Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 89

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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 89

Somehow, exactly six years ago, relations between the Albrecht Empire and the Southern Empire had begun deteriorating at an alarming rate.
The situation was grave enough that Emperor Edward had felt compelled to dispatch Idikels, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on an urgent mission.
Yet despite these efforts, circumstances only worsened by the day, and the people grew fearful that war would break out at any moment.
But then, that…
“If it’s because of Arelin…”
The missing pieces fell into place. At last, everything made sense.
What father could possibly claim his own child was fine when she had vanished?
“Ha, haha.”
How Arelin had been retrieved from the Southern Empire, what had become of Grand Princess Sione—those questions still hung unanswered.
There remained countless facts he didn’t understand, but in truth, none of that truly mattered.
The essential problem remained singular.
Arelin was the daughter of Regent Duke Rock.
“Wow.”
He’d caused a catastrophe of this magnitude and hadn’t given a single hint, had he?
“That bastard Valere, I swear—”
How was he supposed to fix this? The man was insane.
Mehren found himself craving a drink. A strong one, at that.
He drank haphazardly, yet remained distressingly clear-headed, and despaired at his own sobriety.
Why wouldn’t he get drunk at a time like this?
“Ha, I’m going mad.”
This was a disaster. No matter how he thought it through, there could be only one conclusion: ruin. Of all people, his opponent was Rock, the effective ruler of the Southern Empire.
An adversary he could neither suppress through power, nor through force, nor through diplomacy.
In the first place, because he couldn’t suppress him, Valere must have simply brought her back without comment.
“Does Duke Rock know about this?”
He didn’t know. That was why it was quiet. But he couldn’t remain ignorant forever. If he ever laid eyes on Arelin, he would notice.
When Mehren hadn’t been thinking about it, he hadn’t seen it—but Arelin bore a striking resemblance to Grand Princess Sione.
“Huh…”
Still, Regent Duke Rock shouldn’t have any reason to see Arelin. That was something, at least.
He was just trying to settle his increasingly tangled thoughts when—
“Duke Mehren.”
“?”
At the sound of that voice calling to him, Mehren lifted his head and froze. Golden eyes that gleamed like those of a beast looked down upon him from above.

* * *

As the night deepened, the atmosphere within the Ball Hall grew richer and warmer.
On the dance floor and balconies, only couples exchanging gazes and seeking to know one another remained; the rest gathered in small groups, each spinning their own tales.
“Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen the Marchioness of Belpart. Where might she have gone?”
“I saw her heading inside a moment ago.”
“She seemed unusually quiet today. She’s been acting in ways she doesn’t normally.”
“Oh my, I wonder what’s the matter?”
“Who knows. Hehe.”
The undivided attention of the assembled guests centered on one subject alone.
“Did you see him? I only glimpsed the Grand Duke from a distance, yet my heart trembled so—”
“The way he carried himself beside His Majesty was so imposing.”
“I thought a god of beauty had descended to earth.”
The ladies and young women who’d been gushing in adulation all heaved a collective sigh.
“I wonder what sort of woman the noblewoman he’ll marry will be?”
“If it were me, my heart might stop on the first night.”
“I haven’t even thought about who’d cut the cake…”
“What?!”
“Now that you mention it, he did seem quite close with Duke Mehren. I happened to overhear—he called him ‘dear.'”
“Oh my, oh my.”
“Do tell us more.”
Leaving the deepening murmur of voices behind, a woman standing alone in an inconspicuous corridor of the Imperial Palace breathed shallowly, tense with apprehension.

“Do you also dislike Halbern, madam?”

Abruptly, without warning, a mysterious man had appeared with a suspicious proposition.
What was strange was that she could no longer properly recall the face or voice of the man she’d seen then.
She remembered only that his eyes had gleamed a pale yellow.
And her own thought that she might be devoured if she wasn’t careful.

“There is one method to inflict fatal harm upon Halbern.”
“Would you hear it?”
“But refusal is not an option.”

Even knowing it was a devil’s whisper, she had nodded as if entranced.
‘If I can just weaken Halbern’s influence, the rest will be manageable with Belpart’s power…’
Fortunately, the man had revealed that method—the only way to break the long-standing alliance between the Imperial Household and Halbern.
The Marchioness of Belpart turned over the mysterious jewel in her palm as she contemplated.
‘The secret shared between the Imperial Household and Halbern.’
Greed suddenly surged within her.
If Belpart were to learn of it…
“It might be worth trying.”
Desire gleamed in her eyes as hesitation fled.

* * *

At that same moment.
Valere was still watching over the two children.
The moonlit ball for two had ended, yet the children still gazed at each other with tender eyes.
[Are you going to interfere?]
A phantom-like voice spoke to him. Amusement colored that familiar tone.
“No.”
[How adorable.]
A hazy silhouette drew near, folding its arms alongside him.
An existence that ordinary humans could not perceive, and even Transcendent Beings could not see without permission.
[So this is the child who made that insolent one come running to me?]
An Immortal Being who had made the Imperial Palace her domain and witnessed the empire’s history spoke with rare interest.
[Truly curious. Fascinating.]
“Please disregard it.”
[Insolent. Yet you’ve heard my peculiar request, so I suppose I shall take a look.]
The voice carried an unexpected warmth. Valere let out a dry laugh at her uncharacteristic indulgence.
“You catch dragons only to have no use for them.”
[That is precisely why I catch them.]
Sloth, who slumbered in the Imperial Palace, smiled faintly.
The two children had already withdrawn inside. Valere unfurled his arms.
“You won’t act directly yourself. Is that not possible?”
At Valere’s rebuke, Sloth simply smiled.
In an age when ancient gods had lost their sanctity and only one faith remained to observe them, an “Immortal Being” was as good as divine.
Such a being—there was nothing she could not accomplish if she willed it.
Seeing the look in Valere’s eyes that asked why not, Sloth concealed her twisted smile and spoke regretfully.
[Would that it were possible.]
Her eyes had settled into a cold, steely gaze of anger.
[Only humans may become Dragon Slayers.]
“…”
[A lamentable restriction.]
It was Sloth who changed the subject first.
Valere made no effort to probe further.
[The two children suit each other quite well.]
He simply asked what interested him more.
“How do they appear to you?”
[Well?]
“…”
[You have done what you could. You understand, do you not? That a child who would not live long has endured this far is already a miracle of sorts.]
Beneath long, sweeping lashes, her purple eyes grew deep and sorrowful.
[What ails the child is not illness of that sort. It is not a curse either.]
“Is it something that cannot be cured?”
[Not with my power.]
All she could manage was to delay it—the answer he had heard before.
Valere’s expression hardened.
[Prepare yourself. The end draws near.]
Valere turned his back.
[Where are you going so suddenly?]
“I have no desire to speak further with one too powerless to save my own daughter.”
[Cheeky thing.]
The voice spoke with amusement even as it called him presumptuous. Valere knew well that Sloth would not punish him for such insolence.
[The child of Halbern.]
Valere, who had been turning toward the Ball Hall, slowed his pace briefly.
[Watch your feet. Something unseen seems to be lurking about.]
The cryptic words gave him pause—but only briefly.
Whooooom—
Suddenly, the wards of the Imperial Palace shuddered violently.

* * *

It was too late for a child to still be awake. Reluctant as he was, the time had come to part.
He’d wanted to stay longer, but…
“You should return now.”
Fession gazed at me with eyes heavy with reluctance.
“Tomorrow. I have to see you tomorrow before I go.”
“Okay.”
“Sleep well, Arelin.”
Fession left a light kiss on my forehead as a meager consolation, then was pulled away by Griam, his expression sorrowful.
My face burned as I touched my forehead, still warm with his touch, and bit my lip.
‘I’m completely ruined.’
How could I let myself feel this way?
Was it because I’d never cared for anyone but Mother in my entire life? It felt so hollow, so suffocating.
“Shall we go now, Miss?”
“Yes.”
I was walking as the Imperial attendant led the way when—
“Arelin!”
“Huh?”
Leslie?
“There you are. I found you.”
“You were looking for me?”
I regarded Leslie with lukewarm eyes as she ran toward me, beaming.
Why was she so delighted?
“Exactly what—”
I’d just opened my mouth to ask why she was so excited when—
Crack.
Something shattered, and simultaneously—
Whooooom—
My body flinched at the familiar sensation I’d felt once before.
“?!”
There was no time to think.
My vision went black.

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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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