Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 16

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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 16

Mehren, recently elevated to hook collector, offered a brief explanation.
“That’s how it is.”
Of course, the Childcare Unit couldn’t accept this.
“How did it become that way? You haven’t explained anything at all!”
“We still don’t understand anything—not a thing, not one single thing!”
“How is Arelin’s mother Mehren?”
“How is Mehren the mother?”
“Is it that, then—a child born of forbidden love between Mehren and His Highness……?”
“Wasn’t that the most unbelievable rumor that got buried long ago?”
“Biological Mado Engineering has advanced this far now……?”
“Now that you mention it, the lady does look a bit like Mehren, doesn’t she?”
“Right? The atmosphere and all, they do seem somewhat similar?”
Mehren pressed his temples hard.
“Everyone, stop the nonsense.”
Perhaps they sensed something in his cold smile. They hesitated, and their mouths fell silent.
“The lady has found her mother.”
“Ah!”
Rena, struck by sudden realization, attempted to piece it together.
“Could it be that Mehren is going to take the place of her absent mother?! And thus enter the Halbern Estate to seize the assets—mmph!”
“Have you forgotten that I manage all those assets entirely?”
“……I’m terribly sorry.”
It was all in jest. When would such an opportunity to tease Mehren come again? They teased him in earnest before gradually checking his reaction.
Mehren swept them with a cold gaze once over before exhaling deeply.
“See that this doesn’t happen again.”
“We shall correct ourselves.”
“We shall be more careful.”
“We shall make an effort.”
In the midst of their penitent voices, Uni suddenly shot up from her seat.
“But Mehren gets to reconcile while we’re left behind! We want to get close to the lady too!”
The grievance session reopened.
“The lady keeps her distance from us!”
“She doesn’t understand our Professional Consciousness!”
“Sob, sob, sob.”
‘What is wrong with these people?’
Mehren was taken aback.
Were they always like this?
“Well, that’s none of my concern, so do as you please—but those of you tasked with caring for the lady shouldn’t make things difficult, should you?”
“…….”
Everyone grew solemn.
What followed was the familiar deluge of tears.
“Mehren already reconciled, that’s why, isn’t it?!”
“The blessed mock us!”
“I want to get close to the lady too!”
“I could be a good mother too!”
“Young lady―!”
The Childcare Unit became one in jealousy and resentment.

* * *

Once Arelin recovered, Mehren—breathing freely at last—set about his first task: checking on her wellbeing.
Only with the most trustworthy people, only in verified safe places, only after multiple inspections confirmed nothing was amiss—did the emotions he’d suppressed finally burst forth.
Was this accident truly his fault alone?
No.
This was all the work of his lord, who had created this unexpected burden.
So, half on impulse, he sent a message.
‘Your Highness is the worst father under heaven.’
The reply came back faster than expected.
「Do you wish to be executed, you wretch?」
It seemed Jaren had kept his promise, staking his name and honor on it. Whether he’d also preserved his life and safety was another matter.
Mehren chuckled at the unusually swift response from Duke Halbern.
「Then execute me. I shall retire hereby.」
A message full of disloyalty and disrespect uncharacteristic of Mehren.
「I shall not execute you. Let your body repay this disloyalty.」
“Hah.”
That was his reply.
“This man, truly……”

* * *

The Northern Front.
“Ugh, Mehren’s too harsh.”
Jaren, his face bruised blue from staking his name and honor, was rubbing a Precious Egg across his cheek.
This was all thanks to the merciful wounds inflicted by Duke Halbern, who had descended to the south, repaired the collapsing lines, and returned.
“So why did you talk back to the Duke?”
“Against a Duke who performs the work of a thousand alone against those mindless monsters—you’re the one who was wrong for being cheeky!”
“This is all Jaren’s big mouth~”
The knights of the Saren Knights accompanying Duke Halbern gleefully began needling Jaren, each claiming their grievance.
Jaren felt wronged.
“Tch! Did I choose to be cheeky?!”
This was all Mehren’s fault!
“If not for Mehren!”
But local opinion sided with Mehren.
“Then why did you have to pass on his message?”
“Why did you have to deliver it yourself?”
“But! I staked my name and honor on it!”
These knights, despite being warriors themselves, clicked their tongues at Jaren for having sold honor down the river.
“Tsk tsk. This is why Muvisk doesn’t work.”
“This is precisely what Muvisk is.”
“This is exactly why……”
“Are you bastards making fun of me right now?”
“How did you know?!”
“Take my side, will you! Take my side!”
The knights realized something from Jaren’s words.
“Poor Mehren.”
“We’re field personnel conscripted here, suffering in the trenches.”
“But Mehren is left alone back there, struggling by himself, isn’t he?”
“Poor Mehren.”
“…….”
‘Whose side are you on, anyway?’
“Say, Jaren.”
“Did you bring it? That thing?”
The knights of the Saren Knights drew near, their eyes sparkling eagerly. Jaren sensed a threat to his life.
“Hand it over if you want to live.”
What he reluctantly handed over was none other than a Video Recording Device—Mehren’s meticulous record of Arelin’s growth, which he’d been passing along for Duke Halbern.
“Kyaa! So adorable!”
“How precious!”
“Look at those cheeks!”
“The young lady has grown so much―!”
“I wish I could see her with my own eyes―!”
Thanks to this, the Saren Knights were indulging in remote fandom on the barren Northern Front.

* * *

“Hmmm~”
Fession swung his legs contentedly.
The Imperial Palace’s chief attendants’ eyes sharpened at the Crown Prince’s casual behavior, but Fession noticed nothing of the sort.
“Why is he grinning like that?”
“I don’t know.”
Terion brushed off Sirua’s comment.
It was lunchtime now. He was too busy eating to pay attention to his older brother.
“…….”
Sirua regarded Fession with displeasure.
‘What on earth is wrong with him?’
Emperor Edward and Empress Azeni had three children.
The eldest was their son, Crown Prince Fession.
The second was their daughter, Lady Sirua.
The third was their son, Prince Terion.
The three got along well enough—in fact, quite well. But like children their age, they bickered as one might expect.
“Want this?”
“Yeah.”
Fession handed a large sausage to Terion. Under normal circumstances, this would never happen. Sirua interjected.
“Give me one too.”
Normally, Fession would look ready to kill and say, “Eat your own,” but instead he smiled and—
“Sure, eat up~!”
—didn’t he?
He actually handed over a sausage.
“…….”
Sirua grew serious.
“……Did he hit his head?”
‘Did he bang himself somewhere wrong during training?’
Oblivious to Sirua’s bewildered gaze, Fession merely smiled to himself.
“I hope afternoon comes soon!”

* * *

Colloquially known as the Friday Gathering.
Officially, the Crown Prince’s Childhood Friends Circle.
Today was that day. Griam had already given up, resigned to, and accepted Fession’s high energy.
Acceptance brings peace.
Thus today, Fession arrived first to the meeting place! Faster than anyone! Seated in a manner unlike all others!
“I got here first this time……wait, you, Your Highness?”
“What’s wrong? Oh, wait, Your Highness!”
“Your Highness Fession, why are you here?”
“Are we late?”
Confronted with an unusual situation, the children panicked. Fession deftly accepted their greetings and explained the situation.
“Hey, everyone! No, I just got here quickly. Don’t worry, come sit down.”
“Oh good! We’re not late then.”
“Your Highness, why did you come early today?”
“That’s right, is something special today?”
“You seem to be in a good mood.”
“Did something good happen?”
The room grew lively and noisy. Fession simply laughed and welcomed the children.
They’d all arrived comfortably, then stiffened upon seeing Fession arrive before them, then relaxed again upon hearing his explanation—and in the midst of this cycle—
Fession’s expression darkened slightly.
“He’s not going to skip again, is he?”
Surely not. No way. Nope.
But the track record made anxiety creep in.
‘No, Griam said for sure he’d come today.’
He was restraining himself from visiting too often, having been told not to check on him every day.
‘If he doesn’t come again this time……’
He’d resolved to visit every day regardless of what anyone said. It was then—
“Your Highness, what’s wrong?”
“Do you know someone?”
“I don’t know.”
The door to the room, now thick with confusion and questions, opened. A child entered.
Pale cheeks, fine pale platinum hair flowing softly. Eyes like rose quartz holding the color of cherry blossoms—a tender pink. A lovely girl with a scent as sweet as honey.
“Arelin!”
“……?”
Fession bolted up as though he’d been waiting. The other children froze as though broken.
An odd silence descended.
“Arelin, you came!”
Arelin was flustered.
‘Why is he acting like this?’

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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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