The Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health – Chapter 189

Author: Asternkm

The amount of time Arellin spent asleep grew longer.

At first it was two days, then four… and when she didn’t wake up for a full week, Mehen almost buried the medical staff alive.

“She is simply sleeping.”

“She falls asleep this often and for such long periods—are you saying there’s truly nothing wrong?”

“It may be because her physical strength has weakened…….”

“Ha, what is this, all of a sudden.”

Until now, as long as she took her medicine, her body was weak but she could still live normally. No one knew what to do anymore.

Before long, the area around Arellin’s bed was filled with magitech devices you’d normally only see in an intensive care room.

“Wouldn’t it be better to return to the estate?”

“But Miss likes it here.”

Just the other day, she’d been walking around with a bright smile. Now they could only look at her lying there, and the childcare squad was burning with worry. Mehen was the same.

“Arell…….”

Whenever she had a spare moment, Mehen sat endlessly by Arellin’s side.

What if she never wakes up like this?

The time she had spent with Arellin flashed through Mehen’s mind. She clenched her teeth.

She regretted, bitterly, the days when she’d drawn a line and kept her distance, telling herself she couldn’t be Arellin’s real guardian.

“Arell, please wake up.”

Please give me a chance.

Mother or father—whatever you want, I’ll do it all. Just give me a chance. A chance to raise you properly.

“Our Arell, you’re a good girl.”

There was still so much she hadn’t done for her.

She’d said she would take good care of her, but work had swallowed her up, and she hadn’t even done half of what she’d planned.

For the first time, Mehen felt afraid.

Afraid that Arellin could leave her at any moment.

“Why…….”

Was she dreaming?

Arellin’s eyelids slowly, painfully lifted. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she reached out toward Mehen.

“Why… are you crying…….”

Was she crying?

“Don’t cry…….”

The hand touching her cheek was so fragile it felt like it might shatter. Mehen couldn’t move for a long while.

*****

[Status effect ‘Weakness’ intensifies]

The moment I opened my eyes, I reflexively checked my status window and understood. Cheyen’s blessing had ended.

Then I turned my gaze and saw Mehen crying beside me—I was so shocked I nearly lost it.

I thought the world had ended.

I never thought I’d see Mehen cry, even if the sun rose in the west. The fact that she was crying because I was sick made me feel guilty.

Last life or this one, it seemed I was just not meant to be a good, dutiful daughter. Unless being a fire-element dutiful daughter counted.

“A whole week.”

I’d been asleep for an entire week.

It would only get worse from here.

“I really can’t go anywhere now.”

That Cheyen bastard—this wasn’t some 20-day free trial for a paid subscription. If he was going to help, he could’ve gone all out.

“Anyway, I just can’t get attached to him.”

After coaxing Mehen—who had abandoned her work to stick by my side—away with, “I like diligent and capable moms; they’re cool,” I calm down and do what I needed to do.

Now, I truly had to think about what came after my death.

I wanted to get healthy and live a long, long life.

“So a mere extra can’t escape the fate set by a god, huh.”

There were so many things I wanted to do. So many that even I was surprised at when it had happened.

I really don’t want to die.

But that doesn’t mean I want to become Cheyen’s subordinate either.

Still, the fact that I was even thinking about grabbing onto a rotten rope if it meant surviving… probably meant I really was that sick.

“Get it together.”

The feeling of waiting for death wasn’t that bad.

Compared to my past life—waiting endlessly in an empty house for someone, anyone, to come back—it felt a little less like being a corpse.

“Let’s just do what needs to be done.”

The very first thing I had to do was……

“I need to send the kids back.”

****

Right after I woke up, I thought the kids would have already gone home since I’d been asleep for so long.

I was wrong.

They were still in Sagret.

“Arell.”

“Are you okay now?”

The twins were still as bright as ever.

“Arell, we brought medicine!”

“Don’t be sick!”

To think the twins who used to cause nothing but trouble could do something this thoughtful—it felt strangely moving.

“Thanks. I’ll take it.”

“Get better soon.”

“Let’s play together again!”

It seemed they’d gone on some amazing sightseeing trips while I was asleep, because they excitedly shoved pamphlets at me and talked nonstop about their plans.

“Twins.”

“Arell-Arell, why are you calling us like that? It’s scary.”

“Did we do something wrong?”

“Shouldn’t you go back now? I think you’ve been here too long.”

Ciel instantly puffed up and shook his head.

“We’re going back with you.”

“No. Go back.”

“No way!”

“You guys are annoying. Hurry up and go.”

“What? How can you say that to us?!”

“You have lots of things you need to do. Go on, listen to me.”

“We hate you, Arellin!”

After a long argument, the twins got properly sulky. Normally I would’ve soothed them, but this time I just let it be.

Seeing the Spherom attendants—who’d looked so troubled—leave happily, I figured I’d made the right choice.

“Harun.”

“Yeah.”

Unlike the twins, Harun understood what I meant without me saying a word.

He looked at me with an unreadable expression for a moment, then simply patted my shoulder.

“I’ll wait.”

…Did I just get comforted?

No matter how many times I looked at him, he was kind, thoughtful, and considerate—a real gem.

If I’d had a daughter, I would’ve wanted him as my son-in-law.

Now there was only one left.

“Pession.”

“I’m not going.”

The toughest opponent of all.

While the twins dragged Harun around sightseeing, Pession had stayed holed up in the mansion, waiting only for me to wake up. He refused before I could even tell him to go back.

“I want to be alone.”

“I know that’s not true.”

“I’m really tired. I’m not lying.”

Pession opened his mouth to argue, then closed it again. His drooping eyes and tear-filled gaze made my heart soften.

“Why do you look like you’re about to cry?”

What am I supposed to do when I’m this weak-hearted?

The more so, the more I felt I needed to put distance between us. Still, because I liked him so much, unlike with the twins, no harsh words came out.

“I had so much fun because you were here.”

“Why?”

“Thanks to you, I made lots of fun memories and happy ones. If it weren’t for you, it would’ve been really hard.”

“Why are you saying that?”

“Thank you for being my friend, Sion.”

How could I leave someone this precious behind?

Still, thinking of Pession, this was the right thing to do. I couldn’t give trauma to a kid with such a bright future.

“So please go back now, Your Highness. Unlike me, you have sooo many things to do, right?”

“Arell.”

Pession grabbed me. The way he begged me not to send him away almost broke my resolve.

“Pession.”

I gently pulled my hand free.

“Go back.”

I forced a smile.

“I don’t want to hurt you anymore.”

****

“Arell. Are you alright?”

“Yeah.”

Mehen held me, checking my complexion. Together, we watched the kids leaving through the window.

I don’t know when I’ll see them again.

As we stared outside, Mehen asked carefully,

“Why did you do that to His Highness?”

“To who?”

“……I heard everything.”

With a heavy expression, Mehen brushed my bangs aside. There she goes again, looking troubled.

“He’s still young. I thought it’d be too much of a shock for him if someone close to him died.”

“…….”

“So I thought it’d be better to put some distance between us.”

I used to think it was good if many people mourned you, but now I realized—having many people sad over my death would make me sad too.

“I want to disappear quietly. Without a sound.”

“Why would you say that…….”

“Mom.”

The light green eyes looking back at her were still gentle.

“Thank you. For accepting all my stubbornness.”

“Arell…….”

“I should see Dad’s face at least once before I go…….”

My eyes closed.

“What do I do… I’m sleepy again…….”

****

As if they’d been waiting for this day, the servants packed up in no time, and preparations to leave were finished quickly. Once we got on the carriage to the station, all that was left was the mana train.

“Your Highness?”

Just as Pession was about to board the carriage, he suddenly stopped. He bit his lip as if making a decision—then turned around and ran.

“Your Highness!”

Ignoring the servants’ desperate calls, Pession ran to where Arellin was, leaning against Mehen with her eyes closed. Sensing him, Arellin slowly opened her eyes.

Their gazes met.

“Why didn’t you go?”

“I’m not going to be Crown Prince anymore.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“I’ll be Arellin’s caretaker.”

After catching his breath, Pession gently took Arellin’s hand.

“I want to stay by your side.”

Arellin froze, staring blankly at him for a long, long time.

“You’re really an idiot.”

Their hands overlapped.

“And I’m an idiot too.”

Letting out a dry laugh, Arellin said,