I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter

Paavo’s brow twitched ever so slightly as he stepped aside.
The casual way the man had addressed his lord irked the ever-loyal knight.
“Marquis.”

Ferio gave Paavo a subtle glance, signaling him to stand down, then turned to Marquis Pardus and acknowledged him as if nothing had happened.
The marquis took the empty seat beside him.
“Fancy meeting you here.”

He acted nonchalant, pretending to be surprised, but in truth, Ferio already knew the Marquis of Pardus would be attending.
He had obtained the guest list in advance through Viscount Kerata—specifically to ensure there would be no one at the tea party who might negatively influence Leonia.
“It’s been a while. Last time we met was in the capital, wasn’t it?”

“We were running into each other so often at the palace, I nearly got sick of it.”
“Hahaha! The Duke certainly has a way with words!”
His booming laughter was so loud, it startled both the nearby nobles and the children playing in the recreation area.

‘…Who is that guy?’
Who does he think he is, acting so chummy with my dad?
Leonia narrowed her eyes at the unfamiliar old man.

As far as she knew, the only one allowed to act friendly with Ferio was Count Carnis Rinne—his one true friend.
A man who could brush off Ferio’s prickly temper like it was child’s play, bright and warm like a spring meadow.
“Who is that?”

Had someone like that even appeared in the original novel?
Leonia eyed the old man, whose white and gray features blended together like the Northern Mountains.
“He’s my grandfather.”
The mystery was solved by a little boy who had been munching on the candy Leonia handed out.

“Your grandfather?”
The plump-cheeked, round-nosed child nodded.
He didn’t resemble the old man much. The boy was soft and round, while the marquis had a rather sharp and stern appearance.

“And who’s your grandfather?”
“That’s the Marquis of Pardus.”
Leonia’s jaw dropped.

***
The conflict between the North and the Empire runs deep.
Its origins stretch far back, all the way to the early days of the Empire’s founding.

Back then, powerful forces had already taken root in regions across the land, including the North. The fledgling Imperial House sought to win these powers over by granting noble titles.
In this way, the Empire gradually expanded its territory—but the North, proud and unyielding, remained a thorn in its side.
The Imperial House especially feared the so-called “beasts”—those with black hair and eyes.

Their terrifying ability wasn’t magic or swordsmanship, but something else—something monstrous, like the fangs of a wild beast. With this power, they easily trampled and toyed with the Empire’s elite soldiers, renowned warriors, and mages.
And then, one day...
The beasts of the North extended the olive branch first.

The reason has never been recorded. But the black beasts accepted titles from the Empire and—at least in name—submitted to the Imperial crown.
They offered two conditions:
Absolute autonomy for the North, and a complete prohibition on intermarriage between their bloodlines.

And the Empire, unable to conquer the North otherwise, had no choice but to accept.
The power of the beasts’ fangs far exceeded human limits. The Empire may have claimed victory on paper, but it was nothing more than a loss in disguise.
Had they continued to push for domination, they might have lost the entire Empire to the beasts of the North.

In return, the Empire made a single demand:
That the North accept one noble house carrying Imperial blood into its land.
“That little one is my grandson. Eight years old this year. He’s my eldest son’s boy—adorable, isn’t he?”

That noble house was none other than the family of the Marquis of Pardus—who now sat beside Ferio, mustache drooping as he proudly bragged about his grandson.
“You certainly love your grandson.”
Ferio sipped his tea and gave a disinterested nod.

“He’s my first, after all. I can’t help but be fond of him.”
“I see.”
The conversation between the two men consisted only of Marquis Pardus’s boisterous laughter and Ferio’s silent, curt replies.

And yet, somehow, the air around their table alone was colder and sharper than a hanging icicle.
Viscountess Kerata, who had poured her heart into preparing this tea party, could only swallow her tears.
The heartfelt efforts of the hostess didn’t seem to reach either man.

“Dad.”
Then, a voice broke through.
“Leonia.”

His gaze, which had been fixed coldly on the marquis, dropped downward. The sharp, icy edge melted away in an instant.
“I’m going to go see the reindeer now.”
Leonia said, holding out the pouch of candy.

Near the door, the children had already gathered, donning coats with the help of the viscount’s maids and servants.
Leonia, too, had bundled herself up warmly.
“Take it and share with your friends.”

“I don’t think I can eat it while looking at reindeer.”
“Why not?”
“Just… because…”

Right now, something round and hot was bouncing around in her mind in a very unwholesome way.
‘I wonder if Dad knows?’
That thanks to a certain round, steaming egg, what little childhood innocence she had left had been scorched to a crisp.

Round candy. Round egg.
“…Anyway, I don’t want any.”
She muttered with a bitter smile.

There was supposed to be creamy chicken stew for dinner—but she doubted she’d be able to eat that now, either.
“Well, well, so this is the young lady…”
At that moment, Marquis Pardus stepped between father and daughter.

“The infamous daughter of Duke Voreoti.”
“…Infamous?”
“Ah, forgive me. I forgot how sensitive you are about rumors, Duke.”

The marquis laughed lightly as if brushing off his mistake.
Ferio ignored him and took the candy pouch from Leonia, checking that her coat was buttoned properly before reminding her to be careful.
“Good day to you, Lady Voreoti.”

Marquis Pardus was the first to introduce himself.
This translation is the intellectual property of .
“…Hello.”

Leonia, who had been staring rather rudely at the marquis, finally returned the greeting a beat too late.
“I’m Leonia Voreoti. I’m my dad’s daughter.”
“Hahaha! How adorable. No wonder the Duke keeps you so close to his chest.”

“That’s not it. I prefer Dad’s muscles over his embra—”
“Aren’t you going to see the reindeer?”
Ferio cut her off just in time before she could make any inappropriate muscle-related comments and called out to Paavo.

“Take Sir Gaber with you.”
“Okay.”
“Be careful.”

“Got it.”
Leonia nodded and took Paavo’s hand, heading toward the group of children.
“Did you enjoy your time with the others, my lady?”

“Mm, sorta? I learned a lot.”
“What kind of things? Would you share them with me?”
“Do you know why reindeer have red noses?”

No way I’m keeping this to myself.
With a wicked smirk, Leonia leaned in and whispered into Paavo’s ear.
“AAAAAGH!”

A bright and shrill shriek, utterly ill-fitting for someone of Paavo’s size and demeanor, erupted from him.
Leonia and the surrounding children burst into laughter, puzzled but delighted.
Their clear, bell-like laughter rang like birdsong.

Ferio’s disapproving stare shifted toward Paavo as if to say, What is he doing?
“…There’s never a moment of peace.”
As soon as his grandson disappeared, Marquis Pardus’s smile vanished.

“Same goes for you,” Ferio replied flatly, pointedly dropping all formalities.
The marquis furrowed his sharp brows and spoke in a falsely wounded tone, pretending to be sulking.
Ferio clenched his other hand to keep from tossing the teapot in his grip at the marquis’s face.

“Heh heh, you wound me.”
As if you’re not the reason it’s so hectic.
Marquis Pardus gazed out the window at the quiet garden blanketed in snow, eyeing his cooling tea with distaste.

A servant came and refilled it with fresh hot tea.
“I’ve grown quite old, haven’t I?”
Only when he saw the gentle steam rising again did a faint curve return to the marquis’s lips.

“Winters in the North are hard. I wish I could stop working so much.”
“Then go back to the capital.”
“Might as well ask me to get struck by lightning.”

With a short tsk, Marquis Pardus took a sip of tea.
“I’d rather spend the rest of my days here than look at that idiot hogging up space in the capital. It’s better for both of us that way. Besides, ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ you know my family has appearances to keep.”
“When have you ever cared about appearances?”

“Of course I do. That’s exactly why I brought my precious grandson here today.”
“You irritating old man.”
“The highest of compliments. Really, Duke—if I can be the kind of presence that gets under your skin until the day I die, I’ll consider my life well-lived.”

With a sly grin, the marquis declared that his final life goal was to be an eternal thorn in Ferio’s side.
Ferio didn’t bother replying. He just continued to stare out the window at the same snowy scenery.
***

“Ugh, it stinks!”
“My nose burns!”
The moment the children stepped into the large reindeer enclosure, they covered their noses and giggled.

“Look over there! A reindeer!”
“It’s huge! Bigger than a horse!”
But the moment they saw the enormous reindeer Viscount Kerata had led inside the fence, all thoughts of the pungent, musky animal smell vanished and they burst into cheers.

Despite the noise, the reindeer stood calmly under the viscount’s gentle touch.
“This one’s name is Tutu.”
The children listened from outside the fence as Viscount Kerata spoke.

“He’s a young reindeer—just two years old this year.”
“He’s only two? But he’s so big!”
One of the children, her hair tied up in a short ponytail, asked in awe.

The reindeer, standing well taller than most adults, blinked gently at the children gazing up at him with wide eyes.
His deep blue eyes shimmered like the sky just before dawn.
“Reindeer are very gentle creatures. You can even ride them, like horses.”

The children paid close attention to Viscount Kerata’s explanation.
Thanks to Flomus’s earlier lecture, they had an easier time understanding, and some even raised their hands to show off what they knew.
“….”

But Leonia wasn’t listening.
Her thoughts were still fixated on the Marquis of Pardus she’d just met.
‘So that old man really is the marquis.’

Marquis Pardus was a character from a novel Leonia had read in her previous life.
Not a main character, but a memorable supporting role who had helped Ferio from the sidelines.
Sly, but resourceful.

Annoying at times, but undeniably competent.
That’s why she had been so shocked to see him in person.
Originally, the Pardus family had been sent to the North by the Imperial Court to act as mediators in the long-standing conflict between the Empire and the North. They were meant to be a symbol of harmony between the two factions.

But in truth, they had been planted there by the Empire to sow discord among the native Northerners—spies meant to pave the way for the Empire to completely subjugate the region.
However, there was one major problem.
‘The Pardus family loves strength.’

They’d first accepted the Imperial mission because, at the time, the Empire was powerful.
They were a family that worshipped power—seeking to serve the strongest, whoever that may be.
And the Black Beasts of the North, whispered about in rumors, proved to be even stronger than the Imperial Court. The Pardus family became enamored with that extraordinary, inhuman power.

‘So in the end, they turned their backs.’
They knelt before the Black Beasts and pledged their loyalty.
Having betrayed the Empire, they became the secret informants of House Voreoti, serving as double agents for many years.

‘And… he’s Lupe’s father.’
Marquis Pardus was the biological father of Viscount Lupe Ricoss.