I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter

"……Acting Duke Voreoti."
The young heir of Marquis Pardus belatedly stepped in.
He, too, had been caught off guard by Leonia’s sharp and ruthless sarcasm. Because of that, he missed the timing to help Count Erbanu.

"Why behave this way on such a good day?"
"Because it’s such a good day, that’s exactly why."
Leonia emphasized the fact that today’s banquet was being held in celebration of the First Prince’s sixteenth birthday.

At those words, the count’s face turned even paler. Varia thought her father might just collapse right then and there.
She only thought it though—she had no intention of helping him.
"The Acting Duke’s deeper meaning must be understood by everyone present."

At the marquis heir’s suggestion, the nobles who had been holding their breath finally began to move, however awkwardly.
And so, the suffocating silence that had kept everyone’s mouths shut finally vanished.
"Let us understand with generous hearts."

The young heir of Marquis Pardus lightly tapped Count Erbanu’s arm.
"To the count, both I and the acting duke are young enough to be his children. I’m sure it all came from a place of affection. Right, Count?"
That’s why he didn’t greet me either.

Count Erbanu flinched at the pointed question.
Only after being publicly scolded by people the age of his children did he realize what kind of mistake he had made.
"Then, if you’ll excuse us for a moment."

The heir of Marquis Pardus led Count Erbanu away. Leonia did not look pleased watching them leave.
"L-Ladies and gentlemen…!"
It was then.
A servant who had been observing the strange mood of the banquet finally managed to speak up.

"His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress…"
He began announcing the names of the imperial family attending the banquet one by one. As expected, ‘Her Highness the Princess’ was absent from the list.
"……Perfect timing."

For the first time, Leonia felt grateful to the emperor. Amidst the chaos of her emotions, his timely arrival allowed her overheated mind to cool down.
"Are you okay?"
Varia fanned Leonia’s face with her hand and asked gently.

"What about you, unnie? Are you okay?"
"Me?"
"I just gave your dad a hard time earlier, you know?"

No matter how much someone hated their family, there were times when blood ties stirred sympathy and forgiveness.
Even Leonia, no matter how often she clashed with Ferio, always ended up reconciling and forgiving in the end.
‘Though the situation is a bit different.’

Varia had gone as far as calling herself a “filial traitor”—that’s how much she hated her family.
Knowing the original story, Leonia understood how deep that hatred ran. Still, human emotions were unpredictable.
"Well…"

Varia carefully chose her words.
"……It didn’t bother me."
She looked as if even she was surprised by her own answer.

"I felt a little pity, but it really only lasted a moment."
"……"
"I’m just a really terrible person."

After seeing the miserable depths of what they were truly like, she sometimes even felt the urge to kill them.
But she didn’t want to stain her own hands with their blood.
"Unnie, that doesn’t make you terrible."

Leonia grinned.
"It makes you tough as hell."
Being terrible and being tough were two completely different things.

Terrible meant bad. If judged by morality, it usually leaned toward “evil.”
But toughness was a tool. Even what people called “goodness” could be harsh.
"The North likes its people tough."

Leonia looked toward the upper balcony with Varia. A trumpet blared loudly.
"Don’t forget—I’ll always be behind you."
"……If you keep saying that, I’m going to get spoiled."

"Let yourself get spoiled."
As far as Leonia was concerned, it was perfectly fine for Varia to be a little selfish.
"I’ll still like you, no matter what kind of unnie you are."

Receiving Leonia’s absolute trust, Varia felt a warm surge of emotion rise to her eyes.
Ever since she had started walking beside the Voreotis, the ground beneath her feet had felt more solid.
Soon, the emperor made his entrance.

The banquet had officially begun.
***
"……Acting Duke?"

One of Subiteo the Emperor’s eyebrows arched.
"It’s said that Duke Voreoti has returned to the North due to an avalanche in the territory. In his place, the duke’s daughter is attending."
Hearing the attendant’s report, the emperor’s expression darkened.

He remembered all too clearly the humiliation he’d suffered five years ago at the hands of that cunning, wicked daughter of the duke—when she’d used the Fangs of the Beast against him.
Just remembering it was enough to make him burn with shame and fear.
‘Takes after her damn father, that one.’

Even as he cursed Leonia inwardly, Subiteo’s lips curled into a sly smile.
‘Not much time left now.’
Their long-standing plan was finally nearing its end.

Once he got his hands on “that thing” hidden in the Northern Mountains, bringing those lowborn beasts to their knees would take no time at all.
"So, what’s she doing now?"
Feeling a little better, Emperor Subiteo asked.

"She’s enjoying the banquet with her companion."
"Companion?"
"Lady Erbanu."

"Erbanu?"
The emperor’s voice brimmed with confusion.
Erbanu was the family he had recently included—reluctantly—as a new contributor to his secret fund, at the recommendation of Viscount Olor.

And yet now, the daughter of that family had appeared with the Voreoti?
Sensing the emperor’s suspicion, the attendant quickly explained the situation.
The more he heard, the more displeased the emperor looked.

"Can’t even control his own child."
Count Erbanu had already been filed away in the emperor’s mind as a useless fool.
He # Nоvеlight # was convinced that if the count had even a fraction of the emperor’s own capabilities, this wouldn’t have happened.

Meanwhile—
"……"
Sitting beside him, Empress Tigria wore a curious expression. As far as she was concerned, they were all just garbage—no different from one another.

‘Leonia Voreoti.’
The empress, tearing her gaze from the emperor, focused her attention on the little black-clad young lady who now ruled over the banquet hall.
She’d felt it last time they met at Count Rinne’s estate too—this child was no ordinary one.

‘She knew he was a boy.’
On their way back to the palace,
Scandia had told her about what happened with the duke’s daughter.

The story had truly surprised Empress Tigria.
What shocked her the most was that Leonia had immediately recognized that the nine-year-old boy who once snuck into a royal banquet was, in fact, male.
"Then I’ll get up as well."

Still unable to hide her amazement, Empress Tigria rose from her seat.
"Where are you going, Empress?"
Emperor Subiteo asked.

"It’s the First Prince’s birthday banquet. As the empress, I can’t just sit around and spectate."
Replying with a gracious tone that suggested she was being generous, the empress headed directly toward the banquet hall.
"Her Majesty is truly broad-minded."

The ever-smiling Consort Usia finally spoke.
"Wouldn’t you agree, Your Majesty?"
"……People should try being more affectionate."

Thanks to that, the emperor quickly turned his gaze away from the empress, which had been locked on her the whole time.
With her fresh green hair and charming demeanor, Consort Usia gently played with the emperor’s heart.
"Alis."

He turned to his son—the birthday boy at today’s event.
"You think so too, right?"
The empress is a good person, isn’t she?

Alis, who had been silently watching the banquet below with an unreadable expression, only nodded without a word.
The consort watched her son with a warm smile.
***

First Prince Alis.
Alis Bellius.
Now sixteen, he had not received the customary middle name ‘Aquila’ given to all legitimate imperial children.

He was born out of wedlock, and to this day, many noble factions still refused to acknowledge his existence.
‘Doesn’t really look like the emperor.’
Leonia watched as the prince greeted the nobles.

What caught her eye first was his green hair. She had expected the golden locks that resembled the emperor, but instead, he was a perfect copy of Consort Usia.
‘I heard he’s got a nasty temper.’
In contrast to those rumors, Alis looked cool and fresh—his appearance was pure and clean, like a woodland fairy who lived on lemonade.

"……Please enjoy yourselves."
The greeting, delivered with less sincerity than spit on the floor, was met with thunderous applause.
Prince Alis simply wore a bored expression. He didn’t seem pleased with his own birthday banquet at all.

"Ungrateful brat."
Leonia clicked her tongue and muttered under her breath so only Varia could hear.
Leonia loved birthdays. Just hearing Ferio mention a birthday party would still send her into a frenzy.

"If that kid were mine, I’d beat some manners into him."
"Miss…"
Varia tried to soothe her. Saying things like that aloud would be dangerous if anyone heard.

The banquet resumed.
In fact, it became even livelier than before. Amid the bustling and laughter of the nobles, Leonia and Varia blended in, working to accomplish their goal.
"Lady Varia is someone very important to my father."

Leonia introduced Varia that way to every noble she met.
"I’ve learned a lot from the duke."
Varia would then chime in as if she had voluntarily sought out Ferio herself.

At the same time, she quickly clarified Leonia’s vague phrasing into something more “business-like” to avoid misunderstandings.
Each time she did that, Leonia’s lips would pout ever so slightly.
"Ah."

Catching her breath for a moment—
"What is it?"
"Over there."

Leonia pointed. Empress Tigria stood with her father, Marquis Hesperi. The two were engaged in an unexpectedly normal conversation.
Then Leonia and Empress Tigria locked eyes. They both quickly turned away, pretending not to notice.
"Aren’t you going to greet her?"

Varia asked, following after Leonia.
"We’re not publicly acquainted just yet."
The little beast glared up at the golden eagle perched on the upper balcony, watching everything unfold.

Varia realized that Leonia was being cautious of Emperor Subiteo.
"Meeting him now wouldn’t benefit us."
"The Empress is an ally."

There was no need to put her in a difficult position.
Varia admired the depth of Leonia’s strategic thinking.
"Still, I think we’ve reached our goal?"

Leonia massaged her neck.
"I think everyone knows you’re on our side now."
"You must be tired, aren’t you?"

"I’m tired, but I’m okay."
Leonia responded brightly to Varia’s concern.
"We’ve done enough…"

Varia was just about to suggest they return to the mansion when—
"Unnie!"
"Varia."

As if they’d been waiting for the two to be alone, the red hair and pink hair approached.
"Oh, hell no…"
Leonia couldn’t help but curse under her breath.

The twelve-year-old muttered a juicy swear that started with “sh” and ended with “it,” and Varia’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"Unnie…!"
But seeing Lota call out to her with teary eyes made Varia feel like swearing too.

"Viscount Olor’s daughter-in-law sure loves theater, huh?"
What a performance.
Leonia remembered how Lota had once clawed at her sister and screamed like a banshee.

"A-Acting Duke……."
"We greet the Acting Duke."
Lota and Remus greeted Leonia politely. After all, they’d seen exactly what had happened to Count Erbanu moments ago.

"Acting Duke."
Remus spoke up first.
"If it’s not too much to ask, may I speak with Varia for a moment?"

His posture was overly humble. Combined with his youthful, innocent, and even cautious face, it radiated a sense of complete sincerity.
But to Leonia, it meant nothing.