I Became the Male Lead's Adopted Daughter-Chapter 95
“Weren’t you going to behave yourself?”
Marquis Ortio narrowed his eyes.
“I am well-behaved, though?”
“Hm. That’s not the impression I had of you, young lady.”
The marquis recalled the time in the Northern residence’s office, when he had been waiting for Ferio and saw Leonia outside the door, locked in a staring contest with the young master of House Tabanus.
“You’re not exactly the delicate type.”
Her bold tone and defiant spirit had left quite the impression.
When the marquis hit the mark, Leonia gave him a slightly awkward smile.
“But are you really alone?”
He was asking why she was wandering around without the Duke or Viscount Ricoss.
Marquis Ortio lifted his head, looking for Ferio.
The man was still deep in conversation with the other nobles, completely unaware that his daughter had wandered off.
‘...No, that’s not it.’
Ferio, who cherished his daughter so fiercely, would never let her roam a place like this on her own.
He must have sent her out alone on purpose.
And sure enough—
As if reading his thoughts, Leonia leaned in and whispered confidentially.
“I’m actually hunting.”
“Hunting?”
“Yes. Daddy taught me.”
The most important part of a hunt was making sure the prey let its guard down.
“I’m walking around alone to make myself look that way.”
The unexpected confession made Marquis Ortio widen his eyes in surprise.
He almost dropped his champagne glass.
“It’ll fall into the trap soon.”
Leonia glanced up toward the area where her target was.
‘...Ah.’
A chill ran down Marquis Ortio’s spine.
Leonia was staring at the place where the golden eagle banner hung. That alone sent waves of oppressive pressure strong enough to pierce the skin.
“Well then, Marquis, see you later.”
Leonia handed him a candy and walked away.
Left alone, Marquis Ortio stood frozen for a while, then fiddled with the candy in his hand.
‘Paper?’
A piece of paper had been wrapped around the candy.
The faint scent of strawberry milk clung to it. A short note was written on the paper.
“......”
Marquis Ortio quietly incinerated the note with magic.
Then he made his way over to where his husband stood, chatting among the other nobles.
“Darling, shall we step out to the balcony?”
“O-Oh...”
His husband’s face flushed slightly.
“B-But we’re outside already...”
He mumbled, shy about the suggestion.
Marquis Ortio took his ever-adorable husband by the hand and led him out to the balcony.
***
Hunting was a beast’s instinct.
‘I have to drive it carefully.’
The father beast was happily assisting the baby beast with her first hunt.
‘I mustn’t act suspicious.’
Ever since entering the banquet hall, Leonia had acted like a shy child who didn’t do well in social settings.
She clung to Ferio as if she couldn’t bear to be apart from him.
‘Lower their guard.’
Then, when Ferio began speaking to others, she quietly slipped away to wander the banquet hall alone.
She wanted to look like a bored little girl aimlessly exploring the hall.
‘Clear out any obstacles.’
That’s why she handed out candy with notes [N O V E L I G H T] to certain people.
By now, the Northern die-hard nobles and Marquis Ortio were probably guarding their close ones.
‘Uncle Lupe’s with Daddy, so that’s covered.’
Leonia touched the candies hidden inside her cloak. She figured there were about four left.
The baby beast ignored the gazes that followed her.
It was uncomfortable, but she had to shake it off.
Her father always told her: Don’t let little things break your focus.
‘Who’s left...?’
Marquis of Hesperi and Count Rinne with his wife.
Fortunately, the three were standing together, chatting.
Just as Leonia spotted her next target and was about to dash toward them—
“Well, look who we have here.”
“M-Marquis of Pardus...”
Leonia managed to stop her sprinting legs just in time.
‘I didn’t sense him!’
What’s with this grandpa?!
Startled, Leonia stared blankly at the marquis.
He had appeared soundlessly behind her, wearing his usual affable smile.
According to Ferio, it was that irritating old man smile.
“Marquis of Pardus, at your service.”
“...I’m Leonia.”
She stuck out her lower lip as she returned the greeting politely.
‘As if we don’t already know each other.’
The way he approached her like it was a coincidence was so annoyingly slick.
Still, in front of others, the Voreotis and Pardus family had to pretend they weren’t on good terms.
Leonia put on a show, feigning wariness toward him, half acting, half genuine annoyance.
‘Ah, the candy.’
Regardless, that old man was technically an important ally.
He was diligently playing double agent for her father.
Leonia fished around in her cloak pocket.
“Here.”
She handed one over, acting like she was doing him a big favor. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Marquis of Pardus softened his lips into a rare, genuine smile.
It wasn’t the fake one he usually wore like a mask.
For the first time, Leonia felt a bit of affection toward him.
“This is a special gift.”
“How shall I ever express my gratitude?”
“Then stop bothering Daddy.”
“But that’s the only joy left in my life.”
He replied with a cheeky grin, as if asking how he could possibly give that up.
“Ugh...”
Leonia felt a shiver.
No wonder Daddy disliked this old man.
She realized this elderly marquis’s innate personality surpassed even her own perversion.
Whatever fondness she had felt moments ago was instantly replaced with irritation.
“Hmph. Just eat the candy.”
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Grumbling, Leonia moved on.
Marquis of Pardus followed her without hesitation. Even when she shot him a glare, he didn’t back off.
As they walked, the marquis popped the candy into his mouth.
“......”
Then he read what was written on the paper wrapped around it.
“Sweet indeed.”
“You’re not getting any more.”
“We’re both Northerners—how about we get along?”
Instead of replying, Leonia walked even more briskly.
From behind, the Marquis’s laughter followed. He was clearly teasing her on purpose.
Still, thanks to him, the watchful stares on her had noticeably decreased.
As he followed behind her, Marquis of Pardus casually scanned the surroundings.
He did nothing more than smile and look around.
Yet the other nobles quickly averted their eyes.
Though Ferio treated him dismissively, House Pardus was a historic family that had stood with the Empire since its founding.
In terms of influence, Pardus held more sway in the capital than the Voreotis did.
‘Now this feels better.’
Having cleared the area, Marquis of Pardus looked at Leonia ahead of him with warmth.
‘Such a charming and brave young lady.’
To think he’d encounter such a lovable Voreoti in his lifetime.
When he first met her in the North, she had been so small and thin. Now her chubby cheeks poked out even above her tied-up hair.
‘No wonder His Grace can’t stop hugging her.’
The marquis had been ordered by Ferio to follow Leonia.
He was to observe her surroundings and report anything unusual.
He was told not to interfere with her actions.
Though it was a strange command, he wasn’t foolish enough to question it.
‘Unusual behavior, huh...’
There was indeed something suspicious.
Wherever the girl moved, watchful eyes followed.
Just moments ago, when she discreetly signaled people to quiet down, he caught on completely.
Among the banquet servers, there were clearly some who were handpicked by the Emperor.
Understanding the general situation, Marquis of Pardus clicked his tongue quietly.
That foolish bird didn’t even know it had walked into a trap.
Pathetic.
Meanwhile, Leonia had reached the group where the Marquis of Hesperi was.
He looked pleased at her visit but was also concerned that she was alone.
“But I’m not alone.”
Marquis of Pardus smoothly interjected.
“Greetings to the Lord of the West. Have you been well?”
“It’s been a while, Marquis.”
The two marquises exchanged greetings with no particular tension. The atmosphere among the nobles was also fairly relaxed.
Carnis and Abipher even laughed lightly and shared a few jokes with Marquis of Pardus.
Leonia watched the adults with curiosity.
‘...Well.’
It wasn’t that strange.
Even if Pardus was known to side with the Emperor, that didn’t mean he had to cut ties with Northerners.
“Still, I wonder why the marquis is accompanying our young lady.”
Carnis subtly stepped in front of Leonia, keeping a wary eye on Marquis of Pardus.
‘Ooh, Uncle!’
Leonia looked at Carnis’s back with emotional admiration.
If only he weren’t married, he’d be her number one pick for a new dad. What a waste of talent.
“Are you alright?”
Abipher gently asked if anything unpleasant had happened.
Leonia nodded and handed her a candy from inside her cloak.
Abipher quietly opened the wrapping, eyes narrowing suspiciously.
“......!”
She looked up at Leonia in shock.
Leonia simply pressed a finger to her lips.
Abipher, barely suppressing a gasp, gave a silent nod.
“Marquis Grandpa.”
Leonia called out to the Marquis of Hesperi. He welcomed her with a bright smile.
When she reached out and demanded a hug, his grin bloomed like a flower.
“What brings you all the way here?”
“I came to see Marquis Grandpa.”
“Our young lady is so friendly.”
The marquis praised her with delight, treating her just like a cherished grandchild.
Though he did have his own grandchildren, their status as prince and princess meant he rarely saw them.
That made Leonia’s affectionate approach all the more precious to him.
“If only she liked me that much.”
Marquis of Pardus muttered under his breath, jealousy tinging his voice.
Carnis glanced at him like he had just heard the most absurd thing ever.
‘No sign of Lord Ibex...’
Now taller from being lifted up, Leonia glanced around the room.
Ibex, the Empress’s old flame, wasn’t here.
As she looked around, she decided it made sense.
What good would it do to see him?
It would only reopen old wounds.
In the novel Black Beast’s Varia, theirs was the saddest love story of all.
Leonia felt her chest tighten.
‘Bad grandpa.’
She subtly pinched the Marquis of Hesperi’s earlobe.
He winced, evidently in pain, but Leonia didn’t let go.
This small pain was nothing compared to the heartache those two must’ve endured.
After venting her reader’s frustration, she handed him a candy.
She was still annoyed with him, but he’d done her no wrong personally, so she decided to let it slide.
‘Only one left now.’
She’d given out three of the four remaining candies—to Marquis of Pardus, Abipher, and now the Marquis of Hesperi.
Only one candy remained in her cloak pocket.
‘Who should I give it to?’
