I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter

Leonia, who had gotten into the carriage first, reached out her hand.

"......You seem excited."

Varia said hesitantly.

"I'm always excited, you know."

Leonia answered with a beaming smile.

The unexpected, heart-pounding encounter soon shifted into a fluttering anticipation of witnessing a scene straight out of a novel.

If I’m lucky, I might get to see Dad making a deal with her!

The excited girl wiggled her eyebrows, urging Varia to take her hand and climb aboard.

Varia wasn’t so weak that she needed the help of a twelve-year-old to get into a carriage.

If anything, it should have been Varia offering her hand instead.

But since she had no real reason to refuse, Varia took Leonia’s hand and climbed into the carriage.

"Your hand......."

Varia, once seated, recalled the feeling of Leonia’s palm from moments ago.

She had seen it back in the alleyway too, but now that she had touched it directly, the roughness of the calluses on Leonia’s palm was unmistakable.

"I’ve been working hard at swordsmanship."

Leonia said as she showed her palm directly, feeling Varia’s gaze.

The thick, hardened calluses were so pronounced, it was hard to believe they belonged to a twelve-year-old.

"I still can't beat Dad yet, though."

"You—you spar with the Duke?"

Varia was utterly stunned.

Sparring with the man said to be impossible to match even for seasoned Sword Masters?

Seeing the look of astonishment on Varia’s face, Leonia grinned proudly.

"Before I came to the capital, I even joined a monster hunt, you know."

"Wow!"

"I caught six of them myself!"

Leonia, flushed with excitement, began telling stories from the monster hunt.

How the knights would herd the monsters toward her so she could land the finishing blow with her sword, how her father warmed her up with stew during camping, and how she had whined about not being able to wash properly and ended up slipping and falling with a big splash.

"You are very much loved, my lady."

Varia said, looking at her with envy after hearing the stories.

"That’s a very wonderful thing."

"Ah......."

Leonia realized she had made a mistake.

Varia didn't have a good relationship with her family.

On the surface, they looked like a normal household, but inside, they were rotten to the core.

Hadn’t she just witnessed a part of that conflict herself a short while ago?

In her excitement, she had failed to consider Varia’s feelings.

"Hey, um."

Leonia spoke up.

"If you don’t mind... can I call you ‘big sister’?"

Varia’s eyes widened in shock at the unexpected request. She looked like a startled rabbit springing upright, glancing around in confusion.

"I think we could become really close friends."

Leonia had been waiting for Varia for a very long time.

"......Would that really be okay?"

But Varia couldn't easily accept the offer.

"It’s awkward for me to say this, but I’m from the Erbanu family."

"I know."

"No matter how much I hate her, Lota is still my younger sister. And she married into the Olor family."

Varia’s voice grew heavy.

No matter how she looked at it, she would bring nothing but trouble to House Voreoti. If she got involved, her birth family and the in-law family could exploit it.

They absolutely would.

Thinking that made her feel utterly miserable.

"So what?"

But Leonia brushed aside those worries without hesitation.

"Anyone hearing you talk would think you’re actually about to marry my dad."

She even called her "big sister" affectionately.

"I’m only looking at you, big sister."

The young girl understood Varia’s heart better than anyone.

She, too, once thought her blood had turned dirty upon learning who her real father was.

She believed her own value had plummeted, that she had shamed the Voreoti name, and she even apologized for tarnishing the family.

But Ferio had rejected that apology.

He told her she was simply herself, and not to be swept up by others.

He had saved her, telling her to only believe in the worth she defined for herself.

"So don’t worry too much."

Leonia wasn’t sure if she could offer Varia that same kind of salvation.

But seeing her now, {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} she felt a surge of confidence that maybe she could.

"My dad will see you for who you are too, Varia."

"......."

"So it’s okay to have a little hope."

"......Okay."

Varia answered with great difficulty.

She squeezed her hands tightly on her lap, barely holding back the tears that threatened to fall from her hot, stinging eyes.

***

Upon arriving at the Voreoti estate, Varia was immediately led to the reception room.

Thanks to Ferio’s prior instructions, Tra was able to perfectly handle Varia’s unexpected visit.

Seeing this, Leonia pouted her lips.

"So Dad did know after all."

"There's nothing our master doesn’t know."

"I hope he gets backstabbed someday."

"Indeed."

Leonia and Tra whispered conspiratorially, poking fun at Ferio.

Varia was startled by the casual banter between the two. But she found it rather heartwarming.

That peace, however, was short-lived.

Soon, the reality that she had truly arrived at the Voreoti estate hit her, and her body slowly stiffened from tension.

She couldn’t close her mouth at the overwhelming grandeur of the estate.

The Pardus mansion, which she had admired up until today, was already a distant memory.

"It’s cozy and cute, isn’t it?"

"C-cozy?"

Varia thought she must have misheard.

But Leonia genuinely seemed to think of this massive, grand estate as small.

"The northern mansion is even bigger. When I first came here, I was surprised by how quaint it was. Of course, this place is precious too."

"Q-quaint......."

Varia’s lips dried out.

Even among nobles, there were limits to wealth.

And Varia, working directly with government finances, knew the reality behind it all.

Usually, no matter how much a noble boasted of their fortune, she would just scoff.

Even the Marquis of Pardus’ mansion had impressed her, but nothing more.

But this place.......

Voreoti was a whole different league.

She had only seen a glimpse—the garden and part of the entrance.

But even that "glimpse" overwhelmed the Imperial Palace.

Not a single thing was wasted.

Starting from the massive doors that opened to welcome unexpected guests, to the grand foyer that connected to every part of the estate, the lavish chandelier hanging overhead.

The young butler’s impeccable manners as he led her to the reception room, the deep crimson carpet spread across the hallways, the antique paintings adorning the walls, and the exquisite pottery placed throughout.

Everything was perfect.

It was clean, without being cold; splendid, yet dignified.

Varia sat quietly on the reception sofa.

Tra offered her a fragrant floral tea.

Lavender scent.......

It was lavender tea, known to soothe nerves. Varia was genuinely grateful for Tra’s thoughtfulness.

Tra also brought snacks to accompany the tea.

Leonia immediately plopped down in the seat next to her.

"This is really good."

She offered a cream puff to Varia, boasting that it was her favorite.

"I’ll stay with you until Dad comes."

"Thank you."

Nervous as she was, Varia truly appreciated Leonia’s kindness.

She took the cream puff and savored it. The clean, sweet flavor melted her green eyes into a dazed bliss.

"It’s delicious!"

"Do you like sweets?"

"I love them."

Varia answered honestly.

"But I didn’t get to eat them often."

At her family home, the Erbanu house, there was no comfort to be found.

And after becoming a finance official, living in the dorms, she had to save every penny.

"I love sweets too!"

Leonia grinned brightly, her round cheeks puffing up under her eyes.

Varia smiled along.

Somehow, being with this child made her heart feel light.

She didn’t know why, but Leonia herself was a tremendous source of comfort.

The girl’s black eyes seemed to pour endless affection and trust toward her.

It was a deep emotion Varia had never felt even from her own family.

"Then do you like strawberry milk?"

Leonia pulled a candy from her pocket.

"This is......!"

Varia gasped.

It was the strawberry milk candy—Ferio Voreoti had signed an exclusive contract just to provide it for his daughter. A single piece cost as much as an entire cake.

Varia once spent her month’s living expenses trying to buy a few pieces for research about Leonia.

"I’ll give you one."

Varia accepted the candy with both hands as if she were receiving a priceless treasure.

She carefully unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth.

She covered her face with her hands.

It’s too delicious......!

The strawberry milk candy wasn’t just sweet.

The vibrant freshness of the strawberry mixed perfectly with the creamy richness of milk to create an utterly addictive flavor.

It was a taste you could never tire of, one that made you crave just one more.

She recalled the words of the patissier who had said they spared no expense on ingredients.

"Is it good?"

Leonia’s excited voice reached Varia’s ears as she still hid her face in her hands.

"It’s too good......."

So good she could cry.

"Really? Dad, did you hear that?"

Leonia beamed and turned.

"......It’s not that great, though."

How could she be that happy over a single piece of candy?

Frozen mid-bite, Varia suddenly realized.

There was someone else in the reception room now, besides her and Leonia.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

The voice that offered a brief apology was the most emotionless voice Varia had ever heard.

And yet it was so sweet and pleasant, she wanted to hear it again.

Varia slowly lifted her head.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you."

In that moment, tears welled up in her eyes.

The person she had wished to meet, even at the risk of her life, stood before her now.

"My name is Ferio Voreoti."

The Black Beast was right in front of her.

"N-nice to meet you."

Varia forced a trembling smile, desperately holding back tears.

"Varia......."

And finally, after hundreds, thousands of times practicing in her head, she spoke the words.

"My name is Varia Erbanu."