Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 304

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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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304
Chapter

Mehren questioned the seating arrangement that Empress Azeni had designated for him as he made his way to the Main Hall where the ball would be held.
“……?”
He had originally planned to sit with Ludwig, the foreign nobleman, but the Empress had forcibly brought him here instead.
Next to Mehren’s assigned seat were already other people sitting…….
“Oh my, Lord Mehren! Do come and sit.”
Grace, the wife of the House of Sperom, who had returned to the Capital several years ago and had been actively engaged in society ever since.
“Lord Mehren, it has been quite some time.”
Diana, the wife of Duke Idikels, from a small kingdom of the Western Continent.
“It has been a while, Mehren.”
Julia Bern Mubisk, the younger sister of Duke Mubisk, who practically served as the mistress of the Mubisk household.
The seat that Empress Azeni had arranged for Mehren was, according to etiquette, the seat occupied by the noblewoman of the highest rank after the Empress.
Why am I… here……?
“The Duchess of Glemwat sends her apologies—she is indisposed and unable to attend.”
“All the daughters-in-law of that family came, but they were throwing such an undignified domestic quarrel that we had them removed just moments ago.”
“Ah, yes.”
The Duchess of Idikels and the Duchess of Sperom, both of whom were on reasonably good terms with Mehren, kindly explained the reason for the empty seats.
But why am I really here?
The confusion was not Mehren’s alone. The duchesses greeted him warmly while also looking puzzled as to why he was present.
Only Empress Azeni, who had brought Mehren here, appeared composed.
“It seems there is no seat for me here, Your Majesty.”
“This is your seat.”
Empress Azeni smiled mischievously and seated Mehren in the Grand Duke of Halbern’s chair.
“……?”
What on earth is this?
Mehren fell silent, disconcerted, but the other noblewomen’s eyes gleamed with amusement.
“Oh my, oh my.”
“Do sit comfortably. The Empress has given her blessing, after all.”
“At last we can have Lord Mehren all to ourselves.”
When the noblewomen who should have objected welcomed him instead, Mehren found all escape routes cut off.
Empress Azeni, who had been watching this scene with satisfaction, chuckled to herself.
“This is an important day, after all. Mehren must watch from the finest seat.”
Such consideration is unnecessary.
Yet powerless as he was, Mehren could not overcome Empress Azeni.

* * *

Once, Sirua had said something to Empress Azeni.
“Mother, you absolutely cannot have Fession escort Arelin.”
“Why? Is he being too forward?”
“No—if Fession is the one escorting her, he might actually run away with her.”
“……?”
At the time, Empress Azeni had laughed it off, saying Fession would never go that far.
“Let’s run away.”
But right now, in a place unknown to the Empress, her expectations were being thoroughly shattered.
“Huh?”
Fession had never realized he was capable of such possessiveness and jealousy.
I want to keep her only in my arms and show her to no one.
I wish only I knew how beautiful she looks like this. If the world knew, someone might try to steal her.
“Where would we run to?”
“Anywhere.”
He pleaded in the expression that always worked on Arelin, but she merely laughed as if it were a joke.
“This is still the Imperial Palace. If we’re caught, my life is ruined.”
“It won’t be. I’m here—how could your life be ruined?”
“Is that so?”
“It is.”
“Now that you mention it, it already feels ruined…….”
“What?”
Fession asked, startled. Arelin’s eyes narrowed with mischief, and her playful gaze became something he could not look away from.
“You ruined it, you know—my life plan.”
Fession murmured as if entranced.
“Mine is ruined too, my life plan.”
“So we’re both ruined together?”
It was just as Arelin smiled beautifully once more.
“Where do you think you’re taking my daughter, boy?”
A familiar voice suddenly cut through the moment.
Both of them turned, and there stood Valere with an expression of displeasure.

* * *

Valere, who had boldly sent Fession away with a word that his presence meant he should leave, turned to Arelin with a soft smile and offered her his hand.
“Where did you hear that from?”
“From ‘let’s run away.'”
Arelin gave him a sidelong look, but Valere laughed without any hesitation.
“Not a chance on a day as important as this.”
“You’re the one who kept objecting in the first place.”
“That’s because I’m your father.”
Fession, confronted with the sudden appearance of Valere, said something about why the Grand Duke was here, only to sink under the eight-letter response that he had come to escort her.
Arelin found herself completely drained trying to console Fession, who stood with sad eyes like an abandoned puppy, questioning whether it wasn’t supposed to be him escorting her.
“So what exactly did you whisper to that boy? Using Silent Magic so I couldn’t even hear?”
“It’s a secret.”
“You’re still keeping secrets from your father?”
“Well, we are Halbern, after all. A secret is a secret.”
In any case, she certainly knows how to talk.
Valere felt a pang of disappointment.
“Is it really something you need to hide from me?”
“You’ve hidden plenty from me too.”
That much is true.
Valere, grumbling, stared intently at Arelin, who took his hand and grinned as if to say ‘look.’
An attendant, who had come to escort Arelin as the first in the order of presentations upon entry, could not bring himself to step between them and waited awkwardly in a corner.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“It’s strange, somehow.”
She had always been a baby. Or a small child in a tiny coffin. Who could have dared imagine she would grow like this?
“When you grew up, I thought you would resemble your mother.”
Being her daughter, after all.
He had thought so, but now, seeing her like this—the very image of her mother—his heart felt odd.
“You’re going to rub my makeup off.”
Arelin said something as she watched her father fidget with her cheek, but there was no real displeasure in her tone.
“You’ve grown beautifully, our daughter.”
“Of course. Look who I am. Go ahead, look all you want.”
Rather than objecting, Arelin now boldly thrust her face forward. Thanks to this, Valere’s expression softened with tenderness as he indulged in touching her cheek.
It felt as though a clock that had been frozen for so very long was finally turning again.
Valere could not find words for the feeling that rose within him—overwhelming and tearful at once.
It was joy, and it was also profound sorrow.
“Father, are you hurt? Are you alright?”
At Arelin’s concern, Valere’s throat moved.
“I’m happy.”
The sense of completion, having finally fulfilled his goal. The satisfaction of finishing the task his sister had left him. The liberation from the dreary fate that had bound him.
“I’m so happy.”
And at the same moment, a vast sense of loss seized his heart.
“I wish my sister could have seen this.”
Now, truly, his sister was gone.
From the lingering shadow of his sister, which had seemed impossible to escape, he had somehow slipped away without realizing it.
He felt completely abandoned, and yet at the same time, utterly unburdened.
Ridiculous as it seemed, Valere felt as though he was finally truly living his own life.
“I wanted to save you.”
There were countless motives and reasons and stories behind his actions, but this one thing was true.
“Now I finally feel that you are alive.”
A future that had never been permitted to him, to them, had opened. What lay ahead was more uncertain than ever, but Valere felt no fear.
He had already endured moments more hellish than any hell itself and come this far.
Everything he had done up to now was not in vain. What greater reward could there possibly be?
Arelin, grown more beautiful than he could have imagined even a million times over, smiled before him.
Who said reality could not surpass fantasy?
It was so dazzling to behold.
“Then, let’s be even happier from now on.”
At Arelin’s words, spoken with such certainty, Valere nodded as if under a spell.
And just as he was about to say something—
“Ah… it is time to make your entrance, sir.”
The attendant, who had been growing increasingly flustered as the conversation lengthened, finally found the courage to interject.
Valere looked at him with cold eyes, but the atmosphere shifted as Arelin burst into laughter.
The attendant, who for a moment had thought he was done for and had shrunk in great fear, now breathed a sigh of relief and placed a hand over his heart.

* * *

Upon reaching adulthood, all young noblemen and noblewomen make their debut in society.
So the question here is: what is the mark of having made a “debut” in society?
The answer is…….
‘To have an audience with the Imperial Family.’
Depending on which member of the ‘Imperial Family’ a debutante had an audience with, the hierarchical standing among them differed. Naturally, the highest standing came from an audience with the Emperor and Empress.
And this was why other prominent noble families had their eyes fixed on the Imperial Ball.
“…Merciful and stern rightful ruler of Halbern, ancient friend of the Imperial Court, guardian of all secrets, and…….”
The longest list of titles among all the young noblewomen participating today.
“…the young lady and heir of Halbern, Arelin Sigria Halbern.”
Arelin, escorted by Valere himself, made her curtsy according to Imperial etiquette, gathering her gown.
While maintaining the posture that required well-developed core muscles, Arelin took quiet pride in how much she had grown.
“Yes, Arelin. To see you grow safely and make your debut at this debutante ball brings the Empress such joy.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Beside Empress Azeni, who smiled brightly with pride, Emperor Edward wore a complicated expression.
When Valere silently hardened his gaze, Emperor Edward looked uncomfortable but opened his mouth nonetheless.
“You have grown quite lovely.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
This much was according to schedule.
But then, suddenly, Empress Azeni dropped a bombshell.
“Arelin, I hear you do not yet have a godmother. Allow me to become your godmother.”
……?
All the assembled nobles fell into confusion.

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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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