Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 156

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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 156

After leaving Halbern Manor, Ludvich returned to the South Empire without delay.
The gate connecting the Capital made the journey easy enough, yet his heart raced with urgency.
While he was away, there was no telling when Valere might make his move and force him out.
‘I’ve made some preparations, at least.’
But it wasn’t enough to ease his mind.
Determined to handle his immediate business and return quickly, Ludvich left his deputy in the now-quiet Roc Fortress, entrusting his authority to his aide German.
“Your Highness, I’m sorry—did you say I should…?”
“As my deputy.”
…….
German genuinely wondered if Ludvich had already lost his mind.
“Send all matters requiring my seal to Halbern Manor.”
“I’m sorry—to Halbern…?”
Leaving the bewildered German behind, Ludvich swiftly wrapped up his business at Roc Fortress and made for his next destination: the South Empire Imperial Palace.
“U-Uncle, sir…”
“It’s been a while, Franz.”
“W-what business brings you here…?”
Was it something he had done wrong?
Franz couldn’t raise his eyes, his face drained of color. Ludvich shot him a look of pity before exhaling slowly.
He’d known his half-brother’s madness, yet crowned him emperor anyway. And when that half-brother died soon after, he himself had placed the three-year-old nephew on the throne.
It was a choice he’d never regretted—until Arelin made him reconsider it.
A different feeling stirred in him now.
Perhaps the pathetic state of his nephew was something he himself had created.
“Going forward, I will entrust Phaital to you.”
“E-yes?”
“But don’t mistake this for handing over all my authority. If you stumble, I will take it back without hesitation.”
…….
The puppet emperor, overshadowed by the Regent, blinked his eyes rapidly.
Personal rule had been Franz’s lifelong dream, yet he’d never imagined he could obtain it so easily.
“B-but why…?”
Normally, such a response would be unthinkable. Perhaps his mind was half-gone with the shock of the situation.
Franz swallowed hard, having spoken without thinking.
Ludvich didn’t rebuke him as he usually would. He simply answered calmly.
“I cannot govern on your behalf forever, can I?”
“……?”
It was sound in principle, though it was hardly the sort of thing a man should say—one who had built his unrivaled position as the South Empire’s foremost power from the Previous Emperor’s reign to now.
“Stop cowering and conduct yourself with the dignity of the South Empire’s emperor.”
Ludvich reflected.
He thought of who he had been before meeting Arelin.
The person he was then—unable to resolve his feelings for Sione and the wounds she’d inflicted, sinking deeper into arrogance and blind stubbornness.
Facing that corrupted version of himself had been suffocating, yet the relief of overcoming it was beyond words.
‘I miss Arelin already.’
Though mountains of work still awaited him.
“I will be staying in Albrecht from now on. Send word there.”
“I-yes?”
Franz struggled just to follow what was happening.
What in the world was going on?
“One more thing, Franz.”
Franz flinched.
Ludvich stopped at the threshold and looked back at him with sympathetic eyes.
“Your father’s diary is kept at Roc Fortress. Ask German, and he will give it to you.”
……!
“And the will you wanted to see—ask German to show you that as well.”
The diary and testament he’d questioned, the documents he’d yearned to find his entire life.
Franz thought something was wrong. His uncle, always sharp and dangerous, capable of leveling a district if touched carelessly, was… genuinely strange now.
“Why… why would you…”
Why show him those?
Weren’t they documents containing information fatal to Ludvich’s position? Or had he, as emperor, been mistaken about his uncle all along?
As Franz stood there stunned, mouth dry, Ludvich offered a final farewell.
“Live well.”

* * *

As Ludvich left the South Empire behind for the Lemeuren Holy Kingdom, one of his retainers quietly asked a question.
“Was it truly necessary to give him the diary and the will?”
Ludvich, lost in thought, lifted the corners of his mouth in reply.
“There’s no reason to keep them anymore.”
For all his faults, Ludvich had cherished his half-brother, the Previous Emperor.
He knew Franz harbored an absurd misunderstanding—that he’d assassinated the Previous Emperor and would do the same to him—yet he’d deliberately let that fear fester.
He’d thought that from such resentment, Franz would grow stronger.
Instead, he’d grown into a wretch who couldn’t even speak properly to his uncle.
‘None of it matters now.’
Ludvich savored the peace that had come from releasing what he’d gripped so tightly.
“Once business in the Lemeuren Holy Kingdom is settled, I return to Halbern at once.”
His heart quickened with anticipation.

* * *

“Arelin, I have something to tell you.”
And now.
After completing all his rushed journeys, Ludvich returned successfully within a week and stood before Arelin once more.
“Something to tell me…?”
Ludvich withdrew something from his breast with confident pride.
It was a certificate issued under the name of the Lemeuren Holy Kingdom.
“I will become your guardian.”
…….
Arelin was speechless.
“My… guardian?”
“If I cannot be your father, I wish to be your guardian at least.”
Though their blood was not mixed, though he could not be her father, Ludvich’s determination to become bound to Arelin in some way was unmistakable.
…….
…….
Mehren and Valere, witnessing this, were equally lost for words.
‘So that’s what he meant by having business with the Holy Kingdom.’
This was his business!
While Mehren merely looked troubled, Valere openly bristled, his brow darkening.
“That’s absurd. Who gave you permission to be her guardian?”
“Do you have decision-making authority here?”
“Of course I do—I’m Arelin’s father!”
“I’ve already obtained approval from the Holy Kingdom.”
Not just from any church official, but a Guardian Certificate bearing the endorsement of the Saint herself.
“How much of a donation did you have to make…?”
Even in this age, when the Holy Temple’s influence had waned from its former glory, the position of guardian endorsed by the Temple was no light matter.
Valere’s voice rose.
“I don’t accept it. You think a mere certificate makes you Arelin’s guardian?”
“Yes, very well.”
Meanwhile, Mehren, who’d been calculating the angles, swiftly gave his approval.
“If the Regent becomes Arelin’s guardian, at least we won’t have incidents like before.”
“I will do my best.”
However inferior the South Empire’s Phaital might be to the Albrecht Empire, it was still an empire spanning the southern continent.
To have such a power-holder protecting Arelin was profit far outweighing risk.
And besides, wasn’t this better than the alternative—some quarrel escalating into war?
Mehren decided to sacrifice household peace for world peace. He and Arelin would be fine, after all.
Unlike the pragmatic Mehren, there was one man who simply could not accept this situation.
“My lady!”
“I’m not your lady, you fool!”
Valere refused to accept it.
“Daughter!”
A pathetic plea for her support!
But sadly for Valere, his daughter was devoted to her mother.
“I’ll do what Mother says.”
“Arelin…”
Valere was defeated.
Ludvich spoke shyly.
“Will you call me guardian?”
“Guardian.”
Clenching his fist, Ludvich gasped with emotion. Arelin, watching him, could only shake her head in disbelief.
‘Is he really that happy?’
Unable to bear the warm scene between them, Valere immediately butted in.
“Call me Father too!”
“Father.”
“Again!”
“Man, grow up!”
Mehren’s intervention stopped Valere’s performance, but the seemingly composed Ludvich revealed an ambition he’d been hiding.
“Though I’m currently settling old debts, one day I swear I will be your real father.”
……?
As if wanting to be someone’s father made it possible.

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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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