LIGHTNOVELWORLD My Daddy Hides His Power
Chapter 210
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Imperial palace, the audience room hallway. Selena, who had left the Emperor behind, still faced an uncertain future. Her faltering steps came to a halt not long after she started walking. “A, ah…” Will my child survive? At her terrifying imagination, extreme fear tightened her throat. Her heart was pounding like it was going to explode. “Heuk…” Clutching the wall, tears streamed down the woman’s collapsed figure. * * * Wizard Tower, Oscar’s office. I was sitting, leaning against Oscar’s shoulder as he read a book, scribbling with a pen. ‘Applying for half-day… leave in the afternoon…’ Today, I had somewhere to go after leaving class early. The Paladin training hall where Dad is. To be exact, I’m thinking of going to see Gerard, who is training there right now. “…So originally, during this subjugation, Brother Leon died because of Gerard, right?” “Gerard? Ah, that guy who looks like that woman?” I thought of the handsome Gerard. When he smiled with his light purple hair flowing, everyone, regardless of age or gender, couldn’t help but be enchanted. “That’s right! He’s really a beautiful boy! He surpassed Cheshire and took first place in the salon popularity vote this time.” “Is this your type?” “No? He may be handsome, but for me, um…” I thought of Cheshire. “I like a somewhat indifferent and cold face.” “I see.” “Anyway, Gerard and Cheshire didn’t get along at all. So when Gerard said he’d go and capture all the monsters without listening to Cheshire, that’s when things got heated.” Cheshire ordered a retreat in a situation that was much tougher than expected. However, Gerard, who had a personal grudge with Cheshire, disagreed with the order and stubbornly moved the troops… ‘Unfortunately, Brother Leon dies.’ …A disaster occurs. “However!” However, this dead flag was pulled 7 years ago. “Right now, Cheshire and Gerard get along really well.” The two have become close friends since their days at the training center, and now they even exchange birthday gifts with each other. “Then there’s nothing to worry about, right?” “But you know? That day, Leon was bound to get into danger somehow.” Just like Theo. Knowing he’d die from a disease called magical collision, I healed him, only for him to be pierced in the stomach by a demon beast’s claw! On the very day he was supposed to die! “I don’t think there will be any issues because of Gerard, but you never know…” I put a period on the application form I had written down and handed it to Oscar. “I’m planning to meet Gerard today, ask how he’s been lately, and have lunch together. Could you please handle the approval for this?” Oscar, who half-heartedly received my application documents, looked at me and suddenly asked. “You’re in a relationship, right?” “….?” I was taken aback for a moment, but I pretended to be calm and tilted my head. “What do you mean? Why would you think that…?” “Because you’re pretty.” “Yes?” “You’ve become so pretty these days.” Oscar said that and casually flipped through the page. “I, is that so?” The makeup seems to be working quite well. I felt a little proud. “Who is it?” “No, I’m not in a relationship.” I countered immediately. Oscar… Oscar is not okay! Even if it catches everyone else, it doesn’t work for Oscar. It was a matter of life or death for Cheshire. “Would I dare to date without even getting permission from my master?” My conscience pricked me, but I tried to ignore it and sneered. “My permission? Are you going to date me with my permission?” “Of course!” “What if I say I don’t like it?” “Then I shouldn’t date, right?” “Oh, really? Then break up. Anyway, I won’t like anyone you choose.” “….” For a moment I was speechless. Oscar chuckled. “It’s a joke, a joke. Looks like there is someone you’re dating.” “I, I told you it’s not true?” Why am I getting involved in this? As expected, I shouldn’t talk to a smart person for a long time. “Phew.” Oscar sighed, then sat up straight again and turned the pages of his book. “Kissing should be done after marriage. Just hold hands during dating.” “…Yes?” But we already kissed, though? As I hesitated for a moment, Oscar’s sharp gaze shot towards me. “What is this? What did you do?” “What, what, what are you talking about? I mean, you have to look at the sky to catch stars. I don’t even have a boyfriend, so what kissing are you talking about?” “I’m going to kill him, really?” With a flicker of his eyes, Oscar turned around and pressed his face close to mine. I swallowed dry saliva. “I, I told you I’m not dating…” “….” Oscar gritted his teeth and glared at me, then turned around. I ignored my pounding heart and timidly picked up my class application form that had been thrown into the corner of the sofa. “Lord of the Wizard Tower…” Then I handed it to Oscar and said, “Approve it…” * * * Imperial Palace, Paladin’s training hall. The knights in training were all confused. Among them was Gerard Schmidt. ‘Why are you doing that?’ Eyes red as if crying. A woman who came to the training ground with precarious steps. Gerard knew who she was. Marchioness Selena Ludendorff. Also, everyone, including Gerard, knew that she was the biological mother of Princess Rubinstein, Lilith. ‘I think she came to see the commander…’ Sensing the tense atmosphere, Gerard thought for a moment before quickly dispersing the murmuring knights. “What are you all doing? Go to training!” Then he watched the two from afar. Enoch was perplexed. The person he thought he would never see again, came to visit him. “…Did you know?” Selena looked like she was half out of her mind for some reason. “What do you mean?” “My son, he’s going on the expedition this time.” Enoch frowned. If it’s Selena’s son… He was a child who was exempted from military service with the emperor’s tacit permission. ‘But why?’ Enoch, who was thinking, soon realized and sighed. The Emperor’s whim was not surprising. “I didn’t know.” Enoch also guessed why Selena came to visit him. “But even if I had known, there’s nothing I could do. Since I’m not going on the expedition this time, I have no authority.” “Are you satisfied?” “What?” Selena laughed. “The punishment from seven years ago, when I handed you over. It feels like I’m receiving it now. Are you satisfied?” “What does that mean?” “It must have been disgusting to see me living happily after selling you out. You must have wished at some point that I would just fail completely, right?” “Look.” Enoch touched his forehead tiredly. From afar, knights could be seen glancing at the two and muttering. “For now, let’s move from here and talk elsewhere. The eyes watching us…” “Answer me. Do you feel relieved now? Huh? Are you satisfied?” Selena raised her voice like a crazy person. Enoch was surprised. “I don’t know why you’ve come to say these things to me, but I’ve never had such thoughts. No, I’ve never been curious about how you’re living and what you’re doing.” “Didn’t you think I was selfish for betraying you? Really?” “…Stop.” Enoch’s eyes turned to Selena’s swollen belly. It looked dangerous. “It’s better not to get worked up. Just calm down a bit…” “But what can’t you do for your child? You know me better than anyone.” Selena continued to laugh. Unlike her smiling face, the sight of her crying was bizarre. “Haa.” Enoch eventually sighed. It seemed like he knew why Selena was yelling at him. The expedition order felt like a death sentence for her inexperienced young son. There would be nothing visible to her now. She probably wants to grab someone and blame them. “I…” Selena approached. Her weak, trembling hand grasped Enoch’s collar. “If I were you…” “….” “I wish I was as strong as you!” Selena screamed in anger. The gazes of those around them who had pretended not to notice gathered in surprise again. “I would have done anything, anything for my child! Even if it meant sacrificing others! Even if it meant trampling on my beliefs!” “Calm down, please.” Enoch grabbed the wrist that was holding his collar. “Don’t get worked up.” “Stop pretending to be good. You’re just like me.” Enoch paused. Seeing the man’s strange expression, Selena added mockingly. “You must have hesitated when coming back here, right? Someone who went so far as to desert to avoid raising their child as a soldier, knowing full well what would happen to the child after return, why did you come back?” “….” “You came here to wield a sword in place of the child, right?” Enoch was silent. Because it was an irrefutable fact. That was why, back in the day, he thought he had no right to blame Selena. Yeah, Enoch too… He was an extremely selfish father who would do anything for his daughter. “Because it’s not difficult for you.” “….” “I can’t do it even if I want to. But you, you have something you can do.” Selena sobbed helplessly and rationalized her past mistakes. “So… that’s why it happened. It’s easy for you… That’s why I… That’s why… That’s why…” “….” “I envy you. In the end, I couldn’t protect anything. You… you’ve protected your daughter and your beliefs.” Your daughter? Enoch gently closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. It was a good thing Lilith wasn’t here. Really, that’s a relief… “Ah.” …She was here. Since when has she been there? The moment Enoch opened his eyes, he found his daughter standing behind Selena. “…Lilith.” “….?” Selena’s eyes widened at Enoch’s mumbling. “Princess.” It was at the same time that a startled Enoch ran towards his daughter and Selena looked behind her, trembling. “H, how did you come here? Without any contact. This, um… I mean…” “….” Lilith’s gaze was focused on Selena. She seemed to have heard the conversation, as she seemed to be resentful. “N, no…” Selena mumbled, her vision blurring. She didn’t mean to do this. She really, really didn’t mean to let her child hear this… “Ugh.” In an instant, Selena, who was about to take a hesitant step forward, clutched her stomach and collapsed. “Heugh…” “Hey!” Surprised Enoch turned around and shouted, and Lilith froze.
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