#24

Voreoti Territory.

The name used to describe the harsh northern continent governed by House Voreoti carried with it many nicknames.

Den of monsters, edge of eternal snow, homeland of black beasts.

The “black beasts” referred to the Voreotis who possessed the supernatural power known as the “Fangs of the Beast.”

All Voreotis with this power bore the color black, and the strength they wielded struck fear into all.

The black lion engraved in the Voreoti family crest originated from this.

And now, there were no less than three black beasts residing in Voreoti.

Two of them were already well-known figures within the Empire.

The current Duke, known as the strongest Voreoti in history.

And his eldest daughter, the Duke’s heir and future head of House Voreoti.

The third, however, was not as widely known.

What was known was only that she was the second daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Voreoti, and that she was dearly cherished and loved by her older sister.

But one could speculate—since the third beast also carried Voreoti blood, she was surely no ordinary child.

And for once, such a guess, even among the nobles’ filthy gossip, was rather accurate.

***

The baby beast blinked quietly.

Though she was only 25 months old, her movements were so natural it was as if she instinctively knew how to mask her presence.

Belleani was a fearsome beast.

Any prey that dared show her its back would always ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) be pounced upon.

And today, the poor prey caught by Belleani was Kara.

'She’s lively as ever.'

The experienced butler tried to ignore the baby beast creeping silently behind him as he sorted through the letters that had arrived at the estate.

It was the perfect opportunity for Belleani.

With every step she took, the apple-shaped bun tied high on her head bobbed up and down.

Her chubby cheeks were turning red with tension.

But the black eyes staring at her target remained steady.

Even with her prey right in front of her, the baby beast remained calm.

Thanks to the plush carpet, her footsteps made no sound, and with her lips firmly sealed, only the faint wheeze from her nose could be heard.

'...Is her nose stuffy?'

'I should prepare some cold medicine,' Kara was just thinking—

“Rawr!”

An unexpected attack struck Kara.

“Oh my, you startled me.”

Kara exaggerated his fall with theatrical flair, collapsing dramatically.

“Rawr! Raaawr!”

Belleani clung to Kara’s back. The ruthless baby beast demonstrated her persistence, never letting go of her prey.

“Oh heavens, who could it be?”

Struggling to hold back a burst of laughter, Kara turned his head.

“Young Miss!”

Belleani was puffing out her chubby cheeks with pride, a triumphant look on her face.

“Weren’t you scared? My heart nearly stopped.”

Kara reached back and patted Belleani on the back.

“Lea caught you!”

The victorious Belleani cried boldly.

The brave baby beast planted her short arms on her hips and strutted proudly.

Looking at Belleani, her round belly sticking out like a tadpole’s, Kara naturally recalled Leonia’s childhood.

Whenever young Leonia would show off, her belly would always stick out first too.

Rising to his feet, Kara resumed sorting the letters.

“What’s this? What’s thisss?”

Under his legs, Belleani spun in circles and clung to him. Clearly bored, she showed no signs of leaving.

“But where are your nanny and the maids?”

Kara asked her.

“Don’t know? Don’t know?”

Belleani feigned ignorance with a sly tone.

“You slipped away from them again, didn’t you?”

Kara asked sharply.

“Didn’t your father and mother tell you not to go off on your own without your nanny or the maids?”

“Lea doesn’t know.”

Belleani shook her head with feigned innocence.

Kara knew very well—this baby beast was both clever and utterly adorable.

Just like her older sister.

“What’s that?”

Feigning ignorance, Belleani pointed at what Kara was holding.

It was a sly attempt to change the subject to avoid getting scolded.

'Master’s going to have his hands full again.'

Kara was certain: when Belleani grew just a little more, she’d turn Ferio’s lungs inside out just like Leonia did.

But at the same time, they’d become an incredibly happy family.

“These are letters being sorted.”

“Letters?”

Belleani’s eyes sparkled.

“Big sister?”

The little one tugged at Kara’s pant leg with her tiny hands and whined.

Already, stubbornness could be seen in Belleani’s eyes.

“Is big sister there? Is it big sister?”

“Of course.”

Kara pulled out a jet-black envelope and showed it to her.

“...!”

Belleani’s expression lit up with excitement.

Having run a good distance earlier with awkward little legs, she now rushed back to Kara’s side.

“Me! Lea!”

Belleani stomped her feet.

“Lea wants to do it!”

“Then, may I entrust this to you, Young Miss?”

Kara asked.

“Could you deliver this letter to the Master and Madam? I’m sure the Young Lady will be delighted.”

Belleani nodded eagerly and patted her chest with her hand. It meant, “Leave it to me.”

“Lea will do great! I can do it!”

She shouted with determination, albeit in clumsy pronunciation, and took the letter.

The black envelope was sealed with pink wax.

“Mommy. Mommy.”

Belleani pointed at the wax.

With the letter in hand, she took the lead with a dignified gait.

She knew exactly where her parents were.

The Fangs of the Beast, still dormant within her, naturally guided her way.

Kara followed behind her, carrying the remaining letters, the letter opener, and a somewhat heavy parcel on a silver tray.

“Young Miss.”

Kara spoke gently.

“Is the elegant daughter of a Duke planning to pound on the door with her fists?”

He gestured with his eyes to Belleani’s tightly clenched fist.

Belleani, who had been about to bang the door with all her strength, slowly lowered her hand.

Instead, she lifted her foot.

“...Did your sister teach you that?”

For a moment, Kara thought he had traveled back in time. Belleani was following in her sister’s footsteps to the letter.

“Sister said, kick!”

Though only 25 months old, Belleani had an excellent memory.

Especially when it came to her favorite big sister—anything she said was absorbed and remembered perfectly.

“You should knock gently with the back of your hand.”

“Foot?”

“If you kick such a big door, it’ll hurt, don’t you think?”

“Lea’s okay.”

She insisted stubbornly that she could endure the pain.

But clearly, she didn’t want to be hurt—because she quietly lowered her foot.

“Knock knock.”

Then, just as Kara had taught, she knocked lightly with the back of her hand. She even mimicked the sound with her mouth: “Knock knock.”

“Come in.”

Permission was granted from inside.

The voice was full of laughter—clearly, the speaker had heard the entire exchange between Kara and Belleani from outside the door.

As Kara opened the door, Belleani slipped inside.

“Mommy!”

She started to run toward Varia, who was closest, but then turned sharply and went straight to the desk.

“Daddy, Daddy!”

“You cunning little thing.”

Ferio looked down at his youngest daughter clinging to his leg, and a smile tugged at his lips.

He scooped her up and sat her on his lap.

“You knew your mommy was angry at you, didn’t you.”

Varia had just heard from the nanny that Belleani had gone missing again—only to be found once more playing “hunting.”

“Belleani Voreoti.”

As expected, Varia was wearing a stern expression.

Belleani quickly buried her face in her father’s chest. Her bobbing apple bun tickled the front of Ferio’s shirt.

“Hiding behind Daddy won’t help.”

“Mmmmh.”

“Didn’t Mommy tell you not to trick your nanny and go off on your own?”

At this point, it was impossible to keep track of how many times Belleani had run off.

She was so mischievous, she had practically mastered the art of driving the staff crazy.

“But...”

Belleani, wilting under the scolding, mumbled. She seemed to feel wronged about something.

“It’s fun...”

“That’s not an excuse.”

Ferio, who had been quietly listening, chuckled under his breath.

“I wonder who she takes after, being so disobedient.”

“You, obviously.”

Varia answered immediately.

Ferio opened his mouth to respond but quickly shut it.

Unfortunately for him, Varia wasn’t wrong in the slightest.

Acting on impulse was practically a Voreoti trait.

“I heard everything from Leo.”

Varia had scolded Ferio before when she learned what kinds of tutors he’d hired in the past.

“Do you ever think about other people?”

“They were instructors with much to teach.”

Ferio added, half-defensively.

“Even bad examples are still educational. Leo learned a lot from them.”

“Then go ahead and hire them again.”

If you want to see what happens.

With that final word, Varia returned to her paperwork.

Lately, she had been focused on quantifying Voreoti’s assets.

“Daddy.”

Belleani, who had been quietly listening to her parents’ conversation, spoke up.

“Did Mommy win?”

“Mommy always wins.”

Ferio stood up with Belleani still in his arms.

“Because your mother is stronger than God.”

With his free hand, he picked up the black envelope Belleani had brought.

Only then did she remember why she had come.

“Big sister!”

“Yes, your sister sent a letter.”

Ferio sat on the sofa and placed Belleani between himself and Varia.

Varia sternly told Belleani that if she tricked the nanny again, she’d be seriously punished.

Meanwhile, Ferio quickly opened the envelope with the letter opener he’d gotten from Kara.

Kara, whose face muscles were sore from holding back laughter, placed the remaining letters and the silver tray on the desk.

“This was sent along with the letter by the Young Lady.”

Kara handed over a parcel wrapped in yellowed paper and tied with a thin string.

“Lea! Lea!”

Belleani whined, reaching her arms up high.

Varia untied the string and handed her the package.

“What do you think your sister sent?”

“Lea’s present!”

The torn yellow paper scattered like snow across the floor. Some of it clung to Belleani’s indoor blue cape.

“Heehee, hmm!”

Humming as she opened her gift, the sight of their little daughter brought a smile to Ferio and Varia’s faces.

“What did Leo write in her letter?”

“She’s complaining that the Academy lacks muscle.”

It had already been a year and a half since Leonia enrolled, but her letters were still full of grumbling.

Thanks to that, Ferio and Varia never truly felt her absence.

'I want the chicken dish the chef used to make. The one slow-cooked in cream!'

'These people must not value muscles if all they do is study.'

'Lea, you didn’t forget me, right? You’re crying because you miss your big sister, right?'

Immature and childish as they were, her letters completely filled the emotional gaps her parents might have felt.

“Oh dear, our daughter must be suffering...”

Varia rested her chin in one hand and made a deeply troubled face.

“I’ll have to send something to help her through the snow.”