Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 289

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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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289
Episode

It was before we departed for Gairen.
A thought had crossed my mind.
‘Will Empress Azeni’s assassination attempt truly end like this?’
I had rescued Luri, the Beast King’s granddaughter, but I remained uneasy that I hadn’t uprooted the conspirators behind it all.
‘Empress Azeni cannot die.’
If she did, our nation would collapse.
To understand how, I need only recall the IF Albrecht I saw in the Ruin.
‘Even an ordinary Artifact isn’t enough for peace of mind.’
So I presented Ether to the Empress under the name of a Protective Artifact.
In the end, it seemed like the best decision, but……
Hummm-hummm!
……Ether wasn’t taking a word of it.
It threw me aside with instructions to guard someone else and only now returns this late?! Its love for me must have grown cold!
There’s no stopping it. Ether droned on ceaselessly in my mind, airing endless grievances.
I didn’t know I’d be this late either. I mean, I only went to find Father—how was I supposed to predict what happened?
But Ether wouldn’t hear my defense.
Ohhhhmmmmm—
You know perfectly well there’s no one but me as master and no one else it can communicate with! You left me alone in this Imperial Palace with nothing fun to do and no one to talk to! And you completely forgot that you promised to come back quickly?
I felt my mind slipping away from the relentless drone of Ether’s resonance.
Hummm-ohhhhhhh—
Don’t you know how incredibly effective I’ve been?! If you don’t produce a proper reward this instant, I’ll torment my master all day long.
Ether was making threats.
“Miss Arelin……”
And now Empress Azeni was approaching hesitantly.
‘I’m going to lose my mind.’
There was nothing for it. These situations demand appropriate handling.
I deployed my secret technique: dumping this on Father.
“I never expected Your Majesty to visit personally—thank you for coming. You haven’t greeted Father yet, have you? You really must say hello to him!”
“Oh, I wouldn’t presume……”
I could sense Empress Azeni’s discomfort, but I had no choice.
I knew they weren’t particularly close, but I had to save myself first.
“Daughter, why have you returned again……”
Father had been grinning at my return when his expression froze the moment he saw Empress Azeni.
“……”
“……”
A chill hung heavy over the air.
‘Their relationship seems even worse than I heard.’
Had I made a mistake bringing her here?
I felt a moment of regret, but fortunately Mehren sensed the tension and acted.
Mehren jabbed Father in the ribs and greeted Empress Azeni with a smile.
“Your Majesty.”
“Ah, Mehren.”
“What a pleasant surprise. I should have paid my respects first.”
“Not at all, I was just looking around……”
Our precious Father remained stubbornly sullen, staring at Empress Azeni without change of expression.
Poke.
After Mehren’s jab, I myself elbowed Father in the ribs and quickly slipped away toward the quieter back.
I had to resolve this dispute quickly while I had the chance. I couldn’t focus on anything with this noise in my head!
“All right! I’ll listen to everything you want to say, so be quiet, you inanimate object!”
I began desperately coaxing Ether in earnest.

* * *

The atmosphere in the Party Venue was excellent.
Gathering people from all walks of life had naturally created a space for socializing.
Particularly for Grand Duke Idikels, who favored this sort of gathering, this party—held for the first time in twenty-three years—was deeply satisfying.
“Simon, did you know? I was actually in attendance at the last party Halbern held twenty-three years ago.”
The Duke of Sperom’s brow furrowed.
“What good does it do me to know that? And I think I attended that party too. Though it feels like ancient history……”
“Halbern’s standing was remarkable even then. In fact, doesn’t Halbern’s current position seem considerably diminished compared to those days?”
“That’s probably because the master changed.”
Valere, the new master of the house, had no interest in such matters of prestige.
“Certainly back then……”
Grand Duke Idikels searched his memory. The current Grand Duke of Halbern was no simple man, but the former Grand Duke certainly possessed an authority that surpassed his by a degree.
“But tell me, Idikels—why are you even here? Haven’t you greeted Valere?”
“Hah.”
“Don’t laugh about it.”
“I’m afraid……”
Grand Duke Idikels muttered in a cowering voice. The Duke of Sperom regarded him with contempt.
“But the Grand Duke of Halbern’s regard for me is oddly cold! It makes me anxious.”
Grand Duke Idikels protested, but the Duke of Sperom let out a derisive snort.
“Valere simply dislikes people.”
“That does seem to be the case.”
Still, the Duke of Sperom believed that Valere’s misanthropy had softened somewhat from before.
‘Is it because he’s raising a daughter?’
When rumors had spread that the daughter was dead and the Grand Duke of Halbern had vanished, he never would have imagined he’d witness such a harmonious Halbern household.
‘Harmonious?’
The Duke of Sperom, finding it an odd descriptor for Halbern, turned his head idly.
“Hmm? Isn’t that the Empress?”
“What?”
At Sperom’s words, Idikels turned and rubbed his eyes.
“What exactly am I looking at?”
“The Empress in conversation with the Grand Duke of Halbern?”
“?”
Cold sweat beaded on the backs of both Sperom and Idikels.
Those two…… aren’t they on terribly bad terms?

* * *

While the Grand Duke of Halbern and Empress Azeni exchanged tense words, another set of eyes watched them intently.
“What on earth are they discussing?”
It was Sirua, who had hurried back to the capital upon hearing that Halbern was hosting a party, having just departed for the Yuyo Alliance.
‘Where has Arelin gone now?’
I had seen her with Empress Azeni and had moved to approach them, but the moment slipped away.
“Sister, this is delicious. Try it.”
It was all because of this glutton.
Crown Prince Terion was thoroughly absorbed in sampling the diverse buffet fare. No one else at this gathering had shown the slightest interest in eating.
“Go ahead, eat plenty.”
“Where did they find a chef like this? I’d like to bring him to the Imperial Palace.”
“……”
Ignoring Crown Prince Terion, who was enthusiastically fulfilling his promise to tour restaurants with Arelin, Sirua sank into thought.
‘I had meant to introduce her to some ladies of my acquaintance.’
High society is a jungle of sorts. Without connections, survival is difficult.
A house’s strength mattered, certainly. A family like the Grand Duke of Halbern would never be disrespected. Yet that alone wasn’t enough to command high society.
Of course, the ladies of vassal houses under Halbern would surely become Arelin’s friends, but wouldn’t it be easier to pave her way? After all, she is the future Crown Princess!
‘But where has our house’s pride gone?’
Crown Prince Fession, who had been with Empress Azeni moments before, was nowhere to be seen—the press of the crowd had naturally separated them.
“Am I overlooking him……”
Sirua scanned the Party Venue. Neither Arelin nor Fession appeared anywhere, as if they had vanished.
‘Still, Arelin should return soon. The Grand Duke of Halbern is here, after all.’
Rather than risk missing both of them while searching, Sirua decided to simply observe Empress Azeni from this vantage point.
‘It’s the first time I’ve seen such kind-hearted Majesty show discomfort so plainly.’
More and more eyes began glancing toward the two as their atmosphere grew heavier.
But what could they possibly be discussing?
The nation’s future? Politics?
Or perhaps news of Father, who isn’t present?
Sirua’s gaze filled with curiosity.
‘Whatever it is, they seem engaged in serious conversation.’
I shouldn’t interrupt.

* * *

Serious it was.
Though not in the way people imagined.
“Marriage?”
Valere responded with undisguised skepticism.
“Your Majesty, my hearing must be poor—I didn’t catch that correctly. Exactly whose marriage are you referring to?”
“Naturally, Arelin and Fession’s marriage.”
“……”
Valere’s smile only deepened, but no real answer came. Just as Empress Azeni began to show discomfort at the lengthening silence.
“Ah.”
Valere smiled belatedly.
“So there must be another lady bearing the name Arelin?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I sincerely congratulate the future marriage of His Highness the Crown Prince.”
At Valere’s words, Mehren looked away.
What exactly is this man saying right now.

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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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