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Chapter 114
The sudden chest pain, which had been so intense that I could barely breathe, turned out to be nothing serious.
‘Well, it did get better quickly.’
Perhaps it was thanks to the magician who had helped me during the attack? He certainly didn’t seem like an ordinary magician…
I glanced at the back of my hand, now free of any markings. After wearing it for so long, it felt a bit empty.
“Are you saying there’s nothing wrong?”
Mehen openly expressed doubt upon hearing this diagnosis.
Even the attending physician, the mages from the mage tower, and the priests from the temple all agreed with the results, but he still couldn’t be convinced.
“Are you saying it’s normal for someone to have pain and yet show no abnormalities?”
“Well… heart pain was a recurring symptom for you, and with your regular meals and moderate exercise, your overall health has actually improved compared to before…”
“Improved? This?”
“Yes? Um… yes…”
Mehen glared at the physician with dissatisfaction.
I could see Dr. Warren, my attending, tensing up, thinking, ‘Why is he overreacting again?’
It seemed he was more concerned about my father, who was quietly smiling nearby.
My father looked at me, then fell silent, as if lost in thought.
“If your heart hurt, could it have been the Dragon Heart you were given?”
“Dragon… what? You’re joking, right?”
What on earth did he give me to eat?
My father smiled lightly, but given who said it, it couldn’t be dismissed as a joke.
“Valer.”
“Why?”
“Do you want to die? Who told you to eat something like that without the doctor’s approval?”
“I did.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
Ah, they’re going to start fighting again!
“Mom!”
I dashed in, clinging to Mehen. Maybe because I had been sick, Mehen, who usually seemed harsh and irritable, paused immediately.
“I’m fine, Mehen.”
I tugged gently at his collar, and Mehen sighed softly.
“Ha. I suppose I’ve become overly sensitive.”
Mehen admitted it without resistance.
“The thought of possibly losing Arel….”
Looking into his eyes, filled with guilt, impatience, affection, and anxiety all at once, I just laughed.
It seemed Mehen was more anxious about his past than my health.
His regret for not taking better care of me when he had the chance pricked my heart.
“Ugh.”
“…?”
<Well Done!>
Because of the nursery group’s affection hierarchy squabbles, this sticker had become an essential item for me.
I picked the prettiest one and placed it on Mehen’s cheek.
Watching my action with a blank expression, Mehen tilted his head. When I showed him a hand mirror, he finally smiled.
“There’s no praise sticker chart for you, Mehen.”
“Haha.”
I couldn’t tell if he was pleased or embarrassed as he just laughed.
As usual, my father, who had been watching, intervened.
“What about me, daughter?”
His playful look seemed like he could take it or leave it…
‘He’s still staring at Mehen’s cheek.’
I sighed at his childish indecision over whether to take a sticker.
Really, this man…
“Me too.”
My father requested one.
“Jealous of Mehen?”
“Yes.”
I scowled at him and pulled out another sticker from my pocket.
<Try a Little Harder!>
There was no way I could give him a <Well Done!>
Seeing the sticker on my father’s cheek, Mehen chuckled. Handing the mirror over to my father, his expression became slightly awkward.
“Not good enough yet?”
“Yes, you need more effort.”
At my stern evaluation, my father scrunched his handsome face, then burst out laughing.
Where exactly is the funny part here?
“Alright, I’ll try harder.”
My father rubbed his cheek against my small hand, softening his gaze.
“Yes, try harder!”
At that moment, I had no idea what consequences putting those stickers on their cheeks would bring.
Mehen, ignoring the gazes directed at him, steadfastly finished the regular meeting.
The nursery group looked at him with expressions like they had something to say.
“Excuse me, Mehen.”
“That sticker on your cheek…”
“Could it be that the lady put it on?”
All trembling gazes converged, and Mehen’s mouth softened into a gentle smile.
At this moment, Mehen alone seemed relaxed, smiling without saying a word.
It was as if he was saying, ‘This is the difference between you and me,’ and the entire nursery group felt a sudden pang of frustration.
Eventually, after the meeting ended, they all rushed to Arelin.
“Miss, please put one on my cheek next time! A big one!”
“I’d like it on my forehead!”
“Mine absolutely! On my lips!”
“I want it on my eyes!”
Arelin blinked in disbelief at their sudden requests.
“But you already have your sticker charts…”
Duke Sperom rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things.
What in the sacred imperial palace…?
“Simon.”
“No, Quayen.”
Seeing a familiar face, Duke Sperom hurriedly grabbed Duke Muvisk.
“Look over there.”
“Hm? What is it…?”
Turning toward the direction Sperom indicated, Duke Muvisk was momentarily speechless.
There, wandering around with strange stickers on his cheeks, was Duke Valer of Halbern.
“What madness is this? Do you know what he’s up to?”
Sperom asked Muvisk anxiously. Neither could predict Valer’s behavior, and both were speechless.
“What’s he sticking on his cheek…?”
“How should I know!”
Sperom grimaced. Muvisk hesitated briefly, then approached Valer directly.
“Valer, what on earth are you putting on your face?”
Without greeting, Valer smiled softly.
“Praise stickers the lady gave me.”
“Uh…?”
“She said to try harder.”
He touched his cheek and smiled contentedly.
“Cute, isn’t it?”
Even like that, it was charming. His face could captivate anyone, even with a weird sticker.
Muvisk nodded stiffly, thinking maybe it was because it was Valer; it actually looked good.
Sperom stayed at a distance, wary of some unknown curse, watching them.
“Have you been walking around like that all day?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To show off?”
Valer laughed lightly, saying he just wanted to show himself to as many people as possible.
“Did you show it to His Majesty too?”
“Yes. He seemed jealous.”
“…His Majesty? No way.”
Even thinking Valer must have forced the answer, Muvisk wasn’t completely sure.
“No, surely not?”
“I’ll show off even more.”
Valer got up cheerfully. Muvisk couldn’t say a word.
Valer wandered around all the hot spots, sticker <Try a Little Harder!> still on his cheek.
The next day.
“Leading the New Trend!”
A photo of Valer with a sticker on his face made the front page of the Albrecht Times.
Mehen, peacefully sipping his morning coffee while reading the newspaper, spewed it out in shock.
“Duke Halbern (26) visited Gienhaus adorned with stickers that are expected to become this summer’s social trend. People are already anticipating the new trend…”
What did I just see?
Mehen read the article with trembling hands and quickly closed it. He didn’t want to know more.
“Hah, is the world really going crazy?”
He muttered to himself as he opened another newspaper calmly.
“Pffft—!”
Mehen once again spewed his coffee.
“Duke Halbern’s True Love is ‘This Man’?!”
The article had a blurry photo of Mehen and Valer happily attending the first royal ball together.
