Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 24

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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 24

“Why on earth…?”
“Obviously to see Arelin!”
A cheerful smile, and the answer tumbled out immediately.
“Me…?”
“Yep! A get-well visit!”
Fession laughed as though wielding an impenetrable shield.
Oh. Really…
You’re so carefree, I envy that about you.
‘I stayed away from the Imperial Palace specifically to avoid seeing this fool, and now the source of all this trouble shows up at my door.’
My head throbbed. Motivation gone, words gone, willpower gone—I was simply breathing when the Crown Prince suddenly made a shy suggestion.
“Arelin, won’t you exercise with me?”
“Pardon?”
What kind of nonsense is this?
“Exercise?”
“Yeah. I found out something amazing!”
Fession’s eyes sparkled with burdensome intensity.
“Apparently exercise makes you healthy!”
What a tremendous discovery.
“Wow.”
The breakthrough of the century.
The academic world could award a Nobel Prize for this.
[BREAKING] Shocking! Breathing keeps you alive!
Tomorrow’s headline in the Albrecht Times was already decided.
Everyone would applaud this epochal revelation in wonder.
“Your body got worse, didn’t it? You need to get healthy! I’ve learned how to do that!”
“I see.”
“So, the human body basically runs on this simple thingy, right?”
“Thingy?”
“Living regularly!”
“Ah, yes.”
“Good sleep, good food, and exercise! That’s what you need!”
“Really, truly?”
I responded like a soulless idol at a fan meeting.
“I actually know that already.”
Surprise flickered in Fession’s eyes, which had been puffed up with expectation of praise.
“What? Really? How do you know? I only found out after asking around—it’s advanced knowledge!”
This is advanced knowledge?
I was disappointed in this world’s scholarly standards.
“Jade told me especially because I asked him!”
I had no idea who Jade was, but I could tell the Crown Prince was being at least somewhat boastful.
‘Well, at least that’s a relief.’
It’s nothing serious.
I’d worried there might be something wrong, but the Crown Prince’s visit seemed to be just idle entertainment.
“So then, Arelin, let’s exercise!”
“I’m sorry. I’m too weak for that. It’s impossible.”
“Ugh.”
Fession looked at me with eyes that dripped with regret.
“Just a short walk makes me dizzy.”
A look flashed at me—’How can such a person even exist?’—but surprise, surprise. That person is me.
“…Then I suppose there’s no choice.”
He accepted the situation reluctantly. His eyes suggested he’d agreed readily, perhaps because he had precedent for this.
“Anyway, so today we trained and the others and I…”
Fession told me what he’d done at their gathering last week, which I’d missed.
I wasn’t curious about it at all, but the Crown Prince chattering away so earnestly was endearing, so I listened attentively. He could’ve made a fortune doing ASMR.
“So anyway.”
Hmm? But somehow it feels like he’s avoiding talking about the twins and Harun. Must be my imagination.
“Sounds like you had a lovely time. You must have been enjoying yourself.”
“Huh? No way! Without you there, it wasn’t fun at all!”
“…?”
Then why were you telling me about it so cheerfully? Did you trick me?
“What were you doing, Arelin?!”
“Ah.”
I was making a Praise Sticker Board, apparently.
It was arduous.
“?”
I didn’t answer, just held my head, and the Crown Prince tilted it quizzically to one side.
Pale silver hair swayed gently, and those striking ruby-red eyes—as though gemstones had been set into them.
‘How can a person’s eyes be such a beautiful color?’
I found myself staring, and only then came back to my senses.
“Arelin?”
“…Could you back away a little?”
Somewhere along the way, he’d gotten unnecessarily close.
The Crown Prince, who’d been staring at me intently, laughed belatedly and stepped back.
I almost got enchanted.
“Your eyes are such a pretty pale pink, Arelin.”
“They call it rose quartz.”
“It suits you. Beautiful.”
The compliment, sincere and unaffected, made me falter for a moment.
“You’d be even prettier if you smiled, Arelin.”
“…”
Where on earth did this child pick up such archaic pickup lines?
The trap is that it doesn’t feel unpleasant. Because it’s so genuine, it doesn’t offend me.
‘Or is my face just red?’
Today I discovered I’m the sort of person who’s easily swayed by a man’s beauty.
Fine. New self-knowledge acquired.
“Now that I think about it, you don’t smile much, Arelin.”
“I don’t have much to smile about.”
“Why?”
Even when asked directly, I had nothing to say. It’s true that I don’t smile often.
“Then I’ll make you laugh!”
“No, that’s not neces—”
“Here, look at this!”
The Crown Prince made a ridiculous expression without being asked.
Listen to what people are saying!

* * *

All of the Crown Prince’s various attempts at humor ended in utter failure.
It was exhausting.
“Thank you for visiting me while I’m unwell. I’m afraid I need to rest now—my condition isn’t good.”
I’m tired.
Let me send him away and rest.
“Oh. Right.”
Watching the Crown Prince hesitate as he withdrew, it was clear he wanted to stay longer.
Is this guy a demon? How much longer does he want to torment me?
“It was lovely thanks to you. I don’t know when, but I hope you’ll always be at peace until we meet again.”
I was reciting the most impeccably polite farewell when—
“No, Arelin!”
“Yes?”
What do you mean, no?
“I think I’ll be so sad if you keep not being able to come like this.”
“Ah, yes.”
But how is that my problem?
“So I’ve been thinking.”
Oh, suddenly an ominous setup.
“From now on, I’ll come!”
“Pardon?”
Why are my bad premonitions never wrong?
“From now on, I’m coming to visit you, Arelin!”
Surely this is a declaration that clouds will gather over my peaceful corner of the world.
“No, you can’t do that. You don’t need to worry about me. Please don’t concern yourself.”
“How can I not worry? It’s because of me.”
It’s not because of you, is it?
“You collapsed because of me and have been sick ever since.”
“That’s…”
“I’ll take care of you until you get healthy!”
“No…”
That would only be a burden.
Just as I was rigid in thought about how to overcome this crisis, Fession made his declaration.
“I’m coming every day!”
“What?!”
Not just visiting, but visiting every single day?!
This won’t do.
This hard-won peace at Haldern Manor couldn’t be sacrificed to a nuisance.
“No, there’s no need for that. Your Highness, you’re awfully busy with affairs of state.”
“Huh? Why would all my affairs collapse? What affairs? I haven’t collapsed.”
“…”
My opponent is a child.
Suddenly I had no confidence in my ability to persuade him.
“Oh! So you were worried about me, Arelin!”
“…”
“Don’t worry, Arelin! I promise! I’ll come every day!”
Here stands a cheerful demon.

* * *

Back when the Crown Prince declared he would come “every day,” my reaction was this.
Ha. No way.
But then it actually happened.
“Arelin!”
My hard-won peace shattered.
“I came again today!”
The Crown Prince approached me with a cheerful smile. Reality. Unbelievable.
By today, it was a week.
A full week of perfect attendance.
‘Is this real?’
No matter how much a Crown Prince he is, this is my house. House Haldern is one of the Five Great Ducal Houses, no less—is he really allowed to come and go as he pleases like it’s his own home?
Isn’t anyone here going to say something to stop him from strutting around the Haldern estate like this?
Everyone, speak up sharply!
“Ohhhhh, Your Highness! Welcome, welcome! Please, make yourself comfortable as you would in the Imperial Palace.”
“Is there anything we might help with?”
“The young lady is over there, I believe.”
…These traitors.
Watching the housekeeping staff attach themselves to Fession like guides—as if they’d been waiting for just this—I ground my teeth.
Truly, my only hope is Meheun.
“The Lord Meheun has given his blessing as well.”
…Is hopeless.
Reality was cold.
“Your Highness, please take good care of our young lady!”
“Our young lady may be delicate in body, but her heart is tender, she’s so kind, and really quite adorable.”
What is wrong with these people?
“Leave it to me!”
What are you leaving to anyone?
In the midst of this unfolding carnival of madness, I could only hold my forehead, and yet everyone but me seemed happy.
‘Ridiculous.’
The world was shunning me.
“Arelin! Look, Uni gave me this!”
Fession came running with his arms full of snacks Uni had given him. Seeing his delighted smile, I was at a loss for words.
Why is that guy always so happy about something?
‘Yeah, he’s got it easy.’
Born as the Crown Prince, handsome, talented—he’d have an easy life.
“You’re fortunate, Your Highness.”
“?”
I had no grievance with the Crown Prince himself. I simply didn’t want to become deeply entangled with him.
But he kept sticking to me, and my patience was wearing thin.
‘I thought this interest of his would fade quickly and he’d move on to something else.’
He was more persistent than expected.
Meanwhile, my patience was running out in real time.
‘Maybe it’s because my body’s weak too, but above all, this pitiful frame of mine—even sunlight drains my stamina like I’m some kind of sunfish.’
I was freshly amazed every day, eyes opening and closing, that such a cursed body could exist.
“Does something hurt? Arelin, your breathing sounds rough.”
“No.”
This is my baseline.
“Don’t underestimate my lung capacity.”
“Huh??”
Child, did you not know? There’s a basement beneath the ground floor.
Anyway, I was making an effort.
‘Right, just endure it. If I act disrespectfully, it won’t just ruin me—it’ll ruin the family too.’
I shouldn’t add insult to injury, should I?
Even if I’d never seen my father’s face, the mere fact that he provided food, clothing, and shelter without cruelty seemed like something to be grateful for.
‘Even if my death means the family will decline…’
I don’t want to be the one who hastens that fall.
I’ll just think of “childcare” as added to my daily schedule. I was trying to move past it like that, but…
“Arelin, want to exercise with me?”
“Go away.”
This, I could not endure.

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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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