Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 17

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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 17

If asked what the sole drawback of this world—a world that had climbed to modernity through Magical Engineering—might be, the answer would be simple: no Netflix.
What a bleak existence, unable to watch films from the comfort of one’s home.
Theatre existed, certainly, but making the effort to go out every time felt far too tedious, and having performers summoned to a private hall for my personal enjoyment was, to be honest, rather unpleasant.
The thought that those actors were performing solely for me….
‘It’s suffocating.’
With memories of my past life restored, the half-modern consciousness within me had developed a preference for distance.
All hail social distancing.
Comic strips of a sort existed, but not the web comics I knew—they were used almost exclusively to sway those who could hardly read.
Yes. In this world, content designed for entertainment and amusement—the sort that lets one waste away in solitude—had been almost entirely eradicated.
Novels, perhaps?
That was the only option.
“This makes no sense.”
How could I have been reincarnated into a Romance Fantasy Novel world only to find myself starving for entertainment?
“What do people in this world even do for fun?”
Court parties, house parties, tea parties, dinner parties, standing parties, parties.
Ah. So that’s how everyone became party fanatics. I hadn’t realized.
Even when I tried to hole myself away and read novels, the entertainment had been drenched in such limited stimulation that to someone accustomed to modern sensations, this world’s content—which hadn’t yet pioneered the darker genres—felt utterly dull.
And that was why.
A homebody like me ended up dragging herself to an annoying social gathering.
To witness the male lead in the flesh!
Except….
“Arelin, try this!”
Setting aside the matter of my fate as an extra—whether to resist it, face it, or grapple with this world—my will and desire had dwindled to zero.
I’d decided to live quietly, unremarkably, and to end my days without fuss.
Yet.
“Try this one too.”
“Oh, this as well.”
“This is delicious too.”
Quiet, I was not being.
How had it come to this?
“Arelin!”
It was all his fault.
Fessyon, the Crown Prince.
The male lead of this novel, and the center of this gathering.
“Hmm? Arelin, what are you thinking?”
A passing curiosity, I’d thought—but his interest had lingered far too long.
Wouldn’t you finally withdraw your attention from me? Because of you, my peaceful existence is being disrupted.
“Your Highness….”
“Aren’t you going to eat this?”
Don’t you see how many eyes are on you? How am I supposed to eat in this atmosphere?
I wanted to snap at him, but his eyes shone so brightly that my resolve crumbled. Yes, I’m the guilty one.
“I really can’t eat this much, Your Highness.”
“Huh? This much?”
…….
I really wanted to hit him.
My fists clenched, trembling slightly, and a scowl naturally formed on my face.
“Arelin, does your head hurt?!”
Please, just be quiet.
“Griam, over here! The physician!”
“Please.”
Just stop, I beg you!
After frantically trying to calm the flustered Fessyon, I felt my energy drain completely away.
I’m exhausted.
I want to go home.
I want to sleep.
Of the modern person’s three essential nutrients—nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine—I desperately needed caffeine. I wanted a cold, crisp iced coffee.
Just as my worn soul was attempting astral projection, Fessyon placed something else on my plate.
“Chew it well!”
How did he interpret what I said?
My stomach had already exceeded capacity thirty minutes ago and was still precariously strained. If I ate more now, I would surely perish.
Wait. Could it be?
Was this some kind of new torture?
Force-feeding torture…?
‘I cannot die like this.’
People grow stronger in crisis.
I quickly scanned my surroundings for someone who might help.
No one.
Well, that figures for my life.
So how do I escape this situation?
‘In times like this, turn the tables.’
“Your Highness should eat too. You’ve been so focused on looking after me that you barely ate yourself. Here.”
When I smiled warmly and pushed my entire plate toward him, Fessyon looked at me with touched eyes.
“Arelin, you’re an angel!”
No, I’m not.
“Since Arelin gave it to me, I’ll eat it all!”
Though it wasn’t quite accurate to say I’d given it to him—every morsel on that plate had been placed there by Fessyon himself.
Once I’d settled Fessyon down, I felt the atmosphere around me shift palpably against my skin.
Tingle, tingle.
“Who is she?”
“Arelin? You know her?”
“I’ve never heard of her.”
“When did she get close to His Highness?”
“No idea. Does anyone know her?”
“I don’t either.”
“What exactly did she do to make His Highness follow her like that?”
“There must be something going on.”
The murmurs of the other young nobles drifted to me on the air.
I could hear them—but did this fool not notice?
Since the moment I’d arrived, Fessyon had monopolized me, forming a world of just the two of us, so I could see clearly the confusion and resentment of the others who’d been left out.
Envy and jealousy.
So familiar it felt comforting—like my own bed. Like an old, well-worn mattress.
In my past life, I’d grown used to it, but for Arelin, this was a first, and somehow it felt novel.
‘I always sat at the very edge before.’
Who could have predicted I’d claim the seat beside Fessyon? Though I’d only wish for someone to take it from me.
“Arelin!”
By then, Fessyon had apparently finished the mountain of food, his face breaking into a grin. His consumption had been monstrous.
What kind of digestive system must one have to inhale food like a vacuum cleaner?
Comparing it to my own stomach, which grew queasy at the slightest excess, I couldn’t help but envy him.
“Would you like more?”
“Yes!”
“You can eat more after all that?”
“Yes! It’s possible!”
“Really?”
Wow, I’m genuinely envious.
“Try some.”
Somewhere along the way, my strategy of deflecting bites to protect my stomach had transformed into an investigation: exactly how much could Fessyon consume?
Whether because he enjoyed my offering to him or simply because he ate with such enthusiasm, Fessyon quickly completed an entire meal broadcast’s worth of food.
A new fact learned that day:
The Crown Prince could devour seven servings on his own.
Even accounting for a growing child’s appetite, that day I witnessed a miracle.

* * *

Fessyon clung to me like gum for the entire rest of the day.
Not only during meals, but even at playtime he abandoned his beloved ball games to sit beside me and read books instead.
“Arelin, have you already learned all the Arbet Script?”
“Yes.”
I had no memory of learning the letters, but at some point I’d begun reading them naturally.
If I had to describe it, it was as though a language patch had been applied. At least, I could read every book in our Library.
“You studied very hard, didn’t you?”
“That’s amazing!”
“Your Highness can learn it too.”
“Yes! I’ll work hard!”
The scholarly minds who’d been bookish and inactive because of the Crown Prince’s constant outings were delighted, but seeing him refuse to leave my side, their disappointment was rather entertaining.
Watching them hover and glance sideways, wondering how they might capture his attention—it was quite amusing.
“Hmm.”
I’d forgotten because of how tedious I found it, but the Crown Prince truly was popular.
I’d always seen him with that goofy expression, thinking him nearly an airhead, but reading Fessyon looked different.
‘Without smiling, his expression becomes quite sharp.’
Silver hair that shimmered like woven moonlight, and eyes the color of rubies. Though boyish slenderness made his features seem delicate and pretty, a slight furrow transformed him into something handsome.
Wow.
Just looking, I felt myself being drawn in.
‘If he’d been born in the modern era, he could live off his face alone.’
Even now, he wasn’t struggling to get by on looks.
Whatever the author had been thinking, Fessyon was a rather rare type of male lead.
No traumatic past, no dark secrets, a peaceful household, sensible parents worthy of respect, harmonious friendships, healthy relationships, sensible, mentally stable, no personal flaws—a sound, dependable male protagonist.
‘Isn’t the standard Romance Fantasy Novel male lead supposed to be miserable with a tragic past, harboring secrets, bearing character flaws, an “obsessive, arrogant Northern Duke with regrets”?’
Suddenly, I began to understand why this novel….
had failed….
so spectacularly….
“No, I was enjoying myself!”
“Hmm?”
“No, what I’m reading is fun.”
“I see.”
Though the thought passed quickly, seeing Fessyon made me sympathetic.
“I like a bright, optimistic male lead like you.”
Perhaps.
As long as his radiance doesn’t exorcise me, I think it’s fine.
It doesn’t really matter anyway, since he’ll end up with the heroine eventually.
‘What if, by some chance, being reincarnated means a new story is written where we end up together?’
No, that’s fantasy. Excessive self-awareness. Get your head on straight.
“Hmm?”
“It’s nothing. Really.”
“Mm.”
“Truly, nothing at all.”
“By the way, Arelin.”
“Yes?”
I turned my head casually and found myself face to face with Fessyon. My body flinched at the sight of my reflection in those clear crimson eyes.
“Call me by my name.”
“Yes? Ah?”
“Fessyon.”
Fessyon suddenly made an awkward request.
“Your Highness….”
“Fessyon.”
“Your Majesty….”
“Syon.”
…….
I hadn’t thought calling someone by their name would be so difficult, but I genuinely didn’t want to cultivate familiarity with Fessyon.
What would be the point with someone whose nature and inclinations didn’t match mine?
“Fes. Sy. On.”
Yet.
A mere extra couldn’t defy the male lead.
“Fessyon.”
“Hehe.”
It was difficult even for a lady-in-waiting to resist the Crown Prince. But beyond that….
Fessyon’s bright, radiant smile was striking enough that I thought it wouldn’t hurt to say his name.
“Say it again.”
“Yes, Fessyon.”
“Hehe.”
It was a smile as bright as spring sunlight, impossibly luminous.

* * *

On the way back.
After managing to pry Fessyon away despite his offers to see me home, I was walking peacefully back to the Manor with Ern when a group blocked our path.
“?”
Who were these men?
“The Queen requests your presence.”
An unwanted event had triggered.

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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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