LIGHTNOVELSTORY My Daddy Hides His Power
Chapter 233
“Wait a minute! It’s a misunderstanding, Uncle! I’ll explain everything!”
I quickly went under the bed. “Misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding? What more is there to say in this situation?” Axion glared at me and Cheshire alternately with an angry expression. Yeah… Just a moment ago, we were caught hugging each other tightly on the bed. ‘What should I do now? Dad doesn’t even know that Cheshire and I are dating!’ Even if we hadn’t been so close, I might have tried to come up with an excuse, but unfortunately, it was a situation where I couldn’t do anything. I hadn’t even changed my clothes yet, so I was wearing a robe that priests wear when they sleep. ‘Wow, I didn’t notice it yesterday, but now that I look at it, why does it look like a motel robe?’ It was hopeless. * * * In the end, we confessed everything. That we had been dating for two months. And the reason we chose Argonia as the training location for the soldiers was so we could secretly meet and see each other. And so on… “Wasn’t there any way to get in touch?” Dad, sitting on the bed, asked us, kneeling next to each other. Of course, Dad wasn’t kneeling on the floor. Cheshire quickly knelt down first, so I couldn’t just stand there and sat down beside him. “Cheshire, you knew we were in a difficult situation, right?” Axion, standing next to him, asked with his arms crossed. Yeah, right now, Argonia is in a situation where hundreds of the Emperor’s elite soldiers are here for training. If Dad, who was in the Capital, had just roughly marked the coordinates and used a movement spell and gotten caught, it would have been difficult. ‘There are too many risk factors.’ It was a time when we had to be careful. So, the only option left was to use the gate under the pretense of picking up his isolated daughter. “Yes, I knew it would be difficult for you to come. I’m sorry.” …? Cheshire suddenly apologized, leaving me flustered. “No, if you say that, it sounds like we intentionally stayed out overnight. Dad, I’m really sorry I couldn’t contact you. But there was no other way.” Dad stared at me blankly. “D, Dad told me not to use my powers until I started my business…Also, there’s Cheshire here, so there won’t be any danger…So I was just going to wait until the gate was charged and go.” “Is that so?” “Duke.” At that moment, Cheshire bowed his head. “Actually, I could have contacted you. Even if it was hard for you, the Duke, to come here from the capital, it was easy for me to send Lilith home.” …? What’s going on, why is this kid acting like this all of a sudden? “C, Cheshire? You know I was stuck here, so I had no choice but to use the gate to get back….” “I could have arranged things and sent her back quietly. There were ways to contact the Duke, and I could have let Lilith stay in the Capital.” I was left speechless. Yeah, well. That’s not wrong. Since everyone here knows how to use teleportation magic, it wouldn’t have been impossible to find a way… ‘Do I have to say that here and now?’ I glanced at Dad’s expression and then timidly lowered my eyes. “I’m sorry. But I wanted to be with Lilith, so I didn’t do that.” …? No, why is he so honest? Is he crazy? “But there was nothing to worry about. Please trust me. I’m sorry.” Wow. I was flustered, not knowing where to start, so Dad stood up after a long silence. “Okay. Let’s go home, Lilith.” Then, he left the room. Axion sighed and followed behind. …Is this the end? Like this? “Heey!” As soon as the two of them left, I slapped Cheshire’s thigh. “Why did you say it like that? You should have made excuses! We were so flustered yesterday that we didn’t even have time to think about that!” “No, Lilith.” Cheshire helped me up and said, “I’m sorry I’m telling you now. Yesterday I panicked, but I did think about a way to send you back, just like I told the Duke a little while ago.” “….” “But it’s true that I pretended not to know, just to stay with you a little longer.” “N, no…” I felt embarrassed for a moment and avoided Cheshire’s eyes. “Even so, you didn’t have to be so honest with Dad…” “It would be worse if I denied it and said I didn’t think of it. It’s better to be honest and say I wanted to stay with you. If I lie, the Duke will think even worse of me.” “Cheshire…” “Why don’t you come down quickly!” I flinched at the shouts of Axion I heard outside. Ugh, really… * * * We said our goodbyes in front of the warp gate. Since Cheshire had to continue his training here. ‘Will we not be able to see each other until the end of the business?’ I sighed. “You’ve worked hard, Cheshire.” “Yes.” Dad’s greeting was unexpectedly blunt. Cheshire looked down like a sinner, glancing around nervously. Honestly, it was me who suggested meeting here and me who said we should stay a bit longer. Cheshire did nothing wrong. I felt sorry, so I reached out my hand to Cheshire. Cheshire saw that and immediately reached out his hand. Our fingertips touched slightly― “Ah!” ―Dad quickly cut us off with the edge of his hand. “Let’s go quickly.” “D, Dad….” Dad pulled my arm. “Don’t skip meals. Work hard.” “… Yes.” I saw Axion and Cheshire exchanging greetings. No! If we part ways like this, we won’t see each other’s faces for an entire month! In the end, after much thought, I left a short greeting that could express my earnest feelings. “H, honey! Take care!” “….!” Through the warp gate, I saw a surprised-looking Cheshire. I could also see the shape of his lips as he answered with a bittersweet, “Yeah.” “….” “….” “….” In the end, it all fell away in an instant. The Capital, the Pavil Temple. The early morning temple was eerily quiet, as if no one had been there. Only Dad and Axion, who heard my ‘honey’, stood there with bewildered expressions. “Princess.” Dad spoke in a low voice. “You’re banned from staying out overnight for the next two years.” “….?” “W, what does that mean?” I opened my eyes wide in bewilderment. “Dad, don’t you trust Cheshire? We didn’t do anything, so why are you acting like this?” “No. After today, I’ve definitely realized. I trust Cheshire. But I can’t trust you.” “….” I swallowed hard. “You were the one who chose Argonia as the training location for Cheshire, too.” I had nothing to say. Cheshire said, “I found out where Lilith was going to go on a field trip, so I came here to train.” But… Dad seemed to have noticed that my influence was involved. “Even if Dad and Uncle tell Cheshire a hundred times not to stay out overnight, what’s the use if you’re the one seducing him?” “I’m not seducing him! And Dad…! I mean, Dad, we’re not doing those kinds of things you’re worried about!” “How does Dad know if you do it or not?” “Of course, but still! Even so, it’s not like that!” I couldn’t lose. Two years of a ban on staying out overnight, is that really reasonable? If I back down here, I might end up never getting married and having to live with Dad for the rest of my life. “Who is Dad to restrict my freedom!” “…?” Dad’s eyes widened. “Who is…Dad? Did you just say ‘Who does Dad think he is?’” “N, no…” Maybe that was a bit harsh. But what can I do when it feels unfair? “I, I’m sorry, I misspoke because I was flustered. But…” If it were any other day, I would have followed Dad’s words, but for some reason, today, I felt a surge of rebelliousness. “I’m Dad’s daughter, but that doesn’t mean Dad has the right to control me!” “Who said I want to control you?” Axion cut us off as our voices grew louder. “Yeah, Lilith. That’s not what he means. Do you know how worried your father was about you yesterday?” “….” “You are still a minor under your parents’ protection. Until you become an adult, you must obey your father.” “That’s true, but… .” “Your father’s teachings say that minors will not be allowed to stay out overnight. It’s not like you’re banned from staying out overnight for life. It’s just that you have to endure it for two years until you become an adult.” Ugh… It was true, but it was really unfair. If I backed down here, I would really be banned from staying out overnight for two years. A month later, when the business was over. ‘I was planning to go out and have fun without worries. Cheshire even listed the Top 10 scenic travel spots for me….’ I was frustrated because I had dreamed of a cozy 1-night, 2-day trip. What was the biggest reason I worked so hard to help my dad prepare for his business while cutting down my lifespan? The end of hardship, the beginning of happiness! After everything was over, I could go out and have fun with my loved ones! I could go out and eat delicious food! It was for that happy and free life! But? 2 years? ‘I hate you, Dad!’ I was so upset that I stood with my legs crossed and bit my fingernails. “Huh? Princess, what’s with that bad posture? Did Dad teach you to act like this? To ignore Dad’s words, cause him to worry, and go out without permission? Hmm?” “….” “Legs!” I stood up straight. Though I was feeling defeated, I still stuck out my chin, determined to show some defiance. “Pretty mouth!” No snout. I really can’t give up. “You?!” Dad’s voice got louder. I glanced at him, and his expression was scary. “….” I timidly pushed my mouth shut. So I’m going to lose in the end… But, I still have to show my disappointment. So I said, “Tch.” “…?” Dad stumbled, holding his forehead at my rebellious look. “Oh, God.” “….” “I can’t do this.” Dad turned his body around. I can’t do this? It was an ominous line. As expected, Dad started walking outside and said. “I’m going to tell the Lord of the Wizard Tower that the princess stayed out overnight.” “…?” What? I ran over and grabbed Dad’s arm. “Why are you telling the Master that?” “You won’t listen when Dad talks.” “O, okay. I’ll listen. I won’t stay out overnight from now on.” “Okay. But I have to tell the Princess’ Master too. That way, Dad will feel better.” “No! Dad! Wait a minute!” This is crazy! I desperately grabbed Dad’s arm and tried to stop him, but it wasn’t enough. How could I stop Dad, who would be a corpse if he lost his strength! “Dad? Dad! Please!” I was just dragged by Dad’s arm like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse! “Dad!!!” “Let go, Princess!” My eyes went blank. Oscar… not Oscar! This really crossed the line! “Dad! I’m sorry! Just once! Just once! Please! I was wrong!!!”
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