#18

“If you can hear me, cut it out already!”

Leonia shouted back without backing down.

“I promised I’d play with Lea today! Do you know how sad Lea gets without her big sister!”

“Lea is only 71 days old. She’s not even capable of feeling that yet.”

Using a baby who couldn’t even talk as an excuse—this was even worse than when she once claimed she had to stay with Varia so her mom wouldn’t fall into postpartum depression.

“What a joke. You’re the one who used to gush that Lea smiles every time she sees Dad.”

Leonia grumbled under her breath, careful not to let Ferio hear.

The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt.

“You’re with Mom and Lea when I’m doing homework.”

“You were with them this morning, Leo.”

“Yeah, and then you’re with them again at night.”

“Everyone’s asleep by then.”

“Liar! You’re with Mom and—”

Before the unfilial daughter could finish her unfilial words, Ferio stood up and went into the study.

“Our little rebel’s got quite the mouth, doesn’t she?”

“Ow! Ow ow ow!”

“I didn’t even lay a finger on you.”

“You ignored what I was about to say! That’s why my heart hurts!”

“...That must be very painful indeed.”

Their bickering volley never seemed to end.

‘Another peaceful day.’

Having reached a state of enlightened resignation, Lupe smiled with philosophical calm and quietly returned to his work.

In fact, if that father and daughter ever stopped fighting for a day, that would mean something was truly wrong in House Voreoti.

“Honestly, I don’t know who she got that backtalk from.”

Ferio clicked his tongue as he returned to his seat. That insolent brat had never known how to lose since she was little and barked endlessly.

“Obviously not Mom. It’s clearly from you.”

“I don’t talk behind people’s backs.”

Ferio calmly replied, as if casually wiping away trash—clean, clinical, and merciless, his signature style.

“Hmph, Dad’s just perfect, isn’t he.”

Leonia, feeling refreshed after venting, began pulling out the books she needed from the study. The fastest path to playing with Lea was finishing her homework quickly.

“...Hm?”

Just as she was about to leave the study, Leonia noticed some unfamiliar books.

“Dad!”

“What now.”

“Did you buy more books?”

“Ask Lupe.”

Anything trivial like that was all under Lupe’s jurisdiction. With that, Ferio returned to his paused work.

‘If only it weren’t for the money...!’

Lupe swallowed his tears and headed into the study.

“You called, young lady?”

“Mr. Lupe.”

Welcoming him like a blessing, Leonia pointed toward a shelf in the corner.

“Huh?”

Lupe blinked wide.

The books that had caught Leonia’s attention were the same ones that had piqued Lupe’s curiosity a few months ago.

***

‘...What is this?’

He had entered the office’s study to find a reference book, only to discover some strange tomes lined up like old records.

‘Did these always exist?’

The office study was on the smaller side. Of course, that was only in comparison to the grand library elsewhere in the mansion.

Still, the office study ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) was filled with records on territory management and the Voreoti family history.

In terms of rarity and importance, it was one of the most significant places in the estate, and for that reason, entry was monitored by magic.

Only the Duke of Voreoti and those he permitted could enter. Lupe was one of the few granted that access.

Lupe was a meticulous man. He had memorized the entire layout and catalog of the library, but he never touched the Voreoti records without cause.

And yet, the books now before him—he had never seen them before.

‘That shelf was empty before...’

He was certain that when they returned from the capital, that space had been bare.

‘Did His Grace put them there?’

Ferio sometimes stored non-work-related items in the study.

Things like a muscle anatomy sketchbook he’d confiscated from Leonia, or a novel centered on male same-sex romance, also confiscated from his daughter, or a skin-tight training uniform once seized from the heir.

‘...All her stuff, huh.’

Lupe clicked his tongue.

‘So this might be hers too.’

Concluding as much, Lupe gathered the books he had originally come for and stepped out of the study.

***

“I assumed they were yours, young lady. Weren’t those the male same-sex romance novels His Grace confiscated?”

“I hid those under Lea’s cradle!”

“You’re getting those confiscated later, Leo.”

Ferio appeared out of nowhere, casting a stern gaze at Leonia.

“Ugh...”

Leonia clenched her fists, feeling like blood had been wrung from her over the loss of her forbidden oasis.

“Scand, my Boom-Boom, says I’m amazing for reading stuff like that!”

She thought of her beloved over in the West.

“You think that was really praise?”

For the first time, Ferio felt pity for Scandia. Anyone would be horrified at the sight of Leonia openly reading such heavy content in broad daylight.

“It was real!”

Leonia huffed.

“She read it with me!”

“You probably forced her.”

“Hehe! She even took some volumes with her when she went back West.”

Ferio and Lupe widened their eyes simultaneously.

“It’s a really emotional and beautiful story! Boom-Boom bought it as a gift, said it would help with the marquess’s prenatal care. You didn’t know that, did you, Dad?”

“What a disaster for the West...”

“We need to send an apology letter immediately...!”

Ferio held his forehead while Lupe went to find the finest, most expensive stationery in the entire Voreoti estate.

While glaring at the two men with a growl, Leonia turned back to the mysterious books.

“But what are these?”

Most of the books on the shelf were old and worn. Many were journals written by previous Dukes of Voreoti.

The cleanest ones were likely from Ferio’s father or grandfather.

So these unfamiliar new volumes had to be—

“...Did you write them, Dad?”

Leonia asked. Lupe, still holding the stationery, also looked to Ferio.

“Yes.”

Ferio admitted without hesitation and pulled one volume from the shelf. He flipped through it page by page, his touch uncharacteristically gentle.

“It’ll become an important part of Voreoti’s history.”

There was a strange mix of emotions in Ferio’s eyes as he said that—weariness, fatigue, and longing all woven together.

Leonia and Lupe exchanged a quiet glance. After a few silent exchanges, Lupe asked,

“When did you write them?”

Lupe had never seen Ferio writing anything like this before. The existence of such detailed records came as a surprise. At that volume, he must have written daily for years.

“Wow, so Dad’s a writer?”

Leonia clapped her hands in awe. Ferio let out a slight laugh, curling the edge of his lips.

“They’re just journals.”

Despite his indifferent reply, he looked visibly pleased. Ferio was always weak to his daughter’s praise.

“...Wait.”

Leonia, who had been looking at the volumes with fascination, suddenly frowned.

New books in the study meant she had more material to read and study.

“This isn’t good at all!”

She whined.

Ferio had just said he recorded important parts of Voreoti history. Given his status as a top graduate from the Academy, the content was sure to be challenging.

“More studying...!”

“You don’t have to read them right now.”

Ferio said, placing a hand on her head. At that moment, he was slightly surprised.

“...”

His hand rested above her chest level.

The cheeky little girl who used to chatter at his knees was now reaching his eye level.

Still smaller, still weaker—but growing.

“Read them later.”

He gently stroked her hair.

Ferio was still young, but his careful, affectionate gesture carried the weight of time.

That weight was made up entirely of the years they had spent together.

“Read them after I die.”

With that, Ferio left the study.

Leonia and Lupe, now alone, stared wide-eyed at his departing back.

***

The most common cause of death among the Voreoti family was old age.

Those with the Fangs of the Beast were healthier than average, rarely falling ill.

Thanks to that, most Voreotis lived long, disease-free lives—something even money couldn’t buy.

Of course, not all were so lucky.

The previous Duke and Duchess of Voreoti died in an accident, and Regina was murdered. Death was not something they were immune to.

‘Still.’

That night, after discovering the mysterious books in the study—

‘It’s not like Dad’s going to die right now.’

Leonia couldn’t fall asleep. Ferio’s words from earlier kept weighing on her heart.

He had said the books were important history—but told her to read them only after he died. It left a sour, uneasy feeling inside her.

‘Why’d he say something like that...’

Leonia frowned.

The idea of a parent’s death was an uncomfortable topic for any child. Sure, she’d made silly threats to assassinate her dad when she was younger, but it was never serious.

That’s why Ferio’s words unsettled her.

“Read them after I die.”

He had made his death a condition.

“...So annoying.”

Eventually, Leonia, exhausted from thinking, kicked at her innocent blanket.

The blanket flapped into the air in silent protest.

But of course, such a shallow gesture did nothing to ease her mood.

After tossing and turning the whole night, Leonia stared at the morning sun with dark circles under her eyes.

“Oh my goodness!”

Connie, bringing water for her washbasin, gasped.

“Did you not sleep well?”

“I couldn’t fall asleep...”

Yawning so wide her jaw nearly cracked, Leonia rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. Connie gently dried them with a concerned look.

“Are you unwell?”

“I just had some things to think about.”

“Master and Madam will be worried.”

“Do you think Lea will cry when she sees me?”

Leonia made a big fuss while looking in the mirror.

“That will absolutely not happen.”

Connie, brushing her hair with practiced hands, replied.

“To begin with, the little lady is only two months old.”

“Seventy-two days!”

“...Seventy-two days, yes. She’s not able to recognize that sort of thing yet.”

“That’s why I have to show her only the best, prettiest things!”

The Leonia in the mirror shouted with conviction. Her long black hair shook with her booming voice.

“Our Lea is the cutest in the whole world, so she must see only the coolest, most wonderful things!”

Like Dad’s muscles. Or Mom’s face.

“And my greatness!”