TMLOH 15

Chapter : 15

“It’s not your fault that I collapsed, Your Highness. If that’s what’s bothering you… you really don’t have to worry about it.”

With a barely functioning mind and tongue, that was all I could manage to say.

“How can I not worry?! It’s because of me!”

“I’m really fine.”

“No, I’m not convinced! I’ll take care of you until you’re healthy again!”

No, actually, that would be more of a nuisance.

‘I thought this before too.’

We’re just not compatible.

He showers people with affection and kindness on a whim, leaves them thirsting for more, and then disappears.

To him, affection and interest are so abundant that giving away a little doesn’t even register. He’s probably overflowing with love and attention from others.

That’s why he never suited me.

I’m someone who’s starved for affection and easily swayed by fleeting attention. I’d open my heart, get attached, and end up alone again.

It was easier to stay alone from the beginning.

‘I won’t let anyone sway me anymore.’

I felt sorry for Crown Prince Pession, but I didn’t have the energy to consider others anymore. I only just realized that the moment my physical strength broke down, so did my patience.

The one fortunate thing was probably that Pession was still young.

It must be a fleeting curiosity.

When he no longer finds it new or enjoyable, he’ll just leave on his own. Once I came to that conclusion, I felt much more at ease.

Let’s just deal with him in moderation.

“Arellin, do you always stay in your room?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to move.”

“!”

How could someone say something like that?

His eyes trembled violently, as if he had just witnessed an alien species.

“W-Why?!”

“Because it hurts when I move?”

“Huh?”

His face stiffened.

“Are you really in pain?”

Seeing how serious he looked, I knew that if I agreed here, things would just get more annoying.

“I’m joking. I just like being still.”

“……??”

He clearly couldn’t understand how that could be enjoyable. Maybe to check if I was being honest, he sat quietly next to me.

When the conversation stopped, I actually felt more relaxed and turned to look out the window. But I could feel him sneaking glances at me.

He couldn’t stay still for even a second. Even though he sat beside me pretending to mimic me, he squirmed nonstop.

“Oh? You smiled.”

“?”

He beamed like sunshine through a window.

“I think it’s the first time I’ve seen you smile, Arellin.”

“Is that so.”

“Hehe.”

What was so amusing? I couldn’t tell.

“What do you like, Arellin?”

“Nothing.”

“Anyone you like?”

“No one.”

“What do you do when you rest?”

“Breathe.”

“What do you do for fun?”

“Nothing.”

“……Isn’t there something you want to do?”

“Not sure.”

I turned my gaze outside.

A clear sky and a well-kept garden were framed perfectly in view.

“I think I used to have something.”

I gently closed my eyes.

“But I can’t remember anymore.”

* * *

“Long time no see, Mehen—!”

A man on the other side of the video call smiled brightly and greeted him. The screen was crackling due to poor mana signal quality, and Mehen sighed.

Taking advantage of the Crown Prince visiting the patient, he had briefly stepped away from Arellin’s side—only to be greeted by Zaren.

“Long time no see, Zaren. But why are you here and not His Highness?”

Zaren Berg Muvisk.

Loyal left hand and guardian knight of Archduke Halbern, Lord of Valère—and Mehen’s master.

This friendly and popular knight, despite being met with rejections from Mehen, who had grown prickly over repeated denied requests, still cheerfully chatted away.

—Ah, His Highness is busy right now. There was another accident yesterday.

“Isn’t that a daily occurrence there?”

It was rarer not to have casualties on the battlefield. Especially in the northern front—it was the worst front of them all.

—True, but that’s why every person matters. When even one person is missing, the line falters. And when that happens, you need more soldiers to cover the now wider defense.

To spare Mehen further explanation, Zaren summed it up.

—Anyway, the point is: he’s off fixing a collapsed line.

“Haa.”

—Why? Something happen?

“No, it’s nothing.”

—Come on, tell me. I’ll pass it on for you.

“Really, I’m fine.”

—Oh come on~ With the way you’ve been persistently contacting me, it seems important! Is it hard to say? Still, it felt like you really wanted to say something!

“It is something important.”

—Then I swear on my name and honor, I’ll deliver your message. Go on, tell me.

Mehen narrowed his eyes. Zaren was still smiling like a fool through the static image.

“In that case, I’ll take you up on your offer.”

—Great.

“Then please tell His Highness…”

—Yeah? What should I tell him?

“That he’s a damn piece of trash excuse for a father.”

—Sure, I’ll tell him he’s a— wait, what?!

“I’ll hang up now.”

—What?! Wait, Mehen! You serious?! Was that for real—?!

Pop—

The screen went black, cutting off Zaren. Mehen’s face visibly relaxed after saying what he wanted to say.

If he doesn’t like it, he can fire me.

* * *

“Excellent, excellent!”

“You’re amazing!”

What the hell was wrong with these people?

“Young Lady, we love and respect you always and blah blah blah!”

Suddenly I was surrounded by the childcare squad and trapped in a prison of praise. No matter what I did, cheers and compliments poured in like thunder.

Have you ever been praised just for breathing? Because that’s what I was experiencing now.

“…What’s wrong with all of you? Did you eat something weird?”

I was going to pass it off as some weird new game, but their behavior was too bizarre. I finally had to ask.

And then—

“The Young Lady…”

“Spoke to us!”

“Finally!”

“She talked to us!”

“…….”

Have they all gone mad?

I’d never heard of rabies existing in this world.

Must be stress. I should ignore them.

“Young Lady!”

“Lady Arellin~!”

“Don’t abandon us~!”

What the hell is wrong with everyone?

“I’m going to read. Get out.”

“No need to read! Don’t worry about it!”

As if making some firm decision, Ern stepped forward.

“Young Lady, you lack brightness and innocence! You need to see more of the world’s light and joy!”

“Always buried in gloomy books!”

“Let’s take a walk under this bright sunlight.”

Yuni and Rena joined in.

“I don’t want to go out.”

“Why not?!”

“Why?!”

“Why!!”

“Because I don’t want to.”

These people had no respect for introverts. Even when MBTI was all the rage, I was a proud and stable ‘I’.

I’d been locked in since I was young, practicing nonstop. It made no sense to suddenly want to run outside. I was doing that stuff because it suited me.

Back then, my only friends were sheet music and my violin.

Even those aren’t with me anymore.

“I’m not going. Go away.”

“Young Lady! At least give us a chance!”

“We’ll do better!”

“We’re trained professionals!”

Why are they like this?

I let out a long sigh.

Among my childcare squad of older siblings, there were about four or five key members.

Yuni, the head maid, well-versed in medical knowledge.

Amber, the head chef maid who had all kinds of culinary certifications to cater to my sensitive stomach.

And Rena, who created a structured environment for me to learn at home, hired tutors, and organized my curriculum.