I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter

“Whew……”
“Sis, are you okay?”
Leonia looked at Varia with concern.

The two of them were waiting in front of the grand doors of the banquet hall, which was already in full swing.
Since the banquet had been going on for a while, there were no nobles passing by the entrance anymore.
In other words, most of the major nobles were already inside.

“I’m a little nervous.”
“Want me to rub your back?”
“I’m fine.”

Varia gave a small smile.
“It’s always the most exciting when the main character makes their entrance.”
“Ooh! That was cool, Sis!”

“I was imitating the Duke a little.”
“You don’t need to imitate my dad.”
Leonia extended her right arm, and Varia naturally rested her left on top of it.

Without a word, they clasped each other’s hands tightly.
“You’re the main character, Sis.”
“So are you, young miss.”

“I’m always the main character!”
They exchanged warm smiles and turned to face the banquet hall doors.
The dazzling light pouring from under the doors and the lively noise seemed to brush against their toes.
“They’re really making a racket in there.”

Leonia scoffed dismissively.
“Shall we go in and surprise them?”
At her words, the knights guarding the entrance fumbled to open the heavy doors in a rush.

Immediately, all eyes in the hall turned toward the entrance.
Dozens of gazes fixed on Leonia and Varia. Varia flinched, but the hand Leonia was holding gave her strength.
At that moment, the earring dangling from her tightly pinned-up hair sparkled.

Leonia wasn’t the only one reassuring her—Ferio, who wasn’t even here, was comforting her too through the earrings he’d chosen.
Varia wasn’t afraid anymore.
“The Lady of House Voreoti…”

A palace attendant guarding the door hesitated and stepped in front of them.
“For this banquet, the young lady is not…”
“I didn’t come as a lady.”

Leonia, who already understood where the sentence was going, cleanly cut him off and pulled something from her coat to thrust in front of him.
It was the official letter of proxy Ferio had handed her before leaving.
“I’m here as Duke Voreoti’s proxy. So there’s no problem.”

As the palace attendant read the document, his eyes gradually widened.
“Is there a problem?”
“N-No, not at all.”

“Then announce us.”
Leonia shot a scornful look at Olor, who was arrogantly taking up the center of the hall.
Her sharp, openly displeased glare made the nobles nearby quietly step aside.

'A sperm donor, huh.'
That red-haired swan.
Remus Olor.

And beside him, another head of pretty pink hair.
“Th-Then, the lady beside you is…?”
The attendant glanced at Varia. His face quickly flushed red as he took in her appearance.

“She’s someone precious to my father.”
Leonia grinned. Varia’s eyes grew wide.
At the same time, her teardrop-shaped earrings swayed gently. They suited her soft, fair face perfectly.

“She is Lady Varia Erbanu, daughter of Count Erbanu.”
“I…”
Varia timidly tried to speak.

“Please, announce it loudly.”
She wanted everyone to hear it.
She wanted them to know that Varia Erbanu had chosen to leave her family behind and come to House Voreoti of her own will.

“V-Voreoti…!”
“Leonia Voreoti.”
Leonia kindly corrected the knight as he stammered through the introduction.

The knight flinched but then, with much firmer vocal control than before, raised his voice and delivered the announcement without error.
“Acting on behalf of Duke Voreoti, Lady Leonia Voreoti and Lady Varia Erbanu!”
With the palace attendant’s booming voice, the two made their entrance in dazzling fashion.

Countless eyes followed them as they walked confidently into the banquet hall.
“That’s the Voreoti girl, isn’t it?”
“What’s she doing here…?”

“Didn’t you hear earlier? She’s the Duke’s proxy!”
The word “proxy,” loudly shouted by the attendant, triggered sharp reactions among the nobles.
“Then the Duke isn’t coming?”

“I heard there was an avalanche in the North.”
“Must’ve gone to deal with that.”
“But he already gave his daughter power of attorney?”

“Guess they don’t have to worry about succession.”
Leonia’s appearance made it clear: the Voreoti succession was not only secure—it was thriving.
The fact that the Duke could entrust his authority to his young daughter proved just how solid the Voreoti household really was.

But what caught people’s attention even more than the proxy status was something else.
“…Lady Varia Erbanu?”
One noblewoman recognized her.

“Didn’t she marry into House Olor?”
“That was the second daughter.”
“Erbanu had two daughters?”

All eyes turned to the beautiful woman beside Leonia.
The murmurings in the room were full of awe and confusion.
“My goodness, this is surprising…”

The noblewoman who had recognized Varia gently tapped her fan against her lips.
“She was this beautiful?”
When people thought of Count Erbanu’s daughters, they usually thought of the second daughter, Lota.

Lota, with her bright pink hair and lovely looks, was a charming beauty admired by all.
On top of that, she’d married into the influential House Olor, which made her even more memorable.
The first daughter, however, was practically unknown.

It wasn’t that Count Erbanu had deliberately hidden her. It was just that every time he opened his mouth, it was to brag about Lota.
Those who did remember her only knew that she was smart and had taken a job as an administrator in the Treasury Department.
That’s why Varia’s appearance today was a complete shock.

“Looks like the rumors were wrong.”
Someone muttered in admiration.
“She’s truly beautiful.”

No one disagreed. Everyone felt the same.
What drew attention first was Varia’s dull pink hair.
Tied up high, it shimmered faintly under the chandeliers.

It hadn’t been dyed or styled—it was her natural color, and it was stunning.
Then eyes drifted down.
The black gown that wrapped around her entire figure exuded elegance.

Its subtle sheen made it look like the night sky full of stars.
Though the deep black fabric hugged every curve of her body, it didn’t look vulgar in the slightest.
The only skin it revealed was her right leg, peeking through the slit as she walked.

“Do I… look weird?”
Varia whispered nervously.
“Everyone’s staring because you’re beautiful, Sis.”

“My heart feels like it’s going to explode.”
 
Whew… Varia exhaled deeply, trying hard to steady her nerves. Her chest rose and fell visibly, prompting several noblemen nearby to clear their throats awkwardly, their ears tinged red.

'They’ve got the nerve to ogle, at least.'
Leonia shot them a disgusted glance.
“If anything pops out, I’ll shove it right back in for you.”

“Thank you for your mercy.”
Leonia side-eyed Varia, who looked like a marble statue about to crack.
“You’re really tense, Sis.”

“Of course I am…”
Her palms were drenched in sweat.
It had been easier when they first entered the banquet hall, but crossing the center and drawing everyone’s eyes all at once made her feel like she might faint.

“Sis.”
Leonia subtly shifted direction.
Count Erbanu had spotted them and was making his way over, jaw practically unhinged in shock.

Their target was kindly approaching on his own—but Varia was too nervous to deal with him just yet.
“This is quite the surprise.”
Just then, a familiar voice chimed in nearby—Marquis Ortio appeared out of nowhere.

“Marquis Ortio!”
Leonia greeted him cheerfully.
“O-oh, Marq—M-Marquis, sir…!”

But Varia, flustered beyond reason, stammered her words. Thankfully, it wasn’t loud or obvious enough for others to notice.
“Your husband came too, I see!”
Leonia beamed as she welcomed the Marquis’s spouse as well. This made Count Erbanu hesitate, stopping a few paces away.

“My husband said he wanted to greet the Duke’s young lady himself.”
“I hope we’re not intruding?”
The Marquis’s husband, with his always gentle and elegant demeanor, asked politely.

“Of course not.”
Leonia smiled sweetly. If anything, their arrival was a blessing.
“And who might this be beside you…?”

Marquis Ortio looked curiously at Varia, as did his husband.
“Ah, I should’ve introduced her sooner.”
Leonia stepped in and took the lead.

“Marquis, Marquis Consort, this is my partner, Miss Varia. Varia, these are Marquis Ortio and his husband. They’ve always been kind to me since I was little.”
Leonia deliberately introduced the Marquis couple to Varia first.
This surprised the couple. Normally, someone of their higher status would be the one to be introduced first to someone of lower rank.

But Leonia had reversed that.
It was a significant gesture.
“Originally, Miss Varia was supposed to attend tonight as my father’s partner.”

Leonia continued the introduction fluidly.
“But since Father’s busy, I came in his place.”
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Varia.”

The Marquis couple’s expressions shifted subtly at her greeting.
In truth, they’d been very curious about her. That unique curiosity all mages shared had locked onto Varia.
“You were the Duke’s partner, I see.”

“Y-Yes.”
Still nervous, Varia nodded stiffly.
“And… the daughter of Count Erbanu…”

Marquis Ortio trailed off with a sly smile curling at the corners of his lips.
“Honey, don’t smile like that in public.”
The consort muttered with a tinge of jealousy.

“Oh please. Look where we are.”
The Marquis gave his husband’s rear a subtle pat, as if promising a scolding later.
“You two seem very close.”

Leonia laughed politely, but the cunning little proxy didn’t miss a beat.
“In fact, my father and Miss Varia are quite close as well. Do you see those earrings?”
“Of course. I think every noblewoman here has noticed them.”

And it was true. Besides Varia’s presence, her dusky ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) pink hair, and the black dress, the next most talked-about thing was those teardrop earrings.
“My father gifted them to her.”
“Oh my! The Duke gave them to her himself?”

The Marquis raised her voice with a gasp, catching on to Leonia’s intent immediately.
The nobles who had only been sneakily watching from the sidelines perked up in unison.
“Isn’t the dress also stunning?”

“Absolutely. That’s an Eastern-style dress, isn’t it?”
The Marquis praised Varia for wearing it so well.
Blushing, Varia lowered her gaze in shy gratitude. Even to another woman, Marquis Ortio was breathtaking enough to make one’s heart race.

“It belonged to my great-grandmother.”
But Leonia wasn’t done yet. She gestured toward Varia’s dress with exaggerated flair.
“It’s been passed down through the family. And yes—Father gifted it to Miss Varia too.”

“Oh my goodness…”
This time, the Marquis was genuinely shocked.
To wear a dress handed down for generations—not as a member of the house, but as an outsider—was no trivial matter.

Even someone like Marquis Ortio, who despised rumors, couldn’t help imagining all sorts of things between Ferio and Varia.
'Perfect.'
Leonia grinned in satisfaction as she watched the Marquis’s thoughts spiral.

If Marquis Ortio was reacting like this, the rest of the nobles didn’t stand a chance.
'I didn’t lie.'
She had told only the truth.

Ferio and Varia were close.
The dress had been a gift. So had the earrings and every accessory she was wearing.
Varia’s original banquet partner had been Ferio.

But they weren’t in a relationship.
Leonia didn’t see why that little detail needed to be mentioned.