The Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health – Chapter 167

Author: Asternkm

A week passed.

The childhood friends’ gathering that used to be the sugeum group had turned into a Monday–Tuesday–Wednesday–Thursday–Friday group.

‘How did it end up like this?’

Because of that, I started going to the imperial palace from Monday to Friday as faithfully as a web novel author’s update schedule. As a side effect, people stuck to me even more whenever I was home.

“A lack of the young lady’s blessing…”

“Please, let us stay with you more!”

The childcare squad clinging to me so I couldn’t even read a book.

“…Should Dad just get rid of the imperial palace?”

My dad, smiling as he casually said something terrifying.

“Hmph!”

“Get lost.”

“You little—!”

And some man who dreamed of becoming my father, hovering around trying to squeeze in a word, only to get chased off by my dad.

Surprisingly, Mehen didn’t say much.

“?”

When our eyes met, we both tilted our heads. Mehen smiled and hugged me.

“What’s the matter?”

“Mm.”

Maybe it was because Dad was staying firmly planted in the mansion.

The dark circles that used to look like they’d sink down to his chin had faded a lot, and the tie that used to be wrinkled from being tugged loose whenever he got irritated looked neat now.

“Mehen, aren’t you upset?”

“Hm?”

“Everyone says they’re sad that I’m out so much.”

In my heart, the thought It’s nice that Mom isn’t nagging me clashed with Shouldn’t she be a little sad, though?

I don’t even understand my own feelings.

Mehen smiled softly and pulled me into a tight hug.

“I am upset.”

“Really?”

“But it’s nicer to see you going out, young lady. You were always at home before.”

Mom really is…

“If you ever feel sick, you must tell us right away. Understood?”

“Yeah. I promise.”

When I made that firm promise, Mehen smiled.

Yeah. I really think I picked the best mom ever.

****

Once a month.

There was medicine I absolutely had to take.

‘I’ve suffered a few times after forgetting this.’

In the past, someone would occasionally steal it, but that stopped quickly since I’d have a seizure right away if I didn’t take it.

I used to not know why skipping the medicine caused such obvious symptoms.

‘So this is medicine containing the Authority of Slumbering Sloth…?’

[Status Ailments: Weakness, Physical Collapse, Mental Power Decrease]
[!Warning! Physical collapse in progress]
[Current Progress: 78% (Blessings applied)]
[Active Blessings:
Authority of Slumbering Sloth (Physical collapse speed –2000%)]

No one ever explained what “Slumbering Sloth” was, but with my good instincts and experience as a web novel reader, I roughly figured out it was an immortal being in the imperial palace.

‘The problem is, drinking this doesn’t actually stop the physical collapse.’

There’s some power inside me that I don’t even know about, and because of it, my body is falling apart?

I didn’t want this kind of strength at all.

What even is this?

‘Do I seriously have to make a real elixir?’

The legendary cure-all said to grant eternal life.

‘Getting the original would be hard.’

You’d need the Philosopher’s Stone for that.

Either way, it didn’t seem like I could solve my “get healthy” plan on my own.

“You’re not drinking your medicine?”

As I stared at the medicine like I was performing a ritual, Dad rested his chin on his hand and asked.

“I will.”

Down it went, one shot.

“You drink it well.”

Dad patted my back like he was proud of me.

“Here, candy.”

“Ah.”

After properly eating the candy Dad gave me, today’s tasks were finally done.

Rolling the candy around with my tongue, I stared blankly at Dad’s face. Always shining…

Shione’s mom, who looked almost like his twin, had been incredibly beautiful too. For just a moment, I could even understand Regent Duke Ludwig’s terrible choices.

He must have wanted her that badly.

‘So who is my real dad, then?’

The last mystery Shione’s mom left behind.

Whoever he is, I know he’s not ordinary.

‘Is he even human?’

I shook my head, remembering the blacked-out status window.

No. Finding my biological father wouldn’t solve my problem anyway.

“Sigh.”

Maybe I was extra troubled because of the female lead and Cheyen.

All kinds of thoughts came up.

“Why are you making that face?”

“Mm.”

Long, elegant fingers touched my cheek.

“Dad.”

“Hm?”

“Do you think I can get healthy?”

“…Why would you say that? That makes Dad sad.”

His eyes narrowed as if holding back emotion, his brows drooping. The purple of his eyes grew darker, wet like he might cry.

“Does it really make you sad if I say that?”

“Yes. Very much.”

“I told them not to make a grave for me if I die.”

At my mumble, Dad raised his handsome eyebrows.

“To whom?”

“To Mehen.”

“….”

“Do you think Mehen was sad too?”

Dad let out a deep breath and pulled me into his arms. His slightly stiff mouth made my chest feel heavy today.

“Why does our daughter keep thinking such sad things?”

“I’m just being realistic.”

“….”

“I won’t live very long.”

When a problem happens, ignoring it and pretending it isn’t there never solves anything.

You have to face it and accept it to see the core of the problem and find a solution.

Maybe I said it too calmly.

“Don’t worry.”

With a face that looked like tears might fall any second, Dad gently held onto me.

“Even if it costs me my life, I’ll make sure you live.”

“…….”

“No matter what I have to offer up. No matter what.”

His purple eyes, like they had swallowed the darkness, shone deeply.

It felt like I was overhearing a vow and determination from a very long time ago, and I held my breath.

Maybe because I’d heard about Dad’s dreams—about how he’d tried again and again to save me.

“Okay. I’ll believe you.”

“Our daughter doesn’t look like she believes me.”

“I said I do.”

“That doesn’t look like a believing face.”

Valer grumbled.

“So what, because it’s something a dad with affection level 45 is saying?”

He brought that up whenever he got the chance lately, so I shot him a sulky look without realizing it.

“Dad, you really hold grudges. Men like that aren’t popular.”

“Dad only needs to be popular with his daughter. I already have a wife, don’t I? Or do you want another mom?”

“No!”

At my urgent answer, Dad chuckled. I pointed at his face and warned him.

“From now on, Arel’s mom is only Mehen!”

“Alright, alright.”

Sitting on the sofa with me in his arms, Dad leaned back and patted my head. He also poked my chubby cheeks however he liked.

“I wish you wouldn’t think about things like that. You’re still very young.”

At times like this, it felt less like having a dad and more like having a grown son.

So I just let it go.

“I want you to think about things like eating well, sleeping well, laughing well, chatting a lot. What fun thing happened today? What should we do tomorrow? I want you to live thinking like that.”

“Were you like that at my age too, Dad?”

“Yeah. Thanks to someone who loved me very much.”

Talking about someone I now knew very well, Dad smiled like a boy.

“Dad, are you happy?”

Instead of answering, Dad smiled and asked me back.

“Are you happy?”

I just blinked silently.

Am I… happy?

A question I’d never asked myself before.

I slowly looked back over my memories. All of them, even my past life.

“Yeah.”

I see.

“I think I’m happy.”

That’s probably why I want to live, Dad.

****

“Happy?”

The twins tilted their heads to one side.

“Can you buy happiness with money?”

“You guys always look happy anyway, with how empty your heads are.”

“?”

This time, the twins tilted their heads to the opposite side.

“Sun, do you get what Arel is saying?”

“Su, I don’t get it either!”

You’re still doing that…?

After giving the twins a look of utter exasperation, I glanced around the childhood friends’ gathering, where everyone was chatting cheerfully among themselves as usual.

It had already been a week since the new members joined.

The scenery of this group, which had always been so consistent, had changed.

The first noticeable change was—

“Wow, so you can already use magic?”

“Already? Chloe, that’s amazing!”

—the fact that our female lead, loved wherever she went, had already made tons of friends.

And—

“Wow, it’s Lord Cheyen.”

—that obnoxious stalker bastard had risen to become the number two figure in the childhood friends’ group.

His popularity had been abnormal from day one.

‘That guy’s only got a decent build—why him?!’

You’re all being fooled. Totally fooled!