulling me into contentment—the primary architects of my downfall—exchanged satisfied glances.
“I’m so glad you’re adapting well.”
“Honestly, we were worried you’d weep every day and struggle to adjust. Like the Grand Duchess did…”
“Shh! If you want to keep living, don’t speak of that.”
“Oh, right.”
These people clearly thought I didn’t understand their language, so they spoke without the least restraint.
Thanks to that carelessness, I’d learned why my kidnapper was claiming to be my father.
‘Sione was married to Grand Duke Roc.’
Father’s aunt. And, most likely, my birth mother.
‘The Grand Duchess Sione…’
The way they hushed the subject here suggested something terribly complicated lay beneath.
Truly, why did this household harbor so many secrets?
“Ugh…”
I wonder how Father is doing.
My body felt rested—and yet Mehren and Valere kept weighing on my mind. Especially Father, with his recklessness and his fragile, scattered nature.
Fession troubled me too.
Simply having them near had been enough; now that I couldn’t see them, I even found myself missing his scolding about exercise.
The Yukyadan that trailed after me, the mischievous twins, even Harun with his wounded pride.
And what had become of the Magic Tower? Was that mage doing better?
“Ah, really!”
A fate that wouldn’t let me rest.
The tenth day of my imperial imprisonment.
In the end, I was the one who requested a private audience with my kidnapper.
“What is it?”
His low voice made me flinch.
The Regent of Roc had sharply defined features and bold lines—a masculine, handsome face—but the problem was his presence.
One misplaced word and someone might as well be dead; his aura commanded such respect that whenever our eyes met, I found myself straightening instinctively.
Though by now, I’d grown accustomed even to that.
“I want to go home.”
My clear voice made the Regent’s eyebrows rise.
“You know Deloire.”
“Send me back.”
“Why would I?”
This man was infuriating.
“You’re my daughter now. This is your home, so there’s nowhere for you to return to.”
“My home is Halbern.”
“Now your castle is Roc.”
Who gave him permission to rename my estate?
When I scowled, the Regent laughed sharply.
“You inherited that frown from your mother.”
“…”
“Give it up.”
The Regent spoke with arrogant certainty.
“I’ll never let you go.”
“…”
My affection rating for my would-be new father plummeted into the negatives.
…The father back in Halbern wasn’t exactly flawless either, but compared to this man, he seemed almost reasonable.

* * *

Bang!
The attendants and maids startled at Arelin’s sharp exit, the door slamming behind her.
Watching his subordinates scramble nervously, Ludwig simply smiled.
Quite audacious, wasn’t she.
Suddenly dropped into a foreign place, most would be difficult, frightened, anxious—yet she displayed such defiance.
Whether it was her innate nature or a defensive mask over her anxiety, he couldn’t quite tell, and that intrigued him.
And yet, she bore such a striking resemblance.
To that woman.
‘Sione…’
His always-sharp gaze softened for a moment.
In his darkened forest-green eyes, black emotions he couldn’t fully suppress churned and swirled.
The only woman who had taught him love, who had seduced him into the game of it, and whom he loved still—enough to lay down his very life for.

“I truly hate you.”
“…”
“And I pity you.”

The only woman who’d cast Ludwig into an abyss and left him haunted by the past.
An impulsive journey to Albrecht.
An even more impulsive confrontation with the Grand Duke of Halbern. And there, by mere chance, he’d found his place.
Ludwig had never imagined he would see Arelin there.
The Magic Tower braced itself for the worst, sheltering the Crown Prince and the Sperom Clan behind defensive barriers, while Emperor Edward pressured relentlessly—a standoff poised to become one of Albrecht’s most tragic moments in history.
When what should have ended in tragedy miraculously resolved into a happy ending, Ludwig’s gaze was drawn to only one small figure.
Platinum hair and rose-quartz eyes.
Large, luminous eyes with long lashes, cheeks flushed rose-pink. Her adorable, lovely features were unmistakable, impossible not to recognize.
“That Grand Duke of Halbern.”
To think he’d concocted such an impudent falsehood.
Ludwig recognized it instantly.
This child was Sione’s daughter.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
The attendant’s trembling voice brought Ludwig back. He looked at his own hands.
Somehow his grip had tightened. His crushed fountain pen lay shattered on the floor.
“Clear it away.”
The attendant silently swept up the ruined pen.
The Regent’s aide, concealing his tension, carefully broached the urgent matter of the day.
“Word has come from the imperial court. His Majesty urges you to cease hostilities with Albrecht at once and return the young lady of Halbern immediately.”
“Ha.”
It was obvious who’d applied the pressure. Ludwig’s mouth twisted.
“My cousin seems to have forgotten his place.”
The true ruler of the Southern Kingdom of Faital was not Emperor Franz III, but Regent Ludwig.
“Does he truly believe himself emperor just because he wears the crown?”
The Southern Kingdom’s real emperor, holding all power while confined to Roc Castle, scoffed at the Imperial Decree delivered to him.
“As if he knows whose hands control this nation.”
His cousin’s head had grown swollen; now he fancied himself a true emperor.
Ludwig possessed the power to depose the current emperor and ascend the throne whenever he pleased.
He refrained for one reason alone.
The Grand Duchess Sione.
The very reason he’d remained regent instead of becoming emperor was to take Sione as his grand duchess.
“German, my cousin’s son is three years old now, isn’t he? What do you think?”
“Who would dare oppose Your Highness’s will?”
His aide German swallowed his own judgment and answered, as always, to his autocratic lord.
“This is a formal protest from Halbern.”
Bearing the Grand Duke’s signature—a declaration that unless Lady Arelin was returned at once, war would be their answer.
Ludwig read it with dry eyes and tore the letter to shreds. German thought, ‘Shouldn’t we at least send a reply?’ but said nothing.
“Is there anything else?”
“Ah, yes—this came from the Magic Tower…”
“The Magic Tower?”
“Yes, sir. A personal letter from the Archmage himself.”
The appearance of such a rare correspondent piqued Ludwig’s interest. Yet the letter’s contents were equally peculiar.
“He wishes to meet with Lady Arelin privately, citing internal reasons that cannot be disclosed publicly? What business could the Magic Tower possibly have with Arelin?”
“Shall I investigate?”
“Do so.”
“And regarding this request, sir?”
Ludwig’s fingers tapped the desk.
“What’s the likelihood Halbern is involved?”
“It’s not impossible.”
“Refuse.”
The refusal was absolute.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the Magic Tower.
The Star-rank Mages, who’d been waiting with bated breath for a reply from Faital, received the response and erupted as if a riot were about to break out.
“Why!”
“We need her urgently!”
Their focus had shifted entirely from the mysterious terrorism targeting Star-rank Mages.
A being legendary enough to suppress a Star-rank Mage’s runaway state and reduce contamination levels—something not even legends had recorded!
Why couldn’t they meet her when they’d finally discovered her existence? Why!
“I’m going mad. What is this madness? We found out and can’t even see her. Why!”
“Well… why don’t we just invade the Southern Kingdom?”
“…That could work?”
One careless remark had the mages’ ears perking up.
“Yeah, let’s just go!”

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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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