Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 189

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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 189

Arelin’s sleeping spells had grown longer.
First it was two days, then four… and when she didn’t wake for an entire week, Mehren nearly buried the entire medical staff.
“She’s simply resting, sir.”
“She falls asleep this frequently and sleeps this long, yet you claim there’s truly nothing wrong?”
“It appears her physical strength may have weakened…”
“This is… what is this about?”
Until now, as long as they gave her medicine, her body might be frail but daily life posed no problems—so no one knew what to do.
Before long, Arelin’s bedside had become as cluttered with magical devices as any critical ward.
“Perhaps returning to the Manor would be better?”
“But the young lady likes it here, doesn’t she?”
Just days ago she’d been laughing brightly as she moved about, but watching her lie there was eating away at the Childcare Unit staff. And Mehren felt the same.
“Arelin…”
Mehren took every spare moment to sit endlessly beside her.
‘What if she never wakes?’
Memories of the time spent with Arelin flashed through his mind. Mehren clenched his teeth.
The past days when he’d foolishly drawn a line, keeping his distance, saying he couldn’t be her true guardian—those days weighed on him with sickening regret.
“Arelin, please wake up.”
Give me a chance.
Whether as your mother or father, I’ll do anything you want—please, just give me the chance. Let me raise you well.
“Our Arelin is such a good child.”
There’s still so much I haven’t given you.
I promised I’d do well, yet buried in work, I haven’t managed even half of what I meant to do.
For the first time, Mehren knew fear.
The fact that Arelin could leave him at any moment.
“Why…”
Why was he dreaming?
Arelin’s eyelids rose heavily. Her long lashes fluttered as she reached her hand toward Mehren.
“Why are you… crying…?”
Was he crying?
“Don’t cry…”
The hand touching his cheek was so fragile it seemed it might shatter, and Mehren couldn’t move for a long while.
* * *
[Abnormal Status ‘Weakness’ has intensified]
The moment I opened my eyes and reflexively opened my Status Window, I knew. Cheiyen’s Divine Protection had ended.
When I turned my gaze, Mehren was crying beside me—I couldn’t believe it.
‘I thought the world was ending.’
Even if the sun rose in the west, I thought I’d never see Mehren cry, yet here he was weeping because I was sick. I felt sorry for it.
Whether in my past life or this one, I seemed fundamentally unsuited to being a filial daughter. Unless I were a filial daughter of fire itself.
“A week.”
I slept for a whole week.
It’ll only get worse from here.
“I really can’t go anywhere now.”
That Cheiyen—if you’re going to help, don’t offer a twenty-day trial package for a paid subscription. Commit fully.
“Anyway, I’m not grateful.”
After coaxing Mehren away with flattery about being “a diligent and capable mother I admire” when he abandoned work to stay by my side, I calmly organized what I needed to do now.
Because now I truly had to think about what came after death.
I’d wanted to recover and live a long life.
“Can a mere extra really not escape the fate the gods have set?”
There was so much I wanted to do. Even I was surprised at how much had accumulated.
I really didn’t want to die.
But becoming Cheiyen’s thrall was even worse.
Yet seeing myself willing to grasp at even a rotting rope if it meant survival told me I was truly sick.
“Get yourself together.”
Waiting for death wasn’t a terrible feeling.
Recalling my past life when I waited endlessly in an empty house for anyone to return, this was less corpse-like, I suppose.
“Let’s do what needs doing.”
First, the most pressing task…
“I need to send the children home.”
* * *
Right after waking, I thought the children would already be gone since I’d slept so long, but I was wrong.
The children were still in Sagret.
“Arelin.”
“Are you okay now?”
The twins remained bright as ever.
“Arelin, we brought you medicine.”
“Don’t be sick!”
Who knew these troublemakers could do something so thoughtful? My feelings were renewed.
“Thank you. I’ll take it well.”
“Get better soon.”
“Let’s play together again!”
They thrust pamphlets at me, rattling off plans they’d made during my sleep—apparently they’d done some sightseeing.
“You two.”
“Arelin, why are you calling us like that? It’s scary.”
“Did we do something wrong?”
“Don’t you think you should head back home? You’ve been here too long.”
Ciel’s face darkened in an instant and she shook her head firmly.
“We’re going back with Arelin.”
“You can’t. Go home.”
“We don’t want to!”
“You’re bothering me. Leave, now.”
“What? How could you say that to us?”
“You two have things to do. Go on, listen to me.”
“We hate you, Arelin!”
After a drawn-out quarrel, the twins were thoroughly sulking. Any other time I’d have made peace with them, but this time I let it be.
Still, seeing the Sperom staff beam with relief as they departed must have meant I’d done the right thing.
“Harun.”
“Yeah.”
Unlike the twins, Harun understood what I meant to say even before I spoke.
He simply gazed at me with an unreadable expression for a moment, then patted my shoulder.
“I’ll wait.”
Was I just… comforted?
No matter how many times I see it, he’s truly good, deep-hearted, and full of consideration. A real gem.
If I had a daughter, I’d have made him my son-in-law.
Now only one remained.
“Fession.”
“I’m not leaving.”
The strongest opponent yet.
Even when the twins and Harun went sightseeing, he’d stayed cooped up in the Manor waiting for me to wake—and Fession rejected the idea before I could even tell him to go.
“I want to be alone.”
“I know that’s not true.”
“It really is hard. I’m not lying.”
Fession tried to say something, then closed his mouth. His drooping eyes and tears glistening in them weakened my resolve.
“Why are you about to cry?”
How can my heart be this weak?
The more I thought about it, the stronger the conviction became that I had to stay distant. Yet unlike with the twins, harsh words wouldn’t come—simply because I cared for him too much.
“Having you here has made me so happy too.”
“Why?”
“Thanks to you, I’ve made so many fun memories, so much joy. It would’ve been hard without you.”
“Why are you saying such things?”
“Thank you for being my friend, Sione.”
How could I leave someone so precious?
Yet thinking of Fession, this was right. I couldn’t inflict trauma on a child with a bright future ahead.
“So I’d be grateful if you’d return now, Your Highness. Unlike me, you have so very much to do. Don’t you?”
“Arelin.”
Fession grabbed my hand. His gesture pleaded not to be sent away, and my heart almost wavered.
“Fession.”
I pulled away the hand holding mine.
“Go home.”
I forced a smile.
“I don’t want to hurt you anymore.”
* * *
“Arelin, are you alright?”
“Yes.”
Mehren held me close, examining my complexion. Together we watched the departing children through the window.
‘Who knows when I’ll see them again.’
After gazing out the window with me, Mehren asked carefully.
“Why did you do that to His Highness?”
“What do you mean?”
“…I heard everything.”
Mehren brushed back my bangs with a melancholic expression. There’s my mother making that troubled face again.
“It’s just that Fession is still young, and I thought he’d be traumatized if someone close to him died.”
“…”
“I thought it was better to keep distance.”
Once I’d thought having many people mourn for you was a good thing, but I realized that many people grieving my death was sad for me too.
“I want to disappear quietly, silently, without a sound.”
“Why would you say such a thing…”
“Mom.”
Those jade-green eyes meeting mine were still so kind.
“Thank you. For accepting all my stubbornness.”
“Arelin…”
“I should see Dad’s face at least once before I go…”
My eyes grow heavy.
“What should I do, I’m getting sleepy again…”
* * *
As if they’d been waiting for this moment, the staff packed their belongings in a flash, and preparations to leave finished quickly. Once on the carriage back and after boarding the Mana Train, it would all be over.
“Your Highness?”
Fession, who had been boarding the carriage, suddenly stopped. As if coming to a decision, he bit his lip firmly, then turned and ran back.
“Your Highness!”
Ignoring the staff’s desperate calls, Fession ran toward where Arelin sat with eyes closed, leaning against Mehren. Sensing Fession’s arrival, Arelin opened her eyes with difficulty.
Their gazes met.
“Why didn’t you leave?”
“I don’t want to be Crown Prince.”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
“I want to be Arelin’s caretaker.”
Fession, having caught his breath after the rush, gently took Arelin’s hand.
“I want to be by your side.”
Arelin simply stared at Fession blankly for a long, long moment.
“You’re really an idiot.”
Their hands clasped together.
“So am I.”
Arelin spoke through a hollow laugh.
“You’re going to regret this.”
“…”
“I warned you clearly.”
To eyes that said he absolutely would regret it, Fession countered.
“No. I’ll never regret it.”

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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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