READ NOVEL ONLINE My Daddy Hides His Power
Chapter 216
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A week before the subjugation. The Duke of Libre. I was in the middle of playing a card-flipping game with Axion. “Uncle, you go first.” “Yeah.” Axion leisurely rested his chin and quickly began picking out pairs of cards of the same shape. ‘W, wow, he’s fast…’ Then, pause. Just as he was about to flip another card, his hand intentionally picked the wrong one. “Oh, I got it wrong.” “Argh! Don’t go easy on me!” How could he be so obvious about going easy on me, just like Cheshire? Are they really not blood-related at all… Anyway, I started moving my hands diligently when my turn finally came around. “Lilith.” “Yeah. If you’re trying to confuse me with your words, I’ll tell you that my skills aren’t that easy to handle.” It’s been years since Cheshire and I played flipped cards. “Why have you been coming to our house so often these days? You come every day when the Wizard Tower is closed.” “…Yes?” I paused, frozen in place. I glanced up and saw Axion grinning. What’s with that expression? “Why, why not? Isn’t it okay for me to come? Everyone knows I’m close with Uncle… Hmm, is it because of Cheshire?” I continued to flip the cards while pretending to be calm “Do you really need to worry about that…? Cheshire doesn’t come home often anyway. And the Emperor also knows that Cheshire and I get along like siblings. Since we hardly meet outside, there’s no need to worry about business matters…” “Who said I’m worried about business?” “Then?” “Cheshire also stops by your house every day on your day off, as if he promised?” “….” “Is it a coincidence…?” “Is Cheshire coming to our house today?” “Mhm.” “Oh, I see! What a coincidence!” I pretended not to notice and flipped the card over. I glanced up again and saw Axion watching me with a strange expression. ‘Wow, this…’ I swallowed hard. ‘If we’re dating, doesn’t everyone in the neighborhood find out…?’ * * * The Duke of Libre’s residence was the best place to meet Cheshire away from others. “You’re here?” While I was waiting in the room, Cheshire came in. I ran quickly. “Mhm.” Cheshire smiled slightly and hugged me. I tensed and glanced at the door that was closed behind him. “What about Uncle?” “Father? Father, um… I just came to say hello.” “We’re in big trouble. I think Uncle is suspicious of our relationship.” “Father?” “Yeah. Since we’ve been seeing each other like this for a few weeks now, it’s starting to raise some suspicion. Let’s cancel the plan we made to meet again the night before the outing.” Cheshire looked at me quietly and sighed. “What does it matter if Father finds out?” “No, we can’t. Did you forget why we decided to keep our relationship a secret? Everyone is busy preparing for the business, and getting involved in a relationship now would draw attention.” “….” Cheshire seemed reluctant, but eventually nodded his head. “Okay, if that’s what you think.” “Instead, I’ll eat and leave by tonight!” “Yeah.” We sat down on the sofa. Clearly tired, under Cheshire’s eyes, shadows were forming beneath them as he leaned his head back. “Are you having a hard time these days? You can’t even sleep.” “I’m fine.” “Take a short nap before dinner.” I tapped my knee. Cheshire, who was hesitant, carefully laid down on my lap. Our eyes met. “I’m not going to sleep.” “I don’t know? Are you going to fall asleep easily?” I slowly stroked Cheshire’s head. He chuckled and took my other hand. “That’s right, Lilith. What happened to the Duke?” “Ah!” In response to Cheshire’s question, I grinned and drew a V with my hand. “Success! I asked Master for help.” Dad was so persistent in trying to stop me from staying out all night, so I had no choice but to send an S.O.S. to Oscar. When he said that he would let me sleep in the Wizard Tower soon, Dad immediately agreed to my stay overnight as if he had never stopped me. “Phew. I almost couldn’t go to the battlefield.” I breathed a sigh of relief, but for some reason Cheshire’s expression was strange. “I’m sorry, Lilith.” “Mhm? What?” “By putting you in danger too.” “Ah? No, I’m okay.” Even though I tried to soothe him, Cheshire’s expression remained dark. ‘Phew.’ Actually, quite naturally, Cheshire initially opposed it when I mentioned going to the battlefield. “I know what it means to say that God has arranged fate. Because of the Duke’s business, many innocent people ended up destined to die.” “But, not my twin brothers. Their deaths had nothing to do with business. When Theo almost died before, it was by chance, not fate.” When I told him that I had to go there myself to save Leon, he went crazy. “So, your prediction that Leon will die the way he was supposed to die is unfounded. It’s too dangerous there. No way.” Faced with Cheshire’s resolute attitude, I had no choice but to reveal the truth. The reason the twins were destined to die wasn’t for the ease of leading a rebellion… ‘It was a motivation scheme to ensure that the protagonist willingly sacrificed their life for the rebellion.’ …Cheshire, it was to awaken you. “I’m so worried about you.” Cheshire’s hand holding my hand gained strength. “Hey, don’t worry. We’ve trained hard and prepared a lot.” After hearing the truth, Cheshire was shocked and suffered for days thinking about it. Leon dies because of himself. However, unless I go directly to the battlefield, I can’t save Leon. “Sorry.” “….” In the end, how much did he think about it before he allowed me to follow him? Also, I wonder how worried he must be even now that he has given permission. “I’m really okay, Cheshire. We’ll manage to get through this safely.” My heart ached because I understood his suffering. “You haven’t forgotten our promise, have you?” Cheshire briefly kissed the back of my hand that he was holding. “Even if I can’t save Brother Leon…” Red eyes looking up at me. “…if a moment comes when you’re in danger, run. Don’t do anything else.” Cheshire’s eyes were filled with worry for me and guilt towards Leon. “Mhm, I will.” Cheshire, who gave a bitter smile when he saw me trying to reassure him with a smile, slowly closed his eyes. “…You must survive.” * * * A large-scale demonic beast subjugation battle, that day. The first battlefield, the core subjugation area of the southern Artal Plain. As this was an area where a fierce battle was expected, a large number of outstanding talents, including the commander Cheshire, had gathered here at the First Battlefield. Setting fire to the Gleptor’s habitat and waiting, Cheshire glanced at Leon in the distance. ‘How could…Brother possibly end up in danger?’ Cheshire was in a cold war with Leon for a month. After the day of disagreement over Kyle Ludendorff’s departure. It was because Leon didn’t talk to him, probably because he was upset. “S, Sir Leon?” At that time. As Cheshire kept watch over the burning forest, a panicked voice reached his ears. “…Brother?” Looking back in a hurry, Leon was on the horse. The two eyes met for a while. “Brother!!!” There was no time to stop him. Leon, holding the reins, turned the horse around and spurred it on. “Commander! W, why did Sir Leon suddenly…” Fellow capable people are in disarray over Leon’s sudden frontline departure. “Ah.” Watching Leon’s diminishing figure in an instant, Cheshire’s breath grew rough. Fate… “First of all, you fight while protecting Brother. But if Brother happens to…” The fate that Lilith had spoken of was indeed coming true in a frightening way. “…tries to leave the front line, don’t stop him. Just let him go.” “Commander! It looks like Sir Leon is heading towards the 5th Battleground!” Fifth battlefield. This is the area where the remnants of the demonic beasts are disposed of on the retreat, and the child soldiers and— “If my prediction is correct, Brother Leon will definitely come to where I am.” ―It was where Lilith was. “Commander! W, what should I do…” “Let him go.” He needs to stay calm. Cheshire shook his head vigorously to clear his blurry vision. With trembling hands, he took out two shell-shaped ornaments from his pocket. A magic tool made by Oscar. He had used it before when he called Lilith to save Theo. “If Leon is in danger of dying next to you, avoid people’s eyes and call me like you did when you saved Theo. You can break the white one.” “But if Brother leaves the line, then break the blue and let me know.” Cheshire, remembering Lilith’s request, broke the blue magic tool. At the same time, a loud noise was heard nearby. Thump, thump, thump, thump. The sound of heavy footsteps. From the burning habitat, large and ferocious beasts were running out. ‘Lilith…’ A fate named death. Leon, hanging on to that fate, went to where Lilith is now. The Fifth Battlefield is a safe place. However, the moment Leon goes there, it will become dangerous somehow. How? In what way? The fear of things going wrong with Lilith haunted Cheshire’s mind, shaking his composure. ‘Come to your senses.’ Cheshire drew his sword. Whoosh—. A ray of pitch-black sword energy flew toward the approaching group of demonic beasts. There is one thing he can do now. “Never!!!” Not creating even the slightest variable that could put Lilith in danger. “Don’t let a single one of them escape to the rear!!!” Even if he runs out of breath and faints. He must.
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