I Became the Male Lead's Adopted Daughter-Chapter 84
Leonia hadn’t thought much of meeting Lady Hieina.
Of course, she was aware she’d upset her father.
But she figured it was nothing serious—just something they could laugh off with a few jokes, like always.
How badly could I be scolded anyway? A bit of cuteness, and she was sure he’d let it slide as he always did.
Ferio had always backed down. Even when scolding her, the worst he did was pinch her nose.
That was her fatal miscalculation.
As a rookie father, Ferio had always held back his anger, afraid that he might scare her. That’s how precious she was to him.
But this time, Ferio had truly made up his mind to discipline her.
Not only had she met with someone dangerous, but she’d also ridden a horse on her own, even though she wasn’t used to it.
Ferio’s worry had far surpassed his limits of patience.
His fiercely contorted face looked agonizing.
Leonia’s heart ached.
She felt sorry. And scared.
And then, like a snake slithering up her spine, unease began to creep in.
What if he’s really disappointed in me?
What if he stays angry forever?
Being hated by her dad was the saddest thing imaginable. He was the one and only person in the world who made her feel safe, who gave her a place to belong.
Even the thought of losing that made Leonia’s heart sink as if the floor had dropped beneath her.
So she dug her heels in.
“I’ll take any punishment—just say you don’t hate me!”
Even Leonia herself was shocked at how childish she sounded.
But without hearing that from Ferio’s mouth, she felt like she’d go insane with anxiety.
She truly felt like a child.
While Leonia whimpered like a puppy that needed to pee—
“What on earth are you...”
Ferio, who was about to scold her for her nonsense, faltered.
He was angry because he was worried—not because he hated or resented her.
But what if that wasn’t how it looked in her eyes?
What if the scolding he’d mustered up, out of sheer concern, touched the same raw nerves as the trauma she’d suffered in the orphanage?
The thought made his spine run cold.
If this precocious child—who never flinched at his scary face—felt genuine fear at how he looked now, it would be devastating.
It felt like someone had jabbed an ice pick into the back of his neck—his vision blurred.
Squeeze, squeeze.
“......”
But thankfully—
Squeeze, squeeze.
His one and only daughter didn’t leave room for seriousness.
“Leo.”
Ferio called her quietly. His voice had softened, gently speaking her nickname.
The little hands that had been groping his thigh paused.
“I’ve said it before—you’re relentless.”
Even while being scolded, she was feeling up his muscles. If that wasn’t dedication, what was? A perversion worthy of craftsmanship.
Still, the fear that had chilled him moments ago vanished like dust.
For the first time, Leonia’s inappropriate behavior was actually helpful.
“I-I wasn’t groping...”
“Then what did I feel?”
“I was brushing off some dust!”
Leonia stammered, trying to make excuses. It was unlike her usual bold teasing.
“You’ve got some nerve...”
Ferio trailed off with a scoff.
Hadn’t he just thought his fears had vanished like dust?
And now Leonia was using the same word. It was oddly fitting.
The tense atmosphere melted away.
“...Hehe.”
A little smile spread across Leonia’s face.
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“What are you smiling about? You think this is funny?”
“Hehe, you’re not mad anymore, right?”
“No.”
Ferio answered instantly, and Leonia pouted.
“Tightwad.”
“Sounds like someone still hasn’t been scolded enough.”
His large hand flicked her nose. Leonia immediately covered it with both hands.
“No, I’ve been scolded plenty!”
“You don’t look sorry at all.”
“How would you know!”
“By the way you’re groping my thigh?”
Ferio shook his head, blaming himself for raising her wrong.
“Exactly. It’s all your fault.”
Leonia patted his thigh, as if to comfort him.
“You know what they say—never take in a black-haired beast. You’re just reaping what you sowed.”
“Is that really something you should say out loud?”
Ferio shot her a look.
Not one to lose a word, was she?
And where had she even picked up that saying? A Voreoti denying her own bloodline like some old-timer muttering nonsense.
Maybe if he smacked her on the head, he’d feel better. But every time she looked up at him with those round, sparkling eyes, none of it seemed to matter.
“...You're back. That’s enough.”
She returned safely.
That alone was enough.
The loser of this father-daughter quarrel was Ferio.
It was a foregone conclusion—just like always. And it would be the same in the future.
“Come here.”
Ferio lowered himself and held his arms open. Leonia beamed and threw herself into his embrace.
He lifted her up high, and she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Dad, I love you.”
She spoke in a childish, affectionate voice as she snuggled into his arms.
“You do feel guilty, don’t you?”
That’s why you’re being so clingy, Ferio said, tapping her lips lightly with a finger.
“There’ll be a sermon anyway.”
“Keep it short.”
“And punishment too.”
“Come on, isn’t the sermon already punishment?”
“As if.”
Ferio scoffed at her nonsense.
“I’ve done some studying.”
His smile turned ominous, like he had something planned.
“...Also.”
Ferio looked up at the second-floor railing.
“You two—pay cut.”
You dare make a drinking bet over my daughter?
The Black Beast’s eyes flashed with an icy gleam.
“...Uncle Lupe’s crying.”
Leonia pointed toward the railing, where the sound of muffled sobbing was coming from.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
***
The lecture after dinner ended quickly.
She was told never to meet dangerous people so carelessly again. And if she absolutely had to, she was to take an escort knight with her.
And she was strictly forbidden from riding a horse without her father’s permission.
“If you do it again, I’ll ban you from admiring muscles in any form.”
“Aaagh!”
Leonia screamed.
It was simply too horrific.
But Ferio didn’t stop there.
“And I’ll redecorate your room with pink wallpaper covered in flowers.”
“Nooo! That’s the worst!”
“And I’ll have the Angel and the Hunter fairytale painted as a mural on your wall.”
If she ever wanted a room decorated with a book that glorified sexual assault, she could go ahead and misbehave again, Ferio warned.
Leonia collapsed to the floor.
“Just hit me! Just punch me instead!”
Ferio smiled as he patted his daughter’s shoulder.
His expression was gentler than ever—but it looked absolutely evil.
“This is all out of your father’s love.”
Ferio felt proud that his lecture had gotten through. After all, punishment wasn’t everything.
And soon, the real punishment was given.
The only material he needed was a tiny child-sized chair.
Ferio personally placed the chair in a corner of the living room.
“You’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking... right?”
Leonia’s voice trembled.
“No, that’s exactly what I’m thinking.”
Ferio pointed to the chair—it meant “Sit.”
Leonia slumped down onto the chair. Right in front of her was wallpaper she usually never paid attention to.
It was a truly miserable feeling.
“And this, too.”
Next, something was slipped around her neck. A string—attached to it, a big sign.
Leonia slowly read the words written on it.
“Didn’t... listen... to Dad...!”
Her face flushed red mid-sentence.
[I didn’t listen to Dad.]
“This is humiliating! What is this!”
“What do you mean, it’s your punishment.”
“You can’t do both! Pick one!”
To be put in the thinking chair and wear the shame necklace? That was pure evil.
“If you’re going to punish me, at least do it in my room!”
And on top of it all, there were several servants moving around the living room.
Behind Leonia’s chair, Ferio’s drink table had been set up.
Leonia grabbed the back of her neck.
“It’s on the rocks!”
Whiskey and ice were set neatly on the table. No snacks.
“Daaaad.”
Leonia kicked her feet from her seat.
“Whiskey’s actually good with fish. Try it lightly breaded and fried. But for that, you should skip the ice in the glass!”
The happiness of taking a bite of lightly oily grilled fish and chasing it with a mouthful of whiskey—
Leonia swallowed hard.
Her expression became so thrilled, it looked like she was the one drinking the alcohol.
Her half-closed eyes could’ve rivaled any drunken old man.
“Where’d you learn that from?”
Ferio gave her a sharp look. This little one would bring up alcohol any chance she got—it was getting serious.
She’d even tried bribing knights in the North just to sneak a sip more than once.
Of course, she had failed every time.
“...The orphanage?”
Leonia offered weakly.
“Why’s that sound like a question?”
“I learned so much there, okay?”
She really had learned a lot at the orphanage—from wickedness to toughness, from filth to cruelty.
“All that and more...”
Ferio muttered something under his breath. Though it didn’t come out clearly, it was obvious he was cursing the orphanage teachers.
The ones rotting in the Northern dungeon were now in even more danger.
“Alright, enough small talk.”
After listening to her grumble a while, Ferio flipped over the hourglass on his table.
Until all the sand ran through the glass, she was to sit and face the wall in reflection. That was today’s punishment.
“Oh, what a life.”
Leonia half gave up.
“Why do I have to do this at my age.”
“You’re seven, that’s why.”
Ferio grumbled while reviewing documents with a drink in hand.
“Reflect properly on what you did wrong today.”
“Yeah yeah...”
Fine, I’ll do it, she thought.
Leonia sat at the edge of the chair, slouched like a delinquent.
Her lips stuck out stubbornly.
Leaning her upper body back against the seat, she started counting the patterns in the wallpaper to pass the time.
For a short while, anyway.
“...Leo.”
Ferio dropped one hand off the sofa beside him.
“I told you to stay put, didn’t I?”
His fingers caught a squishy cheek and stretched it.
Leonia had somehow crept over to the couch where Ferio was reclining.
The shame necklace had been thrown onto the chair.
“Ow ow ow.”
Leonia whined as her cheek was pulled. But Ferio had adjusted his strength—it didn’t actually hurt much.
It was mostly for show.
“You couldn’t hold out even that long?”
“It was boring!”
“That’s what life is.”
He scolded her, saying that if she couldn’t endure this, how would she handle anything in the future?
But Ferio couldn’t go any harsher than that.
He was always soft when it came to his daughter.
He even turned a blind eye as Leonia flopped onto his stomach.
Her weight, growing heavier by the day, was a welcome change for Ferio.
“Did you reflect at all?”
Ferio glanced at the hourglass. Less than ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) half the sand had passed through.
“...A little?”
Leonia pinched her fingers close together.
“You shameless little brat.”
It was obvious she hadn’t.
He gave her a look full of that very thought, and Leonia quickly averted her eyes.
“But that’s how kids grow up. Parents need a little heartbreak too—it’s part of the joy of raising them.”
“You don’t get to say that.”
Ferio sighed, genuinely unsure how to raise this old-soul child of his.
A deep breath escaped him.
“Haha! That’s funny!”
Leonia giggled, bouncing from the rise and fall of his chest with his sighs.
Ferio patted her back, annoyed at the noise.
“Dad, are you not mad anymore?”
She poked at his chest with her finger as she asked.
“...Yeah.”
Ferio grabbed her little finger and held it down as he replied.
He’d been over it for a while now.
He hadn’t even been angry, really.
He’d just been more emotional than usual because he was worried.
“So what did you go out for, anyway?”
Ferio finally asked about Leonia’s earlier outing.
