Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 46

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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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Chapter 46

“Arelin.”
“Hmm?”
Fession’s gaze felt heavier than usual today.
With eyes gleaming like polished gems, Fession thrust something distinctly suspicious toward me.
“Drink this.”
A murky brown liquid that seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly glow.
Instinct screamed at me to refuse.
“What is that?”
“Just try it first.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll feel better if you drink it!”
This didn’t look remotely like it would make anything better!
I kept my eyes narrowed in suspicion, but I lacked the strength to resist Fession’s sheer stubbornness.
“Come on, drink.”
“Ugh!”
“Down it goes!”
Was he trying to get me drunk?
He’d pressed it on me so insistently that I had no choice but to gulp it down, and Fession clapped his hands in delight.
“Well done, Arelin.”
“Ugh. That tastes awful.”
It reminded me of the red ginseng extract my mother had forced down my throat before piano competitions, insisting I needed to build up my strength beforehand.
“So what is that, anyway?”
“Tonic medicine?”
“Tonic medicine?”
“Yeah. It’s incredibly rare. My father drinks it.”
“…?”
What did I just hear?
“Your father?”
“Yeah.”
Fession was the Crown Prince.
Which meant his father was…?
“Oh my God!”
I cursed before I could stop myself, then went rigid. Had I just consumed tonic medicine meant for the Emperor? Was I a spy? Did Fession actually hate me?
“So? Don’t you feel healthier already?”
“How would I know that?”
“Don’t you feel stronger, or like breathing got easier, or something?”
“If a single cup of medicine caused such dramatic changes, that wouldn’t be tonic—that would be immortality elixir.”
“!”
Fession’s eyes widened as though he’d just had a revelation.
Surely not.
There’s no way.
“An immortality elixir would be amazing!”
“That’s not amazing at all!”
It was at that moment that confused shouting suddenly erupted from beyond the manor.
‘What’s that?’
The instant doubt seized me.
Bang!
“Ahhh!”
My chamber door burst open with a scream.
‘Is that broken?’
I was gaping at the creaking door when a knight in Royal Guard uniform stepped out and our eyes met.
“My apologies, Lady Arelin. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“Oh? Sir Hint!”
The Crown Prince tried to play it cool, but was immediately caught.
Grab.
“Eh?”
Fession thrashed about after being suddenly seized, while Griam slapped his forehead as though he’d just realized something.
“?”
I cocked my head in utter bewilderment.
“Then come with us, Your Highness.”
“Wha—?!”
“I shall take my leave now, Lady Arelin.”
With a respectful bow, the knights vanished like wind. I simply blinked in stunned silence.
What in the world was happening?

* * *

Imperial Palace.
“Fession.”
Fession was dragged before Emperor Edward.
The Emperor’s eyes, sharp with irritation, fixed upon the young Crown Prince.
“Did you do this?!”
Flinch.
Fession’s gaze darted away in panic. Watching the boy deliberately avoid his eyes, Edward’s displeasure deepened.
Someone had pilfered the Emperor’s precious tonic medicine.
And that someone turned out to be none other than the Crown Prince himself!
“You? You had nothing better to do than steal your father’s medicine?! Is this how I raised you?!”
No one had suspected that the young Crown Prince, who roamed freely throughout the palace, would touch the bitter-tasting tonic—which was how the theft had happened at all.
“Even pranks must have limits!”
“It wasn’t a prank!”
Fession protested his innocence.
“If it wasn’t a prank, then what? Are you telling me you actually drank that medicine yourself?”
“I didn’t drink it, but someone did!”
It mattered little to Edward whether that expensive and precious medicine had gone into the Crown Prince’s own mouth or someone else’s.
What mattered was that Edward’s anger eased slightly upon learning the medicine hadn’t been wasted—it had actually been consumed.
“Then you’d better have an explanation.”
“It’s because… actually…”
Fession opened his mouth with a wretched expression. His explanation was rambling and poorly organized, but Edward understood him well enough.
“So, in short.”
To summarize in one line:
“You took it to give to a sick friend.”
“Yes.”
“Heh.”
Edward let out a hollow laugh.
If Fession had taken it for himself, or out of mere curiosity, or as some prank, Edward would have been prepared to scold him thoroughly.
But such a reason left him powerless to stay angry.
‘He took it thinking it might help cure his sick friend!’
Ah. My son.
‘Why is he so good-hearted?’
Virtue was hardly a fitting attribute for a crown prince, yet it was enough to move the heart of a father who loved his son.
Edward was helpless against his own boy.
“Very well. If that was your noble intention, I suppose I can forgive you this once.”
“Wow!”
Fession felt grateful—he’d expected to be handed over to Commander Paselo for a second round of discipline.
“Father!”
“Yes, yes. This sick friend—it’s the Halpern Duke’s daughter, is it not?”
“How did you know that?”
“Heheheh. There’s little in this realm that escapes my notice.”
“Wow!”
“Did you truly think anyone in Pegritsa wouldn’t notice how loudly you’ve been chasing after her?”
“Oh.”
Fession’s face flushed red with embarrassment as he realized he’d been so preoccupied with pursuing Arelin that he’d failed to notice how obvious it had become.
“Already the entire court is buzzing with talk of your affection for the Halpern lady.”
“Af—affection?”
“So you don’t have affection for her?”
“No, I do!”
With his ears and cheeks alike flushed crimson, Fession bowed his head low—and Edward felt his heart stir anew.
‘When did my son grow so tall?’
Already old enough to care deeply for someone. Edward’s chest tightened with emotion.
“You care for her that much?”
Rather than answer, Fession kept his head bowed. From his bashfulness alone, Edward felt he’d heard his response.
‘So he cares that deeply, does he?’
Edward’s expression turned bitter.
Of all people, why the Halpern lady?
‘No wonder the nobles aren’t interfering.’
Edward understood well enough what the imperial aristocracy was thinking as they watched the Crown Prince head toward the Halpern Residence day after day.
‘A girl with a terminal condition—she’ll be dead soon anyway.’
Even if she were declared Crown Princess tomorrow, she wouldn’t live long.
The nobles calculated that confronting House Halpern would be pointless and might even make them an enemy, so they held their tongues and waited for time to do its work.
Besides, even if by some miracle she survived to adulthood, she would never bear children.
“Fession.”
“Yes.”
“My son.”
Edward locked eyes with his son, who was his spitting image. The boy’s brilliant silver hair and crimson eyes—both inherited purely from himself.
Looking so alike, surely his temperament was the same. Naturally, he would have inherited too the capacity to love only one person with unwavering devotion.
‘That must be what Ajeni worries about.’
But Edward held a different position than Empress Ajeni.
‘The Halpern lady hasn’t died yet, and her condition hasn’t worsened. Who knows?’
Miracles could happen.
A father wanted to encourage his son’s hope.
“Do you wish to cure her?”
Caught in his true feelings, Fession squirmed with embarrassment.
“It would be nice if she got better.”
“It would be nice, yes.”
“That’s why I…”
“And make her your Crown Princess as well, I assume?”
Fession said nothing, his face burning as he bowed his head. Edward chuckled warmly.
“My son. Don’t rush.”
Edward offered his counsel.
“Did any of your accomplishments come about in a single day? Health is no different.”
A gentle hand stroked Fession’s hair.
“Believe in gradual improvement. Hurry, and you’ll only make things worse.”
“…Yes.”
“And I’ll help you with the tonic medicine.”
“Father!”
Fession’s eyes widened with gratitude.
“Go to the Halpern Residence with the Imperial Physician.”
“Father, you’re the best!”

* * *

“So.”
My physician, the Imperial Physician, and Crown Prince Fession all stood before me with pleased, satisfied expressions—staring at a bizarre and grotesque liquid laid out on the table before me.
“You want me to drink this?”
It was green, viscous, with peculiar bubbles bursting from its surface. The very picture of something that would kill you on contact if you weren’t careful.
“Arelin, we prepared this especially for you!”
Prepared what? Poison?
The Imperial Physician explained with evident pride.
“This tonic consists of a thirty-year-old Serendani root combined with Poren Sprout Leaves harvested only from the Gasa Tree Forest, and tears collected from the extremely rare Magical Beast Greenroom, all carefully…”
What in the world are you describing, you lunatic?
“…formulated specifically to preserve the young lady’s vitality and aid kidney and digestive function…”
My own physician continued explaining, but the words didn’t register.
Roughly speaking, it sounded like an extremely expensive medication.
“You’re going to drink it, right?”
“Sigh…”
Why was I being subjected to such an ordeal?
“I went to such great lengths, begging Father so hard and bringing the Imperial Physician all the way here to make this—you will drink it, won’t you?!”
“I’ll… drink it.”
The atmosphere was too oppressive to resist.
I took one sip and nearly vomited.
“Heaaack.”
What on earth had they made me consume?

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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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