Chapter 43
“A Sword Master? You want me to become a Sword Master?”
“That’s the ultimate goal! Who knows? Maybe once you become a Sword Master, you’ll be healthy!”
“I can’t even run properly, and you’re talking about Sword Master…”
“That’s why it’s a goal!”
Pession smiled gently and urged her to flip the page.
“For the extraordinarily weak Arellin, I’ve prepared something special.”
Although she didn’t feel entirely convinced, Arellin obediently checked the plan.
“To start with, what I think is most urgent is your physical stamina.”
“Stamina?”
“It’s not just your body—I mean, you barely move around at all. Shouldn’t you at least go for a walk every day?”
“Who walks every day?”
“I do, right here?”
“Oh.”
She had said something ridiculous in front of someone who trained with extreme intensity every day.
“There are other priorities too, but building your basic stamina comes first. That’s why I prepared this!”
Arellin had realized something after the recent incident.
With this body, her survival rate wasn’t zero—it was more like negative ten thousand percent.
So, she accepted it to some extent and studied the plan carefully.
On the surface, it looked harmless.
Daily walks, light posture correction, and moderate exercise.
The problem was…
Seven times a week? Every single day?
“Is this for real?”
“You can’t skip a single day of exercise!”
Pession said it with such stern, solemn seriousness.
“But you need to give your muscles time to recover…”
“That’s why it’s not high-intensity every day! You have to move daily to improve endurance.”
“…”
There was no way out.
“What are you trying to turn me into?”
“A healthy person!”
“And what are you planning to do with me once I’m healthy?”
“That’s…”
Whatever he was thinking about made Pession’s cheeks turn red.
“I’ll tell you once you’re healthy.”
With a clenched fist and determined tone, Pession declared.
“Uh… okay.”
He was embarrassed, and for some reason, that embarrassment rubbed off on her.
“But do I really have to do all of this?”
“Yep.”
“Every single day? No exceptions?”
“You need to get healthy.”
Pession spoke firmly, as though her health were the most important mission in the world.
“I’ll definitely make you healthy!”
“…Sure, go ahead.”
What could possibly go wrong?
And now—
Arellin deeply regretted that past decision.
Let this be a lesson: “What could go wrong?” always goes wrong.
She was a demon.
“Arellin, how can you already be tired after walking this little~?”
I had summoned a demon.
“I’m tired. I’m dying. My legs won’t move. Is this the afterlife?”
“Nope, you’re still alive. And we haven’t even hit halfway yet. Come on, up we go!”
“No! This is my limit! If I keep going, I’ll collapse!”
“It’s fine, you won’t collapse from just this. And even if you do, don’t worry—Halbern, the court physician, is standing by. The moment you drop, he’ll step in. Trust me!”
“Save me…”
“Let’s go! You got this!”
Her face was flushed red, and she was panting so hard that she couldn’t even speak properly.
Arellin crossed her arms into an X, signaling absolutely not, but—
“What? You’re saying you’re ready to go faster? That you want to do even more?! Alright, let’s go!”
That sunny little devil didn’t take no for an answer.
This was hell.
A fitness hell created to punish those who didn’t even walk 3,000 steps a day!
“Okay, Arellin, breathe. You can do it. Let’s just do five more laps!”
“WHAT?!”
If I’m already in hell—
Might as well kill him today and go to a different hell.
Sadly, the Crown Prince’s assassination attempt failed.
“Hahaha. Is this a new game you invented, Arellin?”
“Just die.”
“Nope. I still have a long list of things I want to do with you!”
“…”
Why did I ever think trusting this guy was a good idea?
Next life, I’m never opening the door to him.
“I’ll come again tomorrow!”
“Don’t come!”
“Yup yup! I want to see you too! Maybe I’ll just sleep over?”
“No. Go.”
“Cheh. Then I’ll come early tomorrow!”
“Come late.”
“Yup yup! I know how you really feel!”
“You know nothing.”
“You like me, don’t you?”
“Ha. Have you lost your mind?”
“See! You’re just shy!”
Pession giggled.
“See you early tomorrow! Sleep well!”
No point responding.
That evening, after Pession had left—
Mehen once again found himself looking down at the human gum stuck to him.
Too exhausted to move, she was sprawled out on the floor, her arms clinging to his legs.
“Why don’t you just lie down in your room, My Lady?”
“I’m healing.”
“Then go heal in your room…”
“I said I’m healing.”
Mehen sighed.
“I’m tiiired…”
Her words were so mumbled and squashed from exhaustion, they barely made sense. Eventually, Mehen gave in.
“Let’s go, My Lady.”
“You’re kicking me out?”
Arellin gave him a pitiful look.
The kind of look that made you want to scoop her up and coo over her.
Mehen found himself smiling without realizing.
“No, I need to go to your room to do some paperwork.”
“You’re allowed to?”
“I can’t leave you like this, can I?”
“Hee~.”
“So please get up.”
“Carry me.”
Grumbling that she didn’t even have the energy to wiggle a finger, Arellin pouted.
Watching her act spoiled so uncharacteristically, Mehen laughed and scooped her up.
With his free hand, he gathered some urgent documents and left the office.
“Are you sure this is okay?”
“Yes. You’re more important.”
Arellin smiled brightly, her complexion clearly improved. It was as radiant as Pession the Crown Prince, whom she had once compared to the sun.
“Gasp! Lady Arellin’s acting spoiled!”
“Ugh. It’s always Mehen who gets the special treatment…”
“Give us some of that affection too!”
They passed by the “childcare squad,” who were muttering complaints—but Mehen tuned them out.
“Yaaawn.”
Back in her room.
Arellin stretched out on the bed and grabbed Mehen’s arm with one outstretched hand.
It was so funny and cute that Mehen thought he should record this later and send it to the North.
It’ll be great for bragging.
Everyone in the northern Saren Knight Order was already a massive Arellin fan, after all.
It would be perfect for teasing them.
“Mehen, do you enjoy doing paperwork?”
Despite blinking sleepily, Arellin hadn’t fallen asleep yet.
“No. I just remembered something amusing.”
“So Mehen is human.”
“….”
Mehen reached out and stroked Arellin’s hair.
“My Lady.”
“Call me by name. Like when I was a baby.”
“…Arell.”
She was growing more and more spoiled by the day.
It felt like everything she had held in was finally bursting out, and it made Mehen feel bittersweet.
“Are you having trouble sleeping?”
“I’ve always been a bad sleeper.”
“Are you worried about something?”
“Just… a lot on my mind.”
Rolling her eyes, Arellin added briefly.
“I’m not used to exercising either.”
“I see.”
Arellin shifted and snuggled even closer to Mehen.
“Do you really think… if I exercise, my illness will get better?”
“…It’s hard to say.”
Mehen’s gaze deepened.
They didn’t know the cause, the reason for the episodes, or even the name of the disease still progressing in her body.
All they could do was suppress the visible symptoms.
How could that not be frustrating?
“Even so, I think… if you become healthier than you are now, you might have a better chance at living longer.”
“Hmm. I see.”
Arellin playfully asked,
“Do you want me to live a long life, Mehen?”
“Yes.”
No hesitation. Immediate response.
Arellin looked slightly touched.
“Mommy!”
“….”
Mehen sighed at the teasing gaze and replied.
“Yes.”
Giggling, Arellin tightened her grip on Mehen’s arm.
“If Mommy wishes it, I’ll try a little harder.”
“You’re very kind.”
“I’ve always been kind.”
Too kind for her own good.
Muttering that, Arellin closed her eyes again.
Mehen, watching her, finally asked the question he had been holding back.
“There’s something I’d like to ask.”
“What is it?”
The soft pink of her rose quartz eyes looked deeper than usual.
Feeling suddenly parched, Mehen swallowed and asked:
“Do you… miss your father?”
It was a question he had never dared to ask before, afraid it would hurt her.
Had her heart changed a bit after their recent remote meeting with her father?
While Mehen waited nervously—
“Why would I, when Mommy’s right here?”
Arellin tilted her head.
“As long as you’re here, I’m okay.”
“Ah…”
For a moment, Mehen didn’t know whether he should feel relieved—or deeply sad.
