TMLOH 38

Chapter : 38

Inside a mansion shrouded in darkness.

Something grotesque and black squirmed and let out a howl.

“Don’t move.”

A voice that could shatter a soul if heard. But the man who had effortlessly subdued the monstrous creature seemed entirely unfazed.

“Ugh, what a bother.”

The man looked down at the creature that still squirmed, even after being shattered into tens of thousands of tiny pieces. His golden eyes gleamed.

At last, the monster’s movements slowed to a stop.

It was the result of a battle that had lasted three long days.

【…….】

The man scoffed at the creature, which had finally submitted.

As the final convulsions ended, black smoke billowed from the man’s body and began to devour the enormous beast, bit by bit, leaving not a trace behind.

“Hm. What was that kid back then, anyway?”

As he watched his own smoke ravenously consume the creature, the man recalled the child he had encountered in this place.

“How didn’t they get pushed out of my barrier? I expelled everything alive. How did that kid even find me? Just looking at this kind of thing would’ve stopped a normal heart.”

A brief yet curious encounter.

“Interesting.”

A smile curled the man’s lips.

Warm, soft energy enveloped my body.

In the haze of consciousness, I saw the silhouette of a woman.

Long platinum hair cascaded like a waterfall. Even her sparkling eyes glistened with a faint rose tint.

‘Who is she?’

She was so beautiful, so full of affection, she didn’t feel like someone from this world.

And just as I thought she somehow looked like me—

[My child.]

A delicate, melodic voice whispered into my ear.

[You are ───.]

What?

Before I could even grasp what startled me, I woke up.

“Huh?”

My awareness returned. And I saw a familiar ceiling above me.

…Was it just a dream?

As reality settled in, the memory of the dream melted away like snow.

Something about it felt important, and I tried to recall it, uneasy about forgetting—

“Arellin!”

I locked eyes with a teary-eyed Pession.

‘Why is he here?’

The question was quickly answered.

“I didn’t go back to the palace until you woke up.”

“…Are you crazy?”

This was a headache.

“You didn’t return to the palace until I woke up?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“But how could I go back when you were sick!”

“What are you talking about? You still should’ve gone home.”

“But Arellin, you were on the brink of death!”

Pession’s voice trembled.

If anyone heard this, they’d think I’d actually died.

“I was just asleep! I wasn’t dying, okay?! Can you not turn this into some near-death drama?!”

“You were asleep for two whole days! I couldn’t even hear your breathing. Do you know how worried I was?!”

Looking into those teary, glimmering eyes made it hard to scold him further.

Ugh.

“And so you didn’t go back to the palace?”

“But…”

“But what?!”

“What if something happened while I was gone…?”

I momentarily lost my words.

Those jewel-like red eyes, filled with worry, were unfamiliar and warm. I swallowed down the lump in my throat.

“Why would anything happen? This is our house.”

“But it could have.”

“It didn’t.”

“You never know.”

“Know what?”

“People say you never know what might happen.”

Pession huffed. His usually handsome face was crumpled in frustration. I couldn’t help but laugh dryly.

Honestly, what was I supposed to say to this?

It made me feel oddly ticklish inside.

And a little… shy.

“Do you not want me here, Arellin?”

“It’s not that…”

“Then, do you want me here?”

…Was this really a yes-or-no question?

Staring into his eyes, full of hope, I found myself mumbling, unable to say a simple “yes.”

Why was that so hard?

“You don’t want me here?”

The disappointment in his voice weighed heavily on me. I quickly changed the subject.

“It’s not that. But if you keep hanging around here, what will Her Majesty the Empress think of me, huh?”

“Mother?”

Pession’s eyes widened.

“Why are you bringing her up all of a sudden?”

“What if the Empress thinks you’ve been corrupted by me and starts hating me?”

“Why would she think that? Arellin’s not bad. You’re not bad at all.”

“What if she thinks you’ve turned strange because of me and doesn’t let us play together anymore?”

“…!”

Boom.

That idea clearly had never crossed his mind, and he looked genuinely shocked.

“N-No! Mother would never do that!”

“And how would you know that? Did she tell you directly?”

“Well…”

Pession looked deeply troubled.

Watching him flounder, I wondered if I had gone too far.

“That’s quite enough, I think.”

“Mehen.”

“I believe the clever Crown Prince has understood well enough.”

Mehen entered the room with a weary expression, running a hand through his hair. I hadn’t noticed when he’d come in.

He looked visibly relieved to see me awake, though his face was paler than usual.

“You’re awake, My Lady.”

It seemed our commotion had drawn everyone in.

Faces of the childcare team peeked through the cracked door.

“My Lady…”

Sniffle.

Mehen carefully examined my face.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes. I feel fine now.”

“Any pain or discomfort?”

“Nope. I’m okay.”

“That’s a relief.”

He looked utterly exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes.

Mehen reached out and placed his hand on my forehead.

“No fever.”

“Were you really that worried?”

“Yes.”

His quick reply surprised me, and I smiled.

“I haven’t slept at all.”

I hadn’t expected such an honest answer from Mehen.

He had always kept a careful distance from me.

‘Is it because I asked him to be my mom?’

Since that day, Mehen had been incredibly kind and gentle. It felt… wonderful.

As I cuddled up to him with a grin, a pouty voice suddenly cut in.

“What exactly is your relationship?”

Pession, arms crossed, was glaring at Mehen and me with a sour expression.

Why was he suddenly in a bad mood?

“What do you mean?”

“You two don’t seem like a typical employer and servant.”

Was he criticizing us? Mocking? Worried? I couldn’t tell.

Pession’s tone was sharp, as if trying to stake his claim. Mehen’s expression turned unreadable. Just as he was about to explain—

“Mom.”

“…?”

“Someone like a mom.”

I answered first.

“Mehen is like a mom to me.”

Still hugging his sturdy body, I smiled brightly. Mehen, who had tensed for a moment, gave me a strange look.

“Uh…”

Pession blinked rapidly.

“T-Then I’ll be like Arellin’s dad!”

Pession suddenly started campaigning for the role of my unknown father.

Even after I woke up, Pession didn’t seem intent on going back.

“I’ll go home once I confirm you’re fully healthy.”

“…Yeah, sure.”

Faced with Pession’s unprecedented stubbornness, Gream looked resigned.

“Shouldn’t you head back?”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s obviously not fine.”

“It is fine!”

Where was all that confidence coming from?

Regardless, the people of the mansion continued with their duties.

“How is My Lady’s condition?”

After a comprehensive evaluation by priests, healers, and physicians, the conclusion was unanimous:

“She’s in good health!”

Finally, we could all breathe a little easier.

Though I could finally rest in peace, Mehen’s mood still didn’t seem to improve.

‘Is it my fault?’

Guilt—unfamiliar and unfitting—crept in. Had this all happened because I dragged him out for fun?

“It’s not your fault, Sir Mehen.”

“Silence, traitor. Dylan.”

“I was only trying to help My Lady…”

Dylan made a tearful face. Mehen glared.

“When did you get so friendly with Sir Gream?”

“We’re not! I just felt bad seeing My Lady upset and wanted to help.”

“And so you leaked information?”

Flinch.

By strict protocol, Dylan deserved heavy punishment. But circumstances allowed some leniency.

“He didn’t take personal compensation, nor gained any benefit. Considering his loyalty, the punishment was reduced to a six-month pay cut. Do you object?”

“…No.”

“Truly no objections?”

Dylan replied with a resigned face.

“Not like I can spend the money anyway. I haven’t had a proper day off in forever, just like you, Sir Mehen.”

“…Ah.”

Both men sighed deeply in unison.