TMLOH 21

Chapter : 21

Sometimes, life just feels especially hard—even if the day itself isn’t all that different from any other.

Today was one of those days for me.

“…Young Miss?”

There was a hint of concern and confusion in Mehen’s voice. But I clung to him all the same.

“What’s wrong, Miss?”

“I’m just… worn out.”

“What happened?”

“A lot happened.”

“I can tell.”

Buried deep in his arms, I caught the heavy scent reminiscent of dry wood—comforting and grounding.

Just staying like this gradually calmed the nerves that had been frayed all day by the twins and the crown prince.

‘So much for wanting to be alone. Look at me clinging to Mehen.’

A bitter voice in my mind mocked me, but what could I do?

Mehen… had raised me since I was just a helpless baby who couldn’t even walk.

Just as a child instinctively seeks their parents’ love, Mehen was that kind of presence for Arellin.

Even though I had awakened memories of my past life, those emotions and bonds didn’t disappear.

‘Still, even considering all that, I do go soft for this man.’

Because Mehen was…

The one person I knew better than anyone else in this world.

Not through “knowledge” from my past life’s novel, but through real, lived “experience.”

“Mom.”

“…”

Mehen instinctively parted his lips to deny it but then stopped himself.

I wonder if he knows that the more awkward and flustered he looks, the more I want to call him “Mom” just to tease him?

“Hug me.”

He may be fed up with my whining and secretly wish I’d grow out of it, but he still accepts me. He’s the only person I can lean on like this.

“Ugh…”

Looking quite awkward and unsure, Mehen carefully wrapped his arms around me.

It must’ve been a while since we last hugged—he seemed tense and stiff.

Burying my face in his chest, I took a deep breath and thought,

‘I feel… at peace.’

Why was it that Mehen, out of everyone who tried to be kind to me, was the only one who made me feel so at ease?

I puzzled over it for a moment before the answer became clear.

“…?”

Because Mehen doesn’t expect anything from me.

‘He doesn’t bother me either.’

That’s why I like him.

“What kind of perfume do you wear?”

“Perfume?”

His scent hovering near my nose was so comforting.

“I don’t use any in particular.”

“Really?”

Then what is this smell?

That grounding, calming fragrance made me want to stay like this. But then, I noticed a few people watching us from nearby.

“You two look wonderful together.”

“Indeed, Head Butler.”

The head butler and Dylan looked on with warm smiles.

And then—

“That’s not fair, Mehen!”

“Miss, we want hugs too!”

The jealous voices of the other older “caregivers” joined in.

“Mehen’s hogging her!”

“We haven’t bonded with her yet!”

“So unfair…”

Is this love and war now?

Still, compared to the twins or the crown prince, at least these people didn’t bother or annoy me. That made them tolerable.

I guess this was also a kind of home.

‘Though this peace will vanish if Mehen’s gone.’

But for now, Mehen was here.

And that was what mattered.

“Did something happen, Miss?”

“…Hm. Not really.”

Well, a lot did happen, but it wasn’t anything massive. The crown prince got clingy, the twins joined in, and Harun…

Harun was… useless.

“I’m just really tired.”

As he held me close, Mehen gently stroked my head.

“If there’s anything, please tell me. Are you sure nothing happened?”

“…”

He asked again, sounding genuinely concerned. His tone still reminded me of a civil servant dealing with complaints, but even that felt comforting.

Would he look at me strangely if I told him I liked even that?

“Young Miss?”

Even the way he gently urged me to speak was soothing.

What should I say?

That the twins suddenly dueled each other over who was my best friend? That I used Harun as a shield but he was useless? That Pession spent the whole time staring at me like a lost puppy?

The more I rolled my eyes thinking it over, the darker Mehen’s expression became.

“Have I still not earned your trust, Miss?”

“That’s not it.”

It’s just… the things that happened today were too complicated and annoying to explain.

“Can I not go out today?”

“You don’t want to go?”

I nodded as I fidgeted with my fingers, and instantly, looks of fierce opposition shot at me from all directions.

‘Absolutely not.’

‘No way!’

‘It’s her only outing—we must protect it!’

Going to this fundraising gathering was the only “active” event I ever participated in, since I usually just lazed around in bed all day.

Rejection, rejection, rejection.

So many glaring eyes all around.

Then Mehen made the call.

“Then you don’t have to go.”

A chorus of sighs and groans followed. Glares of disappointment flew my way, but Mehen, gazing into my eyes, remained unwavering.

“If you don’t want to go, then don’t. Leave the excuse to me. I’ll handle it.”

“Mehen…”

Even though we both knew it wouldn’t be easy, he still willingly stepped forward as my shield—and I felt a surge of emotion I couldn’t quite name.

I was getting choked up.

“Young Miss? Are you alright?”

So this is what a grown-up is.

A dependable guardian I’d never had before.

“Mom!”

“…”

I wrapped my arms around Mehen’s neck. His body flinched in response.

To me, Mehen was already the perfect protector.

“Mom.”

“…”

Even if he still seemed overwhelmed by the title.

‘Ugh, I want to play more with Arellin.’

Pession had been struggling with a single issue lately.

‘How can I spend more time with Arellin?’

Sure, she’d been attending more gatherings recently, so they were playing together more often than before, but it still wasn’t enough.

‘More! Longer!’

If possible, he wanted to spend all day with her.

Every day.

Playing only twice a week just wasn’t cutting it.

But Arellin didn’t seem to understand how he felt!

‘She’s been kind of cold to me lately.’

Pession was miserable.

‘Why? What did I do wrong?’

And then came yesterday’s shocking incident.

‘She picked Harun over me!’

It was the day he and the twins competed for the chance to play with her. And she chose Harun.

“Harun, were you always close with Arellin?”

“No.”

“Did you even know each other?”

“I’ve never even talked to her.”

Then why?!

While the crown prince looked flabbergasted, the twins cackled and dropped the “truth.”

“Obviously, it’s because Arelllllllin likes Harun more than you! You didn’t know that? You’re such a dummy!”

Pession was stunned.

Whenever it came to Arellin, he completely lost his sense of reason—and this time, he’d fallen for it again.

“W-why would she like Harun more than me?!”

“How should we know?”

Harun felt wronged.

The twins had latched onto a random excuse just for fun. They were clearly messing around and talking nonsense.

He was just caught in the crossfire!

“Harun, you traitor!”

“…”

Suddenly, he was labeled a traitor.

“LOL! Harun’s a traitor!”

“Traitor, traitor~!”

Harun was devastated. Completely unfairly accused.

But no matter how wronged he felt, he didn’t know how to defend himself—so he just trembled with frustration.

“Harun, are you mad?”

“Well, you shouldn’t have let Arelllrlrlin pick you!”

“Yeah! We wanted to be chosen!”

That’s when Harun realized.

The twins were just salty they hadn’t been picked.

Which made him feel even more wronged.

Clutching his chest in silent protest, Harun vowed,

‘Next time I see Arellin, I’m running away.’

He swore he would never go near her again.

While Harun was busy making solemn vows, Pession was still lost in his own little world.

“Sigh…”

Harun glanced over at him. Pession was unusually unfocused during today’s training.

It was strange to see.

‘This is a first.’

Harun had never seen Pession this distracted. He always took sword training seriously.

Then it happened.

“Your Highness, you’re quite distracted today.”

It was Sir Jade, a royal guard directly under the Emperor and Pession’s training instructor. He lowered his sword. Only then did Pession snap out of it.

“Ah, sorry.”

Instead of reprimanding him, Sir Jade kindly asked, for once,

“Is something troubling you?”

“A worry…”

Pession glanced at Harun. Harun flinched.

‘No way…?’

As Harun looked on anxiously, Pession finally asked—

“How do I become healthier?”

The unexpected question left everyone speechless.

“…Excuse me?”

What did I just hear?