I Became the Male Lead's Adopted Daughter-Chapter 90

“It’s still cold at night.”

Ferio personally fastened the light cloak around her shoulders, letting it fall down to her chest.

It was a silk cloak made to match the dress.

Unlike its smooth outer surface, the lining was made of soft cotton, warm and gentle even against bare skin.

With practiced hands, Ferio tied the strings—tipped with fluffy puffs—into a neat ribbon.

“You being pretty isn’t anything new.”

A satisfied smile spread across his lips.

The tone of his compliment sounded as natural and absolute as declaring that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

“Saying it out loud is a waste of breath.”

His long fingers gently smoothed down the stray strands of her baby hairs.

“It suits you well.”

That gentle smile and heartfelt compliment cleansed Leonia’s rotten little soul.

“......”

Leonia quietly covered her face with both hands. Then she confessed.

“I’m trash.”

The sudden self-deprecation startled both Ferio and Lupe.

“I’m an ungrateful child.”

To think she had cracked such a lowbrow joke at a father who cherished and cared for her this much.

Leonia came to a genuine realization that she was an utterly rotten human being.

It was a bit of a late realization.

“And I’ll probably never change...”

The baby beast knew all too well how depraved she had become.

Which only made her feel more sorry.

***

Leonia departed for the Imperial Palace at the usual time she would have gone to bed.

If it weren’t for the bright moon and the scattered stars overhead, she wouldn’t have been able to see even a step ahead.

But darkness wasn’t all that unfamiliar. Leonia simply worried whether the carriage would travel smoothly.

Fortunately, the carriage was equipped with a magical device that allowed visibility even in the dead of night.

When the coachman tapped the device mounted above the carriage, a soft click sounded, and a white light illuminated the dark road ahead.

Inside the carriage, a small lamp cast a gentle glow.

“They’re calling me out at this hour?”

Leonia pouted, her lips sticking out.

The part of her that had been repenting earlier at the estate—calling herself trash—was nowhere to be found.

Now, the thoroughly spoiled baby beast carried herself with the confidence of someone who didn’t look back at all.

“If you get sleepy, say so.”

Seated beside her, Ferio lightly pressed one of her plump cheeks.

A little hissing pshh sound escaped as the air deflated from her pout.

Her lips returned to their usual shape.

“Okay.”

Leonia nodded. Though thanks to her earlier nap, she wasn’t that sleepy yet.

“Still, what an incredibly rude invitation.”

Lupe muttered as he stared out into the pitch-black night.

Even the emperor knew that Leonia was a child.

And yet she was invited to a banquet held at such a late hour? It was absurd and offensive.

And all because a mere imperial consort had begged to see her.

Even thinking about it again was ridiculous.

“It’s okay, Mister.”

Leonia put on a brave face, telling him not to worry too much.

“I’m going to cause such a scene that they’ll never dare invite me again!”

“Please, keep it within the bounds of the law.”

Lupe had no desire to witness House Voreoti produce a traitor within his lifetime.

He was already swamped just managing the family’s affairs. The last thing he needed was to risk his life covering for a rebel.

<But when it comes down to it... I probably would.>

Somewhere deep inside, Lupe already knew—if it came to that, he’d help her with everything he had.

And if Leonia became a traitor, Ferio would follow her without hesitation.

At this point, predicting the actions of the daughter-crazed duke had become much easier.

“...You’re having some pretty arrogant thoughts, aren’t you?”

Ferio, sensing a strange irritation in the air, glanced sideways at Lupe.

Lupe smiled politely and denied it, claiming he was only renewing his loyalty to Voreoti.

“Mister Lupe’s a hardcore noble now! Papa should trust you.”

“Trust has to be earned first.”

“Isn’t everything I’ve done so far enough?”

Lupe felt wronged. He’d handled countless responsibilities under Ferio.

In truth, Ferio hadn’t meant it seriously just now.

Among the possible successors to noble rank, there was no one more ideal than Lupe.

His competence and loyalty to Voreoti were unmatched.

And with the influential Marquis of Pardus as his family, he had everything in place.

But because he was the marquis’s son, the Imperial family and certain nobles viewed his succession as Viscount Ricoss with suspicion.

Last time at the palace, he’d smoothed things over by boldly confronting the emperor during the monster trafficking case.

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But this time, plenty of shady individuals were likely to stir up trouble over his succession.

<What an unpleasant place.>

Anywhere packed with people always reeked of hostility and malice.

Gathered in cliques, they’d find every reason to tear each other down—Lupe had always found that ugly human tendency uncomfortable.

Which was why he hated crowded places from the very beginning.

“Papa.”

Just then, Leonia pointed outside the window.

“I can’t see anything.”

Having only ever gone out during bright daytime hours, a night outing like this felt fresh.

The bustling daytime ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) atmosphere now felt like a lie. Only darkness and silence filled the world.

Even the sound of the carriage wheels echoed louder than usual.

She found the shadowy streets rather appealing.

Aside from the light from the magical device guiding the way, the only other sources were the occasional lamp posts.

Leonia had learned back in the North that those lamp-like things were also magic tools.

In this world, magic was akin to science as she knew it.

“The pitch-dark outside is just like the emperor’s future.”

Leonia said, letting the thought spill from her mouth.

“Smart little thing.”

Ferio smiled warmly.

“I always knew you had a talent for literature, but I didn’t think you’d move me like this.”

“Really? You were moved?”

“Immensely.”

He promised her a full bag of strawberry milk-flavored candy once they returned home.

And not just that—he’d also allow her to visit the knights’ training grounds during their drills.

“Yes!”

The baby beast roared.

She had shown such an interest in muscles that Ferio had prohibited her from visiting the training grounds without his supervision.

Even during Fang training, he had the knights clear the area—so Leonia rarely got to peek at those glorious muscles.

This was, in other words, a massive gift.

“Papa, I love you...!”

Her eyes welled up with heartfelt emotion.

“Is this okay?”

Lupe asked cautiously.

“The knights might be in for a shock.”

“It’s not me they’re dealing with, so whatever.”

“How can you speak like such a bystander...”

“You’re overreacting.”

Ferio was beginning to get annoyed.

“It’s not like Leonia’s going around groping them. She just sneaks glances and drools a little. What’s the big deal?”

“That is the big deal!”

“If we’re splitting hairs, I get harassed more than they do.”

Ferio retorted boldly.

He really was the biggest victim of his daughter’s bizarre preferences.

“You know why she always clings to my leg?”

Ferio lightly pressed his finger to Leonia’s temple.

“Because she loves you, obviously.”

A tiny daughter clinging to her big papa—Lupe always found the sight heartwarming.

But Ferio slowly shook his head.

“For thigh harassment.”

Whenever she clung to him, five times out of ten she’d jab at his quadriceps.

And that wasn’t all.

When he held her, she’d nestle her face into his pecs with a stupid grin, and after he showered, she’d smile like a perverted old man and give him a thumbs-up.

Horrified, Lupe turned to Leonia with a look of disbelief.

“Ehehe!”

Leonia winked awkwardly and stuck out her tongue, cupping her chin with her tiny hands.

“Young lady, please...!”

Lupe begged her sincerely.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

And yet, there wasn’t a more lovable pervert in the world.

“Keep this up and you’ll really be arrested.”

“I’m a kid, they won’t arrest me.”

“You’re far too clever...”

“Besides, I have boundaries.”

Leonia replied shamelessly.

She began listing her rules one by one, folding her fingers as she went.

“I only look at muscles. If I want to touch, I ask. And if they don’t like it, I don’t touch...”

Lupe finally groaned and cradled his head.

Watching him, Leonia leaned over and whispered to Ferio.

“Why’s Mister Lupe like that? Is he constipated?”

“He’s just worried about you in his own way.”

“He should really just give up.”

The baby beast had zero intention of changing.

“Anyway, I like that the ride isn’t boring! It’s fun!”

“Try feeling at least a little sorry.”

Ferio tapped the forehead of the one responsible for all of this.

But just as Leonia had said, the ride wasn’t boring for even a moment.

Only three years ago, he’d traveled this same road many times, but the carriage had always been a cold, suffocating place—only essential words were spoken.

For Ferio, the journey to the Imperial Palace had always been a trial to endure.

But now, he didn’t feel a hint of discomfort.

“Mister Lupe, wanna sing ‘Blue Sky Galaxy’ with me?”

“What’s that?”

“You have to hold hands like this...”

Leonia and Lupe were literally singing together while holding hands.

Ferio leaned against the window frame and quietly watched them.

“This... isn’t so bad.”

At that offhanded comment, Leonia paused.

“...So Mister Lupe is becoming my new dad?”

She asked, completely serious.

“......”

“......”

Ferio and Lupe both fell silent at once.

Then desperately avoided each other’s gaze.

If they so much as made eye contact now, they’d give the perverted brat more room for misunderstanding.

“You need to get married soon.”

Ferio finally snapped.

“It’s because you’re single and living alone that she’s confused like this.”

“Then you get married! Bring in a madam!”

“I’m busy raising a child.”

“I’m busy working!”

“Yoohoo, lovers’ quarrel!”

And right in the middle, the baby beast beamed innocently.

In the end, Ferio lightly smacked his daughter’s lips a few times to shut her up.

Just then, the darkness outside gradually began to fade.

The carriage started to slow down.

“Young lady, I think we’re here.”

Lupe pointed out the window. Never had the Imperial Palace been such a welcome sight.

At those words, Leonia opened the window and poked her head out.

Ferio, just in case, stretched out his arm behind her to keep her safe.

“Woooow...”

An innocent gasp escaped her lips.

“They really drenched the place in money.”