I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter

The House of Count Rinne.
Originally based in the western region, the family had expanded beyond what was once thought to be just blue forests, meadows, and beautiful lakes. They built a port in their homeland and gradually redirected southern-bound trade ships, increasing their economic power.

Eventually, they became the key point connecting the North and South, generating massive profits from that position.
Thanks to the foresight of their ancestors, the Rinne family grew into one of the wealthiest houses in the Empire.
And they maintained a close relationship with the northern House of Duke Voreoti.

“Ferio…”
The young Count who led the Rinne family muttered under his breath while watching the scenery flash by from the carriage window.
Having received an invitation from the Duke of Voreoti, Carnis had set off for the North with his entire family, determined to personally confirm the truth behind the shocking rumors that had recently rocked the capital.

The carriage soon passed through the Gate.
“Waaah!”
“Waaaah!”

Ufikla Rinne, with her light brown hair tied in a green ribbon, and her younger brother Pinu Rinne, who had sandy-colored hair and was just past two years old, shouted in awe at the snow-covered landscape.
“It’s snow, snow!”
“Shnooo!”

When his sister shouted, the baby parroted her excitedly.
“I know, right? It’s all melted in the capital now.”
Abipher Rinne, the countess, gazed out at the North still blanketed in winter, marveling as she sat beside the children.

Winter had already passed.
In the West, by now all the snow had melted and the earliest spring buds would be appearing on the branches.
Even the capital, where they’d been staying, no longer saw snowfall.

But the North stubbornly held on to its winter.
It felt like an entirely different world.
“Daddy, when will we arrive at the Duke’s mansion?”
Ufikla, her face pressed to the window, asked brightly with sparkling green eyes.

The cute six-year-old girl, who had inherited her father’s brown hair, was so eager to see Duke Voreoti that she wiggled restlessly in her seat.
“Sit properly.”
Abipher warned her gently about the danger.

“We’re almost there, so just wait a little longer.”
“How much longer? Are we really going to the Duke’s house?”
Ufikla cupped her cheeks in her hands like /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ a blooming flower.

Unlike most children, who would scream or cry at the mere sight of Ferio, Ufikla had been charmed by his face and completely smitten.
“Azzi! Azzi!”
Even little Pinu, who had just recently started speaking, didn’t cry when he saw Ferio—just like his sister. He was a bold little toddler.

“This is my first time in the North.”
“Me too! Me too!”
“Mommy’s never been either.”

“Has Daddy ever been here?”
Ufikla asked, but again Carnis didn’t answer.
“Daddy’s thinking about something important right now.”

Abipher gently seated Ufikla beside her and whispered an explanation.
“What kind of thoughts?”
Ufikla asked while handing her baby brother a cookie.

Pinu nibbled on it like a little squirrel. The cookie, made with lots of butter, melted in his mouth with a single bite.
Abipher gave a faint, bitter smile.
He’s probably upset.
She turned to her husband, who hadn’t taken his eyes off the snowy scenery.

With his personality, there’s no way he’s not shaken.
Carnis was a lively, sociable man who connected with all kinds of people.
But the only one he could open his heart to and share his worries with was Ferio Voreoti.

Their friendship had long surpassed the boundaries of noble ranks.
So when he heard the rumors about Ferio while in the capital, he had been deeply shocked.
The Duke of Voreoti had adopted a child from an orphanage—but the rumors claimed that this child was actually the illegitimate daughter of a secret lover, hidden away.

Moreover, the gossip said that the Duke—who claimed to be his closest friend—had secretly kept a lover and even a child, and only just barely retrieved them before adding the child to the ducal register.
Carnis had been unable to put down his glass that night.
He had even cried.

“Dear.”
Unable to watch any longer, Abipher called out to him.
But Carnis, still lost in thought, didn’t respond. His blank gaze stayed fixed on the snowy window.

Reflected in the glass, his green eyes were clouded with complicated emotions.
“Carnis.”
Only when his name was called directly did he stir.

“…Oh, yeah?”
“What’s got you thinking so hard?”
“Ah… just…”

Carnis replied bitterly.
“It kind of feels like I was betrayed.”
He let out a small, self-deprecating laugh as he finished.

“You’re close, so it’s natural to feel that way.”
“Is that so? I feel a little petty for it.”
“You’re not.”

A warm hand rested gently on the back of his tightly clenched one.
“The Duke will tell you everything.”
“……”

“You two are the closest of friends.”
Abipher spoke firmly, insisting that their bond wouldn’t be shaken over one wounded feeling.
Finally, Carnis managed to relax his expression and smiled along with his wife.

***
While the Rinne family made their way to the Voreoti estate—
“Uuugh…”

Leonia was being dressed up to the extreme by the maids, something that hadn’t happened in a while.
“Why are you doing all this? It’s so annoying…”
Connie and the other maids seemed even more fired up than when they had prepared her for the tea party hosted by the Kerata family.

And this time, it wasn’t just in Leonia’s head.
“The Count of Rinne is coming with his family!”
Connie's eyes flashed as if it were unthinkable for Leonia not to know.

Her double eyelids had somehow grown so dramatic that Leonia almost didn’t recognize her for a second.
Whoa, double eyelid surgery?
While Leonia was busy having such pointless thoughts, the maids began explaining the reason behind their burning determination.

“Do you know how insufferable the Rinne family’s maids are?”
“Every time they see the Duke, they brag about their young lady!”
“I mean, it’s not like she isn’t pretty… but all kids that age are cute.”

“They say that since she doesn’t cry when she sees the Duke, she’s destined to be the future Duchess…”
“What utter nonsense!”
That’s right. Most of the female servants in House Voreoti—especially the maids—usually did nothing but clean, clean, and clean some more.

That was their main job, yes, but still, since they had taken on the role of maid, they also longed to care for the lady of the house and the young masters and misses.
Dressing their young mistress in beautiful clothes and accessories was one of the privileges of being a maid.
So it was no surprise that the arrogant Rinne family maids, always sticking their noses in the air, had been a constant source of irritation.

But now, everything had changed.
“We finally have our young lady!”
All the maids turned to look at Leonia in unison.

Leonia flinched under the intensity of their burning stares.
It was scarier than the first time she had felt Ferio’s Fangs at the orphanage.
“You are much prettier and more lovable than the Rinne girl, my lady!”

“The Black Beast can’t lose to a mutt!”
“Let’s go all out!”
“Our young lady is definitely going to win!”

This translation is the intellectual property of .
The maids, convinced of victory, resumed decorating Leonia with renewed vigor.
'These ladies have finally lost their minds…'

Though she was pretty sure she heard a few dangerously bold statements tossed around in the middle, Leonia chose to pretend she didn’t.
'Is it the terrain of the North that’s the problem?'
At this point, Leonia seriously wondered how many sane people actually existed in the North.

This warlike temperament clearly wasn’t limited to noble houses—it seemed to apply to ordinary commoners as well.
Which could only mean that there was something about the land itself.
And with that grim hypothesis, Leonia escaped into her thoughts as the grueling process of being dolled up continued.

Some time later—
“…Whew.”
Connie wiped the beads of sweat off her forehead with her sleeve, then gave a solemn smile to the girl reflected in the mirror. The surrounding maids followed suit.

“Perfect!”
Nodding along with their newly crowned leader, Connie, the maids beamed in satisfaction.
“……”

Leonia, on the other hand, looked half-dead in the mirror.
Her black hair had been braided with fine white lace and tied into two neat round buns on either side of her head.
They had applied so much children’s skincare that her face practically gleamed with holy radiance.

After what felt like hours of changing in and out of countless outfits, a single dress had finally been chosen.
It was white at the top and black at the bottom—like the snow-covered mountains of the North.
The skirt was decorated with soft, feathery details stitched so meticulously they resembled bird plumage.

“Please do a little twirl.”
With hollow eyes, Leonia spun around.
The hem of the dress fluttered like a drifting cloud.

That’s it! Let’s go!
Cheers erupted from the maids.
Around her waist, where the white and black met, was a large ribbon tied as a belt.

And lastly, around her neck was another ribbon—large enough to be dramatic but small enough not to get in the way—tied off to one side.
'Ribbons this time, huh…'
Last time, for the tea party hosted by Viscount Kerata and his wife, they’d covered her head-to-toe in lace. Now they’d practically mummified her in ribbons.

Even the shoes, barely peeking out from beneath the dress, were decorated with ribbons.
Leonia moved her feet carefully.
“This is uncomfortable…”

The skirt kept snagging on her shoes every time she walked. In the end, she had to lift the hem with both hands, just like she’d been taught in etiquette class.
It was humiliating.
“My lady, you must win!”

“Let’s go!”
The maids cheered her on from behind.
“Don’t compete using me…”

Leonia swallowed the words that nearly escaped her throat—telling them to go yank each other’s hair out instead if they wanted to fight.
***
“…What in the world happened.”

Ferio, dressed in his usual attire, looked at Leonia—who looked nothing like her usual self—as she came downstairs.
“Connie and the other maids dressed me up.”
Leonia stretched out her arms, signaling that walking was a challenge and she needed to be carried.

“Looks like you got turned into a doll.”
Ferio picked her up and headed toward the entrance. The staff was already waiting at the door to welcome the Rinne family.
“Does it look weird?”

“It suits you.”
“I don’t like it…”
Leonia tugged at her skirt, clearly displeased.

“Still, wear it like this from time to time.”
Ferio genuinely meant it as a compliment, and he gave her cheek a light kiss.
Surprised, Leonia blinked, then smiled sweetly and gave him a peck on the cheek in return.

Just like that, her energy returned.
“The maids said I can’t lose.”
“Lose what?”

“To the Rinne family’s young lady.”
Ferio paused for a moment, unsure what she meant. Then he let out a short sound of realization.
“Ah. I see what this is about.”

He chuckled, then added his own joke.
“Well, don’t lose to her.”
“Is she nasty or something?”

“No, nothing like that.”
Ferio gently lowered her clenched little fist.