I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter

Leonia didn’t dislike her private lessons.
In fact, she enjoyed the process of learning something new.

It was a joy she had never once considered in the other world she remembered.
Ardea was an eccentric old man, but he was kind and intelligent.
Kerena, however, was not.

‘My lady takes after His Grace greatly, which is why you are so dignified and beautiful. But that means you must work even harder to make up for what you lack within.’
On the first day, she mocked her, calling her a bastard and implying her blood was lowly.
‘You must put in even more effort to repay the Duke for his generosity in taking you in.’

On the next, she sneered at her, calling her lucky to have been picked up by the Duke.
That time, she had even deliberately turned her head as if she were looking away, only to cast a disdainful glance up and down Leonia.
‘It must be difficult to rid yourself of habits that have clung to you for so long.’

And on their last meeting, she scoffed at her, saying that no matter how hard she tried, she would always be of lowly birth.
If someone were to listen without thinking too much, they might mistake her words for the well-meaning concern of a noble lady with a kind heart. And that shamelessness left Leonia utterly dumbfounded.
‘What exactly did Uncle see in this woman?’

He wasn’t some clueless fool, after all.
Leonia puffed up her cheeks in displeasure, then exhaled with a soft “pwoo” as the air left them.
Thinking it over, Kerena really wasn’t a clueless fool like Ferio had said.

That was precisely why she was able to weave her words so skillfully.
‘But this will all be over tomorrow.’
Even if the monster hunt lasted long, it wouldn’t go beyond a month.

Once her etiquette lesson ended tomorrow, Ferio and the Gladiago Knights would return within the week, and Leonia would tell him everything she had endured, ensuring that Kerena received a grand and fitting punishment.
‘That kind of nonsense…’
It was the sort of drivel that went in one ear and out the other.
Of course, it was unpleasant to hear.

But Leonia hadn’t openly expressed her displeasure to Kerena because throwing a tantrum on her own was far less effective than tattling to Ferio about everything later.
The Black Beast ruled over everything in the North.
And she was his daughter.

‘Even if I am adopted…’
Leonia knew Ferio cherished her deeply.
And she, too, followed and cared for him. So she had little doubt that he would punish Kerena accordingly.

Yet today, for some reason, the reality of being an “adopted” daughter pricked at her chest more than usual.
Leonia clenched the glass bottle in her hand.
‘Wounds inflicted by words do not heal easily.’

Ardea’s words echoed in her mind.
‘Am I hurt?’
She asked herself.

But she didn’t know how to answer.
She thought she was fine.
Her fingers grazed over her chest.

It seemed the wound had cut deeper than she realized.
The Next Day
Leonia practiced walking in time with the sound of Kerena’s claps.

The goal of today’s lesson was to walk without dropping the thin book balanced on her head.
“Yes, you are doing wonderfully.”
Just as Kerena praised her, Leonia executed her steps flawlessly.

Her footfalls along the pre-marked floor line were as light as a butterfly’s. Her white skirt fluttered gracefully with each step, resembling the delicate flaps of butterfly wings.
It was perfect—without a single flaw.
“Excellent.”

Despite the bright smile and sweet compliments she gave, Kerena’s true thoughts were as murky as the water wrung from a filthy rag.

She despised even having to look at Leonia, who stood before her, diligently learning.
‘How can this be…?!’

When Kerena first heard the rumors that Ferio had taken in a child from an orphanage, she had instinctively dismissed them as false.
Ferio’s discipline and self-control were legendary, even in the capital.
There were even widespread rumors that he made women sign written agreements before spending the night with them, just in case they later tried to blackmail him with a child.

And yet, this child…
This child bore the undeniable blood of House Voreoti.
A true-born Voreoti, possessing the black coloring that only the Black Beasts of the North carried. The one and only blood heir of Ferio.

‘What kind of woman could she have been…?!’
Kerena was well aware of her own beauty.
Confident in that fact, she had approached Ferio countless times, only to be met with cold rejection and utter indifference.

Eventually, she had chosen the most eligible nobleman among her suitors and married him, flaunting the match. But when she heard rumors of Ferio’s supposed bastard, and then laid eyes upon the undeniable proof, her vision burned red with uncontrollable jealousy.
Toward the woman who had given birth to this child.
Toward Ferio, who had taken that woman into his arms.

And toward the child who had received a tenderness from Ferio that Kerena herself had never once been granted.
“…Madam.”
“…”

“Countess Tedros.”
Kerena, lost in thoughts so wretched she could not even voice them aloud, belatedly snapped back to reality.
“I finished the ten rounds of walking practice, just as you instructed.”

“Did you? Was it not tiring?”
“No, it was fun.”
The child’s bright smile was so repulsive that Kerena wanted to spit in her face.

“Shall we end today’s lesson here, then?”
Yet she forcibly swallowed her disgust, concealing her true feelings with a composed smile.
Leonia curtsied politely, just as she had been taught.

For Kerena, this was the only moment when she could breathe—when the child bowed her head before her.
‘She’s doing it again.’
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As she lifted her head from her bow, Leonia sneered inwardly.
She had realized on the first day of lessons—chillingly so—that Kerena wore the most content expression in the world only when she had to lower her head in greeting.
The smile Kerena wore as she received the child’s bow was more revolting than a snake’s discarded skin.

But it didn’t matter.
Because after today, it would all be over.
She had been waiting for Ferio to return, eager to expose everything.

“You must always remember what I’ve told you.”
Kerena placed a hand on Leonia’s arm, looking at her with an expression of deep concern.
Leonia’s eyes widened at the sudden touch.

“One mistake from you, my lady, could become a burden to His Grace.”
Leonia thought to herself: Here we go again. Another one of her little suicide requests.
This woman simply couldn’t leave without making one final remark.

It was as if she would die if she didn’t get at least one last word in.
In some twisted way, Leonia almost admired her persistence.
“You are learning very well.”

“Thank you for your praise, Madam.”
“That is why you must understand your place.”
Leonia’s black eyes wavered.

“…My place?”
Not noticing, Kerena nodded slowly.
At that moment, a golden gleam flickered through the girl’s dark irises, and the air in the room turned ever so slightly cold—but Kerena failed to notice.

“You must always be grateful to His Grace for the life he has given you. Everything you have is thanks to him.”

If not for the Duke, you would be nothing.
“Even I was only able to meet you because of His Grace.”

If not for the Duke, I would be…
“That is why you must work even harder, so as not to be a burden to His Grace.”
“Countess Tedros.”

Leonia’s lips curled ever so slightly.
“I always keep your words in my heart.”
A small hand pressed against the lace of her white dress.

She could feel the rapid thumping of her heart beneath her palm.
“I always listen closely.”
“Thank you for understanding my sincerity.”

“So please—never come here again.”
“Yes, of course…”
Kerena had responded reflexively before suddenly stiffening.

Slowly, her body went rigid as she stared down at the young girl beneath her, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Leonia stood gracefully, just as she had been taught in etiquette lessons, a soft, amused smile playing on her lips.
“There’s no place in the Voreoti estate for someone who can’t even grasp their own position and yet dares to run their mouth.”

As Leonia turned, the hem of her dress swirled elegantly with her movement.
“I won’t be seeing you off. I’ll inform the servants in advance, so you may leave on your own.”
Leonia left the room without looking back, truly leaving Kerena behind.

Outside, Paavo and the maid Connie had been waiting for her.
“My lady!”
“Have you finished your lesson?”

Both Connie and Paavo greeted her with warm smiles.
But then, as they caught sight of Leonia’s eyes, both of them froze in place.
Her pitch-black pupils shimmered ominously with golden light.

“My lady, what happened?”
Paavo instinctively stepped forward, shielding Connie behind him. Unlike him, Connie was unaccustomed to the presence of a beast’s fangs.
Leonia’s chest rose and fell rapidly. She was still too agitated to catch her breath.

Only after she had calmed herself slightly did she finally speak.
“…Countess Tedros will be leaving on her own.”
Paavo immediately understood.

Leonia had unknowingly activated her beast’s fangs in a surge of anger.
And the cause of it was undoubtedly the woman still inside that room—Countess Tedros.
“I understand. May I carry you, my lady?”

Paavo knelt on one knee and # Nоvеlight # asked with the utmost courtesy. Without hesitation, Leonia stretched out her arms, allowing herself to be lifted into his embrace.
The golden glow still faintly flickered in her eyes, and the air around her was ice-cold.
But Paavo didn’t let it show, maintaining his usual friendly smile.

Fortunately, he had encountered Ferio’s fangs a few times before, so Leonia’s were still tame enough for him to endure.
“I want to go for a walk.”
“Are you feeling stifled?”

Leonia gave a silent nod.
“I-I’ll go fetch your coat right away!”
Sensing something was off, Connie hurried away.

While she was gone, Paavo carried Leonia down to the main hall on the first floor.
Right as they arrived, Connie returned with a thick winter cloak and fur-lined boots.
‘She’s coming back.’

Paavo exhaled, relieved.
The golden hue in Leonia’s eyes was fading, her gaze darkening once more.
Now that the initial burst of emotion had settled, her mind, too, was calming. Even Connie, who had been intimidated by the oppressive energy moments ago, had regained her composure enough to help dress Leonia for the cold.

‘If she had lost control completely…’
Just imagining it made Paavo shudder.
And then—

“W-wait a moment!”
Kerena came rushing down the stairs, her voice ringing through the hall.