Chapter 104
Mehen made a sickening sound.
“So you’re going to go to war?”
“Why not?”
“The current Emperor has said that…”
“Does Ed’s opinion matter?”
The sincerity in the horse’s eyes made Mehen realize that, despite being his lord, this man was truly insane.
To think that he would casually do something so dangerous that he could be accused of treason.
“How the… Have you been so quiet all this time?”
“I’ve had more important things to do than grind that bastard to pieces.”
In Valar’s priorities, Arellin was always first.
More than revenge, more than Halbern, more than his own life.
“Ha, yes. Have it your way. When have you ever listened to me?”
“I listened very well.”
“When did you.”
“Mehen.”
“Meh.”
“At least you’re on my side.”
Mehen frowned.
“You’re the only one I have now.”
“…”
“You know.”
Mehen clicked his tongue.
Where was this bullshit coming from?
“Save that for a woman.”
“Spank me, Mehen.”
“It’s disgusting.”
“But a woman-.”
Valar rolled his eyes.
“-doesn’t know me like you do.”
“I’d rather not know either.”
“Hahaha. You’re kidding, right?”
‘I hate you, you little bastard.’
It was a contradiction of Mehen’s nature that he couldn’t even fight him when he showed such weakness.
“I think I’ll live.”
Valar breathed, leaning casually against Mehen.
“I’ve missed you so much. The North is so dull and boring, Jaren can think of nothing but dragons, and the other knights can’t wait to get out of here. I have no one to play with.”
The whimpering Valar tried to push him away, but Mehen’s strength was too much for him. Mehen was annoyed.
“You don’t feel sorry for me?”
“I pity you more.”
There was a silence, with a grunt of this is too much. A familiar, comfortable silence. For a moment, they both felt nostalgic, like they were back in their childhood.
“Mehen.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
Leaning his cheek against Mehen’s shoulder, Valar looked out the window at Arellin.
His sweet, darling daughter.
“Without you, there would be no Halbern.”
“…”
“Because I would have burned it down and buried it.”
The after-effects of her powers must be strong. It had been a long time since Valar had been this weak.
Mehen let him lean against him as he wished.
“You’re not leaving me, are you?”
His voice, hushed and low, was plaintive today.
“You won’t leave me, will you?”
“I will abandon you.”
“Beat me.”
Running a hand through his hair, Valar grinned broadly.
“That’s why I like you.”
“…”
“Because if I let you down at any point, you’ll abandon me without mercy.”
Mehen hid his growing frustration as he heard the voice whispering to him to help him stay human.
“Ah, I miss my sister…”
‘That enemy bastard. He doesn’t even let me hate him.’
* * *
She’s reset her goals in life.
She used to think that she would just go with the flow and die when it was time to die, but things have changed, and so have her life goals.
Goal number one, get healthy.
‘I just need to get healthy and that’s it.’
She was taking pills she didn’t want to take, and she was exercising hard, but she knew.
She knew her disease wasn’t just a disease.
‘I have to find a way to be healthy.’
It was a daunting and challenging goal, but it didn’t feel completely impossible.
She mean, she read the novel, right? She’s the only ‘reader’ of this world, right?
Only she knows the future of this world.
‘I think there was an item that could grant any wish.’
She racked her brain as hard as she could, compiling a list of items she might need besides health items and how to get them.
‘Still, I’ll have to prepare for when I die.’
She always been the type of person who would rather foresee and prepare for a pessimistic outcome than think optimistically.
Even when she prepare for competitions, she think about failing and have a plan B.
So the second goal was Plan B, to make sure that Halbern would not be left behind if she died.
And the last one is to do her best before she die and make as many happy memories as possible with the people around her!
‘Okay, so first I need to stop Halbern from taking over.’
This is too easy.
She got up from her seat and went to Mehen’s office.
“Arel, what is it?”
“Mehen.”
“Yes,” he said in a serious tone.
“You must not leave Halbern, even if I die.”
“…?”
Mehen looked at her nervously, as if he didn’t know what that meant.
There’s a deeper meaning to all this. Halbern’s rebirth will begin with Mehen’s departure, and if Mehen stays, it will happen.
She grabbed the bewildered Mehen and stood on his little finger.
“You must never leave. Do you understand?”
Mehen nodded, still shaken.
“Yes, I see.”
Okay, one thing solved.
* * *
Playing a piece of music after lunch is now part of her daily routine.
The instrument is either violin or piano.
She play whatever comes to mind.
She still can’t play anything longer than five minutes, but it didn’t matter. Everyone loved it.
“Wow.”
“Isn’t she a genius?”
This was the time of the day that everyone in the mansion, regardless of status, looked forward to.
What started out as a performance in her father’s instrument room, now took place on the stage in the mansion hall, a stage that was built spontaneously by the users themselves.
“How do you play this music…”
“Every day is new.”
It was her small pleasure to see people in ecstasy after the music ended.
Am. Bach is good.
The trouble started with the twins, who she called up to ask a favor.
As soon as they finished, Ciel grabbed her hand in a frenzy.
“Arellin!”
“What?”
‘What the hell, why is he calling my name?’
She looked up warily, and Ciel’s eyes twinkled nervously.
“We’re going to perform!”
“Perform?”
Suddenly?
“We’re opening Albrecht’s biggest art gallery in Sperom, on Prude Street, and why don’t we perform there?”
Wasn’t that where the auction was going to be held? She kept her eyes peeled for the item she was looking for.
She called the twins to help her with the auction without Mehen or her father knowing…
‘Why am I suddenly in the flow of performing?’
“Arellin, I’m sure you’ll put on a show that will go down in history…!”
“I don’t.”
“…!”
Ciel fumed.
“Why? You’re not going to let anyone hear this good music?”
“I’m playing it to you.”
“This stuff should be heard by everyone. It’s genius music that no one has ever heard before!”
These comments were understandable, as she only played the best of what geniuses had written.
However, to perform, she would have to have a repertoire of at least three pieces, and it would be impossible to play them back-to-back with her current physical condition.
“I can’t do more than one song, I’m too tired.”
“Then just play one song!”
“That’s not fair…”
Be polite to those who come to see her.
Ciel, fuelled by a sense of mission that he can’t keep this art to himself, tries to persuade him further.
“I’m against it.”
Suddenly, Noel chimed in.
“If you become famous and everyone in the world knows how to play the Arellin, it will reduce our chances of hearing it, and I don’t like that.”
“What?”
“I want to be the only one who hears the Arellin.”
Ciel and Noel glared at each other.
” only play it once a day now, and what happens when I have a gig?”
“But you can’t tell me you don’t want to spread the word about something this amazing!”
“I still don’t like it. On the contrary.”
Fire sparked in the air.
Ciel and Noel exchanged a look.
Uh, what the hell?
“Noel, why are you being so selfish?”
“What? What’s selfish about that? What’s wrong with wanting to monopolise a good thing?”
Why are these two suddenly fighting?
Browning’s eyes widened in surprise at the unfamiliarity of the twins’ dispute.
Noel snapped.
“Ciel’s always like that. She doesn’t think about anyone else. Even Arellin says she doesn’t want to perform.”
“When did Arellin say she didn’t want to, she said she didn’t have the energy. Why are you the one being so annoying, Noel?”
Even Ciel raised his voice.
Noel scowled, and the two of them glared at each other, then suddenly looked back at her.
“Arellin, make a choice!”
“Who?!”
He’s pointing an arrow at me here?
“…?”
She asked in confusion.
