The Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health Chapter 304

Mehen moved to the main hall where the ball would be held, and felt confused when he saw the seat location personally assigned to him by Empress Ageni.

“……?”

He had originally planned to sit with Ludwig, since Ludwig was a foreign noble as well, but Empress Ageni had forcibly brought him here instead.

People were already seated beside Mehen’s assigned seat.

“Oh my, Duke Mehen! You’re here.”

Grace, the Duchess of Spherom, who had returned to the capital a few years ago and was actively involved in high society.

“Duke Mehen, it’s been a long time.”

Diana, the Duchess of Idikels, from a small kingdom in the western continent.

“It’s been a while, Mehen.”

And Julia Bern Mubisk, the Duke of Mubisk’s younger sister, who effectively acted as the lady of the house.

The seat Empress Ageni had chosen for Mehen was, by etiquette, the seat for the highest-ranking noblewoman after the empress herself.

Why… am I sitting here……?

“The Duchess of Gremwat said she was unwell and won’t be attending.”

“All the daughters-in-law from that family did come, but they started another disgraceful family fight here too, so I had them thrown out a moment ago.”

“Ah… I see.”

The Duchesses of Idikels and Spherom—both fairly close to Mehen—kindly explained why several seats were empty.

But seriously, why am I here?

Mehen wasn’t the only one confused.
The duchesses greeted him warmly, but they also clearly wondered why he was sitting here.

The only person acting completely calm was Empress Ageni, who had dragged Mehen here in the first place.

“I don’t believe there’s a seat for me here, Your Majesty.”

“This is your seat, Mehen.”

With a mischievous smile, Empress Ageni seated Mehen in the place meant for the Duchess of Halbern.

“……?”

What is this?

Mehen fell silent in discomfort, but the noblewomen’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“Oh my.”

“Just relax and sit. Her Majesty has allowed it.”

“It’s been a while since we’ve had Duke Mehen all to ourselves.”

When even the women who should have objected welcomed him instead, Mehen lost all escape routes.

Watching with satisfaction, Empress Ageni let out a soft laugh.

“Today is an important day. Mehen should watch from the best seat.”

That kind of consideration… is unnecessary.

But powerless as he was, Mehen couldn’t defeat Empress Ageni.

 

 

****

 

 

 

Once, long ago, Sirua had said this to Empress Ageni.

“Your Majesty, you absolutely must not let Pession escort Arellin.”

“Why? Because it would be too obvious?”

“No. If it’s Pession, he might actually run away with her.”

“……?”

Back then, Empress Ageni had laughed it off, thinking Pession wouldn’t go that far.

“Let’s run away.”

At this very moment, in a place Empress Ageni didn’t know about, her expectations were being completely shattered.

“Huh?”

Pession hadn’t known he could feel this much possessiveness and jealousy.

I want to keep her only in my arms.
I don’t want to show her to anyone.

I want to be the only one who knows how beautiful you are.
If the world knows, someone might try to steal you.

“Where would we even run to?”

“Anywhere.”

He begged her with the expression that worked best on Arellin, but she just laughed, thinking it was a joke.

“It’s still the imperial palace. If we get caught, my life is over.”

“It won’t be. I’m here. How could your life be over?”

“Is that so?”

“Of course.”

“Well… if you put it that way, it already feels ruined.”

“What?”

Pession asked in shock, and Arellin’s eyes curved softly. Her playful gaze made it impossible for him to look away.

“You ruined my life plan, remember?”

Pession murmured, dazed.

“I ruined mine too. My life plan.”

“Then does that mean we both ruined our lives together?”

Just as Arellin smiled beautifully once again—

“Where do you think you’re taking my daughter, you little brat?”

A familiar voice cut in.

They turned their heads, and there stood Valer, wearing a deeply displeased expression.

 

 

****

 

 

 

 

Valer confidently chased Pession away with a single “I’m here now, so get lost,” then smiled brightly and held out his hand to Arellin.

“Dad, how much did you hear?”

“From the part where he said ‘let’s run away.’”

Arellin shot him a look, but Valer just smiled without a care.

“Running away on such an important day? Not a chance.”

“You’re the one who kept opposing it.”

“That’s because I’m your dad.”

Pession, shocked by Valer’s sudden appearance, asked why the grand duke was here—only to be instantly defeated by the eight characters: I’m here to escort her.

He looked like an abandoned puppy as he asked if he wasn’t supposed to be the escort, and Arellin nearly wore herself out trying to calm him down.

“So what were you whispering to that brat? You even used a silence spell so your own dad couldn’t hear.”

“It’s a secret.”

“You’re still keeping secrets from your dad?”

“Well, we’re Halberns. A secret is a secret.”

You sure know how to talk.

Valer felt hurt.

“Is that really something you need to hide from your dad?”

“You hide a lot from me too.”

…True enough.

Muttering under his breath, Valer stared at Arellin as she smiled proudly while holding his hand.

The attendant who had come to guide them—the first pair to enter, since the audience would begin immediately upon entry—couldn’t bring himself to interrupt and waited nervously in the corner.

“What are you staring at so hard?”

“It just feels strange.”

She had always been a baby. Or a child lying in a small coffin.

Who could have imagined that child growing up like this?

“I thought you’d grow up to look like your mother.”

Because she was her daughter.

He’d expected it, but seeing how closely she resembled her still felt unreal.

“You’ll mess up my makeup.”

Arellin said it lightly as her dad touched her cheek, but she didn’t look annoyed.

“You grew up well, my daughter.”

“Of course I did. Who do you think I am? Go on, look all you want.”

After disliking it before, Arellin now leaned her face closer. Valer touched her cheek freely, his expression turning tender.

It felt like a clock that had been stopped for a very long time had finally begun to move again.

Valer couldn’t name this overwhelming, tear-threatening feeling.

It felt extremely happy… and terribly sad at the same time.

“Dad, are you sick? Are you okay?”

At Arellin’s concern, Valer swallowed hard.

“I’m just happy.”

The satisfaction of finally reaching his goal.
The fulfillment of finishing the task his sister had left him.
The freedom of escaping the fate that had bound him for so long.

“I’m happy.”

And at the same time, a massive sense of loss cut into his chest.

“My sister would’ve loved to see you like this.”

So she really is gone.

It felt like, without realizing it, he had stepped out of her lingering shadow— a shadow he thought he’d never escape.

It felt like being abandoned… and yet incredibly light.

As strange as it sounded, Valer felt like he was finally living his own life.

“I wanted to save you.”

There were countless reasons, motivations, and stories—but that feeling was real.

“Now it finally feels like you’re truly alive.”

A future that had never been allowed to them had opened up. Though the road ahead was unknown, Valer wasn’t afraid.

He had already endured a hell worse than any other to reach this point.

Nothing he had done was meaningless. What reward could be more perfect than this?

Arellin, smiling after growing up even more beautifully than he’d imagined a million times.

Who said reality couldn’t surpass fantasy?

She was dazzling.

“Then let’s be even happier from now on.”

At Arellin’s confident words, Valer nodded as if enchanted.

Just as he was about to say something—

“Um… it’s time to enter.”

The attendant, who had been panicking the longer the conversation dragged on, finally spoke up.

Valer shot him a cold look, but Arellin burst into laughter, and the atmosphere softened instantly.

The attendant, who had been terrified for his life, let out a deep sigh of relief and wiped his chest.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

Every young lady and young man who comes of age debuts into high society.

So here’s the question: What is the true sign of having “debuted” into society?

The answer is—

‘Having an audience with royalty.’

Which royal you met at the debutante ball determined your status afterward. Naturally, the highest honor was meeting the Emperor and Empress.

That was why so many prestigious nobles were desperate to attend the imperial ball.

“…The lawful ruler of fertile yet ruthless Halbern, an old friend of the imperial family, the guardian of countless secrets…”

Among all the debuting ladies, hers had by far the longest title.

“…Lady Arellin Cygria Halbern, daughter and heir of House Halbern.”

Escorted personally by Valer, Arellin lifted her dress and bowed according to imperial etiquette.

As she held a posture that required strong core muscles just to maintain, Arellin felt quietly proud of how much she’d grown.

“Arellin. To see you grow safely and attend your debutante ball makes this empress very happy.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Beside the smiling, proud Empress Ageni, Emperor Edward wore a complicated expression.

When Valer silently narrowed his eyes, Edward reluctantly opened his mouth.

“You’ve grown up beautifully.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

That should have been the end of the scheduled exchange.

But then, Empress Ageni suddenly dropped a bombshell.

“Arellin, I’ve heard you don’t yet have a godmother. I will be your godmother.”

……?

Every noble present fell into confusion.