The Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health Chapter 232

“So, did you get anything out of it?”

“What do you mean, get anything.”

“Did you figure out something, at least?”

At Shirua’s question, Pession slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again. His gaze was fixed on Arellin’s cheek as she enthusiastically debated the topic of “ultimate flavor” with Therion.

Shirua smiled like a mischievous child.

She didn’t even need an answer to know why Pession was acting like that.

“Still can’t get your bearings?”

“……”

It was honestly funny. Everyone else had already noticed something, yet the person involved was still wandering around, lost.

Still, Shirua understood why Pession couldn’t find an answer, so she grew a bit more serious.

“Pession.”

“?”

“Big brother.”

“Who are you supposed to be?”

Pession glared at her, startled by Shirua calling him “big brother” when she usually spoke to him so casually. But Shirua met his gaze without wavering.

“Since that day, I’ve thought you were stuck in the past. Even though you’re living just fine, it feels like you’re living in a different time.”

What does it feel like to love someone more than yourself?

To be so in love that you’re blind and deaf, living in a world filled entirely with that one person.

Shirua knew how much Pession loved Arellin. She knew it even without wanting to—because Pession had searched for Arellin endlessly.

That was why she also knew no one had spent more time with Arellin than Pession had. Being that close meant knowing more than anyone else.

And so she understood why, unlike others, Pession was more deeply trapped in the shadow of the past.

He probably couldn’t escape it at all.

But still.

Could he stay trapped in that time forever?

“What are you even trying to say?”

“Well, do I really need to spell it out?”

Shirua smiled annoyingly.

“You already know, don’t you?”

Creating the trigger wasn’t her role. But out of family affection, this much she could do.

“Come back to the present already, you idiot big brother.”

 

 

****

 

 

 

The unexpected palace stay was more fun than she had expected. When she was younger, she thought Pession lived a difficult life, always talking about rules and discipline…

“The Crown Prince is delicious, and the palace is kind.”

If she could give it a rating, it would be five stars.

“But why are they being so nice to me?”

If she were Arellin of Halbern, the treatment would make sense—but since she hadn’t revealed her identity and only introduced herself as the Archmage’s disciple, it left her confused.

“Still, Her Majesty the Empress seemed like she knew something.”

She’d only exchanged a few words during the invited tea time, yet she felt that way.

Especially the way the Empress looked at her—so wistful. When she asked, with moist eyes, if she could hug her just once, she had genuinely panicked.

“The Empress probably knew my biological mother.”

Did she really resemble her that much?

Suddenly, she wondered what her father’s reaction would be if he saw her grown up.

“There’s still no word, huh.”

She needed to stop by the Sky Tower too.

-Arell, when are you coming back?!

Whenever the twins managed to contact her through the communicator, they kept pressing her about when she’d return. But honestly…

“Yeah, when am I going back?”

And then, while she was thinking that—

The delegation finally arrived.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

The delegation sent by the Yuyo Union arrived at the imperial capital steadfastly, despite relentless interference from some unknown party and a series of inexplicable twists and turns.

“On behalf of the countless beastfolk of Yuyo, we thank you.”

The delegation, which included the renowned Elder Druid Grinia—said to have lived for several hundred years—was far too illustrious to have been hastily assembled after hearing the news.

“Grinia!”

“Shirua, thank you. Truly, thank you.”

Seeing Luri, who had grown plump after eating well and sleeping soundly over the past few days, Grinia and the delegation let out visible sighs of relief.

“Then… are you heading back soon, Grinia?”

“Most likely. The Beast King has been beside himself with worry.”

“Ah, that’s a problem……”

“?”

Shirua smiled awkwardly.

“It’s been so long since we last met—why don’t you stay just a little longer? Please?”

After the gifts sent as tokens of gratitude from the Beast King were piled high in the palace’s front courtyard, a grand party was held to welcome the delegation.

‘But why am I here too…….’

Though she attended the welcome party as Princess Luri’s benefactor, the person stuck by her side wasn’t a member of the Yuyo delegation—but Prince Therion.

“This is good.”

“I’m… so… full……”

“You’re full after just this?”

He looked at her with the eyes of someone who truly couldn’t comprehend it.

That was unfair. This was still an improvement for her.

“I know this amazing Southern Empire restaurant in Gairen, but apparently something big happened there, so we won’t be able to go for a while. I wanted to go with you, milady—what a shame!”

“Isn’t Gairen a city in the Sperom territory? It’s a major city even in the south.”

“Yes. Something happened there.”

After saying that, Therion resumed what could only be described as a full-on mukbang.

He really could eat.

‘What on earth happened in Gairen?’

“Drink this—it’s super sweet.”

Since she said she was full, Therion switched tactics to drinks this time.

Without thinking, she downed several kinds of alcohol—wine, cocktails, and more—before suddenly coming to her senses.

‘I shouldn’t stay next to him.’

“I’m going to take a short walk.”

Therion looked at her as if to ask where she thought she was going in the middle of a meal, but she fled anyway, feeling like she’d get indigestion for the first time in ages if she stayed.

“Ugh, I’m so full I could die.”

Her stomach already felt heavy—a bad sign.

Stepping out into the garden connected to the palace corridor where the banquet was being held, the fresh air cleared her head instantly.

When she was younger, she never understood why people exercised, but now she knew—sometimes moving around really did help.

“Health really is the best.”

She used to hate even moving her body, let alone walking around—but now she ate well and wandered around freely.

“Maybe old habits really do stick around……”

The routines forced on her by Pession—forced, but not quite—had resurfaced during her rehabilitation and had now become part of her life.

“Huh? Come to think of it, this place……”

The scenery felt strangely familiar.

This was where she had danced with Pession.

The vivid memory came rushing back.

She chuckled softly and sat down—and somehow, at some point, Pession had followed her out and was now standing in front of her, looking down as she sat slumped on the bench.

‘He’s really something else.’

So obvious in everything he did……

When she lifted her head, her eyes met Pession’s. Beyond him, the night sky glittered with countless stars, just like that day.

“What are you doing here?”

I’m looking at you.

“Have you been drinking?”

Frowning at the scent of alcohol, Pession stepped closer when she didn’t respond. She grabbed his arm and pulled him toward her.

Back then, she’d thought he would leave her.

No matter how much he said he liked her, she thought she’d be the one left alone in the end.

She slowly closed her eyes, then opened them again. Pession spoke with visible discomfort.

“What is this supposed to—”

“You’re pretty.”

Holding his cheeks in both hands, she thought quietly.

“Why are you so pretty?”

Was he pretty because he truly was, or because she was wearing rose-colored glasses?

Why was Pession so special? What made him special enough to stir feelings like this?

It felt distant and dazzling, like stars raining down from the sky.

What had she been so afraid of back then?

He was this beautiful—she should have cherished him more.

She’d wasted too much time trying to love the world, and too much time being cold just to avoid loving him.

“You like her that much? Your first love? So much you can’t forget her even after fifteen years?”

“…….”

Why did her heart itch at the sight of his gaze and expression hardening so frighteningly?

“It’s fine. I have a first love too.”

“……?”

Pession was shaken far more than before. Seeing his expression visibly crumble, she laughed quietly to herself.

“You’re drunk.”

“I’m not drunk, idiot.”

“Hah… who fed you this much?”

“Your brother.”

She watched his eyelashes tremble, then pulled away. When she staggered trying to stand, Pession caught her, but she shook him off.

“Your Highness, want to dance?”

“All of a sudden, what—”

“We danced back then. It was nice.”

“…….”

That was the day she learned that liking someone wasn’t just something beautiful.

Liking someone so much you wanted to die, wanting to hide that feeling forever, yet being unable to control how overwhelming it was.

But still—

“You’re the bad one.”

Pession, suddenly accused, frowned deeply.

“You’re the one who stirred up someone who was minding their own business—now you’re pretending you don’t know?”

Pession froze, shaken to his core. His trembling eyes reflected her.

“I told you—you’d regret it.”

Realization dawned on his face as he caught her collapsing body.

The last thing she saw before her eyes closed was Pession’s expression, filled with disbelief.

“I told you… you’d regret it… idiot……”

As a sudden wave of darkness swallowed her, the final thing she felt was a strong arm wrapped tightly around her waist.