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~I Became the Male Lead's Adopted daughter/I Became the Male Lead's Wife!~
~Chapter 85~
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~My father always calls Amadeus and me "Leo and Amo." He would also use different nicknames every time he called my mother, such as "Sunshine," "Love," and many more.~
~We are the only people whom Phileo Boleoti calls by nicknames.~
~I love the fact that even though he calls Mom by more loving names, the strongest and scariest father in this world still uses affectionate terms for us.~
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"𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐨𝐭𝐢 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐨𝐭𝐢." Duke Phileo's voice was icy with anger as he called out their names, his arms crossed tightly. The room temperature plummeted to freezing levels in response.
With cold sweat trickling down her face, Leonia stands before her father. She has a nervous smile on her lips and clasped hands, while Annelise by her side mirrors the same apprehensive expression.
Leonia trembled with fear and a face full of dread as she nervously stuttered out, "F, Father...I was wrong."
Annelise wore a sheepish smile as Leonia began to stand behind her. Although she wasn't afraid of her husband, Annelise feared the consequences that might ensue after their conversation was over.
With a stern expression, Duke Phileo warned Leonia, "𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫! 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐰!" Looking worriedly at her father, Leonia hesitated to confront him.
Annelise tried to calm her husband by calling out "P-Phileo...", but he ignored his wife's voice and continued on.
Duke Phileo's shout of "𝐍𝐎𝐖!" caused Leonia to tremble and move unsteadily away from her mother, casting pleading eyes towards her.
Annelise could only muster a small smile and shake her head in response to her daughter's plea for help. She was unable to assist due to the fact that her husband is angry with both of them. If it were solely Leonia who elicited Phileo's anger, Annelise may have been able to calm him down. However, given recent events, she had caused more harm than good which prevented Phileo from being receptive towards her at this time.
Leonia was overwhelmed with dread as she realized that her mother's inability to help meant resorting to being clingy and cute.
Leonia hugged her father's leg with sweat running down her face and said, "I won't do it again."
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Rupert observed the scene with a bead of sweat on his cheek and remarked, "...Such a strange sight."
"I know, right." Tra affirmed as he also gazed upon the scene from the staircase.
"Will the Duke forgive them?" Rupert inquired.
"I want to bet on it. Either way I know the Duke will forgive his wife the next day." Tra said as Leonia tried to shake her father's leg and Phileo remained still, staring at his wife and daughter with an indifferent expression.
"Let's see who can do it first." Rupert declared.
"I will win for I have a backup plan!" Tra exclaimed with gleaming eyes.
"A wh-?" Rupert questioned, turning to look at Tra. Though, he was met face-to-face with Amadeus who yawned as Tra held him up with a smile after waking him up.
Rupert looked at the exhausted Amadeus, who had been rudely awoken from his nap far too soon. A sweat droplet formed on Rupert's forehead as he observed him.
Duke Phileo called out darkly, "𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐨𝐭𝐢." causing Rupert to swiftly glance back at the scene.
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Duke Phileo grabbed his daughter's shoulder and pushed her off his leg, which shocked Leonia. "𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐬." He stated firmly.
"Father..." Leonia said, surprised as she glanced up at him.
Duke Phileo asked with a dark cloud looming over his demeanor, "𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐲? 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐈 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭?"
As she fiddled with her fingers, Leonia's face had a flushed expression indicating embarrassment.
Duke Phileo wore a dark expression and his eyes flashed with purple, similar to his wife's aura. "𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧? 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡?" He directed the second question at Annelise, who balled her fists in response.
"𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐇𝐲𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭?" Duke Phileo inquired, observing Leonia's downcast expression and flushed cheeks while she nervously clasped her hands together with beads of perspiration on her forehead.
Duke Phileo started shouting, "𝕭𝖀𝕿, 𝖄𝕺𝖀...!" Annelise's eyes glowed purple as she stepped forward to shield her daughter.
Annelise glared at her husband and yelled his name, "𝑷𝑯𝑰𝑳𝑬𝑶!". However, their attention was immediately diverted when a soft voice spoke from behind him. The sudden interruption caused time to stand still for both of them.
"D-Dada, Mama..." The sound of a soft voice broke the silence and caused Phileo, Annelise, and Leonia to abruptly turn their heads.
Amadeus appeared and gazed curiously at his parents and sister.
Annelise hastened her steps towards the ground where her son sat and, with a narrow-eyed glance at her husband, exclaimed in surprise, "Amo! What are you doing here?"
Phileo was on the brink of shouting, but his son's presence and innocent gaze prevented him from doing so. Duke Phileo clenched his jaw tightly as he turned away slightly and covered his face - not wanting to meet the eyes of his wife or children - before releasing a long exhale with an audible "Ha..."
Leonia turned her gaze from her father to her mother, who was holding onto her little brother, and then downwards.
"Phileo, can you answer me this? Did you genuinely have concern for us?" Annelise approached her daughter and grasped her hand while holding onto her youngest son with the other arm.
Turning quickly to his wife, Duke Phileo questioned: "Can't I?"
"Of course, I was worried about my wife and daughter." Duke Phileo explained. His statement caused Leonia to glance up at her father with parted lips in surprise.
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Flashback
"Honestly, when I think about it..."
Annelise can be observed riding a horse with Leonia seated in front of her, while Frobe is also seen mounted on another horse behind them.
Duke Phileo's eyes widened in horror, and he broke out into a cold sweat that ran down his cheek. Behind him stood Tra with a nervous expression on his face as well.
He suddenly recalled the moment when he met Annelise once more, and how she darted away from him, prompting him to chase after her. She glanced back at him for a final time before vanishing amidst the bustling crowd.
As Duke Phileo extended his hand to pursue his departing wife, a familiar voice interrupted him from his daze.
A voice as milky as it was called out "Dada."
As Duke Phileo glanced over his shoulder, he saw Hannah holding onto his son. Contemplating what to do next, the conflicted Phileo turned back towards the door and spotted some tiny figures in the distance- recognizing them as none other than Frobe and his wife before they quickly vanished from view.
With gritted teeth, Duke Phileo turned towards his son and gathered him in his arms. A dark shadow appeared on his face as he hugged the bewildered boy.
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Flashback over
I can't forget the things that Leo had to suffer at the orphanage, and my love practically had her childhood life taken away from her while having to fight for survival.
So I swore to never punish or scold them.
With nervousness etched on her face, Leonia cast a worried glance at her father before releasing her mother's hand and stepping ahead.
"....Stay in your room until dinner. And Annelise, I want to talk to you privately." Duke Phileo directed as he walked away, leaving Leonia staring at her father's retreating form with an astonished but apprehensive expression on her countenance.
Phileo Duke kept moving away from his kin when Leonia, after taking a gulp of air, sprinted towards her father and wrapped her arms around his limb in an unexpected move that surprised Phileo.
Leonia looked up at her father and shouted, "SAY YOU LOVE ME!"
Duke Phileo uttered a confused "Huh?" as the sound of rustling from the staircase reached his ears.
Duke Phileo sweat dropped as he ordered, "I won't say it again. Get off."
Leonia fiercely held onto her father's leg and screamed out again, "SAY YOU LOVE ME!"
"Leonia, are you mad at me now." Duke Phileo inquired as he attempted to dislodge her from his leg.
Leonia held onto her father and yelled, "SO SAY IT!"
Leonia begged, "SAY IT SO THAT EVEN IF I'M SCOLDED, I CAN GET SOME PIECE OF MIND!" She buried her face into her father's thigh.
I realized that I had disappointed my father.
However, I thought a few jokes would make him forgive me, like usual.
Those were my simple thoughts,
But I feel guilty and scared.
What if father's disappointed in me.
Phileo froze completely as Leonia exclaimed, "I'll take whatever punishment, you give me, just as long as you don't hate me!"
What if he stays mad for good.
If I don't hear 'that sentence' right now, the insecurity will eat me up.
Duke Phileo was confused by his daughter's words and began to speak up, "What are you..."
As Duke Phileo gazed upwards, he observed his wife embracing their son with a strong grip. She glanced at him emotional eyes that were shining like glass, and it was then he comprehended...
Because of my concerns, I was too harsh on them,
I think it reminded them of the days at the orphanage and the fight for survival.
With a gentle touch, Duke Phileo laid his hand on his daughter's back and gave her a slight embrace.
Phileo's expression quickly transformed into one of bewilderment and perplexity.
Duke Phileo called out to his daughter, "Leo," causing her to flinch slightly.
"I've said it many times before, but you're scary." Expressed Duke Phileo with a vexed demeanor.
Leonia exclaimed joyfully while perspiring, "A, I wasn't touching anything. I just wanted to get some dust off."
"Unbelievable..." Phileo muttered in disbelief.
"...Hehe." Leonia giggled.
Duke Phileo asked, "What are you laughing about."
"You're not mad anymore, right?" Leonia asked with a playful grin.
"Little devil! I was too kind to you." Exclaimed Duke Phileo.
"No, you scolded me a lot." Leonia said.
Duke Phileo observed Leonia and commented, "You show no sign of remorse. I might have spoiled you and your brother." As he poked her forehead, she scowled while Annelise grinned at the exchange between her spouse and child. She then proceeded to kiss their son's hair affectionately.
Annelise approached her husband with a grin and spoke up, "Phileo, it's entirely your fault. The consensus is that the Black Beast isn't meant to be tamed."
Duke Phileo patted Leonia's head and replied, "That's what she came up with."
"...Alright. Come here." Duke Phileo beckoned as he opened his arms out and went to pick up Leonia, who's eyes shined.
Surrounded by flowers, Leonia beamed with joy as her father scooped her up into his embrace.
"Anyway, there will be a sermon. With a punishment." Relayed Duke Phileo to his daughter.
Leonia asked with a smile, "Isn't the sermon a punishment?"
"That's not the case, I did some research. Your mother will also get a punishment different from yours." Duke Phileo stated, glancing at Annelise whose smile instantly stiffened and became rigid in place.
"...AND, those two's salaries will be cut for three reasons. The first is taking advantage of your brother, and the second is letting him crawl on the cold hard floor which could've hurt his ankles" Duke Phileo said as he glanced at the staircase.
"...Rupert is crying." Leonia said as soft sobs can be heard on the staircase.
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"If you do that again, I'll forbid your passion for muscles. And I'll decorate your room in pink, with flowers." Duke Phileo warned his daughter.
~I didn't listen to my Father.~
"I'll paint a mural of the fairy tale 'The angel and the hunter' on the wall." announced Duke Phileo, sending shivers down Leonia's spine as she gazed at the wall.
"What a shame." Leonia expressed as she felt her soul leave her body.
With arms crossed, Duke Phileo declared, "It's your punishment after all." as a maid arrived with a glass and bottle of rum.
Leonia exclaimed, "If you're going to punish me, just let me stay in my room...! Like mom!"
"Like your mother?" Duke Phileo questioned.
Leonia cried out, "You made mom stay in the room!"
Duke Phileo smirked as he said, "That wasn't her punishment; it was merely the aftermath."
Leonia looked at the wall with a perplexed expression and questioned, "Aftermath?" before quickly realizing.
Leonia was shouting, "YOU MONST-!!!" Her outburst came to an abrupt halt as she caught sight of the tray holding the ice-cold rum drink and its bottle.
Leonia's mind screamed, 'ON THE ROCKS!!!' as she gazed at the beverage with a salivating mouth and blushed cheeks.
Leonia's voice boomed, "FATHERRR, IT'S FINE NOW, BUT YOU SHOULD DEEP FRY THE FISH AFTER ROLLING IT IN BATTER! A GLASS WITH ICE WILL BE A GREAT COMBO!" As she glared angrily at her father who chose not to respond.
Duke Phileo inquired his daughter, "Where did you learn that?"
Leonia responded with a sheepish smile,"....From mom?"
"Why do you have so many questions?" Duke Phileo inquired.
"I learned many things there." Leonia stated.
Duke Phileo flipped the hourglass and commanded, "Tell me stories and look at the wall until the hourglass runs out."
Leonia stated indifferently, "Oh my, poor little me."
"But what did you and your mother do before coming here." Inquired Duke Phileo of his daughter.
"Watches. We asked her to make the watch for us, instead of asking Count Hyena directly, We should have just asked her in private." Leonia said while casting a brief gaze downward.
"I see. Will it be fine?" Duke Phileo inquired while raising his glass to sip from it.
Her father's question made Leonia start beaming with a bright smile.
Leonia's eyes gleamed with determination as she warned, "𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀. 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝘁!"
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Chapter 85 complete!!!(๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧
I have finally achieved it! I was supposed to publish this yesterday, but lacked the drive to begin until today.〒▽〒
I had anticipated spending three hours on this writing task using my computer, but it ended up taking me six and a half long hours to complete.o(TヘTo)σ'∀')σ
At least I have finished writing this chapter! I discovered it to be an engaging chapter.(⊙x⊙;)
Although I don't have a lot to share, I sincerely hope that you enjoy this chapter. Looking forward to hearing from my beloved fans in the upcoming chapters!ヾ(≧▽≦*)o