My Daddy Hides His Power - Chapter 62

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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 hiding his strength
Episode 62
* * *
“Lilis, do you like Gerard?”
“Huh? No.”
“Then why’d you give him juice?”
I was patting my rounded belly as I left the dining hall when Alisha asked the question, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Diane and Michelle were both sparkling with curiosity as well.
“Um. Just because.”
“Come on, there’s no ‘just because.’ You don’t have to be shy. Half the girls here probably like Gerard anyway.”
“Why? Is he popular?”
“The most popular. He’s so handsome.”
“That’s right. So handsome.”
“He looks like a total prince….”
The cute nine-year-old girls clasped their hands together like baby angels and opened their mouths wide in dreamy smiles.
“Cheshire is better-looking, though.”
Silence fell at my words.
For some reason, a hesitant Alisha poked my shoulder.
“Hey, Lilis. What’s the deal between you and Cheshire? You two seem really close.”
“Well, Cheshire is….”
I started to speak but clamped my mouth shut.
I remembered what Cheshire had asked of me separately last night.
“Don’t tell anyone that I’m your guardian or that you live at my place.”
“Why? Then Dad’s name gets spread all over. That’d make it easier to stay in this weird place.”
“I’m asking you, Lilis.”
“What, what?”
“I’m asking. Could you do this for me?”
I understand why Cheshire wants to keep that fact hidden.
He probably just doesn’t want Father to become the talk of the town for no reason.
At first I had no intention of agreeing, but when Cheshire actually said “asking,” my mind went blank….
‘Sigh.’
I shrugged and made an excuse.
“Yeah, we’re close. We entered the Academy at the same time.”
“But he’s a commoner….”
When Alisha tilted her head in confusion, Diane poked her side, her cheeks flushing.
“He’s handsome though. I’d like to talk to him too.”
“Right, right. Honestly, I think he’s a bit cooler than Gerard. And he’s way taller than us.”
Michelle agreed with Diane’s assessment.
Watching the children become captivated by Cheshire’s appearance, I nodded with satisfaction.
Well, well. Already garnering all the ladies’ attention.
It seemed I wouldn’t have to worry about Cheshire’s romantic prospects later on.
“Oh my, Lilis! Look over there! Isn’t he waiting for you? Right?”
Alisha suddenly started bouncing.
I followed her gaze to see Gerard standing against a tree on the Walking Path.
When he spotted me, he smiled and walked over.
“Hi.”
“Oh, hey.”
“Here.”
What Gerard handed me was grape-flavored juice.
“I’ll enjoy the one you gave me.”
He waved the apple juice I’d given him earlier with a gentle smile.
“Ooh, wow.”
“Hehe.”
My roommates hiding behind me let out strange sounds, apparently smitten by Gerard’s bright laughter.
I stared intently at Gerard’s handsome face.
‘Hmm, I can’t see any serious character flaws showing yet. I hope there’s still room for redemption….’
I accepted the grape juice and inserted the straw.
Then I smiled brightly and held it out to Gerard.
“Should we, um, toast!?”
“Haha. Sure.”
Gerard squeezed his eyes into crescents and laughed softly as he pressed the juice pouch against mine with a click.
Yeah, I like it.
Let’s just keep going like this.
* * *
9 a.m.
I arrived at the Education Room.
The special admissions had to complete basic training first before they could attend classes with the other children.
“Cheshire!”
I quickly claimed the seat next to him, pulling out my notebook and Bear Pencil Case as I asked.
“Did Bruce bother you today?”
“No.”
“What about Lemoff? She didn’t bother you either, right?”
“No.”
“How was your bed last night? Softer than you expected? I overslept this morning anyway.”
“It was fine.”
“Think they’ll serve snacks today? Honestly, the snack disparity is pretty ridiculous. Want to meet up at snack time later? We can share mine.”
“That’s okay.”
I puffed out my lips.
Something about Cheshire’s responses felt off.
“Did something bad happen to you?”
“No.”
“Something did.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Your answers are too short. It seems like you don’t want to talk to me.”
“I’m always like this.”
“No, something’s different. Something… subtly different.”
…….
Cheshire stared straight ahead without responding.
I jabbed him in the ribs.
“Just tell me. Who bothered you?”
“No one.”
“Then what is it!”
“You….”
Cheshire trailed off.
So there was something after all.
“Yeah, yeah?”
“…Never mind.”
“Ugh! This is so frustrating!”
I tugged at my hair.
“Tell me, come on!”
I grabbed his shoulders and shook them. Then, turning his head slightly away, he asked quietly.
“…Why did you give it to him?”
“Huh?”
What was he suddenly talking about?
I tilted my head in confusion, and Cheshire turned back to face me before speaking again.
“This morning. The gold Badge from our room. You gave it to him.”
“What?”
“…That juice. Why’d you give it to him?”
My thought process ground to a halt.
The gold Badge in Cheshire’s room — that was Gerard Schmidt.
“That!”
It was part of my operation to reform that minor character who had no business blocking the protagonist’s path!
Since Cheshire was the one who needed to get close to Gerard anyway, I’d figured it was good timing.
“He’s the Schmidt Duke Family’s son, you know. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to be friendly with him?”
“Oh, I see.”
“Is he bothering you and the other kids in your room or something?”
“No. He’s not doing that.”
“Phew! Then I’m glad. You might run into him a lot later, you know? So don’t be so distant with him—when he talks to you, respond. Just be friendly with him, okay? You got it?”
Cheshire stared at me for a long time in silence.
Then he spoke.
“Do I really need your permission for every person I want to befriend?”
“What?”
“I’m saying, if I don’t want to be close to someone, should I do it anyway just because you want me to?”
“Oh, no? That’s not what I meant….”
“Then I’ll handle my own affairs. You’re the one who wants to befriend him, not me.”
“Huh? Wait, that’s not exactly what I….”
Just then, the Education Room door opened and two researchers in white coats stepped inside.
I lost my train of thought and could only watch Cheshire’s face.
‘Why is he giving off such cold air? Did Gerard actually pick a fight with him?’
If so, being told to befriend him would be irritating enough.
Cheshire wasn’t the type to speak up about harassment even if he’d suffered it.
‘This is trickier than I thought.’
Looking at Cheshire’s rigid expression, I felt helpless.
“Your Highness!”
A female researcher with a kind demeanor approached me.
“Would you come over here, Your Highness?”
She gestured toward a desk set apart from the others.
I wasn’t sure what this was about, but I moved to the indicated spot without complaint.
“My name is Bella Lemoff. I’ll be overseeing your foundational education. Let me give you a brief overview of the Academy completion course.”
“First, I will explain the Academy completion course.”
Right then.
A male researcher’s voice delivered the same content in a completely different tone.
Startled, I glanced back toward where Cheshire sat with the commoner children.
‘Right, that’s why two instructors came in.’
The two of them showed a stark difference from the start.
“Now, let’s begin. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask at any time.”
“I will not be taking questions. Concentrate and keep up without missing the explanation.”
It was glaring discrimination.
* * *
“We refer to supernatural power as ‘Mana.’ Those who possess Mana in their bodies are called ‘Ability Users.'”
Cheshire let the instructor’s explanation pass over him.
“The total amount of Mana each Ability User possesses differs, and their ‘Grade’ is determined by that quantity.”
This was information he already knew.
“Generally, the higher the parent’s Grade, the higher the child’s Grade. However, when the blood of a Non-ability User is mixed in, Mana quantity drops drastically. Non-ability User half-bloods like you are 99% a 6th Grade Diez.”
Cheshire glanced down at his white Badge.
“In the rare 1% of cases, one might receive a different Grade, but at best it would be a 5th Grade Nubeno. There is no precedent of a half-blood receiving any other Grade.”
In this nation, wealth, power, and position were determined by Grade.
He and Lilis would live in entirely different worlds within the same country.
After all, Lilis carried the direct bloodline of Rubinstein, which produced the most 1st Grade Dose individuals.
“He’s the son of the Schmidt Duke Family. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to befriend him.”
So it made sense that Lilis would think that way.
As she grew older, her circle would naturally fill with more nobles of similar rank, and she’d belong among them without effort.
‘Why does this feel so wrong?’
Cheshire forcibly suppressed the unease that was rising within him.
“Though you’ve been fortunate enough to earn an Ability User Badge, you must always be aware of your position.”
The instructor’s gaze swept down upon the commoner children before him.
“You are the lower classes who survive through the sacrifice of the high-ranking nobility. Learn to bow your heads in gratitude to them always.”
His spirits plummeted.
Even knowing that one day he would grow distant from Lilis….
Feeling that reality with his own skin was far more desolate than he’d imagined.

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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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