I Became the Male Lead's Adopted Daughter-Chapter 82

''M-Miss...''

Probo was on the verge of tears. In his hand was a horse’s rein he had been forced to hold against his will.

''I’m really going to die later when Master finds out. This isn’t an authorized outing, is it?''

''That’s why I blackmailed you, oppa.''

''This is too much, seriously!''

But Leonia didn’t even scoff.

''Well, who told you to sneak rum?''

''‘Sneak’?''

Where had she learned such vulgar slang? Probo broke out in a cold sweat.

''You should just say you stole it while you’re at it.''

If Ferio had heard that word, he would’ve clutched the back of his neck and frozen up again. And Probo hadn’t even stolen the rum.

''See! You did steal it!''

''I didn’t steal it! I got permission from the head chef!''

It was one of the bottles they kept for cooking.

He had gotten it to enjoy with the other knights after his shift. Even the cooking rum in House Voreoti was top-tier.

And Probo, swayed by temptation, had taken a tiny sip during his shift.

That’s when Leonia had caught him by sheer coincidence.

''This oppa is such a scaredy-cat—why’d you do something like that?''

''Please don’t tell the Master...''

Probo pleaded.

''Then let me down.''

Having safely arrived at the designated location by means of blackmail, Leonia let out a deep breath.

She had tried to sort her thoughts along the way, but her head still felt dizzy.

''Who are you meeting?''

Probo asked as he looked around for a place to tie up the horse.

The place Leonia said she wanted to go to was a quiet café.

Probo knew of it as well.

It was perfect for having important conversations, since it had private rooms.

''Lady Hieina.''

''Ah, Lady Hiein— wait, what?!''

Probo was so shocked that he raised his voice.

Even the horse, startled by the outburst, snorted loudly and pawed the ground in agitation.

''M-Miss, please wait!''

While Probo was trying to calm the horse down, Leonia entered the building alone.

The room number written in the letter wasn’t hard to find.

Knock, knock.

''Lady, it’s me.''

The door opened cautiously. A pair of silver eyes blinked at her through the crack.

It was Lady Hieina.

''D-Did you come alone?''

It was the first time Leonia had heard her voice. It was extremely timid.

Leonia was rather surprised.

She didn’t seem like someone who would stalk people.

''It’s not my place to say, but... coming alone isn’t a good idea.''

Lady Hieina said softly. Leonia agreed with that.

''There’s a knight downstairs right now.''

Just like she said, footsteps climbing the stairs grew louder.

A completely drained Probo appeared, and when he saw Lady Hieina, he immediately tensed up again.

Lady Hieina’s hand on the door gripped tighter.

Only Leonia remained completely calm.

***

The private room inside the café was very cramped.

A table and two chairs. And the chairs were so low that when Leonia sat down, the tabletop was at eye level.

The baby beast flushed with embarrassment.

Eventually, Probo had to borrow three cushions from the café owner.

Only then could Leonia meet Lady Hieina’s gaze at eye level.

''T-The knight...''

Lady Hieina asked hesitantly, glancing at the firmly shut door.

Probo was standing outside.

He had insisted on staying in the room, but Leonia had firmly refused.

''What’s important right now is what we talk about.''

''Even so...''

''If you try anything weird...''

Tap, tap — Leonia pointed to her own canine tooth.

She meant that if anything happened, she’d immediately use the Fangs of the Beast to stab through.

Lady Hieina, understanding the meaning, quickly nodded.

‘What a bizarre meeting.’

Leonia couldn’t help but smile faintly at the absurdity of it all.

A stalker and her victim.

''Just to be clear.''

She had to set clear terms for the conversation.

''I have no intention of forgiving what you did to my dad.''

''......''

''Or the fact that you spied on me recently.''

Even though she had witnessed the pitiful state of House Hieina, Leonia had absolutely no intention of letting Lady Hieina off the hook out of sympathy.

''......''

Lady Hieina lowered her head deeply.

‘So she knows what she did wrong.’

Thanks ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) to the heightened senses of the Fangs of the Beast, Leonia could read her reaction well.

It was a relief to see signs of remorse.

If not, she would’ve immediately tattled to her dad.

''I’m really sorry...''

Lady Hieina bowed her head in apology.

Leonia quietly watched her. The apology felt sincere.

It didn’t seem like communication would be impossible.

''I have no excuses. I clearly caused trouble for the Duke and for you, Lady Leonia.''

''Yes, you did.''

''......''

Lady Hieina shut her mouth out of guilt.

The lack of conversation quickly led to an awkward silence.

Neither side could find the right words to say.

''The truth is...''

Unable to take it anymore, Leonia coughed and broke the silence.

She was the only one in the room who could speak without hesitation.

And she had a purpose for being here.

''There’s something I’d like to ask of you.''

''Yes. That’s why you sent me a letter, isn’t it?''

Lady Hieina bit her lip hard.

Though hidden under the table, Leonia noticed her clenched fists.

She was clearly nervous.

''It’s this.''

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Leonia rummaged through her pocket and pulled something out.

Wrapped carefully in a handkerchief was a small watch and a piece of paper.

When she unfolded the paper, it revealed a design for straps to attach to both ends of the watch.

''Do you think you could make this for me?''

Leonia pushed the paper across the table.

Lady Hieina flinched. Her surprise was obvious.

''U-Um, what is this?''

''It’s a request.''

''But I...!''

This wasn’t what Lady Hieina had expected.

She had assumed they were going to talk about the shameful things that had happened at her estate a few days ago.

''Lady Hieina.''

Leonia crossed her arms leisurely and spoke flatly.

''Do you truly believe that you’re worthless?''

''......!''

Lady Hieina’s face turned deathly pale. Her already-bitten lips lost all color.

''From what I can see, you’re not.''

Leonia had no intention of siding with a stalker.

She’d have to be out of her mind to do that.

She’d rather give cookie crumbs to the orphanage teachers.

Still, it was true that Lady Hieina wasn’t someone who deserved to be called ‘worthless’.

''At the very least, I think the guts you had to admire my dad were incredible.''

It wasn’t something a person without real determination and persistence could do.

Using that determination for stalking was the problem, but Leonia had to admit — the drive itself was real.

Receiving that unexpected compliment, Lady Hieina’s face flushed bright red.

''Or did you just want to mess with my dad on purpose?''

She had been about to admire that kind of boldness too when—

''No.''

Lady Hieina quickly answered. Her serious gaze held firm.

''My feelings were real.''

But then she flinched and lowered her head.

Leonia stared sharply at her.

As she suspected, this was someone with severely low self-confidence.

''Y-You might not believe me, but I truly respect and admire the Duke.''

''Why?''

Leonia asked.

''What about him? His face? His money? It’s the money, isn’t it?''

Lady Hieina shook her head firmly.

''As you already know...''

Then she cautiously opened up her heart.

''I’ve always been slower than others. I caused my family constant worry. There’s nothing I’m particularly good at. I couldn’t live up to expectations.''

To make things worse, her younger brother, born after her, was talented in everything despite being much younger.

Naturally, her parents’ attention and hopes shifted to him.

''I wasn’t good at making friends either. I always felt left out.''

Her voice was calm, but the story was drenched in gloom.

Leonia regretted it.

‘Ugh, I shouldn’t have asked.’

All she got from that question was a big dose of pity.

She had expected Lady Hieina’s home life to be rough, but she hadn’t thought it would be this bad.

It was practically full-on depression.

‘That still doesn’t erase her crimes, though.’

Leonia snapped herself out of it.

The stalker in front of her was someone who sent ten letters a day and called Ufikla, who was much younger, ‘pathetic’.

Barely reining in her emotions, Leonia focused again.

Lady Hieina began to explain what had made her fall for Ferio.

''The Duke is amazing.''

Her voice rose with excitement. Her expression clearly brightened.

''So many nobles fear him and gossip behind his back. But the Duke has never once wavered. He doesn’t care about what others say—he doesn’t even listen!''

Leonia’s brow twitched.

''That last part was an insult, you know...?''

''That’s what I fell for.''

''Onnie, are you even listening to me?''

Leonia called again.

But Lady Hieina was already lost in her own little world.

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‘So this is what makes stalkers so scary...’

Leonia finally slammed the table.

Only then did Lady Hieina snap out of it. Even the teacups on the table rattled.

The untouched tea inside them trembled.

Once the silence settled again, Leonia spoke.

''I’ve heard your story.''

At some point, she had begun calling Lady Hieina ‘onnie’ naturally.

''And I understand.''

It was a situation heartbreaking enough to forgive almost anything.

But the clever little beast didn’t let her emotions sway her.

She nearly did—but held firm.

''I won’t go so far as to forgive, but... there’s room for leniency.''

Leonia returned to the main point.

''So I’ll give you a chance.''

She held out the paper from earlier once again.

''Can you do this?''