I Became the Male Lead’s Adopted Daughter
Chapter 209

"How—what—no, I mean, I knew about it!"

Leonia remembered clearly.

Six years ago, during a banquet, the engagement between the houses of Olor and Erbanu had been a hot topic, and so was the age gap between the engaged pair. She had been disgusted back then when she first learned the details.

'But still...'

She never imagined something even more horrific would come to light.

Leonia rubbed her arms. A wave of fear crashed over her at the cruelty of humanity she had just witnessed for the first time.

“...Dad!”

Just then, a chilling possibility struck Leonia.

“Don’t tell me... my birth mother too...!”

“Yes.”

Ferio exhaled a long, heavy sigh through his reluctant voice.

“Most likely, it happened the same way.”

Regina had been naive, uncharacteristic of a Voreoti.

People used to say she had flowers blooming in her head—an easy prey for someone like Remus.

“He must have manipulated her feelings...”

There was no need to wonder how.

‘Do you think your family will forgive you for running away?’

‘You just have to endure a little.’

‘You can’t even manage that?’

‘I’m the only one who truly loves you.’

Though Regina’s death had been confirmed, the details of how it happened remained a mystery.

And now, with Lota’s sudden appearance, a thread of that mystery had started to unravel.

“That disgusting bastard!”

Leonia couldn’t hold back her curse.

Ferio silently agreed.

Remus Olor had personally demonstrated just how cruel and vile a human being could be.

‘So the truth begins to show itself...’

Though this was not how Ferio had wanted to learn it.

“Haa...”

He let out another sigh, drowning in regret. If only he had paid more attention to Regina back then, maybe none of this would’ve happened.

He knew it was a useless “what if.” He knew it wasn’t his fault.

And yet, he couldn’t shake the regret. If Varia was tormented by the same guilt, then he had no right to console her.

He too was plagued by what he could have done differently.

He wondered what Varia must have felt, seeing Lota still bound by the chains Remus had shackled her with.

Remus Olor had dragged multiple people into the gutter with him.

“...Don’t make that face!”

Watching his father's pained expression, Leonia shouted.

“Why are you making that guilty face like you’re the bad guy here?”

Her shoulders trembled with frustration. Ferio blinked in surprise.

“You didn’t do anything wrong!”

“......”

“The bastard who did wrong was that piece of shit, not you! Why are you drowning in guilt?”

She shouted so loudly that her whole body shook, then stormed toward the bedroom where Varia was lying down.

Without knocking, she flung the door open—and found Varia sitting on the bed, her expression sunken and somber.

That only made Leonia angrier.

“You stupid mom!”

“...Huh?”

Startled by the sudden outburst, Varia blinked in confusion.

“Le-Leo? What’s going on all of a sudden...”

“It’s not your fault!”

Leonia demanded to know why her mother was sitting there brooding like she’d done something wrong. Varia couldn’t say a word in response.

“Dad too!”

She turned her glare to Ferio, who had followed behind.

“What could you have done back then? Want me to be honest? Even if you went back in time, neither of you would’ve been able to do anything.”

Do you know why?

Leonia answered her own question without waiting.

“Because both of you were struggling just to survive!”

Neither parent could argue with the child’s cold assessment. Because she was right.

Ferio had been all but deprived of his parents’ love. Whether intentional or not, he had been deeply scarred.

Varia was no different. She had been completely abandoned by her family, suffered countless wounds, and was eventually killed without so much as a glance.

“How could you have helped anyone when you couldn’t even take care of yourselves!”

Do you think you were some kind of saints?

No one could respond to that.

“Okay, fine—you were kind of amazing.”

Once again, Leonia answered herself.

“You’re beautiful and talented.”

Ferio and Varia were left speechless. They had been getting scolded without a chance to defend themselves—then suddenly came a compliment.

“But even back then, you both needed someone to take care of you. Honestly, from what I see, you two suffered just as much because of those two. Have you thought about that?”

Leonia knew how selfish her words were.

But the only people that mattered to her were the ones standing by her side now. She didn’t need to care about anyone else.

Regina was already dead.

Lota had rejected help.

Therefore, Leonia didn’t think her parents needed to feel sympathy or regret toward either of them anymore.

Because they had done nothing wrong.

Of course, Leonia still felt sorry for Regina. There had always been a corner of her heart filled with pity for her.

And even Lota, brainwashed by Remus, stirred a faint bit of sympathy.

‘But so what.’

That was the limit of Leonia’s compassion.

“Did any adults help you when you were going through hell?”

The ones who should feel guilty and regretful were the so-called guardians back then.

And the one who deserved punishment was someone else entirely.

“That bastard is the one who did wrong.”

Leonia declared it with certainty. Her unwavering stance made both parents’ eyes tremble faintly.

“If you really feel any sympathy for them, then put all your energy into taking that bastard down.”

That was the only thing they could do—and Leonia warned them not to let revenge become some misguided form of atonement.

Sympathy should remain as sympathy.

Because for Leonia, what mattered most were Ferio and Varia.

She didn’t want them to be consumed by unnecessary guilt.

***

Leonia didn’t go to bed until she had fumed for quite some time.

‘If this happens again, I’m going to Olor!’

‘What for? To kill them all!’

‘Go ahead, make me the daughter of a murderer!’

‘Now I’m sleepy, so I’m going to bed!’

‘Anyway, sweet dreams!’

She was angry—but still sleepy. Even while grumbling, Leonia kissed both Ferio and Varia on the cheek to say good night.

She even closed the door softly.

But the thudding of her footsteps echoed loudly from beyond the room.

The two parents sat there in silence, as if a storm had just passed.

And somehow, their minds felt much clearer.

“Leo’s more mature than we are.”

Varia was the first to speak.

“Right, Rio?”

“I really have nothing to say this time.”

Ferio agreed without hesitation.

“More importantly, how’s your body feeling?”

“Oddly enough, after getting yelled at, I feel so much better.”

“Come on.”

“I mean it. My head feels clear.”

Strangely, the muscle pain had faded since Leonia scolded her. The thoughts that had tangled in her mind were now completely organized.

“When I saw my sister earlier...”

Varia spoke calmly.

“I was truly shocked.”

“Were you?”

Ferio sat beside her and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her gently to lean on his shoulder.

Varia accepted the comfort without hesitation. Her expression had eased, though a faint shadow remained in her green eyes as she recalled her sister.

“The Lota I knew... she was never someone who could be tricked and used like that.”

“Do you still want to help her?”

Ferio asked.

Varia shook her head.

Leonia was right. Sympathy wasn’t forgiveness—and it shouldn’t become guilt either.

Varia had known that, yet she’d nearly made that mistake.

“I held out my hand. But Lota rejected it.”

So there was nothing more for her to do.

She had been deeply hurt by Lota too—she was also a victim.

And ultimately, the greatest fault lay with Remus. The lesser evil had been their own parents, who sent their daughter to that man.

“...It’s chilling when you think about it.”

Ferio said.

“You could’ve ended up like that too.”

“Remus Olor is someone who can never be forgiven.”

“I agree.”

“Still, does it make me cruel?”

Varia asked quietly.

“She’s my sister, after all...”

“If I were you, that kind of sister wouldn’t be around anymore.”

Ferio clicked his tongue. He thought Varia was far too soft-hearted.

“Tell me something, Ferio. Did you ever think the same way I did?”

Varia asked. Ferio said his thoughts were similar—but also a little different.

“My guilt always comes back to Leo.”

“Leo?”

“Our dutiful daughter has scolded me countless times not to blame myself... but how could I not?”

If only he had paid a little more attention to Regina. If only he had searched a little harder when she disappeared. If only he’d tried even a fraction as hard as he gripped his fountain pen.

Then maybe Leonia wouldn’t have spent so long suffering in that hellish orphanage.

“I adopted Leo with such a light heart.”

For the first time, Ferio spoke of the day he adopted Leonia.

“I was swayed by a friend’s words... I just thought, ‘If I see a decent one, maybe I’ll take them in and raise them.’”

It sounded so irresponsible. But Ferio confessed it like a sinner giving a solemn testimony. Varia listened intently.

“Kara told me—she asked if I had brought home a pet.”

She scolded him for treating a child like a toy.

“And looking back, she was right.”

“But now, you two are a real family. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”

“Which makes me feel all the more foolish and regretful about the past.”

To have done such a thing to such a beautiful, lovable daughter...

Logically, Ferio had done nothing wrong.

Regina had chosen to run. It had been Remus who manipulated her.

But the /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ consequences had all fallen on little Leonia.

The scars that once marred her frail body were now gone—but they were etched into Ferio’s mind and heart.

“If only I had paid more attention to Regina. If only I’d searched more. If only I hadn’t given up.”

Maybe then, Leonia wouldn’t have had to endure that nightmare.

“...That’s not guilt.”

Varia took Ferio’s hand in hers and squeezed it.

“That’s the love of a father for his daughter.”

That simple and beautiful thing—Varia had never once received it herself. That’s how she knew for sure.

“So don’t confuse that love with guilt.”

“Maybe that’s what made Leo so mad.”

Ferio let out a short laugh.

“Parents—thinking such dumb things.”

“Our Leo really is smart and kind.”

“It goes without saying.”

That night, the Voreoti couple burned with pride for their beloved daughter.