(BL) Rejected by daughter's second male lead-Chapter 19

With that one phrase, the figures of the two men vanished with a swoosh. It was teleportation magic.

In the blink of an eye, Yuan and Gillan arrived in the downtown area of Capelli Island, which was filled with the sound of boisterous music and the lively noise of people.

"Ha..."

Perhaps because he had teleported so suddenly without any mental preparation, his heart was pounding wildly and his vision was dizzy. As Gillan placed a hand on his chest and gasped for breath, Yuan snapped his fingers right in front of Gillan’s eyes.

Snap.

"Get a hold of yourself."

Miraculously, as soon as Yuan said that, his head cleared and the dizziness stopped.

"Incredible..."

Even in this situation, Yuan was such an amazing magician that it elicited admiration.

"Are you just realizing that now?"

Yuan smiled obnoxiously and looked around.

"Now, let’s find Cecil."

Gillan also came to his senses and nodded.

My precious Cecil. Even if she ran into a thief, she is a child who would beat the thief up herself and strip him down to his underwear and socks to take them away... Even if she met a kidnapper, she is a child who would grab the kidnapper by the collar, drag him home, and negotiate a ransom (for the kidnapper)... Still, as she was his precious daughter, he could not help but worry.

"Cecil! Daddy’s coming!"

Gillan sniffled with a sniff and shouted with grim determination.

*

Capelli was a small island. It was a luxurious and expensive resort destination where the empire’s nobles came to play every summer, and parties with clear themes and concepts were held every night, rotating between the mansions.

However, one can only enjoy flower viewing for a day or two; the long, hot summer could not be endured just by enjoying swimming, picnics, and making the rounds at parties. So, once a week, a market was held in the downtown area of Capelli Island. Its name was the Capelli Market.

On this day, merchants would come from all over the country, and even from foreign countries, to set up temporary stalls. All sorts of goods and food were laid out, with a wide variety of prices and quality. Bards and clowns gathered, and the island became twice as lively and noisy thanks to the people who came as tourists just for the Capelli Market, from families to lovers and friends.

Given that it was a day like this, it was not entirely incomprehensible that they had lost Cecilia and her handmaiden, Claire, in the crowd.

"No matter how many people there are, they are truly incompetent knights, aren’t they? Shall we just fire them all?"

Yuan said, casting a transparent shield around himself. Then, as if some kind of barrier had been formed only around him, people began to avoid Yuan on their own.

Gillan, getting bumped and pushed by people, glared at Yuan. What a cheap bastard. I’m much, much older than him, yet the young punk is moving about comfortably all by himself... However, having his pride to consider, Gillan did not ask him to cast a spell for him as well. Instead, he retorted in a dignified voice.

"I will discipline them. But you cannot fire a knight that easily."

To become a knight of the Blake family, one had to go through several tests, train as a squire for a certain period, and then receive the approval of the vice-commander and the commander. Becoming a knight for a great noble family was so difficult and remarkable that it was called an honor for one’s house, and because of that hard-won achievement, the skills of each and every knight were outstanding.

"Does the Hampton family not have knights?"

Since it had only been about two months since he became a marquis, it was possible he did not know. Gillan asked with that thought in mind.

However, Yuan snorted and looked down at Gillan with contempt.

"I have no need for such things as knights. My mansion is doubly encased in a protective barrier and attack magic, and it is full of magical mechanical humans, no, robots, that do not need to be fed or put to sleep. They would never make such a ridiculous mistake as this."

Right, you’re so great. Gillan suppressed the urge to say that and looked around.

"With so many people, how on earth are we supposed to find Cecil..."

Gillan’s face was clouded with worry. Yuan glanced at such a Gillan and clicked his tongue with a tch.

"Are you stupid? Or are you deliberately ignoring me? I have been telling you this whole time. That I am a very great magician."

Yuan grabbed Gillan’s arm and began to drag him somewhere.

"Hey, Hampton!"

"Just shut up and follow me."

When Yuan grabbed his arm, it strangely felt as though an invisible shield was now cast around Gillan as well. They easily pushed through the numerous tourists and slipped into a deserted alley.

Gillan was inwardly surprised by Yuan’s magic, but he deliberately tried not to show that he found it amazing.

"By any chance, do you have any of Cecil’s belongings with you?"

Yuan asked calmly. When Gillan looked at Yuan with a suspicious gaze, Yuan flared up and shouted.

"I’m asking for a tracking spell! Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Ah... well, if that’s the case..."

Gillan took a handkerchief from his breast pocket. On the handkerchief was embroidered a valiant lion with a black mane. It was very exquisite and excellent craftsmanship.

"My Cecil embroidered this herself. She said this lion symbolizes me, you know? Hahaha, that child is really something..."

The handkerchief, which Gillan had been showing off like a doting fool, vanished from his hand with a swoosh. Yuan caressed the lion embroidery on the handkerchief with his long, delicate fingertips, then closed his eyes and mumbled something under his breath. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes.

"This way."

Yuan walked ahead. Gillan quickened his pace so as not to lose sight of Yuan.

"Can’t we do that swoosh, that teleportation thing like before, this time?"

"It is difficult to stack spells when I am casting one that is high in difficulty and requires concentration, like a tracking spell. Of course, if it were just me, performing a teleportation spell on top of a tracking spell would be no trouble at all, but now that I have a tag-along... we have no choice but to walk."

"A tag-along..."

Gillan swallowed the anger that surged up within him. Right, he’s the one finding my daughter, so I should endure it whether he calls me a tag-along or a burden. However, he could not help the way his eyes sharpened as he looked at Yuan.

Although he said it was difficult to stack spells, no matter which street Yuan and Gillan turned into, people did not crowd or press close to them. It seemed the shield he had cast earlier was still in effect.

After turning down several alleys and crossing a few small bridges, they arrived at a secluded roadside. On both sides of the narrow, quiet street, houses were packed closely together. As they were buildings on Capelli Island, their exteriors were pretty, but for some reason, they gave off a dreary atmosphere.

"I can feel Cecil’s presence from that house."

Yuan said, pointing to one of the houses with the tip of his chin. Gillan hurried to that house and knocked.

"Cecil! Are you in here? Cecil, it’s Dad!"

The door opened quickly. The person who opened the door and came out was none other than Cecilia.

"Dad! How did you know I was here?"

"Cecil!"

Gillan immediately pulled his cute daughter into a hug.

"You rascal, how could you just disappear so suddenly! Huh? The knights were so worried. Dad also came running in a panic."

"I’m sorry. Ah, Yuan must have found me with magic."

Cecil said, looking at Yuan standing over Gillan’s shoulder. Yuan crossed his arms and snorted.

"Finding you is easy enough."

"What on earth is this house? Why are you here? Did Claire come with you too?"

Gillan fired off a barrage of questions. Cecilia placed both her hands on Gillan’s body.

"Dad, just a moment. If you ask like that, I don’t even have a chance to answer."

Then, Cecilia opened the door wider.

"Please, come inside first."

Gillan and Yuan stepped into the unfamiliar house as Cecilia led them. The inside of the house was a mess. Things were strewn about haphazardly, and since they were only things like broken flowerpots, shattered dishes, and a broom with all its bristles unraveled, it all just looked like trash.

And at a small table in the middle of it all, Claire and a grimy little girl were sitting.

"Your Grace the Duke. Your Lordship the Marquis."

Claire quickly stood up and bowed respectfully. The girl next to her saw the two tall, well-built men and wore a frightened expression. Her small body could be seen trembling.

"That’s enough, Claire. Sit down and calm that child first. And Cecil, now explain. What in the world is going on?"

Gillan’s expression had settled, becoming more serious and calm than before. It was the face of the father Cecilia trusted.

"At first, we were all looking around the Capelli Market. Then, in an alley to the side, I saw some children surrounding someone, punching and kicking and swearing at them."

As soon as she saw that sight, Cecilia had run headlong in that direction. Claire, who was right next to her, went with her.

The one being bullied was the grimy little girl now sitting next to Claire. The ones bullying her were the children of noble families who had come here to play. When Cecilia scolded them, they came out defiantly, revealing their status, so Cecilia also said that she was the Duke’s daughter of the Blake family. Naturally, the children turned pale and ran away, and Cecilia and Claire, unable to just leave the injured girl, had brought her to her home.

"But you know. Ivy, ah, Ivy is this child’s name. Ivy’s father is a really awful person."

Ivy was limping badly, and she said it was not because of the noble children, but because of her own father.

"Where is there to hit on such a small child? Her body is covered in bruises too. And she said she can’t even wash properly."

Her gums where her baby teeth had fallen out were rotten black in several places. Feeling that she could not be left like this, Cecilia’s explanation was that she had been waiting in this house to talk to the child’s father when he came.

Having heard that much, Yuan interjected as if he was dumbfounded.

"What on earth were you going to talk about?"

"This child needs treatment and care. Ivy’s father must face legal punishment. This is domestic violence and a neglect of his responsibilities and duties as a parent."

"So you were going to take her to your house and, what, adopt her? Or make her a maid? If you see a few more beggar kids on the street, are you going to pick them up too?"