Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 214
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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 214
“Wait, you met the Crown Prince?!”
Noel’s head snapped up.
Anxiety and concern flickered across his gaze as it landed on me.
“I did meet him, but…”
The Demon Twins fell quiet, sensing something was amiss as they watched my soft smile.
“Fession’s gotten quite a bit prickly, actually.”
Our boy has changed.
Where’d that sunny prince gone, the one who used to follow me around because he liked me so much?
I knew it was my own doing, but I couldn’t help feeling wronged all the same.
“Did Fession… recognize you?”
Noel swallowed hard, his voice tight with tension.
“Hard to say whether he recognized me or not.”
On one hand, he flew into a rage calling me an impostor before I’d even told him my name—which suggested he’d figured it out. On the other, he failed to see that I was the real thing—which meant he hadn’t. Schrödinger’s Fession, I suppose.
It was absurd, really.
“He told me if I didn’t want to die, I should disappear from his sight. I was genuinely shocked. When did our sweet Fession learn to say such harsh things?”
I could see Noel’s eyelashes trembling even from where I stood nearby.
I was smiling gently enough, but he seemed to sense the unease I’d hidden beneath it.
“Arelin, are you alright?”
“What else can I be?”
A silence fell between us.
Both Ciel and Noel stared at me, their expressions hardening as they lost themselves in thought, before Noel suddenly voiced a complaint.
“But why didn’t you come see us?”
“Well, I thought I’d be able to see you both at the Imperial Ball. Speaking of which, where’s Harun gone off to?”
“Harun’s on a mission.”
“Ah.”
I’d wanted to see Harun too, but it couldn’t be helped. Everyone had grown up and was busy with their own work now.
It was different from when we were children.
“Arelin, you’ve changed.”
“Me?”
Ciel, who’d been studying me carefully, nodded. Noel agreed with him.
“You’re the same, but different somehow.”
Their gaze settled on my cheek, unfamiliar and uncertain. Their hands, touching my arm and face, were tentative—as though if they weren’t careful, I might disappear entirely.
The Demon Twins held onto my arm for a long moment before Ciel made me an offer.
“Arelin, would you let us help?”
“With what?”
“We could vouch for you—confirm to the Crown Prince that you’re the real Arelin.”
“That’ll probably backfire.”
I could already see it: Fession growing even more suspicious, wondering how the twins had fallen under my spell too.
How did I know?
Simple—if I were in his position, that’s exactly what I’d think.
Going to such lengths to deceive me, I’d rage. Wouldn’t I?
Considering the distrust in him after facing fifteen impostors, and the walls he’d built around his own heart that I’d witnessed firsthand, such an approach would only deepen his suspicion.
“But, Demon Twins—how do you know I’m really Arelin?”
“Because we know you.”
“How?”
The twins grinned.
So they weren’t going to tell me.
“I wish Fession had something like that.”
I sighed, lamenting that I hadn’t thought to create some secret between just the two of us when we were younger.
“Arelin…”
Noel hesitated before speaking.
“Do you still like the Crown Prince?”
“Yes.”
Of course I did.
“I do.”
“…”
“…”
Where should I even start? How could I possibly express the full depth of what I felt?
There was a time when even seeing him face to face was something I wanted to avoid. Now, merely thinking of him brought a smile to my lips.
I was almost afraid to speak it aloud—as though carelessly voicing such feelings might tarnish them.
“Even now, the way he treats me like that—it’s infuriating and ridiculous. Though I’ll admit, every time he acts spiteful, part of me wants to hit him.”
“Will you keep liking him? Will those feelings never change?”
“I don’t know. It’s the first time I’ve liked someone, the first time I’ve thought about liking someone at all, so I’m honestly not sure.”
Noel blinked as if struck.
“…But you’ve always been the type to be certain about things, Arelin. If something’s right, it’s right. If it’s not, it’s not.”
“Am I like that?”
I tilted my head uncertainly, and the twins’ faces fell.
Why did they suddenly lose their spark?
Was it because I kept talking about Fession?
“I like you both too.”
The twins’ faces brightened immediately.
“Just not as much as Fession.”
“…”
“…”
Their expressions darkened again.
What did I do wrong?
Watching their faces, I was at a loss for what to say next, but then Noel suddenly clenched both fists.
“I won’t give up, you know.”
Give up on what?
“Wait and see, Arelin.”
So what exactly are you saying?
“Neither will I.”
Ciel joined in, burning with determination, while I stood there utterly bewildered.
“?”
What on earth were they talking about?
* * *
Despite everything, the Demon Twins proved invaluable—they resolved the problem I’d been worrying over with ease.
“A Black Market Ticket? Of course we have one.”
“Lifesavers!”
How had I not thought of this sooner?
Sperom controlled all the wealth in the empire; there was no way they wouldn’t have access to a Black Market Ticket.
My eyes lit up as I leaned in, and Ciel barely suppressed his laughter.
“Please help me.”
“Do you really need it that badly?”
“Yes, yes.”
“It’s kind of cute when you use formal speech, Arelin.”
“Is my sincerity amusing to you?”
“What do you need it for anyway? There’s only low-quality merchandise there.”
“An artifact’s supposedly going up for sale. Do you know anything about it?”
“Ah.”
Ciel stroked his chin thoughtfully, nodding.
“I heard it’s stolen goods. The Adventurer’s Guild filed a theft report, and I was planning to verify it.”
“I need it.”
“…”
An unintended staring contest had begun.
I hadn’t planned to compete like this, but I’d tensed my eyes trying not to back down, and now here we were.
My eyes were starting to burn.
Suddenly, a mischievous glint appeared in Ciel’s golden irises.
The moment I gave in, unable to endure the dry sting, and closed my eyes—
“Then do me a favor.”
“A favor?”
“If you do, I’ll help you.”
“Is that really all we are to each other?”
“That’s precisely why a single favor will do.”
“What kind of favor?”
A peculiar smile played at Ciel’s lips.
“There’s a party at Sperom in a few days. Come as my partner.”
“That sounds tedious.”
“Fession will be there.”
“I’m going.”
My instant acceptance made Ciel’s smile deepen.
“Arelin, you really have become easy to read in all the wrong ways.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Never mind.”
Ciel sighed.
“We’ll send over a dress and accessories since there’s a dress code. You’re still staying at the hotel, right?”
“Probably.”
I needed to tell Mehren the good news at once. Finally, I could free her from that social nightmare.
“But don’t you have other options for a partner? Why ask me?”
“Do I look like I don’t have options?”
At Ciel’s confident smile, a forgotten memory from my reading surfaced.
Right, in the novel, this guy definitely…
“Be honest, Ciel. How many women are there?”
“…Women?”
“You’re a womanizer.”
I’d read it in the original story, after all.
At my sudden accusation, Ciel laughed dryly and ran a hand through his hair, leaving it slightly tousled.
“Where the hell did you hear such a rumor?”
“Isn’t it true?”
“I’m a pristine bachelor with no romantic entanglements whatsoever. Want to claim me?”
“No thanks. I already have someone.”
Even if that someone is trying to get rid of me right now.
Ciel wasn’t a womanizer?
Then was Noel not a knight either?
I felt oddly disconcerted by how much the current reality diverged from the original story.
“What was Ciel doing at that age without a girlfriend?”
“You.”
“What did I do?”
“…Never mind. It’ll only make me look pathetic.”
“?”
No, if you’re going to say something, say it clearly.
I gave the twins a thoroughly displeased look at their habit of cutting themselves off and speaking in half-sentences only they could understand.
Ciel smiled gently at my irritation.
“It’s your fault.”
So what did I do, exactly?
* * *
The party on Sperom Street was famous enough to be covered in the Albrecht Times.
Perhaps it was because charitable functions and auctions aside, Sperom rarely hosted social events, which drew people’s attention.
“Would it not be better if I accompanied you, ma’am?”
Even Mehren made such a suggestion.
“No. That’s too much. Rest, Mother.”
Regardless of Mehren’s renewed activities as my representative, her return required proper procedure. A sudden public appearance now would be ill-advised.
“But the Crown Prince himself will be in attendance—will you be alright?”
Mehren seemed worried I’d stir up another scene with Fession.
She didn’t understand.
“That’s exactly why I’m going.”
Let him see me beside Ciel and be upset.
And then I arrived at the venue.
“…”
The moment Fession spotted me, he glared so intensely that I smiled back at him warmly.
Didn’t I say we’d see each other again?
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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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