I Became the Male Lead's Adopted Daughter-Chapter 86

The Duke of Voreoti, perfect in appearance, wore a wristwatch for the first time in his life.

It was almost a waste of words to describe how stunning he looked.

One could easily predict that right after the banquet, a flood of people would be scrambling to find out what that watch was.

So everything had to be prepared quickly.

Starting from acquiring the patent rights for the watch strap, to recruiting skilled technicians for in-house production, to securing sales outlets—there was a lot to do.

And Leonia compressed all of that into a single word.

“Urbespe Guild!”

The Duke of Voreoti was the hidden true owner of the western Urbespe Guild.

And overseeing it was the Urmariti family of the North, a direct branch tied to the Guild.

The muscular old man in front of her was the head of House Urmariti.

“So the Count is helping?”

Leonia asked.

“Hoho...!”

Count Urmariti let out a breathy exclamation.

To think she figured all that out from that single, short and arrogant remark from Ferio just moments ago.

He’d heard the rumors that she was sharp.

But he hadn’t expected this much.

‘She’s not just clever—she’s truly exceptional.’

Count Urmariti saw in Leonia a reflection of what Ferio had been like as a child.

It seemed the two shared more than just facial features—they shared extraordinary talent as well.

The Count barely managed to calm his startled heart before offering a more detailed explanation.

“That’s right. The Urbespe Guild, which is connected to our family, will be involved in the production, distribution, and sales of the watches.”

“You must be terribly busy.”

“Viscount Ricoss and I are on the verge of death.”

The Count chuckled as he joked.

“Anyone hearing this would think I’m some kind of tyrant boss.”

Ferio sneered dryly.

“But you are...”

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Viscount Lupe Ricoss, who had been quietly listening in from behind, pouted.

His loyalty had taken a slight hit recently after a pay cut.

Of course, Ferio couldn’t have cared less.

“Daddy, can I open the box now?”

Leonia, growing bored with the adults’ conversation, eagerly opened the lid of the velvet box.

“Tada!”

Inside was a small, round wristwatch. Noticeably smaller than the pocket watches sold in stores.

“A gift for Daddy!”

Leonia pushed the box toward Ferio.

Ferio stared fixedly at the watch inside the box, then slowly moved his hand.

Soon, the watch was taken out.

Ferio’s hand, lifting the watch, moved more slowly than usual.

The smooth, finely-crafted golden exterior caught his eye first.

The subtly engraved, elegant patterns only enhanced the piece’s refinement.

Next came the interior.

Unlike typical watches, the winding mechanism was fully visible.

At the end were delicately adorned numbers indicating the time, with a thin black hand ticking away diligently.

Attached above and below was a black leather strap meant to wrap around the wrist.

That strap was made from leather hand-cut by Lady Hieina herself.

“Daddy, give me your hand.”

Leonia fastened the watch onto Ferio’s wrist herself.

“I got the strap idea from a belt.”

It had holes like a waistband, with a clasp that adjusted to wrist size.

Cool metal rested on skin where veins faintly rose beneath the surface.

The black leather strap wrapped gently around his thick wrist.

Everyone held their breath.

“My word...!”

Lupe, who had been watching, exclaimed in awe.

“Young Miss, you’re amazing! This is way more impressive than I imagined!”

“Ahem!”

Leonia placed her hands on her hips and lifted her chin proudly.

“Isn’t it stylish? Isn’t it cool?”

“The Duke must be thrilled too!”

Praising her as if she were his own daughter, Lupe beamed.

“Daddy, what do you think?”

Leonia asked, trying hard to hide her pounding heart.

“...It’s fine, I guess.”

A blunt voice replied.

Not getting the answer she wanted, the baby beast let out a sulky growl.

Ferio gently ran his fingers over the watch on his wrist.

“It’s passable.”

Passable indeed.

So well-made that just looking at it was satisfying enough.

To Ferio, the watch was a treasure.

Because it was a gift from Leonia.

Ferio touched the watch with his fingers.

His fingertips brushed over the golden body and black leather strap encircling his wrist.

As he traced the engraved patterns with his fingers, the movement resembled someone gently petting a cat.

A simple motion—yet it exuded such an enchanting aura that anyone watching might get dizzy.

“......”

Leonia, who had unconsciously been staring with her mouth open, snapped out of it just in time.

‘He’s my dad! My dad!’

She scolded her own soul, which had nearly been led astray, and wiped away a bit of drool she hadn’t noticed.

“It seems the Duke is pleased.”

Count Urmariti translated Ferio’s reaction.

“I’m not that pleased.”

Ferio grumbled, pretending not to care.

But then, in a much more serious tone, he added,

“It’s good enough to be a family heirloom.”

Lupe, Tra, and Count Urmariti let out a collective silent gasp.

Ferio didn’t even seem inclined to hide the fact that he’d become a complete fool for his daughter.

Then again, he wasn’t wrong.

“That’s a perfectly reasonable sentiment.”

Even Lupe, who fancied himself the voice of reason, agreed.

Count Urmariti also nodded.

“I’ll make sure to inform the kitchen to prepare something special for dinner.”

Tra quietly clenched his fist.

The birth of a new heirloom for House Voreoti was certainly worth celebrating.

“You fools...”

Leonia looked at the three men with a mixture of pity and disbelief.

“You’re really calling that a family heirloom?”

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Still, clearly in a good mood, she twisted her body bashfully and shouted with mock irritation.

“Honestly, Daddy, you’re the silliest of all. Making such a big deal about it. Hmph. If you weren’t so annoyingly cute, I’d actually be mad. I’ll give you a kiss later!”

After grumbling for a bit, Leonia finally broke into a bashful giggle.

She clutched her cheeks with both hands and bounced on her feet.

She was so glad her daddy liked the watch.

Sales and all that didn’t matter—in Leonia’s heart, that was what truly counted.

Thanks to that, the watch was now set to become a collaborative product between House Voreoti, House Urmariti, and the Urbespe Guild.

“Then what do I do?”

“You accept the money I earn on your behalf?”

In other words, she didn’t need to do anything.

In truth, Ferio intended to funnel all the profits from the business under Leonia’s name.

“Daddy, I love you!”

As expected, the baby beast was overwhelmed with emotion.

“But eventually, I’ll have you take over this business.”

It was one of the responsibilities Ferio had in mind for her when it came time for heir training.

In that sense, this watch had come at the perfect time.

“Well then, I should be going.”

Count Urmariti stood, holding a mountain of paperwork in his arms.

They were tasks to be handled right after tomorrow’s banquet.

“Please don’t overdo it, Count.”

Seeing him off, Leonia said with concern.

Count Urmariti simply responded with a warm smile.

“It was an absolute pleasure to meet you today, Young Miss.”

“Me too!”

“Next time, please visit our manor as well. I’ll prepare treats far tastier than fluffy cloud cream puffs.”

“Okay!”

Leonia replied cheerfully.

After Count Urmariti departed, Leonia walked lightly down the hallway, hand in hand with Ferio.

“Count Urmariti seems like a nice grandpa.”

“He’s not a bad person.”

“You seem to like him too.”

“Not really.”

Though Ferio added that it didn’t mean he disliked him either.

Leonia smiled silently.

That was Ferio’s own way of saying he trusted and respected the man deeply.

By now, the baby beast could read her daddy beast like an open book—it was easier than ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) eating cream puffs lying down.

‘Though if I tried that, I’d probably spill them everywhere.’

She was lost in such idle thoughts when—

“Leo.”

Her small body suddenly floated off the ground. In no time, Daddy’s face was right in front of hers.

“What is it?”

Leonia, unfazed, wrapped her arms around his neck with a bright smile.

Ferio picking her up like this was nothing new anymore.

It didn’t surprise her at all.

‘Come to think of it, is there anything that can surprise me anymore?’

The passing curiosity was light.

‘Probably not.’

Leonia snorted through her nose.

Just falling into a storybook world had drained her lifetime quota of surprises.

“Did you like Count Urmariti?”

Ferio patted her back a couple of times as he asked.

“Yeah. He seems like a good person.”

“......”

“Is he not?”

Leonia looked puzzled. She hadn’t gotten any bad vibes.

And ever since her Fangs of the Beast awakened, her instincts were sharper than ever.

“No, he’s not bad.”

Ferio continued.

“Anyway, that’s good.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s your maternal grandfather.”

Leonia’s eyes and nostrils flared wide open.

Her eyeballs practically bulged, and her nostrils flared as if desperate for oxygen.

For a brief moment.

She finally let out a long breath.

Her bangs fluttered with it.

“Daddy, are you... really... really...”

She struggled to find the right words for a while before finally letting one sentence out.

“...do you just have no concept of timing?”

Her head throbbed.

“Other families would be dying to hide something like this!”

Granted, hiding it wasn’t necessarily the best course either.

But still—right before the imperial banquet, right after just meeting Count Urmariti... did he really have to say it now?

“That’s why I’ve kept it a secret until now.”

Ferio was unapologetically calm.

“You said you didn’t have any relatives!”

“I don’t.”

“But the Count is technically your brother-in-law!”

Leonia growled in a hushed voice, afraid someone might overhear.

“My sister-in-law passed away, and he remarried. That makes him a stranger.”

Apparently, even the children in his current household were only half-siblings to Regina.

There was no malice in Ferio’s voice as he spoke of his former brother-in-law like a stranger.

“...Ugh.”

What am I even expecting from my dad?

“Just live a long, healthy life, will you?”

Suddenly feeling overwhelmed with filial piety, Leonia wrapped her arms tightly around Ferio’s neck.