I’m The Male Lead’s Biological Daughter, But I Want To Live With The Second Male Lead! - Chapter 48

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 48
“Plaintiff Zigmund Eschlide, who has filed this suit, you may now present your statement regarding defendant Caesar Asilonia.”
The Judge presiding over today’s trial was a man renowned for his impartiality—so much so that even the Emperor trusted his judgment.
With public attention fixed upon the proceedings, the Emperor had made it clear that no impropriety would be tolerated.
“Yes, I shall begin my statement.”
The man who rose in Zigmund’s stead was Dain.
He was to serve as the Eschlide Grand Duchy’s representative today.
Drawing on what Lundwell had told him, Dain detailed how Asilonia had subjected Mabel to abuse over the past eight years.
The story was so profoundly tragic and horrific that even the jury could not suppress their sighs.
Zigmund and Kellic worried that the testimony might inflict fresh wounds upon Mabel.
Yet Mabel sat with an impassive expression, her gaze fixed only on Caesar.
Her composed demeanor only deepened the sympathy the onlookers felt for her.
“……Therefore, we petition for the Custody Revocation of Mabel Asilonia.”
As Dain resumed his seat, the Judge turned his attention toward Asilonia’s side.
“I see you have filed a counter-petition. Present your statement.”
Asilonia’s counter-petition statement began.
Though the speech was long and elaborate, the conclusion was singular.
“This is a matter of family, an affair conducted within the household. It is rather the Eschlide Grand Duchy that has committed the felony—abducting a child, nay, an heir, without permission and without authorization.”
The message was clear: this is family business, and third parties have no place in it.
Logically speaking, Asilonia’s counsel was absolutely right.
No matter how grievously Mabel had been abused, with Caesar as her biological father, the Eschlide Grand Duchy had virtually no chance of prevailing.
Unless some unforeseen variable emerged.
“Your Honor, I ask that you view this recording.”
This was Kellic’s moment to act.
Kellic stepped forward, clutching the Magic Stone Basket he had brought with him firmly to his chest as he fixed his gaze upon the white wall.
For a moment, as Kellic’s eyes remained fixed upon the wall, a faint light emanated from his pupils.
The events of that day—what Kellic had witnessed and endured—unfolded before the assembled crowd in vivid, moving images.
“First, Caesar Asilonia attempted to imprint the Subjugation Mark upon Kellic Crimson Joro, an official disciple of the Eschlide Grand Duchy.”
“I object.”
Asilonia’s counsel struck immediately.
“There is no legal issue with imprinting the Subjugation Mark upon a masterless beastman, regardless of who performs the act.”
In the Greenhurst Empire, beastmen were not recognized as beings with rights.
Consequently, they could not be parties to a trial.
“Conceded.”
Thus this point was dismissed without resistance.
But this was entirely anticipated.
The reason they had raised it nonetheless was to publicly establish that within the Grand Duchy, Kellic was not merely a beastman.
“Tsk.”
Kellic muttered in frustration at the implication that he could not even be a party to the trial.
Mabel squeezed his hand firmly.
Regardless of society’s prejudices or what anyone else might say, to Mabel, Kellic was a person—a distinct individual with his own dignity.
Dain continued.
“However, there is indeed a legal problem when such a mark is imprinted upon a person. As the recording shows, the head of the Asilonia household attempted to perpetrate something unspeakable upon his own daughter, Mabel Asilonia.”
The Judge’s expression flickered almost imperceptibly.
Even his seasoned nerves recoiled at Caesar’s excessive cruelty—his stomach churned.
“Is it true that the Seal was modified?”
Since the state had specified which types of imprinting seals were permitted, the mere fact of unauthorized modification constituted a felony.
“Yes. I submit this Seal, recovered at the scene by Kellic Crimson Joro.”
As Dain presented the evidence, Asilonia’s counsel interjected.
“However, even so, the situation shown in the recording was merely a demonstration meant as discipline, and whether it would actually take effect if used on a person remains unknown—!”
“Then, does counsel for Asilonia acknowledge that the recording transmitted by the red fox beastman is truthful?”
“……!”
The lawyer’s face went ashen, caught in a careless mistake born of panic.
Caesar, who had anticipated the video evidence and thus remained indifferent until now, felt his expression darken menacingly.
“Pointless blather…….”
“I—I apologize.”
The counsel stammered, his voice trembling.
Caesar clicked his tongue and rose to his feet.
“Yet ultimately, nothing happened. Neither that red fox beastman nor my daughter bears an imprinted mark.”
Though the jury stirred uneasily at his shameless assertion, logically his words could not be refuted.
Caesar held his ground all the more firmly, knowing this as well.
“I admit to purchasing an illegally modified Seal. But that is all. Everything else occurred within family matters. Rather, the Grand Duchy’s very intrusion into our internal affairs constitutes an overreach of authority.”
Caesar concluded his counter-statement by announcing he would sue Eschlide for defamation.
Some jury members sided with Caesar.
It was clear he had bought them off.
The Judge felt a headache coming on.
Caesar had indeed committed a crime, but whether it warranted Custody Revocation was another matter entirely.
Yet neither could he openly ignore the proven instances of abuse.
‘In the first place, to revoke custody at all, the couple would need to divorce first.’
Just as the Judge was about to call for a recess, seeing no immediate resolution—
“Your Honor, if I may. I wish to submit an additional Petition.”
Dain drew something from his pocket.
“What is that?”
If it required review, all the more reason to adjourn proceedings.
Yet Dain stood confident, as though he could end the trial here and now.
He submitted the Petition, turning to face Caesar.
“A Custody Revocation Petition authored by Sophia Asilonia, Mabel’s biological mother.”
* * *
Days earlier, Zigmund had sought out Mabel again.
“You called for me, Father?”
Peering through the half-opened door, Mabel now wore only a small Band-aid on her hand.
Children’s capacity to heal was truly remarkable.
Thanks to this, Mabel’s and Kellic’s wounds had closed quickly—but the problem was Aselt.
Days of sleeping rough and Zigmund’s relentless nagging had left him bedridden.
“I’m sorry to call you away while you’re tending to Aselt.”
“Not at all.”
Mabel had just been feeding him rice gruel moments before.
As she approached, Zigmund spoke bluntly.
“Mabel, if we win this trial, you’ll likely be able to choose where you want to stay going forward.”
Mabel nodded readily.
That would mean she need not return to Asilonia.
Besides, Mabel had been showing keen interest in the trial preparations of late.
“But we’ve detected Caesar moving to launch a Public Opinion Campaign recently.”
“A Public Opinion Campaign?”
“Yes. The court will likely be swayed by the sentiment that family matters must be resolved within the family itself. That would put us at a disadvantage.”
Currently, Caesar was under a Restraining Order due to the abuse charges against him.
But this was no absolute prohibition.
Caesar was moving swiftly, even attempting to sway the jury members.
“So we need a powerful card to overturn that sentiment.”
“A powerful card…….”
“That’s why I’m asking, Mabel.”
Zigmund, carefully observing her expression, ventured to broach the subject delicately.
“If you’re willing, I was thinking of persuading Sophia to testify as a Witness for our side.”
“Mother?”
Mabel’s eyes went wide at this unexpected suggestion.
“Of course, your wishes come first. If you don’t want to, we won’t do it.”
Zigmund hastily added.
Mabel had known where Sophia was all along, yet had never gone to her.
Perhaps she had truly steeled herself to sever familial bonds, as she’d thought during that brief moment of wavering before.
But what if it was the opposite—what if she simply hadn’t been able to go because she was too afraid?
– Even while drifting between life and death, Mabel kept calling the Duke of Asilonia “Father.”
If a child starved for affection had been too afraid of being abandoned by her mother again to even visit…….
Thinking it over after hearing Aselt’s words, Zigmund realized Mabel had continued calling Sophia ‘Mother’ throughout.
Though Sophia bore significant responsibility for the misfortune Mabel had endured as a phantom princess.
‘If Mabel is afraid even to meet Sophia, fearing she’ll be cast aside a second time…….’
Zigmund had resolved never to use this approach.
And yet…….
“Then what if we do it this way instead?”
“Hmm?”
“Mother is hiding right now, avoiding both Father and you, isn’t she?”
“Mm, is that so?”
“But if I know where Mother is, then this… doesn’t that make it a weakness of hers instead?”
Mabel’s eyes sparkled as she spoke, bright with the satisfaction of a clever realization.
Zigmund found himself momentarily caught off guard by her unexpected response.
‘That’s not what I meant at all.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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