I Became the Male Lead's Adopted Daughter-Chapter 183

In accordance with the decision of the noble council, the heads of each region submitted the most recently issued maps to the Imperial Court.

The Eastern Region also submitted additional research data on Gates.

Using this information, the Imperial Court announced a plan to construct a new imperial road network to facilitate transportation and revitalize the economy.

Before launching the project, experts were dispatched to each region.

Their task was to verify the accuracy of the maps and begin concrete preparations.

“So this is the North, huh...”

Someone stepped down from a carriage that had just passed through the Gate.

He was such a large man that the carriage tilted slightly the moment he disembarked.

“Baron Onokenta.”

Someone who followed him called out to him.

“We never know when or where monsters might appear.”

At her words, Baron Onokenta, who had been curiously peering into the fir forest, scurried back to the carriage.

“A-Anyway, I don’t see a village anywhere.”

Embarrassed, the baron spoke without purpose.

They had traveled through the Western Region to reach the North, and next to them stretched a dense fir forest.

The Northern region was so cool that it barely felt like summer. Still, the green hue of the fir trees gave off a faint sense of the season.

When one followed the path lined with fir trees, the Northern mountain range—capped with eternal snow—rose majestically in the distance.

“Of course there aren’t any residences near the Gate.”

The last person to step down from the carriage glared at the other two with a look of disgust.

In truth, she looked as though she wanted nothing to do with them. She didn’t even approach, instead inspecting the carriage that had just passed through the Gate.

It was far more efficient to check the carriage than to stand with them.

“Isn’t it clearly regulated by law that a certain radius around the Gate must not be used for residential purposes, in order to prevent accidents?”

Les looked at the two of them as though they were pitiful.

“Even though you're Ministry of Land officials...”

The two from the Ministry of Land blushed in embarrassment and became angry.

“People might not know everything, you know!”

“You are a Ministry of Land official.”

Les rebuked, implying that this was basic knowledge.

“You really need to fix your attitude!”

The official clinging to Baron Onokenta shamelessly snapped back.

“If we’re going to travel together, we might as well get along. Why are you constantly nitpicking and arguing the whole way here? What’s wrong with you?”

“We’re not on a trip.”

Les felt a headache coming on.

“This is a business trip. The expenses for this aren’t some excuse to carry on an affair.”

“A-An affair?!”

The Ministry of Land official’s face turned bright red at those words.

Baron Onokenta just cleared his throat.

“Ehem! M-Must be because you're from the North.”

“Yeah, no wonder you're so irritable.”

“People need to learn to loosen up.”

“So savage, and so full of yourself—classic Northerner.”

Whatever those two pests were muttering, Les let it go in one ear and out the other.

“Come to think of it...”

Because Les had a secret weapon to get rid of these bugs.

“I wonder how Varia’s doing.”

Sure enough.

The moment Les mentioned Varia, the faces of Baron Onokenta and his partner in adultery went pale.

Their nonstop chatter finally came to a halt.

Especially Baron Onokenta—he had once gotten a proper taste of Varia’s fists.

That memory must have come flooding back, because he clamped his thick hands over his mouth.

He looked just like a child about to cry after losing a tooth.

Not cute, of course.

“I heard His Grace takes very good care of her.”

Les used every opportunity to bring up Varia’s connection with the Duke, creating a ‘peaceful’ atmosphere on this business trip.

Peaceful only for Les, of course.

Thanks to that, she could turn a blind eye to their affair.

Just then, someone came riding toward them from the opposite side.

Two men in black uniforms were riding large horses.

“They're finally here.”

Seeing the knights approach, Les clenched her fist in celebration.

“Have you come from the palace?”

“We were sent by the Duke.”

At the knights’ disciplined appearance, the Ministry official in an affair with the baron blushed.

Their crisp uniforms and fairly attractive faces were more than enough to make most women’s hearts flutter.

Baron Onokenta shoved the official aside.

“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Les, an administrator.”

Les greeted them first and extended her hand.

The knights shook hands with her in return.

But with Baron Onokenta and the Ministry official, they only exchanged words—no handshakes. The official looked deeply regretful about that.

“Shall we get going, then?”

At the knights’ prompting, the officials climbed back into the carriage.

“Where are we staying?”

Les opened the window to ask. One of the knights riding beside the carriage replied.

“There’s an inn designated by His Grace. You’ll be staying there.”

“An inn?”

Baron Onokenta shouted in disbelief.

“This is ridiculous! Do you know who I am?!”

He shouted that he had come bearing the sacred will of the Emperor, and to make someone like him stay at an inn was an insult to the Imperial Family.

Les thought the real insult to the Imperial Family was the fact that someone like him worked in the government at all.

“We simply follow His Grace’s orders.”

The knights didn’t budge.

This only made the baron seethe even more.

“How dare a mere duke disregard a servant of His Majesty...!”

Just as he screamed, his face flushed red with rage, a cold blade flashed beneath his neck.

“Watch your mouth.”

The knight, who had drawn his sword in an instant, growled with a heavy voice.

“Do not speak another word.”

Baron Onokenta’s mouth finally clamped shut.

As the sword extended swiftly, a thin cut appeared under his chin.

The official beside him began trembling and tearing up.

The knights made no effort to hide their displeasure at the baron’s outrageous remark.

Neither did Les.

“If you want to keep your head, I suggest you watch your tongue.”

Les gave one final warning.

“Baron, if His Grace finds out you made a pass at Varia, do you think he’ll let you off?”

“I-I never did such a thing!”

The baron glanced nervously at the knights still glaring at him.

“I swear I didn’t!”

“But I saw it.”

If I saw it, you think Varia didn’t?

“Let me give you a bit of friendly advice.”

Les showed the last of her patience.

“It’d be in your best interest not to show your face in front of His Grace. Forget about his ties with the Emperor—just the fact that you flirted with Varia means you're completely...”

This was it.

Les slowly drew her thumb across her throat.

Only then did the baron shut his mouth, pale and stricken.

***

The inn they had been prepared for was better than expected.

The road leading to it was well-paved, and the square around it was highly developed.

It was so impressive it rivaled the capital, leaving Baron Onokenta and the official wide-eyed in disbelief.

The three of them entered their respective rooms and unpacked.

Even the inn itself was much better than they had anticipated.

The baron and official, who had grumbled the entire trip, now looked a bit frustrated. It seemed they had wanted the inn to be terrible—so they’d have an excuse to complain.

“We’ll start the actual work tomorrow.”

At Baron Onokenta’s words, Les and the official agreed.

“I’ll drop by home.”

Since she was back in her hometown for the first time in a while, Les said she would go visit and headed out.

“......Those two will be heading out soon too.”

Les informed the knights.

Baron Onokenta and the official, frustrated with Les’s uncooperativeness, were planning to head toward the Northern mountain range on their own.

Les had endured the nauseating sounds of them rubbing up against each other the entire trip to extract that information.

The knights nodded.

“Is His Grace at the mansion?”

Les planned to stop by the Voreoti mansion first to report the situation before going to her family home.

‘Varia’s going to be so surprised, isn’t she?’

Les was most concerned about Varia.

Though she had befriended her originally out of obligation under orders, she had become a genuine friend. Les sincerely wished for Varia’s happiness.

“Ah...”

“Well...”

But the knights’ expressions weren’t good. They looked away, fidgeting uncomfortably and suspiciously.

Les tilted her head.

“Did he go somewhere?”

“He hasn’t gone anywhere.”

“He hasn’t left the mansion at all.”

The knights hastily answered.

“Then I can go, right?”

“Ah, well...”

“The thing is...”

The knights were still hesitating.

“Th-The young lady is currently acting as the Duke’s proxy.”

“The young lady?”

Les responded in surprise.

“So His Grace is really training her as his successor.”

After the recent banquet, it had become well known among the administration that Ferio had appointed Leonia as acting Duke.

Given her brilliance from an early age, it wasn’t all that surprising.

“...Anyway, I can go, right?”

Urged by Les, the knights finally nodded.

She went to a nearby ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) carriage rental and borrowed a small one.

The carriage quickly left the square and climbed the hill. The Voreoti mansion was located at the highest point in the territory.

As she ascended, Les’s heart swelled a little with anticipation.

“Mia!”

Upon arriving at the mansion, she saw a familiar face.

“Oh my, Les!”

Mia, just entering the mansion, greeted her with a bright smile.

“When did you get to the North? It’s been forever!”

“I’m here on a work trip.”

“Oh, good to have you here!”

“You look like you’ve been doing well, Mia. Gained some weight, huh?”

“Les, you’re still just as nasty as ever.”

The friendly banter between the two friends went on for a while. freewebnσvel.cøm

“What about Connie?”

“She’s off today—visiting her family.”

“I should finish my report quickly and stop by my own family home.”

“Oh, report?”

Mia’s expression turned awkward. Les narrowed her eyes.

“Something seems off.”

“W-What do you mean?”

“The knights earlier had weird expressions too.”

Les asked.

“Something happened?”

“N-Nothing happened!”

Mia frantically waved her hands in denial.

Strong denial is just disguised affirmation. Les felt even more suspicious.

“What about Varia?”

Setting everything else aside, Les decided to ask about Varia.

Mia jumped.

“Don’t you dare speak the madam’s name so carelessly!”

Worried that someone might overhear, Mia looked around and glared at Les in fear.

“Are you crazy?! If you go around calling the madam by name like that, you’ll get killed!”

“M-Madam?”

Les squinted.

Then her eyes went wide as every hole on her face opened in astonishment.

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