Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 38

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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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Episode 38

Within the Mansion shrouded in darkness.
Something writhed—a grotesque form of black—and let out a howl.
“Don’t move.”
A voice that would strike devastation upon any soul that heard it. Yet to the man who had subdued this aberrant creature so effortlessly, the command seemed to carry no weight at all.
“Tsk. How bothersome.”
The eyes of the man gazing down at the creature—severed into tens of thousands of fragments, still writhing—gleamed gold.
At last, the monster’s movements began to cease.
It was the result of four days of relentless battle.
…….
Watching the creature finally submit, the man let out a contemptuous laugh.
As its final convulsion ended, black smoke poured from the man’s body and methodically consumed the vast creature’s form. Not a trace remained.
“Hmm. What was that child back then?”
While observing his own smoke devouring the monster with ravenous appetite, the man recalled a child he had encountered in this place.
“How did it not get repelled by my Barrier? I sent out every living thing. How did I not sense its location? Just seeing something like that should make one’s heart stop.”
That intriguing child he’d glimpsed only briefly.
“Amusing.”
The man’s lips curved upward in a smile.

* * *

A warm, gentle energy enveloped my body.
Within the haze of semi-consciousness.
I saw the silhouette of a woman.
Platinum hair that fell in soft, flowing waves like a waterfall. Eyes that gleamed as if painted with the palest rose.
‘Who is she?’
So beautiful and lovely that she seemed utterly unlike any human of this world.
It was when I suddenly thought that the woman gazing tenderly at me resembled me in some way.
[My child.]
A soft, songlike voice whispered into my ear.
[You are ———.]
What?
Before I could even understand what shocked me so, my eyes flew open.
“Huh?”
Consciousness returned. And the ceiling I knew so well.
……It was a dream, then.
The moment awareness fully returned, the dream’s memory melted away like snow.
Sensing I should hold onto it, I tried to turn the dream over in my mind once more.
“Arelin.”
My eyes met Feshion’s teary gaze.
‘What’s he doing here?’
The question resolved itself quickly.
“I didn’t return to the Palace until you woke up.”
“Are you insane?”

* * *

This was giving me a headache.
“You didn’t Return to the Palace until I woke up?”
“That’s right.”
“Are you in your right mind?”
“But Arelin was sick—how could I just go home!”
“You should have gone home anyway.”
“Arelin was on the brink of death!”
Feshion’s voice quavered with tears.
Anyone listening would think I’d actually died.
“I was just sleeping. I wasn’t on the brink of death at all! Please don’t make me sound like I was in mortal danger!”
“You wouldn’t wake up. You slept for two whole days straight. I couldn’t even hear you breathing. Do you have any idea how worried I was?”
As I stared into his tear-filled eyes, it became impossible to scold him further.
Sigh.
“That still doesn’t excuse not returning to the Palace.”
“But——”
“But nothing!”
“What if something happened to Arelin while I was gone?”
For a moment, my words caught in my throat.
The concern brimming in those gem-like red eyes felt so foreign, so warm. I swallowed back the emotion that threatened to overflow.
“Why would something happen? This is our home.”
“It could happen.”
“It hasn’t happened.”
“You don’t know that it won’t.”
“What’s there not to know?”
“They say we can never know what life will bring.”
Feshion shot back stubbornly, his beautiful face creasing with displeasure. Seeing that, I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
Really, how should I put this?
Something warm stirred inside my chest.
I felt embarrassed for no reason.
“Do you hate that I’m here?”
“It’s not that I hate it……”
“Then you like it?”
Was it really such a black-and-white question?
Staring into his hopeful eyes, I found myself hesitating, unable to speak the simple word ‘yes.’
Why was that so difficult?
“You hate it?”
Hearing disappointment creep into his voice, guilt washed over me. I quickly changed the subject.
“It’s not that—I mean, if you stay here, won’t the Empress think badly of me? Hmm?”
“The Empress?”
Feshion’s eyes widened.
“Why did you suddenly bring up the Empress?”
“What if the Empress thinks I’m a bad influence on you? What if she forbids you from seeing me?”
“Why would Arelin be bad? You’re not bad at all.”
“What if the Empress says I’m making you strange and won’t let you play with me anymore?”
“……!”
Thump-thump-thump.
As if he’d never considered such a thing, Feshion’s expression went slack with shock.
“N-no! The Empress would never do that!”
“How would you know? Did the Empress tell you directly?”
“Well……”
Feshion grew serious.
As I watched him falter, I wondered for a moment if I’d said too much.
“That much should suffice.”
“Mehen.”
“A perceptive Crown Prince would understand well enough.”
Mehen entered the room, brushing back her hair with a weary expression. I hadn’t heard her come in.
Her gaunt face brightened with relief as she looked at me.
“You’ve awakened, young lady.”
The commotion between Feshion and me had drawn everyone’s attention.
I could see members of the Childcare Unit peering through the gap in the doorway.
“Young lady……”
Sniffle.
Mehen examined my face carefully.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. I slept well and woke up refreshed.”
“Are you in any pain?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Thank goodness.”
Her vacant eyes and the dark circles beneath them spoke of sleepless nights spent in worry.
Mehen reached her hand to my forehead.
“No fever.”
“Were you very worried?”
“Yes.”
Surprised by her immediate answer, I widened my eyes before laughing.
“I didn’t sleep a wink.”
I hadn’t expected Mehen to answer so honestly.
She had always kept her distance from me before.
‘Is it because I asked her to be like a mother?’
Since that day, Mehen had become so tender and kind that it felt truly wonderful.
As I nestled against her with a soft smile, I heard a sharp voice from somewhere.
“What’s the relationship between you two?”
Feshion had crossed his arms and was now glaring openly at Mehen and me, his expression distinctly sour.
Why did he suddenly look so displeased?
“What do you mean, relationship?”
“You don’t look like a typical employer and employee.”
His words were sharp—whether meant to jab, mock, or express concern, I couldn’t tell.
Something in Feshion’s pointed tone made Mehen’s expression waver. Just as she was about to offer an explanation——
“A mother.”
“……?”
“……like a mother.”
I answered before she could.
“Mehen is like a mother to me.”
Hugging her firmly, I smiled brightly. Mehen’s body, which had been tense, relaxed. But her expression remained unreadable as she gazed at me.
“I……”
Feshion’s eyes blinked rapidly.
“Then—then I’ll become like a father to Arelin!”
Suddenly, Feshion began staking a claim to the father’s place.

* * *

Even after Arelin awoke, Feshion showed no sign of returning home.
“I’ll go back once I’ve confirmed that Arelin is healthy.”
“……Yes, yes. As you wish.”
Faced with Feshion’s unprecedented stubbornness, Griam had completely given up.
“Shouldn’t you be returning to the Palace?”
“It’s fine.”
“There’s no way it’s fine.”
“It’s fine!”
Where did all that confidence come from?
Regardless, the household staff went about their duties as usual.
“How is the young lady’s condition?”
After a comprehensive diagnosis by priest, healer, and physician, Arelin’s health was deemed sound.
“Fortunately, she is in good health!”
For a moment, everyone could breathe easy.
Though it should have been possible to rest, Mehen’s mood had not improved.
‘Is it my fault?’
A guilt that didn’t suit her and wasn’t her nature crept in belatedly—the sense that she’d suggested the outing and caused all of this.
“It is not your fault, Mehen.”
“Traitor, you should stay quiet, Dilan.”
“No, I was only trying to help the young lady……”
Dilan’s face fell, full of grievance. Mehen shot her a glare.
“When did you grow so friendly with Griam?”
“We’re not friendly. I only wanted to help because the young lady seemed down.”
“And you leaked information to do so?”
A sharp intake of breath.
By all rights, Dilan should have faced severe punishment, but several mitigating circumstances applied.
“Since she accepted no personal compensation, bore no suspicion of profit-seeking, and demonstrated loyalty throughout, we recognized this and reduced the sentence to six months’ salary suspension as mitigation. Do you object?”
“No.”
“Are you certain you don’t?”
Dilan answered with an oddly serene expression.
“What use is a salary I haven’t left the house to spend? I’ve been unable to leave as long as you have, Mehen.”
“I……”
The two of them exhaled deeply, sharing a weary sigh.

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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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