LIGHTNOVELWORLD My Daddy Hides His Power
Chapter 198
Leon pointed at the Count’s daughter with a confused look.
“How old is your daughter?” “I’m eleven years old.” “Then, do you know the age of the Duke of Libre?” “Yes, isn’t he turning 31 this year?” “…So you know that.” Leon muttered absentmindedly and glanced sideways. Cheshire sighed and turned his head away. “Excuse me, Count. My uncle is the same age as the Duke of Libre. Do you know that?” “Are you talking about His Excellency Duke Rubinstein? Yes, I know.” Leon didn’t know whether he was paying attention. Count Jenkins just seemed happy to talk to a powerful man. “Huh. My Uncle’s daughter… I mean, Lilith, my cousin… Uh, she’s the same age as your daughter, right…?” Struggling, Leon managed to redirect the observation about the age difference between the two, father and daughter. “Ah, I know what you mean. My daughter is very young, isn’t she?” Count Jenkins added, looking at his daughter affectionately. “But she’s growing up quickly. She’ll soon be counted among the beauties of the capital. Young Master, you may not know much because you are still young.” The Count grinned. “His Excellency the Duke of Libre will know. After all, the younger the woman, the better. Soon she’ll be blossoming…” “Whaaa!” Leon, probably getting goosebumps at the words of a father who came to sell his 11-year-old daughter, openly patted his arm and shouted. “B, butler.” Theo, who was listening from above, looked back at Karon with an absurd expression and asked quietly. “Is it because of the achievement the vice-captain set up this time? Anyway, the Libre family also has Chesire, right? His son’s age is more correct, right?” “Count Jenkins is Octava. Both in title and in class, he’s not in a position to arrange a marriage with our family.” Karon whispered. “The families who are talking about marriage to Master Cheshire are all high-ranking people who play a part in the Capital.” Ah, I realized. So, there is no competitiveness in joining the Cheshire side. “Although the Duke is doing well, he missed his chance to get married at the right age.” This means that he was aiming for Axion, who could at least point out his daughter’s ‘young age’. ‘Wow, let’s just die. Even death would be cheaper.’ I felt like throwing up and looked down at the Count. Indeed, a villain who accumulated karma for disgusting acts that are difficult to list in words and met a miserable end in the original work. The character that never changes his attitude once. * * * On the way out after sending Count Jenkins. “How can a person do that? Theo, do you understand that crazy mustache guy?” “No, not at all. I think he’s crazy too.” Cheshire asked as he walked along with the twins leading the exchange. “Did you perhaps misunderstand something?” “Huh? What? Ah, I did it for a moment. I never even dreamed the other person would be my uncle. Of course, I thought it was you?” I laughed and poked Cheshire’s side. “So I was surprised when you said you’d get married if uncle allowed it.” “There’s no way.” “Mhm?” Cheshire frowned as if he couldn’t understand my misunderstanding. “Well, isn’t that possible? Is it strange that I misunderstood? You’re popular, and you’re at an age where you can think about getting engaged, if not getting married.” “….” “You could get married now if you meet someone you like, right? Well.” Cheshire seemed about to throw something but then closed his mouth. His expression wasn’t good. “Ah, of course…” I glanced around while reading the atmosphere. “Because you’ve never told me anything about having feelings for someone, I didn’t think there was anything between you and that girl earlier. I just… wondered if, um, it’s because of my dad’s business?” “Because of the business?” “I, I mean, you could use marriage for business, right? So, are you trying to get Uncle’s permission instead of deciding? That’s what I thought.” “….” Cheshire remained silent for a while, narrowing his eyes as if trying to understand what I was saying. ‘I wonder if it’s still a bit difficult for Cheshire to hear this kind of talk?’ I recalled the clash of opinions between the protagonist, Enoch Rubinstein, and the tactician, Joseph Luttman, in the original work. Joseph tried to use ‘marriage’ as a good card in the process of gathering the rebel forces one by one. ‘If there is a family we want to make sure is on our side, there is nothing better than contract marriage.’ Joseph was worried that the emperor’s vigilance would increase when Dad, the ‘head of the family,’ remarried into a powerful family. ‘So, rather than Dad, they tried to use Cheshire, the adopted son, for marriage deals.’ Dad knew Cheshire well enough to follow without saying a word, so he flatly rejected Joseph’s offer for his own sake. ‘To be honest, when marriage talks came up in the original, I briefly hoped for a blossoming romance through a contract marriage or something like that…’ Unfortunately, there was no romance as expected in the original. But is there anything I can do about it? If Dad, who cherished and loved Cheshire like his own son despite being an adopted child, had simply used him as a tool… That would indeed be a character collapse! ‘There probably wasn’t a character collapse like that either.’ As I nodded, thinking about it, Cheshire said. “Do we have to go that far?” “Mhm?” “I mean, originally I…” For some reason, Cheshire added with nervous eyes. “…in the future, would I even consider marrying someone I don’t love just because they could help with the business?” “Oh! No? No. It’s not like that.” “Then why did you say that? What did Joseph say? Tell me, too. Did he tell you to marry if necessary for the business?” Cheshire was uncharacteristically mad and fired like a shotgun. “Wait a moment, Cheshire. Why are you so excited? Slowly, one by one…” “I don’t understand. Is such sacrifice necessary for doing business?” “Huh?” “Marriage is something that will change my life. I don’t think I need to go that far for business. I don’t want to do that.” “I, is that so?” Cheshire seemed to have a much greater attachment to his life than I thought. Of course, that’s a relief. “Because there is nothing more important than each person’s life. Let’s not put business first, even at our expense.” “Yeah, that’s true. But it’s a bit strange hearing you say that when you’re meeting the Marquis so frequently because of business.” “I could meet that person and act a hundred times. It’s not like I’m losing anything.” “Really? So you don’t mind losing because of business? What about the time you barged into the Emperor’s room? Are you okay with risking your life?” “It’s not about business.” “The ultimate goal of the business is…His Majesty Emperor, eung, but?” The end goal of the business is to kill the Emperor? If you had killed the Emperor at that time, your business would have been successful, right? “It’s because of you.” “Eung?” “Your life was on the line then. I thought you might get hurt.” Cheshire said, avoiding my eyes. “When you hear things like this… I might disappoint you.” “….” “My priority is to kill the Emperor to keep you safe, not to make the business successful.” Cheshire looked at me again. “Killing the Emperor. What I’m doing for you is just the same as the ultimate goal of the business.” “Uh-huh, I am thankful for that, but could you lower your voice? Even though there’s no one here…” I put my index finger to my lips and looked around. If you’re going to talk openly like this about killing the Emperor and all that, why use the term ‘business’ instead of ‘rebellion’? “I’m not as righteous as your father, and I don’t know much about justice or righteousness. I’ve never thought about sacrificing myself willingly to make a better country.” “Cheshire…” “I’m sorry if I disappointed you. But, my thoughts probably won’t change. I.” “….” “I live for you.” “…Wow.” “As long as you’re safe, things like business don’t really matter.” “C, Cheshi…” “Hey! What are you guys doing here instead of coming in? Cheshire, didn’t you say you had a promise?” “Yeah, I’ll go.” As Leon shouted from afar, Cheshire glanced at me and then left first. Without even giving me a chance to respond. I stopped there for a moment. “I live for you.” I heard amazing things… * * * That time. “…There is someone who has long been under surveillance, but may I request permission to revoke their status by Your Majesty’s authority?” Axion tensed and looked at the Emperor’s expression. ‘Why?’ The emperor agreed to Axion’s request without hesitation. He promised without hesitation the highest sentence that only Primera could hand out. [Count Jenkins] The document placed before the emperor contained every detail of the disgusting atrocities committed by a man named Count Jenkins over the past 13 years. The emperor who took it with him said. “It’s not that difficult, so there’s no need to drag it out. I will resolve it soon.” “…Yes, thank you.” Axion was confused. ‘It’s this easy?’ Lilith asked that he be punished by the emperor’s authority, saying that he was a bad noble who bullied her friend… ‘It has a bigger meaning than that.’ Count Jenkins has committed deeds that are hard to even mention to the powerless people. However, this is not a sin. There is no law punishing nobles for assaulting and killing commoners. But what if Count Jenkins is punished by imperial decree? ‘A completely different move from the previous emperors. If the emperor punishes Count Jenkins for treating incompetent people carelessly…’ Nobles will no longer be able to treat commoners without paying attention. Enoch also said that this deal would have a positive impact as long as it was successfully completed. ‘But it’s strangely easy. Although conquering Moarte is a significant achievement…’ How could an emperor easily decide to take such a loss for the sake of public affairs? ‘I can’t figure it out. Could it be that the Emperor suddenly had a change of heart overnight? Or is it someone else wearing the Emperor’s skin?’ His head was on the verge of exploding as he tried to read the emperor’s intentions. At that time, “Your Majesty, Her Highness the 8th Princess has arrived.” “Yeah. Let her in.” The emperor welcomed her warmly. ‘Now? But I’m here?’ Axion paused. Why did he let his daughter when he was having a private meeting with someone? “Come and say hello, Yvonne.” “Yes, Your Majesty.” Wavy blonde hair. Emerald eyes. The 8th princess Yvonne, who bears an eerie resemblance to her father, the emperor, is seventeen, as far as Axion knows. “I sincerely congratulate Sir Axion for your remarkable achievements in conquering Moarte and raising the stature of the Empire.” The princess came as if she had made an appointment. “…I am grateful for Your Highness the Princess’s acknowledgment of my humble achievement.” Axion, who kissed the back of Yvonne’s hand with a proud gesture, realized something at the same time. It was already a planned plan. The Emperor was never one to engage in a business that would result in losses. He must be eager to complete the picture he’s currently painting. “This is the talent the emperor would most like to acquire for the continent’s unification. This is Sir Chesire, the adopted son of His Excellency the Duke of Libre.” The words of Joseph, the tactician, came to mind. With an affectionate smile, the Emperor asked his daughter, who was seated beside him. “How old is your son this year? Fifteen, is it?” The emperor’s intention in bringing the princess and talking about Cheshire was obvious. He was trying to bring up the topic of marriage. ‘Ha, damn it. Okay then.’ Axion forced a smile. ‘For some reason, things were resolved too easily.’
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