Chapter 47
One month in an exercise hellhole where only people who do less than 2,000 steps a day get in.
“It’s terrible.”
She was tormented.
These hellish days.
She wake up in the morning and there’s a high-nutrient protein diet waiting for her from Pession.
“How long do I have to eat this?” She asked.
“Until you’re healthy, hahaha.”
Funny or not?
The chef’s flavor studies were in vain, and the protein meal tasted like rice or fodder.
Just as she was apologizing to her taste buds, Pession burst in to announce the start of the day.
“Arellin, you have to work out today!”
The devil who insists on being with me every day, even if she does it alone.
“Oh, there’s something I need to do first.”
Pession looked back at Graham.
Graham pulled an imperial palace elixir from his bosom.
“Today’s elixir!”
“Help me.”
“Here, drink it, don’t spare a sip!”
“Ugh.”
What sins did she commit in her previous life!
“Just kill me!”
“I’m trying to save Arellin’s life, but I can’t do that. Here’s some candy!”
“Just kill me! Stop tormenting me and kill me!”
“Arellin is being a little cranky today. I can’t help it if she wants to be healthy. A healthy mind comes from a healthy body!”
So did she get healthy?
“Young lady!”
“You never rested!”
“You did a lap of the garden!”
She got fit. She felt a little healthier. She felt like she went from the weakest to the strongest.
“My Lady, you’re amazing!”
“Huh, this is it.”
Her spirit became proportionally more exhausted day by day.
“I’m depressed.”
Is this the life of a human being?
“It’s because Arellin is depressed because she stays in her room all the time.”
“I’m not!”
“I think the reason you’re often lethargic and depressed is because you don’t have any muscles.”
“…”
“So when you get muscles, you won’t be depressed anymore!”
Pession cast Healthlighting.
“I have muscles, and I’m still depressed!”
“Not with that much muscle. I need more muscle!”
You’re really trying to make me a Sword Master, aren’t you?
‘I can’t live like this.’
She can’t live like this forever.
She took off running.
“Haha. Is this a game of tag?”
… Caught in ten seconds.
Ah, this was the reserve Sword Master.
“You can run now, Arel, I’m impressed. When we first met, all you had to do was run and you fell!”
“Hmph.”
“Are you impressed too, Arellin? You must be getting really fit!”
To hell with health! Freedom for me!
Alas, how man has come to howl for freedom.
She will not be bred anymore!
She will take her life back!
‘It’s impossible to run away from the Pession, then?’
‘You can run away when the Pession is not there.’
***
“Where’s Arellin?”
“She’s at…”
“Oh, I found her!”
She studied various methods.
She didn’t just run away.
She hid, she disguised herself, she pretended to be someone else, and she even tried to attack Pession to drain his health and make him unable to bully her!
“Hahaha, that was fun, Arellin, what are you doing today?”
It was all to no avail.
“You’re a human!”
“Yes. I’m human.”
“How do you recognize everything?”
“That’s because I’m Arellin.”
Pession laughed.
“I, Arellin, can do anything.”
“…”
This line would be so romantic if it weren’t for the fact that he was going to take her to the training ground.
“Come on, let’s go do today’s workout.”
“You devil!”
“If you want to be healthier, you have to be diligent. Arellin can do it!”
“Hu, hu. Help me.”
Please…
Let me…
Leave me alone…
***
When she was done, she could barely lift a finger, but she summoned all the strength she could muster and went straight to Mehen’s side.
Even the most flying and crawling Pession calms down when he’s around.
“Are you on your way home from the training ground again today?”
“Haahh (I’m dying).”
Shewonder if it’s because he comes in every day.
Mehen’s office, which used to be a stark room of papers, has been transformed.
A plush sofa and sweet treats for her. And Mehen’s seat, albeit a picture of rice cakes because of the Pession.
As she clung to Mehen’s arm, trying to catch her breath, Pession gave her an ethereal look.
“Arellin must really like Mehen’s.”
“Because he’s my mum.”
And because you can’t bully me around Mehen!
“You said he’d be like a mum someday.”
“I’m going to make him a mum.”
“When!”
“Someday.”
“Well, well.”
Pession glared at Mehen.
“I’m going to be Arellin’s dad, too.”
“How can you be my dad when the current one is still alive and well?”
“You said you’ve never met him.”
“But he’s still a dad.”
Pession made a face.
“Arellin, you like a dad you’ve never met better than me?!”
“What makes you say that?”
“That’s what you just said.”
“Aren’t you busy, aren’t you going back?”
“Busy! But I’ll still be here for you.”
“What are you talking about, go do your homework! Do you want to get caught by Sir Pacello again and get more class time?!”
“Ugh.”
Pession looks at her as if he’s been punched in the face, and there’s nothing she can do about it.
“Your Highness, it’s time for you to go home.”
“I wanted to stay, to play.”
His red eyes held a deep wistfulness that made her want him to go away.
“Aren’t you going to see me off, Arell?”
Ugh.
“Goodbye.”
Her silky silver hair slips from her hand. Pession smiles at her as she strokes her hair.
Pession takes her hand and rubs his cheek against mine, then looks up at her. It was so cute how he acted like a puppy.
‘I won’t fall for it.’
He’s just going to use his face to get her to work out, she knows it!
“I’ll take this for today.”
Pession smiled bewitchingly as he kissed the back of her hand like a knight.
Ouch. How many times had she almost fallen for that smile?
“I’ll come back tomorrow.”
“Don’t come back!”
“See you tomorrow.”
Side.
Pession kissed her forehead and pulled away, smiling as if satisfied with that.
“Ugh.”
Man, he’s got to work on his looks.
“You two seem to be getting along.”
“No, not at all.”
She grumbled, flopping back down on the couch, and Mehen gave her an odd smile.
“Still, no romance. I’m not ready to give you to anyone just yet.”
“Hmm.”
Sare heard Mehen’s stern tone.
“Shall I ban you from the Crown Prince’s mansion?”
Now?
She thought he was joking, but the softly smiling chartreuse eyes were one hundred percent genuine.
“No, it’s fine.”
“I see.”
If Mehen’s expression looked wistful, was it because he was in a bad mood?
“Sperom’s twin also sent a request for a visit today.”
“… Please decline.”
They’ve been asking for visits every day lately. Do they really miss me that much?
But she would die if she had to deal with the Crown Prince and the twins.
It’s hard enough to deal with the Pession that comes in every day, and she doesn’t want to add to it.
She’d rather be out.
…?
“Wait a minute.”
Why hadn’t I thought of this?
I’ve found a way out of this hellhole.
“Mum.”
“Yes?”
“I’m going back to the collection meeting.”
Okay, let’s get out of here.
Operation name, Friend Shield.
Subtitle, Recess is her Power.
***
Collection meeting.
The crown prince’s little friends gathered in the open palace to socialize.
Everyone was enthusiastic, but not everyone was happy about the gathering.
‘I’m tired.’
Aaron, the Mubisk prodigy who would become the Crown Prince’s guardian knight, found the gathering annoying.
‘I’d rather train more at this time.’
No way.
Aaron sighed inwardly.
The daily gathering of children, all desperate to be seen by the Crown Prince, Pession.
That’s how Aaron felt about the collection meeting.
At least it was fun to clean up the accidents the twins caused, but these days, with the twins preoccupied with other things, there weren’t many.
‘There’s also a Pession…’
Nowadays, the collecting groups would gather, eat, play a little, and then disband quickly because Pession would quickly disappear.
‘Seems like a waste of time.’
Aaron said darkly as he made his way to the room where the gathering was taking place.
“…?”
An unidentified figure crouched on the floor came into view.
What was that?
Narrowing his eyes, Aaron suddenly realized that the person looked very familiar.
‘I recognize her.’
Gently curling platinum hair. A body smaller than his own.
“Huh?”
At that moment, her eyes locked with rose’s.
Aaron froze on the spot.
