My Daddy Hides His Power Chapter 326 - Side story Part 2 Chapter 22

Private…

 

And shrimp…

 

“Ah!”

 

I realized what Cheshire was talking about a beat too late. That’s how little thought I had given to peeling the shrimp.

 

“Why?”

 

“What? Why…?”

 

Cheshire asked with a shocked expression. 

 

“Why did you peel the shrimp?”

 

“Because he needed to eat? I mean, wait—do I even need a reason to peel shrimp in the first place?”

 

Cheshire’s pupils trembled as if shaken by an earthquake. What the heck? Did some secret rule about shrimp-peeling get made without me knowing?

 

“What I mean is—why did you peel the shrimp for the private, specifically?”

 

“Ah!”

 

I understood.

 

“Bjorn was eating while being overly conscious of his surroundings. He seemed to want to eat the shrimp in the cheese gratin, but the superiors were deep in conversation, and he looked like he was hesitating, wondering if it was okay to pick it out and peel it, unsure whether it would be considered polite or not.”

 

“That’s ridiculous.”

 

“What’s ridiculous?”

  

What on earth is this? I couldn’t understand why we were even having this conversation.

 

I had been getting ready to share my thoughts on the future of the national military.

 

“You mean to tell me that all that time you were wearing that serious expression, you weren’t reflecting on the future of the national military—but just wondering why I peeled that shrimp?”

 

“Why are you suddenly talking about the future of the military?”

 

“I thought you were thinking that way because you’re the four star.”

 

“No, what are you talking about!”

 

Cheshire, looking frustrated, tilted his head back and let out a deep breath as he gave Jamie the bottle.

 

“Now that I’ve heard your answer, it makes even less sense. Why do you care if Private feels self-conscious?”

 

“Is this jealousy?”

 

“You only realized that after the conversation got this far?”

 

“Wow.”

 

That’s surprising.

 

Since I had no ulterior motives when I peeled the shrimp for the private, it never even crossed my mind that Cheshire might be jealous.

 

My actions were nothing more and nothing less than basic courtesy—like pouring water for the person next to me during a meal or clearing their dishes.

 

“Cheshire, listen. Bjorn was your colleague and our guest, and I’m your wife. When your spouse’s guest comes over, it’s only right to treat them kindly and make them feel welcome. That’s part of showing respect to your spouse, too.”

 

“….”

 

Cheshire calmed down slowly and listened to me.

 

“If I had peeled the shrimp with any kind of ulterior motive, then sure, that would be a problem. But honestly, I didn’t even think twice about it until you brought it up. It didn’t mean anything. It’s not like I fed him or anything, right? And it wasn’t just for Bjorn—I put the plate in the middle so everyone could share.”

 

“…Yeah. I mean, of course I didn’t misunderstand it that way or anything.”

 

“Then it’s settled now, right?”

 

“Mhm. I guess I was being overly sensitive.” 

 

Cheshire was finally convinced. Still, a husband getting jealous over something like this… kind of cute, actually.

 

“Honey, don’t worry about it. It was nothing special—just like pouring water or handing a fork to a guest who came to our home. Nothing more, nothing less.”

 

“But isn’t that a bit different from peeling shrimp?”

 

Ugh!

 

“Ugh, what! What’s the difference?”

 

“Peeling shrimp is hard, you know. Pouring water takes a second, but peeling shrimp takes way more effort.”

 

“Ugh.”

 

This is going crazy!

 

I tore my hair out. Cheshire sighed, watching me.

 

“No. I’ll stop. I was being overly sensitive.”

 

“Whoo, right.”

 

“But one last thing.”

 

Wow.

 

“Okay, just one.”

 

“If next time your coworkers came over to our place, and in the same situation, I peeled shrimp for one of your female colleagues—how do you think you’d feel?”

 

“What do you mean how would I feel! I’d just think, oh, he peeled a shrimp for her…!”

 

…Huh?

 

Wait.

 

Wait…

 

I activate my imagination for a moment.

  

Despite the extremely difficult entrance exam, the newly hired Magic Tower employee, Miss Clarisse, joined this year with high scores.

 

She’s the same age as me, and a friend whose charm lies in her shy smile and gentle personality.

 

We even became close enough that I’d definitely invite her to a housewarming party.

 

Clarisse was struggling to peel the shrimp. Cheshire, noticing this, began peeling them for her. 

 

With a handsome smile, he pushed the plate of peeled shrimp aside and said,

 

“Eat. It looks hard to peel.”

 

“T, thank you!”

 

“You can’t, though?” 

 

I immediately said.

 

“Right? Doesn’t it feel weird?”

 

Cheshire finally looked relieved, as if a weight had been lifted off his chest.

 

“Really? Peeling shrimp is already a hassle, and you’re going to do it yourself? With your wife sitting right there, watching with wide eyes? A married man?”

 

“….”

 

As I pointed things out one by one, Cheshire wore a smug, triumphant expression.

 

“…And that’s exactly what I did.”

 

“Mhm.”

 

Even if it was something Cheshire did without thinking, it’s clear that I wouldn’t have felt good watching it.

 

“I’m sorry. I apologize.”

 

Only after putting myself in someone else’s shoes did I realize the problem and immediately apologized.

 

“It’s not something you need to apologize for.”

 

“No, Cheshire. If it were me, I’d have gone absolutely crazy, but I blamed you for being overly sensitive. You’re not sensitive at all. It’s totally understandable to be upset. I acted without thinking it through, so I’m sorry. And I promise I’ll never do that again.”

 

“Yeah, thank you.”

 

“Even if another woman is struggling to peel shrimp, don’t help her either.”

 

“I don’t even plan to care whether any woman other than you wants to eat shrimp or not.”

 

“…Oh my goodness. You’re the best Four-Star ever.”

 

We quickly made up.

 

Just as Jamie finished his meal, he popped the bottle out of his mouth and let out a sigh-like coo.

 

“Byaaaa… (You guys are really weird…)”

 

* * *

 

Late evening.

 

After having a great time at his younger sibling’s housewarming party, Leon Antrase felt a bit down on his way home.

 

His sibling and their spouse, enjoying their honeymoon phase to the fullest, had been calling each other sweet names like “honey” and “darling” in their beautiful new home.

 

A life where a beautiful, kind, and talented wife greets you when you come home from work—just how happy must that be?

 

He thinks he finally understood why Cheshire runs home like an eager puppy.

 

At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel pitiful about his own situation—working all day without a partner, still not having moved out from his parents’ house.

 

After a few glasses of wine, he could feel a gentle buzz creeping in—it might be making me a bit sentimental too…

 

“So that’s why my son was feeling jealous!”

 

Ordia chuckled.

 

The married twins, Theo, had moved out, and Leon and his parents lived happily together at the Duke of Antrase.

 

As usual, the harmonious family gathered in the living room before bedtime, chatting amiably.

 

“We didn’t raise him badly, so why can’t he find someone to date?”

 

His father, Alexei, looked at Leon with a serious expression.

 

“Right? I’ve never seen anyone as handsome as our son. Should I maybe set him up with someone? Mrs. Petri’s second daughter is so pretty and well-mannered.”

 

“Mom, I believe in natural encounters.”

 

Leon firmly refused.

 

“What is that?” 

 

“Which means I prefer natural encounters. You know, like… something that feels like fate.”

 

He puts what he’s learned to use right away.

 

“So Brother prefers natural encounters.”

 

“What’s that?”

 

Earlier at the housewarming party, Lilith offered to introduce me to a woman, and when I turned her down, she said that.

 

Anyway, although Leon was envious of his younger sibling’s married life, he had no intention of forcing himself to start a relationship.

 

If it’s truly fate, wouldn’t it come naturally, like water flowing downstream?

 

“In that case, I’ll be imposing on this house a little longer—spending Father’s money and receiving Mother’s love.”

 

“Ahahaha! As much as you want~”

 

“Just move out already, will you?”

 

Leon pouted playfully at Alexei’s teasing, then clumsily pushed his big frame into Ordia’s arms and snuggled up.

 

“Mom, Dad’s being mean to me.”

 

“Ugh, look at that big oaf acting all gross when he’s drunk.” 

 

“What’s wrong? He’s cute.”

 

As expected, there’s only one mom.

 

Leon looked up at Ordia, who was holding him, his mind hazy from the effects of the alcohol.

 

The Rubinstein family’s unmatched beauty genes were evident in his mother’s face. Also in his uncle’s, and in Lilith’s as well…

 

 “Ah, that’s right!”

 

Leon remembered.

 

Cute baby Jamie.

 

“Mom, did you know Lilith is babysitting right now?”

 

“Mhm?”

 

“Our distant relative is going on a trip and left their baby with Uncle. A 3-month-old newborn. But Uncle had to step out, so now Lilith is the one looking after the baby.”

 

“Distant relative? Hmm… who could that be?”

 

“He’s really, really cute. He looks exactly like Lilith. At first, I thought he was her. He looks just like her. He looks like her mom and Uncle. Anyone can tell he’s a Rubinstein!” 

 

Were there any relatives he could contact who had seen the newborn? As Ordia pondered, Leon spoke.

 

“He’s apparently the eldest son of the youngest daughter of our great-granduncle’s eldest daughter. His mother must be roughly the same age as Lilith, but she’s already had a child.”

 

“Great-granduncle?”

 

“Yes. My great-granduncle, well, they say he passed away some time ago?”

 

“Your great-granduncle… wouldn’t that make him my great-uncle? My… uncle?”

 

“I suppose so?”

 

Ordia frowned, tilted her head, and muttered.

 

“I only have aunts, though?”