The Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health Chapter 229

Up until now, Lord Shirua had always given off the image of a prickly cat.

Someone who disliked people, was wary of everyone, and only did what he wanted.

“What, when did you get here?”

Since I’d only seen him smiling so far, I wondered if that image had just been my prejudice.

“Go back. Come again later. This is my time right now.”

The way he pulled at my shoulder and snapped at me primly made him look just like a hissing kitten…

Cute.

Meow.

Meanwhile, the real cat was round and fluffy. Even when a stranger touched his belly, he’d just flick his tail instead of being wary.

Or is that because he’s not an actual cat but a divine beast?

Either way, Pession got chased out by Shirua.

Still, he looked healthy, which was a relief.

“Looks like there aren’t any aftereffects……”

I’d been worried that there might be serious mental aftereffects, so thankfully, there weren’t.

As if he’d heard my muttering, Shirua raised an eyebrow and gave a mischievous smile.

“You were very worried?”

“?”

“They said he’s fine. No aftereffects. That’s a relief, right?”

Our eyes met by accident, and for some reason, his strangely sparkling eyes made it feel like he could see straight through me.

What is this……?

“I’ll properly introduce myself. Thank you for saving my useless older brother, Miss Arellin.”

I flinched without meaning to.

Had I ever told him my name?

“On behalf of the imperial family, thank you as well for saving Princess Luri. Thanks to you, we can maintain good relations with the Yuyo Union.”

“Yes.”

Anyone who knew that unfortunate future would’ve stepped in. Still, hearing thanks like this—

How should I put it, it really feels like the future has changed.

‘Then the future where Empress Ageni gets assassinated must have changed too, right?’

“?”

I was lost in thought for a moment when I met Shirua’s eyes as he smiled brightly at me.

…This family’s genes are cheating.

Personality aside, just looking at such a dignified and noble beauty was pleasing to the eyes.

How can someone be this pretty?

But why is he smiling like that? It’s scary.

“…Did I do something wrong?”

Did I mess something up without realizing it?

Feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of that smile, I asked carefully. Shirua gracefully shook his head.

Then he said softly,

“Please don’t hate my idiot brother too much.”

“?”

 

 

****

 

 

 

 

What was supposed to be a brief audience at the imperial palace somehow turned into staying for dinner.

It was to ‘celebrate becoming friends,’ and with them saying, ‘Princess Luri likes you this much—are you really going to leave coldly?’ there was no way I could say yes to that.

“Feels like I got swept along……”

On top of that, Shirua said the Empress wanted to see me too, and since I was already there, I should meet her as well—so my entire schedule for the day ended up bundled together.

‘I was going to meet the twins and Harun this afternoon.’

When I said I needed to contact my companions because my plans had suddenly changed, Shirua even took that task upon himself.

“Was Shirua always this considerate?”

In any case, before I knew it, I was playing with Princess Luri.

“When Rell comes to Yuyo someday, I’ll feed you, let you sleep over, and show you my treasures!”

“Sure, if I ever go, I’ll be in your care.”

Even after going through something terrible in a foreign country, the princess smiled brightly, perhaps thanks to the young white tiger’s protection.

They said a delegation had been sent from the Yuyo Union, so she should really be safe now.

After playing energetically for a while, the princess and the young white tiger began nodding off.

I guess it was naptime for kids.

“From here on, I’ll take care of her.”

A lady-in-waiting assigned temporarily until the delegation arrived skillfully picked up the princess. Maybe she was worried about leaving me alone, because she asked,

“Shall I guide you to the lord?”

“Mm, no.”

I’d ended up with some free time.

“I’ll go for a walk by myself.”

Well, this kind of thing is nice too.

 

 

 

****

 

 

The imperial palace garden was beautiful everywhere—perfect for a stroll no matter where you went.

I walked along a dirt path deliberately laid out between tall trees, lost in thought.

When I’m like this, I end up humming music without realizing it. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, Pastoral.

Was nature like this—the scenery that gave new joy in life to Beethoven, who had fallen into despair over his hearing loss and even wrote a will?

As I hummed absentmindedly, my hand twitched, wanting to play the violin without me noticing.

“Ah, I want to perform.”

My violin is sealed, my magic is sealed, I can’t even write my own name. No—there’s even someone whose name I can’t call. What kind of situation is this, seriously?

“And Dad isn’t here either.”

I wasn’t unaware of my master’s thoughts, asking whether I was curious about my real father.

I somehow received my master’s status and became healthy, but fundamentally, to solve everything, I’d have to find the source of my power in the end… and my real father would be tied up in that.

I’d vaguely sensed it already.

But do I really need to know that much?

In the end, the reason I’m alive—and the reason I wanted to live—was all because of one person.

“How long are you going to keep following me so quietly?”

I tried to pretend I didn’t notice, but with someone else maybe I could’ve—just not with this guy.

Why is that?

“…….”

Without even hiding his presence, Pession stepped out, wearing a look like he couldn’t believe he’d been caught.

“Miss.”

“Wow.”

How polite.

If you save someone’s life, do you get treated this well?

“Did you come to say thank you?”

Shirua had given me a heads-up. He said Pession would come to thank me.

When my eyes sparkled, Pession bowed deeply.

“I was told you saved me. Thank… you. I’d also like to apologize for how rude I was to you until now.”

His facial features shimmered, as if painted into the dappled shade of leaves with sunlight filtering through.

What does he eat to look that handsome?

The eyes that always used to shine sharply when he looked at me now carried a hazy, languid air, like dawn mist—it felt unfamiliar.

The wall of time that had separated us hadn’t changed much, yet somehow had changed everything.

I used to think these feelings would pass someday.

There were times when liking you felt as terrifying as the end of the world itself.

Even though I was living a second life, I’d never truly become an adult. Everything beyond that was unknown.

Scary, overwhelming, clueless—

‘I don’t even know why I should live.’

Hmm, is that a symptom of depression?

They say that if you think too much about the reason to live, you end up dying. In that sense, maybe I’d found a pretty great reason.

Because you’re here.

Because you asked me to live.

And yet, despite that, you thought I was an impostor.

Was I hurt because you didn’t recognize me right away? Well… yeah, I was a little.

But when the other person was Pession, I became strangely generous.

It’s okay. I can let it slide.

You’re the only one allowed to hurt me.

Though I am still pissed, so sometimes I’ll hit back a little, okay?

“…Are you really sorry to me?”

A ripple passed over his blank expression. Instead of answering, only his throat bobbed. A low, strained sound escaped him.

Complex emotions surfaced in that small gap.

“What are you so sorry about?”

“…….”

Pession fell silent.

“Because I look like Your Highness’s first love?”

I scratched at him lightly as I smiled, but it was strange. If I poked like this, he should’ve glared at me and gotten angry right away—but for some reason, Pession stayed quiet.

What’s going on? Why is he being so docile?

Is he sick or something?

“You don’t look like her.”

“Huh? You said I did before.”

“No.”

Pession stepped back.

“She’s different from you.”

The weighty low voice made my body flinch on its own. Even then, Pession’s gaze never left my face.

“What’s so different?”

“She was cute, pretty, small, and lovely.”

Embarrassingly sweet compliments tickled my ears. I should’ve been annoyed, but strangely… I felt good.

Is it because it’s praise about me, in the end?

“Hm. Go on.”

“She didn’t smile much, and she looked like she might disappear.”

Pession lowered his eyes. Deep shadows fell beneath his long lashes.

“So I wanted to hold on tight.”

That person is standing right in front of you right now, and you still can’t recognize her, you idiot.

“Do you really think that?”

As much as Pession stepped back, I stepped closer.

“You haven’t even asked my name yet.”

From the faint trembling in the arm I grabbed, from the fear visible beyond his eyes at such close range, I could feel it.

What are you so afraid of?

“You won’t even give me a chance?”

At my lightly teasing words, his throat moved again, and then Pession asked me in a trembling voice,

“Are you really Arellin?”

I smiled, gently curving my eyes.

“Guess.”