I Became the Abandoned Daughter of an Underworld Boss

“That is…”

“The noble ladies are very displeased. They can no longer tolerate the lawlessness of Dark Town. It is time for everyone to realize that the kingdom’s just laws reach everywhere.”

Ah, this was it. This was the source of the anxiety he had felt.

Aidan finally understood.

Alice, who had become the queen of a kingdom from his lover, had become someone who couldn’t live on love alone.

But that was only natural and something Aidan, as the king, should have welcomed.

It made no sense for him to be troubled by the changes in Alice compared to before their marriage.

He couldn’t blame her for changing. How could he?

If it weren’t for Alice’s support and information, Aidan wouldn’t be here.

The former queen’s conspiracy would have proceeded without a hitch, and a tragedy would have occurred.

The child that Amira initially brought was not even the former king and Amira’s child.

She intended to dispose of that child later and present a complete fake, a doppelganger she had drawn in herself.

This was to redirect the magic that kept the second prince resembling the former king.

Amira, lurking in the background, would have turned the entire Nea Kingdom into a mess.

Even if Alice hadn’t known about the doppelganger and hadn’t been able to help, Aidan would still love her.

He was sure of it.

However…

‘I don’t know.’

Something kept blocking Aidan’s firm resolve, as if telling him not to respond.

In the end, in the parlor, he didn’t say whether he would or wouldn’t do something to her.

After returning to his office and giving some instructions, a guard knight came in to report the findings.

“We have discovered it.”

“What has happened?”

“The queen sent a total of three messenger pigeons.”

“Three?”

It made even less sense.

What was going on? Wasn’t she sending a letter to Heidel?

The knight began his report in a dry tone.

“One flew to the area presumed to be the restoration base of the former Elodia territory. Another was in the direction of the Reef Empire, but tracking failed, so it’s not certain. The other one…”

“… where did it go?”

“It flew towards Dark Town.”

Aidan found it hard to sleep that night.

He couldn’t bring himself to wake Alice, who was sleeping quietly, the woman he loved.

What did Alice want?

He thought he couldn’t understand the woman he married out of love.

* * *

On a late summer day.

Yuriana was getting her hair braided, something she never thought she would have to endure.

‘Ugh.’

It was annoying.

Girls her age were said to go crazy over princess-style dresses, lace, and sparkling bead decorations.

She had avoided hair styling with all her might so far!

Levina coaxed her.

“Miss Yuriana, please bear with it. I’ll untie it once we return after lunch.”

? Where were they going?

Yuriana didn’t mind going out, so she asked quietly.

“Where are we going?”

“Oh, I didn’t tell you. Today is the boss’s birthday. Usually, it’s not celebrated, but last year there was a party. I didn’t expect one this year, but it seems it’s prepared. I only found out last night.”

“Oh, I see!”

She vaguely recalled an event from the Asil route.

This event occurred in late summer, not in the autumn when it happened in the true happy ending.

Asil, fitting his image as the boss of Dark Town, casually overlooked his birthday.

The only things he valued were money, liquor, power, strength, and gambling, until he met Alice and started to change.

Falling deeply for Alice, Asil turned into a man who wanted to give her everything, and their relationship significantly progressed in the latter part.

As proof, Alice and Asil began to speak informally with each other. Whereas Alice always used formal speech with Aidan…

One day, Alice asked him.

“Asil, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“When is your birthday?”

“Birthday? Is that important?”

At the time, Asil had a habit of suddenly presenting Alice with various gifts.

They were precious items that weren’t even stored in Alice’s album.

Asil… he liked jewelry and ornaments but never thought about flowers. A truly one-way kind of man.

“Yes!”

“Fine. If you want, I’ll throw a celebration. Would a three-day banquet suffice?”

Asil planned an extravagant celebration.

He wanted to decorate the entire Dark House with things she liked and even bring in chefs from the kingdom.

If it had gone according to plan, it would have been a lavish birthday party.

But Alice stopped him. Like the heroine she was.

“No, no. All we need is a cake, some champagne, and a simple meal. I want to celebrate quietly, just the two of us.”

“What?”

“The rest, distribute to the hungry people in Dark Town. That would make me really happy. Asil, it would give your birthday real meaning. Everyone would be happy, wouldn’t they?”

Asil couldn’t have immediately understood Alice’s logic.

This was Dark Town.

The fate and logic here were that the weak perished or were eliminated.

Asil, the ultimate survivor in this harsh place, didn’t initially comprehend Alice’s gentle heart.

But Asil suppressed his violent instincts.

He didn’t argue about why to distribute food to the useless ones and did as she wished. Why?

Because he loved Alice…

‘Ah, pure love. If my stepmother were Alice, I wouldn’t oppose it. Hehe.’

On his birthday, he watched from a distance as the poor people rejoiced in receiving food and sweets.

Dark Town was more than just .

It was a place where those exiled or forced out of the kingdom gathered.

Even if they returned to the kingdom, they would remain beggars. Many kept themselves alive by working in Dark Town.

“Look, Asil. So many people are happy. Thanks to you.”

“… is it good?”

“Yes!”

Alice, with a radiant smile, praised Asil for his change and suggested having a real birthday party.

Asil prepared a modest birthday setting as she wanted.

There wasn’t a grand three-tiered cake like a wedding cake. Instead, there was a fresh cream cake topped with bright red strawberries, a bit out of season, sliced turkey, salad, fruit pie, and champagne.

Was Asil happy that day?

‘Seeing their affectionate moments, it was hard to think they would part later. Love is unpredictable. You never know until they walk into the wedding hall hand in hand.’

Properly dressed, Yuriana left Dark House with Levina.

Going outside meant the birthday party wasn’t being held in the hall or drawing room inside the house.

Huh? Oh?

‘No way…’

A birthday returning to her side after being abandoned.

Despite breaking up with Alice, Asil still prepared the same birthday?

‘It’s real!’

In a large open area in Dark Town, Asil had set up a special birthday table.

The aroma of freshly baked bread, smoked meat, and spices filled the air. The scent of sweet drinks and the fresh smell of vegetables.

There was even a fruit punch with ice, perhaps mindful of the season!

“That looks delicious…”

“Shh, get in line properly. Or you’ll regret it.”

“Mom, I want to eat that cookie too!”

“Wait a moment. The boss is giving them to us. We’ll all get some.”

Dark Town’s impoverished residents waited in several lines.

Most of them were in even worse attire than those Yuriana had occasionally seen while passing through the Black Forest.

… it was surprising. Asil’s choice.

She thought he wouldn’t hold such a birthday party, mired in sorrow from missing Alice.

“Sniff… sniff…”

Yuriana no longer starved or had to eat tasteless food. She didn’t need to eye that food covetously.

Still, the aroma was compelling.

If there was anything left after everyone had eaten, she would like to have a glass of that tart-smelling plum juice.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Boss…!”

A hand stroked her head above her sniffing nose. Before she could look up to see him, Levina identified him.

Asil’s hand left Yuriana’s head.

“Have you been well?”

Yuriana didn’t realize the question was directed at her and continued to feign ignorance, not because she was immersed in the fragrant plum juice.

Levina answered on her behalf.

“The young lady has been well. She eats regularly and enjoys moderate play.”

“No complaints about the food?”

“Yes. I’ve never seen someone as well-behaved as Miss Yuriana.”

“… is that so.”

‘Ugh. Levina, it feels like you’re mocking me?’

Yuriana understood Levina’s intention.

She knew about the incident of going up to the third floor without permission but wanted to keep Yuriana on good terms with her father.

But… she felt it wouldn’t work on Asil. Hahaha, haha.

Asil, who almost mocked his daughter, watched those receiving food.

“……”

Levina, who had been hesitating whether to bring up something she had been thinking about, finally spoke.

Yuriana’s clothes and food had improved.

It was better than most in Dark Town, but Yuriana was the boss’s daughter, after all.

Currently, she was the only heir.

Dark Town didn’t pass positions by blood, but Levina wanted to raise Yuriana in a way befitting her status. To prevent those with loose morals from approaching her again.

‘For that…’

When she went to buy goods from the kingdom, she thought of things that would suit her young lady, like new furniture and luxurious items for girls.

A splendid rocking horse for her to ride, a new bed, cute hairpins, and lace dresses.

She couldn’t carry all those items alone, so she needed the boss’s approval to arrange for them to be brought in.

… could she mention it now?