Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 308

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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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308
Chapter

Regent Duke Ludwig observed Arelin’s debut from a place of honor, then quietly withdrew.
He could have remained at his seat and offered congratulations with the rest, but he preferred to step back and watch over her from the shadows.
That small child had grown into such a fine young woman, making her entrance into society.
‘Is this what a parent’s heart feels like?’
The old ambition of claiming Arelin as his own daughter still lay buried in the depths of his heart, but if he were honest, the role of godfather that had been given to him was more than enough.
“I’ve changed so much.”
Ludwig let out a soft laugh.
He could scarcely believe that someone who would have been a corpse without his pride had become a man capable of satisfaction with something like this.
Yet the events that had unfolded since learning of Arelin’s existence.
Especially those moments when he’d nearly lost her—even a man as steeped in arrogance as Regent Duke Ludwig could be changed by such experiences.
Above all, Arelin had taught him what happiness was.
“…She looks happy.”
As Arelin smiled and Ludwig found himself smiling in turn without thinking, an uninvited guest appeared quietly at his side.
“It’s strange to find you alone in a place like this.”
“It’s quiet here. I prefer it.”
Bertino came to stand beside Ludwig. His shadows stirred in response, but at a gesture from Ludwig they withdrew and held their peace.
The priest made a sign of blessing and smiled with satisfaction.
“You seem far more at ease than before, Your Highness.”
“Do I?”
The arrogant Regent Duke of old—the one who had believed only in himself, who’d had to clutch everything he desired in an iron grip—had vanished.
This change had left a deep impression on the aging priest.
“What brings a priest to a gathering like this?”
At Ludwig’s casual question, Bertino smiled. Invitations to the ball were customarily sent by the Imperial Court as a matter of courtesy, so priests rarely attended; yet this time Bertino had chosen quietly to come.
There was someone he wished to see.
“It’s a beautiful sight.”
The ballroom hall lay spread before them in the distance, and vitality flowed among the throng of voices.
“Is it?”
“Doesn’t it appear beautiful to your eyes, Your Highness?”
“Beautiful, of course. How could it not be?”
For Ludwig, whose every day had been torment since Sione’s suicide, these hours now felt like walking through the clouds of paradise.
“Arelin is alive.”
And so even an exile in a foreign land felt utterly fulfilling, day after day.
“There she is, smiling so beautifully.”
Though he’d only been called father three times, it was possible nonetheless.
Even if he could not shake the lingering shadow of Sione reflected in that image, Ludwig had learned to guard his conduct more carefully.
Was it because he still remembered how once, maddened by possessiveness and jealousy, he had destroyed something precious?
…Well, Sione would have mocked even this regret of his.
“I hear the Holy Kingdom’s holy relics were put to good use. We received considerable aid.”
“Then it is our joy to have assisted. That too is divine providence.”
“Why does the Holy Kingdom help me at all?”
Ludwig had even received an audience with the Holy Saint, yet he still could not discern the Kingdom’s true intent.
They simply allowed matters to unfold, neither moving against him nor against Arelin.
“It is not we who aid you. We merely follow the pull of destiny.”
“I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about.”
“Hah. You will understand when the time comes.”
Regent Duke Ludwig, for whom riddling was no pastime, was beginning to furrow his brow when Bertino suddenly delivered a bombshell.
“Soon the Holy Kingdom will proclaim an important prophecy.”
The Holy Kingdom of Lemuren was the one place in this age where the touch of divinity could be proven.
Every time the Kingdom had proclaimed a prophecy, the world trembled—this was not something to be dismissed lightly.
“And one more thing.”
In that moment, Bertino’s gaze left Ludwig and fastened upon someone in the party hall.
“The Holy Saint wishes to meet with your godchild.”
Arelin.

* * *

Ah, I only understood what spring was after the flowers had fallen.
Once I began refusing the countless dance invitations in earnest, the Twins and Harun finally rallied to manage the situation.
“With us here, they’re still being persistent.”
“We’re not frightening enough like the Crown Prince is.”
I pretended not to notice the Twins grinning wickedly as they talked about showing people how frightening Sperom could be.
“But really, Arelin—you’re going to refuse them all?”
“I’m exhausted.”
“Arelin really is quite delicate, isn’t she?”
What are you saying? By these standards I’m perfectly robust!
Noel, who had been regarding me with pitying eyes, patted my shoulder as if to say she understood perfectly.
Why was that? Even being comforted, I felt annoyed.
Harun even prepared a place for me to sit and rest.
“Sit here.”
“…….”
Their gentle consideration wounded me somehow.
“I’ve become very healthy!”
“I know.”
“Yes.”
“I’m really healthy, I tell you!”
“Yes, yes.”
“So sit down.”
I wanted to prove just how much healthier I’d become, but my energy gave out first. As if he’d expected as much, Noel pressed a glass of juice to my lips.
The fresh taste of freshly squeezed orange juice.
“Aren’t they usually serving wine here?”
“…Are you seriously asking me to let you drink alcohol?”
“Wine isn’t alcohol, apparently.”
“It’s intoxicating, so why wouldn’t it be alcohol?”
As I protested while sipping the sweet-tart orange juice, Noel and Ciel and even Harun regarded me with concern.
But these three grew up in a country with a culture of aperitifs—why were they being so conservative?
“You need to keep your wits about you.”
“That’s right. You have to stay sharp.”
Why was I being lectured now?
A single glass of wine wouldn’t hurt, would it?
Just as I was about to feel indignant, Noel gripped my hand firmly and spoke with utmost seriousness.
“Arelin, if anyone offers you a drink, you have to run away.”
“…….”
“That’s right—today is far too dangerous.”
Ciel chimed in, and Harun nodded as well.
What were they even saying?
I wanted to protest that they were being overprotective.
‘But I suppose they’re just thinking of me.’
What’s good is good.
I decided to be gracious and accept their kindness, unaware of the fierce battle of wills being waged behind my back.
Instead, my attention was drawn to the music that kept drifting through the party hall.
‘I thought about it earlier too, but this music is somehow like a sonata, yet certain passages sound like a symphony.’
Romantic music that sounded like classical composition—it all seemed contradictory—but it had the flavor of Schubert while also somehow recalling Haydn, which left me utterly perplexed as I listened.
“The music bothering you?”
It was Ciel, the art enthusiast who was always pestering for new sheet music, who noticed my distraction first.
“It’s new compositions from composers influenced by your music. What do you think?”
“That’s not my music though.”
“Either way, you were the one who gave it to us.”
I suppose that’s true.
But I never imagined it would have such an impact.
“You don’t understand. When those composers and musicians saw the sheet music you gave us, they were utterly shaken.”
Music from another world, and among them the works of geniuses counted among the greatest—of course they were astonished. Though I must admit it unnerved me somewhat.
Following automobiles and pizza bread…
Or was music actually the first?
“It sounds lovely.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
At my praise, Ciel’s expression swelled with pride. Though the lineage was muddled, it truly was beautiful music.
The kind that made me want to play it myself.

* * *

While Arelin rested comfortably even as she drew people’s attention, Fession was managing the crowd in low spirits.
“Your Highness, you returned safely from Gairen…”
“Our son owes you much…”
Even as he conversed, Fession’s gaze kept drifting to one corner of the party hall.
It was so obvious that those speaking with him could not have missed it.
“One must know how to be apart for a time in order to understand how precious one is to another.”
Had Empress Azeni not given him a pointed look to attend to his duties, Fession might well have abandoned everyone and returned to that spot.
‘I don’t want to be Crown Prince.’
Had socializing always been this tedious?
His patience was plummeting in real time, the conversation so brief, that Fession had even stopped pretending to smile.
At least the fact that no debutante was paying him particular attention spared him from further patience-shredding.
Though that was only Fession’s perception; in truth, the debutantes would have gladly given him attention had he not been actively pushing them away.
“Your Highness, if I might have a word—”
“Your Highness, if you wouldn’t mind a moment—”
“I would mind. Perhaps another time.”
Fession brushed aside the debutantes who’d tried to get his attention, taking care to step back lest his sleeve even brush against theirs.
And for good reason.
‘What if Arelin sees this and gets the wrong idea?’
Though Arelin paid him no attention whatsoever, it was a matter of the utmost importance to Fession.

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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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