TMLOH 47

Chapter : 47

It had already been a month of living in the hell of exercise, where only those who walked fewer than 2,000 steps a day were punished.

“This is awful.”

I was suffering.

These hellish days.

Every morning when I woke up, Pession was there with a high-protein, nutrient-rich meal.

“How long do I have to eat this?”

“Until you’re healthy, of course! Hahaha.”

You think this is funny? Really?

No matter how much the head chef worked on flavor, the protein meals tasted so bland I couldn’t tell if I was eating food or livestock feed.

After eating and mentally apologizing to my taste buds, Pession would barge in without fail to start the day.

“Arellin! Time to work out!”

Even when I said I’d exercise alone, the devil would insist on joining me every single day.

“Ah, wait, there’s something we need to do first.”

Pession looked over at Grium.

Grium pulled out a freshly delivered tonic straight from the palace.

“Today’s tonic!”

“Have mercy.”

“Drink it all! Not even one drop left!”

“Ughhhh.”

What crime did I commit in a past life to deserve this?!

“Just kill me already!”

“We’re doing this to keep you alive, so no can do. Here, have a candy!”

“Just kill me! Stop tormenting me and kill me!!”

“Arellin, you’re grumpier than usual today. But you have no choice if you want to be healthy. A sound mind comes from a sound body!”

So did I become healthy?

“My lady!”

“Without stopping even once!”

“You walked a full lap around the garden!”

My stamina had improved. I felt a bit healthier. Like I had leveled up from weakest to just weak.

“Wooooow! My lady~~!”

“Our lady is amazing!”

“Hmph, this is nothing.”

Yeah right.

As my body improved, my spirit grew more and more worn out.

“I’m depressed.”

Is this really a human life?

“That’s because you always hole yourself up in your room.”

“That’s not true?!”

“I think the real reason you often feel lethargic and depressed is because you don’t have enough muscle.”

“……”

“So once you have more muscle, you won’t be depressed anymore!”

Pession began preaching the gospel of muscles.

“I already have muscles and I’m still depressed?!”

“That’s not enough muscle. You need more!”

This bastard really was trying to turn me into a Swordmaster.

‘This can’t go on.’

I couldn’t live like this forever.

I made a run for it.

“Haha. Is this tag?”

…I was caught in ten seconds.

Ah, right. He was a Swordmaster-in-training.

“You can run now, Arell! I’m so touched. When we first met, you’d collapse just from running a little!”

“Huuuuuk.”

“Arellin, are you moved too? You must really be getting healthy!”

Healthy, my ass! I want freedom!

Ah, how did humans come to cry out for freedom?

I won’t be farmed anymore!

I’ll reclaim my life!

‘There’s no way to escape in front of Pession. In that case—’

I just had to escape when he wasn’t around.

“Where’s Arellin?”

“My lady, she…”

“Ah, found her!”

I tried everything.

I didn’t just run away.

I hid, disguised myself, pretended to be someone else, and even tried to wear him out by flirting with him just enough to exhaust his stamina so he couldn’t harass me anymore!

“Hahaha. That was fun. Arellin, what are we doing today?”

None of it worked.

“Are you even human?!”

“Yep, I’m human.”

“How do you always know it’s me?”

“Because you’re Arellin.”

Pession smiled.

“If it’s Arellin, I can do anything.”

“……”

If only he wasn’t saying that just to make me exercise, it would’ve been a rather romantic line.

“Come on, let’s go do today’s workout.”

“You devil!”

“If you want to get healthier, you have to keep moving. Arellin, you can do it!”

“Ughhh. Please spare me.”

Please…

Just…

Leave me alone…

After the workout, I couldn’t even lift a finger. Still, I scraped together what little strength I had left and headed straight to Mehen.

No matter how unstoppable Pession was, he became quiet when Mehen was around.

“You’ve been exercising again today, I see?”

“I’m gonna die.”

Maybe because I barged in every day, Mehen’s once dull, paperwork-filled office had changed.

There was now a comfy sofa for me, sweet snacks I couldn’t eat because of Pession, and even Mehen’s seat nearby.

I was clinging to Mehen’s arm, panting, when Pession entered and gave me a strange look.

“Arellin really seems to like Lord Mehen.”

“She’s my mom.”

And when I’m near her, you can’t bother me!

“Weren’t you the one who said she’s like a mom?”

“I officially decided to make her my mom.”

“When?!”

“Sometime.”

“What kind of answer is that?”

Pession glared at Mehen.

“Then I’m going to be Arellin’s dad.”

“How can you be my dad when my real dad is still alive?”

“You’ve never even met him.”

“He’s still my dad.”

Pession frowned.

“Arellin, do you like a dad you’ve never met more than me?!”

“Why are you saying it like that?”

“That’s what you’re saying right now!”

“You’re the one spouting nonsense. Don’t you have something to do? Go back.”

“I do! But I’m staying with you.”

“What are you talking about?! Go do your homework! You want Sir Parcelo to catch you and make you do more classes?!”

“Ugh.”

Struck by my sudden attack, Pession looked at me like he’d been hit. But I had no mercy.

“Your Highness, it’s time to return.”

“I wanted to hang out more though.”

His red eyes looked so full of regret that I wavered in my wish for him to get lost.

“Arel, aren’t you going to see me off?”

Ugh…

“Bye.”

His silky silver hair slipped through my fingers. Pession smiled the moment I ruffled his hair.

He rubbed his cheek against my hand like a puppy before looking up at me. He was too cute—

‘No, I won’t fall for it.’

I knew exactly what this was! He was trying to charm me into more workouts! I wasn’t falling for it again!

“I’ll let you off for today.”

Pession kissed the back of my hand like a knight and gave me a seductive smile.

Ugh. How many times had I nearly been swayed by that damn smile?

“I’ll come again tomorrow.”

“Don’t!”

“See you tomorrow.”

Smack.

Pession kissed my forehead and left with a satisfied grin.

“Ugh.”

I really need to do something about that face.

“You two seem close.”

“No? Not at all.”

Grumbling, I collapsed back on the sofa. Mehen gave me a mysterious smile.

“Still, no romance allowed. I’m not ready to give you away to anyone yet.”

“Cough.”

Her strong words caught me off guard.

“Should I ban the crown prince from visiting this estate?”

Now?!?

I thought it was a joke, but the soft green eyes looking at me were 100% serious.

“No, it’s fine.”

“I see.”

Was that a hint of disappointment on her face? Must’ve been my imagination.

“The twin nobles of Sperom also sent a request to visit today.”

“……Decline it.”

Those guys were sending visit requests every day now. Do they miss me that much?

But if I had to deal with both the crown prince and the twins, I’d seriously die.

I was barely surviving Pession as it was. I didn’t need more of them on my plate.

Unless I was the one leaving.

…Wait?

“Hold on.”

Why didn’t I think of this before?

I found a way out of this hell.

“Mom.”

“Yes?”

“I want to go back to the Suguem meetings.”

Yes, let’s go.

Operation: Friend Shield.

Subtitle: I’ll make my own break time.

Suguem Meetings
A gathering where the crown prince’s childhood friends meet regularly at his palace to bond and socialize.

Everyone attended enthusiastically, but not everyone actually liked the meetings.

‘This is exhausting.’

Harun, genius of Muvisk and future guardian knight of the crown prince, found the meetings annoying.

‘I’d rather be training.’

But of course, that wasn’t allowed.

He sighed inwardly.

Every day, the others gathered, trying so hard to get into the crown prince’s good graces.

That’s what the “Suguem Meeting” meant to Harun.

It was only fun when he had to clean up the twins’ messes, but lately they’d been preoccupied elsewhere, and there hadn’t been any incidents.

‘And Pession too…’

Lately, the meetings ended quickly. They’d eat, play a little, and Pession would leave almost immediately, resulting in ultra-short gatherings.

‘What a waste of time.’

He was headed toward the meeting room with a gloomy expression when—

“…?”

A strange figure slumped on the floor caught his eye.

What the heck was that?

He squinted. The figure looked oddly familiar.

‘Where have I seen them before?’

Silky platinum blonde hair. A body even smaller than most kids their age.

“Oh?”

At that moment, rose-colored eyes met his.

And Harun froze right where he stood.