The Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health – Chapter 318

Author: Asternkm

The House of Duke Gremwatt.

This family had produced more explorers and adventurers than any other in imperial history, and for generations had also served as the head of the Adventurers’ Guild, which maintained branches across the entire world.

Ancient fairy temples.

Dwarven underground city dungeons.

Even after exploring the forbidden lands of the Wuyo Alliance, they went on to discover and investigate yet another massive ruin.

Just counting achievements significant enough to be recorded in human history, their legacy would easily fill an entire encyclopedia.

Because the family was known for adventure and exploration, they didn’t wield overwhelming political power—but they were undeniably large enough to be called one of the pillars of the Empire.

And now, the House of Gremwatt stood in the calm before the storm.

Exactly one month had passed since the incident officially named the “Gairen Tragedy.”

The House of Duke Spherom, owners of Gairen, concluded the incident as “a disaster caused by an unknown abnormal phenomenon that occurred within the ruins,” and expressed their regret to the city’s residents and the adventurers who were unintentionally caught up in it.

At the same time, they formally thanked the Mage Tower for its assistance and announced the estimated damage.

Included in that announcement was a list of missing persons—those whose bodies had not been recovered.

And on that list was none other than the “Head of the House of Gremwatt,” who had been leading his own expedition inside the ruins at the time.

By law, a missing person is declared dead three months after a report is filed.

Since the missing persons report had been submitted at the same time the list was released, the Gremwatt family would need to prepare to welcome a new duke in three months.

****

“What is my second brother up to right now?”

Reton, the third son of Gremwatt, was visibly anxious.

The chance to become the head of the enormous ducal house of Gremwatt was right in front of him. If only he could get past his second brother.

“I hear Lord Jarve is currently speaking with Lord Greg at the estate.”

“Damn it. So Uncle’s backing him after all?”

Tom, the vice-guildmaster of the Adventurers’ Guild who had sided with the third son, spoke calmly to steady Reton.

“Don’t worry. What matters is legitimacy, isn’t it?”

After the death of the eldest son, Zylo, the successor of House Gremwatt had remained undecided for a long time.

Reton found it disgusting how his second brother, Jarve, acted as if the position of heir was his rightful claim.

‘What? Just because he’s basically the eldest now, he thinks he gets to inherit the house?’

Wasn’t Reton—the more capable adventurer—the one better suited to inherit the title?

Recalling how his second brother had smugly encouraged him to step aside, Reton ground his teeth.

“The next duke will be me.”

He couldn’t accept the idea that he should give up an opportunity right in front of him simply because he was the third son.

“Our father really is dead, right?”

If the Duke of Gremwatt returned within three months, everything they were doing would become meaningless. But it seemed the gods were smiling on Reton.

“You saw it yourself—he was listed among the missing announced by Spherom. If even Spherom couldn’t recover him from the ruins, then it’s certain he died there.”

“Yes… regrettably, I think so too.”

Then all that remained was how to claim legitimacy.

“We need to secure the will……”

Every adventurer, at least formally, wrote a will before setting out. The Duke of Gremwatt was no exception. If they had that will, asserting legitimacy would be much easier. If necessary, it could even be altered.

The problem was—

‘Damn Silrow bastards…….’

Reton clenched his teeth as he recalled being thrown out by House Silrow, the family that safeguarded the wills.

No matter what offers he made or how much pressure he applied—boasting that he could ruin a mere count’s house—the Silrows only laughed at him.

If he could truly overpower them by force, it would be one thing.

But unfortunately, House Silrow was a vassal of Halbern.

Perhaps things would’ve been different during the ten years when House Halbern was effectively powerless—but now that the Duke of Halbern had returned, provoking them was a major risk even for Reton.

“Ggh…….”

That was why he had attended both the Halbern party and the imperial debutante ball, hoping to meet the Grand Duke of Halbern—but gained nothing from it.

“If only we could gain the support of the other ducal heads……”

“Did it fail?”

“Yes. Even the calculating Spherom and the relationship-focused Idikels have stepped back. They say they won’t interfere in Gremwatt’s internal succession.”

There was no way Muvisk—whose brain was made of muscle—would involve himself in something like this.

Which left only Halbern……

“Ha, damn it.”

Reton frowned as he recalled Valer, whom he had run into at the party.

“That guy’s my age, isn’t he? What did he eat to end up with such a glossy face? Every time I see him, I get annoyed.”

It was irritating how Valer drew attention just by existing.

They were both from one of the Five Great Ducal Houses—so why was there such a difference?

If I’d been born into Halbern, I’d be living an easy life like that bastard.

“It’d be hard to approach Valer directly, right?”

Tom shrugged.

“Then it would be better to target his daughter.”

“That’s what I was thinking.”

Reton smiled as he recalled Arellin, whom Valer openly doted on even in public.

“And just in time, I’ve got someone useful for this.”

Officially, Reton had only one son, Thomas—but in truth, he had another child he couldn’t register.

Thinking of Arellin—so beautiful she could shake Albret with her looks alone, and who strongly resembled Valer—Reton furrowed his brow.

“The Crown Prince is a bit of a concern, but……”

Well, if things went wrong, he could always cut the tail.

“It’ll be fine. The kid takes after his mother—he’s a bit dull.”

Reton laughed confidently as he explained his plan to Tom.

“Pwahaha!”

Jarve, the second son of House Gremwatt.

He burst into laughter after hearing the report delivered by the spy he had planted on the third son’s side.

“Blinded by immediate gain and willing to antagonize the Crown Prince. Tsk, tsk. This is why the youngest can’t be trusted.”

Knowing how careless the third faction was, Jarve had placed a spy there long ago.

At present, the person closest to the ducal seat was himself—the de facto eldest son.

‘The collateral family and the retainers are all on my side.’

Rather than drawing in new allies, Jarve focused on protecting the cards he already held.

“How did the gifts turn out?”

“They were all very pleased.”

“Of course they were. That’s a rare ‘true elixir.’”

Jarve smiled with satisfaction as he touched a small glass vial filled with a strange liquid.

“But… does this elixir really grant that kind of power?”

Magic and special abilities had once belonged only to a chosen few. An elixir that let ordinary people use them sounded unbelievable.

The doubt was natural—but Jarve was confident.

“I diluted it and tested it myself. It’s real.”

“Ooh……”

Watching his aide stare at him in awe, Jarve twisted his lips into a crooked smile.

“With this, I’ll be safe no matter what happens.”

An underworld elixir that had fallen into his hands by chance.

No matter how much the youngest thrashed around, he couldn’t defeat someone who had this.

Still, there were two things that bothered him: not knowing the contents of his father’s will—and the fact that he himself was involved in his brother’s death.

“Hm.”

Even though he had silenced everyone involved, Jarve couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.

“What about my sister-in-law?”

“She’s still staying at the Halbern Grand Ducal residence. I hear she’ll be returning to her homeland soon.”

He didn’t know why Halbern was taking care of her, but since other foreign guests were also staying there, it wasn’t particularly strange.

Still, it nagged at him.

“Things like this should be made certain.”

Jarve smiled slyly.

****

The next morning.

“Thank you so much, Lady Arellin.”

“It’s nothing—we’re going together anyway.”