I’m The Male Lead’s Biological Daughter, But I Want To Live With The Second Male Lead! - Chapter 59

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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 59
At that moment, Mabel was meeting with Ella.
Ella, who had dressed Mabel in a light blue cape coat, smiled warmly.
With white wool trim around her neck, she looked just like a winter sprite.
“You’ve been warned about the Grand Duke’s instructions, haven’t you?”
“Yes!”
The Training Ground’s floor was dry earth, kicking up dust with every step.
There was no good reason to breathe in all that dirt.
Mabel looped the cloth mask Ella handed her over her ears.
“Perfect! Now let’s go watch Kellic’s sparring match!”
Mabel quickly grabbed Ella’s hand and walked toward the Training Ground.
“One, two! One, two!”
“One, two! One, two!”
Despite the chill that had settled over the season, heat radiated from the Training Ground as they drew near.
The wind whistled, yet the knights were slick with sweat.
Some had stripped their shirts entirely, swinging their blades bare-chested.
Every last one of them was taking their training with absolute seriousness.
“Wow, that’s incredible…”
This was actually her first time coming to the Training Ground.
Summer had been too hot, and autumn had slipped away in outings and adventures.
As Mabel looked around curiously, the knights’ eyes began to drift toward her one by one.
“Hey, look over there. Isn’t that the young lady?”
“What? Really? What brings her here?”
It was only natural for every eye to turn when a dainty, delicate child appeared in a training yard that reeked of sweat and labor.
And it wasn’t just anyone—it was Mabel herself.
Though they’d exchanged greetings and shared small gifts in passing, seeing her here felt entirely different.
“Aw, she’s so cute, looking around so intently.”
“The bell strings on the hood—genius move. There really are talented people in this world.”
“Somehow she looks even smaller than before.”
“Winter’s coming soon. I’m worried—she’s so thin, how will she survive the cold?”
But the knights kept their distance, merely murmuring among themselves.
They would have rushed toward her in a heartbeat if they could, but they couldn’t.
‘Frighten the young lady and we’re dead.’
Behind Mabel stood Ella, her fists clenched, quietly smiling.
‘Don’t interfere.’
A baby rabbit, followed by a bear that had evolved into a beast.
Any sensible man would not dare approach Mabel.
Still, frustrated by the caution, they could only bite their fingers—until, fortunately, Mabel looked toward them.
“Oh, she’s waving at us.”
When Mabel gave a small wave, the knights rushed to wave back as if entranced.
“Hehe, it’s the young lady~”
“Hello there, young lady~”
“Hope you’re doing well~”
The burly knights greeted her in honeyed, childlike tones.
At the sight of it, Mabel hunched her shoulders and giggled.
Ah… this really is healing…
Just watching from afar, the knights’ hearts grew warm and content.
Thanks to Ella’s firm discipline, Mabel quickly spotted Kellic.
“There he is—Kellic!”
Mabel’s face brightened as she looked up at Ella, who quickly lowered her fists.
“My, it is! Looks like he’s already begun his match!”
Nearby, a stump sat in a convenient spot for sitting.
“Shall we sit on the stump and watch?”
“Yes!”
Mabel waved goodbye to the knights and took hold of Ella’s hand.
The knights waved back to her again, as if spellbound.
Meanwhile, Kellic, wooden sword in hand, was engaged in serious combat with his opponent.
“Hah, hyah!”
Gone was the mischievous look he usually wore; his expression was grave and focused.
Thwack, tap, crack!
Kellic’s movements were sharp and fluid.
His stance was far more refined than what Mabel had seen in the underground dungeons of Asilonia Duchy.
“Good, very good!”
The one facing Kellic was none other than Hishin, and he remained perfectly at ease.
Mabel sat on a tree stump, watching the sparring match between Hishin and Kellic.
“Tsk.”
Unable to break through no matter how hard he attacked, Kellic clicked his tongue and leaped back with a huff.
“What, it’s over already?”
Hishin taunted him lightly, but Kellic didn’t bite and instead steadied his breathing with composure.
In the past, he would have charged in recklessly and exhausted himself, but now he knew how to pace himself properly.
Hishin was pleased by Kellic’s growth and had just lowered his sword when—
“An opening!”
In a blink, Kellic sprang high into the air and brought his full weight down upon his opponent.
“Ugh!”
Caught off guard, Hishin hastily blocked with his wooden sword, but his stance wavered slightly.
In that instant, crack—Hishin’s wooden sword snapped clean in two.
“Wow!”
“He shattered a sword!”
“You’re truly impressive, young master Kellic!”
Several spectators broke into applause at the sight.
Hishin flexed his stinging hands as he looked over at Kellic.
“An ambush? That’s hardly the conduct of a knight.”
But Kellic, wiping away sweat from his chin, grinned.
“Hah, you want to preach chivalry in real combat? You’d lose your head before you finished the sentence!”
Kellic’s memory of his bout with Caesar remained vividly imprinted in his mind.
When a blade is already thrusting toward your throat, what good is chivalry?
Survival came first.
For Mabel’s sake.
At Kellic’s words, Hishin’s mouth fell open for a moment as if caught, then snapped shut and broke into a wide smile.
“Oh ho, and here I thought you said you’d only learn Aristocratic Swordsmanship so no one would ever look down on you for being a Beastman?”
“Well, after living a bit, I realized that wasn’t everything.”
“Funny. You’re barely a sprout—how much living have you actually done?”
Hishin chuckled and locked a headlock around Kellic’s neck.
“Argh! Let go!”
Kellic struggled, but he was no match for Hishin’s strength.
Just as Kellic thrashed in Hishin’s grip—
“Wait, wait! Shouldn’t we help him, big sister? Shouldn’t we save Kellic?”
A familiar voice came from nearby.
“Huh?”
Trapped in Hishin’s arm, Kellic glanced to the side.
Though his cheek was pressed flat against Hishin’s muscular forearm and his eyes nearly closed, Mabel in her cute clothes was still perfectly visible to him.
“Mabel!”
“What? Where?”
At Kellic’s words, Hishin spun around frantically, looking everywhere.
In that moment of distraction, Hishin’s grip loosened just enough for Kellic to slip free.
He immediately rushed toward Mabel.
“What? When did you get here? Did you see me training?”
Warmth radiated from Kellic’s body after his intense practice.
His thick tail had emerged and swayed gently.
“Mm, I did see it, but…”
Mabel rose to her feet and nodded vigorously as she spoke.
Would he be okay after taking that headlock?
Fortunately, Kellic seemed perfectly fine.
Do all boys roughhouse this intensely? she was thinking, when Kellic cleared his throat.
“Ahem, ahem!”
He kept glancing sideways—clearly hoping for something.
Mabel wondered what it could be, then broke into a bright smile and spoke.
“You beat Hishin—you’re really amazing, Kellic!”
“Really?! I knew it!”
At Mabel’s praise, Kellic seemed embarrassed and quickly rubbed the underside of his nose.
“Then I’ll go wash up quickly and meet you in the Greenhouse!”
Kellic rushed to the washroom as though he couldn’t spare another moment.
Hishin, watching him go, approached with a polite greeting.
“It’s been some time, Miss. I trust you’ve been well?”
“Yes, and how have you been, Hishin?”
Mabel received his greeting with a warm smile.
The nearby knights, seeing how familiar they seemed, began to jeer openly.
“Ooh, don’t go talking to Miss like that~”
“Ooooh, Hishin’s making his move on Miss~”
They resented that Hishin could approach her so freely when they themselves couldn’t get close—not with Ella around.
“What do you mean, ‘making his move’?!”
Hishin bristled at that, then flinched and glanced sideways at Mabel.
Fortunately, she didn’t seem troubled by it.
Hishin was about to speak again.
“Mabel! Why aren’t you in the Greenhouse yet? What are you still doing here!”
Kellic, freshly washed, appeared in a flash and cut in.
“Already? You’re done washing?”
“Yeah, my hair’s short. I just shake it out and I’m done.”
He tousled his hair to show how quickly it dried.
Remarkably, it was already fluffy and dry.
“Ugh, I’m starving. Come on, let’s go!”
“Huh? Oh, but—”
Mabel glanced at Hishin, who’d barely managed to exchange greetings, but Kellic wasn’t about to wait.
“Let’s go get a snack~!”
He grasped Mabel’s hand firmly and pulled her toward the Greenhouse.
“Oh my, I should prepare some warm cocoa~”
Ella gave Mabel’s back a subtle nudge.
As a result, Mabel had no choice but to head for the Greenhouse without having a proper conversation with Hishin.
“We saw each other after so long, and yet… sniff…”
Of course, Hishin’s pitiful murmur went unheard.
* * *
Upon arriving at the Greenhouse, Kellic nearly jumped out of his skin.
“What?! An Engagement?! You, Mabel?!”

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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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