Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 23

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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 23

On Chuseok, an uncle with many nieces and nephews worried that giving pocket money publicly would drain his account, so he devised a clever trick.

“Uncle doesn’t have much money these days, so I’m giving you extra pocket money specially. Uncle likes you. Keep this a secret from the other kids, okay?”
“Wow, really? Thanks, Uncle!”

The method was simple: pull each child aside one by one and deploy the line “I’m giving this only to you, so keep it secret.”
It was a remarkable stratagem that earned him all the credit in the world while conveniently exempting him from having to give larger amounts to older children—the ultimate loophole.
“Uni, this is something I’m telling only you about…….”
“So I really am the head maid in first place, aren’t I?!”
“Yes!”
“Finally! I’m recognized! I should tell everyone right now…….”
“I told you this because I care about you specially, so it has to stay secret from everyone else!”
“Of course, Miss!”
In my view, the heart of this stratagem lay in two things: secrecy and speed.
“You will keep this quiet for me, won’t you? What if the others get jealous and start bothering me? You’re my number-one head maid, after all.”
“Trust me, Miss! I’m your number-one head maid in your heart, and I’ll handle everything!”
Like a silent assassin, I worked through them methodically one by one, swift and discreet.
“Me? I’m the number-one maid to Miss?! My… what a day for me.”
“Keep it secret? Of course. I’ll take this secret with me from cradle to the grave.”
“Even to the grave? But then you can’t get to heaven—why not?”
“Sniff, sniff. I have to reach heaven? Miss, you truly are an angel descended to this mortal realm.”
At last, peace settled over Halbern Manor.
Dear uncle, thank you for lying about giving me special pocket money.
I was savoring the peace, reminiscing on that heartwarming memory when I spotted another niece getting her allowance and kept quiet for fifty thousand won, until…….
“You said you like me the best!”
“What? You said you favor me most.”
“Hmm. I was trying not to say something like this, but……”
The signs of a second conflict were brewing.
No, this wouldn’t do!
“Hey, hey, what are you all doing?”
I was grateful to be on the scene—if I hadn’t been, this whole scheme would’ve blown into an actual war and exposed my trick.
If they found out, my credibility would tank and none of my other schemes would work either!
That very day, I desperately dug through the memories of my six-year-old self and made something.
“Ta-da!”
I gathered the Childcare Unit and pulled out my secret weapon.
“Huh?”
“What is this?”
“Ah, this is what I call a ‘Praise Sticker Board.'”
Complete with a set of “You Did Great” stickers.
I made my declaration.
“Starting today, I’ll give Praise Stickers to people I like.”
This was the only method that could bring true peace to Halbern!
The eyes of the Childcare Unit members went wide.
“……!”
“Evidence of……”
“Favor?!”
The Childcare Unit murmured as they looked at the sticker board with their names scrawled in uneven handwriting.
“If you do well, I’ll give you Praise Stickers. You can show them off to each other.”
They weren’t widely available yet, which made them hard to find, but they worked perfectly as praise stickers.
Everyone’s eyes blazed as they watched the Praise Stickers in my hand, eager to earn them.
“What is this mess?”
“Mechen!”
Mechen appeared, frowning at the unexpected commotion. All of the Childcare Unit froze.
“I thought you were busy?”
“……Even when busy, I can spare a moment to check in.”
“I see.”
“So what’s going on here?”
Mechen looked at the board on the wall and the stickers in my hand, demanding an explanation. I gave him a quick account of what I was doing.
“Did the Childcare Unit bother you?”
His voice was cold and menacing.
“No! I wanted to do this.”
In a situation where one wrong move could be fatal, I placed a sticker directly on Mechen’s leg.
“?”
“Your very existence deserves praise.”
The rigidity that had frozen Mechen’s expression melted away.
“Ugh, I’m jealous!”
“That’s not fair!”
“I’m envious!”
The Childcare Unit’s envy came as a bonus.

* * *

Peace came to Halbern Manor through Praise Stickers.
“I got two yesterday.”
“Well. I’ve gotten the most so far.”
The only problem was……
“Should I give Mechen one too?”
Whenever the Praise Sticker bragging began, Mechen would look at me with an odd expression.
Mostly, giving him a sticker quieted him down.
‘Does Mechen want Praise Stickers too?’
Surely not. No way. That couldn’t be it.
The affection the Childcare Unit had been demanding from me was solved with the uncle’s pocket-money gambit, and their rivalry for my favor was settled with Praise Stickers—there was nothing left to obstruct me.
I boldly announced my indolence.
“Ah, this bed is wonderful.”
How long had it been since I enjoyed such peace?
No one could stop me now.
‘There shouldn’t be much to worry about from here on.’
That’s what I thought.
“I have arrived!”
The crown prince appeared.
“Arellin――!!”
Fession burst into the quiet Halbern Manor.

* * *

“What? Arellin’s not coming again today?!”
It was shocking news.
A Thunderbolt from Clear Sky.
Literally a bolt from the blue. Arellin wasn’t coming.
“The steward of Halbern reports that the young lady is unwell and cannot attend today’s gathering.”
“She missed the last one too!”
One day, two days, three days, four days.
Once, twice, three times. And now.
Finally, Fession’s patience shattered.
“Noooo――!!”
He wanted to see Arellin!
Watching the anguished Fession, Griam clicked his tongue in incomprehension.
“She’s unwell, so what can we do.”
“But still, even so!”
“You shouldn’t press a sick person like that.”
“I know, but!”
Griam seemed almost relieved that the young lady was sick and would miss the Weekly Gathering, since the crown prince had been so reckless lately, looking at nothing but Arellin.
The atmosphere of this childhood friend group had become quite awkward recently because of him.
‘With things as they are, perhaps the tense mood will settle a bit.’
Griam thought the timing was peculiar, though he doubted the young lady was scheming intentionally.
‘Or perhaps it has to do with what happened before……’
Thinking back to the time when Crown Prince Fession and the twin little demons Sperom, along with Harun from Muvisk, had created their own separate world, Griam could understand Lady Arellin’s heart.
“Since things have worked out this way, it might not be a bad idea to check in on some of the other friends as well…… Your Highness?”
Griam’s eyebrows quirked downward as he tried to naturally suggest the prince attend to his other relationships.
‘I was wrong. He’s not hearing a word I say anymore.’
No matter what Griam said, Fession’s mind was fixed on one thing alone: Arellin.
Why now? If he couldn’t see her now, would he never see her again? Would it be like this forever?
‘That can’t be!’
He had already discovered how much fun it was to play with Arellin. Why was that? Even without being able to run freely or play his favorite ball games, playing with Arellin was the most enjoyable thing of all.
He couldn’t even imagine a world without her anymore.
‘Is there some way……?’
There was no way to summon a sick Arellin. But he wanted to see her! It had been a week already.
This desperate longing to see someone was a first for Fession.
A sensation both strange and unfamiliar.
Yet it brought no fear. Because seeing Arellin made him happy.
And if he had to find another reason……
‘I’m worried.’
Arellin, alone.
‘What if she’s doing that thing again?’
Arellin, gazing blankly out the window.
Fession’s chest suddenly tightened, and he screwed up his face.
“Your Highness?”
At Griam’s voice, Fession turned his head.
“Griam.”
“Yes?”
“What is loneliness?”
For Fession, who had never once been truly alone despite being surrounded by people since birth, the word was far too unfamiliar.
An emotion one had never directly experienced couldn’t simply be understood through knowledge.
And yet.
Fession wanted to understand.
Somehow he felt he needed to.
“What is solitude?”
He recalls the hollow eyes gazing out the window. He relives the image of her, so distant, existing in another world entirely.
Though still young and inexperienced, unable to fully express all the emotions and thoughts he felt in that moment, if forced to name it, it would be “concern.”
Watching Arellin’s profile as she gazed endlessly at something, Fession felt concern.
‘Arellin……’
Arellin wanted to be alone.
Fession knew this, but he didn’t want to leave her alone.
If he left her alone……
If she was alone, it felt as though Arellin might disappear somewhere.
“I still don’t understand.”
Without minding Griam’s bewildered expression beside him, Fession pondered and pondered until he shook his head.
‘Still, I want to see Arellin.’
The more he thought about it, the clearer and more certain the feeling became.
Hadn’t twice a week been insufficient? In truth, he had wanted to play with her every day.
But it had been over a week now. Fession felt parched, desperate for this sudden Arellin withdrawal.
“What should I do.”
I want to see her.
I want to see her so badly.
It was in the middle of wandering about the room in such distress that it happened.
“Ah!”
Suddenly, Fession stood still.
Arellin can’t come here?
“Then I’ll go to her.”
“……?”
I could just pay her a sick visit, couldn’t I?
“Aren’t I a genius?”

* * *

“……So that’s why you came?”
“Yes!”
Watching Fession beam at me, I found myself at a loss for words.

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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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