Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 229

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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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229
Episode

Until now, Lord Sirua had struck me as something of a prickly cat.
Hating people, suspicious of everyone, doing only what he pleased.
“What? When did you get here?”
I’d seen him smile before, so I thought maybe my first impression was just bias.
“Go. Come back later. This is my time.”
Watching him pull at my shoulder and snap with fresh irritation reminded me of a hissing kitten, and…
It was adorable.
Meow.
A real cat would be round and plump, unbothered even if a stranger touched its belly—just flicking its tail without a care.
Wait, was this because he wasn’t a real cat but a Divine Beast?
Either way, Fession was driven out by Sirua.
Still, he looked healthy enough, which was a relief.
“Looks like there are no aftereffects…”
I’d worried there might be serious psychological trauma, but thankfully I was wrong.
Perhaps hearing my murmur, Sirua raised an eyebrow and smiled mischievously.
“Were you very worried?”
“Hm?”
“He says he’s fine. No aftereffects at all. That’s fortunate, isn’t it?”
Our eyes had met casually, yet somehow those bright eyes seemed to peer straight through me.
What was that…
“Let me offer my formal thanks. Thank you for saving my foolish brother, Miss Arelin.”
I startled without meaning to.
Had I ever told him my name?
“The Imperial Family also extends its gratitude for rescuing Princess Luri. Thanks to you, we’ve been able to maintain good relations with the Uyeo Alliance.”
“Of course.”
Anyone who knew of a tragic future would have done the same. Still, receiving thanks like this…
It felt real somehow—as though the future truly had changed.
‘Does this mean Empress Azeni won’t be assassinated anymore?’
“?”
Lost in thought for a moment, I found Sirua looking at me with a soft, knowing smile.
…The genes in this household are broken.
Regardless of personality, looking at someone so graceful and beautiful was a feast for the eyes.
How could anyone be so beautiful?
But why was he smiling like that? It was almost frightening.
“…Did I do something wrong?”
Had I made some mistake without realizing it?
Feeling the force behind that smile, I asked carefully, and Sirua shook his head elegantly.
Then, quietly, he said:
“Please don’t hate my fool of a brother too much.”
“?”

* * *

What was meant to be a brief audience at the Imperial Palace somehow stretched into a visit that lasted through dinner.
It was in celebration of “becoming friends,” and I couldn’t bring myself to refuse when they insisted with “How could we be so cold as to let you leave when Princess Luri is so happy?” and similar pleas.
“I feel like I’ve been trapped…”
On top of that, Sirua mentioned the Empress wanted to see me too, so I ended up roping into their schedule for the entire day.
‘I was supposed to meet the Demon Twins and Harun this afternoon.’
When I said I needed to inform my party about the sudden change, Sirua took that responsibility upon himself.
“Was Sirua always this considerate?”
When I came to my senses, I found myself playing with Princess Luri.
“When Rel visits Uyeo later, I’ll feed you and let you sleep and show you all my treasures!”
“Of course. I look forward to it whenever that comes to pass.”
The princess laughed readily despite having endured hardship in a foreign land—thanks, no doubt, to the protection of her young Divine Beast.
Since the Uyeo Alliance had sent a delegation, everything should be fine now.
After a rousing playtime, the princess and her young companion began to nod off.
Children do need their afternoon rest.
“I’ll look after her from here.”
A court lady assigned temporarily to the princess’s care lifted her up with practiced ease. Perhaps wondering if I’d be lonely left alone, the maid asked:
“Shall I show you to the Lord’s quarters?”
“No, thank you.”
I had some unexpected free time, but…
“I think I’ll take a walk by myself.”
There was something pleasant about that.

* * *

The Imperial Palace gardens were pleasant no matter where you walked.
I strolled along a deliberately maintained dirt path winding between tall trees, lost in contemplation.
In moments like these, I inevitably hum music—Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, No. 6.
I wondered if nature’s beauty could have been what gave new joy to Beethoven’s life, when he’d once despaired at his deafness and even written his farewell.
As I hummed thoughtlessly, my hand twitched—I longed to play the violin.
“Ah, how I want to perform.”
My violin is sealed, my Magic is sealed, I can’t even use my name. No, that’s not quite it—I’m not someone who can’t speak her own name, so what is this situation?
“And no father either.”
I wasn’t ignorant of my teacher’s implication when she asked if I was curious about my biological father.
I’d managed to recover through my teacher’s grace, but to truly resolve everything at its root, I’d eventually need to find the source of my power—and that was entangled with my father somehow.
I sensed it vaguely.
But did I need to know that much?
In the end, the fact that I’m alive, the fact that I wanted to live—it’s all because of one person.
“How much longer are you going to follow quietly behind me?”
I’d tried to ignore his presence, but with anyone else it might have worked. Not with him.
Why was that?
“……”
Fession stepped out from the shadows, his expression one of disbelief that I’d noticed him even though he hadn’t bothered to hide his presence.
“Miss Arelin.”
“Wow.”
Look at that formality.
Do you get this kind of treatment just for saving someone’s life?
“Have you come to offer your thanks?”
Sirua had hinted at it—that he’d be coming to apologize.
When my eyes brightened, Fession bowed respectfully.
“I heard that you saved me. I’m… grateful. I also wish to apologize for having treated you so disrespectfully until now.”
The contours of his face, etched by shadows filtered through leaves, gleamed softly.
What does he eat to look that beautiful?
Those eyes that had always sparkled with intelligence when looking at me now held a strange, hazy languor—like dawn fog.
Time had changed so much between us, yet somehow nothing at all.
There was a time when I thought this feeling would be temporary.
There were moments when liking you felt like something terrifying, like the end of the world.
Living a second life, yet never having truly grown into adulthood, the future ahead was an unknown territory to me.
Frightened, lost, understanding nothing.
‘Not even knowing why I should live.’
Was this depression?
They say that if you think too much about reasons to live, you eventually die—so perhaps I’d found a rather elegant reason after all.
Because you exist.
Because you asked me to live.
And yet, you called me an impostor.
Was it because you didn’t recognize me right away? I’ll admit, I was hurt.
But strangely, toward Fession, I found myself forgiving.
It’s okay. I can overlook it.
You’re the only one allowed to wound me.
Though I do get annoyed, so sometimes I’ll hit you back, alright?
“…Are you really sorry to me?”
His expressionless face rippled, and his Adam’s apple moved without words—a low, struggling sound.
Complex emotions surfaced between us.
“What exactly are you sorry for?”
“……”
Fession fell silent.
“Because I look like his first love?”
I teased lightly, laughing, but something felt off. He should have glared at me and grown angry—instead, Fession remained still.
What was wrong? Why so tame?
Was he hurt somewhere?
“You don’t look like her.”
“But you said I did before.”
“No.”
Fession stepped back.
“She’s different from you.”
The weight of his low voice made me flinch involuntarily. His gaze never left my face.
“How is she different?”
“She’s cute, beautiful, small, lovable.”
Embarrassing compliments tickled at my ears. I should have felt annoyed, yet strangely… I felt good.
Maybe because they were from you?
“Mm. Say more.”
“She doesn’t smile much, and she seems like she might disappear.”
Fession’s eyes lowered, casting deep shadows beneath his long lashes.
“That’s why I wanted to hold on tight.”
That person is right in front of you, idiot, and you don’t recognize her.
“Do you really think so?”
I stepped closer as he retreated.
“You haven’t even asked my name yet.”
I felt a faint tremor in the arm I was holding, and in his eyes at this close distance, I could see his fear.
What were you afraid of?
“Aren’t you giving me a chance?”
At my playful words, his Adam’s apple moved, and Fession asked me in a trembling voice:
“Are you really Arelin?”
I smiled gently, eyes curving.
“Take a guess.”

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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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