(BL) Rejected by daughter's second male lead-Chapter 16

"What?"

"I said I’ll refuse. Papa, I’m going to take a walk with Claire and Rosie first."

Cecilia stood up, showing her discomfort. Claire and Rosie also hurriedly stood up to follow their young lady. In an instant, the picnic blanket became empty, and only the two men remained in that spot.

Somehow, this feels familiar. Yuan thought as he popped a grape into his mouth.

Even though he had been told that she would not accept the gift he had painstakingly prepared, for some reason, his feelings were not particularly hurt. Rather, the one who was bothering him was Gillen, who was silently eating his food.

’He doesn’t react to the magic, he doesn’t step in about the gift, he just keeps eating even when there’s talk of a proposal. What on earth... Ah.’

Yuan, who had been continuing his questioning alone, let out a dry laugh. At the sound of that laugh, which was like a small gust of wind, Gillen quickly raised his eyes.

"Why... are you laughing like that again, Hampton?"

I wasn’t doing anything. Gillen added.

"That makes it more obvious."

Yuan said, raising one corner of his mouth.

"The fact that you’re not doing anything. It must be a strategy to get on my nerves by pretending to ignore me."

"...What, what strategy?"

Gillen frowned as if he were dumbfounded.

"You look even older when you open your eyes like that. The wrinkles around your eyes are quite pronounced, Your Grace."

Yuan said haughtily with his arms crossed.

"Anyway, I’ve seen through all of Your Grace’s intentions. And it had no effect on me. Go ahead and keep trying. It won’t work anyway."

Yuan expected Gillen to fly into a rage. Or to make some ridiculous excuses, or to pretend it wasn’t true out of embarrassment for being caught.

However, Gillen seemed to just stare at Yuan, then he burst into a hearty laugh, "Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"You’re a truly consistent fellow. Alright, think whatever you want."

Gillen said that and then cut a large piece of butter and placed it on Yuan’s plate.

"This is very fresh butter. Spread it on your bread and eat it."

Then he nonchalantly ate his own food and made small talk with the knights standing around.

Yuan was so dumbfounded that he could not show any reaction. His eyelids trembled as he looked down at the small lump of butter on his plate. He felt even worse than when he had received a confession from Gillen.

What on earth is this feeling...?

As he placed a hand on his unpleasantly fluttering chest, the knights standing in front of him suddenly all gripped the hilts of their swords.

"Your Grace the Duke, we hear signs of people."

"They could be people who’ve come for a picnic like us."

Gillen said, as if to reassure the knights. However, Yuan noticed him looking around and checking Cecilia’s location first. His love for his daughter was truly devoted.

"From the sound, it seems to be quite a lot of people... Willen, go and see."

The vice-commander, who had the highest rank among the knights escorting this picnic, instructed a sharp-eyed and fleet-footed new knight. The knight called Willen quickly ran forward. And he returned just about a minute later.

"They are all wearing white priestly vestments. At the very front is High Priest Marius, who visited the villa a while ago. It seems they all came to the forest from the temple in Capelli. Should I make contact, offer greetings, and ask their purpose?"

At Willen’s words, the escort knights relaxed their tension, but conversely, Yuan and Gillen stiffened up. The first one to get up from his seat was Yuan.

"I will be taking a short walk."

Leaving only those words, Yuan disappeared in the blink of an eye. It seemed to be teleportation magic. The knights were all amazed. There was even a knight who showed his respect for Yuan.

"Greetings are not necessary. I’ll be moving to a different spot as well. I’m worried about letting Cecil walk around by herself."

Gillen said, drawing the knights’ attention back to him.

"If by any chance the High Priest-nim comes this way and says he’ll greet me before leaving, tell him that Cecil and I have gone for a veeery long walk and it will take us hours to come back. Understood? Tell him not to wait."

The knights also knew that Duke Blake did not particularly like the temple, so they accepted the order without complaint. With that, Gillen hurriedly left to find Cecilia.

’I can’t let her run into that old fox.’

Cecilia would surely deal with the High Priest wisely and coolly, but it was clear that she would feel bad after talking to him. Even Gillen felt drained after a conversation with High Priest Marius, so how much more so for his lovely daughter.

Cecilia was nowhere to be seen nearby, he did not know how far she had gone.

"Phew, that kid has good stamina because she inherited the Blake genes... Why is she so fast on her feet?"

Gillen grumbled and went into the forest. Since Marius’s party was nearby, he could not call out to Cecilia in a loud voice. So he had no choice but to use his own two feet.

A bear came out earlier too. I hid it because I was worried, but maybe I should have told her.

Gillen’s face gradually grew dark with worry. Of course, befitting a romance-fantasy female protagonist, Cecilia was also skilled in martial arts. If it were not for the ending where she becomes the empress, it was a shame that she was a martial arts talent who could have easily taken the position of the First Commander of the Imperial Knights.

’My daughter is the prettiest in the empire, she’s smart, she’s good at swordsmanship, she’s strong... My Cecil is the best among web novel protagonists.’

Something caught the eye of Gillen, who was smiling foolishly like a doting father according to his stream of consciousness. From a small cave nearby, he heard the sound of a person panting.

"Cecil?"

Could Cecilia be crying? Is she hurt? Did she sprain her ankle, or did she run into a wild beast and get separated from the servants... As his thoughts reached that point, Gillen rushed into the cave.

"Cecil!"

However, the person inside the cave was not Cecil. A silver-haired, beautiful young man was on the ground, leaning on his hands and clutching at his chest. It seemed he could not breathe properly.

"Hampton!"

Startled, Gillen ran over and helped Yuan up. Yuan’s face was pale, and he looked terrified with annoyance and fear. As if he was feeling suffocated, he tried to claw at his neck and chest again, so Gillen forcefully ripped off the buttons of Yuan’s outer garment.

Rip, pop, clatter...

The small buttons flew off and rolled on the cave floor with a sporadic sound.

"Take a deep breath in and out."

"Huu... Huu..."

"It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s just you and me here right now."

Yuan’s condition was similar to when he had wrapped him up in a blanket before. In other words, it seemed like a psychological problem.

Of course, Gillen had no professional knowledge of psychology. However, thanks to what he had encountered in various media until 20 years ago, he knew that in situations like this, easing their anxiety and calming them down would make things a little better.

"Now, deep breaths. Follow me. Inhale, exhale."

"Inhale... exhale..."

"Uh, no, I didn’t mean for you to repeat the words, but, yes, good. Inhale~ Exhale~"

"Inhale, exhale..."

"You’re doing well, Hampton. Inhale, exhale."

"Inhale... exhale."

Gradually, Yuan’s breathing became stable. Color returned to his pale face.

"Are you sure you don’t need to get medical help? This is the second time. In my opinion—"

"I don’t need Your Grace’s opinion."

Yuan cut Gillen off in a trembling voice and pushed him away slightly. Then he turned his head away sharply like a shy new groom.

Is it because he’s embarrassed...

Gillen thought so and tried to persuade him one more time.

"It’s not something to be embarrassed about. Of course, psychotherapy isn’t commonly practiced here, but taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body."

"I-I said I’m fine! Please leave. I’ll go in a little while."

"Well, if you insist, I can’t force you. Keep breathing deeply. Okay?"

Gillen was about to pat Yuan’s shoulder but withdrew his hand. Since he was a guy who freaked out at a single word, it would be better not to make any unnecessary physical contact. It bothered him a little to leave a patient behind, but Gillen also had to hurry and find Cecilia.

He strode towards the entrance of the cave. However, not long after, he quickly came back to Yuan’s side.

"Didn’t I tell you to leave!"

"Shh, shh!"

Gillen made a fuss, putting his index finger to his lips. When Yuan raised his eyebrows, he whispered quickly.

"The priests are coming near here."

At those words, Yuan’s eyes widened. Gillen went deeper into the cave and gestured for Yuan to follow. Yuan hesitated for a moment, then followed Gillen inside. The reason of being reluctant to face High Priest Marius united them.

"This way!"

Gillen pointed to a place where a hollowed-out wall stood like a pillar, blocking the way. Yuan quickly went inside. Gillen also squeezed his body into the narrow space. But Yuan flinched in surprise and pushed Gillen away.

"Wh-what are you doing, you shameless man!"

It was a small shout, but inside the cave, it echoed quite loudly.

"Don’t I have to hide too!"

Gillen protested in an even lower voice and squeezed in next to Yuan again. However, Yuan did not easily allow him the spot next to him.

"You can hide somewhere else! Why do you have to be right next to me—"

It was then. From outside, a familiar voice was heard clearly.

"Hm? I think I hear a sound from in here?"

It was Marius.