I Became the Male Lead's Adopted Daughter-Chapter 81

For a moment, her conscience ached.

It hurt a lot.

Lady Hieina had written an average of over ten love letters a day to Ferio.

The Voreoti servants called those letters firewood. Even Leonia would just toss them into a box as soon as they arrived.

But what if those ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) letters had been her only lifeline?

What if they were the only way a girl, constantly belittled by her parents as worthless, had mustered the courage to express her heart?

‘...Ah, but still no.’

Leonia’s face turned serious. That didn’t mean she was about to forgive stalker behavior.

Wrong was wrong. Pitiful was pitiful.

But if all of this truly stemmed from an affection deficit in Lady Hieina—and if the root of it all came from the words of her parents—then this wasn’t something that could be brushed off lightly.

‘Wounds made by words don’t heal so easily.’

It was something Ardea once said when warning her to be cautious of Kerena Mereoqa, who had mockingly twisted her words.

And he was right.

Wounds made by words are not so easily healed.

‘It’s a bit risky, but...’

Leonia clenched her tiny fist, still hesitating.

But in the end, she decided to go through with the idea that had popped into her head.

She shook the silver bell on the table.

It was a magic tool Connie had explained before—one that didn’t need a pull-string but could still call the staff.

“Connie!”

Soon the door opened, and Connie entered the room.

“You’re awake, Miss?”

“Tie my hair.”

And get a letter ready too.

Standing in front of the vanity, Leonia’s expression was grim with resolve.

***

Before they knew it, the banquet was just a week away.

Since becoming a Voreoti, Leonia had never been busier.

She had to prepare for the banquet, brainstorm ways to throw shade at the Imperial family during the event, keep up with the homework Ardea regularly sent, and sneak peeks at the knights’ muscles.

Her daily readings, physical training with her dad, and Fangs of the Beast training were also packed in.

She also occasionally visited the Rinne estate to play with Ufikla and Pinu.

She couldn’t neglect the North either.

She kept in touch with Flomus and the tea party ladies by sending them letters and trendy items from the capital—doing her best to keep an eye on the state of northern society.

And one last thing.

A new item had been added to her schedule: heir training.

Thanks to that, she completely forgot about both Varia and Lady Hieina.

Heir training turned out to be easier than expected. Ferio would call Leonia into his office and have her sit next to him for an hour a day, reading books.

Ferio and Lupe personally chose the books for her.

They were filled with basic knowledge she needed to grasp before beginning her proper heir education.

“This isn’t fun at all.”

Leonia grumbled as she sat at the table Tra had brought over, reading one of the books.

Normally, this would’ve been her time to go watch the knights train.

“Who studies for fun?”

Ferio scolded her without even looking up. Sitting properly as he reviewed and signed documents, he looked like a portrait of elegance.

“I hate this so much...”

Leonia, in contrast, slumped her upper body over the table.

The pinnacle of defiance and rebellion.

The content of the book wasn’t fun, it was boring, and it was full of things she didn’t know.

And to understand the unknown, she had to dig through other books—which was driving her insane.

‘If only I had a phone!’

Leonia desperately longed for the wonders of the civilization she used to know in that other world.

“Can’t you just get married and have another kid?”

“I’m sick of seeing how rotten your character is.”

“Bring home an official wife and have a proper child...”

Being the heir was simply too much.

Leonia just wanted to live lazily, spending part of her parents’ fortune, and doing absolutely nothing.

“Let me live off that for a bit. I swear I can keep my mouth shut and just spend money in peace.”

“......”

“Dad? Hmm? No?”

“Do you see now why I never even brought it up?”

Ferio looked at his only child with eyes full of disbelief.

So many people had suffered because of being illegitimate, but this one was brazenly trying to weaponize it for convenience.

What a groundbreaking disgrace of a daughter.

Unable to take it anymore, Ferio pulled out his secret weapon.

“Finish reading all those books and get a perfect score on the test I give you.”

“Ughh...”

“Then I’ll let you see the knigh—”

“Dad, can you shut up for a sec?”

I’m focusing right now, Leonia cut in sharply.

“You’re interrupting my studies.”

Then, as if her laziness from a moment ago had been a lie, she dove straight back into reading.

Life returned to her previously dull black eyes.

She sat up with perfect posture, the image of a naturally diligent student.

“......”

Ferio’s lips hesitated for a moment.

‘I didn’t finish that sentence.’

‘I said “see the knigh—”’ Ferio had never said anything about letting her admire their muscles or touch them.

He’d only meant to say she could experience the knights’ strength training firsthand.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Since Leonia was obsessed with muscles, he thought letting her try it once wouldn’t hurt.

She even seemed like she wanted to build her own.

‘Are muscles really that fascinating?’

Ferio absently ran his hand over his chest. He grabbed the pectoral muscle that Leonia had once groped.

Even to his own touch, the solid, chiseled muscle was clearly defined.

But that was it. Any lower, and there’d be even more defined abs.

Still, Ferio didn’t feel anything special. Maybe because it was his own body, or just not his preference—it all felt normal.

At that moment, he felt a sharp stare.

“Dad, you’re so mean!”

Leonia was looking at him with deep disappointment—and heavy resentment.

“You wouldn’t let me touch them when I wanted to!”

She whined, begging to be allowed.

“Just read your book.”

Ferio didn’t even pretend to listen.

He’d gotten used to Leonia’s antics by now.

He’d come to accept the truth: children are natural-born nemeses. These minor provocations were nothing but a form of affection now.

As Ferio calmly endured and attained further enlightenment—

“Excuse me.”

Like a savior, Tra appeared.

“Master.”

He glanced toward Leonia, then addressed Ferio. He was holding a letter.

“...That’s for me, right?”

Leonia, catching on quickly, jumped down from her chair.

“Give it here.”

“But, Miss...”

“Give it!”

Leonia, rarely raising her voice, barked the command. Startled, Tra handed over the letter.

She tore it open right there, not even giving Tra time to offer her a letter opener.

“Who’s it from?”

It better not be a boy, Ferio asked Tra with suspicion. Tra hesitated for a moment.

“It’s from Lady Hieina.”

“...What?”

The beast’s eyes twisted into something dangerous.

He’d already been concerned after hearing a report that the girl had been secretly watching Leonia—and now, to think the stalker had changed targets to his daughter?

Ferio couldn’t stop himself and began to rise from his seat.

“Tra! Prepare the carriage!”

Leonia stuffed the letter in her pocket and dashed out of the office.

“Leonia!”

Ferio’s call made her freeze. His voice, firm with fury, grabbed her like a snare.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

For the first time, Ferio raised his voice at her. And even he was shocked by it.

The moment he saw Leonia flinch and look back at him with wide, startled eyes, regret washed over him.

“No matter how fearless you are...”

Still, he couldn’t just let her go.

The sender was someone who had written love letters to him every single day and had even followed his routes.

She’d even been caught watching Leonia recently.

Lady Hieina was clearly a dangerous person.

“She was secretly watching you. Why on earth would you want to meet someone like that?”

Leonia stared blankly at Ferio as he scolded her.

‘I got scolded...’

This was on a whole different level from getting flicked on the forehead or pinched on the nose.

It was like someone had dropped a shard of ice down her spine—her whole body went cold.

Tears almost welled up in her eyes.

But she quickly pressed her lips together. To hold them back.

‘Dad’s right.’

There was no denying Ferio was in the right.

What kind of parent would be okay with their child meeting someone dangerous?

Regardless, Lady Hieina did have a history of stalking Ferio. Even Leonia wasn’t willing to excuse that.

After a brief silence, Leonia lowered her head.

“...Okay.”

Then she left the office with dragging, powerless steps.

Ferio and Tra watched her go in silence.

“...Will she be alright?”

Tra asked carefully.

Both the girl who had been scolded and the master who had done the scolding didn’t look too great.

Ferio looked like he wanted to punch himself in the face.

“I can’t spoil her every time.”

Ferio let out a short sigh.

He hadn’t realized parenting could be this difficult.

Leonia was such an old soul that she gave him plenty of headaches, but had never really caused serious worry.

He’d never scolded her harshly enough to scare her.

“Was I too harsh?”

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Ferio knew he didn’t really fall into the category of normal people.

He was worried that Leonia might’ve been too shocked by what she saw in him.

“I think you did the right thing.”

Tra offered sincere comfort. He’d never imagined the day would come when he’d be counseling his master about parenting.

“Miss Leonia is wise. I’m sure she understands why you got angry. So please don’t worry too much.”

From Tra’s perspective, Ferio’s “scolding” didn’t even count as one.

And then it happened.

Just as the tension in the office was beginning to ease, a loud neighing came from outside the window.

The sound of large hooves quickly faded—and Meleis came rushing in.

“Master! The young lady threatened a knight and took off with a horse!”

Ferio covered his face with a hand.

“...Haa.”

His soul-crushing sigh was heavy enough to crack the floor.

‘Miss Leonia... truly incredible...!’

Tra was genuinely impressed.

It had all been an act.

The bowed head, the dragging feet as she left the office.

Every bit of it had been calculated.

For a moment, Tra swore he could hear Leonia’s wicked laughter.

That cunning talent and shameless performance were exactly what you'd expect from the next heir of House Voreoti.