Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 61

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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 61

There were only seven days until the “childhood friends’ intimate tea party.”
“We need to decide a few things.”
By ordinary standards, it would’ve been tight, but not this time.
Officially it was “a tea party the children are preparing,” but the Palace Affairs Bureau had already handled all the major arrangements.
“The tea party will be held in a hall at the Crown Prince Palace, and the scale and schedule have already been set by the Palace Affairs Bureau. Table arrangements will all follow tradition!”
This week’s gathering was therefore a full committee meeting. Naturally, the leader was Fession—the origin and apex of this circle.
‘Fewer people than I expected.’
Only about twenty people were participating.
I’d anticipated it when Mehren suggested I withdraw, but the commoner-born prodigies and children from relatively obscure families who’d always been sidelined had excused themselves voluntarily.
‘I’ve suddenly fallen ill.’
‘Family circumstances.’
‘There’s no one to escort me.’
Each of them offered various reasons for their absence, but I could tell they were all excuses.
‘If I’d withdrawn, I’d have heard the same thing.’
As it was, I felt the weight of glances from all sides—’Why is she here and not dropping out?’
“No one wants to be compared unfavorably.”
“Even if the palace covers the basics, there’s still plenty for each person to prepare.”
At some point, the twins Ciel and Noel had settled into the seats on either side of me, grinning as they chimed in.
“Besides, we’re here.”
“The jewels of the greatest, most supreme Sperom family are here, after all.”
“Ah, we’re just too brilliant for our own good.”
“What a dilemma, what a dilemma.”
I largely ignored the twins’ nonsense.
The meeting proceeded smoothly.
“What we need to decide is the final guest list, the format of the invitation cards, the decorations and flowers for the hall, what tea and desserts to serve, some entertainment, the order of events, what gifts to give the guests, and a dress code!”
We had to discuss whether each of these would be prepared individually or unified.
‘Parties, truly…’
Money just flowed out endlessly.
It flowed out even when you did nothing.
How much was all of this?
I suddenly realized that food, drink, decoration, and entertainment didn’t just materialize from nowhere—all of it was created by converting wealth and power into labor and time.
“I’d prefer if everything was unified.”
Fession hoped for total uniformity, but he met immediate resistance.
“All right. Submit the guest list by tomorrow, and write the invitation cards yourselves by the day after, then send them to the palace. The Palace Affairs Bureau will stamp them with the Imperial Seal and send them out directly.”
“Yes!”
At mention of the Imperial Seal, everyone brightened with joy.
“The music will be unified through the Imperial Orchestra, but if anyone wants to perform separately, let me know in advance and we can arrange a short recital.”
“Sounds good!”
“The palace kitchens will handle all the basic tea and desserts. You’re welcome to bring something of your own. Whatever you bring will be distributed equally to all tables.”
So that’s what it means to be a crown prince.
For the first time in a while, I felt a distance from Fession. A precious distance.
“The decorations and flowers for the hall where the tea party will be held will be unified to match my table, so each of you can decorate your own table to your taste.”
Hair like spun silver, eyes the color of clear crimson deeper than ruby, long lashes, a straight brow and elegant nose—a face so carefully crafted by divinity that it transcended the realm of preference.
No matter how many times I saw that beauty, it still took my breath away.
Already like this while still so young—what hearts would he break when he grew?
“We’ll give gifts to all our guests, so each of you pick something and prepare generously. Send them ahead.”
Our eyes met for a moment.
Fession’s eyes, so focused on the meeting, curved softly at once.
“!
Gasps erupted from all sides.
I understood. My own heart had skipped a beat for just an instant.
As if time had stopped, Fession’s smile deepened.
What is this—some kind of charm offensive?
“Wow. Whoa. Did you see Your Highness’s smile?”
“Look at Arelin spacing out completely.”
“I wasn’t spacing out.”
The twins’ expressions turned mischievous as they’d caught something.
“No, you were totally mesmerized. You couldn’t take your eyes off His Highness.”
“Wait, so you like His Highness too, Arelin?”
“Be quiet.”
For a moment I was embarrassed at having my complete captivation by Fession’s beauty exposed, but I chose to ignore it.
After a brief disturbance, the meeting resumed peacefully.
“So finally, we need to decide on the dress code. Any thoughts?”
The children who’d been under Fession’s spell gradually came back to themselves.
The dress codes for the regular gatherings had always been all over the place.
‘Since it’s a tea party, we probably don’t need anything too extravagant.’
“Just our usual attire?”
“That’s too half-hearted.”
“What about a fancy evening gown? I’ve been wanting to wear one!”
“Custom tailoring takes too long, and hardly anyone has one anyway.”
“Something moderate. Just moderate.”
Noel and Ciel, as though it made no difference to them, grinned and rested their chins in their hands, openly observing me from both sides.
Bothersome creatures.
‘Harun, where are you!’
I bitterly regretted not securing at least one seat with Harun, clicking my tongue inwardly.
“Since this is essentially a family gathering, wouldn’t ceremonial dress based on house tradition be appropriate?”
“Wouldn’t that feel a bit stiff?”
“Then perhaps clothing that subtly expresses house or personal symbolism?”
For some, it was a weighty topic.
“What about a Mage Robe bearing your school’s insignia?”
“Or a uniform bearing your knight order’s insignia?”
“Both seem fine to me.”
“Then I’m in favor!”
And just like that, it was decided.
“Is everything settled now?”
Fession, conducting a final check, announced the meeting’s end with that same brilliant, radiant smile.
“Everyone, prepare well. See you at the tea party!”

* * *

On the way back.
Fession, surrounded and detained by attendants, looked at me with urgent eyes asking me to wait, but I left anyway because of what had just happened.
‘Am I just overthinking this on my own?’
But then again.
Even so.
It was difficult to look Fession in the face directly.
‘What’s wrong with me?’
I was frowning, feeling strangely agitated, when—
“Are you participating in the tea party as well, Arelin?”
Leslie, who had several friends in tow, greeted me familiarly.
“I thought perhaps you wouldn’t participate due to poor health, but you’re quite brave.”
What—was that a challenge?
Leslie spoke smoothly with a flower-like smile as she greeted me.
“Then I’ll look forward to it. Let’s definitely meet at the tea party.”
“…Yes.”
Watching Leslie depart brightly, I was turning over the strange unease her words had left when—
“What was that, Leslie?”
“What did she say?”
The twins attached themselves again.
“Go away. Please?”
How long did they intend to keep following me around?
“What’s wrong, Arelin? Why are you so cold to us? We’re ‘friends’ now!”
“That’s right. Arelin. We’re ‘friends’ now!”
Ah, maybe I shouldn’t have said yes to being friends.
I sighed, pushing away the twins who clung to me now that we were “friends.”
“So why did you follow me?”
The twins exchanged a meaningful look.
“Let’s prepare for the tea party together!”
“Huh?”
The moment I detached them, they latched on from both sides again, shaking my arm.
“There’s too much to prepare on your own.”
“It’s too boring to prepare alone!”
“So let’s do it together with us.”
“Yes? Yes yes? Yes?”
They had the frenzied energy of creatures that wouldn’t let go unless I agreed.
“No.”
“You said yes? Okay, got it!”
“See, you really are our friend! I knew it, Arelin!”
And so something began in which my will was reflected by a factor of 0.001%.

* * *

Where am I, and who am I?
“Wow! Look at this, Noel!”
“Wow wow! Look at that, Ciel!”
The twins sprinted down the corridor, their golden eyes gleaming.
“Here they have The Girl with the Crying Blue Eyes!”
“Gasp. Is that—The Disappeared Manor by Alberti, top bidder price at the 117-year Domel auction!”
What are these maniac collectors talking about?
“Is this heaven?”
“Halbearn is…heaven.”
I pressed my temples, letting out a sigh.
The little devils of Sperom had descended upon Halbearn.

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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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