I Became the Abandoned Daughter of an Underworld Boss

“Whoa…!”

This place was the largest in the capital city of the kingdom.

It not only sold weapons and armor but also collaborated with the adjacent jewelry workshop, displaying and selling a large number of ornaments and decorated weapons.

Asil, who had a knack for practicality, clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, there are so many daggers that seem to be begging thieves to steal them.”

Yuriana pretended not to hear him but rejoiced inwardly.

Here it was, Asil’s signature sarcasm!

Unlike the other male protagonists, Asil enjoyed using such expressions.

Therefore, Alice also thought inwardly that Asil was a unique man.

At the gambling house where they first met, what did he say again? That he smelled a musty book odor from the moth drawn to the dangerous flame?

‘The smell of book, really? The person sniffing that is even stranger, Dad.’

If this were a world where Asil and Alice were together, would they still be having conversations like this?

Because this world had been completely explored, imagining such impossible scenarios had been fun lately.

In the past, she was scared and anxious about the unknown future.

But now, she was being loved, so it was okay.

‘But I thought that ending would be very happy too. If Asil and Alice were together, you never know what might happen. It would be thrilling every day. Hehe!’

“Dad, where are such daggers?”

When Yuriana asked, Asil pointed to the table with his finger.

“From here to the end over there.”

“Whoa….”

“They look fancy and would make great gifts. They’re expensive, so they’re suitable for… people with nothing else to do.”

No matter how well a gem was crafted, if it got stained with tears, sweat, dust, or blood, it often got ruined.

And to craft that onto the hilt and sheath?

To Asil’s eyes, it was an incomprehensible act.

Jewels should stay well within their jewelry boxes until they fall into the hands of Asil Litus.

He let out a sigh, barely containing his displeasure.

“Ah. But this is okay. It’s good for balancing.”

Surprisingly, he pointed to something attached to the end of a dagger hilt.

“Really?”

Yuriana, who lacked confidence in sports or physical activities, listened half-heartedly.

But Asil’s explanation was detailed.

“You can’t just choose a weapon because it’s light. When two weapons clashes, what happens if there’s no heft?”

“Huh?”

“It might fly out of your hand easily. Losing your weapon… means ruin, right? In Dark Town, defeat means permanent downfall.”

“B… Boss….”

Wasn’t he getting too practical?

Her Miss didn’t need to hold such thing in her hands?!

Levina, who wanted to raise Yuriana well, tried to stop him cautiously, and Asil decided to give up.

They were just here for a brief look around, not to seriously buy something.

“That’s enough, Yuriana. You don’t need to care about these things. Paul will use the kitchen knife, and the maid will handle the paring knife, so let’s leave it at that.”

Still, she wanted at least a self-defense weapon.

Yuriana reluctantly nodded, fiddling with the whistle hanging around her neck.

Meanwhile, Karas was quietly buying something with Al’s help.

Finally, evening arrived.

After an early dinner at the hotel, Yuriana went to the square to see the tree.

The snow had piled up nicely, and it wasn’t as cold as expected.

“Yuriana, look. They’re lighting the lights.”

“Whoa! It’s beautiful.”

“They plan to take it down soon, so enjoy it a lot today, Miss.”

Levina, unlike earlier in the day, had a pleased expression.

Yuriana said excitedly.

“Levina! Let’s come see it again next year if we get the chance.”

“Oh, sure. Not just next year, I’ll bring you when they light the tree this December.”

Levina, touched by Yuriana’s words, made a promise to herself.

She would never follow that slippery, shameless Al to the Empire! Not her, and not Yuriana!

Yuriana, who had been smiling, added.

“Karas too!”

“… yeah. I’d like that too. I’ll try. I think I’m going to like the Nea Kingdom from now on.”

A spoonful of flattery added to the agreement.

Yuriana shook her shoulders excitedly.

“Hehe.”

Karas, without realizing it, held Yuriana’s hand tightly. How could she be so cute?

Flinch.

The small, squirming girl’s hand remained held by the boy.

For some reason, neither could let go. Neither the boy nor the girl.

“…….”

“…….”

The surroundings were quiet.

Al, fine.

But Asil, who usually intervened with a stern expression in such situations(?), had his attention elsewhere.

Asil, silently standing there, stepped back and noticed a suspicious figure.

Whoosh!

“You!”

“Ha.”

With a short sigh, the person who caught Asil’s wrist was…

Heidel!

‘Damn it. Why is this guy here again?’

Asil, who had become somewhat gentler while taking care of Yuriana, was on the verge of swearing.

Barely having pushed Alice away, and now another troublesome person appeared?

He recalled the previous incident.

After the autumn meeting, a letter had come from King Aidan’s side.

Not a secret message from the Queen’s private pigeon, but openly by a person.

The message was simple.

“Do not contact the Queen alone anymore. All discussions should go through the King. We turned a blind eye due to the urgency, but this incident should never have happened.”

It was also Asil’s wish, though the attitude was oppressive.

Not wanting to clash with Aidan, he agreed.

Probably the first request after that was to let the two guests of the Empire into Dark Town.

If someone made a promise, they should keep it, right?

But personally, it meant the end of all meetings with Alice.

‘This is inconvenient for me too!’

Asil, having cleaned up Alice’s room neatly, was more bewildered by Heidel’s presence here.

He growled lowly.

“Where’s your precious Elodia that you’re here?”

Heidel smirked and uttered the worst possible words.

“I’m here to see Alice.”

Was it true, this madman?

Asil, who understood Aidan’s feelings to some extent as he protected Yuriana like a daughter, was now contemplating how to handle this crazy elf.

Either coax him back to his homeland or lock him up and give him a beating if he didn’t comply.

Until he woke up.

It was winter, so instead of splashing cold water on his face, a wake-up call to his bottom might be necessary.

“She’s a married woman!”

“… huh? Are you the type to care about such things?”

“Crazy bastard!”

Unable to hold back, Asil shouted.

Only then did Yuriana, who was fascinated by the tree, turn around in a hurry.

And her eyes narrowed.

‘Oh… oh… wait, that person…? It must be Heidel!’

Unusual to the point of being unique, the rebellious red hair and blue eyes.

There were many people with blue eyes in Dark House, but none could be compared to Heidel.

It was like he had real sapphires embedded in his eyes. Even Alice said so!

And those unmistakable pointed ears.

“What’s wrong? Do you know him?”

Karas, puzzled by Yuriana’s prolonged gaze not at the large tree, asked.

“Karas, you know. An elf has appeared.”

“An elf?”

Karas flinched automatically at the small whisper.

The Reef Empire generally maintained close relations with dark elves rather than elves.

Of course, there was a separate elf sanctuary.

‘Grandfather said before. Our family has better relations with elves, but overall, the Empire is closer to dark elves…’

If this elf found out he was from the Empire, wouldn’t he cause trouble?

Karas, somewhat aware of the fallen Elodia matter, tensed up.

They said there were very few elves living in the kingdom, so he might be a refugee from there.

“Yuriana, come here.”

“Huh? Ah…!”

Hiding Yuriana behind him, Karas instructed Al.

“Al, if something happens, protect Yuriana before me.”

“Huff… okay. Understood.”

From Al’s perspective, who was much older than both Karas and Yuriana, it was amusing and cute.

Who was protecting whom! Shouldn’t both of them be behind him?

But it would be mean to laugh at the boy’s earnest heart.

Meanwhile, Asil was seriously arguing with Heidel.

“Get out of the kingdom immediately.”

“I just arrived, and you’re kicking me out right away? How ungracious.”

“Gracious, my foot! Don’t even think of spouting nonsense and just leave.”

“Ah~ I want to rest a bit.”

“If you must, at least leave the capital.”

This dangerous guy openly declared his aim was Alice!

However, Heidel had no intention of leaving easily.

“I refuse.”

“… what?”

“Leave the capital? Then maybe I’ll accept some hospitality in Dark Town? Your house is surrounded by decent trees, isn’t it? I’m intrigued.”

How did this guy know about Dark Town when he’d never been there!

Asil ground his teeth.

“Are you serious?”

“Elves don’t joke.”

“Don’t make me laugh!”

“That was the elf’s once-in-a-century joke.”

“You!”

“Still stiff and boring as ever.”

As Asil and Heidel’s argument seemed endless, Yuriana finally understood her father’s intention.

He was not planning to introduce her to Heidel at all!

He was definitely trying to send him far away.

‘What a waste! If I miss Heidel now, I might never see him again in my life.’

He wasn’t her type, but a brief meeting with one of the three main male leads could be interesting.

Yuriana pouted her lips like a baby bird.

“Dad~~~”