I’m The Male Lead’s Biological Daughter, But I Want To Live With The Second Male Lead! - Chapter 61

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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 61
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Time passed, and at last came the day of the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.
Watching Mabel as she finished her preparations, Ella heaved a long, heavy sigh.
“Oh, Miss~ surely you don’t intend to wear that~?”
“I do!”
Mabel answered brightly.
Anyone who saw Mabel standing before the mirror would have cried out just as Ella did.
Setting aside her hair, which was simply pinned up high with not a single decorative flourish, the garment Mabel wore was not a dress at all — it was shorts!
The brief cut that rose just above her knees certainly did emphasize Mabel’s charm, but still!
The long sailor collar and the ruffles adorning the hem of the shorts were lovely, but still!
‘And yet today is my young lady’s very first attendance at a banquet held in the Capital~!’
All the other children would surely arrive dressed in brilliant gowns.
Among them, Mabel alone would be wearing shorts.
But what of it.
“The Master said it was fine!”
Mabel was delighted that Zigmund had taken her side.
It was Zigmund himself who had first suggested wearing trousers.
— If we’re going to make trouble anyway, we might as well shake things up from the public opinion campaign onwards.
If the Queen Consort had prepared a public opinion campaign, its contents were obvious enough.
She would praise Mabel as a remarkable young noblewoman and say she was well-matched with the Crown Prince.
Then, when the two of them stood side by side, the Queen Consort would make a grand announcement and speak of an engagement before all assembled.
Given how predictable the public opinion campaign unfolding in the banquet hall was to be, there was no way to overturn it.
So Zigmund’s thought was that he ought to disrupt it instead.
“But~ well…….”
No matter that Zigmund had given his permission, Ella remained uneasy.
For safety’s sake or ease of movement, it was common enough for young girls to wear trousers.
But today’s banquet was none other than the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration.
“Can this really be all right~?”
What if it seemed to show disrespect to the royal family, or contempt — what if unwanted attention fell upon them…….
“It’ll be fine.”
Zigmund, having entered the room unnoticed, interjected into their conversation.
At the sound of his voice, Mabel, who had been turning this way and that before the triple mirror to examine herself, spun around with a delighted smile.
“Master!”
Zigmund simply scooped up the Mabel who came pattering toward him, and reassured Ella.
He himself was dressed far more formally than usual.
The hair that normally drifted near his eyebrows was parted neatly down the middle, and his slightly longer locks at the back had been trimmed neat.
The formal attire he had prepared for today was deep blue, which suited his silver hair beautifully.
The light sky-blue dolman that fell long to his knees was embroidered with silver thread, giving it a refined elegance.
It harmonized perfectly with the light sky-blue outfit Mabel wore.
“Even at last year’s banquet, several young noblewomen wore trousers. It’s hardly an unusual choice.”
Of course, those girls had spilled drinks on their gowns and hurriedly changed into them.
But in any case, they did celebrate the Crown Prince’s birthday in shorts, did they not?
Zigmund kept the rest to himself and maintained a straight face.
“Then that’s a relief~”
Ella, unaware of this fact, gazed at Mabel with a look of acceptance.
“Though you’re not disappointed~? For your first banquet~”
“Not at all! My brothers can’t even attend, so I didn’t want to dress up just for myself.”
At Mabel’s spirited reply, both Ella’s and Zigmund’s expressions dimmed slightly.
Aselt and Kellic, being beastmen, had not been invited to the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.
Thus only Zigmund and Mabel could come to the townhouse in the Capital.
“……Very well, then~ let us save showing off how beautifully you’re dressed for a banquet where the young masters can attend as well~”
Ella smiled faintly and stepped back.
In all the time she had spent with Mabel, she had never won an argument — but this time was a true defeat.
How could she continue pressing the matter when faced with such reasoning.
‘Our young lady is truly kind-hearted~’
With some regret, she decided to save showing off the cute dresses she had secretly procured for another occasion.
Shortly after, Mabel and Zigmund climbed into the carriage that had been waiting for them.
“Safe travels, Miss!”
Since today’s escort was someone else, Dain had to remain at the townhouse.
“The medicine?”
“Right here.”
Dain handed a small medicine bottle to Zigmund from outside the carriage.
Zigmund’s severe cat allergies meant he had to take medication every time he visited the Palace.
It was because of the Queen Consort, a white-lion Beastman.
While Zigmund took his medicine, Mabel leaned out the carriage window and waved.
“I’ll be back soon!”
Her bright smile was absolutely charming, but the servants swallowed their tears inwardly.
They had been thrilled when they heard that the young lady newly arrived at the Grand Duke’s Castle would be coming to the Capital.
And so they had prepared everything with such care—
‘I even attended a hair-styling seminar just for today!’
‘I bought a new dress hanger!’
‘But still… she’s so adorable!’
Though they couldn’t display their carefully honed skills this time, there would be other chances.
The household staff waved until the carriage carrying Zigmund and Mabel was out of sight.
Even so, they felt a lingering regret.
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“Presenting His Grace Zigmund Eschlide, Grand Duke of the Eschlide Grand Duchy, and Her Ladyship Mabel Asilonia!”
At the knight’s resounding announcement, every eye in the Banquet Hall snapped toward them.
Under the weight of so many gazes, Mabel froze.
“So that’s the lady…”
“Is she really engaged to the Grand Duke…”
The whispers resembled those she’d heard in the Trial Hall, yet the emotions behind these stares were entirely reversed.
The looks that had fixed on her during the trial were mostly curious, entertained—as if she were a spectacle to be enjoyed.
But not now.
The gazes were sharp and pointed, as if dissecting every strand of her hair, every lash on her eyelids.
Was it because they understood the meaning behind the Dress Code the Queen Consort had decreed?
They were all calculating how they might profit through Mabel.
Never before had she been exposed to such blatant scrutiny.
A trickle of cold sweat ran down Mabel’s spine.
“Don’t worry, Mabel.”
Zigmund’s gentle voice reached her, and his hand settled on her shoulder.
“Ah…”
As Mabel looked up with a soft creak, Zigmund’s gaze was warm and reassuring.
“I’ll stay by your side.”
He would protect her from those predators eyeing their prey with such hunger.
There was no need to be afraid.
The warmth from his hand on her shoulder reached all the way to her heart, thawing the tension that had frozen it.
‘That’s right. Today, the people I need to watch aren’t them.’
In that instant, the fear that had flickered in Mabel’s eyes transformed into resolve.
Mabel nodded, and the two of them entered the Banquet Hall hand in hand.
Step, step.
Tap, tap.
The footsteps of the two with eyes the same bright color crossed the Banquet Hall.
Gazes clung to their every movement.
Though the stares burned into her back with increasing persistence as time wore on, Mabel paid them no mind.
After all, she had Zigmund beside her—steady and dependable.
Zigmund headed straight toward today’s honored guest.
“I offer my sincere congratulations on your Birthday, Your Highness. I beg your pardon that the dress of the Asilonia noblewoman was damaged on the way here, and we must greet you in this state.”
“My apologies, Your Highness. And I, too, offer my sincere congratulations on your Birthday.”
Following the story they had rehearsed, Mabel bowed as Zigmund had.
Having refined her manners for this very moment, she performed a bow so flawless that the epithet “Ghost Noblewoman” didn’t cross her mind.
Yet the Crown Prince regarded them both with displeasure.
‘The dress was damaged? That’s a lie—her hair doesn’t even match the dress!’
Crown Prince Ian shot a glare at Francesca sitting beside him.
‘Mother! How did this happen?!’
He was already infuriated at being forced into an engagement with a lady he’d never even met.
And having that announcement made at his birthday celebration—the one day a year that was his—only fueled his rage!
And now, the way that woman carried herself was so utterly presumptuous!
‘This is absolutely unacceptable!’
Ian’s eyes flashed with indignation.
Francesca, too, felt her mood sour the moment she glimpsed Mabel’s attire.
No matter how many flattering titles adorned the girl, handing over her precious son to some Ghost Noblewoman still left a bitter taste in her mouth.
And now, to see such insolence—such brazen defiance—from someone who didn’t know her place?
She wanted nothing more than to strike the girl down on the spot, but the effort invested in this plan was far too considerable to abandon.
The money she’d paid Caesar, the light sky-blue dress code she’d imposed on every guest—
She couldn’t allow a mere childish act of rebellion to unravel everything.
‘A worm may writhe, but in the end, it remains a worm.’
Francesca, having barely composed herself, spoke to Ian in honeyed tones.
“Your Highness, these guests have traveled far to celebrate this day. You must greet them properly.”
Having come this far, Francesca was determined to bind Ian and Mabel together by any means.
But Ian, feeling abandoned by Francesca, only grew more resentful.
‘I’m the Crown Prince, and yet I must endure this…….’
Still, he lacked the courage to defy Francesca’s will.
In the end, Ian had no choice but to speak through gritted teeth.
“Thank you sincerely…… for celebrating with us, despite your attire.”
The words fell from his lips as though he were grinding out something vile.
Watching this, both Zigmund and Mabel felt a small, delicious satisfaction bloom within them.

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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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