I’m The Male Lead’s Biological Daughter, But I Want To Live With The Second Male Lead! - Chapter 77

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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 77
Asilonia Duchy Mansion.
Tap, tap.
A man in polished shoes descended the stone steps leading into the underground.
The Underground Prison, lit sparsely by torches at intervals, exuded an oppressive gloom.
Presently, the man’s footsteps ceased.
He had stopped before a rusted iron gate.
“Still sleeping?”
His murmured voice carried an oddly tender quality.
One would never guess he was a man who had locked his own wife in an underground prison.
Sophia did not answer Caesar’s voice.
She only drew the blanket over her head more tightly still.
The space where Sophia was confined was surprisingly lavish.
A large bed and plush mattress, bedding that was clean if damp from humidity.
Expensive carpeting lay across the cold stone floor, and there was even a writing desk.
Besides these, a dress rack lined with gowns and a vanity overflowing with jewelry boxes.
Everything was of the finest quality, befitting the chambers of a duchess.
Even if those chambers now stood behind damp stone walls and corroded iron.
“I’ve brought your meal.”
Caesar slid a plate through the feeding slot he had fashioned in the old gate.
On it lay only a thin bowl of soup, two bland pieces of bread, and a meager salad.
It was far too pitiful to be called a duchess’s meal.
“The chef mentioned your appetite has been shrinking steadily. He’s worried.”
Yet Caesar’s mockery did not end there.
“And this—to decorate your table.”
He placed a splendid bouquet of roses beside the plate of food.
The scent of flowers drifted softly through the stale, nauseating air of the underground prison.
“Well then, I do hope you have an enjoyable meal.”
Caesar could not suppress his laughter to the very end, letting out a soft chuckle.
His footsteps as he departed were utterly carefree.
Sophia, her face buried in the blanket, clenched her lower lip hard.
‘Madman……!’
On the way back from the Imperial Palace Banquet, Sophia had been taken as she was—and had lived like this ever since.
‘Stupid Sophia, just how much stupidity do you need before you’re satisfied with yourself?’
The man who had once been willing to give her his very heart and soul had changed overnight.
All because he suffered from Azoospermia and could not father children.
After that, Caesar had neglected her for years, treating her as a stranger for eight long years.
And she had actually believed he would grant her a divorce so easily.
‘I should have said something once we reached the townhouse.’
Not trapped in a sealed carriage with no escape!
Crying quietly, Sophia bit the tender flesh inside her lip at the sting of her own miscalculation.
Ah, foolish and stubborn and wretched Sophia.
How much did you truly love Caesar?
How much did you really trust such a man?
How could you ever have believed he was human, after abandoning you?
He was something less than a beast!
Trapped behind corroded iron, she could only watch as the furnishings from the duchess’s chambers were carried away one by one.
All she could do was collapse on this bed haunted by nothing but bleak memories and weep.
It was far worse when he spoke of meeting Mabel officially.
— I’ll go in your place. From now on, you won’t be able to move—I’ll make sure you’re badly injured.
Caesar showed no hesitation in inflicting wounds upon Sophia’s body.
In that moment, Sophia felt everything she had held onto until the very last instant crumble away.
‘I’ll kill him.’
Now all that remained to Sophia was malice.
‘By any means necessary, I’ll kill him!’
Her clenched fist trembled with rage.
Sophia’s pale pink eyes swam with murderous intent.
* * *
Several days had passed since then.
After living with Winter for these past days, Mabel felt that something could not continue as it was.
‘I don’t have nearly enough things for Winter!’
And so today, Mabel had decided to head to the Shopping District with Winter in tow.
“Heshin, I’m all ready!”
It seemed that whenever Mabel went out, Heshin had become her dedicated escort; today would be no exception.
At Mabel’s words, Heshin’s face—which had been pacing nervously outside the door—suddenly lit up.
Just how adorable would she be today?
Heshin turned, tensing like a knight facing his most formidable opponent.
And the Mabel who greeted him was…
“Mm…”
Heshin’s enormous hands clenched into fists.
Mabel stood holding the doorknob, looking up at him in a Red Cloak.
Today, too, she wore her beloved Rabbit Doll Bag across her shoulder.
‘Good heavens!’
Heshin, struck down by an invisible wave of cuteness, crashed into the wall—or would have, if it were real.
But the impact he felt was entirely genuine.
‘There has to be a limit… this is too much cute!’
Her hair was twisted into low twin buns, coiled into perfect little dumplings.
And the Red Checkered Dress that matched the red cloak so perfectly!
Today, Mabel looked just like the heroine from a storybook.
And somehow, the cuteness had doubled.
“And this little one here is Winter, who’ll be staying with me from now on!”
The adorable child held up her adorable baby animal like a prize.
“Chirrup!”
Winter let out a sound of pleased greeting, its nose wrinkling in a smile.
Such a harmless yet terrifying roar!
At that, Heshin finally sank to his knees and declared his K.O. defeat.
“I’m ready to die…”
“Huh?!”
At this heartfelt testament, Mabel jumped straight up in alarm.
Meanwhile, Winter regarded the now-whitened Heshin with cool indifference.
Words appeared above Winter’s head.
[Pathetic.]
[No. Trust.]
[Guard. Me.]
[Mabel.]
Though spoken with apparent gravity, the tiny cape draped across Winter’s shoulders completely undermined the credibility.
As for that cape—it had been made by Shila for Winter, whose fur had fallen out in patches, leaving the creature downcast and bare.
Whether Winter was pleased to wear matching clothes with Mabel, or simply grateful to have its exposed skin covered, was uncertain.
After preening before the mirror for ages, now Winter was putting on this solemn act.
But if Heshin said anything, Winter would certainly take offense.
“Right, I hear you. I’ll trust only in Winter.”
Mabel chuckled and stroked Winter’s head.
“Purr…”
Winter made a contented sound.
Just then, Zigmund, who had taken his medicine, stepped out to see them off.
“Go carefully.”
“Yes!”
“Always watch out for strangers. Don’t stray from Ella and Heshin for even a moment. Winter can stay down on the ground—it has its Harness anyway. Hold the adults’ hands tight. And don’t worry about saving money; buy whatever you want. This is extra pocket money, and besides…”
Zigmund’s concerned warnings went on for quite some time.
“I’ll be careful and have a great time!”
Mabel cut him short by approaching and hugging Zigmund’s leg tightly.
Once again, Zigmund surrendered to her devastating charm and closed his mouth with a reluctant expression.
He still had so much more to say.
Though Mabel had never been a meekly obedient child, lately he’d felt the separation even more keenly.
‘Is this what a parent feels, watching their child venture out into the world?’
As Zigmund pondered needlessly, he addressed Winter, who was nestled in Mabel’s embrace.
“Don’t get excited just because you see something new and dash off. If you’re going anywhere, go alone. Don’t make Mabel chase after you.”
“Yeah.”
Winter answered curtly in response to the blunt tone.
For a moment, a vein throbbed visibly at Zigmund’s temple.
“…Did you just say ‘neigh’ now?”
“Neigh~?”
Winter tilted his head and bleated softly.
Mabel giggled.
“Winter’s cry sounds just like a cat, doesn’t it? That’s why I thought he really was a cat at first!”
“Baa~”
As Mabel cooed over him, Winter bleated charmingly in response.
“…Is that so?”
Zigmund, eyeing Winter with suspicion, finished his thought.
“Don’t ask me to buy you useless things. Buy only what’s necessary. Do you know how hard Mabel works for that money? Do you understand?”
“Neigh.”
“You little—!”
“Your Grace!”
Zigmund flared up and moved to lunge, but Heshin quickly blocked him.
“Let me go, he’s bleating at me!”
Zigmund, held back by Heshin, flailed his arms.
It was already grating enough that the male creature clung to Mabel so readily.
And the way he wound his tail around her forearm at every opportunity was infuriating!
“He did it on purpose, I tell you!”
But no one in this room was on Zigmund’s side.
“How could you do such a thing to a child! And you call yourself an adult!”
“Oh my, when I see him like this, I must say Your Grace is quite hopeless~”
Following Heshin, even Ella took Winter’s side.
“We should hurry along~ before we pester our young lady with such unpleasantness~”
Ella gave Mabel’s back a gentle push as she spoke.
Mabel made a small sound of protest but turned her head away with a somewhat dejected expression.
The tension between Zigmund and Winter was clearly troubling her.
Mabel stroked Winter’s back softly and murmured.
“It’s all right, Winter. Truth be told, playing with you is more fun than my research.”
In that moment, Zigmund—who had been struggling against Heshin’s grip—felt all the fight drain from him.
More fun than research…?
More important than being with me…than that beast she met just days ago…?
“We…we had something good…didn’t we…?”
The shock struck Zigmund so hard his legs nearly buckled.
Heshin watched him and clicked his tongue softly.
“That’s the lesson, Your Grace—you mustn’t dislike what the young lady likes.”
Having delivered his pointed counsel, Heshin walked briskly after Mabel.
Zigmund stood alone in the vast hallway.

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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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