Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 52

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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 52

The escape had succeeded.
“Thank you for saving me, Leslie.”
“It’s nothing. It’s only natural that I, who must become the leader of High Society in the future, should do such things.”
Wasn’t the leader of High Society the Empress?
I tilted my head and let it pass.
“Since Arelin is a Lady, she must always be mindful of her conduct.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s said that you shouldn’t play too much with gentlemen. They’ll all view you with unsavory eyes.”
Yet everyone wants to play with Fession and is always hovering around him—doesn’t that contradict this advice?
“Thank you for the counsel.”
When I laughed softly, Leslie’s expression hardened.
‘How cute.’
Whether it was jealousy or something else, her help was needed.
The Crown Prince and Harun—both of them clung so stubbornly they wouldn’t come off.
‘I have to save my friend!’
Harun wanted to run away, but I gritted my teeth and held on, unwilling to let Fession and the twins clash in a three-way free-for-all.
Without Leslie, the four of us would have tangled and fought until nightfall.
“We’ve arranged to hold a tea party today.”
“Ah.”
“A girls’ tea party.”
The little tea party prepared by the Imperial Palace attendants had been set up on the terrace of the Crown Prince Palace.
A perfect spot where one could feel the warm sun and admire the early-summer garden.
“Welcome, Leslie!”
“We’ve been waiting for you, Leslie.”
“Everyone, I’ve brought a special guest! It’s Arelin! You all know of her, don’t you?”
“Wow.”
“Let’s all enjoy the tea party!”
I sat apart from Leslie and glanced around, thinking to myself.
I was struck anew by something.
‘There are so many old souls in this gathering.’
Many of them didn’t act like children at all.
‘Is it their environment?’
Well, the environment I grew up in was the same way.
Perhaps the greater the expectations one carried, and the more capable a young child was, the sooner they transformed into an old soul.
‘Children should grow up like children.’
Though I myself don’t know what acting like a child truly means.
“Leslie is amazing.”
“Right, just last time too.”
The girls chattered among themselves.
I didn’t know what they were talking about.
I couldn’t understand the conversation.
An invisible line had been drawn, keeping me out. They exchanged knowing glances and shared secret smiles.
At this obvious exclusion, I simply laughed.
‘So that was the point.’
I was like a sack of grain plunked down in a corner—temporary cargo. But even now, days later, it didn’t truly bother me.
It was simply tedious.
“It seems you’re not accustomed to gatherings like this, Arelin?”
“?”
First they ignored me, and the moment I showed boredom, they seized the opening as if they’d been waiting for it.
I raised my eyes calmly, and the Young Lady who’d been waiting for this opening smiled as if she’d caught me out.
“Your thoughts show plainly on your face.”
=If you can’t hide your expression like this, what will you do?
“A Lady shouldn’t do that.”
=A Lady should know how to laugh things off. You’re an amateur, aren’t you?
“Ah yes, of course. There was no one to teach Arelin such basic propriety, was there?”
=No mother to teach you these things, right?
They were subtly making cracks about my mother being absent.
So I just watched to see how far they’d go, and they started chattering among themselves again.
First they’d openly excluded me, now they were putting me on the chopping block.
“It seems you’re very close with the Crown Prince, Arelin.”
=You’re awfully friendly with the Crown Prince?
“He’s constantly at your side without rest. Like a nursemaid.”
=Is the Crown Prince your babysitter?
“How did you capture His Highness’s interest? No one else has managed it.”
=How did you charm him? We’re dying to know.
“How long do you think that interest will last?”
=When do you think this situation will end?
Every word was an artwork of insinuation.
“A Lady who understands her honor shouldn’t act like that!”
=If you understood honor as a Lady, you’d step away from the Crown Prince’s side.
“Exactly, Mother always said we must conduct ourselves with propriety.”
=Your mother isn’t here to teach you, but you should know to conduct yourself properly and step away.
“She said that clinging to men is far too vulgar.”
=You’re too clingy, and it makes you look common.
At this automatically translatable High Society dialect, I let out a hollow laugh.
You’re really predictable and simple, aren’t you.
‘So you called me aside specifically because of the Crown Prince.’
“Even Harun and the twins seem to take great care of you these days, perhaps because of His Highness.”
=Harun and the twins hanging around you makes my eyes ache.
“Perhaps you’re struggling to adapt to the gathering?”
=How did you charm them? Did you play the weak one?
“From now on, we’ll look after you, so please be more careful with your conduct.”
=We’ll include you, so you should keep your distance from them on your own.
“We’re only concerned.”
One round of coordinated attack seemed to be over. They all waited for my response. I found it more laughable than infuriating.
“Why?”
“Pardon?”
“Why shouldn’t I do that?”
I smiled quietly, defying the Young Ladies’ expectation that I’d naturally agree.
“Who dares to tell me anything?”
The House of Halbern.
Its sole daughter.
The only authority above it was the Imperial Family.
Even if I left ruin in my wake everywhere I went, my shameless, destructive temperament notwithstanding, there was no one who dared speak against me.
None save the Imperial bloodline itself.
And yet.
“Who exactly dares to tell me anything?”
The chattering mouths all snapped shut at once, like clams.
The atmosphere grew cold as if ice water had been poured over everything.
I loved this chill silence, where no one dared speak.
I watched quietly the Young Ladies who had looked down on me and torn me apart.
“Why is no one speaking? I’m asking you a question.”
“…….”
“Are my words not making sense?”
They all stared at me, frozen in shock. Their pupils trembled visibly—a stark contrast to their animated chatter moments before.
“What is a Young Lady saying to me? Well?”
Gulp.
Someone swallowed audibly.
When I looked at her expressionlessly, her face went deathly pale and she began to tremble, which I found amusing.
They’d been the ones to start the trouble, yet they were shocked that I’d come back at them this way. Now they stammered and faltered.
‘Did you think I’d sit there quietly and accept everything you said?’
At that moment, Leslie, who had been watching silently, stepped forward.
“Arelin, perhaps that’s enough.”
“Why should I?”
“…….”
“Since Leslie remained quiet the whole time, it would be best if you stayed quiet now too.”
Leslie, who’d been struggling to find words, pressed her lips together. She hesitated under my gaze, then closed her mouth.
“Why is everyone closing their mouths and not answering? I’m genuinely curious. Who exactly dares to speak against me.”
The atmosphere was cold despite my pleasant smile.
“Anyone who saw this would think I’m the villain. I merely asked a fair question.”
The situation had become utterly chaotic, and everyone panicked, unsure how to respond.
Confirming that control had shifted entirely to me, I fixed my gaze on the Young Lady who’d initiated the attack and spoken the most.
“Young Lady.”
“Y-yes?”
“Your name.”
“I-it’s Nadeli.”
“Your father’s title.”
“Baron.”
“Nadeli, do you understand? We’re being lenient because this is a private gathering. If we’d met at a formal social event, a Young Lady could never have dared address me. Never.”
“Ah……”
Nadeli bit her lip, her face flushed red.
“I’m grateful for the advice. However.”
I removed the smile from my lips.
“I never gave you permission to advise me.”
Someone’s breath caught.
“Don’t you know that advice from those without standing is overstepping, a crime committed through words?”
“Ugh……”
Nadeli, unable to offer a single word of rebuttal, began to shake and then tears spilled down her cheeks.
The sight of the child weeping should have been pitiful, yet I felt nothing.
The hours I’d spent hidden away crying far outweighed this by an overwhelming margin.
‘These were just children like that.’
Why had I ever wanted to befriend them so badly?
I was lonely.
I had wanted a friend.
My body was frail and I’d always been confined to the manor, so I wanted someone my own age to play with. I thought that if I had a friend, I wouldn’t be alone.
But the reality I faced was different, and they were nothing but people who took my kindness for granted.
No matter how kind I was, no matter how much I smiled or spoke gently, I was still alone.
And yet I still wanted to have a friend.
Anyone would do—I just hated being alone.
Before the memories of my past life returned, the old Arelin, my former self, was just such a small child.
‘I merely gave up.’
I simply resigned myself and surrendered.
Did the way people looked at me have to change this much?
Then and now, I was still Arelin of House Halbern.
“Sob. Sob. Sob.”
As I watched Nadeli cry over mere words, the Imperial Palace attendants came over at the sound of the commotion.
“What has happened?”
The other Young Ladies hesitated.
All eyes turned to me.
“Young Lady?”
The Imperial Palace attendants approached me.
“I was teaching Nadeli a truth she needed to learn a bit early.”
“Pardon?”
“That in this world, crying solves nothing.”
I rose from my seat, leaving the attendants with blank expressions.
“The tea party was lovely. I’ll excuse myself now.”
“Ah, yes.”
So much for making friends.

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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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