The Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health

Chapter 42

A sunny day.

Against a sky that could not have been bluer, Mehen felt the many eyes on him.

Stares he’d endured since the first time he’d walked into Halbern Manor, holding the hand of an Archduke his own age.

“Is that him?”

“Yes, it’s him.”

“This is the commoner boy the Archduke has brought with him.”

The Archduke of Halbern’s commoner genius boy.

The prodigy vassal of House Halbern.

Archduke Halbern’s right-hand man.

The Grand Duke of Halbern’s chief aide and deputy.

How much has happened to a boy of genius who had nothing, until he became an indispensable part of the great House of Halbern.

“Lord Mehen.”

“Lord Mehen.”

“What brings you to the palace?”

“I’m just a commoner…”

“Wow, you look handsome today!”

He wonders if it’s because he’s the Archduke of Halbern’s representative, who rarely makes an appearance.

From passersby to maids to servants, everyone’s eyes were drawn to Mehen.

He’s handsome and brilliant.

Indeed, he was the most sought-after man on the marriage market, voted the second best groom by the Albrecht Times.

Or so it seemed, though the party had other ideas.

‘I’m tired.’

A life with so much to do, so much to accomplish.

How can you not be tired when you are constantly doing something?

‘Should I leave…’

A thought he often had when he reached his limit.

He thought about retiring and living in seclusion, farming and doing small business.

His soft wheat-coloured hair was disheveled by the breeze.

The wind ruffled his well-dressed robes, and the faces of those who spied on him blushed.

At that moment, Mehen smiled.

“Mehen.”

He remembered the warmth of her tiny hand, the way her eyes were so intent on him.

“Ha.”

Glad.

So much for retirement. No escape.

“I’ve already been caught.”

It was a long overdue, hindsight realization.

“Uh-uh…”

The sudden smile of Mehen’s face stopped everyone in their tracks.

Then, as Mehen’s form disappeared, screams erupted from all directions.

***

The landscape of the Albrecht Palace, which attracted the best artists and architects on the continent, was always beautiful.

The Empress Palace was the most beautiful part of the palace, built like a work of art.

At the end of the corridor, where you can see beyond the natural canvas.

Mehen arrived in the Empress’s drawing room.

“I’m here to see the Empress. God bless you, Your Majesty.”

“God bless you. It’s been a long time, Mehen.”

Mehen looked at Empress Ageni, who smiled brightly, and gathered his thoughts.

Ever since the call had come from the Empress’ palace, Mehen had taken the situation in relative calm.

‘Here he comes.’

He’d been expecting it ever since the Crown Prince had brazenly walked in and out of Halbern Manor.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, Mehen. How have you been?”

“I have been well, thanks to Her Majesty’s grace.”

“My, my, I wonder what I have favoured you with. I don’t recall favors being bestowed upon Lord Mehen.”

“Greetings.”

Mehen’s smile hardened at the Empress Ageni’s mischievous expression.

“You are so steadfast, Lord Mehen.”

“Her Majesty is being too formal.”

“Perhaps it is because I have been in this position for so long. Power and glory are very addictive.”

Empress Ageni smiled wryly. Just in time, the maids of honour from the Empress’s palace arrived with light refreshments and tea.

“Please drink, I have prepared something of Lord Mehen’s favourite.”

“Thank you, Her Majesty.”

The only sounds in the drawing room were the clinking of teacups and a light breeze from the window.

The silence was lengthening.

‘Should I speak first.’

Empress Ageni broke the silence as Mehen pondered.

“I know that Pession has been very troubling to you, hasn’t he?”

“No, Your Majesty, we’re actually benefiting from it.”

“Pession’s benefits?”

“Since His Highness arrived, Lady Arellin has been moving around a lot.”

“Oh.”

“She’s been getting a lot of exercise.”

Whatever. She looked like a fairy now, compared to when she’d locked herself in her room and refused to come out.

“I’m glad I didn’t cause you too much trouble.”

“No, I’m just glad to that.”

Empress Ageni’s eyes twinkled mischievously.

“When anyone else says that, it sounds like flattery or pretense, but because you’re Lord Mehen, it sounds like the truth.”

“Because it is the truth.”

Mehen said firmly.

“I always knew you cared for Lady Arellin. I thank Her Majesty for that.”

“What, it’s what a vassal should do.”

“I know you care for her, too.”

“Of course I do.”

Empress Ageni smiled broadly.

“The child looks so, so much like him.”

Her gaze wandered, as if searching for something.

Empress Ageni gazed off into the distance, as if searching for something unseen, as if rummaging through her memory.

“No, but I’ve seen her up close once before, and she bears no resemblance to Archduke Halbern.”

“…”

‘Then who does she look like?’

Mehen asked, but he had a hunch, so he held his tongue.

Empress Ageni, watching Mehen’s reaction carefully, asked.

“Does Lord Mehen know who the child’s mother is?”

“No, he has not told me.”

“Does he have any idea?”

“I’m afraid not.”

Mehen smiled wryly.

“As you know, My Lord was very busy with matters within Halbern at the time, and did not have time to meet with anyone.”

“Could it be that he may have had a woman in he’s arms at some unknown time?”

“I might have, but…”

That human unbeliever would never do that.

“I see.”

Empress Ageni smiled quietly, as if she had heard the omitted words.

An unexpected smile.

Somehow, Mehen thought she looked sad.

Perhaps it was because she was so close to the Archduke of Halbern.

“Is the Archduke of Halbern still in the northern castle?”

“Yes.”

“When do you think he will return?”

“I don’t know.”

Mehen asked.

“Does Her Majesty know?”

Why Archduke Halbern has been confined to his northern castle for six years.

“Even he doesn’t know, because he says it’s a secret and won’t tell me.”

“I see.”

If he wouldn’t even tell the Empress, that meant no one really knew except the Emperor.

“Only one thing, if I may guess…”

Empress Ageni smiled.

“Perhaps, it has something to do with Arellin’s nutrition.”

A deep silence fell.

“By the way, I didn’t realize Lord Mehen was such a genius, but you are also so good at parenting. It’s cute.”

“Ah.”

“Cute, adorable, and a joy to watch.”

“Thank you.”

Mehen’s mood lifted immediately at the compliments from the Empress.

“Even with your help, it must have been difficult for you to raise her alone.”

“No, Your Majesty”

A smile tugged at the corners of Mehen’s mouth.

“I gave you all the reparations the other day, but you said it was a bonus, and you gave it all to your employees.”

“Oh.”

Empress Ageni was inwardly surprised at the first glimpse of Mehen, who looked like she had never been seen before.

“How well she listen to me every time…”

Empress Ageni laughed as Mehen earnestly explained how nice and cute and pretty Arellin was.

‘I never knew there was such a side to Lord Mehen.’

Mehen’s bragging about Arellin never ceased.

***

“Arellin, don’t you like it?”

She tried and failed to shoo away Pession, who came in with a workout plan.

In recent days, Pession has been persistent.

“You said you’d be good with me now.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You said you’ll do what I say now.”

“I made no such promise.”

The young laborer was already trying to incite and mislead.

The suspicious glance she gave him changed Pession’s tactics. He turned sullen and fluttered his eyelashes pleadingly.

“I have something for you.”

“…”

“I worked hard on it.”

“…”

“I stayed up all night, I got help, I put my training aside, I put my heart and soul into it.”

Crying eyes attempt an attack on your conscience.

“Ha. Okay.”

It’s too vague to shake it off.

“Hehe.”

Pession flashes her a beaming smile as she surrenders.

She doesn’t know what to do with that smile.

She feels like she is about to be possessed.

No, did she already?

“There’s no guarantee that exercising or anything will cure my illness, and it’s not even that ill in the first place, you know that, right?”

“Yeah, I know.”

What do you know, she already doesn’t believe him.

He said he understood, but there was nothing but madness in Pession’s eyes as he believed in exercise.

She took the workout plan he handed her.

“You can do it, Sword Master!”

Holy shit, what a title.