I Became the Abandoned Daughter of an Underworld Boss

He brushed off the foreign substance clinging to the barely visible fine hair on her face with his fingers.

‘There must be a reason why the boss said that…’

Levina’s gaze was firm.

It was obvious, and absurd, that this distinguished guest from the empire liked Miss Yuriana. How many times did she need confirmation?

The dessert lover Yuriana surprisingly couldn’t eat much.

She gulped down a glass of milk and left a lot of cookies behind, panting heavily.

“Ugh… no more…”

“Shall we take a break?”

“Yes.”

“That sounds good.”

“Why didn’t you eat much, Sir Karas?”

Yuriana asked suddenly.

Saying was too embarrassing.

Karas, trying to act nonchalantly, spoke up, conscious of the emperor’s uncertain return.

“I think I’ll have to leave soon. Yuriana, take care.”

“Yes.”

“Really, take good care…”

Levina was truly dumbfounded.

They had met for the first time yesterday, and today was their parting day. Yet, Karas’s tone sounded like he was saying goodbye to a lover of a thousand years.

Even if their situations were different, who knew what would happen once they grew up!

‘Kids these days are so forward. Good grief.’

At that moment, Yuriana, who had been quietly sitting, whined.

“I’m sleepy…”

“Oh, already? Well, considering how much you ate, that makes sense. Is anyone outside? Fetch some water quickly!”

“Yes.”

“Ugh. I’ll try to hold on…”

Levina shook her head.

“No, Miss. Just by looking at your eyes, I can tell that at least a hundred sleep fairies have swarmed you. It’s no use trying to chase them away.”

“Alright, go ahead and sleep. Don’t mind me.”

Karas said quite plainly.

He didn’t know when his uncle would come to take him back, but it would be better to leave while Yuriana was asleep.

A final farewell… would be difficult. He had done it yesterday.

No more greed.

“Yes. Thank you, guest.”

Levina found herself developing a slight fondness for Karas at the last moment.

With her braided hair undone and her head slightly elevated for better digestion, Yuriana fell into a sound sleep.

She was so cute.

Her little belly twitched with every breath.

Every time Karas dealt with Yuriana, the thought of how cute she was surged within him, refusing to let go.

Her face was cute, her actions were cute, her speech was cute, everything about her was cute.

“Um…”

“Should I stay in the next room? So, Yuriana can sleep comfortably.”

Levina pondered for a moment and then nodded.

“If it’s alright, let’s change seats.”

It wasn’t because he regretted not being able to gaze at the sleeping Yuriana. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have made the suggestion in the first place.

Karas sat blankly, chewing over the loneliness that washed over him.

Yesterday… and today… these were times that would be particularly memorable in his life.

When would his end come?

Meanwhile, at the same time.

Feeling that everything had been resolved, Alice spoke up.

“Ah, even though I want to reminisce about the old days, there’s nothing much to talk about.”

“Is that so?”

“When we met before, the situation was urgent. I felt regretful for not being able to greet you properly.”

For Harun, resolving the slate issue and returning home was so urgent that he didn’t feel any regret.

Alice smiled brightly.

“I always thought it would have been better if you had more enjoyable memories when you visited the kingdom.”

“….”

Responding positively could only go so far.

Harun genuinely wanted to offer advice to this Queen Alice, whose mind seemed to be filled with flowers.

If he could attach a few old veterans from the empire to her, she would grow immensely within just a year.

The mental fatigue would be enormous, though…

“Indeed, it’s regrettable not visiting the royal palace.”

“Hmm.”

The struggle for survival against the family of the former queen and the fight for the empire’s succession was significant history.

Had they made a wrong move, the cause could have shifted from the imperial family of the Reef Empire to the Ifrit family.

… knowing that, she still talked like this and didn’t return to the palace, dragging her feet!

‘Does she have blind faith in the stability of the Nea Kingdom?’

A country that could be shaken dramatically by one wicked queen.

If you had to explain how big a risk that entailed for her to understand, could you really evaluate her as fit to be queen?

Harun thought not.

In fact, it wasn’t something he should be deeply concerned with.

At least King Aidan was a smart man.

He would take care of it.

Even if he later discovered that this queen, bound by love and loyalty, was somewhat useless –

Do as you see fit. After all, you are a couple.

Harun’s eyelids blinked secretively.

As if it were some kind of signal, his close aide Baine swiftly approached.

“Your Majesty, it’s time for your nap.”

“A nap…? Who on earth takes a leisurely nap when visiting as a guest?”

Harun waved his hand, but Baine, knowing the script, insisted sternly.

“No, Your Majesty. If you skip something essential for your health for two days, you might as well take my head instead.”

“Good grief.”

Baine, this time, looked back and forth between Asil and Alice and persisted.

“Would the two esteemed guests also not mind? A short rest is needed before the space transfer back to the empire. After returning, there are other schedules to follow, making it unavoidable.”

‘He never talked to me about taking a nap in advance. It’s an obvious ruse.’

If Harun had swallowed a few snakes in his belly, Asil would be the one to pull them out, slit them open, and find a golden nugget.

But there was no reason to object and no reason he had to.

After all, what needed to be done was already completed in the blink of an eye.

“I am fine with it.”

“Baine, how dare you be so rude? This is an occasion to entertain the leader of Dark Town and the queen here.”

“Proceed by beheading me first.”

Harun tried to dissuade him again, but Baine held firm.

Such a stubborn lot.

Imagining swallowing a poison cup, Asil reluctantly opened his mouth.

“Then I shall see the queen off. We need your help to ensure a safe return to the empire, so please take your nap.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“It can’t be helped. I leave it to you, Lord of Dark Town.”

‘Lord?’

Harun’s casual remarks were not just peculiar but burdensome to Asil.

Why was he so consistently favorable to him when he came to see Alice?

All the proposals he made yesterday, both the process and the results, were absolutely beneficial to Dark Town without causing any harm.

Allowing Dark Town to exclusively determine unofficial trade routes and the types and quantities of goods for a while.

In retrospect, it was a plan to benefit Dark Town alone.

That made it even more ominous.

It would be nice if he could openly frown at Harun here.

Harun left with Baine, and when Alice was left alone with Asil, she made another request.

“Asil, show me around before His Majesty wakes up.”

“What…?”

Show around? What was she thinking?

Though Karas Ifrit was his guest, he wasn’t someone to be handled carelessly.

Moreover, his status was the emperor’s nephew and, under normal circumstances, would have become a young emperor under the regency of the empress dowager.

The same applied to the three high-ranking officials the emperor had brought.

Asil, in an awkward silence, heard Alice speak.

“Why? Can’t you?”

“…….”

“I just meant to show me around the Dark House, Asil. Didn’t you say it’s the most beautiful with trees that hardly melt the snowflakes during winter? Autumn is great too, you said.”

Oh…. that story.

Her behavior was uncharacteristic of a queen who had barged into enemy territory.

However, unlike Harun, Asil did not see her actions as strange.

Alice had always been like that.

The one who had whimsically walked into Dark Town’s casino, holding a manipulated hand that would have otherwise lost everything.

The one who had suddenly decided to make watermelon juice, joyfully crushing the watermelon rind with a knife.

Even her distinctive backpack with the rabbit-shaped key ring was adorable.

‘Still hung up on Alice and acting pathetic, Asil. Stop it.’

Standing up first, he spoke.

“Alright.”

Most rooms in the main building were either occupied by Harun’s party or had important items stored, making them difficult to visit.

So, it had to be the annex.

Considering Alice, he took her to the annex, only then recalling Yuriana.

He had been too preoccupied with tension and worry to remember, foolishly so.

Fortunately, the first floor was very quiet.

‘Is it nap time?’

It was past mealtime, and if Yuriana was with the quick-witted Levina, there should be no concern. There would be no disaster of bringing her out.

The reason Asil didn’t want Alice to encounter Yuriana wasn’t because of Alice.

Yuriana, his daughter.

He instinctively wanted to protect Yuriana.

The moment he realized his true feelings for the daughter he thought was a troublemaker.

It was after seeing Yuriana with Karas, an insolent and arrogant boy, by the bushes…

He didn’t want Yuriana to interact personally with anyone who wasn’t completely safe.

Alice before him… even though he had loved her dearly, he didn’t know her current intentions.

“Whoa, it’s so quiet.”

“Let’s go up to the second floor.”

He spoke in a very quiet and low voice.

Hoping no servant in the kitchen would hear and come looking.

Alice, while exploring the second floor, was fascinated by a room that was practically an art studio.

More than the area with art collections, she couldn’t take her eyes off the place where canvases and paints were stored.

“Asil, did you paint?”

“No. Not me.”

Memories he decided to forget.

It was the room he had set up and abandoned when he had someone paint her portrait.

He hadn’t thought to clear it out… even on the day Yuriana had come up to the third floor.