The Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health – Chapter 301

Author: Asternkm

To talk about Arellin’s debut in high society, one had to go back to when she first returned from the Mage Tower after completing her treatment.

The flood of people impersonating Arellin, Halbern’s weakened presence, the disappearance of the Duke of Halbern, and even the vacant position of acting head.

A mere fifteen years of absence hadn’t been enough to bring down Halbern’s stronghold, but every situation combined made it a complete mess.

That was why Mehen made a proposal.

That once he re-established himself as acting head, Arellin should make her debut in society under the name of Halbern.

‘…Though now, it’s become a completely useless plan.’

With the Duke of Halbern’s return, everything had already been “proven.”

Even without a so-called social debut, Arellin was undeniably Halbern’s young lady and the next head of the family.

And so, the Duke of Halbern—Valer—was currently making this argument in earnest.

“Why does my daughter need to attend a debutante ball? Didn’t she already appear at the Halbern party? Are you saying my Arell needs to waste her energy on a meaningless party?”

“He’s right. For once, you’re saying something sensible, Valer.”

With Regent Duke Ludwig joining in, the atmosphere turned briefly strange.

The fact that those two were on the same side was shocking enough that some wondered if the sun would rise in the west tomorrow.

“What nonsense are you spouting? I always say sensible things.”

“He’s unbearable even when you agree with him.”

Valer scowled proudly at Ludwig.

“More importantly, why is this shameless bastard still in my house? Get out already.”

“You have no authority to chase me out.”

“I’m the owner of this house—what kind of nonsense is that?”

“How inelegant. And you call yourself the Duke of Halbern? Shione would be saddened to see this.”

“Who are you to bring up my sister? She loves me no matter what I’m like. Ah—someone who’s never received that kind of love wouldn’t know, would they?”

“…….”

The tension between the two was so sharp that even a faint killing intent seemed to hang in the air.

Still, the first to rein himself in was Ludwig. There was no reason to stoop to the same level as that childish, irritating man.

“…In any case, I rightfully secured my stay in the annex. You could say I’m now a proper member of this household.”

“What are you saying, are you insane? The Southern Empire is your home—didn’t your emperor say anything?”

“You still think Franz can say anything to me? How foolish.”

“The truly foolish one is you—for losing my sister.”

The renewed growling made everyone, Mehen included, shake their heads.

“That’s enough.”

By now used to this, Arellin mediated the situation with a single clap.

“If you’re going to keep fighting, take it outside.”

“Fighting? My dear daughter, your father wasn’t fighting with anyone.”

“Same here. Raising one’s voice anywhere isn’t elegant.”

“Trying to clean up vermin doesn’t count as fighting.”

The two exchanged another glare.

Their eyes sparked like clashing currents—but there was one person here neither of them could defy.

“Out! If you’re going to fight, get out!”

“…….”

In the end, both had no choice but to behave and stay put.

Anyway, returning to the main point—ultimately, the only ones in Halbern opposing Arellin’s debut were Valer and Ludwig.

Valer outright wrapped his arms around Arellin and refused to let go.

“Sending you out into the world?! I don’t want to!”

“Dad, calm down.”

“You’re the daughter I brought back to life! The daughter I raised! The daughter I protected! I haven’t even spent that much time with you yet! I haven’t had enough time to spoil you all to myself! And now a debut?!”

Mehen clicked his tongue at Valer’s wail.

“What is he even saying—he’s the irresponsible father who disappeared for fifteen years.”

“Mm, Dad. I get it, so please calm down.”

Everyone else looked at Valer with exhausted expressions, as if asking what nonsense he was spouting—but Arellin alone understood the weight behind his words.

Arellin needed to be filial.

Her father had done so much for her.

‘If Dad had given up, I wouldn’t even have this moment.’

Still, sulking this badly over a debut was honestly a bit pathetic.

“Marriage proposals are already flooding in! If you officially attend a debutante ball, how many more will come? I hate it! Men are all wolves! No—trash! Garbage!”

“Dad, you’re a man too.”

“Yeah, I’m trash too!”

“R-r-right.”

Arellin got dragged into that extreme self-deprecation.

“So our beloved daughter won’t get married without her father’s permission, right?”

Valer lowered his gaze, then looked back up with a pitiful smile that could break anyone’s heart.

Honestly, it felt impossible for anyone to resist that.

This father is using his looks on his own daughter!

How could someone be that shameless!

The shocked stares of everyone else didn’t matter to Valer. All that mattered was getting Arellin’s answer.

“Hm? You won’t, right?”

His desperate eyes and tender voice—normally irresistible.

But—

“…Still, Pession would be okay, wouldn’t he?”

The opponent was Arellin.

As she carefully raised her objection, everyone present thought the same thing.

‘He lost.’

‘Completely lost.’

‘His Highness has been defeated.’

Valer buried his face in his hands and refused to answer.

“…I raised my daughter wrong.”

****

“As if he ever raised her.”

Mehen clicked his tongue.

Valer suddenly declared the world meaningless and locked himself in his room, and just like that, attendance at the debutante ball became the settled outcome.

“Ugh!”

Because the last remaining opponent—

“Still, Pession is fine, right?”

—had sunk just like Valer, thanks to a single sentence from Arellin.

With Regent Duke Ludwig rendered mentally incapacitated, everyone’s focus shifted to one question:

“How do we give Arellin the best debutante ball possible?”

“The dress! It has to be from the best boutique!”

“If it’s the best, then it has to be Sevelé.”

But famous boutiques had one downside—their owners weren’t easy.

“But isn’t Sevelé already fully booked?”

“That’s why we need to talk to her now. This is Halbern, and luckily, I happen to know Miss Sevelé personally—”

“Oh?”

As Yuni and Lena put their heads together to figure out how to commission Arellin’s dress, Mehen smiled calmly.

“Arellin once said this to me.”

“Huh? Said what?”

“If something doesn’t resolve easily, consider whether it’s because you don’t have enough money.”

Mehen pulled out the cheat code.

An endless supply of wealth.

“Lord Mehen!”

“As expected of Lord Mehen! Amazing!”

The wealth belonged to Valer, but Mehen took all the praise.

It was just another ordinary day in Halbern.

And now, the present.

Watching Yuni and Lena burn with passion made me miserable.

They don’t even know what kind of ordeal I went through at the Mage Tower!

I was just barely back home after being captured by mages!

A struggle broke out between me, who didn’t want to leave my bed, and the maids, who were drawing up a packed schedule for the ultimate debutante ball.

“Wait! The world is on the brink of destruction—does my social debut really matter right now?”

“Of course it matters! What does the world ending have to do with us?”

“That’s right! Making the young lady’s once-in-a-lifetime debut as grand and dazzling as possible is way more important than that!”

They were wrong.

These people genuinely thought my debut mattered more than the end of the world.

“You hardly ever dress up normally, miss. Do you know how long we’ve been waiting for this day?”

All I could see in the maids’ clear eyes was madness.

In the end, I was captured from the crack of dawn and subjected to their ministrations.

“S-save… me……”

****

And so, the night of the debutante ball finally arrived.

Valer stood in the first-floor hall with a displeased expression, dressed so extravagantly he practically glowed.

Who exactly was he trying to intimidate like that?

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Beside him, Ludwig looked at the still-pouting Valer with exasperation. Ludwig himself was dressed so impeccably that most gentlemen wouldn’t dare stand next to him.

“Why are they taking so long to come down? How much effort does it take?”

“A lady’s preparations take time. Honestly, you have no patience.”

“Says the guy who got on my sister’s bad side.”

“…….”

The familiar silence settled in.

Ludwig disliked how Valer always dragged Shione into things, but whenever her name came up, he had no choice but to fall silent.

It was a lifelong sore spot for him.

As Ludwig fell quiet, Valer curled his lips in victory and turned his gaze to the second-floor stairs, sensing movement.

Mehen appeared first, leading Arellin.

—Rustle.

Then, with the sound of a dress brushing softly, a young lady emerged.

“…….”