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Chapter 113
There was no one in the Halbern Mansion capable of stopping an enraged Mehen.
The first ones Mehen went after were the guards assigned to Arellyn.
“Even if they weren’t assigned for close protection, how could the child have been left alone without immediate protection?”
Six knight-guards knelt, unable to say a word.
There were over twenty guards for the five precious children of the family, six of whom were Halbern’s knights. Yet Mehen could not tolerate even a brief lapse in protection. Arellyn could have been lost in an instant.
“I’m fine.”
Arellyn desperately insisted she was okay.
“Miss.”
“I really am. I was alone only for a very short time.”
“But didn’t you say your heart hurt? Experts will tell us if you’re really okay.”
“I really am…”
The guards were immediately taken away by the Saren Knights. Though there would be separate disciplinary action, for now, they would be “rolled around” until they were deemed competent again.
Arellyn’s medical team—summoned during the previous Sharit incident from the temple, the magic tower, and the medical association—gathered again.
Even though it was clear that neither the blessing of priests nor the healing magic worked well on Arellyn’s frail body…
“Just in case.”
Mehen poured Halbern’s astronomical wealth without hesitation.
“It’s not even my own anyway.”
The wealth accumulated over many years was enough that spending this much barely made a dent.
“Aren’t you busy?”
Arellyn peeked out from the bed.
“No. I’m not busy.”
“Lying.”
“…”
“If you’re busy, you can work.”
Arellyn smiled sweetly, indicating she was fine. Knowing how significant that consideration was, Mehen’s throat tightened.
Mehen clasped her fidgeting hands firmly and shook her head resolutely.
“Even if all my businesses fail, I’ll stay here. Nothing is more important to me than Arellyn.”
Having grown up an orphan, alone, Mehen knew the meaning of having a protector by one’s side when sick. She herself had longed for warmth.
“Though the one who protected me wasn’t exactly a guardian.”
Pushing aside memories of the worried little boy who once watched over her, Mehen looked at a child who was similar yet different.
Previously, she had deliberately left this space vacant, knowing her place, but that hesitation had long disappeared.
Feeling apologetic, Arellyn bit her lip.
“It’ll hurt.”
Mehen pressed her soft lips to prevent her from hurting herself, then took out a storybook.
“I’ll read to you.”
“Okay.”
The piled-up tasks were irrelevant. Arellyn was unwell.
Half of this was a form of protest.
Just as she thought she’d be freed from her proxy duties after the lord returned, more work had been dumped in her lap.
“Tired.”
Should she just run away with Arellyn?
Perhaps… it wouldn’t be so bad?
Considering ten years’ worth of accumulated leave, she could at least take a year of paid vacation.
“The more I think about it, the more tempting it is.”
Suddenly inspired, Mehen began to devise a concrete plan to give her lord a hard time, then glanced aside.
“Aha.”
In the meantime, Arellyn had fallen asleep, her cheeks flushed with color. Seeing the peaceful scene, Mehen finally relaxed and smiled.
Arellyn’s personal physician, Warren, was facing a major professional crisis.
All because of the one scrutinizing him with sharp eyes right in front of him—his employer, or rather, the source of his income.
“Doctor, I recall receiving your opinion that Arellyn’s health was improving and that going out wouldn’t be an issue.”
“Lord Mehen… she really was fine, ah… then why…?”
“Are you asking me that?”
“No, no! I’m just… confused.”
Warren swallowed his tears.
‘Do they think my medical pride can simply be bought with money?!’
He wanted to shout, “What do you know about medicine?!”
‘Calm down. I need this money to run the hospital.’
It was far too much money to resist.
Even after covering the perpetual deficit of running a private hospital for a single adorable child like Arellyn, there was still money left over—enough to put his pride aside.
“All tests show no abnormal inflammation or signs. Neither the Magic Tower nor the temple found any issues. After exercise with special care, her condition improved even more. Then suddenly, why…?”
She had even taken all the mysterious medicines delivered from the palace.
“It’s my inadequacy. Perhaps this is as far as I can go.”
“If your ability is lacking, then the doctors of the entire medical association are even less capable.”
“Ugh…”
The personal physician had done his best. The problem had been being tasked with a rare disease whose diagnosis was almost impossible.
Mehen placated him with just the right incentive, ending the issue.
The real challenge was the mansion’s actual master.
“What did you do to make her collapse?”
Valer, having returned from somewhere fully dressed and removing his gloves, smiled beautifully upon hearing the report on Arellyn.
The smile was outwardly gentle and captivating, but…
“Doctor, were you dissatisfied with the reward?”
“No, Your Highness! Absolutely not!”
“Then do you not like my daughter?”
“N-No, of course not!”
Warren swallowed hard, praising Arellyn’s cuteness and loveliness as though writing an academic paper.
Valer, silently nodding at every right point, suddenly tilted his head.
Why did his gaze shift so suddenly?
Had he pressed a button by something I said?
“Are you… interested in my daughter?”
“What?! Of course, I am! Medical interest!”
“You know too well.”
“No, that’s only natural…”
Since Arellyn was one, and now seven, the doctor had been caring for her alongside Mehen.
It would be stranger not to know.
But the sharp, cold gaze sealed Warren’s mouth like a clam. He realized this chill was no mere feeling.
“Hmm…”
Valer, with long smooth eyes, scrutinized Warren from head to toe.
Warren swallowed hard, unsure if Valer was calculating whether to kill him.
“This isn’t a joke, Lord.”
Mehen, watching, intervened.
“Not a joke.”
“Stop threatening, Lord.”
“Not a threat.”
“Stop scolding the doctor, too.”
“I wasn’t scolding.”
Denying right in front of witnesses—professionalism at its finest.
“What else is the problem?”
Valer smiled. He clearly felt uncomfortable that a mere doctor knew more about his daughter than he did, but could not admit it outright.
Mehen, realizing his thoughts, sighed and placed a hand on his head. Valer raised both hands lightly.
“Scary, darling.”
“Wh-what did you just say?”
“I don’t know, couldn’t hear you, darling.”
“Don’t call me that!”
Suddenly, a hand shot out, slapping backs without mercy. It was clear this wasn’t the first time.
Warren quietly covered his mouth.
‘Could it be… they really…?!’
His eyes shook as if an earthquake had hit.
Among the mansion staff, the hot topic had already spread—the “Toto topic” passed along by the Saren Knights.
The infamous debate: “They’re just friends playing around vs. no, they’ve become a real family.”
By ratio, 4:6 leaned toward “No, they’ve become a real family.”
“Ouch.”
“Pretending to be hurt all of a sudden? I know this barely even registers.”
“I pretended so that it would be worth hitting.”
“….”
At Valer’s soft reply, Mehen clenched her fists.
“Anyway, you buy your punishment!”
With staccato punches, Valer stopped pretending and wore a resigned expression.
“Do you like hitting people, Mehen? I don’t like pain.”
“Shut your mouth before you hire a real assassin.”
Doctor Warren turned his back, pretending not to hear.
At this rate, even if rumors spread… he wouldn’t know.
