I Became the Male Lead's Adopted Daughter-Chapter 100

The paperwork had always piled high, and ruling the northern region was no small feat—being busy was nothing new.

But the recently launched wristwatch business had made things even harder.

Even Leonia had started helping out by organizing documents in order and drawing up sketches for watch faces and bands herself, trying to lighten the load however she could.

Normally, Ferio would never think of making Leonia do such things.

But that only showed just how overwhelmed he was.

"How short are we on hands?"

Leonia asked.

"That rascal Lupe ended up crying."

Apparently, he had grabbed Ferio’s pants leg, begging him to hire just one more person—even just someone to handle chores.

Part of the problem was that they’d only brought two subordinates from the North.

"Poor Uncle..."

Leonia felt a wave of sympathy for her father's secretary, who was dying inside once again.

"But don’t worry!"

The little beast bounced energetically and declared with pride,

"I’m going to introduce you to someone today who will solve our manpower shortage!"

That very person had just arrived at the estate for an interview today.

Ferio was on his way to the front entrance with Leonia to greet the candidate.

"Is it someone reliable?"

"When it comes to loyalty to House Voreoti, they’re top-notch!"

"Don’t tell me..."

A certain image flickered through Ferio’s mind, and he frowned.

And sure enough—

"Tada!"

Leonia introduced the newly arrived talent.

"This is Lady Hieina, daughter of Count Hieina!"

***

The interview was held in the drawing room.

"Let’s see here..."

Leonia adjusted the rimless glasses on her nose and read the résumé.

"Name: Inseréa Hieina."

Thud! Just as she read the name, Leonia smacked the table loudly.

"Even the name is beautiful! Inseréa! It’s the perfect name to work in our mansion...!"

"That’s enough."

Unable to take it anymore, Ferio pressed on Leonia’s cheek to stop her from talking.

Her squished cheek made her lips puff out like a fish.

"...Lady Hieina."

"Y-Yes, sir...!"

Lady Hieina tensed up completely. Seeing the man she’d always watched from afar now right in front of her left her frozen.

She couldn’t even lift her face.

"Let’s set everything else aside for a moment."

Ferio looked at her in silence.

He never imagined he’d end up interviewing a stalker.

He glanced sideways at the person responsible for this disaster.

"What?"

That very person only looked smug, as if she’d done something brilliant.

With a deep sigh, Ferio finally spoke again.

"Do you understand what position you’re interviewing for?"

"Th-The young lady of the house invited me for an interview, so I..."

"Interview..."

His head throbbed.

Leonia, who had invited her, and Lady Hieina, who had actually shown up—

He wished both of them would just disappear for a moment.

'...Still, not Leo.'

Even then, he didn’t want Leonia gone from his side.

"The position we’re hiring for is a secretary."

"Y-Yes!"

"More precisely, it’s to assist my secretary, Viscount Ricoss."

Only the viscount—a loyal retainer—could directly assist the Duke of Voreoti.

All other staff had the role of supporting the viscount.

"And the minimum requirement is graduation from the Academy."

"Ah..."

A shadow passed over Lady Hieina’s face.

Under the table, her hands, resting on her knees, started to tremble.

"You did not attend the Academy, did you?"

"T-That is..."

"You don’t meet the qualifications."

In other words, she wasn’t eligible for the interview.

"You idiot dad!"

Leonia shrieked.

Startled, Lady Hieina flinched back.

"You narrow-minded, closed-off dad!"

"It’s not like that—"

"Rejecting someone from even having an interview just because they didn’t graduate the Academy?! That’s too much!"

"That’s the minimum requirement."

Ferio pushed down on his daughter’s head to calm her down.

Leonia responded by clacking her teeth in warning, ready to bite if he didn’t move his hand.

Only Lady Hieina blinked silently in her seat.

"She’s got amazing talent!"

"Since when did you become besties with your stalker?"

"We’ve been writing letters!"

"You actually write letters with her?"

Ferio clutched the back of his neck. His blood pressure was rising.

This fearless child was pulling every outrageous stunt possible.

"If I collapse from high blood pressure, it’s all your fault, Leo."

"That must mean I really am the strongest in the world."

"Enough nonsense."

Ferio was determined to end this situation as quickly as possible.

"Then... for Leo’s sake, I’ll ask."

Lady Hieina straightened up as all attention turned to her again.

"What can you do?"

She thought for a moment, then quietly looked at Leonia.

Leonia clenched her fists and gave a silent, but firm, nod of encouragement.

"...I’m good at writing."

She took out a small box she’d brought into the estate.

It contained countless neatly stored letters.

"These are all copies of the love letters I sent to Your Grace."

Ferio, who had leaned in to look, immediately leaned back.

"I may lack in many areas, but when it comes to writing, I’m faster than anyone. Copying books has been my hobby since I was a child."

"See, Dad?"

Leonia pulled out one of the letters and showed it to him.

The unfolded pages revealed neat, meticulous handwriting filling the paper completely.

It was all praise directed at Ferio, and impressively, not a single typo or grammatical error could be found.

"How long did it take you to write all of these?"

Leonia’s letter consisted of five pages—and there were ten such letters inside the box.

"I never timed it, but it takes me just under two hours to copy a full book."

"What was the book you copied?"

Ferio asked without much # Nоvеlight # hope—but still asked.

"It was the third volume of philosopher Rosophia’s works."

"That one’s super thick!"

Leonia gasped. Rosophia’s third volume was as thick as Ferio’s forearm.

Leonia had once tried to read it on her lap but had to give up when her legs lost circulation.

To have copied it in under two hours was seriously impressive.

Ferio, deep in thought, reached for the bell on the table.

Soon, Tra entered, and Ferio asked him to bring writing materials and the very book she mentioned.

"Can we see you do it?"

"Oh, then I just need pen and paper..."

"You need the book if you’re going to copy it."

"I have it memorized from when I copied it before."

Lady Hieina murmured shyly.

At that, the beastly father and daughter’s eyes widened simultaneously.

"As expected from my lackey—no, my sister!"

Leonia clapped loudly in admiration. Embarrassed by the praise, Lady Hieina lowered her head.

The back of her neck and ears turned red.

'So that’s why she’s looking after her.'

Ferio finally understood why Leonia was being so attentive toward this stalker.

Somewhere along the way, she must’ve felt sorry for her—and now believed it was her duty to take care of her.

Soon, Tra returned with the requested items.

As he brought the book on a tray, Leonia didn’t miss the strain in his forearm.

'As expected of a former knight!'

Even if his muscles had decreased, the forearm muscles visible under his sleeves still held the glory of his past.

Lady Hieina took the pen, and Ferio opened the book.

"You’re like Han Seok-bong."

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Leonia murmured quietly.

"What's that supposed to mean now?"

"The son who practiced writing in the dark while his mom sliced bread beside him."

"And the mom's fingers were okay?"

"Yeah, they were totally fine."

"Then it's fine."

Ferio, still flipping through the book, stopped at a particular page.

"Page two hundred forty."

Before he even finished the sentence, Lady Hieina immediately began writing without pause.

"Wow...!"

Leonia watched in awe as the paper filled up in an instant. Even Ferio stared with eyes slightly wider than usual.

Lady Hieina’s claim that she had memorized the book was entirely true.

Just from hearing the page number, she reproduced the text perfectly, and at a speed that could rival a wild stallion galloping across the plains.

Even so, not a single letter was out of place.

Ferio personally checked the completed page.

"Dad, how is it? Is it right?"

Leonia couldn’t help but ask.

"...All correct."

After checking, Ferio slumped slightly. Not a single mistake.

She had even corrected a typo that had been printed in the original book.

"With that kind of skill, why didn’t you go to the Academy?"

At this point, Ferio was genuinely curious.

The speed was one thing, but the fact that she remembered an entire book after transcribing it once was remarkable.

"T-That is..."

Flustered by the unexpected praise, Lady Hieina stammered.

"I-I get really nervous, and, um, I—I’m extremely shy..."

In short, she had outstanding talent, but her personality got in the way.

"Then you're not nervous today?"

"Today, the young lady is with me..."

Lady Hieina answered shyly.

Leonia gave her a soft, proud smile.

"She said I wasn’t worthless, and she praised one of the few things I can do well. Honestly, I don’t have many memories of being complimented."

"I’m sure your parents would be proud."

"My parents..."

The moment her parents were mentioned, the atmosphere shifted.

To Lady Hieina, her parents were frightening people.

In a way, even more terrifying than the man sitting before her.

Ferio watched silently for a moment, then let out a soft sigh.

"By the way."

And then he asked his final question.

"Do you want to be called a lackey—I mean, subordinate—by my daughter?"

"Is that not allowed?"

Lady Hieina tilted her head, looking genuinely confused.

"Lady Voreoti is an incredible person. I’ve never seen anyone as strong and beautiful as she is."

For the first time, she spoke with conviction, declaring that when it came to House Voreoti, age was just a number.

"I admire Voreoti, who stands firm against everything!"

Tap, tap.

Ferio drummed his fingers lightly on the table.

And with that, the interview was over.

***

"Um, Your Grace."

Just before leaving the estate—

Lady Hieina called out to Ferio.

"I—I just wanted to say I’m sorry..."

She bowed deeply.

Ferio, who had been dragged to the front entrance by Leonia’s insistence, looked at her with a surprised expression.

"Did you truly reflect on your actions?"

"Yes."

Still bowing, Lady Hieina offered her apology.

"Honestly, even while I was writing letters and following Your Grace, I knew it was wrong. But I truly admired you."

To someone like her, who always hesitated and fell behind out of fear of others’ judgment, House Voreoti had been the only thing she could admire freely, even from afar.

I want to be like that too.

Could I ever become someone like that?

"I always admired you... and so I grew to like you."

"For someone who liked me, you really crossed the line a lot."

Ferio, who had listened quietly, said flatly.

Lady Hieina nodded, accepting that she had no excuse.

"Above all else, I will never forgive anyone who secretly watched my daughter."