Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 306

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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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306
Episode

Carolyn of the Glemwat Ducal Family was in a foul mood after completing her first formal presentation without incident.
‘I’m from one of the Five Great Duchy Houses too!’
She’d known that with Arelin making her debut, she wouldn’t monopolize attention, but she’d expected at least some of it.
“Carolyn, smile. What does it matter if someone sees? You’re a newly debuted young lady.”
“Who’s going to look at me, you incompetent fool? Don’t you see the atmosphere here? Everyone’s staring at her!”
Carolyn’s gaze landed on Crown Prince Fession, who was just asking Arelin for a dance.
Thomas Glemwat, Carolyn’s cousin, shrugged his shoulders.
“So what? We already knew this would happen.”
Thomas seemed almost relieved that he wasn’t the center of attention.
Spineless coward.
Carolyn muttered a curse under her breath at Thomas before shooting a pointed glare toward where the Halbern heiress stood.
Things would have been different if she were the ‘Glemwat Ducal Heiress’ instead of the ‘Heiress of the Second Son of the Glemwat Ducal Family.’ She couldn’t shake that thought.
Carolyn turned her fury from Arelin onto her own cousin.
“You’re finished if our father becomes a duke. He’ll be demoted to some remote Adventurer Guild in the backwoods, won’t he? Even if Father doesn’t do it, I will.”
Thomas furrowed his brow at Carolyn’s crude remark and sighed.
“But we’re cousins. Why say such things?”
“Because we’re cousins, that’s why!”
“Ugh, Carolyn.”
“Don’t just say my name like that. Do you think we’re in the same position? Go tell your father to stop dreaming foolish dreams. The next Duke of Glemwat will be our father alone!”
“I don’t really know about such things.”
“How pathetic.”
Carolyn laughed at her cousin. Thomas found this whole subject uncomfortable.
“Is it really true that Grandfather died?”
The Adventurer Guild and the Glemwat Ducal Family were already operating under the assumption that Duke Gregory had perished in the recent Gairen incident.
Duke Gregory’s adventuring team had all failed to return, and several members were already confirmed dead.
‘But I heard Grandfather’s body still hasn’t been found.’
Thomas couldn’t understand the atmosphere around him—everyone already scrambling for the position of the next duke when Gregory’s death hadn’t even been definitively confirmed.
“Stop saying foolish things. Whether he’s dead or not, it would happen eventually. If you sit around like an idiot, you’ll lose everything you have in hand.”
“But…”
Carolyn snapped coldly. Thomas was about to protest, still unable to hide his unease, when a familiar face brushed across his vision and he froze.
That person…
‘…Uncle?!’
Had he misread? By the time he blinked, the figure vanished from view. Seeing Thomas suddenly blank out, Carolyn grew annoyed.
“What? Why’d you stop talking?”
“No…”
Thomas fell silent, his mind in confusion.
‘I must have been mistaken.’

* * *

The First Dance of the Debutante Ball.
Who one danced with first always carried enormous symbolic weight.
Typically, young ladies and gentlemen making their debut would dance together, though siblings often partnered as well.
In other words, a debutante dancing the First Dance with royalty was exceptionally rare.
‘The back of my neck is burning.’
I could feel my father boring holes into me—furious that Fession had claimed the First Dance that should have been his.
“Fession, my neck is on fire.”
“Yeah. The Grand Duke looks like he’s going to devour me.”
“That’s a problem. I can’t have you eaten.”
Fession laughed softly at my worried tone.
“But you promised to dance with me. I yielded the escort, so the First Dance is mine.”
Fession declared this with complete confidence.
I’d really done it this time.
“Why did I make that promise…”
“What?”
“Just joking.”
I’d known this would happen, but Father staring at Fession like an arch-enemy rattled me a bit.
“Arelin.”
Despite what I’d said, Fession seemed displeased about something and tightened his grip on my hand. His firm hold guided my movements.
I found myself suddenly pulled closer, swept into his embrace.
“Father’s staring again.”
“Ignore the Grand Duke. Focus on me.”
“I’m already focusing. Don’t you see? I’m concentrating so I don’t mess up the steps.”
“Look only at me.”
His voice dropped lower than usual, and I found myself captivated—drawn into crimson eyes that gleamed under the lights.
“Why do you keep looking at other people while dancing with me?”
“Because they’re in my field of vision.”
That’s wrong. The fact that I found even this small petulance adorable meant I was already lost.
‘No, wait.’
Objectively speaking, wasn’t it cute? My reason hadn’t completely fled after all.
As I stared at Fession making this unreasonable demand that I focus only on him, I felt a laugh escape me.
But then…
“Wait, that dress!”
As we swept across the dance floor, I caught snatches of chatter from all sides.
“Is that a Sevelle Boutique creation? Though the fabric looks different…”
“Hold on! Isn’t that Feathers of Heaven!”
“And that billowing lace—that’s Sugaraze, isn’t it!”
…It is?
I glanced at Mother, and Mehren laughed and turned away from me.
“And that necklace—!”
“Isn’t that the ‘Flame of the Sun’ from Halbern that the Imperial Court itself once coveted?”
“Oh my goodness, to see such a precious piece!”
…It is?
Father had simply handed it to me as if he’d picked it up on the road, so I’d had no idea it was worth so much. When I looked at him, he smiled as if nothing were amiss.
…These people must be planning to bankrupt our household.
“People certainly are interested in you, Arelin.”
“That’s unlikely, Your Highness. If anything, they’re more interested in you than me.”
“Look there—don’t you see those young gentlemen trying to catch even a word with you?”
The way Fession frowned in displeasure was endearing.
Everything about him was somehow charming lately.
Just then, the piano melody shifted, and one song came to an end.
Custom dictated that a partner dance one song per person, but Fession was about to shamelessly continue to the next.
“Now, now, where do you think you’re going?”
Father cut in swiftly, blocking Fession’s path.
The mere fact that Father had stepped onto the dance floor sparked excited gasps throughout the hall.
“You impudent boy. The next dance is mine.”
“…”
I found myself standing between two men regarding each other with evident displeasure.
“Fession, let’s dance again later.”
The tension that threatened to explode dissolved in an instant.
Fession had stepped back the moment he saw my face.
Sigh. Keeping peace around here is exhausting.

* * *

After dancing one song with Valere, Arelin was dancing with Fession again.
The other young gentlemen clearly wished to dance at least one song with Arelin, but Fession’s presence kept them at a distance.
“Tsk.”
Valere clicked his tongue.
He was the spitting image of his own father.
Emperor Edward, who in his day had batted away every suitor showered upon Empress Azeni, overlapped with Valere’s image, and he clicked his tongue again.
“Why do you keep making that sound at my son?”
“I don’t approve.”
Emperor Edward frowned and stared at Valere, but it had no effect whatsoever.
Fine, I’m defeated. Emperor Edward clicked his tongue as well and opened his mouth.
“Valere.”
“Why call me?”
“Are you alright?”
“About what?”
“The matter of the Dowager Empress.”
The gazes of Emperor Edward and Valere met in empty air.
“You didn’t approve of it either, did you?”
“I know as much, don’t I.”
Valere fell silent for a moment.
His feelings toward Empress Azeni remained poor, and he was greatly displeased that she had resorted to schemes to avoid his interference—but…
‘It’s good for Arelin.’
If that was the case, he could endure it.
“I don’t approve, but I can bear it. Because… my sister did cherish that woman.”
Emperor Edward snorted.
“Don’t call my sister ‘that woman’ in front of me.”
“And what of you, Edward? Are you truly alright?”
“About what?”
Valere didn’t bother with elaborate explanation. Emperor Edward narrowed his brow and gazed steadily at Valere, who had entered his line of sight.
That man, always unstable and unpredictable, lately seemed at peace.
This was far better than when he used to rant about warfare.
“Don’t underestimate my love for my sister. Such a trivial matter wouldn’t cause me displeasure with her. It’s part of her, after all.”
It was impossible to erase Sione’s shadow from Azeni. Edward knew this better than anyone.
“I occasionally resent that I’m not her first priority, but what can I do? That’s who she is.”
“I see.”
At Valere’s lukewarm response, Emperor Edward frowned again.
“You, who know nothing of love, wouldn’t understand.”
“How fortunate you must be, to know of love.”
This bastard.
Emperor Edward turned petulant.
“Well, in the end, she’s dead, so it ends here. If she were alive, it would never end like this.”
“Really? If my sister were alive… you wouldn’t have been able to marry. She hated you, after all.”
“…”
Is this man serious?
Emperor Edward, having lost the exchange, stared at Valere—though Valere paid him no mind, his attention fixed entirely on his daughter.

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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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