Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 77

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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 77

Valere smiled with flawless grace. Even in this moment, it was a smile that took the breath away.
“I asked Roke to return my sister, whom he’d taken by force. As you can see, I was refused.”
A low, strangled sound.
The Duke of Muvisk, the Duke of Sperom, even Emperor Edward fell silent, unable to find words.
“In fact, he accused me of being the one who stole my sister from him.”
……
“It seems there’s something wrong between my sister and him.”
Emperor Edward recalled the old, tangled scandal that clung to House Halbern.
‘The previous Duke of Halbern sold his only daughter to Regent Roke in exchange for profit.’
The scandal was that Lady Ione, sister to the current Duke Valere and now Duchess of Roke, had been forced into a marriage against her will.
No one knew where the rumors had started, but everyone dismissed them as absurd.
Everyone except those who knew the truth.
It was the reverse scale of Valere, the current Duke of Halbern.
“……I suppose those days buried in the Northern Fortress weren’t so bad after all.”
The Duke of Muvisk remained thoughtful and silent, while the Duke of Sperom’s mind raced.
Only the Duke of Halbern seemed untroubled by it all.
The fact that the Duke of Halbern, who upheld Albrecht, was at odds with the Regent of the South Empire was hardly welcome news.
“Valere, surely you’re not thinking of spiriting your sister away?”
A sudden unease gripped Emperor Edward, and he pressed the matter insistently.
“You’re not, are you? Tell me. Valere. If you do such a thing, we go to war with the South Empire. You do understand that, yes?”
“Will Albrecht lose?”
“War is the last thing we need!”
“I’ll conquer the South Empire and hand over the whole continent to you. Even then, you’d say no?”
“Yes, no. Just leave it alone. Please.”
The Duke of Halbern laughed soundlessly.
“Your Majesty has little appetite for land, it seems.”
“If I take that place, then Shugra and Yuyeo come crying about oppressing the weak. Do you have any idea how much the Holy Nation pressures me over this? I want a quiet life, that’s all.”
When the political landscape shifted unnecessarily, the workload increased, and when work increased, the time he could spend with his beloved wife dwindled.
That was the one thing Emperor Edward despised above all else.
Even now, he was restraining himself from abandoning his present duties entirely to go play with the Empress.
Emperor Edward rubbed his brow and spoke in a soothing tone.
“Your sister might be living well there, you know.”
……
The expression drained from the Duke of Halbern’s face.
His eyes grew so dark and distant that Edward wondered if he’d said something he shouldn’t have.
“Still, she hasn’t sent word of any hardship. Surely that’s something, yes?”
Edward tested the waters with concern, but the Duke’s gaze remained fixed on some point in empty space, inscrutable.
The atmosphere plummeted in an instant.
Clap!
“Well, that’s enough. Your Majesty, would you tell us why you’ve summoned us?”
The Duke of Muvisk’s well-timed interruption brought a breath of relief to the room.
Emperor Edward caught the Duke’s eye and nodded.
“About this Foundation Festival……”

* * *

The Duke of Muvisk hurried to find the Duke of Halbern, who had slipped away.
The Duke of Sperom had tried to track him down earlier, chattering about dragons, but the Duke had already left the Emperor’s Palace.
‘Quick, isn’t he.’
“Why does he disappear so fast?”
“I thought Simon might become troublesome.”
“Ah. The dragon’s byproduct.”
The Duke of Muvisk nodded knowingly.
A brief silence fell between them.
Among their peers, for whom no true rival existed, he was the only one whose blade Muvisk had crossed for so long.
The Duke of Muvisk believed himself superior in pure swordcraft, yet he alone could never claim certain victory over the Duke of Halbern. Even now.
‘Because Halbern keeps too many secrets.’
Not knowing one’s opponent’s full strength meant there were uncontrollable variables, no matter how superior one’s own skill.
“Valere, I thought you wouldn’t come. I assumed you meant to die in the Northern Fortress after all.”
“I didn’t intend to come.”
“Yet here you are.”
“If I didn’t come, I’d regret it.”
His voice, spoken languidly, carried an edge of darkness.
“I’m tired of regretting.”
His violet eyes wandered through empty air, looking fragile in that moment.
Muvisk couldn’t discern what he regretted or what regrets he carried, and he chose to let the matter rest rather than pry further.
“Are you truly back?”
“Perhaps.”
“……Take heart.”
At this belated comfort, the Duke of Halbern let out a small laugh.
“If something troubles you, tell me. We’re friends, after all.”
“Friends.”
A good word for it.
“Quayen.”
“Hmm?”
“Have you ever heard anyone say they like you too much as a person? Don’t go around saying that sort of thing to just anyone.”
“You’re hardly just anyone, are you.”
The Duke of Halbern shrugged.
“I appreciate it, but I’m fine. Halbern doesn’t share secrets.”
What on earth could there be so many secrets about.
Muvisk swallowed a sigh.
“Your daughter is quite adorable.”
“You’ve met her?”
“My son said they’re friends, apparently.”
“You have a son?”
He remembered the small figure shrinking back when looking at him—a friend, you say. He’d thought her quiet and timid.
“Two of them, in fact.”
“I think I saw them that day.”
“In any case, it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. Treat them well, will you? For the child, seeing his father for the first time in his life—how much he must have longed for you.”
“Hmm……”
From what I recall, his gaze wasn’t quite that yearning.
Remembering the small figure clinging to Mehren’s sleeve, the Duke of Halbern chuckled softly.
Who’s the parent here, really.
“Be warm to them. Whatever circumstances exist, the child knows nothing of it, after all. Be gentle and kind. Yes? Do you understand?”
“You’re making me sound like trash. As if I couldn’t manage that much.”
“I know you, my friend……”
“You’re being rather harsh.”
Anyone watching would think he was being beaten.
The Duke smiled faintly, suddenly recalling Mehren cursing him as a worthless father.
A worthless father—that was fair enough.
“Why are you suddenly laughing?”
The Duke of Muvisk regarded the Duke of Halbern with confusion as he suddenly began laughing.
With his keen Aura Sensing, he felt the presence of someone approaching.
“Quayen, go on ahead.”
“We’ll finish this another time.”
The Duke of Muvisk withdrew without protest. As he disappeared in another direction, the Duke of Halbern, his laughter fading, stood before a small door.
“Duke of Halbern.”
“Your Highness.”
Fession regarded the Duke of Halbern with an expression full of displeasure.

* * *

Fession looked up at the Duke of Halbern with barely concealed frustration. Even having to look up due to the height difference annoyed him.
The Duke of Halbern, smiling slightly, offered the first greeting.
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am the Duke of Halbern. May the blessing of the Almighty shine upon the radiance of your youth.”
“I am Fession Alermang, Crown Prince.”
Fession returned the courtesy, though displeasure still lingered on his features, before opening his mouth once more.
“In private, I grant you permission to use my name freely.”
“I could not presume to call a noble one by their name without leave.”
“But I am granting it. To the Duke of Halbern.”
The Duke of Halbern answered with nothing but a smile. His expression made it clear: even if you allow it, I won’t—not because I’m unwilling.
Fession found the Duke of Halbern to be an irritating man indeed.
“Is there something you wished to discuss with me, Your Highness?”
Fession frowned, his expression still pouting. Perhaps because he hadn’t yet lost his baby fat, even such a look came across as endearing.
‘He resembles Edward.’
Where had Empress Azeni’s genes gone? Fession could be called a miniature Edward, though admittedly Fession was prettier than the Emperor himself.
The Duke of Halbern clicked his tongue inwardly.
If he hadn’t spouted nonsense about a son-in-law or such, he might have been kinder to the boy.
“If you have nothing to say, I shall take my leave.”
Fession barely managed to speak through his wounded pride.
“……Grant me permission to visit Halbern Manor.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because I want to see Arelin!”
Blurted out with the certainty of one who’d given it no further thought, Fession’s outburst made the Duke of Halbern’s eyes widen slightly.
Behind him, Griam pressed his palm to his forehead in despair.

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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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