I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter

Pavo's brow, who stepped back to the side, was twisted for a moment. Carelessly calling his master offended the heart of the loyal knight.

"Marquis."

Pelliot, who glanced at Pavo lightly, immediately pretended to recognize Marquis Pardus as if nothing had happened. Marquis Pardus sat down next to the empty seat.

"I didn't know I would meet you here."

He said he had no idea at all, but in fact Pelliot knew that Marquis Pardus was coming. This was because he first obtained the tea party guest list through Viscount Kerata. This was to make sure that there would be no one who could adversely affect Leonia.

"Long time no see. Was the last time I saw you in the capital city?"

"Not long ago, we met at the Imperial Palace as if we were tired of seeing each other."

"Hahaha! The Duke talks funny things."

The laughter was so loud that the children who were playing with the nobles around them turned around in surprise.

'…… What is with that man?'

Who was it that you dare pretend to be that close in front of my dad?

Leonia narrowed her eyes thinly and watched the unidentified old gentleman. As far as Leonia knew, the only friend who could be friendly with Pelliot was Count Carnes Renee. He was like a field on a bright spring day, who knows how to handle Pelliot's temper like a kid's prank.

"Who is it?"

Did such a person appear in the novel?

Leonia murmured as she looked at the old gentleman whose white and gray look like the Northern mountains.

"It's my grandfather."

It was a boy who was eagerly eating the candy Leonia had given him that answered her curiosity.

"Your grandfather?"

The boy, boasting chubby cheeks and a round nose, nodded his head. Even though he was the grandson of an old gentleman, there was not much resemblance. The child was round, but the old gentleman had a bitter impression.

"Who is your grandfather?"

"He is Marquis Pardus."

Leonia opened her mouth wide.

* * *

The conflict between the North and the Empire was deep.

Its beginning went back in history, starting from the early days of the founding of the Empire.

At that time, there were already established and formed powers not only in the Northern part but also in other regions, and the early Imperial Family conciliated them and gave them the title of nobility. The arrogant and strong northern part that was expanding its territory was like a thorn in the eye of the Imperial Family.

In particular, the Imperial Family was terrified of 'beasts' with black hair and black eyes. Not with magic or swordsmanship, but with a strange ability that resembles the fangs of the beast, they lightly trampled on the elite troops of the Imperial Family and the warriors and wizards who were said to be the best of their time.

Then at some point,

The Northern beasts reached out their hands first. The reason was unknown, but the Black Beasts received the title from the Empire and nominally entered under them.

Absolute autonomy in the North and ban on marriage between two families.

Subject to these two conditions.

The Empire was forced to accept both conditions. Without that, they could not get their hands on the Northern part. Since the beast's fangs were beyond the realm of human beings, it was only natural that they had won a victory when they could not even be defeated. If they continued to confront each other, it was likely that the Empire would be taken away by the beasts of the North.

Instead, the Empire placed a condition.

Accept a noble family with royal blood in the North.

"My grandson is eight years old this year. He's the eldest son, isn't he cute?"

That was the family of Marquis Pardus, whose mustaches were drooping from bragging about his grandchild next to Pelliot.

"You love your grandchild so much."

Pelliot just nodded his head roughly as he was holding the tea.

"It's my first grandchild, so he's more interesting."

"I see."

The one-sided conversation continued on the table, with Marquis Pardus laughing out loud and Pelliot listening silently and giving simple answers. However, for some reason, the atmosphere was colder and sharper than icicles that stayed only in the place where the two of them sat.

Only Viscountess Kerata, who had prepared the tea party diligently at best, had to swallow her tears alone. The tea party organizer's pathetic feelings did not work for the two men.

"Dad."

It was then.

"Leo."

The gaze that was staring at the Marquis moved downward. His gaze that was cold and sharp like a piece of ice melted.

"I'm going to go see the reindeer now."

Leonia said, holding out her candy bag. All of a sudden, the children gathered near the door were served by the maids and servants of the Viscount family, dressed in their outerwear and prepared to go out. Likewise, Leonia was wearing her cloak with confidence.

"Take it and eat it with your friends."

"I don't think I can eat while seeing the reindeer."

"Why?"

"Just……."

Now, in Leonia's head, something hot was shaking unhealthily.

'Does Dad know?'

The fact that, thanks to the hot, round egg, her pea-sized childhood innocence was completely dried and twisted.

Round candy and round eggs.

"…… I'm not going to eat it anyway."

An awkward smile crossed Leonia's lips, who mumbled that her appetite had gone down. There was chicken stew in cream for dinner tonight, but that was also out of the question.

"Hoo, this kid……."

At that time, Marquis Pardus intervened between the father-and-daughter.

"You are the daughter of the rumored Duke Voreotti."

"…… Rumored?"

"Ah, sorry. The Duke was sensitive to rumors."

The Marquis made a mistake and gave a good laugh. Pelliot ignored him and received the candy bag from Leonia. And after he made sure the child was wearing her outerwear, he added a warning to be careful.

"Hello, Duke's daughter."

Marquis Pardus introduced himself first.

"…… Hello."

Leonia, who had been staring at the Marquis rudely enough, greeted him one beat late.

"Leonia Voreotti. I am Dad's daughter."

"Hahaha! You are a very cute person. That's why the Duke seems to be playing in your arms."

"Is it? I'm more muscular than my father's arms……."

"Aren't you going to see the reindeer?"

Pelliot, who cut off her words just before the muscle harassment, called Pavo.

"Take Sir Gavert."

"Yes."

"Go carefully."

"Yes."

Leonia nodded her head, took Pavo's hand and went to the children's gathering.

"Did you have fun with your friends?"

"Ummm, in a way? I learned a lot."

"What is it? Can you teach me?"

"Do you know why the reindeer's nose is red?"

Leonia can't be the only one who suffers. Leonia, who had a naughty heart, smirked an evil smile and whispered in Pavo's ear.

Aaaacckk!

Soon, a clear and bright scream that did not match Pavo's reliable size erupted. It was a clear voice that reminded them of a bird. Leonia and the children around her laughed at how strange it was.

What was that guy doing? It was just a moment when Pelliot's unworthy gaze turned to Pavo.

"…… There is no time to rest."

As soon as the grandson disappeared, Marquis Pardus stopped laughing.

"I'm sure it's normal."

The Marquis lowered his pointed eyes and made an inconsistent grumbling with a sad tone. With the other hand, Pelliot grabbed his wrist that wanted to pour tea on the Marquis, and pressed it down.

"Hoho, that's too much."

Who were you so busy with?

Looking out the window where the quiet garden covered with pure white snow could be seen, the Marquis looked at the cold tea with a scornful gaze. Soon, the servant who served came and poured the tea.

"I am very old now."

After seeing the hot steam rising, the Marquis' lips loosened.

"The Northern winters are hard. I want to stop working."

"Then go back to the capital again."

"Just pray that I will be struck by lightning."

Marquis Pardus then drank the tea.

"Even if I don't want to see that idiot all over the capital, I'll stay here for the rest of my life. It would be better for each other. In particular, our family has a position."

"When did the Marquis care about that?"

"Of course I care about it. So that was why I brought my precious grandchild here today?"

"You're such an irritating old man."

"That is the best compliment. This is so, it seems to me that when I die, I will close my eyes with no regrets if I become an object that is irritating to our duke."

Saying that was his last life goal, the Marquis smiled with a smirk.

Pelliot didn't respond. He just looked at the scenery outside the window that the Marquis was looking at.

* * *

"Uwaa, the smell!"

"My nose stings!"

As soon as they entered the large reindeer cage, the children grabbed their noses and giggled.

"Look over there! It's a reindeer!"

"Very big! Bigger than a horse!"

However, as soon as they saw the large reindeer that Viscount Kerata had brought into the fence, they cheered as if they had forgotten all about the stinky animal smell. Despite the loud noise, the reindeer waited patiently, following the Viscount's hand.

"This kid's name is Tutu."

The children listened to Viscount Kerata's explanation outside the fence.

"This is a two-year-old reindeer."

"It's two years old? It's very tall."

The boy with a short ponytail asked in surprise. The reindeer, who was over the height of an adult, blinked at the children who looked up at it with dazzling eyes. Its dark blue eyes resembled the sky just before dawn.

"Reindeer are good at following people. You can ride it like a horse."

The children listened to Viscount Kerata's explanation. It was easy for everyone to understand because Flomus had taught them about the reindeer a while ago. Rather, some children even raised their hands and boasted that they knew this too.

"……."

However, Leonia's ears did not hear the explanation well. The child's nerves turned to Marquis Pardus, whom she had just met.

'That grandfather is the Marquis.'

Marquis Pardus was a character in a novel Leonia had read in another world that she remembered. Although he wasn't the main character, he was an old gentleman who left a pretty big impression as a helper to Pelliot.

He's sly, but well-informed.

Even though he was a little annoying, his skills had been proven.

So Leonia was surprised to see Marquis Pardus.

Originally, the Pardus family mediates the conflict between the Northern and the Empire in the Imperial Family. They were a collateral family sent by the Imperial Family to symbolize the unity of the two forces. However, in reality, they were like spies sent by the Imperial Family with a plan to completely devour the northern part, causing conflict by alienating the inhabitants of the northern part from behind.

But there was one problem.

'The Pardus loves power.'

The reason they first moved to the North according to the will of the Imperial Family was because the Imperial Family was a very strong entity. They were people who believed and followed the strong, recognizing the strong and made them their masters. However, the black beasts of the North, which they had only heard of through rumors, were stronger than the Imperial Family.

The Pardus was fascinated by a wondrous power that transcends humans.

'The bottom line was that they turned around.'

The Pardus family knelt before the black beasts and swore allegiance. Betraying the Imperial Family, they voluntarily became an informant of the Duke Voreotti family, and had been serving as double agents for a long time.

'And Uncle Lupert's father's family.'

Marquis Pardus was the biological father of Viscount Lupert Ricos.

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