TMLOH 08

Chapter : 8

A new routine had become part of Mehen’s daily life: standing in front of Arellin’s door, loitering for a while, and then leaving.

“Why am I like this?”

Even he found his own behavior puzzling.

Yet whether he was working, taking a short break, or simply walking aimlessly, he would suddenly find himself near Arellin’s room.

Then he would grip the doorknob, hesitate, and return without even trying to turn it.

“I’m so busy I could die, so what is this pointless behavior?”

How many businesses did he manage? How many institutions were under his control?

He was the one keeping this massive family running smoothly, without a single hiccup.

Even ten bodies wouldn’t be enough to handle it all.

“Ha…”

He had never been like this before in his life. Lately, it had all become too overwhelming.

Frankly, it was Grand Duke Halbern who was strange for handing over such a heavy responsibility without a second thought.

What on earth was going on in that man’s head?

‘Well, it’s not like I ever understood him.’

“How about the northern castle?”

“We’re still unable to contact them.”

“…Ha.”

Mehen muttered a curse and pressed a hand against his temple.

With so much already on his plate, now the situation with Arellin was eating at him too. He hadn’t had a proper rest in days.

Already a sensitive man, Mehen had become so sharp-edged recently that even the atmosphere in the mansion had begun to feel unsettled.

“And the young lady?”

“She’s been in her room all day.”

“Is she at least reading?”

“No, sir. According to the caretakers, she just sits there blankly or lies in bed.”

“….”

Mehen’s fingers twitched, and his expression hardened. Clearly displeased, but he seemed to be suppressing himself, thinking he had no right to interfere.

‘He doesn’t need to hold back, though.’

Dylan, who had served Mehen for a long time, felt heartbroken watching this strained situation.

“Forget it. Let’s just work.”

Mehen sat down, massaging his temples, still looking utterly exhausted.

The butlers and maids from Ernst International Academy—often referred to as the “Childcare Squad”—were an unusual sight in the Halbern mansion.

A household as prestigious as Halbern, one of the five great ducal families of the empire, typically had vassal families that served them for generations.

Even low-ranking maids were rarely hired externally, let alone those assigned to care for the daughter of the house. Entrusting such duties to outsiders was unimaginable to the stiff-necked aristocrats of the capital.

“How is the young lady today?”

“She woke up earlier than yesterday, but her breathing was heavy. She should avoid any strenuous activity.”

“Then we’ll prepare easily digestible food.”

Despite their outsider status, these highly trained and knowledgeable maids and butlers played a major role in Arellin’s upbringing.

Yuni, the maid responsible for Arellin’s health, possessed medical knowledge comparable to that of a licensed doctor. She constantly monitored Arellin’s condition, ensured she took her medicine, and worked closely with the attending physician.

“Young lady…”

Yuni looked downcast.

It seemed Arellin would be spending another entire day holed up in her room.

‘She used to be so talkative and affectionate…’

What had happened to her?

Having cared for Arellin since she was a baby, Yuni held a deep affection for her. As did all the members of the childcare team.

“There must be something going on between Lord Mehen and the young lady.”

The childcare squad had gathered for an emergency meeting.

“…This is our failure.”

Everyone fell silent with solemn expressions.

“Is it too much for us after all?”

“It is our mission to perfectly support the young lady and fill the absence of the Grand Duke and Lord Mehen, no matter how busy they are! Rena, don’t speak so weakly!”

“But no matter how well we do, we can’t replace her family, can we?”

“She’s not without family either…”

“Hmm…”

Head butler Gregory’s face darkened.

“More than that, I’m worried about why the young lady is distancing herself from us. Anyone know?”

Amber, the maid in charge of meals, asked from where she sat quietly.

Ever since that one moment when it seemed something had changed, Arellin’s attitude toward the childcare team had also shifted.

There was now a subtle distance. An invisible wall. Though they were hurt and saddened, what concerned them most was Arellin’s well-being.

Because she seemed so dangerously fragile in her self-imposed solitude.

“Heh. This is the biggest crisis in my 30-year butler career.”

“I staked my whole life as a maid on this!”

“Stop whining, all of you! We’re professionals!”

“That’s right! We’re pros!”

“Even if the young lady hates us, we’ll follow her to hell if we have to!”

“That’s what it means to be a professional!”

Everyone tried to steel their resolve.

“Sniff… but I still hate being disliked!”

“Me too, young lady~!”

“Pathetic! …But honestly, me too!”

The emergency meeting quickly devolved into a tearful mess.

Who am I? Where is this?

Graham stared up at the sky. It was crystal clear and brilliantly blue. As if it were mourning his fate.

“Graham, what are you doing? Snap out of it!”

“Ah.”

He hadn’t wanted to return to reality.

Graham found himself standing in front of the Halbern mansion, feeling completely out of sorts.

‘This mansion has a crazy dog in it…’

There had been no time to prepare.

“What even is this…?”

All he had done was follow along—he didn’t even get to send a letter ahead to the Halbern estate.

Crown Prince Pession’s unpredictable behavior was nothing new, but this level of recklessness was unprecedented.

“Y-Your Highness?”

The guards looked confused.

“Well? Open the gate.”

Pession stood tall and proud.

“Ugh… My head…”

The embarrassment was entirely Graham’s burden.

“Sh-should I go announce our arrival?”

“Sure.”

Pession nodded casually—then suddenly paused, an amusing idea occurring to him.

‘She’ll like it even more if I show up unannounced and surprise her, right?’

“Wait!”

Stopping the guard, Pession grinned.

Graham, watching the prince’s antics, gazed blankly into the distance.

What a beautiful sky today.

“Graham, come on!”

“Y-yes, yes…”

Knowing cleanup would be his responsibility anyway, Graham resigned himself. He just hoped the prince wouldn’t cause a disaster beyond repair.

Ignoring Graham’s half-hearted reply, Pession moved confidently.

‘She’ll be happy to see me.’

Excited by the thought of a surprise, Pession strode forward. Surely she wouldn’t faint again just because he startled her. He trusted Arellin wasn’t that fragile.

Last time he’d gotten lost, but this time was different.

‘It was this way.’

He hadn’t found her room last time, but it had been nearby.

However—

‘What the…?’

In just two weeks, the mansion’s atmosphere had changed entirely. There was a sharpness in the air.

“Hmm?”

‘It’s unusually tense in here.’

Pession stopped walking. He tilted his head, puzzled. Graham, following behind, asked with concern.

“Your Highness, is something wrong?”

“Graham, shh.”

Ignoring Graham’s cold stare, Pession focused.

He extended his senses. Though his detection range was still limited, he clearly sensed someone approaching.

The voices of a group of low-level maids came into earshot.

“Really? You heard that?”

“Yeah, when I asked, she looked at me like, ‘What business is it of yours?’ with this total attitude!”

“Ugh, how rude. What’s her problem?”

“Exactly. Something’s definitely going on between her and Lord Mehen.”

“Come to think of it, lately Lord Mehen always comes out of that idiot’s room looking pissed!”

“Right? I saw him too when I went to clean nearby.”

“She really thinks she’s something. Without Lord Mehen, she’s nothing—a half-blood at best.”

“Still, a half-blood noble is a noble. Lord Mehen’s from a commoner background.”

“Yeah, she’s still acting all high and mighty.”

‘Idiot’? ‘Half-blood’?

The maids showed no restraint in their gossip. Realizing where this was going, Graham frowned and tried to cover the prince’s ears—but Pession stopped him.

Something in his gut told him he needed to hear this.

“Even though she’s just a half-blood, the Ernst people are still fawning over her like she’s a proper lady. So funny.”

“Right? They’re so over-the-top about it.”

“Guess they’re in it for the money?”

Laughter.

“……?”

What did I just hear?

Pession turned to Graham. Graham’s face was stone cold.

Seeing that confirmed for Pession that his suspicions were correct.

“She has barely anyone in her corner, so why is she acting like that to Lord Mehen?”

“Honestly, if he stopped caring, she’d be completely abandoned.”

“Right? Who would even bother with her?”