Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 183

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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 183

I’d had a deep, vivid dream.
I’d dreamed of Mother Sione smiling at me in such a radiant place, and then afterward I’d dreamed of my own grand funeral, held after my death in my past life.
Strange. Mother seemed to be crying.
Watching her stand entranced before my portrait, staring at nothing, felt so unfamiliar and odd that I’d simply thought, ‘I’m having another strange dream,’ and left it at that.
Half-asleep, I thought I glimpsed Father with a serious expression, leaning in closer and brushing my hair back…….
When I opened my eyes, it was already bright morning, sunlight streaming in.

“This time only.”

What on earth had Chaiyen done to me?
I could only guess by looking at the status window.

[!Warning! Physical body collapsing]
[Current progression: 82% (Blessing being applied)]
[Currently active Blessings:
-Sleeping Sloth Power
-???’s Power (temporary)]

* * *

“I’ll be back soon.”
Mehren found that note resting on top of his desk and let out a hollow laugh.
“This brat again…….”
I thought things had finally settled down, and now this nonsense?
He crumpled the note, then smoothed it back out again, troubled by some nagging feeling, and his brow furrowed.
He’d known Valere’s last destination was the Magic Tower—a place he’d originally said he meant to visit anyway, so Mehren hadn’t thought much of it.
“What’s happened?”
And it had to be now, when Arelin was bedridden and ailing.
“He could have at least said something.”
Though to be fair, at least he’d left a note instead of vanishing without a word—that was worth some credit.
‘I thought that brat Valere had finally become halfway decent…….’
It all seemed like a fleeting peace, and now something had suddenly twisted out of place, leaving Mehren with an unsettled feeling in his chest.
“Damn it.”
Mehren ran a hand through his hair and was about to leave his office to check on Arelin’s condition before his work when—
“Mehren!”
“What is it, Dilan?”
Dilan came bounding over, breathless with news.
“The young lady is awake!”

* * *

The Dining Room of Halbern Manor.
Unusually quiet today, the room was interrupted only by the occasional soft clink of tableware.
Mehren, the maids of the Childcare Unit, and even the butler stood gathered around, watching a child eat, their faces etched with confusion.
“Are you really certain you’re well?”
“To see her eating like that—I’m not sure what happened, but it seems like a good thing…….”
“What on earth is going on?”
How many days had she been ill now?
Those who’d been aching with worry as Arelin lay groaning suddenly found it strange to see her rise briskly from her seat as if nothing had happened.
Moreover, Arelin seemed even more spirited than usual.
“Could it be thanks to the Ancient Holy Water that Regent Duke Ludvich sent?”
After seeing the Magic Tower’s report on Arelin’s physical condition that Mehren had shared, Ludvich had mentioned some urgent business and departed, only to send back that Ancient Holy Water afterward.
When told the holy water purged all harmful effects from the body, the Grand Duke of Halbern had been utterly flabbergasted.
In principle, it wasn’t even exported beyond the Phaital Imperial Family—how had he managed to send it?
Just as Mehren had frozen at the appearance of this national treasure that he scarcely dared use, the communication device flickered to life.

—Give it to her and let me know what happens.

Ludvich was detained by the Southern Empire’s Emperor and wouldn’t be returning for a while; he said he’d look into ways to cure Arelin’s illness from his end.

—Goodness, Uncle! You’re stripping the nation bare and pouring it straight into Halbern’s mouth! What in the world are you doing, Uncle?!
—I’m merely exercising my legitimate authority. What’s the problem?
—How can you say that when the entire treasury is being drained as we speak?! If you’re going to be like this, perhaps you should take up the regency again!
—Why would I?

There seemed to be a reason why Ludvich was still called “Regent Duke” even after stepping down from that position.
Mehren, flabbergasted by the conversation with the Southern Empire’s Emperor, had tried to return the Ancient Holy Water, but the Regent Duke’s will was firm.

—I’ll take responsibility, so just give it to her.

With that, he’d said something about needing to stay there for a while to “take responsibility” and “clean up,” then ended the call with “see you later.”
“Those two are unbelievable.”
Living recklessly like that—I’d die of envy.
Mehren had come to think that the ability to live that way was a kind of talent in itself.
Still, if it meant Arelin had woken up, he supposed he should be grateful…….
“Hm? Did you say something?”
Arelin, chewing away at her food, looked up.
She’d been eating only porridge for days, unable to manage anything else, and watching her eat so eagerly, a smile spread unbidden across Mehren’s lips.
“Nothing at all. Please, eat your fill.”
“Okay.”
Arelin looked around her as she continued eating.
“Where are all the knights?”
“Ah, this morning Saren and his entire order departed for the Northern Fortress.”
“……?”
Mehren chuckled, recalling the knight order that had set out at dawn for the Northern Fortress after receiving a summons from the Grand Duke.
In the meantime, Arelin had cleaned her bowl completely and risen from the table. Uni toddles after her.
“Are you truly certain you’re well?”
“Yep. Doesn’t hurt at all.”
“The medical staff did say the same…….”
Everyone seemed bewildered that Arelin, who’d been aching just moments before, had suddenly brushed herself off and gotten up.
Arelin didn’t bother explaining that her good health was only temporary.
She simply gazed out at the sky beyond the garden, remarking on what a beautiful day it was.
“I want to take a walk.”
“……?”
That was something the old Arelin couldn’t have imagined saying.

* * *

Perhaps it was the aftereffect of having been so ill—landscapes that I might have glanced past without noticing suddenly seemed vivid and striking.
“Was our garden always this beautiful?”
Today, especially, the sunlight felt so bright it almost hurt my eyes.
“Are you still not feeling well?”
“Have we ever seen her enjoying a walk like this?”
“It must mean she’s still unwell…….”
I heard the Childcare Unit members murmuring among themselves in confusion, but since I felt as strange as they looked, I left them to it.
“Oh, I want to play something.”
At my murmur, Ether, who’d been lurking as a button, instantly transformed into a violin. But today, for some reason, I wanted to play the violin Father had given me as a gift.
“What will you play?”
Uuuugh—
Ignoring Ether, who trembled indignantly at the betrayal, I began practicing scales, then found myself lost in thought.
I’d been playing assigned pieces, etudes, and repertoire for recitals endlessly, but now that I was choosing songs on a whim and playing them, everything felt different.
This must be what people mean when they say being reborn makes you truly feel alive.
“Mm. I like it.”
Today I’d play a piece I’d only heard and never actually performed myself.
The famous OST from that renowned animation—”The Carousel of Life.”
The smooth bow work, flowing from détaché to legato, drew forth a beautiful melody.
A single-line melody, the violin’s song voice rang out through the garden.
Tweet-tweet-tweet—
Apparently my performance pleased him, for the blue bird On flew over and circled around me, and when I finished, he perched right on the violin.
“You like music too?”
Tweet!
“How curious. Is it because you’re a Divine Beast?”
I was at a loss for words when On nibbled at the bow as if asking for another performance.
Then my eyes met with another visitor who’d been waiting for my performance to end.
“Chloe!”
“Hello, Arelin.”
Ern, standing behind Chloe, smiled with some awkwardness.
“Your friend came to see you, so I brought her along…….”
It seemed they’d thought I might look vulnerable on my own. That would explain why they’d so readily permitted an outside visitor.
“Welcome, Chloe.”

* * *

“I heard you’d been very ill. Are you all right?”
Chloe studied Arelin’s face carefully as she sat across from her.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“You seem to be…….”
The children had all been wondering about Arelin’s condition, having missed their gatherings for nearly a week.
Though Arelin sipped her milk with apparent ease and looked perfectly healthy, when Chloe caught the intense gaze of the maid and butler nearby, keeping their eyes fixed solely on Arelin, she understood just how serious the illness had been.
Such overprotectiveness.
“I enjoyed your performance.”
“Thanks.”
Arelin smiled brightly.
For someone who’d just given such an extraordinary performance, it was a remarkably understated response. She’d only heard it through a music box before; hearing it played live was entirely different.
‘Maybe I should learn an instrument too?’
For a noblewoman, playing some musical instrument as a hobby was standard education, but Chloe had never given it much thought until now.
Instruments had become suddenly fashionable at the Magic Tower lately anyway, and Chloe decided she’d have to try learning something when she returned.
“But Chloe, isn’t today one of your study days at the Magic Tower?”
At Arelin’s question, Chloe smiled a little awkwardly.
The truth was that Chloe had come to Halbern Manor because of the insistence of several Star-rank Mages, excluding her teacher.
This kindhearted girl simply couldn’t refuse when the senior Mages had begged her to come check on Arelin’s condition.
“What’s the inside of the Magic Tower like? I’ve always been curious, since outsiders aren’t allowed inside.”
“It’s surprisingly ordinary. It just has Space Distortion Magic cast throughout.”
“Really?”
Then Chloe suddenly asked:
“Want to go there sometime?”
Arelin grabbed Chloe’s hand as if she’d been waiting for exactly this invitation.
“Let’s go right now.”

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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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