I Became the Male Lead's Adopted Daughter-Chapter 190
“Did everyone hear that? It was the cry of a monster!”
Consort Usia’s admiration was truly off the mark.
The fact that monsters lived in the North was common knowledge, and hearing a monster's cry there wasn't exactly something to marvel at.
There wasn’t a single Northerner who hadn’t heard the howl of a monster, and even those who only stayed in the North briefly often heard it from time to time.
“...Indeed.”
The young heir of Marquis Pardus was slightly dumbfounded.
Still, he didn’t miss the opportunity.
“Duke Voreoti strictly controls access to the Northern Mountains. Even the native residents are no exception.”
At those words, the emperor’s eyebrows twitched.
“A well-known fact.”
But he didn’t stop the heir from continuing.
“Thanks to Baron Onokenta’s mention of hearing a monster’s cry—and Your Majesty the Consort graciously reminding us—I’ve recalled something suspicious.”
“Oh my, I didn’t really do much!”
Consort Usia bashfully shook her shoulders. The heir simply offered a polite smile.
“It’s true the Northern Mountains are strictly regulated. Just as the Voreotis are known as the den of beasts, dangerous monsters live up there.”
However, there were places where monsters never appeared.
At that, Consort Usia tilted her head.
“Why don’t monsters appear there?”
“I don’t know the reason myself.”
The heir shook his head.
“But one thing is clear—the place where Baron Onokenta snuck into is the area Duke Voreoti is most sensitive about.”
In other parts of the mountains, commoners were occasionally permitted to climb for herbs or wood with the duke’s permission.
Though that was usually limited to the lower slopes.
“Y-Yes, that’s it!”
Baron Onokenta shouted, seizing the thread.
“The knights warned me to descend immediately! They said I must not go any further!”
Only then did suspicion flicker in Emperor Subiteo’s eyes.
‘Got him.’
The heir of Marquis Pardus smiled faintly to himself and pressed on.
“It’s natural that monsters are dangerous. Therefore, it’s natural to control the area. But there’s one zone particularly infested with monsters.”
“A zone particularly infested with...”
Emperor Subiteo murmured, catching on.
Then, he glanced at the young heir.
“That’s all I know, Your Majesty.”
The heir bowed respectfully, as if he couldn’t possibly meet the emperor’s eyes.
“But if Your Majesty permits, I will make further efforts to investigate.”
“See to it.”
The emperor immediately gave his approval.
And subtly glanced back at the heir.
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s wise judgment.”
The heir was perfectly composed in every gesture.
Eyes lowered beneath °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° the emperor’s, lips not curled too high.
At last, the emperor showed a satisfied smile.
‘...He’s improved.’
The young heir admired his own performance.
Emperor Subiteo was no fool. But he lacked the ability to use what he had.
He prioritized personal desire over reason, and due to baseless inferiority complexes, he often drove away capable men instead of embracing them.
He was addicted to sweet, flattering advice over bitter but honest counsel.
Yet now, he had eyed the heir of Marquis Pardus with suspicion.
That was a remarkable improvement.
Those in high positions must, by nature, learn to doubt even their allies.
But Emperor Subiteo didn’t. He only embraced those who praised him.
“Our Majesty is amazing!”
Just as the heir was thinking that,
Consort Usia leaned on the emperor’s arm with a radiant smile.
“So now Your Majesty will build roads for the empire and work for the people, yes?”
“Of course.”
That was his duty as emperor, he declared with pride.
“So dashing!”
Consort Usia spoke with a delicate, lilting laugh.
“Thanks to Your Majesty, the North will be blessed greatly!”
The emperor could no longer suppress his smile.
“Indeed! That’s exactly it!”
What mattered most to him now was the North.
That thing beyond the mountains—if he could have it, the other regions, the empire, even the world might fall to his feet.
“You truly are my apple of wisdom.”
“Oh my! Such flattery?”
Consort Usia giggled at his praise.
“Oh, and those artists sponsored by my family...”
The conversation veered off into a tangent.
She begged the emperor to view their work, and naturally, he said he’d be delighted to do so.
Thus ended the emperor’s meeting with Baron Onokenta.
The baron, completely drained, limped out of the room.
The heir of Marquis Pardus, following behind, paused in his steps.
“...Your Majesty the Consort.”
He called to Consort Usia, now alone in the reception room.
“What is it?”
She tilted her head curiously.
The emperor had departed for urgent matters, and the consort, having no other plans, remained seated with a cup of tea.
“Thank you for today.”
The heir bowed.
“Thanks to you, His Majesty’s heart has softened.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
She laughed lightly. Her fresh green hair swayed gently.
“...The hard work was yours, my lord heir.”
For a moment, the heir felt an eerie chill.
“Between the North and the Imperial Family, you’ve suffered quite a bit. I know it all.”
Though the seasons leaned toward autumn, the midday sun still blazed.
Today was no exception, and being a Northerner, the heir was enduring the heat with effort.
But that sudden chill—what was it?
“...It’s simply my role.”
He forced his expression back under control.
He could usually hide his feelings with ease. But today, it was a little harder than usual.
“Just a little more.”
The consort was still smiling.
“Everything ends eventually.”
A bright, blue smile.
The heir gave a final bow and exited the palace with unhurried steps.
But inside, he was far from composed.
‘I need to go North...!’
He had to head up there immediately—or at least gather more intel first.
But what should he be looking for? The heir’s head swam.
Something was definitely wrong.
Cold sweat formed on his forehead. It had nothing to do with the heat.
***
“Look at this.”
While walking through the garden, Varia spotted something curious.
“The leaves are already turning.”
She pointed to a leaf with just a hint of red at the tip.
“But it’s still summer...”
“In the North, autumn comes early.”
Ferio approached her as they strolled together.
Soon, his large hand wrapped gently around hers. Varia, smiling shyly, gripped back with a bit of strength.
“Ferio.”
She called his name softly.
“Rio.”
Then, with a little more courage, she used his nickname.
Ferio answered with a smile.
While living in the North, Varia had made great effort to get used to calling the beastly father and daughter by name.
And now, she could do it quite well. It didn’t make her as shy anymore.
“Leo’s birthday is in autumn, right?”
“You knew?”
Ferio asked, slightly surprised.
“Of course I remember something like my daughter’s birthday!”
Varia boasted.
In truth, she had memorized it while gathering information to confirm Leonia’s identity.
But most of that information turned out to be fake. After growing close to the beastly duo, she realized almost everything she’d gathered was wrong.
‘Come to think of it, that’s normal.’
Though it was frustrating, Varia thought it made sense.
Information about a house as powerful as the Voreotis wasn’t easy to come by.
“I want to do something for Leo’s birthday.”
“She’ll like anything.”
“Don’t say that.”
“I don’t lie.”
“Still, help me out a little.”
Varia gently swung their interlocked hands as she pleaded.
“It’s my first gift to her as a mom. I want it to be something she’ll really love.”
“Then maybe muscles...”
“Hmm, muscles, huh.”
Varia looked genuinely conflicted.
“She hasn’t been making as many inappropriate comments lately, so I’d like to avoid getting her too excited.”
“......”
“She’s trying, you know. It’d be mean to encourage it.”
For that reason, she wanted to give something a bit more refined.
“...Leo is trying?”
But Ferio looked doubtful.
He even seemed dazed, like he’d heard something impossible.
He knew better than anyone how cunning his daughter was. He also knew she was a great actress.
Just remembering the time she pretended to be repentant and then threatened a knight into letting her ride off still made his neck ache.
Leonia’s specialty was flipping people’s lungs inside out. Ferio could say that with confidence.
He would bet his entire fortune that the innocent face she showed Varia was pure performance.
“Our Leo is inherently kind and hardworking.”
But Varia still seemed utterly smitten.
“She doesn’t skip etiquette lessons anymore. She even reviews on her own. And the knights say she doesn’t make inappropriate remarks anymore!”
Varia cheerfully went on about the fruits of her efforts.
Ferio, on the other hand, looked at her with a face full of pity.
Leonia was innately a wicked little deviant. It was a terrible truth, one that couldn’t be excused even between parent and child.
“...That’s a relief.”
Still, seeing Varia so happy...
Ferio didn’t want to ruin it. His sharp tongue was powerless against love.
“Then I guess we’ll have to think harder about her gift.”
“I want to figure it out and prepare soon.”
The two continued to brainstorm gifts until their walk ended. Afterward, Ferio escorted Varia back to her room.
“Oh, here.”
Varia pulled a document envelope from her desk drawer. Thick and secured with a string and button.
“I finished organizing this this morning.”
“That must’ve been hard.”
Ferio gave her a small, smiling nod as he took it.
“It wasn’t. Back in the administration, I used to work overtime all the time.”
That was mostly due to the petitions for revival from the families Ferio had bankrupted, but Varia didn’t bother to mention that part.
“Shall we head to the office?”
“I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Don’t overwork yourself.”
“So I’ll have strength for bed exercises?”
“Oh, honestly!”
Varia smacked Ferio’s arm playfully.
After clinging to each other for a while longer, Ferio finally made his way to the office.
His steps were reluctant—there was a lot to get done before dinner.
“Dad!”
Just then—
A cheerful voice came along with a knock at the door.
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