MLOMH 151

Chapter 151

“Ugh.”

I braced my legs and forced myself up.

“Whoa.”

Thunderous applause erupted from the childcare staff, who had been anxiously watching me wobble about.

“Milady!”
“Get well soon!”
“Congratulations!”
Clap clap clap clap!

Thanks to my father’s fussiness and constant pressure, I had been confined to bed for 15 days.

After half a month, I finally received a clean bill of health and could walk again.

“Are you okay, milady?”

“Yes. I’m not dizzy.”

Considering how dramatically I had fainted, my body felt surprisingly good. I’d need my status panel to check the exact condition, but I felt healthier already.

Could this be the effect of exercise?

“No, get out of my head! Fitness obsession universe!”

Finally freeing myself from exercise-induced gaslighting, I carefully checked my body.

“Hmm, no problem walking around.”

Perhaps because it had been so long, even the garden walk I had once dreaded felt refreshing and pleasant.

Health is so precious.

Today, Halbern Manor was peaceful as ever.

I was greeted with breakfast in the dining room for the first time in a while.

“Ah, I forgot about this tasteless menu.”

The joy I had felt vanished as soon as I saw the menu prepared by Feshion.

“Tasteless? This is a healthy menu!”
“The chef put so much care into it!”

Yuni and Emma defended the chef, but I had already lost my appetite just looking at the high-protein, low-carb meal that seemed healthy enough to make someone feel better just by staring at it.

I really didn’t want to think this way, but meals at Locke Castle had been better.

I briefly longed for my brief, free imprisonment by the emperor, then opened my eyes.

The dining room was filled with people who had come upon hearing I would be having breakfast.

“Not busy, huh? Nobody came to check even when you left. The Southern Empire must be quite idle.”

My father, Valer, who was embarrassing no matter where he went.

“If a country fell just because someone left for a few days, it would’ve collapsed already. Does Halbern fall apart without you?”

Regent Ludwig, who never lost to my father, sneered.

“Are you insulting our Mehen?”

“…Please, can you leave me out of your conversation?”

Even poor Mehen, who clearly wanted to retire, was involved.

Hmm… what a mess.

Seeing them together like this, the dysfunctional nature of my family was obvious.

Our house is a disaster?

Bean noodles would probably taste good here.

“Ah, I want bean noodles.”

The moment I said it, three pairs of eyes turned to me.

“Arel, what do you want to eat?”
“Should Dad fetch it?”
“I’ll get it immediately.”

Overwhelmed by all that attention, I could only blink.

Why go that far…?

“Why are you fetching food for my daughter?”
“A protector interfering even with her daughter’s meals? Poor Arel.”
“Don’t casually call my daughter by a nickname.”

Valer’s handsome face twisted as he snapped.

Judging by how they immediately resumed growling at each other, this would be a long morning.

I sighed heavily, which only seemed to reignite the fire between them.

“She’s uncomfortable because of you. Go away.”
“Is it really because of me? Isn’t it because of someone childish acting immature?”
“Yep. That’s you.”
“Ha, this is ridiculous. I can’t even talk to you.”
“Yep. That’s you too.”

They glared at each other again, growling.

How long must I endure this pathetic and childish exchange?

As I clicked my tongue internally, I locked eyes with Mehen.

“We understand each other~.”

A moment of silent agreement, a knowing glance, a subtle smile.

Even amid the tension, the two continued their stand-off.

“You shouldn’t be relaxing here. Don’t you know what your puppet emperor is up to?”
“Ha. So it was you who provoked Franz. No wonder that coward did something out of character.”
“Not provocation, proper advice. If you know, why not leave my house?”
“Ha. As if.”

Regent Ludwig looked at me.

“The only one who can throw me out is Arelin.”

A crack appeared in Valer’s smile.

My father turned to me with a sulky expression.

“Did you hear that, daughter? Tell him to leave immediately.”

He has no shame being my father.

I gave him a brief look of disbelief, but he was always like this, so I wasn’t disappointed.

“Are they fighting again?”

At my incredulous question, Regent Ludwig stiffened quickly.

“No.”
“Dad wants to fight.”

The regent denied it, while my ridiculous father seemed ready to pounce at any opportunity.

Before I could speak, they clashed again.

“You’re quite skilled with flattery. Should’ve used it on your sister.”
“I did.”
“Oh, really?”
“Just didn’t work.”

Regent Ludwig looked offended, while my father burst into laughter.

“Ah, my sister’s pretty strong that way.”

The psychological battle continued.

Although Dad had been the instigator, this time the regent provoked first.

“You’ve been excessively pampered. The woman only worried about you until her death. Why else would she do that if you weren’t so unreliable?”

Dad’s previously cheerful expression instantly grew cold.

“Interesting. Keep going.”
“You left something for her, but nothing for me.”

Thinking about this still made the regent seethe with jealousy, his eyes glinting.

Meeting that gaze, Valer smiled brightly.

“You acted petty, so you didn’t get your sister’s love.”
“Petty?”
“Yep. Petty.”
“You wanna test that?”
“Wanna try? I’m all for it.”

It felt like a knife fight was about to break out.

Clang.

The tension was broken by the sound of falling dishes.

The regent and Dad immediately turned to me.

“I’m done eating.”

Silence fell instantly.

“….”
“….”

Both of them seemed to remember I was there, looking surprised.

In the uncomfortable quiet, only Mehen quietly gave me a thumbs-up.

Thumbs up!

After breakfast.

I tilted my head as I watched Dad circle me like a restless puppy.

“Daughter.”

If you’re going to watch me like that, why cause a fuss?

“Are you angry?”
“Why would I be angry at Dad?”
“Then why do you look at me like that?”

Do I have to say it out loud?

“Because it’s pathetic?”

“….”

I sighed, watching my father, speechless.

“How long are you going to sulk?”
“I’m not sulking.”

Once again, my handsome father tried to appease me with his face, so I held it and rubbed his cheek.

How can someone still look this good after being played with?

His long eyelashes, straight nose, and delicate eyes… and his skin!

“I can’t forgive you.”
“Then don’t.”

His long lashes fluttered, and his startled eyes met mine.

Funny. Who told him to forgive?

“You can hate me forever.”

Honestly, I liked that Dad still harbored a grudge against the regent.

“Someone has to fully take Mom Sione’s side. Right?”

We pressed our foreheads together, smiling, and Dad gave a helpless chuckle.

“Really can’t win against you, daughter.”
“Were you trying to win against me?”
“No.”

He pulled me close with one arm and held my hand to his cheek with the other.

“Warm.”

Watching him breathe evenly, as if this warmth kept him alive, I felt strangely moved.

“Stop bothering Mom.”
“Mehen betrayed me first.”
“Don’t you feel sorry for Mom? If you stop, I’ll follow her too.”

My warning caused a frown to appear on Dad’s handsome forehead.

“Daughter, abandon your father?”
“So just behave properly.”

Though he still frowned, Dad nodded.

“If that’s your wish, I’ll try.”

Mehen’s office.

The hard-won meeting finally arranged.

The infamous three-way confrontation: Valer versus Ludwig.

Mehen silently praised Arelin for making this miraculous moment happen.

“Now, let’s settle this all at once today. Please.”