Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 166

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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 166

The atmosphere of the Childhood Friends Gathering had shifted.
The gathering that once centered on Fession and the children had now split into two factions.
Fession’s group and Chaeyen’s group.
‘How exactly….’
The Five Great Duchy Houses had always been the center of attention, and the extent of that fascination had been proven by Harun and the Demon Twins.
Though Harun was painfully taciturn, and the Twins were painfully demonic, so no one approached them easily.
But what if a perfectly functional, conversational heir from one of the Five Great Duchy Houses appeared—someone who even seemed to have a good temperament?
The current scene looked exactly like what would happen if that “what if” became reality.
“Chaeyen~!”
“Welcome to the Childhood Friends Gathering!”
Fession was still surrounded by many children, but Chaeyen was receiving no less attention.
‘Something feels off.’
The fact that the stalker—who smiled readily but was never easy to get along with—could converse so comfortably with the children felt like something that shouldn’t be happening.
What am I even looking at?
An illusion?
“……?”
The moment our eyes met, his smile crinkled into something warm, and I felt a twinge of unease.
As always, I couldn’t help but think: the exterior really was handsome…..
“?”
Fession’s gaze suddenly turned to me, apparently bothered that I was making eye contact with Chaeyen.
When I waved at him with an expression that said it was nothing, he just screwed up his face before settling down again.
He had the look of someone who wanted to come over, but after our little scuffle earlier, he seemed to have lost the motivation to rush over right away.

“Go play with the other kids today.”
“Why?”
“There are new kids who showed up.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“It has everything to do with it!”
“?”
“I don’t want my reputation to tank because of me.”
“…….”
“You’re the Crown Prince. You need to manage how people see you.”
“…I don’t want to be Crown Prince.”

That was about thirty minutes ago, when I pushed Fession away for spouting something so childish.
Whenever I arrived, Fession would attach himself to my side, and I could feel the resentment that had quietly accumulated among the children begin to dissipate.
‘Of course, that wasn’t the only reason I pushed him away.’
My heart was in turmoil.
All of this turmoil started from that—from right there.

“Don’t you want to live long?”

A perfectly timed remark that swept away every thought tumbling through my mind.

“You won’t live long, will you? I can feel it. Right now, that barely-flickering life is fading more and more.”
“That’s why I’m uneasy. How could I possibly leave your side?”

The voice, wrapped in a thin smile, was impossibly serene—and so seductive that I found myself reaching out to grasp at it without thinking.
If I hadn’t snapped back to my senses and run away then, I would have certainly fallen for it.
‘What bothers me most is how he just smiles like he knew I’d do that, without me saying a word as I ran.’
That leisurely, self-assured attitude—as if he already knew I would eventually come back to him no matter what.
‘How infuriating.’
Just as that bastard had said to me before, I seemed to be cursed with a fate where someone like him would inevitably become entangled with me—whether I wanted it or not.
I could handle his father, but now there’s one who wants to become one too. I can’t deny it.
And on top of that, this stalker?
‘So that’s what he meant when he said he’d appear next time without fear.’
“Maybe I really do need an exorcism ritual.”
If he asked whether I wanted to live long, the only answer I could give was yes.
Though if he had asked before I remembered my past life, or in the early days when I remembered it but had no connection with Fession, I might have answered differently.
‘There was a time when dying without pain was my only wish.’
Now I didn’t want to die.
Something deep within my heart—something even I hadn’t known was there—stirred awake.
I wanted to live.
With Mehren, with Father, with Fession.
And with Harun, the Twins, and the Childcare Unit.
Was it really so difficult to live simply and peacefully like this, without any grand ambitions?
“Living is really hard.”
“Arelin, what are you suddenly talking about?”
“Why is living hard? Are you sick somewhere?”
The Demon Twins’ eyes went wide—apparently they’d arrived without me noticing.
I reached over and pinched one of their soft cheeks with full malice, and the Twin’s expression turned confused.
“What do we do, Ciel? I think Arelin really is sick.”
“Must be. Is it because of His Highness?”
The Twin shot a sly look toward Fession, who was still surrounded by children.
“Arelin, could it be that you’re upset because you lost the chance to monopolize His Highness’s attention…….”
“Are you actually angry?!”
The Twins kept jabbering, but I let it go in one ear and out the other.
Fession was with the female lead right now. Looking at them like this, they both had that sunny aesthetic, and they made a really good match. They suited each other.
So this really is the female lead…….
“Arelin, don’t give up! We’re on your side!”
“That’s right, we like Arelin better!”
“?”
At this sudden show of support, I tilted my head—and the Twins muttered ‘This is it.’ before launching into complaints about Fession.
“His Highness is way too popular.”
“And he’s too excellent.”
“So shouldn’t we be even nicer to Arelin?”
“That’s right, because there’s two of us!”
Is that what they call complaints?
What kind of logic is this even supposed to be?
I tried to understand, then gave up. I’m dealing with the Demon Twins, after all.
“You two really are lucky to have such a clear head.”
The Twins tilted their heads sideways.
Ciel questioned back.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing, just that you’re pure.”

* * *

From ancient times, it was said that the mouth is a gate that invites disaster, and the tongue is a blade that cuts the body.
“I’m Sun.”
“I’m Soo!”
One careless word, and I’d brought about a catastrophe.
“Ciel, what’s that? Sun……?”
“I’m Sun from now on. Call me Sun from here on out.”
“I’m Soo!”
“……?”
Not just me, but every child at the gathering stared blankly at the Twins’ eccentric display.
Somehow they’d procured clothes with “Sun” and “Soo” written on them at lightning speed, and each Twin strutted about in their new outfit.
Despite all the “What on earth is that?” stares being directed at them, the Twins’ attitude remained utterly confident.
“Come on, let’s go. Soo!”
“Yeah, Sun!”
“Those crazy bastards really…….”
Duke Sperom, what kind of life have you been living?
The more I learned about the Twins, the more my sympathy grew for Duke Sperom, who was somehow raising them.
I couldn’t for the life of me figure out which part of what I’d said had triggered the black dragon hidden within the Twins’ depths.
It was a mistake to try to understand in the first place.
I’ll just ignore them.
Not long after I’d turned my back on the Twins, the socializing period ended and a new study session began. According to what I heard, only volunteers were supposed to attend….
“Why am I listed for all of them?”
No one had asked me whether I wanted to study anything. So why did I somehow end up registered for every single subject?
“Because you’re Arelin.”
“Yep.”
The Twins nodded as if it were obvious, and Fession just smiled brilliantly without a word. Given how blindingly sunny he looked today, the culprit was definitely Fession.
“What, do you not want to?”
“…….”
Who said forgiveness was easier than permission?
Even knowing it’s manipulation, I still forgive him.
Ah, I’m going to spoil him rotten at this rate.
“But why did everyone suddenly start studying together like this?”
As far as I knew, Harun was the only one receiving lessons similar to the Crown Prince’s.
Fession’s smile dimmed slightly.
“It seems Paselo’s academic performance has been declining day by day…….”
“…….”
You’re having a rough time too.
I glanced through the subjects we’d be studying with Fession.
History of the Albrecht Empire, world history covering the complex entanglements between the Albrecht Empire and other nations.
Theology, which was permitted to only some, and Heraldry, which studied the coat of arms of major nobility both domestic and foreign, along with political science.
Plus basic mathematics and Magical Engineering fundamentals, jurisprudence including regional customary law, etiquette covering the culture and manners of foreign lands, monster ecology, basic geography, and so on.
I suddenly didn’t want to know anymore.
On top of that: the Ancient Divine Language—the Latin of this world—the continental common tongue of Albrecht Language, the Delooer of the Southern Empire, and numerous languages from other races and nations.
“Isn’t it strange that his academic performance is improving?”
“Huh?”
“No, never mind.”
All while also receiving Swordsmanship training…?
‘This isn’t human.’
Fession tilted his head at the expression on my face.
“Why do you look like that? Isn’t this the standard education any heir receives?”
“?”
I tilted my head in confusion, and the self-proclaimed Sun/Soo chimed in, nodding their heads.
“We study it too.”
“Harun studies it as well, doesn’t he?”
Harun nodded with a dark expression.
“…….”
Save me, someone….

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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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