Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 132
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Episode 132
Anyone living in Albrecht knows a name that wears on the ears.
The Five Great Duchy Houses.
Halbern, Sperom, Mubisk, Gremwat, Edickels.
Just as you see countless Samsung, Hyundai, and LG everywhere in Korea, so it was in Albrecht.
Whatever came up, it was Halbern; wherever you went, Sperom; nine times out of ten, a historical hero’s surname was Mubisk; and the great adventurers? Nearly all of them came from Gremwat. And the most famous social gatherings all traced back to Edickels.
The House of Edickels—masters of diplomacy and mediation.
Since the entire clan was scattered across the world, they appeared less frequently in the novel, but I liked this house too.
Because…….
‘Even here, there’s a strong feeling of a poor bureaucrat stuck working late for a terrible boss.’
When I first heard of them, I imagined a noble house that hosted gatherings, wove elegant schemes, and played the hidden mastermind. In reality, they were pitiable bureaucrats drowning in an endless stream of malicious complaints.
“I have no power.”
“I figured as much.”
“……You’re not disappointed.”
“No, I’m used to this pattern by now.”
I’d asked for help, but I held no great expectations.
Common sense dictated that a useful noble would hardly appear conveniently here.
I was an exceedingly realistic child.
“But why are you here, Your Grace?”
“There is a sad legend in this place…….”
“I don’t believe in legends.”
“???”
“No, please, go on.”
The regent’s gaze wavered toward me for a moment, but then he launched into a long, pitiful recitation that had begun six years ago.
And when I heard it…….
‘How inconvenient! Maddeningly inconvenient!’
It was because of Father! Father, why are you putting me through this?!
“Anyway, to prevent war, I…….”
“Oh, you’ve been through so much.”
“Sniff, you understand my suffering. How uncharacteristic of a Halbern—you’re a kind young lady!”
I grew solemn.
I apologize, our father is rather thoughtless…….
“At such a young age, you’ve suffered more. I hear you were kidnapped?”
“Yes, I didn’t come through normal channels.”
“Do you wish to return?”
“?”
Why was he asking the obvious?
I widened my eyes, and the Duke of Edickels made a curious expression.
“Quite strange.”
“What is?”
“I see no trace of Halbern’s characteristic shadows in you.”
What did that mean?
“Those who bear the Halbern name have always carried a gloomy atmosphere, as if shouldering all the world’s secrets. Sione was the same.”
A name flowed out naturally, and I reacted without thinking.
“You know Sione?”
“Haha. Well, she’s my contemporary, so of course I know her. We attended the Academy together.”
It was remarkable.
What was remarkable was that she felt like a real, living person?
Since only Father and the regent mentioned her at all, there were moments when she felt like the product of their shared delusion. But when this utterly unexpected person brought her up, I suddenly felt certain she was truly alive.
“Haha. Sione was my first love.”
It would have been better if the Duke of Edickels hadn’t confessed, with an embarrassed expression, that he’d harbored an unrequited affection for Sione in his youth.
“She always seemed to be living in a different world.”
“I see…….”
“Of course, that was when Halbern’s power was truly extraordinary, so even with a betrothal gift, it would have been difficult to make it happen.”
“Does the regent know this fact?”
“…….”
The Duke of Edickels flinched.
“……Will you keep it secret?”
“Seeing how you’re acting.”
The Duke of Edickels made a sorrowful face. Poor man. I should stop tormenting him now.
“Well, Halbern doesn’t respond well to Edickels’ Ability, so even if I’d tried anything, it likely wouldn’t have worked.”
The man’s fumbling excuse ignited my curiosity.
“I’ve heard that the Edickels Ability shows Affinity Levels.”
“That’s right. And sometimes I can even see dialogue options that might gain someone’s favor. However, it doesn’t work well against Ability users with particular affinities, like Halbern…….”
“Wait, so you can’t see my Affinity Level either?!”
“That’s correct.”
“Wow, how fascinating.”
The more I heard, the more fascinating it became.
An Ability that shows both Affinity Levels and dialogue options.
Edickels really did live life like a dating game.
“I wish I could have seen your Affinity Level too.”
I was curious what my Affinity Level was.
“Hmm. There is a way to see it.”
“Oh, how?”
“If you permit it.”
“How do I permit it?”
The Duke of Edickels took my hand and slowly met my gaze.
“Imagine opening your heart to me.”
Could he really see Affinity Levels with just that? It was difficult, but I tried hard to imagine it.
Show me the Affinity Level, show me!
“Can you see it?!”
“Uh, yes.”
The Duke of Edickels answered with a somewhat vacant expression.
“What’s my Affinity Level?!”
“That is…….”
“Yes?”
“Fifty.”
“Fifty?!”
That high?
Normally, Affinity Levels appeared between ten and twenty upon first meeting.
Was I really such a humanitarian?
I was just swallowing in shock.
“No, negative fifty.”
“……?”
The Duke of Edickels calmly read out my Affinity Level as he saw it.
[♡ -50 Deep Distrust]
“Ah…….”
Well, that made sense.
I nodded in understanding, and the Duke of Edickels, looking terribly pitiful, asked me:
“Was I really so displeasing?”
“Ha ha.”
As I tried to gloss over it with an awkward laugh, the Duke of Edickels asked again with an even more pitiful expression.
“Do you perhaps dislike people in general?”
I answered with quiet laughter instead.
* * *
I nodded along intently as the thirty-something man explained that a negative fifty Affinity Level was something only sworn enemies who’d had their money stolen would show, and emphasized that he’d never stolen anyone’s money.
‘I’m curious about others’ Affinity Levels too.’
Particularly the Affinity Level I held toward Mehren.
Since I liked him best.
‘Still, the Duke of Edickels said that if he safely returns to Albrecht, he’ll lend me an item that shows Affinity Levels.’
He seems eager to somehow secure my trust despite the negative fifty and the label of deep distrust.
The nature of Edickels was to flirt with anyone they could and want to become close, and it was truly burdensome.
This one was probably also an MBTI E, no doubt about it.
Still, the Duke of Edickels did prove useful to me.
“Simply smashing things to plunder the Grand Duke Rok’s wealth is amateurish.”
Honestly, I got a little emotional for a moment.
“Demand things aggressively and make a killing.”
The advice was too fitting, so I held back. So this is what they mean by adult wisdom.
Yes. I had learned a new skill.
Namely! Dad, buy me this!
“Give me this.”
I eagerly grabbed an artifact that the Duke of Edickels had secretly tipped me off about—one valuable enough to purchase an entire castle if sold.
The regent’s quiet gaze landed on me.
Well, how would he respond?!
If he refused, I had my next move ready.
‘You said you’d give me anything!’ I would cry out and call him a liar!
Go ahead, let’s hear what you have to say!
“Fine, take it.”
“……?”
That wasn’t it at all.
Was the thing I’d grabbed cheap? Something he could part with so easily? Was that why he gave it so readily?!
I steeled myself and this time grabbed a truly rare item—something that would be difficult to obtain, that he seemed reluctant to part with, and above all, something that looked extraordinarily valuable.
“Give me this too.”
“All right.”
“And that one too!”
“Take it.”
What was this?!
When I frowned, the regent chuckled softly and responded at his leisure.
“It will all become yours anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”
That single, leisurely remark shattered my patience first. What did he say?
I would definitely make him regret this!
Expensive items! Things that are expensive and hard to obtain.
“Then buy me the Feather of Truth, Fairy’s Tears, Leaf of the World Tree, and Dew of Snowy Morning!”
My grand ambition to make him regret the promise that he’d give me everything I wanted.
I rattled off a list of items I couldn’t obtain even from the Sperom Auction House for lack of available stock.
And the next day.
“…….”
I was left speechless upon seeing the items delivered to my door.
“His Majesty has ordered that all items be brought from the Treasure Vault.”
Ah, why did he really give them to me?
Sob.
I’d gotten what I wanted, yet I was miserable. And that smug expression on his face as he asked at his leisure made me furious.
“Is there anything else you desire?”
Ah, infuriating!
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————