Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 129

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 129

What? Considering timing? That’s very unlike Penandel.

I nodded with a bewildered feeling.

“Uh, um… I actually had something to say too.”

After finishing the somewhat unsettling tea time.

I returned to my room and took out the ownership documents for the northern mines and the ‘adoption papers imbued with special power’.

Thanks to the notary’s testimony, Uncle’s will was invalidated, and as a result, I was able to circulate much of the wealth that had been tied up as my dowry.

All that remained was to complete the succession ceremony, become the official head of the family, and transfer ownership of the mines to the Duke of Baluashten.

Looking at the ‘adoption papers imbued with special power’, I didn’t bother to hide the sigh that escaped.

I had told Schubel that I would pass this family on to Leo, but honestly, it was half bluster.

Of course, if Leo wanted it, I could easily pass on this measly family to him, but that would require adopting the child.

However, while I could become Leo’s patron, I didn’t have the confidence to become his parent.

Did the system window sense those feelings?

[Intimacy: 98/100]

When I held the adoption papers, the intimacy level with Leo appeared along with the item description window.

That number, lacking by 2%, seemed to prove that I wasn’t qualified to become Leo’s parent.

While organizing the adoption papers and mine ownership documents with a bitter heart, I noticed a familiar notebook spread open among the scattered papers on the desk.

I picked it up absentmindedly, then looked around in alarm, wondering if anyone had seen it.

“How distracted was I to not even notice I’d dropped this?”

This well-worn notebook was a secret diary I had scribbled in to relieve my frustration during the days when I couldn’t say a word as I pleased due to synchronization.

Like the translator that didn’t work unless there was someone listening, the translator didn’t activate for writing not intended to be shown to others.

Thanks to that, I was able to gush about how cute and lovable our Leo was in this notebook I had named ‘Leo Observation Journal’.

Today, as always, I felt my life was in danger. Leo’s cuteness always targets my heart. Like a soft baby lion. So cute today too.

After sneaking a peek at a few sentences I had written, I fanned my face to cool the heat that had risen to my cheeks.

It was fortunate that I had forbidden employees from entering my room, but if I thought someone had seen this…

“I saw something I shouldn’t have seen…”

Huh?

My hands and feet froze at Leo’s words that suddenly flashed through my mind.

“…Surely Leo didn’t see this?”

This must be how it feels to have your private SNS fan account discovered by a colleague, especially by the person in question.

Cold sweat began to flow down my back.

* * *

On a sunny day.

Leo was devoted to sword training from morning as usual.

Though he had only been holding a sword for about 6 months, his posture while gripping the sword was so excellent that Belinda would have clapped like a seal if she had seen it.

However, unlike his unwavering stance, Leo’s mind was full of other thoughts.

Two days ago, while Belinda was dealing with the cadet branches one by one at the monthly meeting, Leo was cleaning Belinda’s room.

Though Belinda had subtly discouraged him several times, Leo couldn’t compromise on cleaning. He thought it was something he naturally had to do as a prospective servant.

It was purely by chance that a small notebook caught his eye among the papers scattered messily on Belinda’s desk.

Inside was a sentence written in elegant handwriting that was unmistakably Belinda’s.

Should I seriously consider having Leo become my personal servant?

The moment he inadvertently read those words, Leo hastily turned his head away as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

But the name Leo had already become deeply embedded in the child’s mind.

‘Leo…? Who is Leo?’

It was definitely a name he had heard somewhere before.

Leo’s hand, which had been skillfully wielding the duster, gradually slowed down.

Even while cleaning, the child kept glancing at the desk as if there was a ghost behind him.

‘Does this person named Leo also want to become Belinda’s personal servant?’

While thinking anxiously, a strong wind blew through the window opened for ventilation, scattering the papers on the desk.

When startled Leo covered the desk with his whole body to prevent the papers from flying away, whether it was an accident or intentional that the next passage in the notebook caught his eye, even Leo himself couldn’t tell.

If Leo wants it, I should do whatever it is. Even if it means becoming my personal servant… Yes, if Leo wants it, what can’t I do for him? However…

After reading only up to that point, Leo squeezed his eyes shut.

Then he closed the window, grabbed only the cleaning supplies, and hurriedly fled to his room.

His heart was beating anxiously.

‘Could what was written there be true? If Belinda really intends to make this person named Leo her personal servant…’

Come to think of it, Terry had mentioned that they were hiring a lot of employees this time. Perhaps there was someone named Leo among the newly hired employees.

Though it wasn’t intentional, Leo had ended up peeking at Belinda’s personal records, so he couldn’t bring himself to ask Belinda if what was written in the notebook was true.

Feeling upset, he wilted like a flower that had been rained on all day, but as days passed, something like determination resembling anger gradually replaced his gloomy mood.

‘I’m Belinda’s personal servant. Well, I’m still a prospective one, of course.’

Swoosh!

Leo’s grip on the sword gradually tightened.

‘Belinda said that if I eat well and grow big, she would definitely make me her personal servant.’

Swoosh!

‘So I’ll grow up quickly and become bigger and stronger than anyone.’

Swoosh!

‘I absolutely won’t lose to Leo!’

This was such an unfamiliar emotion for Leo, who was accustomed to giving up and yielding everything, that the child didn’t even realize he was feeling intense jealousy.

Just as he was burning with jealousy toward the faceless Leo.

“If you put such emotion into it, your sword tip will point toward the wrong place.”

Cesar’s hand gently caught Leo’s wooden sword that was making heavy sounds.

“Knight…”

He had swung the sword with such force that his hands were trembling from the loss of strength.

“Let’s rest for today.”

“Yes.”

Leo trudged to the shade of a tree without complaint and sat down.

Instead of returning to the manor, the knight silently stayed by Leo’s side.

After pondering alone for a while, Leo suddenly looked up at Cesar and asked.

“Knight, did you ever have someone you really wanted to beat?”

“I didn’t.”

“Uh… Then what about when you met a knight stronger than you?”

“I’ve never encountered anyone stronger than me.”

“…”

Unfortunately, Cesar wasn’t a very good counselor.

Only after seeing Leo’s dejected expression did Cesar realize this.

Like the time when he had pondered repeatedly on the first day of lessons, not knowing how to treat Leo, he carefully chose his words for a long time before slowly opening his mouth.

“Rather than thinking of an opponent I must defeat, I prefer to think of the person I must protect. That makes my sword a bit sharper.”

“Who is it that the knight must protect?”

Leo asked, staring up at Cesar intently.

The child’s eyes, bathed in the sunlight streaming through the tree shadows, were so particularly clear that Cesar couldn’t bring himself to say that he had lost all the people he was supposed to protect.

So instead of telling the truth, he used an adult’s cunning.

“Right now I’m Lady Blanche’s knight, so I swing my sword thinking of her.”

Leo rolled his eyes around and asked carefully.

“You’ll continue to be Belinda’s knight, right?”

At Leo’s following question, Cesar found himself at a loss for words.

From the beginning, the time he could stay by her side was limited.

Once he received the transfer of the mining operation from Belinda, who had become the official head of the family, he would have to leave the Royal Capital and return to the North.

To fulfill his remaining duties.

Before leaving, he intended to confess everything to her, but one thing alone—the feelings he harbored for her—he would sink beneath the surface and bury forever.

Since the curse that stained his soul might harm someone precious, for Belinda’s safety it would be right to distance himself from her.

But if the situation were different.

If he weren’t the marquess ruling the North, if he had no duties to shoulder, and if he were permitted a life of protecting just one person forever, even if that devotion went unrequited.

Then…

“If only I could do that, no matter what price I had to pay.”

Cesar concluded in his usual calm voice, looking up at the room where Belinda was.

“I would gladly do so.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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