I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter

“I know Olor.”

Leonia, who had been staring out the window at the blue horizon, turned her head and spoke.
The Voreoti father and daughter were on a seaside outing, just the two of them in a carriage.
The carriage was borrowed from House Rinne. The Voreoti carriages were too large and too black—they stood out too much.

Their destination was a small private beach owned by House Rinne.
Since it was private property, there were no intruders, and it even had a cozy villa.
On the way to the beach, Ferio told Leonia in detail about everything that had happened.

“Professor Ardea said so. That he’s trash who’s polluting the South.”
“Well, it’s not wrong, but Ardea actually said something like that to you?”
Ferio’s eyebrow twitched in irritation.

Lately, Leonia’s language had been getting harsher, and if it turned out that Ardea was the reason, he was going to have some serious words with him.
“So, the reason you’ve been so busy is because of Olor?”
“If it were just Olor, that’d be a relief...”

Ferio let out a quiet, annoyed sigh.
Just then, the carriage came to a stop.
Ferio got off first and lifted Leonia down in his arms.

As she lightly set her feet on the ground, Leonia took a deep breath of the salty air.
“Dad, look at that.”
Leonia pointed up at the sky.

Seagulls were flying in flocks above the sea, crying out with high-pitched squawks.
The moment they sensed human presence on the quiet beach, the seagulls flew even higher, wary of their surroundings.
“I wanna throw shrimp crackers to them.”
“Shrimp?”

“There’s a kind... shrimp snacks…”
Leonia trailed off vaguely as she stepped lightly across the sandy shore.
“But after hearing what you said, it doesn’t really seem like I have to go to the West after all.”

The sea breeze fluttered her pure white dress.
Her hair had been braided into twin pigtails by the maids for easier movement, making her look lively and full of spirit.
“You were really worried about me, huh?”

Leonia grinned mischievously, almost smugly.
“...There’s always that one-in-a-million chance.”
That practically nonexistent “one-in-a-million.”

He had considered the worst-case scenario—that some desperate scum might try to harm Leonia—and sent her away to the West for her safety.
Ferio placed a wide-brimmed hat made of woven reeds on Leonia’s head.
Just like Leonia’s casual outfit, Ferio was also dressed more lightly than usual.

A loose white shirt that revealed his collarbones, black trousers, and brown leather sandals that showed his toes.
On top of that, his bangs weren’t even combed down, adding to the decadent charm of a wandering young man.
If Leonia weren’t standing next to him, and if he hadn’t been fussing over her with such care, no one would’ve guessed he was a father.

'I thought it before when he wore that tunic...'
Leonia recalled the time she saw Ferio wearing a white tunic.
'Every time Dad wears white, he looks so... indecent.'

Most people looked pure and clean in white, but Ferio gave off the complete opposite vibe.
Leonia found that incredibly unfortunate.
If Ferio weren’t her father, she would’ve been just as thrilled about him as everyone else.

To Leonia, Ferio no longer felt like the male lead of a novel—he felt far more like family now.
Worse than a painting she couldn’t reach.
'That’s why I have to protect Dad!'

Having a father who was too perfect was exhausting in its own way.
She worried that unnecessary pests might start clinging to him again, just like with Lady Kerena Mereoqa.
Leonia kept a close eye on their surroundings on the deserted beach.

“Don’t mess around.”
To Ferio, who had no idea what she was thinking, it just looked like Leonia was playing.
“I’m not messing around! I’m protecting!”

“Protecting what?”
“I’m protecting you, Dad!”
Leonia answered proudly.

'…Is this some kind of make-believe?'
He remembered reading in a parenting book once that young children often immerse themselves in imaginary games.
It said they invent all kinds of scenarios and act them out in their own way.

'A kid is still just a kid.'
Ferio felt a huge wave of relief.
This translation is the intellectual property of .

He had feared the worst, but never imagined Leonia would actually engage in that sort of childlike play.
Clearly, the right way to nurture a child’s innocence was not to force it—but to let it grow naturally.

“Let’s go.”
Scooping the child up in his arms, Ferio stepped into the villa.
Leonia, slung over his shoulder like a sack, burst into laughter.

As soon as they entered, they were greeted by the smell of delicious food. Thanks to the servants from the Rinne estate who had arrived ahead of them, everything had been thoroughly prepared.
Leonia sniffed the air, gulping down her saliva. At the same time, her stomach gave a loud growl.
“I thought the ground was going to cave in.”

Ferio teased as he picked up the lunch basket.
“The ground won’t cave in over this, okay?”
Leonia, embarrassed, pouted and followed behind him.

While the father and daughter briefly entered the villa, a large sunshade was set up in the middle of the beach.
Leonia climbed onto the wide picnic mat and was instantly captivated by the scenery before her.
The rhythmic crashing of the waves.

The loud squawks of seagulls.
And a delicious lunch on top of it all.
She took a big bite of a shrimp-packed sandwich and squeezed her eyes shut in bliss.

Her head bobbed with happiness.
“This must be heaven...”
“What a cheap version of heaven.”

“Hmph, you’re smiling right now too!”
“I’m smiling because you look ridiculous.”
“What did I even do this time?!”

“You’ve got shrimp on your face already.”
Even so, Ferio gently wiped the shrimp off her lips himself, a rare smile softening his features.
This moment of simply gazing out at the sea with Leonia and catching his breath felt incredibly peaceful.

Especially watching Leonia eat so heartily—it was a sight he loved.
Her puffed-up cheeks and the way she chewed and swallowed like a squirrel were strangely addictive.
It felt like encountering a squirrel in the forest, cheeks stuffed with acorns.

“Mm-mm-mm...”
Leonia mumbled something with her mouth full, her cheeks round like a squirrel hoarding nuts.
“Swallow first, then speak.”

Ferio, not understanding a word, poured °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° her a glass of grape juice and handed it over.
“So now we go home?”
Leonia asked after downing the glass in one go, like she was drinking wine.

The bad people secretly trafficking magical beasts had been caught, so there was no more reason to stay in the West.
Leonia missed the North.
“I want to go home.”

The North was her real home now.
Ferio silently brushed her bangs aside.
His large, thick fingers messed up her neatly parted fringe.

“But it’d be hard, right?”
Leonia glanced up at him. Her tiny toes fidgeted on the mat.
From the way Ferio explained things, there were still unresolved issues hidden throughout the situation.

Realizing that, Leonia couldn’t stubbornly insist on returning to the North.
And truthfully, she didn’t intend to.
“...Yeah.”

Ferio softly patted her head, conflicted emotions in his gaze.
His daughter, who had picked up on everything, made him feel proud and touched—but also guilty, knowing she was holding back her own wishes for his sake.
Ferio’s hunt was not yet over.

“We’re going to the capital.”
***
“I’ve contacted the capital estate.”

The next day.
Lupe, with dark circles so heavy they looked bruised, gave his report in a pale, drained voice.
“I informed them you’ll arrive in a week. The steward said that would be fine.”

But the one giving the report looked anything but fine.
Having returned late after wrapping up matters in the North, Lupe was so exhausted that it wouldn’t have been surprising if he collapsed on the spot.
“...Are you okay, Mister?”

Leonia was so alarmed by how terrible he looked that she told him to lean on her if he needed.
She even wiggled her shoulder, urging him not to hold back.
“I’m fine…”

Lupe gave a strained smile of gratitude.
“Dad, seriously! Stop working Mr. Lupe like that! He’s going to die!”
“That’s not because of me.”

“You’re his boss, aren’t you?!”
“I’m fine, young lady.”
Lupe coughed and took a shallow breath.

Leonia felt a pang of sympathy for him as he forced a smile.
Having the wrong boss and suffering because of it—it reminded her all too much of her past, and a strange sense of kinship rose up.
“Once this job’s over, I’ll get triple pay and a whole month off.”

That’s why he was overworking himself now, Lupe said with a chuckle.
And judging from the way his eyes sparkled with clarity despite his haggard face, he clearly meant it.
“Such a sellout…”

Leonia brushed her shoulder off dramatically, along with any leftover sympathy.
“Humans are naturally sellouts.”
Lupe rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, flaunting the lure of money.

'Still… kinda jealous.'
Leonia honestly couldn’t blame him.
Triple pay and a whole month off?

She’d have volunteered for overtime too.
Not to mention, Lupe’s salary wasn’t exactly small.
Leonia recalled the figure she’d once heard—his annual income far surpassed that of a minor noble ruling over a small territory.

“And also…”
Lupe handed Ferio a small, folded note.
“…”

Ferio opened it and read it right there, but his expression didn’t change.
Only his eyes shifted, just for a brief moment—glancing at Leonia.
“What is it? A love letter?”

Leonia asked jokingly.
“Forget it. Let’s go.”
Ferio burned the note using his Fangs, then climbed into the carriage with Leonia.

As they left the Rinne estate and its ocean behind, they soon entered a lush forest path.
When Leonia asked if she could open the window, Ferio slightly opened it to let the breeze in.
True to the reputation of the West, the scenery was beautiful—lush greenery and clean air.

“It really feels like a picnic.”
“Don’t stick your head too far out the window.”
“Okay.”

As the carriage rolled along, Ferio reviewed the documents he brought.
Leonia alternated between watching her working dad and the passing landscape, humming a little tune she made up.
“A black beast family lives together~”

Mom and Dad and baby too, cuddled up close.
Wandering through the snowy white woods.
The beasts hop over the mountain range.

“Beyond the mountains…”
Just as she was singing happily, Leonia suddenly stopped.
Ferio, who had been quietly listening despite pretending not to, also looked up from his documents.

“Dad.”
At some point, the carriage had left the forest and entered Hesperi territory.
Despite being known as the sacred land of warriors, the Hesperi domain had a strangely peaceful atmosphere.

But Leonia’s Fangs were sharp—she instantly sensed something strange creeping closer.
“There’s something out there…”
The little baby beast with her fur on end clung tightly to her dad’s side.

She had felt this sensation once before.
It was just like when Ferio had hosted the tea party and she sensed the presence of Marquis Ortio behind the riding arena.