The Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health Chapter 210

“Wow, another one? A fake again?”

Despite Sirua’s amazement, Pession showed no reaction.

“They really never get tired of sending out fakes. I guess they think they only need to succeed once? Incredible, truly.”

At this point, even Sirua—watching as a third party—was getting sick of it.

From the perspective of those endlessly producing fakes and pushing them at Pession, it made sense. If even one managed to get through, they’d seize the future of the Empire in one stroke. But what sin had Pession committed to deserve being on the receiving end of this?

Sirua could understand why Pession had developed such a severe distrust of people.

“So, what do you think this time? Did they find someone naturally similar, or is it another magically crafted appearance? Want to bet? I’m betting on the latter.”

“She said it was natural.”

“You believe that?”

Pession let out a short scoff.

It was a laugh steeped in deep weariness and emptiness.

Sirua alternated his gaze between the young lady—who was a striking beauty even from afar—and his own kin, then curled a finger and asked,

“Is she really that similar?”

“No.”

“No? Then why can’t you take your eyes off her?”

Pession frowned as if to say what nonsense, yet his gaze still lingered on the unknown platinum-haired young lady.

Countless fakes had appeared so far, but this was the first time Pession had reacted like this.

Sirua focused more intently, trying to figure out what was different about her.

Platinum hair, pale pink eyes, beautiful… I can’t tell what’s different?

Even from a distance, her features were clear enough. Sirua couldn’t distinguish what set her apart from the previous fake young ladies he’d seen.

Maybe her atmosphere is different?

The earlier fakes all had a fragile, sickly, pitiable air about them. This one, with peach-tinted rosy cheeks, a constantly smiling face, and a vibrant presence, looked completely different.

Did they not research Arellin enough? That seems sloppy. Or is this a new strategy—taking a different route to capture the Crown Prince’s heart?

Whatever it was, she’d succeeded in catching Pession’s attention.

From what Sirua had observed, aside from moments when Pession exposed someone claiming to be Arellin as a fake, this level of interest was almost unprecedented.

“Is there really something different about her?”

Sirua scrutinized her carefully, but the more he looked, the less he understood.

As Sirua kept tilting his head in confusion, Pession continued to track the fake Arellin with an obsessive gaze.

The smooth line of her profile, the long lashes densely framing her pretty eyes, the lively sparkle in her gaze.

No matter how he looked at her, she resembled nothing of the Arellin in his memories—who had always lived quietly, like a doll with an expressionless face.

And yet, why couldn’t he look away?

If Arellin had grown up just like that…

The thought crossed his mind, and Pession cursed inwardly.

He hated himself for unconsciously comparing her to Arellin.

Arellin was—

No. There was no way Arellin could resemble a fake like that.

As the years passed and the fakes became more carefully crafted, he’d felt exasperation and disbelief—but he’d never felt this level of disgust.

Pession felt a profound revulsion toward those who tried to sully the precious memories he shared with Arellin.

All he had left were those memories, and the way people trampled over even that was nauseating.

“Can two people who aren’t twins really exist in the world looking exactly the same?”

“Magic, obviously.”

“Yeah. Magic…”

Just how much magic had they poured into her to make her look that similar?

At least if it was a magically constructed appearance, that was fine. It would reveal its true form before long.

Sirua glanced at Pession, who had closed his eyes with a weary expression, and couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Have you slept at all?”

“No.”

Despite that, his face looked clean and composed.

Sirua—the very one who had dragged him to the auction house, saying there was no point staying in the imperial palace—narrowed his eyes.

“At this rate, you’ll die early.”

Pession gave a dry laugh and covered his face with one hand.

“Maybe… that’s what I’m hoping for.”

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

The auction proceeded smoothly.

“Now, the next item is a treasured possession of the legendary High Lord Naran of the Shugra Empire: the ‘Blessed Three-Leaf Clover of the World Tree.’ When used, it shows memories of one’s happiest times.”

This was the time to casually watch without even looking at the pre-distributed catalog, raising a bidding paddle only when something caught my interest.

The problem was—

“Eight million gold! Any higher?”

“Yes! Ten million!”

“Ah! We have twelve million gold right away! And immediately—fourteen million gold!”

“Sold for twenty-one million gold!”

The bidding was far fiercer than I’d expected.

“Rena.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Maybe it’s just my imagination, but don’t you feel like Pession’s been interfering with me ever since earlier?”

“I feel the same way, Miss. It doesn’t seem like imagination.”

I’d come prepared to spend money anyway, so it wasn’t unbearably irritating or obstructive—but things that could’ve been bought at a reasonable price were being driven up to outrageous amounts, and it left me feeling oddly unsettled.

“What is he even thinking, doing that?”

“Trying to mess with you?”

“What did I ever do wrong?”

“I think he believes you’re an impersonator, Miss…”

“That jerk just keeps piling up bad karma, doesn’t he?”

How does he plan to deal with it later, acting like that?

Rena asked me carefully.

“Should we ask Mehen for help?”

“No need. We’ve already achieved our goal.”

We’d broken the highest bid record several times already, so if the Black Market was watching, we’d definitely caught their attention.

“Isn’t this enough?”

“I think so too. Everyone’s clearly paying attention to where you are, Miss.”

Even though I’d spent money like water at today’s auction, my account balance was still much larger.

All of it was money Mehen had earned through years of hard work and piled into my account.

Income from an entire, well-developed city.

Now I get why nobles go crazy trying to secure a good territory or a city.

Not just a building owner, but a city owner.

Thinking about my city, which was surely running smoothly even today, made a pleased smile spread across my face.

I felt full even without eating.

Even though I hadn’t contributed even a speck of dirt under a fingernail to it.

“But still…”

I looked down at one corner of the auction hall that had been catching my eye for a while now.

Several odd presences mixed in among ordinary people.

Are they mages?

I couldn’t be sure—it was faint—but after watching on and off during the auction, it really did feel like residual mana.

Mana so light and thin that no one but me would’ve noticed it.

Which made it all the more strange.

Where was this residual mana coming from?

“Miss, what are you staring at like that?”

“There’s something bothering me.”

What bothered me even more was how they were practically wearing signs saying I’m suspicious, yet no one around them seemed to notice at all.

“Hmmm.”

Yeah. Something’s definitely off.

“Miss, where are you suddenly going?”

“I’ll be right back.”

“Miss?!”

I snapped my fingers lightly, casting a spell that showed the situation below, and without taking my eyes off it, I stepped into the VIP-only corridor and almost ran—nearly colliding with someone.

“Oh, I’m so sorry~!”

“Huh?”

I apologized reflexively and passed by, but then I heard someone call my name from behind.

“Arell…?”

Who was that?

Come to think of it, the person I bumped into—white hair and golden eyes?

It happened so fast I wasn’t sure, but belatedly I wondered if it might’ve been one of the twins.

Seriously, of all times…

“…We can meet next time!”

This was more urgent, so this came first!

Putting an emotional reunion on hold, I chased after the suspicious group and reached the first-floor lobby.

“Ugh.”

The first floor was thick with sleep-inducing incense mixed with mana. I instinctively held my breath and put up a shield.

Ah, that’s already two spells used.

Seeing how abnormal the situation on the first floor was, I hesitated for a moment over whether to go further or not.

He told me not to cause trouble.

But this wasn’t trouble I caused—someone else caused it and I just got caught up in it, right? Stopping an incident doesn’t count as causing one.

“Alright, excuse prepared.”

I was curious how the heavily armed guards on the first floor had been so easily neutralized by sleep incense, but more importantly, I needed to go underground and see what was happening.

The situation below wasn’t much different from the first floor. Guards unconscious from the incense, disabled mana barriers, and—

“Eek!”

“What—what is it?!”

Thieves, too—who ran straight into me as they were coming back out, since there was only one entrance and exit.

“……”

“……”

An odd silence settled between us.