Rejected by Daughter’s Second Male Lead Chapter 93

Gillen stayed by Yuan’s side the whole time, even though he didn’t have much to say. Yuan sat at the desk, writing something by himself or trying out small spells.

In order not to disturb him, Gillen didn’t try to start a conversation. Instead, he looked around Yuan’s room and then lay down on the bed for a nap. Strangely, he felt languid and comfortable, unable to resist the drowsiness. Considering he had been grinding his teeth at the thought of Marius being just around the corner, it was an incredibly peaceful afternoon.

Gillen slept soundly until he was invited to dinner. By the time he opened his eyes, the sun was already setting. But what surprised Gillen more than the passage of time was Yuan sleeping next to him.

“Yuan…?”

It felt strange that Yuan, who hadn’t budged from the desk, was now lying on the bed, but his peacefully sleeping face was even more unfamiliar.

Come to think of it, even after sex, Gillen always fell asleep as if he had fainted and woke up late. He didn’t have many opportunities to see Yuan’s sleeping face.

‘This punk… he’s handsome.’

Gillen turned his body completely towards Yuan and admired his side profile. The sight of his silvery hair, more delicate and soft than the silk curtains embroidered by a master, falling over his forehead and down to the pillow was a masterpiece in itself.

A high, sharp nose, plump lips, long eyelashes… The perfectly sculpted beauty simply evoked admiration.

“I wonder how handsome he was when he was young.”

A very Mister-like exclamation escaped him automatically.

He must have been prettier and more androgynous than he was now. Instead of a cold, sullen expression, he would have had a face full of curiosity and goodwill towards the world. His eyes would have sparkled as he read books about heroes, and he would have smiled and hugged his mother.

A Yuan like that, a precious jewel, would have caught the eye like a protruding corner no matter where he was. That must be how Marius found him so easily.

Marius would have spun a tale about it being their destiny and ensnared Yuan, but Gillen found it laughable. There was no one in the world who wouldn’t be drawn to such a beautiful and charming being. He could say that with certainty.

That kind of thing isn’t destiny. It’s nothing more than obsession and stubbornness.

How wonderful it would be if he could go back in time. Why did this world allow Cecilia to regress, but not Yuan? Especially since Yuan was a genius magician.

“If I could turn back time, it would be great if you could go back to the past and change your life too.”

Gillen muttered. Just then, Yuan, whose eyes had been closed, quietly moved his lips.

“Reversing time is the realm of the gods.”

“Ah, you weren’t asleep?”

When Gillen asked in surprise, Yuan slowly opened his eyes. His long eyelashes fluttered up like a fairy’s wings. He turned his head towards Gillen. For a moment, Gillen almost stopped breathing. Yuan seen from the front was much more beautiful than when seen from the side.

“And why should I have to change my life?”

Gillen couldn’t answer right away. What should he say? That he wished Yuan could erase the experience that made it so hard for him to even breathe? That he hoped he had met better adults? Or… that he should have been the one to take him away back then?

“Of course… it’s annoying when I think about my parents. The three years I was held by Marius were shitty. But I don’t regret it. Why should I have regrets? They were the ones who did wrong, so why do I have to be the one to change the past?”

“…Haha, I see.”

Have I been too steeped in regression, possession, and revenge stories? He had naturally assumed Yuan would want to change the past. Gillen, a graduate of the Webtoon and Webnovel department, was inwardly shocked by Yuan’s words. On the other hand, it was such a Yuan-like answer that it made him laugh.

“My apologies. For arrogantly talking about changing your life and all.”

“Hmph, it’s fine. I’ll let it slide since it’s because you like me so much.”

“Hahaha!”

Still, this kind of reaction was utterly predictable. Gillen now even welcomed this kind of narcissism. Cute fellow.

He propped his head up with his hand and was about to say something as he looked down at Yuan when someone knocked on the door. Knock, knock. As soon as the knock sounded, Yuan shot up and sat at the desk. It was an astonishing speed.

Gillen, remaining in the same position, said leisurely.

“Come in.”

Soon the door opened and a priest entered.

“Your Grace the Duke, and Marquis. The Letinpan temple has sincerely prepared dinner for you brothers, so let us go together. The High Priest is also waiting.”

“Hmm… yes, I suppose we must eat.”

Gillen spoke in a reluctant tone but quickly got up from the bed. He placed a hand on the shoulder of Yuan, who was sitting stiffly at the desk, facing the wall.

“Yuan, let’s go. Let’s see how they treat their guests at the Letinpan temple.”

“…Yes.”

Yuan stood up abruptly. Gillen thought he was just nervous because of Marius, but in reality, Yuan’s inner thoughts were a little different.

‘How embarrassing!’

If that priest had seen the scene just now, he would have surely been startled and started nagging. No matter how much Lady Retina blessed loving couples, it didn’t make sense to harbor lustful thoughts in a temple.

Of course, they hadn’t engaged in any ‘intercourse’, but the priest would have surely freaked out just seeing the two of them lying on the same bed. There was definitely a sexual tension flowing between them just now—at least, that’s what Yuan thought.

‘Why is that Mister so calm?’

Yuan rubbed the tips of his reddened ears. Gillen’s back, walking ahead, was the picture of calm. He acted as if he had nothing to hide, and in fact, he even seemed to be filled with a fighting spirit.

Well, Gillen did dislike Marius too. He had heard stories that the Blake family’s relationship with the temple had deteriorated rapidly starting from Gillen’s generation, and Cecilia was no exception. Come to think of it, even when they went on a picnic to Capelli Forest, Gillen had tried to go home with Cecilia to avoid Marius.

Suddenly, an ominous suspicion flashed through Yuan’s mind. Forgetting his embarrassment, he grabbed Gillen’s hand.

“Gillen.”

“Hmm?”

“By any chance… did Marius ever do… anything… to you?”

Yuan’s face was pale. He didn’t even want to imagine it, but if Marius had ever tied Gillen up and whipped him or shaved his head with a razor blade…

Yuan gritted his teeth. He bit down so hard that a cracking sound came from his molars. If by any chance Marius had really done such a thing to Gillen, Yuan was determined to completely wipe this Letinpan temple off the continent today.

“Do anything? No, no, it’s not like that at all.”

Gillen, understanding what Yuan meant, waved his hands in denial. He placed a hand on the small of Yuan’s back. That alone made Yuan feel as if he were being held snugly by Gillen.

Gillen whispered in Yuan’s ear.

“I just personally dislike the man named Marius. Calm down.”

He gently stroked Yuan’s back with his hand. Yuan was a little confused whether this was meant to calm him down or excite him. The priest guiding them at the very front seemed to have the same question.

“What… are you brothers doing, not coming along?”

He looked as if he was desperately holding back the urge to step between Gillen and Yuan and make the sign of the cross. Gillen smiled brightly.

“I’m a little unfamiliar since I don’t come to the temple often. I was just pestering my lover to let me link arms with him. It’s okay to link arms, isn’t it?”

“…”

The priest couldn’t answer for a moment. His face, as if he had never seen such an eyesore, was quite funny. He had unconsciously puckered his lips into the shape of a cucumber.

Gillen took that opportunity to quickly link his arm with Yuan’s. Then he unnaturally craned his neck and rested his head on Yuan’s shoulder.

“Since Lady Retina presides over love, I want to make a good impression.”

The sight of two grown men of similar height pressed together and rubbing against each other was a bit uncomfortable for the priest’s eyes. But he was a priest serving Lady Retina. Moreover, his opponents were the duke and marquis of this empire. The priest managed to relax his expression and pull up the corners of his mouth.

“Of course, you may. You two are lovers about to be married… so linking arms is not something to be ashamed of. Please, this way.”

The priest quickly turned around and started walking. Gillen, keeping pace with Yuan, followed the priest and thought.

‘This is actually good. I should act like a lovey-dovey couple and see Marius’s reaction. See what that bastard is thinking.’

At that moment, Yuan was thinking something different.

‘Just how much does Gillen like me? Jeez, I can’t even fathom it anymore.’

The two, lost in their own different dreams, thus entered the temple’s dining hall.

The inside of the dining hall was surprisingly simple. There was just a simple wooden table with several candlesticks. There was no gold, no silver, no jewels, no silk. The size of the dining hall itself was also small.

“You’ve arrived.”

The High Priest, who had been sitting at the head of the table, stood up and greeted Yuan and Gillen. He didn’t make any particular comment about the two of them linking arms. Instead, he smiled gently and spread his arms, gesturing to the seats on either side.

“Please sit here.”

But Gillen was not one to be easily dismissed. He had already made up his mind, after all.

“My apologies, High Priest, but I want to sit next to Yuan and feed each other. Is it alright if we sit together over here? Ha! Ha! Ha!”

“…?”

Gillen laughed loudly as if to counter Marius’s smile, lightly ignoring Yuan’s strange look.