NOVEL WEB My Daddy Hides His Power
Chapter 263 - Side story Part 1 Chapter 3
Groom?
The groom is… . “I guess she came to see Brother Theo.” That’s right, Theo Antrase. “That’s right, Brother.” Without thinking, Cheshire found Leon’s earring tucked inside his own clothes. It was the one Leon had removed while showering earlier and had forgotten to take back. “Leon, Cheshire, hello? Where’s my darling?” But before he could hand over the earring. Cheshire’s eyes widened in surprise at Erica’s greeting. “Why are you looking for your darling here?” “He’s still not done? I told him not to break a sweat and hurry up since today’s the day to try on the tailored tuxedo!” “Move out of the way, I’m going home.” “Oh my, are you leaving the lady behind? Did you sell your chivalry? Wait here with us until our darling comes out!” “I don’t want to! Let go of this!” Cheshire, who had been watching the two bickering, handed the earrings to Leon and asked. “Sister, how did you recognize him when Brother Leon isn’t even wearing his earrings?” “Huh?” Leon, who had just looked at the earrings being handed to him, was surprised. “That’s right. I took it off earlier and didn’t put it back on. How did you really recognize me?” They are twins so identical that even their parents can’t tell them apart if they intentionally try to deceive others, with their faces and body types being eerily similar. The only way to tell them apart is by the earrings they each wear differently… “Mhm?” Erica tilted her head and soon burst into laughter. “Am I a fool? Can’t I even recognize the person I love?” But then again, isn’t it Erica, who after starting a relationship with Theo, still couldn’t tell the two apart several times? “Hoho.” Seeing the puzzled expressions on their faces, Erica gave a sly smile. “You’re curious about how I recognize Theo, huh? Want me to tell you?” The two men nodded. Erica shyly grabbed her cheeks. “Aww, it’s embarrassing…” “What is it? Hurry up and tell me. I’m curious.” “Really? You want to know? Should I really tell you?” “Yeah!” “Actually… it’s magic.” “Magic?” “Mhm. I was amazed too. After using magic, I can just tell them apart at a glance, you know?” This was a bit surprising. Is there such magic? “Come closer. I’ll tell you quietly since it’s embarrassing.” Following Erica’s gesture, Cheshire and Leon lowered their heads. “We… used the magic of connection.” “The magic of connection?” Seeing Cheshire unusually curious, Erica barely managed to hold back her laughter. “That’s…” She soon narrowed her eyes and whispered sinisterly. “…Physical connection.” 3 seconds later. “….!” Cheshire, who understood the meaning, flinched. “Ah, crazy!” Leon, who realized it too late, also shouted and frowned. The private matters of his twin brothers that he really didn’t want to know… “Hahaha! Well, I can understand Leon, but Cheshire, you?” Erica, who was laughing at the two’s reactions, poked Cheshire’s arm. “Why are you acting so innocent when you have a girlfriend?” Cheshire coughed and looked away. Well, since he dated Lilith for three years and made sure to spread the word everywhere, no one else would ever imagine it. How pure their relationship is. “By the way, Cheshire, when are you two planning to get married? These days, all the good temples and party venues are fully booked, so even if you start preparing now, it’ll take at least another year to do it properly, though?” “Oh, we… later…” “Later? When later?” The biggest change in the Duchy after the revolution was that those who had given up on or delayed marriage and childbirth were now rushing to start families. This was a natural result. Now that the mandatory conscription system has been abolished, the ability users no longer have to worry about fighting as soldiers while leaving behind families, nor do they have to fear sending their unborn children to the battlefield. “You can’t put it off forever, right? Everyone in the capital knows you’re together, but since you’re not getting married, the rumors are getting really weird. Are you aware of that?” In a society where the typical age for marriage is in the mid-to-late teens, Cheshire was considered to be late in terms of his marriageable age. Moreover, being a key figure in the revolution, he was in a position where he attracted a lot of attention from others. It wasn’t that he didn’t have a lover, but since he was delaying marriage while everyone else seemed eager to go ahead with it, rumors naturally started to spread. “It’s okay. I don’t care.” Of course, Cheshire didn’t pay much attention to the gossip that others were spreading. It’s not all true anyway. The reason for delaying the marriage was that Lilith was waiting for Oscar. “Phew.” Seeing Cheshire speak so nonchalantly, Leon let out a sigh. At that moment. “Ack, it’s our darling!” Erica waved her hand. Theo was coming from afar. “Erica? I told you I’d come get you, so why did you bother coming all the way here?” “I came to surprise our darling! As soon as the training ended, ta-da, here I am. Isn’t it touching?” “Mhm, haha.” Erica, who was in Theo’s arms, patted his chest and acted cute. Cheshire and Leon stared intently at Theo, not so much at the affectionate couple but more precisely at him. “…?” A face beaming with a gentle, affectionate smile. An innocent-looking, blue-eyed, blonde young man of striking beauty. It was clearly Theo Antrase’s appearance, no different from usual. But “We… used the magic of connection.” “…Physical connection.” Why does it suddenly feel so unfamiliar? “Guys?” For some reason, Cheshire and Leon’s gazes were oddly fixed on him. “What’s wrong with your expressions?” Theo tilted his head. * * * With a slightly depressed heart, he arrived at the Wizard Tower. As if it knew Cheshire’s mood, a sudden, fierce blizzard roared, accompanied by thunder and lightning striking down. “Why are you acting so innocent when you have a girlfriend?” Cheshire sighed at Erica’s words that came to mind. They had been dating for 3 years. The level of physical affection was limited to a simple kiss, just the lips lightly touching. Anyone hearing about this couple’s circumstances would indeed find it surprising. “Sniff… To think I have a boyfriend but haven’t even had a proper kiss…” Now Lilith had reached the point of openly expressing her frustration, but Cheshire had nothing to offer in response. It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried to move past kissing to the next stage, but… ‘It feels strange.’ Every time, the way his body reacted was peculiar. After experiencing his body reacting as if it were no longer his own and out of control, he made a resolution. He decided to strictly control the level of physical contact to ensure he wouldn’t find himself in a situation where he might lose control. ‘Once I cross the line, it’ll probably feel easier to go further next time.’ And then, by mistake… “…Physical connection.” He might even end up using the magic of connection, which was embarrassing to even think about… ‘I can’t do that.’ Cheshire firmly shook his head. No matter how much Lilith insisted it was fine, this was something he couldn’t compromise on. The ‘magic’ Erica mentioned was something Cheshire firmly believed should only be used in a legally married couple or, at the very least, between a man and woman who had clearly promised to marry each other. A relationship is not simply an act for the physical pleasure of a man and a woman. If they go back to the fundamentals, ‘It’s an act of reproduction.’ Isn’t it an act of creating life? Regardless of the intentions of the lovers, the fact that a life could be created had to be kept in mind. There had to be a solid fence called a ‘family’ where the new life, that is, the child, would belong… He needed to be fully prepared to be the father of a family, and Lilith, the mother… ‘…No, let’s stop thinking about this. Lilith wouldn’t understand if I said something like that.’ After finishing his thoughts, Cheshire sighed again. He felt sorry for Lilith, but this rigid belief only became more solidified every time he remembered his childhood. Born as an illegitimate child, he knew better than anyone how a life brought into the world without the responsibility and preparation of parents, without the boundary of a family, could be a life without blessings. He knew all too well how miserable a childhood could become. “Lilith.” Before he knew it, Cheshire had arrived at Lilith’s laboratory, hiding his melancholic feelings as he knocked quietly. “Lilith?” For some reason, there was no response, so as soon as he carefully opened the door. “….?” Cheshire was surprised. The dark laboratory. A massive magic circle drawn in white chalk on the floor, surrounded by a dozen or so candles arranged in a circular pattern. The atmosphere was ominous, as if she was about to use forbidden magic. As Lilith slowly lifted her head from the floor where she had been drawing the magic circle, Cheshire flinched. “Mhm, honey….” Just at the right moment, a flash of light lit up the window. Whoosh, Bam! “You’re here…?” Her eyes were wide open. A single strand of disheveled hair was hanging from her lips. “What are you doing…” Avoiding the dozens of scattered papers that lay chaotically on the floor, Cheshire finally managed to make his way to Lilith’s front. “What is all this?” “Ah.” She looked tired, as if she hadn’t slept for three days and nights, but despite that, Lilith smiled with a satisfied expression. “This… a wedding present?” “What?” Lilith, shyly smiling, got up from the center of the magic circle with her pale face. Whoosh, Bam! “I’m proposing to you….” Once again, thunder and lightning struck. Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and
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