I Became the Male Lead's Adopted Daughter-Chapter 192

Ferio was objective.

No matter how much he loved Leonia, he always assessed his daughter with cold rationality.

He didn’t think something like culture classes would be enough to suppress the child’s perversion.

‘He really knows me too well.’

Though she grumbled, the corners of the child’s lips curled up in joy.

Still, Leonia didn’t stop acting.

Thanks to that, Varia said the classes were working and even suggested herself that they just do a little more before stopping.

In truth, Varia had always felt uneasy about forcing Leonia to take the culture classes she hated.

Even if it was for the child's sake, continuing to press a child who clearly didn’t want it pricked her conscience.

Leonia felt a bit sorry for such a mother.

‘But it was hard for me too.’

Having to restrain her muscle-loving tendencies was quite a tragic affair. Still, she was able to do it freely in her room under the excuse of studying.

Recently, Leonia was planning to start seriously drawing lewd muscular hunks.

So today, she planned to buy an anatomical diagram and a steamy romance novel at the bookstore.

“...Heeheehee!”

Leonia let out a bizarre laugh.

It was the moment the “Goddess of the Rose Fields,” the “Patron Saint of Muscular Hunks,” awakened once more.

“Phew.”

Having thoroughly plotted her scandalous plans, Leonia exhaled long and deeply.

Then, she looked behind her.

“Come out.”

Leonia stared toward the other side of the bookshelf, where no one was visible.

“I’ve known since earlier, so come out right now.”

“......”

“If you don’t, I’ll kill you.”

The girl’s lips curled in a twisted smile.

Only then did two mysterious figures, their bodies entirely cloaked, silently reveal themselves from behind the bookshelf.

Leonia first assessed their physiques.

It was hard to see through the cloaks, but although they were tall, their builds weren’t particularly solid.

‘Mid-to-late teens.’

Leonia quickly calculated.

There’s no way Meles and Paavo would’ve allowed suspicious people near Varia and her without checking thoroughly.

Especially when they were wearing cloaks that covered their entire bodies.

‘No weapons.’

If they had weapons, the knights would’ve stopped them at the entrance.

‘And they have verified identities.’

If Meles and Paavo didn’t question them, they must’ve shown clear proof of identity.

After thinking for a moment, Leonia jerked her chin toward them.

“Take it off.”

A short and powerful command.

It was an order that couldn’t be defied, and at her words, the two immediately removed their cloaks.

“......”

Leonia’s eyes widened at the sight.

“Nice to meet you, Lady Voreoti.”

The blond boy greeted her first.

“Apologies for revealing ourselves like this.”

Then he gave a respectful bow.

“My name is Crisetos.”

Crisetos Aquila Bellius.

“The Second Prince of the Empire greets the daughter of the Duke.”

***

“......”

Ferio was dumbfounded.

“Didn’t you say you were going to the bookstore?”

At Ferio’s question, the beastly mother and daughter nodded enthusiastically.

“We really did go to the bookstore! Right, Leo?”

“Yeah! Look at this!”

Varia and Leonia held out the books they had picked.

“Then what are those?”

Last time in the South, there had been a baby bear incident—this time, two even more troublesome creatures had just waltzed into the mansion.

“What do you mean ‘those,’ Your Grace?”

Prince Crisetos put on a wounded expression. Beside him, Princess Scandia lowered her gaze slightly, at least knowing they had done something wrong.

“We’re really well-behaved kids, better than most dogs.”

“What nonsense, dogs are better.”

Leonia retorted.

“At least dogs are cute!”

“Don’t we have decent looks, too?”

Prince Crisetos gestured to himself and Princess Scandia with confidence.

“......”

Leonia stared at them silently.

The blond boy had a gentle and likable look.

His light brown hair was nearly golden, and his silver eyes sparkled clearly, like someone with jewels in his soul.

But he looked too much like Emperor Subiteo, which made him unlikable.

On the other hand, the silver-haired one had a familiar face to Leonia.

Beautiful like Empress Tigria, and refined like Ibecks, he gave off a composed and elegant air.

Plus, ever since getting scared in the capital, he had been quietly well-behaved.

“Hmmm......”

After a moment’s consideration, Leonia said magnanimously,

“When raising pets, I think neutering is essential.”

Would you like to be neutered?

Thanks to Leonia’s brazen suggestion, the prince’s face, once so shameless, turned pale. Princess Scandia was no different.

Unconsciously, both snapped to attention. They even clutched their cloaks tightly with both hands.

‘Oh my.’

Varia’s lips curved into a smile at the sight.

Those two getting thoroughly trounced by Leonia was just too funny.

At the same time, she felt extremely proud of her daughter’s spirit that didn’t lose even to a prince.

‘But the one next to His Highness...’

Varia stared quietly at the silver-haired boy beside Prince Crisetos.

‘Is he His Highness’s escort knight?’

She had never seen him before, but the more she looked, the more he reminded her of someone.

“In any case.”

Crisetos, feeling awkward, gave a light cough.

“Thank you for accepting us.”

“I didn’t accept you.”

You just showed up uninvited.

Ferio wore an exhausted expression.

“What on earth are you doing in the North?”

The boy standing before him, with golden hair, was the Empire’s Second Prince.

The Imperial faction would never give up on trying to eliminate Crisetos. This was no time for him to be roaming freely.

‘And ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ furthermore...’

Ferio’s gaze moved to the silver-haired boy.

‘Even the princess.’

The prince was one thing, but Princess Scandia absolutely should not have appeared.

The fact that the princess was actually a boy was a secret that must never be revealed.

Just one of them showing up would’ve been headache enough—both of them coming to the North was beyond absurd.

“...And I can’t even beat them up.”

Ferio muttered to himself.

Their little family was living peacefully, and now these outrageous intruders had suddenly barged in, making it impossible not to care.

“Dad, should I beat them up for you?”

Leonia brightly clenched her fist, ready to show her filial piety.

“Should you?”

Ferio responded without hesitation.

“That’s a joke, right? That’s a joke, isn’t it?”

The prince flailed in panic at the unexpected cruelty.

In contrast, Princess Scandia stood calmly, as if this reaction had been anticipated.

He had already experienced Leonia’s blunt personality and had grown immune.

“But, Your Highness.”

Thankfully, Varia steered the conversation back on track.

“What brings you here?”

“Ah, Duchess!”

Prince Crisetos exclaimed happily. A proper conversation at last.

“The beautiful and noble Duchess of Voreoti!”

At his extravagant compliment, one of Ferio’s eyebrows twitched in discomfort.

‘Not exactly wrong.’

But the irritation on his face visibly faded.

Noticing the change, Prince Crisetos also brightened up.

“We were just traveling.”

Then he promptly presented evidence. From inside his coat, he pulled out a travel permit bearing the seal of the Marquis of Hesperi.

Leonia snatched it and examined it thoroughly.

“This isn’t a forgery, is it?”

Squinting, she scrutinized the permit.

“How can you be so untrusting?”

Prince Crisetos gave a casual smile.

Leonia scoffed at him as if he were pathetic.

“With nonsense like that coming out of your mouth, no wonder you’re still not crown prince.”

At the merciless words of the girl, the air in the office went cold.

“Leonia!”

Varia shouted in shock.

The issue of succession to the crown prince position was a sensitive one—especially for Prince Crisetos.

Despite being the legitimate child of the Empress, he had to compete for the position against the son of a concubine. It was far from a pleasant situation. free𝑤ebnovel.com

And as expected—

“......”

The prince faltered for the first time.

His face revealed embarrassment, shame, and the helplessness of not being able to refute it.

“Hm, so it’s real?”

Leonia, who had just frozen the room, simply continued to stare intently at the permit.

Her expression showed no remorse. She had no real interest in the matter of imperial succession.

“Why did the Marquis of Hesperi give you this?”

At some point, Ferio had approached and smoothly took the document from her hand.

Meanwhile, Varia quietly scolded Leonia.

Leonia pouted and only half-listened.

Instead, she grumbled that those two were the ones who had ruined everything.

“I was going to have fun with Mom and Dad, but those two ruined it.”

“You still shouldn’t say that out loud.”

“Then is it okay if I say it in my head?”

“...Just say it in your head.”

Hm?

Varia tilted her head at her own words, feeling like there was something contradictory in them.

But she couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

“...Anyway.”

Recovering himself, Prince Crisetos answered with practiced ease.

“It’s real. My grandfather gave it to us out of affection, so we could travel comfortably.”

“‘Us’?”

Varia, cradling the sulking Leonia, raised a suspicious eyebrow.

“Did Her Highness the Princess come too?”

“She was supposed to, but she couldn’t.”

The prince gave a faint smile.

“As you know, her health is fragile.”

“Then you came alone?”

Leonia asked in disbelief.

“Her Highness the Princess is left all alone?”

Then she subtly glanced at Princess Scandia. The silver-haired boy furrowed his brows.

“Don’t tell me...”

Leonia pointed at Prince Crisetos and Princess Scandia in turn.

At her gesture, the expressions of the two siblings twisted in horror. Then they both quickly backed away in shock.

Prince Crisetos even covered his mouth and gagged.

“Oh dear, my apologies.”

Leonia slowly lowered her hand.

“I just really love romance stories.”

“Varia, take a good look.”

Ferio said to the frozen Varia. She had turned to stone at her daughter’s words.

“This is the kind of hardship we’ll be enduring together from now on.”

“......”

“For the record, I’m already being harassed.”

Ferio tattled.

“By who exactly?”

Varia asked cautiously.

“Is it someone I know?”

“That’s not the important part.”

Ferio pretended not to notice the curiosity in her voice.

***

Ferio willingly allowed the prince and his escort knight, who were supposedly traveling, to stay at the mansion.

“Shall I prepare one room for both of you?”

And even more willingly, he asked whether they would be sharing a room.

“Absolutely separate.”

Though... he is my escort, so not too far away, if possible.

Prince Crisetos raised his lips into a forced smile, though they trembled slightly.

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