I Became the Male Lead's Adopted Daughter-Chapter 182

"Um, Miss."

Varia, who had calmed down somewhat, called out to Leonia.

"If it's alright... may I ask you for a favor?"

"Do you want to change rooms? Next to mine?"

"If anything is making you uncomfortable, Lady Varia, I can..."

Kara looked concerned, but Varia quickly shook her head.

"It’s just... your birth mother..."

Varia spoke carefully.

Her voice was softer and slower than ever, but Leonia understood everything.

So did Kara.

She knows the young lady’s secret...!

Kara was truly shocked.

Leonia’s origin was the most closely guarded secret in House Voreoti.

That Varia knew meant that the Duke and Leonia had told her together.

It also meant they trusted her deeply.

"I’d like to meet her. Just once."

Varia said.

"Why?"

"If... if I end up with His Grace..."

Varia trailed off.

She was too embarrassed to say words like "marriage" or "wife" out loud.

She hadn’t even responded to Ferio’s confession yet.

But Varia already knew.

That answer would come soon, and she would marry Ferio.

"I would be daring to become your mother, after all."

So she wanted to visit Leonia’s birth mother, to reaffirm her resolve.

"...Oh, really."

Leonia’s chest tightened at Varia’s sincerity.

"It’s rare to find someone this kind."

The child reached out and gently stroked Varia’s cheek.

It meant she was thankful and happy—just for that heart alone.

Standing nearby, Kara sniffled and removed his glasses. The butler quietly dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief.

"I’ll really be a good daughter to you, Big Sis."

"You don’t have to."

The two embraced warmly.

"...But you’re not doing that for His Grace?"

"I do enough for Dad."

Leonia grinned mischievously, saying her teasing was already a form of filial piety.

***

After arriving in the North, Varia had been full of joy for a while.

And the Beast and his daughter were even more delighted.

"You... you really didn’t have to do all this..."

Varia muttered, surrounded by piles of clothes, shoes, and accessories gifted to her by the beastly father and daughter.

At first, she felt guilty receiving so much, but now she could only marvel at their distorted sense of money.

"Big Sis, do you like cash?"

"Shall we give you cash instead?"

The beast duo’s bizarre money logic kicked in again.

"...No, thank you."

Varia flatly refused.

Cash felt even more burdensome than things. And those two could literally fill an entire room with money if they wanted.

If they did, she’d surely faint buried under mountains of cash.

The gifts were soon tidied away by maids—maids Ferio had personally assigned to Varia.

"My lady, may I place this here?"

"I-I’m not a lady yet..."

"Then shall we call you ‘future lady’?"

"‘Future lady’ is still a little..."

The maids attended to Varia with utmost care.

But Varia found their eagerness a little overwhelming.

"Big Sis, at this rate you’ll be married before you even start dating Dad."

Leonia finally said it.

"If you date him, you get to hold hands and kiss."

She even detailed it vividly with both hands.

Thanks to remembering the original work, Leonia knew just how intense Ferio’s kisses could be.

They made your knees wobble and your vision blur.

"Adults do it all even if they’re not dating."

Ferio interjected.

"Dad, that’s..."

Leonia was about to scold him for saying that in front of a woman he liked—but then froze.

"...Huh?"

Her dark eyes shook.

She looked back and forth between Ferio and Varia in disbelief.

Ferio looked at Varia proudly. Varia had buried her head low again.

"I-I’m sorry..."

Maybe she just couldn’t lie—her entire body gave it away.

"This can’t be happening..."

Leonia staggered backward, then ran off.

"Everyone in the house!"

She ran around yelling, shouting out the shocking news.

"Dad and Big Sis kissed! And they held hands too!"

"L-Lady!"

Varia, flustered, tried to stop her—but Ferio held her back.

"Leave her."

"B-but...!"

"It’s not wrong."

It was going to be public knowledge soon anyway, Ferio said nonchalantly.

"Dad!"

Leonia came rushing back. Her shoes squeaked as she skidded to a halt.

"When did you kiss?!"

"At the Southern villa."

"What time?!"

"While you were asleep."

"Was it just a kiss?"

"Your father knows how to keep the «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» line."

"Aww."

Disappointed, Leonia dashed off again, shouting to everyone:

"Dad and Big Sis kissed at the Southern villa while I was sleeping!"

Hearing her new announcement, Ferio smiled contentedly.

"Now I finally feel at peace."

"Ugh..."

"Do you dislike it?"

"Your Grace, really...!"

Varia hid her burning face behind both hands. Ferio gazed at her as though even that was adorable.

Then Leonia shouted again—

"But they didn’t cross the line! Maybe Dad’s impotent!"

At that, Ferio jumped to his feet.

"Uh, uh..."

Varia glanced rapidly between Ferio and the door.

Then stopped herself from accidentally letting her eyes drop lower.

"...You’re not, right?"

But she couldn’t help asking.

"You’ll find out soon enough."

"You don’t have to tell me!"

Varia blushed even redder.

"You’ll like it when you do."

"T-that may be true, but still..."

Before she could protest further, Ferio had already closed the distance between them.

"Then we’re officially dating now?"

Varia nodded hesitantly.

"I’d appreciate it if you said it out loud."

Ferio, for once, pressed her.

"That’s so unfair."

Varia thought it was low to corner her like this.

"You already know."

Outside, Leonia was literally singing that the two had kissed.

Really singing.

And Ferio looked like he might devour her on the spot.

His arms were spread wide, blocking any path of escape.

"But you still haven’t answered my confession."

"Now I know why your daughter is so shameless!"

"Well, she is my daughter..."

Just as Ferio parted his lips to brag—

Smooch.

Something soft and moist silenced him.

"Now she’ll be my daughter too."

Not just yours anymore, Varia murmured with a scarlet face.

"I-I’m not the kind of girl to kiss someone I’m not even dating..."

"..."

"Then, I’ll be going now."

Varia politely bowed her head, then ducked down to crawl out from under Ferio’s arms.

"Kyah!"

But she didn’t make it far.

Ferio picked her up like a sack and slung her over his shoulder.

His arms, though strong, were careful and secure.

Suddenly lifted high, Varia instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Your Grace!"

She cried to be let down.

The staff who had been going about their work froze with their mouths open.

On this peaceful summer day...

They were stunned to see their master striding away with the future lady tossed over his shoulder.

Some of the maids blushed as if they were Varia.

"Leo!"

Right before entering the room, Ferio called out.

Leonia happened to be nearby, performing a weird dance for her escort knights while talking about kisses.

"Wha—what the heck!"

Her eyes widened in shock.

The knights behind her were the same. Manus staggered in place, and Probo grunted as he helped him up.

"Dad, what’s going on?!"

"Dad’s going to be busy now."

"Wh-why?!"

Leonia stammered.

"Here."

Instead of answering, Ferio tossed something to her from his pocket.

"What is it?"

Leonia caught it with one hand and opened her palm.

"The office key."

Just as he said, it was the key to his study.

"You’re acting Duke for a while."

"Huh?"

"For anything urgent, ask Lupe."

"W-wait, Dad!"

Leonia looked back and forth between the key, Ferio, and Varia. Then demanded an explanation.

"Why are you carrying Big Sis like that?"

"Big Sis, my foot."

Ferio replied hurriedly.

"Call her Mom from now on."

The knights’ jaws dropped.

So did Leonia’s.

In fact, the one most shocked was the little beast herself.

"B-Big Sis! Varia!"

She called out. Varia was limp, like jelly.

Just in case, Leonia placed a hand under her nose.

Thankfully, she was still breathing.

"Big Sis, what’s going on?"

"Well..."

A weak voice managed to escape.

Leonia furrowed her brows.

"Did you agree to this? Is this what you want? Dad didn’t just grab you without asking first, right?"

That question barely held Ferio’s reason in place.

"Varia, let’s settle this now."

Finally, Ferio asked.

Leonia stared at him with disdain.

Clearly, he hadn’t even asked for permission before hauling her off.

But the child quickly realized now wasn’t the time to step in.

"If you don’t want this, I’ll put you down and apologize sincerely."

But if she accepted...

"...Then be prepared."

At that, Varia buried her face into Ferio’s back.

His summer shirt was thin, and she could feel his shoulder muscle directly against her cheek.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for her reply.

"You don’t have to apologize..."

Varia said.

"You said you’d prove you’re not impotent, right?"

Her teary voice cut off there.

Because Ferio, gritting his teeth, strode off in haste.

"..."

Leonia watched blankly as the two disappeared from view, then belatedly shouted:

"It’s the wedding night!"

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l