Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 157

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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 157

Ever since Ludwig began settling into his role as a permanent fixture at Halbern, the atmosphere of the manor had shifted noticeably.
The Saren Knights’ latest betting pool had a new subject: .
“Wait, isn’t our lord the favorite here?”
“The thrill when the upset hits. That’s why we’re betting on the Regent Duke.”
“You lunatics, stop gambling already.”
“So who’ll win today’s match?”
Though Ludwig ranked sixth—dead last—in Halbern’s hierarchy, he displayed remarkable strength precisely against Valere, who ranked third.
The Saren Knights had their theories about this phenomenon.
“What’s the reason, anyway?”
“Right? Why?”
As they pondered this, one knight clapped his hands together and spoke up.
“I’ve got it! The lord’s always the one starting fights over nothing, and the Regent Duke’s always the one countering, right?”
“Oho, now that you mention it…?”
“Since the lord keeps picking fights over such trivial things, he sometimes loses the argument!”
And as if on cue, Valere—who should have been confined to the portrait chamber—emerged and promptly picked a quarrel with Ludwig.
“Idle, are you?”
“You look rather idle yourself.”
“I’m allowed to be idle.”
“…?”
Before Ludwig could even express his bewilderment at this brazen logic, Mehren—second-ranked in the manor’s hierarchy—happened to overhear and caught Valere red-handed with a sinister smile.
“My lord, what nonsense are you spouting so confidently? Is this really the time for you to loaf about? Come with me at once.”
“Ow, my ear! Wait, Mehren! It hurts!”
“A Sword Master complaining of pain? As if dramatics would work on me.”
“I’m serious, it really does hurt!”
As Mehren dragged Valere away, Ludwig’s mind raced.
This was his moment.
“Arelin!”
Ludwig bolted forward, seizing the chance to claim Arelin’s attention without interference, and deployed his trump card.
A gift offensive.
“What is all this…?”
“Things you like.”
“…?”
Arelin tilted her head, then understanding dawned.
‘Ah.’
Days gone by—locked within Rock Castle, she’d desperately sought ways to attack the Regent Duke.
Arelin remembered the items she’d requested.
‘No wonder he kept giving me things lately.’
So that was why.
“Do you like them?”
“Uh, well…”
Arelin offered a lukewarm response with something approximating grace.
Then the strong one of Halbern stirred.
The Childcare Unit—whose sole measure of all truth was the count of Praise Stickers—sprang into action.
To them, who recognized only Mehren and saw even the Grand Duke Valere as a rival in affection, Ludwig the Regent Duke was a newly emerged unnecessary competitor to be checked and monitored, but also an object requiring education.
“Regent Duke, our young lady doesn’t care for such things.”
“Look—she’s making that ‘how wasteful, more junk’ expression, isn’t she?”
“The young lady detests bothersome things.”
“You understand, yes?”
“…”
Ludwig, watching the Childcare Unit offer their unsettling counsel with bright, clearheaded eyes, felt his emotions churn.
This would have been unthinkable in Rock Castle.
But.
“I… understand.”
Ludwig had no choice. One careless word to these insolent subordinates and Arelin would glare at him with that sharp look. And besides—they weren’t entirely wrong.
“So what would make Arelin happy?”
Ludwig appealed to the Childcare Unit with surprising earnestness, but Uni simply laughed and answered.
“From here on, there’s a fee, customer.”
“Though we should mention—we don’t accept money!”
“Only information exchange. Fresh intelligence about the young lady!”
“Do you know anything?”
“…”
Ludwig was turned away at the door before any negotiation could begin.

A life of waking in the morning and eating health food that tasted poor, taking walks for exercise, playing violin, shamefully observing two foolish adults bicker, and spending time with Mehren—a serene daily existence with a satisfaction rating of 120 percent, yet several problems persisted.
“When can I go back to the Collection Meeting?”
After his last infiltration was exposed, Fession had apparently received such a thorough scolding that he hadn’t dared return to Halbern Manor since.
He communicated frequently through a smuggled letter channel, but lately his demands for me to return to the Collection Meeting had grown insistent.
“People are asking when Fession will visit. What should I tell them?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Evening dinner.
With everyone present, Mehren set down her spoon and regarded Father with eyes of eerie clarity.
Father continued to smile smugly, while beside him the Regent Duke backed him up through silence.
Seriously. These two men had poor relations yet somehow managed perfect agreement on this.
“Fession—you mean the Crown Prince of this realm?”
“You know him well.”
“Why does his name come up so suddenly?”
“Because the boy has taken a liking to our daughter.”
“…”
Even speaking softly, with two people carrying on in this dining room, there was no way I could avoid hearing.
Father narrowed his eyes with a smile and continued.
“No outings yet. What if you collapse again?”
An attack on my health, out of the blue?
I can’t let this stand. I won’t do as Father wishes!
Just as I was barely holding my ground, the Regent Duke joined the fray.
“I hate agreeing with this man, but my opinion’s the same. Perhaps it’s still too early for outings.”
Though the Regent Duke wielded only about 0.1 share of influence in this household, it apparently seemed significant to Father that two people had voiced opposition, and his smile deepened.
As if he simply didn’t want me to go.
I was staring at these two pitiful men when it happened.
“Arelin, are you frustrated?”
Mother—Mehren, who held the real authority to overturn these two idiots’ opinions—posed the question.
I thought it over carefully.
“No, I’m not frustrated.”
“Then…?”
“But I do miss the children.”
I felt embarrassed and oddly amused at myself—so quick to be annoyed, yet drawn to this feeling. My honest heart wanted time with them.
‘I’ve never played with peers my own age before.’
Playing with Fession, the twins, and Harun had been fun—genuinely fun.
With them, I became an ordinary child, and I liked that.
“I want to play with the children… is that okay?”
“Okay!”
Father, who moments before had been the loudest in opposition, instantly capitulated. His posture suggested complete defeat.
What on earth had he surrendered to?
“Well…”
Uncle Ludwig, who’d been quietly backing Father, also fell silent, as if he had nothing left to say.
As an odd hush settled over the table, Mehren stroked my hair and spoke.
“Empress Azeni mentioned she would soon reorganize the Playmates’ Gathering.”
“Hmm?”
“She said she’d restructure it around the Crown Prince’s birthday, so if you return by then, that should work.”
Mehren smiled.
“Your birthday is coming soon as well, after all.”
“My birthday…?”
“Is there anything you’d like as a gift?”
Asked so suddenly, I couldn’t think of anything. Something I want? Did such a thing exist?
“…Mother’s love?”
“…!”
Mehren’s eyes widened.
“All I have is Mother.”
“And all I have is you, Arelin.”
I rose and nestled into Mehren’s embrace, and the table erupted into chaos once more.
“Let me in too!”
“Father? You’re just an uncle. Arelin, include your uncle bound by proof of faith.”
“Include? That’s an order?”
“Include… if you would.”
“Don’t listen to a man with no blood relation to her.”
At Valere’s words, Mehren’s eyes turned sharp as axes.
“Are you taking a shot at me right now, my lord?”
“No, that’s not what I—”
“Right, exactly. We shouldn’t listen to men with no blood ties.”
“Father, that’s too much.”
As Father fumbled for words, the Regent Duke inexplicably puffed up with pride.
My image of the Regent Duke is definitely deteriorating, though it’s probably just my imagination.
“It seems only Arelin thinks of me.”
“Of course, Mother!”
“Darling, are you questioning my love for you?”
“Love and all that aside—just drop dead.”
“Actually, I know you love me.”
Mehren couldn’t bear Valere’s psychological warfare and hurled a knife, but Valere caught it effortlessly.
The dinner table descended into chaos in moments.
In that tumult, the Regent Duke—the only one excluded—stared fixedly at Mehren.
“…”
Did he read something in that gaze?
Mehren preempted him.
“Absolutely not!”
“What?”
“Whatever it is—absolutely not!”
“…”
Ludwig smacked his lips with regret.
What had he been about to do anyway?

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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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