Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 131

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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 131

I couldn’t readily answer, as if I had heard a foreign language from a distant land.

Happiness…

It had been so long since I had made happiness the purpose of my life.

I just… lived to survive, I think. In my previous life, and now too.

I tightly grasped Leo’s hand, which was wriggling in my palm like a small tropical fish.

The sunset glow became even more intense, gently illuminating the deep places in my heart that I thought had never been touched by light.

And I realized that there wasn’t just empty darkness there.

A sapling with bright green leaves had taken deep root.

Only then did I realize.

That the six months I had spent here weren’t just a life lived solely for survival.

That such greenery could bloom in my empty inner self…

“Of course. From the moment I met you until now, there hasn’t been a single moment when I wasn’t happy.”

That the time that had passed had been happy.

Leo’s tense expression finally relaxed.

Soon, Leo’s hand that had been swimming in mine clenched into a tight fist.

“Then I want to use that wish voucher I saved up before, right now.”

Wish voucher?

A beat later, I could recall the prize from the cooking competition we had held at the manor.

“Tell me. I’ll grant you anything.”

“My wish is for Lady Belinda to become my fa-family!”

Though the surroundings gradually grew dark, Leo’s eyes, sparkling as if filled with starlight, still didn’t lose their shine.

“You don’t have to give me anything. Just please continue to be my home and happiness, like now.”

At those words, my chest tightened and something surged up from within.

I’m still an inadequate adult, and perhaps I might make irreversible mistakes while raising Leo…

‘But if this small child is happy being with me, what is there to fear?’

As soon as I thought that, an unexpected system window appeared.

The intimacy between Temporary Guardian and Hero’s Star has increased by +1.

‘Why is this suddenly…’

Soon I realized that the ‘intimacy between Temporary Guardian and Hero’s Star’ didn’t just indicate Leo’s affection toward me.

What had been lacking in our relationship was my own mindset.

My cowardice of always staying two steps away from the child, using past wounds as an excuse.

Yet Leo had always stayed right beside me.

In the end, I couldn’t hold back and hugged Leo tightly.

Leo nestled into my embrace like a child accustomed to being loved.

Now I felt I could somewhat understand what Uncle’s feelings had been when he adopted Belinda.

I answered the child just as Uncle had done that day in my memory.

“Thank you so much for becoming my family.”

I felt Leo’s arms around my neck tighten with strength.

I couldn’t see Leo’s expression, but for now, the warmth I felt in my arms was enough.

And then, in the completely darkened night sky, another system window appeared.

The intimacy between Temporary Guardian and Hero’s Star has increased by +1.

Congratulations. The intimacy between Temporary Guardian and Hero’s Star has reached 100.

You have gained the qualification to use the ‘Adoption Document Imbued with Special Power’.

Was it because of the pink system window?

The Rozel tree that appeared faintly behind it seemed to be in full bloom, as if welcoming complete spring.

Just like the day when Ophelia and Leo would meet and become family to each other.

* * *

That night, a secret fort made of stacked pillows was built in my room for the first time in a very long while.

The magical light Leo summoned warmly illuminated the inside of the secret fort.

The two butterfly magic stones that Chaser had given as gifts fluttered around Leo and me like fireflies, creating shadows on the tent walls.

Leo lay prone on the floor covered with cushions and pillows, waiting for me to read him a fairy tale.

I examined the contents of the book resting at an angle on my raised knees, then unfolded my past like turning the pages of a very old book.

“Long ago, there was a… commoner who lost their family at a young age. Fortunately, instead of going to an orphanage, that child was able to live with relatives.”

I slowly read through my previous life line by line, as if reading the text of a fairy tale.

“But unfortunately, they didn’t get along well with the relatives. The child was always alone. So they wanted to become an adult as quickly as possible. Without realizing that they would still be lonely even after becoming an adult.”

Even after becoming an adult, sleepless nights would often come.

When each tick of the second hand felt like a year, when it felt like I was the only one left in this world.

That’s when I learned that a person could die from loneliness.

I couldn’t bear the weight of life without focusing on something.

That’s when I encountered 【Hirome】.

“Then one day, the adult commoner was given a magical… yes, a mirror. A magical mirror. The magical mirror had the mysterious power to show other worlds. Whenever the commoner felt lonely, they would look into that magic mirror.”

Though it was just a game, how much comfort I had received from the world unfolding beyond the screen and from Leo.

Only when I was absorbed in 【Hirome】 could I avoid dwelling on the lonely thought that I was alone in this world.

“Did that person… *yawn*, become happy?”

Leo asked, blinking eyes full of drowsiness.

“Yes, in the end they entered the mirror and found a new family.”

Yes, this is that kind of story.

A story where the protagonist ultimately becomes happy.

I kissed the forehead of Leo, who had completely fallen asleep with eyes closed, and whispered.

“Sweet dreams, Leo.”

* * *

The Blanche Family’s Annex was extremely bustling from early dawn.

This was because it was the day their master would enter the Royal Palace to hold the succession ceremony.

Tanya, who had been promoted to Maid Supervisor of the annex at a young age at lightning speed, checked the outfit Belinda would wear today and reported to Terry.

“Despite the tight deadline, you handled it meticulously. The Master will be pleased.”

“Thank you!”

Tanya bowed her head with a bright face at Terry’s praise.

“I’ll go to the Master right away, so gather the outfits and follow me.”

“Yes, yes!”

At the mention of going to Belinda, Tanya couldn’t hide her nervousness and exchanged glances with her fellow maids.

The maids lined up, each carrying a box containing outfits and accessories, heading toward Belinda’s room.

Terry, leading the group, paused briefly in front of Belinda’s door and spoke to Tanya behind her.

“I’ll check what kind of mood the Master is in, so enter when I signal.”

“Yes, please be careful, Butler.”

Tanya opened Belinda’s door as if seeing off a superior entering a beast’s den.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Terry shrugged his shoulders and spoke to Belinda, who had finished her early morning meal.

“The maids look at the Master like some kind of fierce dog. Are you fine with this continuing?”

“It doesn’t matter. The Maid Supervisor will manage the subordinates, and that Maid Supervisor is devoted to you. And Terry, you’re loyal to me. Isn’t that right, Aide?”

After the Sacred Tribunal, there had been a purge at the annex as well.

The employees who had sided with Tanya didn’t testify at the Sacred Tribunal or Royal Court, so they safely kept their positions, but the employees Mary had recruited were eventually driven out as payment for giving testimony unfavorable to Belinda at the Sacred Tribunal.

During this time, it was revealed that the pearl Mary had used to win over the maids was something she had stolen from Belinda.

Of course, Mary protested that she had received it from Belinda, but no one believed her words.

In the end, she was stripped of her possessions and beaten before being driven out for the crime of laying hands on a noble’s property.

People clicked their tongues, saying she was fortunate not to have lost her life.

Afterwards, Tanya, who became the Maid Supervisor, remained loyal to Terry, who had looked after her when she was falsely accused and had often supported her in conflicts with Mary.

“It’s called the good boss, bad boss strategy.”

Belinda laughed like a villain.

Terry patted herself, saying she felt the most pitiful being caught in the middle.

“I’ll do your grooming in a moment, so please step aside.”

Following Belinda’s words, Leo took Terry’s place as she stepped back.

Leo, whose hair was still disheveled from not having prepared for the morning yet, was called over by Belinda’s gesture and stood before the desk.

“I’ve prepared something to grant the wish you mentioned yesterday.”

Following Belinda’s index finger, Leo peered at the stiff paper placed on the desk.

Because it was filled with difficult legal terms written in tiny script, Leo couldn’t understand what the document meant.

“For us to become family, I need to formally adopt you, Jui-bam-tol. And that process requires this kind of paperwork.”

Leo nodded while carefully listening to Belinda’s detailed explanation of the adoption process.

When Leo bit her lower lip tightly, unable to hide her excitement and joy.

“So I need to write your name Jui-bam-tol on the documents, but how about we give you a new name for this occasion? To commemorate us becoming family.”

“A new name?”

“Yes. Actually, I’ve had a name in mind for a very long time. I hope you’ll like it.”

Soon, Belinda wrote a name on a random piece of paper with her elegant handwriting.

[Leo Blanche]

Leo stared at that name for a very long time, even holding her breath.

As if the slightest movement would make that name flutter away like a timid bird.

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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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