My Daddy Hides His Power - Chapter 90

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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
90
Looking at Oscar with his mouth hanging open, I laughed weakly.
“But from now on, I’ll try not to look at Cheshire with strange eyes….”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I’ll fold this feeling away carefully and won’t tell anyone about it until I die. It’s just the silly, fleeting crush of a seven-year-old girl named Lilis….”
I wiped my nose with a quick motion and gazed out the window with a bitter heart.
I seemed to be rather sentimental for my age.
“You talk like an adult.”
Well, I am one….
“But do you really need to fold it away?”
“Pardon?”
Oscar shrugged his shoulders.
“That girl’s father or whatever — if he bothers you, just kill him. It’s not like there’s anything you can’t do.”
“Gasp!”
I was so startled I smacked Oscar’s thigh.
“Ow.”
“Don’t say things like that to a child!”
“Aren’t you the child?”
“Yes, I’m a child! I’m seven years old!”
“This is ridiculous.”
“Master, please only say educational things from now on.”
I added with a sigh.
“And it’s not that simple. When I use my ability, my lifespan gets cut short. I want to live long and happily with Father.”
“Your will to live — I like that much, at least.”
“Honestly, my ability is pretty useless. Whenever I try to use it, it drains my lifespan like crazy.”
“What could possibly drain your lifespan that much?”
“Well, let me think….”
I picked up the bracelet Oscar was wearing on his right wrist and asked.
“But this is really amazing. How did you make it?”
“It’s something that already existed — I just modified it slightly so you could use it. Originally, it’s a Magical Artifact that resonates with the wearer’s Core. It shows you how much Mana flows out of the Core when you use your ability.”
“I see! So, so — can you see what glows here?”
“No. I can’t see it either.”
“Hmm.”
I sighed and thought it over.
‘How could I break Oscar’s Seal?’
—
Only a single bar glowed on the bracelet.
It was a question I’d already asked many times, wanting so badly to lift poor Oscar’s Seal.
“Right now only one bar lights up here…. Which probably means even if I used up all my lifespan, it wouldn’t work….”
“What kind of magic is it?”
“I can’t tell you, but you’re clever — try to guess. I created it thinking about you, Master.”
“I see.”
Apparently catching on, Oscar propped his chin on his hand and let out a dry chuckle.
“Even if Premera came, that wouldn’t work either.”
“I’m sorry. I’m truly useless.”
“Why do you say such things?”
“But!”
After drooping for a moment, I immediately burst into celebration.
“The fact that I can’t do it means the Emperor can’t do it either!”
I smiled wickedly.
Through all my experiments with the bracelet, I’d learned a great deal.
“Oh, I’m curious about something.”
Just then Oscar asked.
“How much lifespan does it take to place Subjugation Magic on your father? What exactly requires so much that even though the Emperor kept such a careful eye on it, he couldn’t lift a finger…?”
“Mmm-hm.”
That was it exactly.
I looked at the bracelet.
282 years
“282 years.”
“What?”
Oscar’s mouth fell open.
“So you age 141 years all at once? Wow, that’s basically instant death.”
“Yes! Now nobody can touch my father anymore. He’s the strongest in the world!”
Hooray! Oscar chuckled at my excitement.
* * *
After class—we actually covered cubic functions—my teacher Oscar left chuckling to himself.
“Khahahaha! Listen, if you don’t want to end up plastered across the front page of the papers for a forbidden romance, you’d better keep your wits about you! I’m congratulating you in advance on getting a boyfriend!”
As if that counted as advice.
He really was second to none when it came to being annoying.
‘Sigh.’
Lilis Rubinstein, seven years old.
My heart ached at having to fold away feelings I’d never even had the chance to unfold.
“Lilis.”
At that moment, Cheshire’s voice came from beside me, and I froze.
We were waiting for Father in his office right now.
“Mm?”
I turned my stiff neck to find Cheshire staring straight at me.
“Why? What is it?”
Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump.
Now that I was aware of him, was it even worse?
My heart felt like it was about to burst right out of my mouth.
“You….”
Cheshire suddenly reached out his hand toward me.
“No, no, no!”
I jerked back in alarm.
Cheshire blinked, his hand suspended in empty air.
“Why are you doing that?”
“You had hair in your mouth.”
“Huh?”
I touched my lips and sure enough.
What a nuisance, these stray strands.
I quickly pulled the hair out and sat back down properly.
I could feel Cheshire’s gaze still fixed on me.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-crash.
‘Why is this happening?’
My runaway heartbeat sounded loud enough for Cheshire to hear.
Unable to help myself, I jumped up and scurried over to sit on the sofa across from him.
Cheshire was still, watching me intently.
“Lilis.”
“Mm?”
“Are you upset with me about something?”
“No?”
“Then why are you acting like that?”
“Like what?”
“You just avoided me.”
“I didn’t.”
……
“I really didn’t. I just moved seats because it was crowded.”
Cheshire clearly didn’t believe me, but he didn’t press further.
‘I’m sorry. I can’t help it. You’re the one who said you wanted to be family with me….’
Inwardly, I blamed Cheshire.
I’d thought it before, but I really wished that when I retained my past-life memories, my mental age had been adjusted to match.
Then I never would have become self-conscious about an eleven-year-old Cheshire.
‘I hate being seven. It’s so frustrating….’
But my body, without concentration and without dwelling on my past life, felt only seven years old.
Against a peer older brother casually flirting with his handsome face, I was helpless.
“Sigh.”
I let out a long breath.
Cheshire must have sensed my discomfort with his gaze, for he turned his head away, and I caught sight of his profile.
Handsome ones, aren’t they….
‘Why would an author give the main characters such good looks when there’s barely any romance in the story?’
I was caught up in such pointless thoughts.
“You two!”
Father arrived right on cue.
“Sorry for making you wait. I had to stop by your grandfather’s place.”
Father tapped my cheeks lightly before settling into the seat beside me.
Nothing else caught my eye.
Only the single sheet of paper clutched in Father’s hand.
It was adoption documents.
Once Cheshire’s name was written in, it would take effect….
‘Nooooo!’
I grabbed my cheeks with both hands and screamed silently.
Lilis Rubinstein, ten minutes before becoming siblings with the protagonist.
“Cheshire, the reason I asked you to come is… well.”
Father paused to choose his words.
“Actually, your father came by earlier.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Hm? You know?”
“Yeah, Father. The Marquis came all the way to our training ground and said he was taking Cheshire.”
As soon as I tattled, Father’s expression darkened.
“You’re joking.”
Father closed his eyes and held back his anger before turning back to Cheshire and speaking.
“So. Since he went all the way to see your face, let me ask you directly.”
…….
“Do you want to go back home?”
“No.”
Father laughed at Cheshire’s immediate response.
“Good. Then let’s keep living together with me and Lilis. Sound fair?”
Cheshire looked at me for a moment.
Then he nodded.
“Yes.”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
Father laughed aloud and set the adoption documents down on the table with a soft tap.
‘Aaaaahhh!’
I turned my gaze away.
How had things come to this?
When I first brought Cheshire home, I’d definitely planned to become siblings with him quietly!
I’d sworn to become a good family for the lonely, wounded Cheshire!
“What… is this?”
Cheshire stared blankly at the adoption documents and asked.
“Right now I’m your guardian. So if your biological father claims custody over you, I won’t be able to help. I’ll have to send you back home.”
Cheshire’s gaze, which had been fixed on the documents, suddenly lifted.
Toward me.
I flinched in surprise.
‘What’s that look? Why does he seem so startled? I already hinted at it when I casually mentioned becoming family.’
Maybe he hadn’t expected the adoption process to happen so quickly.
“Since you’re not yet of age to receive a title, you need the family name and legal guardian.”
“…You’re saying you’ll give me your name, sir? That I should become your son?”
Father hesitated at Cheshire’s response, which didn’t seem pleased at all.
Then he looked at me.
I met Father’s gaze.
‘What? Is our family not good enough?’
‘I have no idea what he’s thinking.’
We spoke with our eyes.
Father smiled awkwardly and turned back to Cheshire, asking.
“Why do you look like that? Don’t you want to?”
…….
Cheshire said nothing.
He simply stared straight ahead at one fixed point.
It was me.
Enoch noticed Cheshire’s burning gaze and looked between us both.
“Cheshire?”
As Enoch pressed for an answer, Cheshire finally spoke.
Looking at me.
“Family….”
Family?
“You were talking about this family being family?”
“Huh?”
Then family is family—what, there’s this family and that family?
“Ah.”
Cheshire seemed confused, covering his eyes and bowing his head deeply as he steadied his breathing.
Then, after a long moment, he shot to his feet.
“Thank you for the kindness, sir. But I don’t think I can do this.”
“What?”
“I don’t want to be your son. And I don’t want to be Lilis’s brother either.”
“What?”
Enoch’s mouth fell slowly open.
He looked genuinely shocked by Cheshire’s firm refusal.
That was the same expression he’d worn that time I’d shouted, “I’m not your daughter!”….
Of course, I was stunned silent too.
“I apologize.”
“Wait! Cheshire!”
Cheshire left those words behind and fled.

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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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