My Daddy Hides His Power Chapter 322 - Side story Part 2 Chapter 18

“Eung~ga!”

 

“Byaa, byaa!”

 

“Keuuungka!”

 

“Abuaaaa…!”

 

Jamie babbled fiercely in resistance as if he understood what I said.

 

However, at my continued urging.

 

“Eung~ga!”

 

“Byaa, byaa…”

 

“…?!”

 

Surprisingly, Jamie’s eyes relaxed. And his expression became relaxed.

 

It felt as if he had let himself go, but…

 

“He’s pooping—he pooped!”

 

The important thing is—that long-awaited scent suddenly hit me right in the nose.

 

“Kyaaaaak!”

 

I held Jamie close and brought my nose right up to his now-heavy diaper to confirm it properly.

 

Sniff sniff.

 

“Oh, my gosh.”

 

What is this? I can’t help but cry.

 

I was so relieved that I kissed Jamie on the cheek.

 

“It smells so good! It’s so fragrant, Mommy might faint. Thank you, Jamie. You’re so cute. I love you so much. You’re the best baby ever!”

 

* * *

 

We’d grown familiar with each other.

 

The little baby instinctively recognized Enoch as someone who would protect and care for him.

 

“Oh! Princess, did you poop again?”

 

The man who had once been clumsy and curt about everything gradually became a surprisingly capable dad—all because of this tiny, fragile little being.

 

“Kyaa~ That smell! How does our little princess even poop so perfectly~?”

 

“Byaa!”

 

“Ahaha!”

 

If anyone who knew Enoch had seen him, they would’ve been shocked—he’d become someone who could openly express affectionate love toward his daughter.

 

Change—it was instinct.

 

Love—for the small and fragile being I brought into this world, who belongs only to me, and for whom I am wholly responsible. A bond. And the change that came with it.

 

When this tiny being smiles, I feel happy too. When she cries, I feel sad. I might forget whether I’ve eaten, but I never forget what’s supposed to go into my daughter’s mouth.

 

Enoch was amazed at how this baby he’d known for less than half a year had so effortlessly changed the life he’d lived for twenty.

 

“Bwaaah.”

 

“…?”

 

A day when he changed her diaper as usual.

 

Grabbing her father’s finger, Lilith looked up at him with her round eyes and babbled softly.

 

Just like always—it was a simple, ordinary exchange of eye contact and babbling. Yet somehow, Enoch felt a strange, stirring emotion.

 

It felt as if… the baby was saying, “Thank you, Dad.”

 

“Yeah…” 

 

The nape of his neck grew warm. His chest felt ticklish. Yet again, this little one had stirred up a brand-new emotion in him—one he couldn’t quite put into words.

 

But whatever it was, it was probably closest to the feeling called love.

 

Enoch wanted to answer.

 

The most comfortable words that ordinary people use to express affection to someone.

 

“Lilith.”

 

“Bya.”

 

He felt a bit embarrassed. It was the same kind of affection he’d felt for the father who raised him, and for the sister he grew up with—but he’d never put it into words for them, either.

 

Besides, saying something like that to someone who hadn’t even been in his life for three full months yet just felt… a little awkward.

 

But still, Dad wanted her to hear it.

 

I.

 

I to you.

 

“…love you.”

 

That I love you.

 

* * *

 

Having the very same things he did for his daughter—mixing her formula, changing her poopy diapers, carrying her on his back—come full circle and happen to him in return!

 

…He thought it would be incredibly embarrassing, but it wasn’t as bad as he expected.

 

Enoch changed into a fluffy diaper, laid down in the crib, and watched his daughter wipe the sweat dripping down her forehead.

 

“Mommy’s good at this, right?”

 

“Byaaah! (T, that’s a lot!)” 

 

Isn’t my daughter a genius? Lilith headed straight to the bathroom as soon as Enoch—or rather, Jamie—finished his bathroom business.

 

She filled the prepared baby bathtub with water and took the opportunity to give him a clean bath.

 

There was no need for Jamie to exert strength or help.

 

Lilith washed the baby very confidently all by herself, thoroughly drying every inch of him and putting on his diaper without a single drop of moisture left on his body.

 

Oh, and before that, she also dabbed soft powder on his butt.

 

So Jamie couldn’t be in a more comfortable state than this!

 

“Thank you, Jamie. Sniff.”

 

“Ueh? (Huh? About what)” 

 

Jamie was confused. He hadn’t done anything. No, wait, he had. He ate, slept, and pooped. That was really all. 

 

But…

 

Since he was also a father, he knew what Lilith was feeling and why she was saying thank you.

 

“Mommy was really worried because you kept not pooping. It actually hurts if you hold it in too long. But now that it’s gone, I’m so happy. Thank you so much. I feel relieved now.”

 

Yeah, just like that. Knowing the little baby is healthy is enough to put my mind at ease.

 

‘Hmm, did our daughter get her wish?’

 

Jamie was satisfied. It seemed like Lilith was truly experiencing the “parental love” she had wished for so deeply.

 

“Jamie.”

 

Lilith pulled a chair over and laid down with her cheek against his, resting her arms on the crib’s slats.

 

“You know, it hasn’t even been a day since we met?”

 

“Bya.”

 

“But there’s something strange. Honestly, from the very moment I first saw you, I felt… a little amazed.”

 

Lilith’s finger lowered. Listening to the gentle voice, Jamie quietly grasped that finger. 

 

“You feel incredibly close to me. At first, I thought it was just because of my abilities that we met, and that’s why I forced myself to feel that closeness—but now, I keep thinking that’s not the case.”

 

Of course, it can’t be. Jamie laughed.

 

Even though their appearances have changed, father and daughter are the closest people in the world.

 

Even though they are separate entities, the blood flowing through each other’s bodies is the most similar, and they can’t help but feel an instinctive bond, and they are the most biologically similar to him, except for himself.

 

We,

 

are in that kind of relationship to each other.

 

“You’re still not familiar with my face, and you have your real mom, too. So if I say something like this now, it might sound really funny… but will you listen anyway?”

 

“Bya?”

 

Lilith got up. She looked down at Jamie, who was tilting his head, and hesitated for a long time.

 

Feeling embarrassed, she scratched her cheek and muttered, “Why am I really like this?” before finally speaking very carefully. 

 

“…I love you.”

 

* * *

 

At that moment.

 

Primera Duchy, National Army Training Center.

 

Jamie’s father’s workplace.

 

“…That’s how it is. So… Brother, would it be okay if I asked you for just a little more?” 

 

“….”

 

With the table between them, the blond handsome man sat across from Cheshire on the executive office sofa, casually picking at his ear.

 

‘Seriously…’

 

Newlywed men are really unusual.

 

Leon Antrase thought.

 

Cheshire had been distracted all morning during training, worry written all over his face—and the moment lunchtime hit, he rushed straight home.

 

He thought maybe he had a secret honey jar hidden at home or something. 

 

“Captain, where are you going? Aren’t you eating lunch?”

 

“I’m eating with Lilith!”

 

 

He had run off like an eager puppy—toward a wife far sweeter than any honey jar.

 

Honestly… he thought he’d gone insane.

 

It had been nearly a month since Cheshire and Lilith started living together. They’d moved in even before the wedding, but it hadn’t been like this back then. Since they were both working, they usually ate lunch separately at their respective workplaces.

 

Besides, since the two had been dating for a long time, living together didn’t seem to change much between them.

 

But today—the first day back at work after their honeymoon—was different.

 

Leon was convinced that some sort of seal—or whatever it was—that had been holding the two back had been broken by the wedding and their passionate honeymoon.

 

Why? Because Cheshire suddenly announced that Lilith would be working from home for a while—and that meant they’d be having lunch together at home from now on.

 

That’s all?

 

The moment he got back from lunch, he pulled Leon aside and even said something ridiculous like, “Hey, do you think I could take a few more days off?”

 

Those two were clearly in a phase where they couldn’t stand being apart for even a single second. It was obvious.

 

“You have a baby… at home?”

 

Leon, who had his arms crossed, sat cross-legged and wiggled his toes as he asked.

 

“Mhm.” 

 

Cheshire lied without so much as a flicker of emotion on his face.

 

“Lilith has to take care of the baby alone, and it’s her first time, so she’s still a bit clumsy. Couldn’t I stay with her until she gets the hang of it? If it’s too much, maybe just work half-days…”

 

“So, right after you got back from your honeymoon, you were given the baby by chance, as if by magic?”

 

“….”

 

“So that baby would be the newborn first son of the youngest daughter of our great-uncle’s eldest daughter, right?”

 

“….”

 

Leon’s eyes clouded. Cheshire was at a loss for words.