How to Be a Dark Hero’s Daughter

Even after Claire left, the atmosphere in the room was tense. Nobody knew what to say.

But something was strange.

‘Hmm?’

Everyone was staring at me. Oh, why are you like this? It’s scary.

‘Could it be because the adoptive daughter like me caused trouble?’

“Dad, Jade.”

Embarrassed, I hid between my dad and Jade. Even the king couldn’t take his eyes off me.

“Well, your daughter is truly a genius.”

The king spoke and I swallowed hard.

“Oh, Duke. The duke’s daughter saved Lavigne’s life.”

The queen said, moved. As if the words had lit a fuse, people started to cheer.

“She solved all this on her own.”

“The duke is right. She even found the secret passage and saved us when the fire broke out!”

“She’s a genius princess.”

I didn’t know what to do. The cheering was overwhelming.

Whoosh. Collen picked me up and hugged me. He put his arms around me as if to calm me down.

Collen looked at each person in the room and smiled.

“Yes, this is my daughter.”

People’s expressions became strange. If I had to interpret that expression… yes. That’s it. It was a relieved expression.

‘Ah, so that’s why the Duke adopted her.’

If I thought of it that way, was it because of my mood?

“But my daughter did so much today.”

“…”

“Is this all anyone can do? My daughter is so talented. Why is that?”

Oh, Dad. You don’t have to go that far… I thought to myself. The king approached me, clearing his throat.

“Cough, cough. Lady, I am truly grateful. Thank you.”

Before I knew it, my title had become ‘Lady’.

“Me too. Thinking about how I almost lost Lavigne.”

The queen sniffled and added. Then she came closer and grabbed my hand.

“I will never forget your kindness. It’s not just words, I really… I will definitely repay you.”

“Yes, please don’t just thank her out of courtesy. Please reward her.”

Collen chimed in with a cheerful smile.

“Um, please don’t say that, Dad.”

I grabbed Collen’s collar.

“Thank you for your congratulations, Your Majesty the King, Your Majesty the Queen.”

I bowed my head.

“Thank you for saving me.”

“Thank you.”

Then everyone in the room rushed to thank me. Some bowed, while others put their hands on their chests.

“Pay respect to the Duke’s family and Lady.”

Finally, the king ordered. People clapped.

“Hail to the Lady’s genius.”

“Hooray for the Duke! Hooray for the Lady!”

“Hail to the King!”

I blushed and hid my face on my father’s shoulder, feeling embarrassed. I could sense Collen chuckling.

Suddenly, I met Jade’s eyes over my father’s shoulder. His eyes widened in surprise. We exchanged glances.

Yes, my dad is such a person.

Someone who can’t stand even a slight loss to himself or his family.

“Well, then please apologize for doubting my daughter.”

And it’s not over with just one line.

* * *

“Oh, the princess solved the case. Yes, there was no need for you to get involved, Cedric.”

Cedric turned his body after seeing the scene through the crack of the door.

Prince Yilep was looking at him. He was fourteen years old this year, with a delicate and kind impression, and looked a year or two younger than Cedric.

“I came secretly because I heard that Lavigne nearly died, but the case has already been resolved. We didn’t need to come.”

After the incident, everyone involved was confined to the royal villa. Even the royal family wasn’t allowed to enter.

Cedric, who arrived at the palace in the evening, couldn’t resist his curiosity and secretly broke in with Eleph. And the sight they saw was the scene where the case was all resolved.

“Who is that woman?”

Eleph’s expression was curious.

“She’s incredibly beautiful and smarter than adults. Is she the daughter of the Duke?”

“Adopted daughter. She’s a really interesting person, you know?”

“Do you know each other?” 

Cedric’s face broke into a soft smile.

“She’s someone you can never forget after seeing her once.”

Cedric soon became even more excited, his expression tinged with excitement. It was the expression he had when he met someone he had known for a very long time.

“How old is she, Cedric? Is she really the daughter of the Duke? She’s so smart and pretty like a monster, just like the Duke’s child.”

“They say she’s not, but that makes it even more fascinating.”

Although he wanted to greet her, it was not the right time now.

Cedric started to walk briskly, and Eleph hurried to follow him.

* * *

“Youn lady is really amazing. You are such an impressive person.”

Angel waited for me at the door and spoke. I looked around.

There was no one around.

“Now, will you tell me, Angel?”

“What?”

“Do you have a fear of knives or something like that?”

Angel stiffened at my words.

“At first, I suspected you. You handed over the role of stabbing Lavigne to me. But no matter how much I thought about it, you weren’t the culprit. Will you tell me what’s going on?”

Angel looked at me quietly.

“…I’m an illegitimate child of the royal family.”

“Then, you and Lavigne…”

I was surprised.

“Oh, no. My father… he’s already dead. He was the younger brother of the king. But my father didn’t marry my mother, so the royal family assigned me as a daughter of a prestigious family. My mom and dad, they’re like real parents to me, though.”

I realized why Angel had been good to me from the beginning. It was because we were both daughters of prestigious families.

“It’s weird for me, a royal princess, to be stabbing a real princess, right? So I wanted to avoid a difficult situation.”

“Then what about me, a commoner adopted daughter of a prestigious family?”

I pointed at myself with a worried expression.

“That’s different. You’re an outsider, and I’m a royal princess with mixed blood. It’s a completely different issue.”

I nodded my head.

‘Then, maybe…’

Another idea formed in my head. Claire’s daughter is also a princess. So… she was a hidden child. And at the same time, if she had known that Angel was also a princess…

Angel was originally supposed to be the one to stab Lavigne with a knife.

‘It’s like killing Lavigne with Angel’s hand… She might have wanted to show that.’