I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter

“The capital’s social scene?”
Leonia tilted her head.
“The filthiest place next to the noble council.”

On the surface, it appeared to be a refined gathering of noblewomen, exchanging pleasantries and discussing recent affairs. But beneath the polished tablecloths, greed and ruthless calculations clashed like a battlefield of scheming opportunists.
If the Imperial Academy was the empire’s third most powerful entity, then the capital’s social circles were considered the second.
“Someday, you’ll have to go there too.”

As a member of the Voreoti household, it was inevitable. The mere thought of sending Leonia into that cesspool left a bitter taste in Ferio’s mouth.
And truth be told, he hadn’t been eager to hire Kerena either. He had originally intended to recruit someone else, but due to unforeseen circumstances, he had settled for her instead.
Still, there was no denying Kerena Tedros’ skills. She was also a suitable introduction for Leonia to witness the ugly reality of high society firsthand.

“…If you say so,” Leonia murmured, nodding.
***
Early Dawn

The flag bearing the black lion of House Voreoti fluttered in the dim morning sky. The wind, as if in quiet support of the knights departing for the monster hunt, blew gently.
“Haaaam…”
In the midst of it all, Leonia fought a losing battle against sleep, her head bobbing forward as she struggled to stay awake.

“Why are you even up?”
Ferio, clad in full armor, scooped her up into his arms. The cold metal made Leonia shiver violently.
“Uuuegh,” she groaned, making a strange noise as she wriggled in discomfort. Behind them, the knights stifled their laughter.

“You’re leaving…”
Still half-asleep, Leonia rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. Before she could smear her face any further, Ferio, wearing his leather gloves, caught her hands and gently patted her back, as if urging her to sleep more.
But Leonia whined in protest.
“Put me down.”

Once her feet touched the ground, she gestured to the maid beside her.
“Give it to him.”
The maid stepped forward, presenting a small ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) basket wrapped neatly in cloth. Inside, individually packaged ginger cookies were stacked.

Ferio’s black eyes widened in surprise.
Among the neatly packed bags, a few were noticeably thicker. They had childish drawings of a black lion scrawled on them.
Naturally, his hand reached for one of those.

The familiar, clumsily shaped cookies were unmistakable.
“…When did you make these?”
His fingers, normally firm and decisive, now hesitated over the package with an almost reverent carefulness.

But Leonia, barely holding back her drowsiness, failed to notice.
“Last night, in secret.”
She had lied to Ferio, pretending to go to bed early, only to sneak down to the kitchen and bake the cookies. She had remembered Lupe complaining that Ferio had eaten all the ones from last time without sharing.

“Still, I am your daughter.”
If her father was going to work in the freezing cold, this much was the least she could do.
“Share them with the other knights, but I made sure to pack extra for you. The ones with the black lion are yours—I put two extra cookies in each.”

Leonia yawned so wide it looked like her jaw might split. Her heavy eyelids drooped lower and lower.
“Be careful on your way.”
Ferio’s dark eyes wavered sharply.

“…And bring back something tasty…”
Her sleepy voice trailed off.
“Tasty, huh.”

But Ferio’s expression was anything but casual.
What in the world could taste better than the cookies in my hand?
He was certain—absolutely certain—that no such thing existed. And if it did, he’d erase it from existence.

With utmost care, he folded the package closed.
Then, with a firm but gentle touch, he placed his large hand atop Leonia’s head.
“While I’m gone, you are the master of Voreoti.”

Before everyone present, Ferio officially entrusted the authority of House Voreoti to his sleepy seven-year-old daughter, who was dozing off in the maid’s arms.
Lupe and Kara exchanged startled looks.

Both of them bowed their heads.
“Leonia.”
“…Mm…”

“Study hard.”
“…Got it…”
Leonia shifted lazily, as if already bored.

“Go to bed early, eat well.”
“Mmhmm…”
“And… try not to obsess over muscles too much.”

“……”
“You’re ignoring me on purpose, aren’t you?”
Leonia, now slipping into a deeper sleep, turned her head away with a sleepy murmur.

It was time to depart.
Yet, Ferio’s feet refused to move.
The warmth of the cookies still lingered in his hands. It felt as if they had melted into him, binding him in place.

The thought of leaving her behind made his chest tighten.
“…Sir Gaber.”
Ferio turned to the man standing beside the maid. Paavo, his long, wine-colored hair gleaming in the early dawn, had been caught off guard by the unexpectedly affectionate exchange between the duke and his daughter. He quickly straightened his posture.

Meleis was accompanying the hunting party, leaving Paavo behind at the estate.
“I will protect the young lady with my life.”
Paavo gripped the hilt of his sword, his expression solemn.

Ferio nodded.
“I'm off.”
His parting words, soft as they were, landed near Leonia’s ear.

Half-asleep, she smacked her lips a few times, then smiled in drowsy satisfaction.
Ferio finally took his first step away, though his feet felt heavier than ever.
***

By the time Leonia woke up again, the sun was already high in the sky.
“At least you woke up just in time.”
The maid, brushing out Leonia’s messy hair, remarked that they had been about to wake her themselves.

“Where do you think Uncle and the knights are by now?”
“They should have reached the mountain pass.”
Paavo, who had been standing near the door on guard, answered instead.

“The monsters mostly inhabit the northern mountains. It’s a vast and treacherous land, filled with all kinds of creatures. That’s why Voreoti has the nickname Home of Beasts.”
The northern mountains were the very heart of the monster ecosystem.
And at the top of its food chain stood the Duke of Voreoti and his elite Gladiago Knights.

“When do you think they’ll be back?”
Leonia asked as she headed toward the dining hall, Paavo following closely behind.
“Hmm… It might take a while this year.”

For the past three years, the hunts had been conducted by the Gladiago Knights alone, without Ferio. The three Sword Masters in the order had done well in keeping the monster population in check, but it wasn’t the same as having the Beast of the North leading the hunt.
A beast’s fangs were unmatched in their ability to rule the wild.
“Besides, during the last breeding season, the monsters were unusually—”

Paavo cut himself off mid-sentence.
He had been about to use a rather crude phrase, the kind he usually tossed around with his fellow knights.
“…Unusually?”

This translation is the intellectual property of .
Leonia slowly lowered her gaze, her black eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“…Uh, well, I mean… Love! Yes, love!”

Paavo stammered, hastily explaining that the monster population had increased due to their overwhelming love for one another.
Leonia smiled mischievously at his flustered response.
“Love is a wonderful thing.”

“Yes! Yes, love is absolutely wonderful.”
Paavo let out a relieved sigh, inwardly praising himself for his quick thinking. There was no way he could allow such a young lady’s ears to be tainted by vulgar words. If he did, his lord’s sword would surely be drenched in his blood.
“Paavo oppa.”

Just then, Leonia tugged at his sleeve.
“But what does ‘boonga’ mean?”
Paavo’s tanned skin went deathly pale in an instant.

***
Shortly after lunch, Leonia’s tutors arrived one after another.
The first to arrive was Ardea, who would be residing at the estate. He carried only two worn-out travel bags and twelve thick, old books. As per the conversation he had with Ferio the day before, he settled into a guest room on the fourth floor.

“Wasn’t it difficult carrying all that?”
Leonia, who had followed him all the way to his room, asked.
“Northern estates usually have everything they need on the upper floors, so it’s not a problem.”

“Have you lived in the North before?”
“I am from the North.”
Leonia’s eyes widened in surprise, and Ardea chuckled at her reaction. Despite her resemblance to Ferio, the child had an unmistakable charm of her own. Her dark eyes, deeper than a starry night sky, were brimming with intelligence.

“Young Lady.”
Ardea held out a book to her.
“My lessons start now.”

Startled, Leonia accepted it and examined the cover. The History of the Empire.
Just the sight of it screamed boring—it looked like it would serve better as a sleep aid and a pillow.
“I heard that you can read,” Ardea continued.

Leonia nodded.
“For now, read this on your own.”
If she had any questions, she was free to seek him out at any time.

His teaching style was unconventional—he offered no structured lectures, no spoon-fed knowledge. Instead, it was a brutal, independent approach where she had to take initiative if she wanted to learn.
‘This old man is no ordinary person either.’
Leonia smirked slightly.

Despite his friendly appearance, he was a ruthless gardener—cutting away the weak without hesitation. He had likely discarded any students who showed no promise. The fact that he dared to use such a method on the heiress of House Voreoti was, in a way, admirable.
‘Are all Northerners like this?’
After dropping the book off in her room, Leonia made her way downstairs—just in time to see Countess Kerena Tedros arrive. Unlike the previous day, she was dressed more modestly, but even in simpler attire, she was dazzling. Her flowing golden hair and flawless porcelain skin were the very definition of beauty.

Leonia took one look at the noblewoman and came to a realization—Ferio’s standards were exceptionally high. After all, even this breathtaking woman had once chased after him.
‘What kind of ridiculous combination is this?’
A woman who once loved a man… now teaching the supposed illegitimate daughter of that very man.

What a strange, absurd dynamic.
Leonia wondered if this etiquette class would go smoothly at all.
“Now, let’s begin with proper greetings.”

Contrary to her concerns, Kerena’s lessons were gentle and kind. She didn’t criticize Leonia for her lack of refinement but patiently guided her step by step, offering encouragement rather than scolding.
‘…She really has no lingering feelings?’
Now married to another man, Kerena smiled at her with pure serenity, as if she had completely let go of her past.

For a brief moment, Leonia felt ashamed of having doubted her sincerity.
“Well done.”
When Leonia followed her instructions correctly and executed a proper greeting, Kerena even clapped in delight. Her crescent-shaped blue eyes sparkled so beautifully that Leonia’s conscience ached.

She suddenly felt guilty for misjudging her.
“I didn’t expect you to learn so quickly,” Kerena praised sincerely.
Leonia smiled in response.

“You’re truly remarkable. To be honest, I was a bit worried…”
Kerena hesitated, then admitted her slip of the tongue and apologized.
Leonia, still smiling, said nothing.

Perhaps reassured by her reaction, Kerena continued.
“You resemble His Grace in so many ways—strong, dignified, and beautiful. That’s why you must work hard to refine your inner self as well. It won’t be easy, considering your previous habits, but I look forward to guiding you.”
Leonia’s smile deepened.

When the lesson ended, she stood by the window, watching as Kerena’s carriage departed from the estate.
‘So, this is a novel world, after all…’
Turning away from the window, Leonia sighed in quiet admiration.

‘Even the suicide methods are creative.’
Kerena’s subtle insults were almost impressive.