I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter

"……."

Leonia pushed her lips out like a duck.
"Oh my, young lady."
One of the passing servants exclaimed in surprise and hurried over to Leonia.

"Why are you squatting outside the door?"
"Dad kicked me out."
The little beast cub, full of resentment, pointed grumpily at the door behind her.

The reason was that the adults had to have an important conversation, and the little kid needed to get out.
Of course, Leonia insisted that she should stay too.
This is finally the scene!

The moment when Varia revealed the hidden schemes of the Imperial family and Olor in exchange for a deal with Ferio was one of the most critical scenes in the original novel.
It was the moment when the two of them truly began to become aware of each other.
Ferio, in the future, would recall that day's Varia as truly beautiful.

He once confessed to Varia, who lay beside him, that it was from that moment he had first felt affection toward her.
Varia, too, remembered Ferio from that day as an insufferable but undeniably handsome man.
That tremendous moment was happening right behind that door.

There was no way Leonia could give up.
"I want to see too!"
Bang bang bang!

Leonia pounded on the door.
"Open up!"
But Ferio didn’t even pretend to listen.
"Um, is this really okay?"

Varia asked, glancing between the firmly shut door and Ferio.
If something went wrong between the father and daughter because of her, it would be a disaster. She was worried that she might be the cause of a rift.
"She’ll stop eventually."

Ferio didn't seem concerned at all.
If anything, he knew Leonia would find a way to sneak a peek somehow.
"I don’t mind, but……."

"I mind."
Right now, Ferio needed to focus entirely on Varia.
He was planning to judge Varia right here, right now.

Up until now, Ferio had assigned surveillance on her and received reports of her movements.
It was confirmed that she had helped Ardea escape to the North, but that alone wasn't enough to blindly label her as an ally.
She could have used that as leverage to gain the North’s favor and steal information.

A similar incident had occurred five years ago, when three houses, including Tabanus, betrayed the North and leaked intelligence to Olor.
But the reports on Varia over the past few years had been remarkably clean.
She lived almost as if she had no joy in her life.

She knew nothing but work and exercise; her daily routines were tediously simple.
Even Ferio had once remarked that her life was mercilessly monotonous.
What did she even live for?

Even Ferio, of all people, found it curious.
His own life was full of annoyances and boredom until recently, and people still muttered that he must live a dry, dreary life.
They weren’t entirely wrong. Until not long ago, most of Ferio’s days were just that—tedious and irritating.

But not anymore.
The past five years living with Leonia had been the most fulfilling years of his life.
And they would continue to be.

Even he, who once found life dull, had discovered joy.
So what, exactly, had made her so dry?
And why was she trying so hard to turn her back on her family?

"Let’s start the conversation."
This discussion would answer all those questions.
Before they began, Ferio leaned back against the sofa.

Varia tensed immediately.
The Black Beast’s languid, relaxed movements stripped the composure from his opponent and seized control of the atmosphere.
"You said you had something to tell me?"

"……."
"What is it?"
"It’s not so much something to say."

Varia corrected herself.
"I want to make a deal."
"A deal?"

Ferio’s eyes opened slightly wider.
Despite her visible tension, her ability to speak without averting her gaze was impressive.
And the fact that she dared to propose a 'deal' to none other than Voreoti himself.

Apparently, when the Marquis of Pardus' heir had described her as 'gutsy,' this was what he meant.
That awkward attempt to act relaxed was rather amusing.
Especially those eyes…….

Those luminous green eyes kept drawing his gaze.
"What do you want to deal?"
Ferio asked as he looked down at the simple tea and refreshments laid on the table.

If he didn’t focus, he felt like he’d just keep staring into those eyes.
The sweet scent lingering in the room must have been coming from the tea and snacks.
"I’ll give you the information you most desire."

Ferio’s lips relaxed into a slight smile.
"The information I most desire, huh……."
He could already imagine what kind of face Varia must be making without looking.

Trying to look composed while suppressing her nerves—it came to mind easily.
It reminded him a lot of Leonia.
His daughter would sometimes act just like that when she was stubborn about something, pretending to be calm while hiding her emotions.

"You won't regret it."
At Varia’s confident words, Ferio finally lifted his head again.
"And how do you know that?"

"I’m certain."
"That's for me to decide."
"Then see for yourself."

Varia shrugged off the cloak draped over her shoulders.
The shirt underneath was stained with gelato.
It was the source of the sweet smell Ferio had noticed earlier.

"Excuse me, but could you wait just a moment?"
Varia asked for permission as she began unbuttoning her shirt.
For the first time, Ferio’s eyes wavered.

***
Leonia, who had been glaring at the closed reception room door, snorted.
"You think I’m gonna give up?"

She had lived five whole years as Ferio’s daughter.
Which meant, if she gave up this easily, she wasn’t worthy of the name Voreoti.
She was proud of her natural talent for flipping her dad’s lungs inside out.

So she immediately ran upstairs.
Right above the reception room!
There was a vacant room no one used.

It had a bed and a wardrobe—probably a spare guest room.
Leonia opened the window and looked down.
"Hehe."

The smile on the girl peering down was downright evil.
There was a balcony just beneath this room where one could sit and look out over the garden—part of the reception room area.
The ceilings in the Voreoti estate were so high that even a single floor was like two floors in a normal building.

"Perfect."
But for a beast cub who had grown tall and strong, this was nothing.
Strengthening her body with the Fangs of the Beast, it would be as easy as drinking lukewarm soup.

Leonia closed her eyes.
Soon, golden mist flickered in her black pupils.
The Fangs of the Beast slowly wrapped around her body. She released only a tiny bit—if she used too much, Ferio would notice.

Golden light sparkled along her legs and wrists, then seeped into her skin.
"Let’s go."
Leonia jumped straight out the window.

She landed soundlessly and safely, and for a brief moment, she fell in love with herself.
I’m amazing.
She was so skilled at using the Fangs of the Beast, it was almost scary.

It made her wonder if there would ever be a man who could match her level.
This is why people need to have at least one flaw.
Which is why Dad was arrogant.

And I'm a pervert.
Leonia giggled to herself and peeked through the window into the reception room.
And then she witnessed an incredible scene.

Varia was undressing.
"B-big sister!"
Startled, Leonia threw the window open and leapt inside.

"L-lady Voreoti?!"
Varia, just as startled, flinched. The shirt she was holding slipped from her hand, and Ferio hastily turned his head away.
It was utter chaos.

"Why are you suddenly taking your clothes off?!"
Leonia shook her head furiously, as if saying this was all wrong.
"My dad’s actually really conservative! He hates women who try to seduce him by stripping!"

"Why would I seduce the Duke?!"
Varia denied it frantically.
"I have no reason to!"

"That’s not true."
Leonia said seriously.
"There are tons of reasons."

Ferio’s mouth curled into a slight smirk. As expected, the kid was smart.
"My dad’s ridiculously, no, unbelievably handsome, super muscular, rich, and powerful, okay?"
"That’s true, but……."

Varia faltered.
"……He's not my type."
Ferio scowled fiercely.

He hadn’t even confessed, but he was already rejected.
But the one who got angrier was Leonia.
"Are you crazy, big sister? Are you sick or something?"

Leonia shook her head in disbelief, looking like she was having a nightmare.
Then she dramatically grabbed Ferio’s chest and face.
"Look at these muscles! This face! This chest!"

She especially emphasized his chest.
"You’re rejecting the most perfect man in the Empire!"
"But I prefer someone gentle……."

"My dad is gentle! He raised even a freak like me with nothing but love!"
"But his face……."
Varia stammered.

"It’s—it’s scary……."
Leonia slapped her own forehead hard.
"You really don’t get it."

She sighed deeply.
"A man’s value isn't about a gentle face! It's ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) about having the stamina to go at it every day of the week……!"
"That’s enough."

Ferio finally stepped in.
He reached out and covered Leonia’s mouth with his large hand. "Mmph!" Leonia struggled under his grip.
"Miss Varia."

Ferio looked at Varia.
But he couldn’t meet her eyes properly, so he fixed his gaze awkwardly on the round ear poking out of her messy pink hair.
"Please put your clothes back on."

"But we have to make the deal!"
"You don’t mean you’re offering yourself as the deal, right?"
"No!"

Panicking, Varia hurriedly started taking off her shirt.
Just as Ferio tried to look away—
"The information is here!"

Underneath the shirt, there was another thin shirt.
And strapped to her back, tied down with bandages, was a document envelope.
"I've been carrying it strapped to me ever since I left the dorms."

Varia groaned as she pulled the envelope free from her back.
She had wrapped a bandage like a girdle around her waist and tucked the thick envelope inside like a baby.
"……."

"……."
The father and daughter stared at her blankly.
"Big sister Varia."

Leonia hesitated.
"You’re, uh……."
What was the polite way to put this?

After some mental gymnastics, Leonia spoke.
"You’re kinda… unique."
Meanwhile, Ferio stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"You’re a little like Leonia."
And then he said,
"Just a little crazy."

"I’m gonna assassinate you today, Dad."
Leonia growled.