I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter

A few days before her birthday.
Leonia had been secretly preparing something, keeping it hidden from everyone.

It was a gift for Ferio.
If it weren’t for Dad…
Just imagining it for a split second sent chills down her spine. Leonia instinctively hugged herself and squeezed her eyes shut.

Beyond the darkness, the first thing that came to mind was Connie’s smile.
That kind, gentle teacher’s face melted away like ice.
And behind it appeared Saura, with that terrifying smile, hands reaching out to strangle her.

It’s okay.
But at the end of every nightmare, Ferio always appeared.
The strongest, most amazing dad in the world always protected his scared little girl.

Thanks to Ferio, Leonia could stand up again.
Thanks to him, she could even enjoy her birthday.
I want to give something back.

When she thought about it, all she’d ever done was receive. She’d never really given him anything.
Other than baking cookies, she hadn’t given him a real present.
But realistically, there wasn’t much she could give Ferio.

He was already one of the wealthiest people in the world. He lacked nothing, at least materially.
And even the money Leonia spent was all from him.
Even cookies weren’t enough to express how thankful she felt.

What kind of gift would be good enough?
As she racked her brain, a conversation she’d had recently popped into her head.
"Why did you keep that talent hidden?"
"Right? It’s such a waste."

It was what Connie and Mia had said at the café.
They’d seen one of Leonia’s drawings and couldn’t stop praising her.
“Drawing…”

Almost in a trance, Leonia jumped up, grabbed some paper and a pen, and started drawing like crazy.
She picked the one she liked best, rolled it up, and tied it with a ribbon.
Still thinking it wasn’t enough, she pulled out some letter paper and, for the first time, wrote down all the feelings she’d been too shy to say.

That was the gift she had just given Ferio.
“Because of you, today’s birthday is the happiest I’ve ever had.”
She twisted her body slightly, embarrassed by her own words.

“S-so, um, thank you.”
“……”
Ferio was speechless.

All this time, he’d only thought about how to make up for the days he hadn’t been there for her. He never imagined he’d be the one receiving something like this.
“…Aren’t you going to open it?”
Leonia whispered to the frozen Ferio.

Only then did Ferio slowly start to unwrap the gift.
Inside was a rolled-up piece of paper and an envelope decorated with flowers. Ferio opened the paper first.
“Oh wow, what is this?!”

Lupe, who’d been sneaking a look from a little distance, gasped in amazement.
In the drawing, Ferio was sitting at his desk in the study, looking over documents.
The resemblance was almost uncanny.

The stern eyes, the broad shoulders and chest, even the habit of tapping his fingers on the table when annoyed—it was all there.
“I-I worked really hard on it!”
Feeling awkward because Ferio wasn’t reacting, Leonia dropped the formal speech and spoke like she usually did.

“……”
But Ferio just kept staring at the drawing, unmoving.
The silence was starting to cool the atmosphere in the banquet hall.

Even Leonia, who prided herself on reading his moods, couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.
Soon, Ferio pulled out the letter.
Written in her neatest, most careful handwriting, it said:

[Dad, thank you, always.
Thank you for finding me at the orphanage, and for loving a brat like me who doesn’t even try to behave.
It’s tough raising a daughter like me, but hey, that’s life, right?

Still, it’s kinda fun, isn’t it?
As long as we’re having fun, that’s all that matters.
Let’s keep being happy together.

Love you, Dad!]
The letter swung between serious and completely random.
It wasn’t much different from the usual banter between father and daughter.

But her gratitude for Ferio came through loud and clear.
“…D-Duke?”
Lupe, watching nervously, flinched.

He looked like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“Wait, are you crying—AAARGH!”
Just as he was about to ask, Ferio kicked him hard in the shin, sending him to the ground.

Ferio had tried to go easy.
Thankfully, he stopped Lupe before he could say anything stupid loud enough for others to hear.
But—

Everyone had already seen Ferio’s eyes trembling.
“…Leonia.”
Ferio took a deep breath, but his voice still shook.

Leonia stiffened, startled to hear her full name instead of a nickname.
Even she looked surprised.
So did everyone else.

But in the middle of it all, the only one who looked calm was Ferio himself.
He alone seemed composed. Though his eyes were more watery than usual.
This translation is the intellectual property of .

“This is the best gift I’ve ever received.”
“……”
“Not that I’ve ever really gotten gifts before.”

His words contradicted themselves, and a bitter smile flickered across his face.
But then, a gentle smile took over.
“It’s the best.”

Like the happiest man in the world, Ferio showed his joy with every muscle in his face.
“Thank you so much.”
Leonia’s eyes grew wide.

“I can’t even tell you how happy and grateful I am that you’re my daughter.”
“Dad…”
“Come here, give me a hug.”

Before he could even finish opening his arms, Leonia had already jumped into them.
She clung tightly to his neck, sniffing, trying to hold back tears.
“…That was so touching!”

Inseréa burst into tears watching them.
“I—just! Just, congratulations!”
As if on cue, others began clapping, moved by the moment.

It felt like something out of a dream, but it didn’t matter—it warmed everyone’s hearts.
No one ever imagined they’d witness such a heartfelt, tear-jerking moment at House Voreoti.
Even the servants watching from afar felt the same.

Kara ended up slumping to the floor, sobbing into a completely soaked handkerchief.
“They’re such a loving father and daughter,” someone said, truly moved.
“You didn’t draw me naked or anything, did you?”

“I thought about it, but as part of my filial duty, I didn’t. Yet.”
“Do me a favor and keep that duty going forever.”
“Too bad, that duty expired today.”

“You little brat…”
The beastly father and daughter had already burned through all the sentimental vibes, whispering ridiculous things in each other’s ears.
***

Thanks to Leonia’s surprise gift, the birthday party kicked off with warm smiles all around.
In the middle of it, Ferio brought in some unexpected guests—the children from the orphanage.
Among them were Yuben and the four kids who’d been tricked and sold off by Connie.

Ferio, Lupe, and the other adults had personally gone to bring them back to the Northern orphanage.
The kids, recognizing each other, hugged tightly and cried.
You’re here! You really came!

Leonia gently cupped each of their faces, grateful they were all # Nоvеlight # safe.
And she thanked Ferio over and over for preparing such a precious gift.
“The Duke’s actually human.”

The young heir of Marquis Pardus still couldn’t get over it.
“He was moved by a letter, and he even made this whole event happen.”
He’d never seen Ferio Voreoti looking so soft and melted like that in his life.

“My son.”
Marquis Pardus, watching his grandson play, replied.
The kids, including his grandson, were now watching Leonia open her presents.

A huge jewelry box, clothes designed just the way she liked, a full set of the most popular novels—Ferio gave her everything she could ever want.
Leonia’s face was lit with joy as she opened them one by one.
And behind her, a big handmade sign reading Happy Birthday Leonia hung on the wall, a gift secretly prepared by the orphanage kids.

“They’re human too.”
Marquis Pardus watched the scene fondly, though something complicated flickered across his face.
His gaze drifted to the window.

The heavy snowfall had started to ease.
Once it stopped, a stretch of mild weather would follow—before the real blizzards came.
The North, as always, would soon fall into its silent winter.

“This kind of change makes me happy.”
“Seems like you’ve taken a liking to Lady Voreoti,” the young heir said.
“Very much so.”

The marquis chuckled softly.
“She’s made the beast even more beast-like.”
“I don’t know about that…”

His son tilted his head.
Honestly, he thought the Fangs of the Beast had dulled, as if half-ground down.
Sure, Ferio still radiated an overwhelming pressure.

The orphanage kids had all hesitated, terrified, walking several steps behind him when he brought them here.
But still, the fearsome Voreoti becoming this gentle?
“…Are you disappointed?”

The marquis asked.
“No, not at all.”
His son answered right away.

“It’s just… surprising and strange.”
“They must have struggled a lot too.”