NOVEL NEXT My Daddy Hides His Power
Chapter 238
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Final Day, D-15. This is the East, Parman. This tourist area, where a tributary from the North flows dazzlingly, is the land that my grandfather gave me as a present for my 7th birthday. And now, The fragrant spring breeze flows at the mountain peak. “Ya~~hoo!” My excited Dad cheered loudly. “The scenery is amazing!” Next to him, Axion was no exception. “This is the best~!” And next to him, Uncle Joseph. ‘What are you doing…?’ I held my head behind the three men who were too busy cheering. ‘Is this right…?’ A colorful picnic mat. The various foods that I had carefully packed were scattered around, half consumed and in disarray. Yes, we came to climb the mountain. With only half a month left until the day of the rebellion, everything felt strangely peaceful. “Princess, too, say yahoo!” “That’s enough…” I was confused. How nervous was I when Dad suggested that I go hiking with Axion and Joseph? It seemed clear that we would share secret plans before the rebellion, and I thought that there would be something I could do. But, no. We really came just to hike! I ended up being just a kid who went hiking with three old men! “Princess, the flowers are so pretty.” Dad plucked a branch of pink spring flowers and tucked it behind my ear. “If they’re pretty, why don’t you just look at them? Why did you pluck them? Don’t you know how to protect the environment?” Axion, who had been following behind, paused when he saw me and broke into a grin. “I can’t tell what a flower is.” “Right? I told you that our princess’s beauty has really improved.” Haa… The two middle-aged men really seemed to have no thoughts at all. If that’s the case, then the only hope is Joseph… “Ugh!” …Nevermind, forget it. I bit my fingernails as I watched Joseph give me a thumbs up while sipping his beer. ‘The revolution is a failure. The emperor might win.’ Why on earth are they so peaceful? The three of them looked completely calm, as if they had already succeeded in business. “Dad!” “Yeah!” “Is this really the time for this?” “Mhm.” What do you mean by ‘Mhm’! I turned my head away from my foolish dad and asked Joseph. “Mister! Your business is just around the corner, is there anything you need my help with?” “Huh? What do you do?” That’s right, Joseph doesn’t know that I’m Primera. “Princess, isn’t that white flower tree pretty? Dad will make you a crown.” “Nevermind! Don’t destroy the environment for no reason…” “Hey, it’s that tall? Should I climb up and break it?” “I can do it. Come and see.” Dad and Aksion ran toward the tall spring blossom tree standing in the distance. This is crazy! I asked Joseph, who was just smiling as he watched the two excited middle-aged men. “Mister, mister. I heard that Marquis Chambers is going to be the commander of the Imperial Defense Forces?” “Huh?” I heard from Cheshire. Marquis Chamber is the noble that Joseph had been undercover with, pretending to be a close confidant all this time. A man so deeply entrenched in the class system, beyond any hope of reform. So, he is on the Emperor’s side… ‘He’s Bruce Chambers’ father!’ Bruce. It was a name that came to mind after a long time. The thug who shared a room with Cheshire back during their training center days! Bruce, who had been raised poorly at home and was a spoiled brat from the start, would often bully his commoner friends. He, who naturally assumed I was Dos and kept talking to me, immediately started picking a fight when he found out I was from Octava—only to be thoroughly beaten by Cheshire. ‘He still hasn’t been rehabilitated!’ According to what Cheshire told me, Bruce is likely to be assigned to the capital defense forces this time. “How did you know that? Did the Duke tell you?” “No, I heard from Cheshire. They may call it a defense force, but they’re the ones who’ll be fighting against Dad, right?” After Cheshire departs for battle, the “defense force” remaining in the capital would be the emperor’s troops, the ones standing against Dad. “Aside from Marquis Chambers, who else is in the Defense Force?” “Hmm, let’s see… There’s also Marquis Roger Onyx… .” Cheshire’s biological father! ‘Wow, you’re still a villain until the end.’ I clicked my tongue inwardly. “Again….” “Again?” For some reason, Joseph stopped talking and smiled at me. “But what do you know about it?” “I’m just curious! No, and Mister!” I said, frustrated. “His Majesty the Emperor isn’t just going to sit around and get defeated, so why is everyone so calm? Is this really okay?” “Lilith.” Joseph called me over and took a deep breath of the spring breeze blowing gently. Then he said, “It’s a little embarrassing to say this myself, but you’re quite smart.” Suddenly bragging about me? Well, that’s not wrong… “No one is above this guy. No matter what struggles the emperor goes through.” Joseph looked at me with serious eyes and smirked. “It’s all in the palm of Mister’s hand.” His expression, which seemed evil at first glance, was scary yet reassuring. I swallowed hard. “So you don’t have to worry about anything, Lilith.” Joseph, with a softened expression once again, glanced at Dad, who was climbing the tree in the distance, and added, “The happy and beautiful world that the Duke wanted to give you… it will arrive soon.” * * * On the way down. “My legs hurt!” “Should I carry you?” “Should I carry you?” Joseph, who had been happily watching the affectionate appearance of Lilith, Enoch, and Axion, suddenly recalled with sharp eyes. Before the Emperor gave the order to go on an expedition, he and Enoch had prepared for this moment. “Joseph, wouldn’t it be better for me to pretend to follow the Emperor’s orders and go on the expedition as well? Cheshire’s abilities have already been exposed, and victory in the war is almost certain. But at this point, openly defying the Emperor’s command would seem even stranger.” “No. Show your courage until the end. I intend to make the Emperor anxious. The Emperor must be worried about what Your Excellency, who has disobeyed the Emperor’s orders and has been driven to the edge, will do.” “Are you saying that you want the Emperor to be wary of me on purpose?” “That’s right. So, I will make the Emperor take action to take down Your Excellency first.” At a time when most of those in power have gone on an expedition and the system is empty. The Emperor will feel anxious. If that’s the case, then this chaotic time, stirred by the war atmosphere, would also be the perfect opportunity to take Enoch down— ‘It’s the perfect situation for the Emperor to strike first.’ ―Joseph judged so. ‘Of course he’ll use the commoners.’ If it were the Emperor, he would slaughter the commoners who had protested so many times until now, accusing them of ‘disloyalty.’ It was the perfect way to deal with the thorns that were creeping up while living comfortably, and to capture Enoch as well. This was because the Emperor knew well that Enoch wouldn’t turn a blind eye to the unjust deaths and would inevitably intervene. ‘If you stop him then, he’ll try to make you a public enemy by adding the charge of treason to the Duke’s disobedience of orders to go on an expedition.’ Since he was the Emperor, Joseph’s calculations were all in his head. ‘If you attack first, we will be grateful. We will gladly take the bait.’ “Your Excellency, we must also consider what happens after everything is over. We should let the Emperor create the last pretext for rebellion.” The beginning of the innocent massacre. The hero who alone took up the sword to stop him and finally stormed into the imperial palace. What a wonderful picture. ‘For the perfect heroic narrative of Enoch Rubinstein, struggle ruthlessly until the end and then disappear.’ Joseph Lüttmann, the brain of the rebels, laughed wickedly. * * * Marquis Ludendorff. Three people were gathered. Marquis Willow Chambers, appointed commander of the Imperial Defense Forces. Marquis Roger Onyx, the biological father of Cheshire Libre, a close associate of the Emperor. And Even Marquis Selena Ludendorff. “I’m sure Madam hasn’t fully recovered yet… are you okay?” Willow Chambers said to Selena, twitching his mustache. “It’s okay.” Willow stuck out his tongue at Selena’s indifferent expression. ‘That ruthless woman.’ After giving birth, she went to see the emperor with her body still intact. After that, Her eldest son, Kyle Ludendorff, who had been assigned to the invasion force, was excluded from the expedition force, and instead, the mother and son became the Imperial Defense Force. It was a clean negotiation to keep her son from being sent to the battlefield. “Although they call it a defense force, these are the people gathered by His Majesty to take down Enoch Rubinstein.” Roger Onyx glanced at Selena with a displeased look. “There won’t be any mistakes due to personal feelings, will there?” Those who knew the relationship between Selena and Enoch could have misunderstood. However, it was a truly ridiculous worry. “Don’t worry. I won’t cause trouble.” “Oh, of course. Where could you find a more reliable ally than Madam? After all, you’re her mother, so Enoch Rubinstein wouldn’t dare act recklessly.” Willow asked with a smirk. “Will we get to see the skills that earned you your famous name back in the day this time?” “If we’re done talking, I’ll see you later. Be careful and go back.” At the indifferent remark from the guest, Willow pouted. Soon after, the two men left the reception room. “I plan to catch Enoch this time.” Left alone, Selena recalled the Emperor’s voice. “If you help me, I can ensure that your son is spared from the expedition. It won’t be difficult.” A war with certain victory. If the continent is unified, the Emperor will wield absolute power. While all those in power were obediently bowing to the Emperor, Enoch said that he couldn’t abandon his beliefs this time either. It was a foolish decision. “What will happen to the child?” “Princess Rubinstein? Don’t worry. There are quite a few who would turn their backs if her safety wasn’t guaranteed. I just have to take down Enoch.” Then, there was no reason for Selena to worry any longer. “If we burn the worms, Enoch will crawl out. From then on, Enoch is a ‘rebel force.’” At the same time as the invasion war of the Kingdom of Isolem, a massacre of commoners began in the capital. It was the Emperor’s plan to capture one Enoch. ‘No need to hesitate.’ It was okay to get innocent blood on her hands. It’s much better than throwing her son into the hell of war. And after the war ends, it would be wise to hold on to the Emperor, who will soon wield absolute power. Selena got up after finishing her thoughts. “….” The moment she was about to leave the living room. Her husband, Marquis Felix Ludendorff, was standing there blankly with unfocused eyes. Ever since her son became a child soldier, there had been a rift between her husband and her. And this time, when Selena went to meet the Emperor and returned with new negotiations… The distorted relationship reached its peak. “Haven’t you changed your mind?” “Mhm.” “You…” Selena, who had been passing by her husband without a second thought, stopped. “…How much more ugly are you going to become?” A sharp voice. Her husband’s reddened eyes were filled with disgust. “A child who has never even properly used his abilities… Do you really want him to kill people indiscriminately? Is that truly what’s best for our son?” “Even if he becomes an invading force, he will still have to slaughter innocent people. In that case, I will just make him choose the safer option.” “Is killing the non-ability user a safe option?” “Yes.” Felix laughed hollowly. “Let’s…run away.” “….” At her husband’s plea, Selena sneered, recalling Enoch’s voice from long ago. “…Let’s go together, then.” Even that remarkable Enoch was ultimately facing his end. Such was the end of a power user who rebelled against the absolute being, Primera. “I’m sorry. It’s for you, Kyle, and all of us.” “No. It’s not for anyone.” “….” “You’re just giving up on being human.” Selena, with her eyes tightly closed, turned her back and walked away. “Please stop. If you keep going like this, I’ll never see you again.” Despite the pitiful last plea, the woman didn’t stop walking. When everything is over… You will understand me too. —Thinking this way.
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