I’m The Male Lead’s Biological Daughter, But I Want To Live With The Second Male Lead! - Chapter 49

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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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Chapter 49
Mabel began explaining to Siegmund methodically.
“I think the person Mother wants to avoid most is Father.”
In the past, Siegmund had even gone so far as to claim her accomplishments as his own, beyond merely writing her dissertations for her.
Moreover, even now that the laboratory had been ransacked, he hadn’t launched a sweeping manhunt for Sophia.
‘Perhaps the Grand Duke loves Sophia too much to do such a thing.’
Since Sophia knew this as well, she wouldn’t make Siegmund her first priority to avoid.
But Cesar was different.
Sophia’s misfortune had begun with Cesar.
No matter how much Cesar regretted his actions, she would have no desire to see him.
Of course, only the people involved could truly know such things, but Mabel did.
‘Because the novel said so.’
Mabel spoke to Siegmund with absolute conviction.
“Then what if we threatened Mother by saying, ‘I know where you are. I simply won’t tell Cesar—so cooperate with me’? Wouldn’t that work?”
“Hmm…….”
Siegmund fell silent at Mabel’s sharp and ruthless analysis.
‘Did I misjudge her?’
He’d thought that because she craved affection, she would long for her mother’s tenderness.
Yet here she was, eagerly proposing to blackmail her mother.
‘I’m not sure what to make of this…….’
But one thing was certain: Mabel had no qualms about using Sophia.
“Very well. Let’s do as you suggest.”
And so, contrary to his earlier concerns, Siegmund found himself able to prepare his decisive card with a light heart.
* * *
This was how they had obtained the petition that Dain now submitted.
“The witness didn’t accompany you?”
“That is correct. She had other matters to attend to. But if you review the petition, you’ll see that Sophia, Duchess of Ashilonia, is also a victim of domestic violence.”
The courtroom stirred at this startling revelation.
And no wonder—the touching love story of the Duke and Duchess of Ashilonia was legendary.
A first love that had blossomed into marriage, extraordinarily rare in Noble Society.
Moreover, she was the woman who had borne an heir to Cesar, who was known to suffer from infertility.
Their bond was said to be so strong that it inspired envy throughout the realm.
Yet Dain’s voice was steady and unwavering as he refuted every whispered rumor.
“Therefore, House of Eschlid hereby petitions to strip parental rights from Cesar, Duke of Ashilonia, and simultaneously to grant sole custody to Sophia, Duchess of Ashilonia, according to her wishes.”
“Impossible! Sophia is missing!”
Cesar protested that the petition was forged, but the document bore Sophia’s signature.
When compared with the marriage contract, it was unmistakably genuine—her own hand.
At this, the courtroom erupted with fresh murmurs.
Everyone in the Empire knew that Siegmund was utterly devoted to Sophia’s word.
Though Siegmund had formally denied it, all believed he harbored romantic feelings for her.
But now, to invoke the Grand Duke’s name itself in her defense and to secure custody for her—
Didn’t this make it seem as though Siegmund genuinely loved Sophia?
“Then the rumor about the Duchess committing infidelity…….”
“Could the father of the young lady sitting there be……?”
As the whispers grew louder, the judge rapped his gavel to silence the gallery.
In the meantime, the judge finished reviewing Sophia’s petition.
“The veracity of the plaintiff’s claims has been confirmed. Under imperial law, parental rights cannot normally be assigned without divorce, but given the exceptional circumstances of this case, I render my judgment.”
“Your Honor!”
Cesar cried out in desperation at this unexpected reversal, but the judge paid him no mind and pronounced the verdict.
“The defendant, Cesar, Duke of Ashilonia, is found to have utilized an altered sigil obtained through illegal methods to brand a person, and testimony from his wife Sophia, Duchess of Ashilonia, confirms he inflicted horrific abuse upon his daughter Mabel, Duchess of Ashilonia—”
“Your Honor!”
Cesar surged from his seat in fury, rushing toward the bench to stop the judge, but the gavel came down first.
“Parental rights are hereby revoked.”
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Cesar’s face went rigid with shock as the irreversible judgment was delivered.
* * *
Shortly after, in the carriage returning to the Grand Duke’s Palace, Kellic voiced his question.
“But why did Mabel’s guardianship go to that woman? Why did she get it?”
In truth, Mabel found it somewhat unexpected herself.
She had naturally assumed Siegmund would be awarded custody.
‘Isn’t that what you meant when you said I’d be able to choose where to live from now on? That I could choose the Grand Duke’s household?’
When Mabel looked at him with curious eyes, Siegmund cleared his throat with a low hum.
“To strip Sophia of parental rights, I needed evidence that she participated in the abuse.”
“But that’s proof enough! Mabel grew up alone partly because of Cesar, but in the first place, that woman—”
“Kellic.”
Siegmund quieted the agitated Kellic.
Kellic belatedly seemed to remember that they were, one way or another, Mabel’s parents, and fell silent.
“Why? Kellic didn’t say anything wrong.”
“Uh, what?”
“Everything you said was right.”
Kellic asked in confusion, and Mabel answered matter-of-factly.
“She might as well not have been there. So even when she left, I wasn’t particularly lonely. That was a relief, honestly.”
Now Kellic fell silent for an entirely different reason.
He thought about it sometimes—Mabel possessed a strangely transparent abyss.
Thanks to that clarity, he could easily understand the pain she’d endured, yet simultaneously he couldn’t fathom its depth.
The moment he thought the bottom was visible and shallow, the instant he waded in, he’d sink fathomlessly into the void.
‘It’s difficult…….’
How could he possibly make Mabel’s abyss—her wounds—shallower?
As Kellic remained silent, Siegmund, who had also been quiet, spoke with care.
“For a trial to proceed, the other party has to appear. If they repeatedly refuse to attend, we can enforce attendance, but that takes considerable time.”
…….
“And Kellic, you saw it yourself. The Ashilonia side can overturn an ‘attempt’ to brand Mabel with a Sigil through public opinion alone. It was never completed, after all.”
“But that Sigil was real. It hurt, and Mabel might actually have been branded…….”
“Yes, I understand that well.”
As Siegmund spoke, a flash of anguish crossed his face.
Mabel, who had been listening quietly, was startled.
‘He’s speaking……as though he’s experienced it himself…….’
It was strange.
Siegmund, the highest person in the realm aside from the Emperor, could never have borne a mark of servitude.
“In any case, while we wait for Sophia to appear at trial, Mabel’s parental rights would remain with Cesar. Surely that’s not what you want, Kellic.”
“Of course not! I hear Restraining Orders have time limits! That would mean Mabel would have to go back there eventually!”
Kellic shook his head firmly at the very thought.
“So we decided to do this one step at a time. First, rescue Mabel from Cesar…….”
Siegmund glanced sideways at Mabel.
When Mabel appeared unmoved again, he continued.
“Next comes rescuing her from Sophia.”
Ah, there were stages to this, then.
‘He doesn’t dislike me.’
Mabel felt relieved without thinking, then was startled by her own reaction.
It sounded as though she were regretting not becoming Siegmund’s daughter through today’s trial!
That was absolutely not the case.
She’d never even dreamed of such indulgence.
‘Get yourself together. Focus.’
Mabel drew a firm line between herself and Siegmund in her mind.
“Sigh……. It would be nice to do it all at once……. Since Master and Mabel look alike, we really could’ve been a real family…….”
Meanwhile, Kellic still wore a pouting expression despite having heard the full explanation.
After muttering to himself for a while, he turned to Mabel with a bright smile.
“Still, it’s fortunate, Mabel. Now we can stay together from now on!”
Though Mabel’s guardianship technically remained with Sophia, Sophia was currently missing.
Moreover, the petition stipulated that Mabel’s protection be entrusted to House of Eschlid.
That was precisely what Siegmund had aimed for, though Mabel knew nothing of it.
In any case, this meant Mabel could continue living in the Grand Duke’s Palace indefinitely.
Unless Sophia reunited with Cesar and filed for reinstatement of parental rights.
‘I’m bothered by the fact that this novel’s ending is supposed to be a happy one for the protagonists…….’
That much, at least, she was determined to prevent with all her might.
* * *
That evening.
After much deliberation, Mabel sought out Siegmund.
There was something she needed to confirm first—about the protagonists’ happy ending, which meant Sophia’s downfall.
Just as Siegmund had done before the trial, Mabel spoke directly.
“Father, how much do you love our mother……?”

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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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