I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter

Everyone in the Treasury was stunned by Varia’s suspension.

Of course, they could all more or less guess the reason.

As the notice clearly stated, the reason for Varia’s suspension was assault. Word must’ve reached the higher-ups about what happened yesterday—specifically, about her fist connecting directly with Baron Onokenta’s mouth.

In a way, it was an understandable reason for suspension.

But the real shock for the staff wasn’t just the suspension.

“Why the hell does she have to move out of the dorms too?!”

Les was furious.

This was an unfair punishment, plain and simple.

If the administration had done its damn job properly in the first place, Baron Onokenta should’ve been punished long ago for harassing and insulting the staff.

Sure, Varia might’ve gone a bit overboard, but it was self-defense. Totally justified.

Ignoring all those circumstances and dumping such a harsh punishment solely on Varia—anyone could see it was pure discrimination.

“It’s winter right now! If she’s kicked out in this freezing cold, she’s gonna die out there!”

Les was practically grinding his teeth, looking like he was ready to storm into the upper offices and demand answers.

“Forget it.”

But Varia stopped him.

‘So they’ve finally driven me out, huh.’

Of course they had to, if they wanted to push that ridiculous project through.

Varia’s nickname, the Beast of the Treasury, came from two things.

One, for how cold and sharp she was when handling work.

And two, because she always blocked shady, dangerous projects from slipping through—she was the conscience of the Treasury, the last line of defense.

Now that Varia was suspended and out of the way, the Treasury would push through Baron Onokenta’s bizarre Gate maintenance project.

“...Haa.”

Varia tried to stay as calm as she could.

Of course, she was pissed off about the whole situation.

She could accept the suspension, sure—but getting kicked out of the dorms? That was just bullshit.

‘Maybe it was my father...’

Several thoughts raced through her mind.

The most likely one: her father, Count Erbanu, had pulled some strings to make sure she was forced out.

She hadn’t been home in ages, and she’d done nothing but interfere with the family’s so-called “great ambitions.” As the eldest daughter, she must’ve been a thorn in his side.

Maybe this was all to drag her back home.

Worst case, her family’s carriage might already be waiting at the imperial palace gates.

‘...I’m not going back there. Over my dead body.’

Varia clenched her fists quietly.

‘I’d rather sleep on the damn streets.’

There was no way she’d ever go back to that house.

At best, she’d be locked up. At worst, they’d force her to marry into some other noble house tied to the Olors.

‘What about the evidence I’ve collected?’

Now the question was—where the hell could she hide it?

She’d spent over ten years gathering it. There was no way she’d just lose it all now.

“Varia...”

Les looked at her with helpless concern.

Their other coworkers were the same. Not a single one could bring themselves to say anything comforting.

There was nothing they could do.

“I’m fine.”

Varia, instead, tried to comfort them, telling them not to worry so much.

But anyone could see it—Varia’s face was the most serious of all. No matter how much she pretended otherwise, this situation was bad.

“Hmm, is no one working?”

And then.

“Why’s everyone standing around?”

A stranger’s voice made everyone turn around.

There stood a man, looking friendly, with a pleasant smile.

“Th-the Marquis of Pardus’ son!”

One of the Treasury’s higher-born staff broke into a sweat. Only then did the others realize who the man was—the Marquis of Pardus’ son.

“What the hell is he doing here...”

Les muttered, his face twisting in annoyance.

“I stopped by to see His Majesty, and thought I’d pay a visit. After all, this is the most elite administrative office in the Empire, isn’t it?”

The Marquis’ son smiled like he was just here to make an impression.

“Oh dear, but...”

He looked over at the notice on the board with a sorrowful expression.

“Something unfortunate seems to have happened.”

Then his eyes immediately found Varia.

‘What the...?’

How the hell did he know who I am?

Despite being tense, Varia was dumbfounded.

The Marquis’ son usually stayed in the North. Even though they were both from noble houses aligned with the Emperor, they’d never met.

But he had found her instantly.

“Why’d you go around punching people?”

He was suddenly standing right in front of her, speaking in a scolding tone.

“Granted, Baron Onokenta isn’t exactly a great guy, but still, you could’ve restrained yourself. Why’d you use those pretty, delicate hands for something like that?”

“...What?”

“In the end, you’re the one who loses out, aren’t you?”

Though Varia was being scolded, something felt... off.

He was definitely calling her out for hitting the Baron—but if you listened just a little differently, it almost sounded like he was mocking Onokenta instead.

Like he wasn’t even worth punching.

“And what are you doing right now?”

“M-me?”

“Who else would I be talking to?”

You’re the only one here, aren’t you?

The Marquis’ son grinned.

Varia was starting to get seriously annoyed with his tone.

It was just pure, blatant mockery.

“I, uh, came to work...”

“To work.”

He pointed at the notice.

“You’re suspended.”

“...”

“And kicked out of the dorms.”

“...”

“So go on, go home.”

You don’t belong here anymore.

So kind of him—he even reminded her of the harsh reality with that friendly smile.

‘Since I’m already suspended...’

Maybe I should just cause another scene?

Varia seriously considered it.

***

“Ugh, this is so freaking annoying!”

Les punched the bed in frustration.

Thanks to the Marquis’ son’s kind order to leave, Varia had returned to the dorms and started packing her things.

And because it might’ve been too hard for her alone, he’d generously assigned Les to help her out.

“Who does he think he is, acting like he’s our boss?!”

“He pretty much is...”

Varia’s voice was drained, clearly exhausted.

Her hands moved sluggishly as she shoved clothes into her bag.

“It’s Pardus...”

The Marquis of Pardus’ family was one of the most favored by the Imperial family.

Anything they said was as good as imperial decree, and even the great Duke Voreoti kept a wary eye on them.

Not even the chancellor of the Empire could go against the Marquis.

So it was no surprise that not a single person in the Treasury dared to say a word against him.

“But what are you going to do now?”

Les hesitated for a moment, then asked if she wanted to hide out in his dorm room for a while. But Varia shook her head.

“If they find you, you’ll be fired.”

She couldn’t let her friend take that risk because of her.

‘Maybe...’

Varia changed her mind.

Maybe this was actually a good chance.

‘I’ll just head to the North.’

If she could just get out of the capital safely, getting to the North with the money she had wouldn’t be all that hard.

It’s not like she was particularly attached to her job—quitting wouldn’t kill her.

She wouldn’t sit around waiting for the Duke of Voreoti anymore. She’d go to him herself.

‘This might actually work.’

That reckless idea quickly hardened into conviction.

“...Les.”

Varia turned to her one and only hope.

“Didn’t you sneak out to a tavern with some of the others before?”

“What the hell are you talking about now?”

Les flinched at the sudden, random question. Varia had somehow come closer, her face dead serious. Les shrank back.

“You snuck out past curfew to a tavern—!”

“Shh! Quiet!”

Les hurriedly slapped a hand over her mouth, panicking that someone might hear.

Varia pulled his hand away and kept going.

“How’d you get out?”

The dorms for administrative officers were inside the palace grounds. For the sake of security, no one was allowed out after curfew.

But ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) Les had done it.

Their eyes lit up.

As they slipped out the back door of the dorms, Les whispered.

“There’s a hole in the wall.”

Both of them clutched tightly to Varia’s bag.

The evidence she’d spent years collecting was stuffed into an envelope, tied to her back beneath her clothes.

She’d even wrapped it tightly in bandages so it wouldn’t slip. Les had watched in horror, calling her crazy, but for Varia, this was the only way.

She’d protect it, no matter what.

“Here it is.”

After sneaking around and taking a winding route, they finally arrived at a wall.

It wasn’t obvious at first, hidden behind some bushes near a corner. But when they pushed them aside, there it was—a hole just big enough for a person to crawl through.

“There’s a goddamn hole in the palace wall...?”

Varia was appalled.

This was the imperial palace, where the Emperor and his family lived—and there was a hole?

“I was shocked too the first time.”

Les agreed.

He had no idea why no one had fixed it.

Especially since he had personally approved the palace maintenance budget—it made no sense.

But hey, at least now they had a way out, and for that, Varia was grateful.

“What’s out there?”

Varia asked.

“A forest, a little ways past the plaza.”

“A forest...”

She repeated the word, her lips curling into a smile.

A forest meant no one around.

“Hurry, the knights are making their rounds.”

Les urged her on.

Varia quickly shoved her two bags through the hole. They slid right through.

“This is my home address.”

Les handed her a small note.

“If you lose everything, just go to the Voreoti territory. Tell them my name—someone will get you to my house.”

“Les...”

Varia’s eyes filled with tears.

She was grateful, and sorry, for her friend who was doing so much for her.

“Don’t cry. Just go already.”

They weren’t saying goodbye forever—why was she acting like such a drama queen? Les gave her a little shove. It was really time to go now.

“Thank you, really.”

Varia scrubbed at her wet eyes with her sleeve.

“I’ll contact you when I get there.”

“Stay safe.”

“I will...!”

Varia took off her thick outer coat and pushed it through the hole. She tied back her long hair so it wouldn’t get in the way.

The icy air hit her exposed neck and thin clothes, but she was too tense to feel it.

She crouched down.

‘Huh, this hole is...’

As she crawled through, Varia was surprised.

The hole was bigger than she thought.

Once she was halfway through, she looked back.

From inside, it hadn’t seemed like much—but now that she was out, she realized the hole was huge. Even a well-built knight could get through with a little effort.

Varia was dumbfounded.

‘What the hell is the Imperial budget even for...’

She was thinking like a Treasury officer again.

“Varia, you okay?”

Les called from the other side.

“Y-yeah!”

Varia pulled the rest of her body through and finally stood up.

She had barely gotten out of the palace, but it felt like she’d just cleared a massive hurdle. Her body sagged with relief.

But her heart was pounding harder than ever.

“I’m out. I’m okay now.”

“Then go! Be careful.”

“Les, thank you so much...”

Varia placed a hand on the wall.

But she snapped out of it and looked around for her bags.

Now that she was past the first hurdle, the cold hit her like a brick.

But her bags were gone.

The coat she’d shoved through separately—also missing.