I Became the Male Lead's Adopted Daughter-Chapter 264

Leonia and Princess Scandia sat beneath the shade of a nearby tree.

She had tied the reins of the horse she rode to the tree trunk beside them.

“I heard you were leaving today.”

The princess spoke as she watched the horse nibble at the grass. Its mane swayed gently in the breeze.

“I came because I wanted to see you before you left.”

“But how did you manage to give the letter to Connie?”

“We met by chance in the plaza.”

“You just happened to have a letter on you when you met her?”

Leonia narrowed her eyes suspiciously—but not unkindly.

The princess rolled her eyes a few times, flustered, then confessed honestly.

“The letter... I actually wrote it ahead of time.”

The day she heard from the Empress that Duke Voreoti would soon be returning North, Princess Scandia had immediately begun writing to Leonia.

At first, she intended it to be a short greeting. A simple wish that she would arrive safely in the North.

But once she began, the pages kept growing. Before she realized it, she was nearing ten sheets.

Only then did she realize just how curious she was about Leonia.

The more she wrote, the more she missed her. Even the sentiments she tried to express in writing—she wanted to ask them directly and hear the answer with her own ears.

So she rewrote the letter, this time simply stating that she wished to meet.

And then she waited, on purpose, in the plaza, hoping Leonia’s maid would appear.

“...Since when?”

Leonia asked, startled.

“How could you know when I’d send one of my maids out?!”

“It wasn’t that long.”

“Still, when?”

“...About four days.”

“That long?!”

Leonia scowled.

“Did I offend you?”

The princess apologized.

“Not even a little.”

On the contrary, Leonia was touched by the effort she’d gone through just to give her that letter.

And when she imagined the princess waiting for days in the heat with that letter—her chest clenched with emotion.

‘Honestly, if it had been some random creep, I’d have half-killed them...’

But since it was the princess, she could forgive it all.

“It’s been really hot these past few days.”

Feeling strangely annoyed and sympathetic, Leonia lightly bumped her head against the princess’s shoulder.

“Don’t be such a fool. Next time, make an appointment. We’re close enough for that, aren’t we?”

“You’ll allow it?”

“Now that you ask, it actually stings a little.”

Leonia’s lower lip jutted out in a pout.

The princess marveled, purely and simply, at how quickly someone could change expressions.

“We’ve known each other for a while now.”

Leonia waved her hand as she spoke.

“We even said goodbye waving our hands like this—‘bye-bye.’ That’s something I only do with people I really like.”

In truth, that gesture was one Leonia reserved only for those she trusted and felt close to.

“...Ah. Except for the late Emperor.”

“The late Emperor?”

“I did it once at a banquet when I was a kid. Just to mess with him.”

Leonia answered blandly, her expression sour.

Even if it had been for show, she regretted wasting such a special gesture on that bastard.

“But anyway.”

Trying to shake off the discomfort, Leonia asked the princess,

“What were you so curious about that you came to see me?”

“I just wanted to say goodbye...”

“That’s it? Just that?”

She nudged the princess with her elbow, reminding her that she said the letter had nearly ten pages.

But the princess hesitated to answer. She couldn’t meet her eyes and just stared at the ground.

‘...This one.’

She’s fun to tease.

Leonia smirked inwardly.

Still, because the princess had waited four days in the plaza, Leonia held back and patiently waited for an answer.

Yet once she saw {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Leonia in person, the princess forgot everything she wanted to ask.

Just sitting next to her like this seemed to fill some empty part of her chest she hadn’t realized was there.

And as those overflowing emotions spilled over, they created a new kind of emptiness.

“...Your hand.”

After much deliberation, the princess held out her hand.

“May I hold your hand?”

“My hand?”

At the sudden request, Leonia blinked.

The princess thought she had been rude and was about to apologize, but then froze—because a small hand had gently been placed atop her own.

“They’re not very pretty.”

Leonia’s hands were rough and covered in small scars.

But the princess touched them as if they were precious treasures—delicate and careful.

“You have a lot of calluses.”

“I have even more.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m lacking either.”

“But they’re still so lovely.”

Leonia quickly slapped her free hand over her mouth.

‘Am I insane?’

How could someone say something so simple in such a sweet voice? 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

She was so stunned, her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.

But the princess, unaware of Leonia’s inner panic, kept gently handling her hand.

It wasn’t so much holding it as it was fiddling with it intently.

She particularly focused on the calluses on her right index and middle fingers.

Though it wasn’t a ticklish spot, Leonia suddenly felt like squirming.

“I like to draw.”

She offered an excuse, just to say something.

“What kind of drawing?”

“Croquis. I like sketching the movement of muscles quickly.”

“Come to think of it...”

Princess Scandia recalled the few conversations they had shared.

“...Do you like muscles?”

Muscles had come up quite often.

“Muscles are art!”

Leonia replied enthusiastically.

“I’m pretty confident in my drawing. But no matter how well I draw, I can’t replicate the perfect beauty of muscles.”

“You really do like them.”

“They’re symbols of effort.”

“Effort...”

The princess finally let go of her hand.

Leonia flexed her now-free right hand a few times. It felt strange, as if it still held the warmth of the princess’s grasp.

“Then, if I...”

As she watched her own hand, the princess spoke in a very serious voice.

“If I work hard...”

“If you work hard?”

“I mean...”

As she hesitated, Leonia caught a glimpse of something red.

Her eyes had been drawn to the princess’s ear, peeking out between her short silver hair.

“...The Hesperi family is famous for its strong physiques.”

That abrupt bit of ancestral pride snapped Leonia out of her daze.

“...Huh? Out of nowhere?”

Leonia was confused, but the princess remained utterly serious.

“My grandfather, the current marquis, is beyond reproach. And my mother is also known for her exceptional build.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“My father as well.”

“Sir Ibecks does have a nice build.”

Even Leonia, who was picky about muscles, admitted that the Hesperi family had excellent genes.

“So, I believe I can...”

Now even the princess’s neck was red.

“If I keep working at it, I believe I can become more muscular than others.”

Hearing that, Leonia quickly scanned the princess’s arms and figure.

It wasn’t just because she knew the original story’s future—what she could actually see already surpassed girls her age.

If not for her youthful face, she’d easily pass for an adult.

‘But a kid is still a kid.’

Her embarrassment gave her away.

“I’ll keep trying.”

“You’ll keep trying?”

“If one day, I develop muscles that satisfy your eyes...”

“If you do?”

Leonia deliberately echoed her words.

Just thinking about leaving this adorable person behind made her feel reluctant.

“My muscles too...”

That was when Leonia clapped a hand over the princess’s mouth.

Princess Scandia’s eyes widened in surprise—she had been about to confess that she wanted Leonia to like her muscles too.

Leonia tilted her head with a mischievous smile.

“Just the muscles?”

“......”

“Really just the muscles?”

The lips beneath her palm twitched. The moment Leonia began to remove her hand, the princess grabbed it and pulled her in.

Leonia willingly tumbled into her arms.

“Oh my, what a passionate man!”

“I know you did that on purpose.”

“Then should I get up?”

“Please don’t.”

“Haha! You’re so cute!”

Leonia leaned into her chest and laughed endlessly.

The princess’s heartbeat was so loud it made Leonia’s ears ring.

“...I only meant to ask how you’ve been.”

From above her head came the princess’s mournful voice.

“I really only meant to say that. But once I saw you, I forgot what I wanted to ask. Then I started groping your hand like a pervert and saying weird things...”

“Hmm.”

Leonia looked up slightly.

And met a fully flushed face—Princess Scandia’s cheeks and neck were now bright red.

“...Unfortunately.”

Leonia straightened up.

“I have to go now.”

Princess Scandia shot to her feet as well. Her heart dropped at the words.

But there was no reason to stop her. Leonia was returning North—nothing could change that.

“Forgive me for holding you. Please, travel safely...”

“I.”

Leonia lifted the princess’s chin with one hand before she could finish.

“I rather like writing letters.”

“Letters?”

The princess repeated.

“Can you send me some?”

“Will you write back?”

“Of course.”

“Then I’ll write every day.”

“Don’t wear yourself out—take your time.”

Leonia said as she untied the horse from the tree.

The princess hesitated, then nodded. Taking her time but still writing every day sounded just right.

“Well then, Your Highness.”

Before mounting her horse, Leonia spoke.

“I was really happy to see you. Thank you for coming all this way.”

“No, I feel more sorry to have taken your precious...”

“Oh, stop it!”

Leonia tapped the princess’s lips lightly.

“My time is precious, but you’re someone I’d forgive for taking it.”

So don’t be too humble, she asked.

“My tastes are kind of odd, you know.”

“Muscles?”

“Muscles too, but...”

Leonia looped her arms around the princess’s neck. The sudden contact and shortened distance made the princess flinch.

But soon, the princess’s arms wrapped gently around Leonia’s waist and back.

Leonia stared into her eyes—those jet-black eyes of hers.

“...When it comes to moments like this, I like people who take the lead.”

But the princess didn’t know what else to do.

Her mind felt like it was about to explode from heat.

Leonia, frustrated by her stillness, grabbed her by the collar and yanked her closer.

The princess turned her head just in time to avoid bumping noses.

Now, there was barely a finger’s width between them.

“Scandia.”

Leonia commanded.

“Kiss me already.”

Only after being given permission did the princess finally wrap her large hand around the back of Leonia’s head.