My Daddy Hides His Power Chapter 289 - Side story Part 1 Chapter 29

“I don’t want to.” 

 

Oscar said right away.

 

I expected that. I have something prepared to say as well.

 

“Master, I want to get married. I told you before, right? That you were originally gone for three years because of the restriction.”

 

“But.”

 

“I purposely didn’t get married for those three years and held myself back. I was only thinking about walking into the wedding venue with you.”

 

“….” 

 

“To be honest, when I came back from the past, I had a tiny bit of hope. I wondered, ‘What if we’re already married when we return?’ I imagined something like that.”

 

Yeah, we shared our first kiss 20 years back, and I was already getting ahead of myself.

 

“Honey, what if when we go back after succeeding, we’re already living in our newlywed home… with a kid and everything?” 

 

“…That really could be the case.”

 

“Kyaaah!”

 

If it were a world where Oscar’s restriction never existed in the first place, wouldn’t that have been entirely possible? 

 

But when I came back,

 

“So, it was a bit shocking. The restriction on you was gone, yet we still couldn’t get married, and the strange rumors about my boyfriend were still around. But? What’s the reason?” 

 

I slammed the table.

 

“It was because of your opposition, Master!” 

 

Yeah. 

 

In my updated memories, I had expressed my desire to get married exactly three times, only to be rejected by Oscar every single time.

 

“We’ve been dating for over two years now, so we’re planning to get married soon!” 

 

“What does the length of a relationship have to do with marriage? By your logic, a seven-year-old could date for two years and get married at nine.”

 

September 1788.

 

Reason: The bride is too young.

 

“I’m seventeen now! I’m getting married in the spring!”

 

“Does a person become an adult when the year changes?”

 

“Sorry, but I was already a legal adult. In societies where medical advancements are slow and life expectancy is lower, people usually marry at a younger age. It’s the same here, isn’t it? You saw the statistics—80% of brides last year were sixteen years old.”

 

“I’ll be the one advancing medical science, so don’t worry about that. And age is just a number? No, you’re still a kid. You haven’t fully grown yet. What if you suddenly end up having a child after getting married? You want me to see the crazy sight of a child raising a child?”

 

January 1789.

 

Reason: Unable to tolerate the bride’s possible pregnancy and childbirth.

 

“Everyone’s getting married, so the temples and venues are fully booked. There’s only one spot available this winter… Please, Master, I’m begging you.”

 

“How can you plan something as important as marriage around a venue’s schedule? If there’s nowhere to hold it, I’ll buy a huge piece of land and build you a grand wedding hall, so don’t worry~”

 

June 1789.

 

Reason: If the wedding schedule doesn’t work out, I’ll build a dedicated wedding hall for you, so anyway, it’s not right now.

 

I closed my eyes tightly and recalled the memory, trembling.

 

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not against your marriage.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Really? I was surprised, but Oscar just waved the knife in his hand and smiled brightly. 

 

“What I mean is, I don’t want to walk you down the aisle.”

 

“….” 

 

“Why is your expression like that?”

 

“…That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

 

“Are you stupid? How is that the same thing? I’m not against your marriage! Go ahead and get married. I’m not even your father, so why would you need my permission?”

 

“….”

 

That was too much. I had nothing more to say.

 

I stood up, staring at the plate I hadn’t touched.

 

“Princess?”

 

Dad, who had been watching our argument nervously, grabbed my hand, but I shook it off.

 

“I don’t have an appetite, so I’ll go first.”

 

“Suit yourself.”

 

“No, Lord of the Wizard Tower? P, Princess! Wait a moment!” 

 

* * *

 

Inside the carriage heading to the Wizard Tower.  

 

Oscar was lost in thought, looking out the window.

 

“What are you thinking about?”

 

Oscar sighed and turned around at the voice beside him.

 

It was Enoch.

 

“This carriage is not going to your house. I have no intention of taking you there either.”

 

“Mhm, I know. I have legs. I can just get off and walk home.” 

 

“Why did you stay behind? You should have left with the child.”

 

“I haven’t finished my meal yet?”

 

That’s funny. Do you think I didn’t realize that you stayed behind to try to persuade me?

 

“Alright, I get it. Now leave.”

 

*Tsk.* Oscar clicked his tongue and turned his head back to the window.

 

“I’ll talk to the kid tomorrow and sort it out.”

 

“What are you talking about?” 

 

“Oh, that! The suit! Linking arms! The wedding hall! What about that, huh?” 

 

“If you don’t want to, don’t force yourself.” 

 

“Yes?” 

 

When he turned around, Enoch shrugged his shoulders with a really nonchalant expression. 

 

“I have no intention of dragging Lord of the Wizard Tower into the wedding hall against your will. Let me know when you feel up to it.” 

 

“What are you saying? What if you never feel up to it?”

 

“That would be a bit troublesome, but for now… I’ll go home and convince the princess to take her time considering the marriage.” 

 

“You’re going that far for the kid because of me? What did I say?” 

 

“….”

 

Enoch blinked, then let out a sigh with a smile before casually draping an arm over Oscar’s shoulder. 

 

“It’s about time you stopped saying things like that. You know why the princess refuses to walk into the hall without you.” 

 

“….”

 

“You’re really precious to the princess. That’s why she wants you to be the one to celebrate with her. But do you think she’d want to go through with a wedding when the person she most wants to be happy for her disapproves of it?” 

 

Enoch added, watching Oscar’s silent expression.

 

“You don’t like Cheshire?”

 

“It’s not like that.” 

 

“Right? That’s not how it should be, is it?” 

 

“Yeah. He’s a decent guy. Honestly, he’s a lot better than someone as stubborn as you. At least he has a bit of human charm.”

 

“Then what exactly is the problem?”

 

Oscar fell silent again.

 

“That’s…” 

 

And for some reason, he rubbed his forehead, bit his lip before letting go, and, after a long moment of confusion, finally spoke.

 

“…I don’t know either.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“What should I even say? I can’t put it into words. Just… hearing that the kid is getting married, it just feels… weird.”

 

Embarrassed? Disliked? Awkward? Feeling empty?

 

Well, it was hard to find a similar feeling.

 

“Hey, what is this? Seriously.”

 

Oscar himself couldn’t quite grasp what this inexplicable, restless feeling was. 

 

“Pfft.”

 

“….?”

 

“Fuahahaha!” 

 

Suddenly, Enoch burst into laughter. Oscar frowned and turned to look at him. 

 

“What is it?”

 

“I’m going crazy, really…”

 

Enoch laughed for a long time, even shedding tears.

 

“You don’t have to explain it. I know exactly how you feel. I felt the same way when the princess first said she wanted to get married.” 

 

“….”

 

“No, it feels like just yesterday when she was toddling around. Her front teeth seemed to have just come in yesterday too. The baby who used to poop in a diaper and babble? When did she say she’d live with her dad forever?”  

 

Enoch’s playful gaze deepened.

 

“Feels like I don’t like it, maybe I just feel empty… I can’t quite put it into words, but anyway, it’s a complicated feeling. I get it.” 

 

Enoch looked at Oscar with deepened eyes and recalled a few months ago.

 

One failure, and then a regression.

 

Even in the reconstructed world, the fact that Enoch was aware of all those things remained unchanged. 

 

“As of today, the ‘Restriction on the Time Regressor’ that forbade revealing the future has been lifted. So, I’m going to confess something that has been weighing on my conscience.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“I had no intention of regressing; I only wanted to save the kid. I wasn’t a viable sacrifice to resurrect Primera, so I used you instead. The kid would’ve been fine—I could’ve just raised them myself, even without you.”

 

“Oh, you did that?”

 

It wasn’t surprising at all—he had already suspected as much. 

 

“What’s with the ‘Oh, I see’ reaction? If you want to be mad, just be mad. To be even more honest, I was jealous that the kid only looked for you when I was the one who raised them. So in a way, I thought it worked out. Bring the kid back to life, and while I’m at it, I’ll be the only dad they need.”

 

“Oh my, how can I be this grateful!”

 

“What are you, you? Are you being sarcastic?”

 

He wasn’t being sarcastic—he was truly grateful. 

 

Because, in the end, everyone survived—only because Oscar had been sincere to Lilith in his own way. 

 

“Ten years without me, and then another ten after I came back. You’ve practically watched over her like a parent for twenty whole years, haven’t you?”

 

Enoch, who had been counting the time with his fingers, looked back at Oscar.

 

“So I thought you’d naturally feel the same as me, as a father. When I said I understood without needing to explain, that’s what I meant.” 

 

“….”

 

“No matter how many times I say it, it won’t be enough—but thank you. For protecting our princess. And for doing what I never could.” 

 

Oscar turned his head, feeling embarrassed for no reason at Enoch’s serious voice.

 

Enoch laughed at the sight, then thought of his daughter with a somewhat bitter heart.

 

“You know, Lord of the Wizard Tower. About our daughter.” 

 

When she first said she wanted to get married, what was the first thought that crossed his mind? 

 

“I thought she would always be a little kid in my arms, but before I knew it, she had grown up. Especially her… she’s lived through more time than most people.”

 

“….”

 

“The fact that she’s grown up, that I can’t keep her by my side forever—once I accepted that, the emptiness in my heart got a little better. And think about it, as sad as it is, I’m going to end up in the grave before my daughter…” 

 

Enoch pretended to cry playfully.

 

“When I die, the princess will be by my side. But when she dies, who will be there for her? She’ll need a companion who’ll stay by her side for her whole life. It’s a bit early, which is disappointing, but honestly, no matter when it happened, it would’ve been just as hard to accept…”

 

“….”

 

“That’s right. You were worried that it was too soon, that a child raising a child would be a disaster. I agreed with you.” 

 

Enoch chuckled as he remembered Oscar trying to somehow deflect Lilith’s declaration of marriage. 

 

“Of course, there are still things that worry me, but honestly, I tried imagining a child that looked just like the princess for the first time. And, wow… just imagine.”

 

“….”

 

“How pretty would she be? Does it make your heart race?”

 

“Don’t overreact.”

 

“No, no. I’m not overreacting. You didn’t see the princess when she was a tiny baby, did you? It’s a shame, but just imagine. She was so cute. So small. To exaggerate a little, she could fit right in the palm of my hand?” 

 

Because of Enoch’s encouragement, Oscar ended up imagining the newborn Lilith.

 

Yeah, he doesn’t want to see the sight of a child having a child… but if there was a baby right in front of him who looked just like Lilith…

 

…It seemed like it would be huge.

 

“Pft.” 

 

Enoch burst into laughter upon seeing Oscar’s serious expression as he got lost in his imagination. 

 

“When I meet that child someday…”

 

He tilted his head back and spoke as if in a dream. 

 

“I will fall in love again.”

 

Enoch turned to the side. As his gaze met Oscar’s eyes, which seemed indifferent, he gave a subtle smile.  

 

“Anyway, that’s why I’m sad, but I’ve decided to get my clothes fitted tomorrow. Of course, I’m not forcing you to do it too.”

 

“So you’re not forcing me, even though you’re putting all your effort into speaking like this?” 

 

“Hehe. I guess I talked a bit too much, huh?” 

 

The carriage arrived at the Wizard Tower. 

 

“Let me know when you’re ready. I can wait. The princess will understand well once I convince her.”

 

Enoch patted Oscar on the shoulder as he prepared to get off.  

 

“The princess hasn’t become a parent yet, so it might be hard for her to fully understand how you feel. She’ll probably just think you’re completely against the marriage…”

 

The coachman opened the door.

 

“So don’t be too upset. I’m going, okay?” 

 

“Wait a minute.”

 

Oscar crossed his legs and turned his head to the coachman.

 

“Let’s go back to this man’s house.”

 

“….?”

 

“Yes~ I understand.”

 

The coachman closed the door again before Enoch could get out. 

 

“What, you don’t have to bring me?”

 

Enoch, who had been standing awkwardly, smiled and sat down again. In fact, it was so cold that he didn’t dare walk… 

 

“Let’s not misunderstand. It’s not because you’re beautiful, it’s because I’m worried the child will throw a tantrum if I let an old Grandfather like you out in the winter cold.” 

 

“What, what did you say?”

 

Enoch’s eyes widened in shock.

 

“Old Grandfather? Where do you see an old man? Where do you see a grandfather? Have you ever seen such a sturdy old man? Take that back!” 

 

“Ugh, noisy. When the kid gets married, aren’t you going to be a grandparent? Isn’t that kid going to call you grandfather? Then you’re old!”

 

“Wow, what’s the standard for that? Stop it, cancel it quickly! Cancel it right now!”

 

“Ah! Just get off! Get off again!”

 

The two continued their noisy bickering.

 

In the middle of winter, the carriage travels through the snow-covered road until it reaches the Duke’s house.