My Daddy Hides His Power - Chapter 224

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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 Hides His Strength
224
* * *
Tiptoe, tiptoe.
I was creeping out of the house on my toes when a sinister presence bloomed behind me.
“Princess, where are you going?”
“Ah!”
Father was standing behind me—I had no idea when he’d arrived. I pressed a hand to my hammering chest.
“Sneaking about like a common burglar—just where do you think you’re off to without telling me?”
“Me? I was just going to the neighbors’ house….”
“The neighbors’? Axion’s place? Why?”
“Well, Cheshire’s supposed to come home today, and I was worried—wanted to make sure he made it back safe, that he didn’t get hurt. Besides, tomorrow I have to report to the Imperial Palace, so I won’t be home for a while. I just wanted to see him today….”
“Then why are you tiptoeing?”
“…I didn’t want to wake anyone.”
“Wake anyone? It’s early evening.”
…….
I had nothing to say.
Father gave a low chuckle, took my hand, and dragged me back upstairs to my room.
“Don’t go wandering about at this hour. If you’re worried, ask your father instead. I’ll tell you myself—I saw Cheshire today.”
“Oh, you did?”
“Cheshire came back without a scratch. The expedition went smoothly.”
“And Leon?”
“Him too. Everyone’s fine. Don’t worry.”
“Thank goodness.”
But that wasn’t really what I’d wanted to ask.
What had been nagging at me all along.
‘The demon beasts that were chasing Leon—they were gone. Leon thought it was strange too.’
A hundred of them should have been on Leon’s tail.
I’d been planning to use my ability to make it look like Leon had caught them all, but now that I thought back on it….
‘The risk would have been massive. Honestly, it was insane.’
True, the situation had been urgent and there’d been no other choice, but if I’d faced those demon beasts myself, things would have gotten terribly complicated.
First, I would have needed to catch the beasts and manipulate the memories of Leon and Kyle—that alone would have consumed an enormous amount of Life Force.
And I hadn’t even been sure if Leon was skilled enough to handle a hundred excited demon beasts on his own.
If someone had questioned what happened?
‘In the worst case, the Emperor might have suspected the existence of Primera.’
So the fact that the demon beasts hadn’t followed was an absolute blessing.
‘But how? It all went too smoothly, as if the heavens themselves had intervened.’
That didn’t make sense.
I’d been meaning to ask Cheshire about it.
“Nothing unusual happened, then?”
“Unusual?”
“I mean, nothing dangerous?”
Father opened the door and pushed me inside, then let out a sharp exclamation. “Ah!”
“What? What is it? Did something happen?”
“There was an unexpected situation, it seems. The demon beasts got excited and advanced toward the rear flank—about a hundred of them or so.”
“What?”
Just as I’d thought!
There were more demon beasts that had been following Leon!
“So? What happened then?”
“Cheshire caught them all.”
“Wow!”
As relief washed over me, Father began stripping off my outer robe and added, “But Cheshire didn’t have any choice. He used the Swordsmanship that your father made him keep carefully hidden—that’s how he caught the demon beasts.”
“……?”
I already knew that Cheshire had been hiding his strength.
I also knew why—to keep the Emperor from ordering war before the Rebel Forces could complete all their preparations.
“Oh!”
The shock hit me like a wave, and I clutched my head.
‘So that’s it! Cheshire cleaned up my mess!’
It was obvious—I’d used up so much of my Life Force and my identity was about to be exposed, so he’d taken the fall for me instead.

“D-Dad, what if—what if there’s a war before your business even succeeds? Why are you so calm about this?”
“There won’t be a war.”
Dad gripped my shoulders.
Then he spoke.
“My business will succeed before any war breaks out.”
“What?”
“One month.”
…….
“In one month, I’m going to take the Emperor’s head.”
What did I just hear?
My jaw dropped slowly in shock.
“Is that… really true?”
“Yes. All the preparations are complete. Besides, I didn’t want to wait any longer anyway.”
Dad chuckled softly and pulled me into his embrace, even as I stood there dazed.
“My little princess, watching you tremble with worry every single day—I couldn’t bear it. And I was bleeding dry myself.”
His arms tightened around me with fierce resolve.
“I’m sorry I made you wait so long. Now, let’s finish this.”
His voice was low, resolute.
“I will succeed, I swear it.”
My heart began to race.
“For my princess.”
* * *
The next day.
The Magic Tower, Oscar’s office.
“……So, it seems Cheshire couldn’t hide his power anymore, and they’ve decided to strike one month from now.”
Oscar looked visibly shaken as I explained everything.
“Master, why do you look like that? Aren’t you happy?”
“Hm? Oh, no. I am happy, of course I am. Just… a bit disoriented.”
“Me too, honestly. I didn’t expect Dad’s business to accelerate like this, so I was confused at first. But once I thought about it, it actually feels wonderful.”
I swung my legs from where I sat on the sofa.
“Finally, everything’s coming to an end. It’s strange, but more than anything, I feel relieved. And excited.”
……
“Once the business is finished quickly, isn’t that good? Now there’s nothing to worry about—just happiness ahead.”
……
“Master, just like you promised, we can go somewhere beautiful and eat lots of delicious things. We’ll make so many, so many memories….”
……
I kept chattering away, but Oscar wasn’t responding.
When I looked up, he sat before his desk with a distant, vacant expression, lost in thought.
‘Sigh.’
Even as the final day drew near, Oscar’s face showed no joy—clearly he was still wrestling with an unsolved problem.
Three years from now.
Oscar would pay the price of his Regression, and his existence would be forgotten by everyone.
‘He’s already worrying about it, isn’t he.’
I hopped up and moved to stand in front of him.
“Master.”
“Mm?”
“You know what?”
I propped my chin on the desk and smiled brightly.
“I’ll never forget you.”
……
Oscar stared at me intently.
I hesitated, flustered.
“I mean, well. Other people might forget, but I’ll find a way—somehow, I’ll make sure to remember. Anyway.”
……
“I’m serious. I’m certain I won’t forget you.”
At my words, Oscar let out a soft laugh.
Huh? He didn’t believe me?
“Why are you laughing? I mean it.”
“Enough.”
Oscar waved his hand dismissively and changed the subject.
“When is this brat coming? It’s already past one o’clock. And after requesting a private audience with the busy Master of the Magic Tower, they dare show up late?”
“Oh, that’s right!”
Oscar had a visitor coming today.
None other than Leon.
He’d insisted on thanking Rosalina Versace profusely for saving his life.
He seemed to be keeping his promise.
“Master, Master. You understand, right? You’ll say it well, won’t you?”
“Sure thing.”
Anticipating Leon’s arrival, I’d eagerly spilled the details of how I’d sold Oscar out and begged him to keep our story straight.
“This, this!”
I pulled Leon’s Ruby Earring from inside my dress and pressed it into Oscar’s hands.
“Return it to him, will you?”
“Good grief.”
Knock, knock.
Right on cue, a knock sounded at the door.
“Master of the Magic Tower, you have a visitor. It’s the Prince of Antrace.”
It was Robel, the Advisor, speaking.
“Already?!”
“Show him in.”
Oscar gestured toward the sofa with his chin.
“Stay there.”
I’d barely settled onto the sofa in a fluster when the door swung open and Leon entered.
‘……?’
What on earth.
Who are you.
I rubbed my eyes in disbelief.
‘Who exactly are you?’
Golden hair swept back and perfectly groomed.
A black suit fitted immaculately, sharp from collar to cuff.
Leon emerged radiating the alluring scent of a handsome male, and in his hands he carried a Rose Bouquet.
“Um, brother?”
“Oh, Lilis.”
Spotting me, Leon raised his hand slightly, his expression tense.
“Wow. Brother, you look amazing today. Where are you going?”
“…Amazing? Really?”
The corners of Leon’s mouth twitched at my praise, but then he caught himself and shook his head firmly, turning his gaze to Oscar.
“Master of the Magic Tower, good day to you. This is my first time making a formal introduction. Thank you for making time in your busy schedule. I am Leon of Antrace.”
I stood slack-jawed as Leon bowed at a ninety-degree angle toward Oscar.
I hadn’t known Leon could speak with such courtesy and formality.
‘I mean, he’s an aristocrat by birth, so I knew he could manage it when he wanted to.’
Still, I wasn’t used to seeing it.
I was rubbing the goosebumps from my arms when Oscar rose and approached Leon.
“Right. Why did you want to see me?”
“Yes. I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but in the battle I participated in this time….”
“Yeah, I heard. No need for a long explanation.”
Oscar gestured with his chin at the Rose Bouquet in Leon’s hands.
“Are those for me?”
“……?”
Leon flinched in confusion and hurriedly hid the bouquet behind his back.
“Do you happen to like flowers? If so, I’ll acquire something else for you instead.”
“No, I don’t like them. Especially not from a man. So then… what was it — those for Rosalina Veronica?”
“Ver-Versace! It’s Versace, not Veronica, Master!”
I interjected in alarm, and Oscar responded with a flat “I see” and a nod.
“Right. Whatever Versace. I always call her by her name, so I got confused. Anyway, are you planning to give them to her? Is just that bouquet your expression of gratitude?”
“No, sir. I did bring the bouquet intending to give it to Miss Rosalina, but naturally I plan to express my gratitude on a much larger scale in time.”
“…In time? No, there’s no need for that. If you have something to give, just hand it over now. I’ll pass it along.”
“I wish to give it to her in person.”
“That would be difficult.”
“There’s something I must tell her directly.”
“What could that possibly be? Didn’t you say your thanks to her well enough then?”
“Master of the Magic Tower.”
Leon cut off Oscar, whose words had begun to carry the faintest hint of exasperation.
“What.”
“Truth is, ever since the day you helped me, Rosalina hasn’t left my mind.”
“…What, now?”
“So today I wanted to meet her and properly thank her again.”
Leon’s expression grew serious as he paused, then continued with a deep breath.
“And if you’re willing, I wanted to ask whether you might allow us to continue seeing each other on good terms.”
???
In that instant, my mind went blank…….
‘What—what—what is this guy saying? What did I just hear?’
I gripped my head, my mouth hanging open in shock.
“I heard that you’re like a father to Rosalina. The reason I sought you out first.”
Leon knelt before Oscar as if making a confession.
“In—insane….”
Oscar stumbled backward a step, startled.
Over the figure of Leon kneeling before him, I heard the phantom sound of a proposal theme playing in the background.
“Before I ask to begin courting her, I thought it only proper to first seek your blessing as her father.”
“…….”
Oscar’s shoulders trembled. He slowly raised a hand to cover his mouth.
“I—gak—”
Wow…….
Oscar glanced back at me, my spirit utterly departed, and lowered the hand covering his mouth.
His face contorted in a desperate effort to suppress laughter.
The sound of stifled, barely controlled laughter filled the air—infuriating.
“Oh my~~”
“…….”
“Hey, what’re we gonna do with this one~?”

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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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