I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter

At first, he had assumed she was just another orphan of low birth. Her casual, cheeky remarks and bold behavior were nothing like those of a noble child.

But after just one day with her, he saw things that made him doubt that assumption.
She used a fork and knife effortlessly, ate her meals neatly, and—even when she argued—never crossed the line.
Perhaps she had once belonged to a noble family.

…But she’s my daughter now.
Even if her real parents were aristocrats, Ferio had no intention of sending her back.
If anything, he would scold them for letting their child end up in such a miserable state.

Besides, Leonia had turned out to be far more entertaining than he expected.
Time spent with her was never dull.
And, more importantly, she did not fear him.

Her sharp tongue and audacious behavior were fitting for a daughter of House Voreoti.
For the first time, Ferio felt he could understand why Carnis always boasted about his children.
“Mister.”

“What.”
“I’m hungry.”
Before he realized it, Ferio let out a small chuckle.

No matter how sharp-tongued she was, she was still just a kid. After throwing up and groaning earlier, she was already back to normal.
“Just wait a little longer.”
He replied in a casual tone, telling her that they would arrive at the mansion soon.

Her stomach was empty from vomiting, but Leonia obediently nodded.
“Mister.”
“What now?”
Even though she was hungry, her energy remained high.

Her eyes sparkled even brighter at the mention of the mansion.
Then, with a mischievous grin, she said—
“Mister, your chest is really firm.”

The sound of muffled laughter came from where her head rested.
For the first time in his life, Ferio Voreoti had been sexually harassed by his own daughter.
He felt strangely conflicted.

***
“Wow.”
Leonia pressed her nose against the carriage window, taking in the scenery of the Voreoti estate.

The grim nicknames "den of monsters" and "land of eternal snow" felt laughable in contrast to the peaceful view before her.
For a territory said to be remote and «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» isolated, it was surprisingly well-developed.
Paved roads stretched ahead, glimpses of a large marketplace flickered through the streets, and lampposts dotted the paths.

She could easily imagine the lights glowing warmly when night fell.
“This is amazing! I’ve never seen anything like this before!”
“It’s still much smaller than the capital.”

“I’ve never been to the capital, so I wouldn’t know.”
“……”
“That means, for me, this place is the best.”

Pulling back from the window, Leonia grinned.
Ferio found her smile ridiculous—but not unpleasant.
Soon, the carriage arrived at the mansion.

As the door opened, Leonia was the first to jump out excitedly.
Ferio followed right after her, picking her up again almost immediately.
“I’m not sick anymore.”

“I know.”
Still, he didn’t put her down.
He had noticed how her legs had trembled the moment she landed.

Inside the mansion, the gathered servants welcomed their lord’s return.
But their greetings quickly faltered when they saw the strange little girl in his arms.
“This place is huge!”

The child, who shared the Duke’s black hair and black eyes, looked up in admiration.
“But mansions like this are always where murders happen.”
Her expression was so serious that an eerie silence filled the room.

Ferio tilted his head slightly.
“How did you know?”
“What?! Someone really died here?”

“There’s a dungeon underground.”
Leonia nodded in admiration.
“Oooh, torture chambers.”

“Do you want to see?”
“There are probably bugs, so no thanks.”
The servants stood frozen, completely overwhelmed by the disturbing conversation.

At that moment, a brave soul stepped forward.
Kara, the butler who had managed the mansion in Ferio’s absence, greeted him.
“Welcome back, Your Grace.”

However, Kara was a veteran of many years.
He held back his curiosity and focused on performing his duty.
“You’ve done well overseeing the estate in my absence.”

After this brief, polite acknowledgment, Ferio immediately ordered for renowned tailors and furniture craftsmen to be summoned.
The sudden command made Kara hesitate.
“…Forgive my impertinence, but…”

Having served House Voreoti for years, Kara had never once questioned his master’s orders.
Until now.
“…Why do you need them, Your Grace?”

“There’s no suitable space for a child to live in this mansion.”
“A… child?”
Instinctively, Kara’s gaze fell to the girl in his master’s arms.

The child—who shared the Duke’s black hair and eyes—looked up at him with an alert expression, then gave a small, polite wave.
“Hello.”
Then, she bowed her head slightly and introduced herself.

“My name is Leonia.”
“No, that’s not right.”
Ferio immediately corrected her.

“The name I gave you was longer than that. Did you already forget?”
“…Am I supposed to say the whole thing?”
“Are you planning to keep introducing yourself with half a name?”

With a scolding tone, Ferio urged her to say it properly.
After a brief pause, Leonia nodded several times.
As she did, Ferio noticed the tips of her ears turning red.

For the first time, she looked her age.
“…Leonia Voreoti.”
This translation is the intellectual property of .

A large hand suddenly landed on Leonia’s head.
It was Ferio, patting her as if to say ‘well done.’
For the first time in her life, Leonia had received praise.

Her face immediately flushed red, and she covered it with both hands, shaking her head wildly.
“……”
Kara adjusted his slipping glasses.

“…I’ll inform the kitchen to prepare another meal.”
Hiding his confusion, Kara returned to his duties.
After instructing a nearby maid to prepare food for the child, he followed Ferio down the hall, watching as the maid hurried off.

***
“I swear it’s true!”
“The Master came back with a child!”

“She had black hair!”
“He kept carrying her the whole time.”
From the young maids to the cooks, gardeners, and stable hands, the entire Voreoti estate was buzzing about one topic—the child their Duke had brought home.

“Did His Grace have a woman?”
“Of course, he must have. Do you think a man with that face would ever be desperate?”
“Watch your words unless you want to die.”

“But he’s so intimidating…”
“The Young Miss wasn’t scary, though.”
One of the maids—assigned to assist Leonia under Kara’s orders—had already met the rumored child.

Tightly braiding her dark brown hair, she shared her impressions with a sympathetic expression.
“She was way too skinny.”
Anyone who saw her could immediately tell that she had been neglected.

Her frail body, her messy, unkempt hair—they were impossible to forget.
And yet, the child greeted everyone cheerfully.
Even Kara, the butler, had taken pity on her and had specifically instructed the staff to take extra care of her.

The other servants fell silent.
They had heard rumors that the girl was from an orphanage, and now, imagining the conditions she had lived in, some clicked their tongues in disgust.
A few even muttered curses at the place she had come from.

“But her round eyes were really cute.”
The maid quickly added.
“Kids are always cute.”

“…Then she really is His Grace’s…?”
Most of the servants were convinced that Leonia was the Duke’s secret daughter.
The only mystery left was who her mother could be.

Naturally, this led to wild speculation.
“Maybe she’s the child of that noblewoman who used to send love letters? What was her name… Lady Hieina, from the Count’s family…?”
“There was also the Kapher family.”

“I heard Count Rinne’s daughter was interested in His Grace, too.”
“She’s only six, you idiot!”
While the estate was drowning in useless gossip, Ferio had summoned three key figures to his office.

Kara, the butler responsible for managing the household.
Mono, the vice-commander of the Gladiago Knights, the family’s elite force.
And Meleis, who would soon be appointed as the captain of Leonia’s personal guard.

To them, Ferio revealed the reason behind Leonia’s adoption.
“…That’s why you adopted her?”
After hearing the ridiculous story, the three of them were left speechless.

The reasoning was so impulsive, so reckless, that they were stunned.
Especially Kara, who openly scolded Ferio for being irresponsible.
Meanwhile, Ferio leaned against the window, gazing outside, completely unbothered.

“A child is not a pet, Your Grace.”
Kara criticized him harshly.
It felt as if the Duke had picked up a stray cat or dog on a whim and was planning to raise it like a toy.

“Do you really think I don’t understand that?”
Ferio’s sharp eyes narrowed, irritation flashing across his face.
The mere thought of comparing Leonia to some animal disgusted him.

Still, Kara remained firm.
The Duke’s impulsiveness would not be good for the child.
Amidst the tense atmosphere, it was Mono who broke the silence.

“Are you absolutely sure she’s not related to you by blood?”
He rubbed his stubbled jaw thoughtfully.
“That black hair…”

It was a fact that only the blood of House Voreoti carried black hair.
It was so rare in the empire that it was impossible to ignore.
Naturally, this led to the assumption that Leonia was Ferio’s illegitimate daughter.

And Ferio did not deny the possibility outright.
But, at that moment, he had more pressing matters to address.
“First, we need to fatten her up.”

That mattered far more than anything else.
Kara sighed heavily, finally accepting defeat.
“Your Grace, what exactly do you plan to do with her?”

“What else? Raise her.”
Ferio’s gaze returned to the window.
“Obviously.”

Kara could not bring himself to suggest sending the child back to the orphanage.
The girl had done nothing wrong.
This was entirely Ferio’s responsibility.

And, despite everything, Ferio was trying to do right by her.
In just a few days, the estate had been flooded with merchants, craftsmen, and furniture makers—all hired to prepare a proper living space for Leonia.
A soft, luxurious bed had been placed in her newly decorated room.

A playroom had been built beside it, filled with storybook-lined walls and piles of plush toys.
Across the hall, a dressing room was set up, soon to be stocked with expensive clothes and jewelry.
At least this is better than neglect.

Kara forced himself to accept that reasoning.
“By now, rumors about the Young Miss must be spreading through the territory.”