Ferio looked down at the child’s round head with an expression that said he was utterly speechless.
“What a vulgar and transactional form of filial piety.”
“Indeed it is, Father.”
“You don’t even plan to deny it, huh.”
The imasurable wealth of House Voreoti had managed to turn even a little beast cub into a devoted daughter.
“You ungrateful little thing.”
In the end, Ferio hoisted her up high.
Then he stretched out his arm and gave her a gentle shake, making her jiggle as if she were vibrating.
It was a ga that perfectly reflected the complicated emotions of a father who found his daughter’s behavior both infuriating and ridiculously cute—so much so that he couldn’t even scold her.
“Uwaaah! Ooooh!”
Leonia let out strange giggles, matching the rhythm of her bouncing body.
Just before they passed through the Northern Gate—
This peaceful mont had beco such a natural part of daily life in House Voreoti. Yet a year ago, no one could have imagined anything like it.
***
“Snnnffff...”
Tiny nostrils scrunched up—
“...Haaah.”
And widened again.
Leonia took a deep breath that filled her chest to the brim, then smiled in complete satisfaction.
They had finally returned to the North.
It had taken a full four months.
While the carriage that had passed through the Gate was being inspected, Leonia wandered the area with leis.
They had co through here last late autumn, but unfortunately, Leonia didn’t rember the place very well.
“Young Miss.”
So leis helped her rediscover her mories.
“This tree, right here.”
She pointed to a particular tree standing at the edge of the forest path.
Leonia, who had been looking elsewhere, hurried over.
“This is the one?”
“Yes, you threw up right here.”
It was a rather unpleasant mory for such a kind tone.
Leonia brushed her hand over a faint stain on the bark with a nostalgic expression.
This was the very tree where the little beast had unloaded her stomach right after first stepping into the North.
“...Doesn’t it seem like this tree’s grown bigger than the others?”
“It does. It’s unusually large.”
“See? I nourished it!”
“Uh...”
leis thought they might want to hear the tree’s side of the story on that.
But the loyal knight kept her true feelings hidden behind a soft smile.
“Leo!”
Just then, Ferio called out to her.
The inspection had finished, and the carriage was now ready to head straight to the North.
“Daddy!”
Leonia ran energetically to Ferio, spun around him once with a little skip, then stopped and pointed back at the tree she had just visited.
“You know the tree I threw up on? It got huge!”
She stretched her whole body toward the sky to emphasize her point.
Ferio’s gaze followed to the tree.
In that mont—
Not just Ferio, but everyone found themselves rembering Leonia as they had first seen her last late autumn.
Back then, she had been in a miserable state, to put it mildly.
Her body was emaciated from malnourishnt, covered in visible signs of abuse.
She hadn’t even been properly washed—there was a stench. When they passed through the Gate, she got so motion-sick she looked deader than a wilted weed.
To exaggerate only slightly, she’d been in a condition where it wouldn’t have been surprising if she had died right then and there.
But now, Leonia was so healthy she was nearly unrecognizable.
She looked like a completely different person.
“...She’s grown.”
Ferio murmured as he recalled the ti they had spent together.
It was a strange feeling.
It felt as if he had been with her since the mont she was born—but in reality, it hadn’t even been a full year since they had t.
Everyone felt the sa.
That was how great an impact Leonia had made.
At this point, imagining House Voreoti without the little beast cub was impossible.
Life before Leonia’s arrival felt more like a lie than a mory.
“Right? That tree’s the only one that grew, see?”
anwhile, the little beast cub, unaware of the adults’ emotions, bead proudly on her own.
“Thanks to , it grew so well!”
She shalessly praised herself and even her vomit.
“...No, we should hear the tree’s opinion on that.”
Ferio, of all people, voiced his objection.
“Ugh, you’re so annoying... seriously...”
Leonia, clearly annoyed, thumped her dad’s thigh with her cottony fists.
“My Lord!”
Just then, a knight called out to Ferio. The inspection was complete.
“Alright, ti to depart.”
Leaving their sentintal mont behind, the carriage started moving again.
As they passed familiar paths and squares, a dimly lit mansion—perfect for a murder mystery—ca into view.
Leonia, pressing her face to the window to look outside, broke into a smile.
“We’re ho!”
They had finally returned to the Voreoti estate.
***
“Oh my, our young miss...”
Kara, who had co out to greet them, was teary-eyed.
The old butler eventually burst into sobs, taking off his glasses to wipe away the tears. It was because the child he hadn’t seen in months had grown so much he could barely recognize her.
“Snff, hrrrk...!”
Madam Felica was no different.
She, too, couldn’t speak for a mont, overwheld by tears. Dabbing at her wet eyes with her apron, she warmly welcod the young miss.
“Don’t cry, please? Both of you—stop it...”
Leonia hurried to console the two adults.
She had missed them so much, and now they were bawling the mont they saw her. It threw her off completely.
But she knew this ant they truly cared for her.
Leonia felt a tickle in her chest.
It was embarrassing, but having people sincerely happy about how much she’d grown... it made her feel undeniably happy.
She happened to glance back and saw Ferio watching them quietly.
As always, his gaze was kind—so kind it felt like he could read her thoughts.
Their eyes t, and the father and daughter exchanged a gentle smile.
“You’ve truly beco a young lady.”
Felica, having finally stopped crying, clasped Leonia’s hands tightly.
“I’ve grown a lot, huh?”
Leonia twisted her body shyly.
“I don’t think I can fit into any of my old clothes anymore.”
“That’s wonderful news.”
Kara, having wiped his eyes and adjusted his glasses, had finally pulled himself together.
He instructed a nearby servant to summon the tailor from the dressing room. The servant swiftly took off.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
“We’ll probably need new hair ornants, too.”
Felica said, eyeing Leonia’s long black hair that had grown out so beautifully.
“That’s okay! I bought a ton on the way back!”
“Well done.”
“I even said, ‘From here to there,’ for the first ti!”
“You did very well.”
But next ti, Felica advised with a warm smile, she should summon an artisan or shopkeeper to make custom orders instead.
“Our young miss deserves only the best.”
“Daddy said the sa thing!”
Leonia looked mildly shocked to hear the sa advice again.
Felica, clearly amused by the girl’s reaction, turned to Kara.
“We need to teach the young miss how to spend money properly.”
“I couldn’t agree more. Then I and the head maid...”
The butler and head maid exchanged serious opinions.
Leonia’s mouth dropped open.
“Young Miss.”
Just then, Mono approached with a bright greeting.
“Mr. Mono!”
“My word, you’ve grown so much I barely recognized you!”
He wasn’t exaggerating—Mono widened his eyes and looked Leonia up and down.
“At this rate, you’ll be married off in no ti!”
“Why would she get married?”
Ferio, who had been listening as if he weren’t, glared at Mono.
“A man should co to Leonia to be married.”
Even then, Ferio looked entirely displeased.
Even if Leonia did bring ho a man soday, he had zero intention of approving it.
“But Dad, didn’t you say I could skip the marriage and just have kids?”
“My Lord...”
Mono looked at Ferio with pity.
What kind of father says sothing so appalling so casually?
“Your arrogance has reached new heights in my absence.”
Ferio gave Mono a special opportunity to speak his piece, as if daring him to keep going.
“It was just a joke, out of joy from seeing you again.”
Mono smiled and bowed his head politely to both Ferio and Leonia.
“You’re a materialist too, aren’t ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) you?”
“Right back at you.”
“Dad, stop picking fights.”
Leonia narrowed her eyes at him.
“Then I’m gonna go over there.”
She left the group, saying she wanted to greet the other staff.
Watching her chat cheerfully with the maids she hadn’t seen in a while, Mono spoke.
“...She left on purpose, didn’t she?”
“She’s more perceptive than she looks.”
Ferio agreed.
The child had clearly noticed that Mono lingered even after greeting her, and had given the adults their space.
She had sensed they needed to talk.
“So then.”
Ferio appreciated her thoughtfulness.
“Where is it now?”
“In the underground prison.”
“Still conscious?”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Their quiet conversation continued, one only the two of them could understand.
Ferio gave a small nod, and the two moved without a sound.
“How are our daughter’s guests holding up?”
Ferio asked as they descended the stairs.
The deeper they went, the more the air turned cold and sinister.
But neither Ferio nor Mono reacted. Their expressions remained calm.
“As always, they are doing well.”
Mono replied.
“But they’ve been rather quiet lately.”
At first, the guests had scread they knew nothing, throwing threats and curses, claiming they’d never forgive them once they got out.
But thanks to the Gladiago Knights’ tender care, they’d beco remarkably cooperative.
They soon reached a pitch-dark space with no light at all.
Mono lit a torch nearby.
The hidden prison slowly erged from the shadows.
As soon as the light flickered to life, disturbing groans echoed from within. The sounds ca from the orphanage teachers who were now being “cared for” by House Voreoti.
“Good to see they’re doing well.”
Ferio swept his gaze impassively across the bodies sprawled behind the iron bars.
“Eek!”
“Aaaaah!”
“P-Please spare us!”
The orphanage teachers shrieked in terror, recoiling like rats.
“The one you’re looking for is at the very end.”
Mono was about to lead him there, ignoring their desperate cries—when—
“W-Wait!”
A panicked voice called out through the iron bars.
“You...”
Ferio frowned.
For a mont, he couldn’t place the face. But soon, he rembered.
It was the orphanage director—the man who had dared na Leonia ‘Nia,’ after a prostitute in so filthy novel.
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