(BL) Rejected by daughter's second male lead-Chapter 62

At the words ’High Priest,’ Gillen whipped his head around to look at Yuan. As expected, he could see Yuan’s face rapidly turning deathly pale. However, the emperor, who did not notice the change in Yuan, simply muttered in displeasure.

"You’re saying that old fox, the High Priest, is here?"

"Your Majesty, we will take our leave now."

Gillen said, attempting to stand. However, the emperor made him sit down again.

"There’s no need to leave. The High Priest is the uninvited guest, so why should you two leave?"

The emperor offered this unnecessary kindness and then gave an order to those outside.

"Show the High Priest in."

Soon, High Priest Marius entered.

"I greet His Imperial Majesty, the sun of the empire. I see you have guests."

Marius looked as young and holy as ever. His fine, white hair fell nearly to his lower back, his vestments were as white and spotless as freshly fallen snow, and he wore a pure silver necklace in the shape of a flower, the symbol of the Rettin faith... If a stranger saw him, they would believe Marius was a god, so sacred was his appearance.

"High Priest, welcome. I thought the temple would be busy because of the Harvest Thanksgiving Festival, yet you’ve graced the imperial palace with your presence. It seems we’ve been seeing each other quite often lately."

The emperor said with a smile. However, it was clearly a jab at Marius.

Recently, Marius had frequently sought out the emperor because of Yuan and Gillen’s scandal. He claimed that Gillen had committed one-sided violence against Yuan and insisted that Gillen must be severely punished.

Furthermore, he did not stop at simply voicing his complaint alone, but also gathered signatures from priests and believers, tormenting the emperor for several days. Most of those believers were nobles, people from families hostile to the emperor or the Blake family. After the scandal broke, Marius’s significant contribution was a key reason the emperor had distanced himself from the Blake Ducal House.

"They say that Marquis Hampton and High Priest Marius know each other well. So the High Priest has been working hard for the marquis’s sake. He has exerted tremendous influence on the suspension of support for the Blake Foundation and the Marian Orphanage, the slander against Duke Blake, and even the matter of budget allocation."

The emperor was smiling the entire time, but no one in the room was unaware of the barbs hidden within his words. However, Marius feigned complete ignorance and showed a benevolent smile.

"I am simply grateful that Your Imperial Majesty thinks so highly of a mere servant of God. How could I possibly influence such momentous affairs? I am nothing more than a messenger who conveyed the voices of my brothers and sisters."

"You are truly humble, High Priest."

The emperor said with a smirk.

And Yuan, who was just now learning the full story of the incident, was in shock. He had thought all of this had happened because of the trashy media, the stupid nobles, and the self-indulgent emperor.

But Marius was behind all of it? The reason Marius had orchestrated this was also clear. It was because of Yuan. But why? What benefit could bringing Gillen down possibly bring to Marius?

Yuan’s brilliant mind began to spin. Before long, he discerned Marius’s intention.

Marius thought I was dating Duke Blake, so he manipulated public opinion to stir up criticism of our relationship. Knowing that I hate nobles and have strong pride... he wanted to make me leave Duke Blake. So he could have me again.

Marius had always been like that. He never said or did anything directly. He always instigated, manipulated, and coaxed someone else. He always attached a plausible justification to his actions and packaged it as faith.

Yuan glared at Marius. Just looking at that unchangingly beautiful face and white vestments made his stomach churn. It felt as if his back, which had been struck by a thorned whip in his childhood, was throbbing, and the inside of his perfectly fine mouth felt raw.

Caring for the mind is just as important as caring for the body.’

Suddenly, Gillen’s words came to mind. Until now, he had completely ignored them, but seeing the severe rejection his body had whenever he thought of or faced Marius, it seemed he needed treatment.

Yuan clenched his fists tightly. He quietly steadied his breathing so others wouldn’t hear. Psychotherapy, whatever. There was no need to go find a specialist. Yuan was the owner of a strong mind. He thought, as if brainwashing himself.

There’s no need to be afraid of that man. I’m not a child anymore. I’m not as powerless or weak as I was then. I could turn Marius into dust with magic right now, or I could secretly gift him a cause of death labeled ’accidental death’.

’But why on earth...’

Contrary to his inner thoughts, Yuan’s fists were trembling. He felt a sharp pain from the tips of his nails digging into his palms. Only then did Yuan realize that his palms were bleeding. He... was afraid of Marius. Still.

It was at that moment. A large, slightly darker-skinned hand suddenly appeared and enveloped Yuan’s fist. The warm, firm hand gently held Yuan’s fist, then unfolded his fingers one by one. Then, just as Yuan had done earlier, it slipped its own fingers between his. With a dazed expression, Yuan looked at the owner of the hand. Gillen Blake. He casually interlocked his fingers with Yuan’s and spoke to Marius.

"It was known as violence between two trait-holders, so what you did, High Priest, was indeed righteous. I would have done the same. I would have raised my voice to demand the perpetrator be punished."

Marius glanced at Gillen. But Yuan could tell that his attention was focused on their joined hands.

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Grace the Duke."

Marius continued.

"However, a rumor has been circulating that you two are indeed lovers. There are many witnesses... and above all, you have personally attended the party as such a friendly pair of partners, which raises questions. About what the truth is."

"Ha! Ha! Ha! It’s strange that you have questions now. Others may not have, but did you not personally witness Yuan and me together in Capelli, High Priest?"

"Simply being together does not allow one to define your relationship. Isn’t it true that a kidnapper and their hostage are always found stuck together?"

"A kidnapper and a hostage, you say. Ha! Ha! Ha! High Priest, I see now that you are also quite good at joking."

"Haha, you praise me too highly."

The atmosphere felt as if swords and spears were flying amidst the loud laughter. The emperor, with no thought of stopping them, leaned back on the sofa and watched with an intrigued expression.

"But Your Grace the Duke, you are aware that there is quite a large age gap between you two, are you not? The god Rettina says that love needs no boundaries of age, gender, or trait, but from a human perspective, is that really the case? I am simply worried that Yuan might be forced to stay by Your Grace’s side, crushed by the power of status and age."

The one who scoffed at those words was Yuan. It seemed to have come out without him realizing it. Everyone’s gaze turned to Yuan.

"...Why is everyone looking at me like that?"

Yuan asked in a thorny tone. It was an overly defensive attitude. However, instead of scolding or correcting Yuan, Gillen shook his head.

"You’re right. I don’t know why everyone is acting this way either."

Gillen looked straight at Marius and said in a louder voice.

"A beauty that could topple nations! A genius that appears once in a thousand years! A warrior who has conquered an entire empire! A great mage who plays with magic! Our Marquis Yuan Hampton, who was personally granted his marquisate and surname by none other than His Imperial Majesty, the sun of the Moor Empire! Is being held against his will, having knelt to my status and age? Ha! Ha! Ha! A passing dog would laugh at that!"

At Gillen’s words, the emperor let out a snort of laughter. Yuan shamelessly nodded along beside him.

"Are you mocking me right now?"

The smile vanished from Marius’s face. Gillen, continuing to smile broadly, retorted.

"How could I dare mock you, High Priest? Since you are so deeply concerned for our Yuan, it is only right that I, as his lover, should alleviate that concern."

Yuan flinched and looked at Gillen, but Gillen continued speaking.

"If you wish, we can also show you us accepting each other’s pheromones. As you well know, High Priest, if Yuan truly rejected me, the moment he smells my pheromones, Yuan would either attack me or collapse entirely. That is because the pheromones of two alphas are instinctively designed to reject each other."

"Are you saying you will release your pheromones in front of His Imperial Majesty and me? Don’t pheromones between lovers... stimulate desire?"

In other words, Marius was now asking, ’Are you saying you’re going to have sex in front of us?’ Even the emperor was looking at Gillen, slightly surprised.

Gillen answered nonchalantly.

"Yes, that is correct. Since you seem so unwilling to believe it, I thought it was necessary to take such a drastic measure."

Marius stared at Gillen, his mouth open as if he were at a loss for words. For a moment, silence filled the private drawing room. What broke that silence was a burst of hearty laughter.

"Pfft, puhaha! Hahahaha!"