The Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health Chapter 218

With her arms crossed, Sirua watched Pession silently gulp down alcohol while radiating a murderous aura, then muttered,

“Why is he losing his mind again?”

With a fed-up expression, Sirua looked at the brandy, liqueur, and whiskey bottles that had taken over the table.

He’s drunk all that and his complexion hasn’t changed at all—what a monster.

“I brought all of this to drink myself.”

They were all expensive bottles.

Not the kind of liquor you chug like water. The kind you’re supposed to savor.

“……”

Even after swallowing that much hard liquor, it clearly wasn’t enough—Pession clutched his head.

What a pathetic sight.

Still, it’s entertaining to watch.

Who else could watch the Crown Prince making a fool of himself from the front row?

Only her.

This is strange.

It was simply strange.

How a person’s emotions could swing so wildly.

How does that even happen?

Sirua had realized how the world worked far too early.

At just five years old, she understood that people cherished and liked her not because she was pretty or exceptional, but because of the power held by the Albert imperial family.

Watching such transparent, shallow ploys usually made her snort in ridicule—if not grow outright sick of them.

And yet, seeing Pession, who used to grin and brush everything off with “as long as it’s fine,” change like this—and then be thrown into turmoil over a single person—was endlessly fascinating.

“Instead of suffering like that, why don’t you try talking? Is it because of that woman? An impostor? Want me to deal with her?”

“……”

She tossed out an insincere offer, but Pession only glared at her, giving no other response.

“Deal with her?”

“Don’t.”

At Pession’s sharp, irritated snap, Sirua swallowed a hollow laugh, dumbfounded.

No—why not?

“If you’re that bothered, doesn’t that mean something really is different this time? Like she’s actually Lady Arellin or something—”

For a moment, Sirua thought her head was about to come off.

Pession unleashed killing intent without even trying to hide it.

“No. Absolutely not.”

“Yeah? Really?”

“There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize Arellin.”

What kind of confidence was that?

“Still… fifteen years is long enough for mountains and rivers to change. People change too, you know?”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“Then maybe a new love has come along.”

Goooo—

The killing intent flying at her was even sharper than before, and Sirua burst out laughing.

Still, the only reason she could say things like this and survive was because she was his only younger sister.

“Ah, looks like someone’s calling me. I’ll be back later!”

With an infuriating grin, Sirua vanished in a flash. Pession glared after her, then buried his face in his hands.

“New love? Hah. Ridiculous.”

I hope you’re happy, Your Highness.

The voice still buzzing relentlessly in his ears made Pession feel like he was going insane.

 

 

 

****

 

 

ll talking about that’s so fun?”

But joining the young ladies… honestly, in my current state, that looked even more like a jungle.

Then the mages?

The mages contracted by the Spherom duchy and those from the Mage Tower were gathered together, but their ranks were all middling.

Not a single high-circle mage.

Then there was no reason for me to join them either.

Hmm. Still, I don’t really want to just go home like this.

As night deepened and the number of guests leaving gradually increased with the ripening atmosphere of early dawn, I wandered through the empty corridors and balconies, reluctant to leave.

Piiiing—

A very faint magical pulse swept over me.

This is…

A detection spell?

Normally, identifying a spell’s type wasn’t this easy. Unless you saw the formula or heard the incantation, distinguishing a spell from residual magical waves alone was practically the realm of gods.

But I could do it.

This was less about a mage’s talent and more about music.

I had a good ear.

What are they searching for?

The question barely formed before I froze at the familiar magical aftertaste.

It was the same lingering magic I’d lost track of earlier because of Pession.

What is this?

The timing was far too perfect.

“Rell!”

Just then, I saw the party’s main figures—the twins—calling out to me, but…

Her cheeks flushed red.

That alone told me enough.

Ah. A secret rendezvous.

It felt like my curiosity had accidentally interrupted someone else’s date.

She’s not a mage… that pendant around her neck? The residual mana keeps coming from there. It doesn’t feel like a magic tool…

It seemed someone had cast a one-time spell on it.

“I was supposed to meet someone, but they’re not coming. I should head back.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Shall we go back together?”

“Well…”

Guess it really wasn’t anything serious.

“Sure, let’s go together.”

Maybe because I relaxed once I realized it was nothing—

Thud.

I reacted too late to the sudden figure that appeared.

My vision darkened.

“Move her quickly.”

“Through the back door!”

…What the hell is this now?

 

****

 

Ciel finally managed to extricate himself from the crowd and went looking for Arellin.

She doesn’t even know that many people—where does she keep wandering off to?

Thinking she might be with Noel, he looked around, only to find Noel cornered by a group of knights offering him a position, saying his talent would be wasted otherwise.

“Where did she go?”

Wondering if she’d gone to Pession, Ciel checked the third-floor balcony, which was under strict control so no one could approach—

“Shh. If you mess with Pession right now, you’ll die!”

—only to encounter Lord Sirua.

Ciel abandoned the idea of sneaking a peek inside the balcony without hesitation.

“But, Ciel.”

“Yes, Sirua?”

“The partner you brought today—someone you know well?”

Sirua looked at Ciel with a sly smile.

Why was she, who usually didn’t care about anything, suddenly interested?

“Well, if you ask whether I know her well—yes, I do. And you, my lady—are things going well with what you’re looking for?”

Ciel smoothly redirected the topic. Sirua’s eyes gleamed as if she’d noticed something, but she let it slide.

“Who knows? I’m searching, but it’s not easy. If you have time later, want to help?”

“Contact me after the party.”

“Deal.”

Seeing Sirua wave him off like there was nothing more to say, Ciel smiled faintly.

But seriously—where did Arellin go?

“Did she already leave?”

 

*****

 

I’m sturdy now.

How sturdy?

Sturdy enough to wake up just ten minutes after getting knocked out with a blow to the back of my neck.

These bastards dared to mess with a mage?

BOOM—!

I smashed my way out of the iron cage, wrecked the carriage, and wrecked the men who’d captured me.

“Aaaargh!”

The thugs floated helplessly in midair, flailing in panic.

“So,” I asked calmly, “what were you planning to do with me?”

“W-we were g-going to sell you… to a Black Market sl-slave trader…!”

The Black Market?

I paused.

“…?”

The men tilted their heads in confusion as I gently lowered them after having just put them through a human roller coaster.

I stood before them, holding the rope I’d torn apart earlier.

“Tie me up again. Now.”

“Huh…?”

“Hurry.”

Let’s go to the Black Market.