I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter

Leonia grinned wickedly and teased even louder.
"Stepmom, what happened?! Where’s that confidence you had back then?!"
"Unnie, you’re so embarrassing!"

"Think it’s too late to impress me now? Hm~?"
"That’s mean! Don’t tease me!"
Before long, the two girls were laughing and chasing each other through the manor.

"You little rascals."
Eventually, Abipher came to fetch the children when they failed to return. Despite her scolding tone, her face was all smiles.
"Lady Abipher!"

Leonia greeted her warmly.
"Have you been well?"
"And you, Lady Leonia—have you been well?"

"I was starting to think Ufi was hiding a sister!"
Leonia played it cool, remarking on how Abipher somehow grew more beautiful each time they met. Abipher’s eyes curved gently.
"Don’t flatter me like that. I might believe it."

"When have I ever said anything I didn’t mean?"
"Why are you trying to steal my mom again?" Ufikla stepped in front of Abipher, eyeing Leonia suspiciously.
"I don’t touch what’s already claimed."

The three of them entered a room.
It was a drawing room painted in pure white, with wide glass windows overlooking a garden bursting with spring blossoms.
"Forgive me for making you wait."
Leonia curtsied politely, lifting the hem of her skirt.

There was already another guest inside.
"It’s an honor to meet you."
The black-haired girl addressed the silver-haired woman.

"Leonia Voreoti greets Your Imperial Majesty, the Empress of the Empire."
***
The connection between Leonia and Empress Tigria dated back five years.

At the first imperial banquet held after the previous emperor’s death, Leonia had revealed her existence through the power of the Fangs of the Beast.
She’d slipped a few people strawberry milk-flavored candy as a preemptive warning. Thanks to that, they were spared the worst effects of the Fangs.
The Empress had been one of those few.

In return, Empress Tigria sent a gift for Leonia’s eighth birthday.
But the two had never met in person—until now.
"Isn’t it strange?"

Empress Tigria gently swirled her teacup. A fragrant floral scent wafted up from the wide porcelain rim.
Her gaze, which had been fixed on the tea, now turned toward Leonia.
With her silvery hair elegantly tied up, the Empress looked regal and beautiful.

Even though she couldn’t even lie about having a happy marriage, no trace of bitterness was visible on her face.
That kind of thing, she seemed to say, wasn’t enough to define the life of an Empress.
"This is my first time meeting the Voreoti young lady, and yet it feels like I’m seeing someone I’ve known for ages."

"The feeling is mutual."
Leonia smiled brightly, not a trace of falsehood on her face.
"I’m truly overwhelmed to be in the presence of Your Majesty, whom I’ve always admired."

"Such flattery…"
Ufikla, awestruck, made a subtle face until Abipher gave her a quiet look.
"But still—"

Leonia said cautiously, her expression tinged with slight regret.
Her round black eyes glanced down at her own appearance awkwardly.
"I’m not sure if I’m dressed well enough to stand beside Your Majesty…"

I mean, I’m happy to see the Empress, but isn’t there a certain decorum to be kept? I nearly fainted the moment I stepped into the drawing room.
Leonia’s shy words carried a surprisingly deep subtext.
"You look good in anything, just like your father. What’s there to worry about?"

You're the spitting image of your dad.
Empress Tigria gave her a graceful smile.
"I’ll be sure to visit next time looking a bit more presentable."

Let’s arrange our next meeting properly.
"I look forward to seeing you just as beautiful then."
I won’t call ahead next time either.

The drawing room filled with soft, refined laughter. It was a cultured war of nerves between the little beast and the tiger empress.
"Ufi, pay attention."
This is how socializing works, Abipher whispered just loud enough for her daughter to hear.

Ufikla nodded, her eyes sparkling.
It was the perfect opportunity to get a glimpse of the social circles, known to be scarier than any battlefield drenched in blood.
‘But what brings her here today?’

Leonia sipped her tea and wondered.
But she couldn’t just bluntly ask the Empress of the Empire what business brought her here.
"I have a friendship with the Countess of Rinne."

As if reading Leonia’s thoughts, Empress Tigria spoke up.
"When I miss my hometown, I sometimes come here for tea."
Her voice claimed it happened rarely, but her eyes shimmered with longing.

Leonia quickly realized that this homesickness wasn’t just for the West or the Marquis of Hesperi’s estate.
‘Ibex.’
The only man the Empress had ever loved.

Leonia understood that Empress Tigria still hadn’t let go of him.
But the tenderness in her eyes lasted only a moment.
The Empress soon erased it and looked back at Leonia and Ufikla.

"And as it happens, I heard there would be two lovely young guests today. So I insisted on coming."
"I’m happy to be with Your Majesty," Ufikla said honestly.
Moved by the child’s sincerity, the Empress’s expression softened with genuine gratitude.

"……But Your Majesty," Leonia said, glancing toward the person who had been catching her eye since earlier, "who is that behind you?"
"Oh my, I forgot to introduce him."
Empress Tigria introduced the young knight who had been standing behind her the whole time.

"My bodyguard. He’s from the West as well, so I sometimes bring him along when I go out."
The young knight gave a short bow. His silver hair shimmered with a faint dusting of ash.
Leonia stared at him quietly. His tall frame and solid build suggested he was disciplined and hardworking.

But the youthful features on his face betrayed his young age.
"……"
Leonia soon turned her gaze away from the knight.

The atmosphere in the drawing room remained warm and friendly.
Everyone gathered there shared mutual goodwill, making the setting far more relaxed than a typical social gathering.
In contrast, the knight didn’t say a single word.

"Your Majesty."
A moment later, the knight called to the Empress. After exchanging a brief whisper, he bowed again, asking silently to be excused, and left the room.
Thunk.

"Oh dear."
Leonia shot up from her seat.
"Unnie, are you okay?"

Ufikla jumped up with her.
"What happened?" Empress Tigria asked.
"The Lady of Voreoti spilled her tea."

"Oh no, did it scald you?"
"I’m fine."
Leonia dabbed at the stain with a white handkerchief, casually brushing it off. The handkerchief quickly soaked up the tea.

A blotch had appeared on her yellow dress.
"Your Majesty, may I be excused for a moment?"
"Of course. Don’t worry."

The Empress granted permission with a smile.
"I’ll have a maid go with—"
"I’ve been here more than once."

Leonia told Abipher she knew where everything was and left the drawing room alone.
The moment she stepped away from the warm sun and floral scents, a chill crept up despite the spring air.
The girl shivered lightly and glanced around.

Then, she strode down the hallway with confident steps.
She’d visited the Rinne estate enough times that she didn’t hesitate.
Just then, one of the hallway doors slowly opened.

The figure that emerged was the young knight who’d been behind the Empress.
"There you are, Sir Knight."
Leonia approached and greeted him.

He flinched, clearly startled, as if he’d let his guard down.
But he quickly straightened up and stepped aside as if to let her pass.
"Hold on a second."

But Leonia didn’t pass by.
"We’ve met before, haven’t we?"
The girl called out, stopping the knight as he tried to go by.

"Not at all," he said.
It was the first time he’d spoken. His voice cracked slightly—clearly still going through puberty.
"This is my first time meeting you, Lady Leonia."

"Really?"
"Perhaps you’ve mistaken me for someone else."
"Not likely."

What do you take my instincts for?
Leonia, now standing in front of him, lifted her foot and planted it against the wall, blocking his path.
Startled, the knight turned away when her skirt slid up her raised leg.

"Uh, I can see…"
"I’m wearing shorts under it."
"That’s not the issue…"

The conversation was thoroughly one-sided.
The knight eventually sighed in defeat and glanced at the girl in front of him.
Her eyes said exactly what she wanted.

"We’re not strangers, are we?"
Leonia smiled sweetly.
"Right, Your Highness?"

***
Right after arriving at the estate—
Ufikla had greeted Leonia with a hushed message.

‘Her Majesty the Empress is here.’
Originally, the plan was for Leonia to enjoy tea with the Rinne ladies—just the three of them.
But an unexpected guest had arrived.

‘It’s fine.’
Leonia hadn’t been too bothered. It was well known that Empress Tigria and Abipher had a close connection thanks to their shared Western origins.
It was surprising, but not suspicious.

What truly shocked Leonia was the young knight trailing behind the Empress.
‘Princess Scandia!’
She recognized her instantly.

They’d crossed paths briefly when they were younger. And now here she was, dressed in full knight’s uniform, standing behind the Empress.
Just as Leonia had been stunned, the princess had also flinched the moment she saw Leonia enter the drawing room.
But she quickly regained her composure.

"Your Majesty is bold indeed."
Leonia crossed her arms and tested the waters.
"Why go to such lengths?"

"I’m not sure what you mean," the knight replied, trying to mask her surprise.
Leonia found the clumsy act laughable.
"Her Majesty the Empress is the mother of the Second Prince and the Princess."

"That’s what the public believes, yes."
"It’s not a rumor. It’s fact."
"Seems our so-called knight doesn’t know much about me."

Leonia smirked openly, tucking a stray hair behind her ear with all the poise in the world.
There was no question who was winning this exchange.
The knight—no, Princess Scandia—furrowed her brow, sensing her impending defeat.

"I knew you were a boy the first time I saw you."
"……"
"Even back then, your bone structure was totally different."

"You figured it out from that?"
The princess was aghast.
"Aha! Knew it!"

Leonia grinned triumphantly.
Princess Scandia realized she’d fallen into a trap.
She sighed deeply, casting a sideways glance at Leonia.

The girl’s smug expression was annoying—but not entirely unpleasant.
And oddly enough, it was kind of refreshing.