Rejected by Daughter’s Second Male Lead Chapter 106

“Dad!”

Cecilia called out to Gillen, shocked. It wasn’t just because he had taken Yuan’s side over hers.

Gillen was usually on high alert around men. He watched every man with a hawk’s eye, worried someone might try to harm his omega daughter, and was so overly cautious when hiring even a single servant that it embarrassed Cecilia.

Especially Hexion. Gillen was always thoroughly polite to him, as he was the crown prince, but Cecilia could always detect the disapproval in Gillen’s eyes. To him, Cecilia was always number one, and he would turn into a beast if any man tried to dominate her.

But… for her dad to be so gentle with Yuan! And there was no one else like Yuan, who tried to overpower others regardless of gender, age, or whether they were an Alpha, Beta, or Omega!

‘Dad… really, truly… likes Yuan…’

Cecilia’s mouth fell open as she came to this realization. Seeing his daughter’s surprised face, Gillen looked a little sorry and smiled playfully as he patted Cecilia’s shoulder.

“I’m not taking Yuan’s side, I’m just saying you shouldn’t judge a person by a single standard. You know what I mean, right?”

Then, Gillen politely apologized to Yuan.

“I apologize if Cecilia’s words offended you. My daughter isn’t usually like this, but she seems to be in a bit of a sulk because her one-on-one time with her old dad was interrupted. And Cecilia wasn’t wrong to tell you to use a napkin. I’ve told you repeatedly, haven’t I? Right?”

“Hmph, you have. I wasn’t particularly offended. Me, embarrass Gillen? Is that even possible? My mere existence is a source of pride and honor for the person next to me.”

“Ha! Ha! Ha! You really are one of a kind!”

Cecilia blinked her large eyes. Gillen was defending Cecilia while also placating Yuan, and Yuan was naturally boasting to make sure Gillen didn’t feel sorry.

‘My goodness… this is real. They both really like each other. They’ve completely fallen for one another!’

Cecilia’s lips itched with the desire to tell Hexion this fact immediately. She wanted to storm out of the dinner party, whatever it was, and run to Hexion. But soon, her thoughts changed. She could just tell Hexion to come over!

Cecilia whispered into the ear of a nearby maid.

“Send an urgent message to His Highness the Crown Prince. You know the communication device I always use? Can you tell Brian to use it to tell him to come over to our house right now?”

“Yes, my lady.”

Hexion would be here soon. That boy is clueless, so if I tell him about this, he’ll be so surprised his eyes will pop out, and he’ll openly cheer on Dad and Yuan’s love. I have to see how Dad and Yuan react then.

Cecilia’s eyes twinkled like a mischievous child’s, unaware that she herself had subconsciously thought of Hexion first.

Just as the party was in full swing, Hexion arrived. He had dismissed his escort knights and servants and appeared like a thief, wearing a black robe. Judging by his panting, it seemed he had disguised himself and ridden his horse over as soon as he received the message from the communication device.

“My, Your Highness the Crown Prince! What brings you here at this hour, dressed like that!”

Gillen, who was the first to spot Hexion, stood up from his seat with an expression that was 80% surprise and 20% disapproval. Cecilia stood up after him and grabbed Gillen’s arm.

“I invited him. I thought it would be nice for Hex to join in the fun. And it’s more fun if we have someone to drink with us. Since Yuan can’t drink.”

Cecilia looked down at Yuan, emphasizing the last sentence. Yuan gritted his teeth. He looked so vexed he seemed ready to go home and start practicing his drinking.

“Duke Blake, it’s been a while. I’ve heard many good rumors about you. The empire is abuzz. His Majesty, my father, is also very pleased.”

“Ha! Ha! Ha! I have already had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor and heard his praises directly. Why would you come all this way in person to deliver such trivial news?”

Look at that. Cecilia glanced sideways at Gillen. Her dad often implicitly told Hexion to ‘get lost.’ It was a good thing Hexion was so dense; if he had understood it all, his feelings would have been quite hurt.

“Hex, come here. Sit next to me.”

“It’s a real prince… Mmm…”

Ivy, who had been sitting and eating diligently until then, spoke sluggishly, as she was full and sleepy.

“Hello, Ivy. You look sleepy. Children have to sleep early to grow up big and strong. It makes you smarter, too. You there, take Ivy to her bedroom and put her to sleep.”

Hexion called over a nearby maid and gave the order. Then, cluelessly, he sat down in the seat Ivy had just vacated.

“This seat is empty, so I’ll sit here now. Duke, please sit. Cecil, you sit too. Marquis Hampton, how was your trip? You seem to have gotten even more handsome than before, haha.”

“I, for one, am getting more handsome by the day. The trip was good too, Your Highness.”

At times like this, one should righteously deny it with modesty or offer a compliment that His Highness the Crown Prince is even more handsome, but Yuan simply nodded with no change in expression. As if he were hearing a self-evident truth—in fact, receiving compliments, flirtations, and meaningless physical contact was a daily occurrence for him.

Cecilia sighed inwardly and sat back down. Gillen also sat back down, hiding a slightly more displeased expression than before.

“Cecil, you called, so I came out through the secret passage of the Crown Prince’s Palace and rode my horse. I got here really fast, right?”

“Haa, Hex. I told you not to talk about the palace’s secret passages outside.”

“Everyone already knows about the existence of the secret passages. It’s fine as long as they don’t know where they are. Hahaha!”

At Hexion’s hearty laughter, Yuan glared at him. Like father, like son, his laugh resembled the emperor’s, and it suddenly put him in a bad mood. Why does everyone laugh so much like Gillen? So annoying. With that thought, Yuan drank some more milk. Seeing this, Gillen laughed.

“Ha! Ha! Ha! Yuan, you’re going to fill your whole stomach with milk. Eat the new, less spicy spicy fish stew the chef brought. It has a strong tomato flavor, so it’s more like a slightly spicy soup.”

“I don’t need any less spicy spicy fish stew. Then you should change its name, too. Since the identity of spicy fish stew is gone.”

“Don’t be so prideful. You’ll hurt yourself if you force yourself to eat spicy food. Come on, hurry! I’m asking you like this. Huh?”

“…If Gillen is asking me like that, I’ll do it.”

Yuan reluctantly picked up his spoon and ate the less spicy spicy fish stew from the new bowl. He nodded in satisfaction.

“This is quite delicious.”

“Right? I told you this dish was delicious.”

While Yuan and Gillen were quickly lost in their own world again, Hexion was wetting his throat with wine. Cecilia lightly kicked Hexion’s leg under the table. Hexion looked at Cecilia, startled. Before he could open his mouth to ask why she had kicked him, Cecilia gestured with a nod of her head to ‘go outside.’ Hexion, who had grown accustomed to Cecilia’s gestures over many years, caught on to that one quickly.

“Ahem, Duke Blake. I left something on my horse, so I’ll be back after a quick trip to the stable. Please continue your meal comfortably.”

“Have a servant do it. Why must you—”

“It’s a personal! item… so I want to! go myself.”

Hexion made an awkward excuse and creakily stood up from his seat, leaving the banquet hall. Cecilia let out an intentionally loud sigh.

“He’s really something else. I’ll go and help him look. Just be by yourselves for a moment, Dad.”

Cecilia also quickly followed Hexion out. Before Gillen could stop her, Cecilia was gone. Yuan chuckled.

“It seems Cecilia has finally given us her approval.”

“What? What are you talking about? Why would Cecilia approve of us?”

Gillen knew that Cecilia had been secretly testing Yuan as a potential partner for herself. However, he started with a denial. Because he had no intention of entering a serious relationship with Yuan.

If you were to ask why… well, first of all, as an adult twenty years his senior, he had a duty to guide Yuan onto the right path. No matter how he thought about it, it was wrong to snatch him up like a thief just because he liked him. That thought had only solidified after learning the full extent of Marius’s vileness.

It was a fake relationship with a set time limit from the start. The trip was over, and the construction of the Marian Orphanage was nearing completion, so it was about time to end the contract.

Should I tell him now? That we should end the contract. That my goal has been achieved, so there’s no need to pretend to be lovers anymore. That I’ll let you go.

Gillen picked up his wine glass and swirled it. He wondered how to broach the subject.

Right now, Yuan was eating the less spicy spicy fish stew while secretly slurping—slurp—and sipping his milk. He didn’t forget to dab his mouth with a napkin so he wouldn’t get another milk mustache.

…He’s cute.

The thought occurred to Gillen without him realizing it. It was so cute and funny how the young brat, after being so prideful, was subtly doing everything he was told.

Do I have to say it right now…?

A voice suddenly spoke up in Gillen’s head.

They say you don’t even bother a dog when it’s eating. He thought that if he told Yuan now, he would have to talk about the contract anyway, and the mood might get serious, so he should wait until after the meal was over. And so, Gillen postponed the breakup for a little while.