My Daddy Hides His Power - Chapter 206

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Father Conceals His Strength
206
* * *
Schmidt Manor.
Enoch stood face to face with Andre Schmidt, a man with a beautiful countenance and somber eyes.
He had lost two of his three sons—his eldest and second son—on the battlefield. The Emperor had commended their sacrifice and granted Andre Schmidt an honorable retirement.
Could such a retirement, purchased with the blood of his own children, truly bring him peace?
“Among the ducal houses, Antrace and Libre have already committed themselves… but you must secure at least one of Schmidt, Nova, or Wagner.”
Joseph, the strategist, carried a heavy burden of concern.
Every target for recruitment stood at the apex of imperial power.
In other words, the beneficiaries of the Class System.
It was hardly likely they would willingly join Enoch’s plan to shake the very foundations of a hierarchy so long entrenched.
And yet.
“I have long heard tell of your conduct, and I confess I have sometimes wondered whether you might harbor even greater ambitions.”
With those words, Andre Schmidt took up his pen and wrote. When he finished, a single oath document lay before them, blood marking every seal.
“Accept this.”
Enoch fell silent, stunned.
[To commemorate this day on which I, Andre Schmidt, have chosen to share a great purpose with my brother Enoch Rubinstein.
Imperial Calendar, Year 1783, September.
Andre Schmidt.]
This was proof.
Not merely a promise to join the rebellion willingly, but undeniable ‘evidence’ that he had set foot on this dangerous ground alongside them.
“To secure such an alliance, we must naturally reveal our intentions, but should we suffer betrayal, matters will grow most complicated. We must proceed with utmost caution.”
This was Joseph’s chief worry.
Betrayal.
Andre Schmidt had just eliminated that possibility entirely.
“A record such as this will allow you to rest easy as well, will it not?”
Andre Schmidt smiled faintly and added,
“I confess I did not expect you to come to me with such boldness, unafraid of what this might bring. Yet precisely because you possess such resolve, I believe you harbor truly great ambitions.”
Of course, had Enoch known nothing of this beforehand, he would never have dared approach the Schmidt house through direct negotiation.
But.
“Listen, Gerard’s father will help us right away. You needn’t worry about it.”
Enoch had Lilis.
“He hates the Emperor far more than you do. He’s been waiting for you, actually. So you don’t need to arrange meetings again and again, or spend months cultivating favor. If you see those high nobles too often, you’ll only arouse the Emperor’s suspicion, won’t you?”
His daughter’s guidance was like holding the answer key while solving the problem.
“Thank you, Duke Schmidt.”
Enoch placed the oath document Andre Schmidt had given him into his breast pocket.
“Should you require anything, contact me at any time.”
Andre Schmidt saw Enoch out courteously. As he stepped into the corridor, a familiar face approached with a smile from the far end.
“Your Grace!”
A boy of fifteen with periwinkle hair, bearing a striking resemblance to his father.
Gerard Schmidt.
Andre Schmidt regarded his approaching son with deepened eyes and spoke.
“He’s thrilled at the prospect of receiving his knighthood next year. He wishes his time as a child soldier would end soon. I worry more than anyone, though.”
“His skill is excellent. I shall keep close watch and see to him well, so please do not trouble yourself overmuch.”
At Enoch’s words, Andre Schmidt smiled softly.
“Thank you. I entrust him to you. He is the only child I have left now.”
“Your Grace, what brings you here?”
Asking his son to finish seeing Enoch out, Andre Schmidt turned back toward his study.
Enoch departed Schmidt Manor alongside Gerard.
“Your knighthood ceremony is coming soon. Your father must be worried, but I came to tell him you’re doing well.”
At the praise, Gerard’s face flushed.
“Your Grace—I mean, Commander. Once I receive my rank, I’ll work even harder.”
Enoch patted the young boy’s shoulder encouragingly.
“You don’t need to work harder.”
“Sir?”
“Survive instead.”
……
“Surviving is what matters most. That is how you repay your parents for giving you life and raising you.”
The deaths of his two older brothers, weighing from above.
My only remaining child, and how my parents dote on me.
Gerard, understanding Enoch’s words, nodded emphatically.
“Yes, I will remember it well.”
* * *
Late at night.
When he returned home, Lilis, who had been sleeping, stirred half-awake and rubbed her eyes in greeting.
“Dad, you must be tired. And you brought Gerard right into your business so quickly. You’re really the best.”
“Ah, what hardship is your father enduring? I’m just coasting along because of our princess. I feel like I’m solving problems while looking at the answer key.”
“That’s not true. You solved all those problems originally.”
Enoch laughed, pulling his drowsy daughter into his arms as she nestled against him.
“Now Dad’s business will succeed soon, won’t it….”
“It will.”
“Dad.”
“Hmm?”
“You remember what I said before, don’t you?”
“What did you say?”
“That I don’t want to live alone for a long time.”
“Ah, yes.”
“I want to live the same as the people I love, grow old the same way, and die the same way.”
“…Yes.”
“And anyway, until Dad’s business succeeds, I have to hide that I’m Primera, so I need to grow up just like my friends….”
…….
“So I’ll use the time I have to spend anyway to help Dad as hard as I can.”
Enoch looked at his daughter with a hollow feeling, holding her away from his chest. He couldn’t find the words to say.
“Tell me if you need my help. I’ll do anything for you, Dad.”
Lilis said this, then burrowed back into her father’s embrace.
“…Yes. Thank you, my daughter.”
…….
Drowsy, Lilis soon fell back asleep.
Soft, even breathing.
Enoch stroked his daughter’s head and whispered quietly.
“My princess, my treasure.”
The small child had, gratefully, grown so much without him noticing.
He hoped she would continue to grow happily, without tears or pain.
“Dad will protect you.”
Enoch spoke aloud the vow he made to himself every day.
My daughter, my princess.
“Your tomorrow will be happy.”
Because you came into this world and showed Dad what happiness truly means.
Your father too.
“Tomorrow will be happier still. The day after that, even more so. And more, and more.”
Enoch smiled and pressed his lips to his sleeping child’s head.
“Dad will make sure of it.”
And he prayed.
That the long night of this world would end and morning would come safely.
That this child would know only happiness.
‘May I be able to bear all the trials that will come your way.’
That night, the moon shone with particular brightness.
As if a father’s prayer for his beloved daughter had reached it.
* * *
Early morning.
Warm spring sunlight poured through the window.
“Ugh.”
Enoch squinted against the harsh light and instinctively fumbled for the spot beside him.
“Ah.”
His daughter was not there.
Though they had been sleeping separately for some time now, Enoch still hadn’t grown used to waking alone in the morning.
“This bed is disgustingly large.”
Enoch rolled out and scratched his disheveled head.
Three months ago.
When he woke, Lilis was panicking beside the blood-stained bedsheet.
Enoch’s heart plummeted the moment he saw his daughter coughing blood that morning. Convinced she’d fallen deathly ill, he shrieked and summoned every soul in the household.
“Butler!!! Rom! The princess is coughing blood! Call the physician at once! Jetti! June! Where are you all?!!!”
“Dad, no! It’s not like that! This blood didn’t come from my mouth! That, that’s not—stop! Don’t call people! Please, Dad, daaad!”
Recalling that day when he’d ignored his daughter’s desperate pleas, Enoch heaved a long sigh and approached the mirror.
“Hmm.”
As he hurriedly smoothed his disheveled hair after waking, a carriage came into view through the window, waiting outside.
“The princess hasn’t left yet, then!”
That was strange. Lilis usually departed early for the Magic Tower, so he rarely caught sight of her in the mornings.
Enoch grinned widely and rushed toward his daughter’s room.
“Our princess—still here, are we?”
He was about to open the door when he paused.
His daughter had grown so much now. A father couldn’t behave without manners anymore.
Knock, knock.
“Are you in, princess?”
“Yes, Dad. Just a moment. I’ll be right out.”
Waiting outside the door, he found himself yearning for those mornings when they’d slept together.
That day when he saw the blood.
Lilis had declared to him firmly that they would never sleep in the same room again.
If Enoch had been perceptive enough, could he have avoided being cast out like that?
If he’d been a mother instead, surely she would have picked up on the signs faster.
That day, when Enoch’s vision went white at the sight of his daughter’s blood and he shrieked, summoning everyone—
“What on earth is happening?!!!”
“The young lady is coughing blood, you say?!”
“The physician is here! Young lady, where are you?!!!”
From the eldest of the household, Nordic himself, to the physician and the lowliest servants—all came rushing to Lilis’s room.
“Dad, I hate you! I told you to be quiet! I told you to stop! It wasn’t that kind of thing!”
“I’m sorry, princess. I’m truly sorry. Dad is so sorry. I didn’t mean to not understand—it’s not like that—I studied so much, but I was so shocked I couldn’t think of anything….”
And so Enoch…
for his thoughtlessness in broadcasting his daughter’s first menstruation all over town,
received the sentence of ‘separate bedrooms’,
‘no kissing for two weeks’,
and ‘no physical affection for one week’.
Though the restriction on kissing and physical affection had been lifted, the separate bedrooms—that would be forever.
At last the door opened, and his daughter emerged.
“Dad, you’re up early.”
Silver hair cascading to her waist, adorned with a headband.
A white blouse and a gray skirt that fluttered around her knees.
Though she wore her usual neat attire, something was different about her.
“Hmm, what is it?”
Enoch narrowed his eyes and circled his daughter, studying her from all sides.
“What, what?”
His daughter was beautiful.
Extraordinarily beautiful.
Silver hair as white as snow, flawless skin, and eyes that sparkled with gemstone-blue irises.
For some time now, the knights kept pestering him to deliver love letters on their behalf—dozens arrived each week.
From the salon to the society circles, though she hadn’t even made her debut yet, her reputation for beauty was as ever—yet something felt different now.
“Did you do makeup?”
Enoch caught the faint trace of cosmetics with a keen eye, stroked his chin, and let out a suspicious “Hmm.”
“Huh, what?”
Lilis’s blue eyes flickered as if caught off guard. She was visibly flustered.
“Our princess, heading off to study—why are you dolled up like that? Suspicious, don’t you think?”
“Come on. What’s suspicious about it? I’m all grown up now. Can’t I wear a little makeup?”
……
Enoch stared intently at his daughter’s face, then broke into a bright smile.
“That’s right! You’re beautiful, our daughter!”
“Ahem.”
“Now then, before you go—a kiss….”
“Sure, later!”
Lilis quickly pushed away Enoch’s advancing lips and hurried down the stairs.
“I’ll be back soon, Dad!”
“No, wait! Don’t be so cold—is one little kiss really that much trouble?”
Lilis didn’t even glance back.
Enoch stood with his lips still puckered, his shoulders sagging in defeat.
“She’s being cruel….”
Lilis Rubinstein. Fourteen years old.
Somewhere along the way, his daughter had grown into the age when she refused her father’s kiss.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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