How to Be a Dark Hero’s Daughter

“My lady, the owner is asking you to bring the teddy bear to the drawing-room.”

“What? My teddy bear?”

I stood up when I heard Zion’s words while doing my homework in front of the fireplace.

‘Why are they looking for it?’

I shook my head, confused, but nodded. Collen’s whims were not just for a day or two. When I went to the drawing room, Zion was standing in front of the door.

“Who’s inside?”

“A guest we have been avoiding for a year has come. He’s not in a good mood today.”

But can I go in? Zion opened the door for me.

When I went inside the room, Collen was sitting uncomfortably on the sofa with a grimace on his face.

And on the other side, there was a man with a neatly trimmed beard who looked like an artist, with a canvas in front of him.

“Come here, Leticia.”

I approached Collen with a teddy bear.

“Who is this lady?”

“Hey, say hello.”

Collen spat out coldly.

“I am the palace painter Luton. Today, I came to paint a portrait of the Duke to be hung in the palace. It’s a rule for nobles and high-ranking people to hang portraits in the royal palace.”

“Ah… But why did I come here?”

“I needed a prop.”

Collen said with a smirk. Luton’s face turned blue.

“That’s right. In a portrait, a prop symbolizing the person is included. For example, someone who likes horseback riding would hold a riding crop, someone who likes hunting would have a bow and hunting boots, and someone who likes books would hold a book while posing for the portrait.”

“Ah, props are used to express the person’s personality.”

I looked at the cuddly teddy bear in my arms. Could it be?

“Dad, would you like to draw a portrait with you holding this?”

He made such a playful request for a serious painting that would hang in the royal palace. Then I understood Luton’s expression.

“Come here.”

I walked up to Collen.

Then Collen quickly lifted me up and sat me on his knee.

“Now, this is my favorite thing lately. My hobby.”

“…”

“Making my daughter look pretty,” Collen said.

Luton’s mouth dropped open.

‘Am I a prop?’

Collen grumbled, ignoring my embarrassment.

“Why do we need a portrait? Can’t we just take a photo?”

“Photos taken by magicians are weird. Unlike photos, paintings are considered serious art!”

“Do magicians not take photos seriously? Geez…”

At that moment, I met Zion’s gaze. Zion desperately gestured at me.

‘Did he ask for my help?’

Is that what that look meant? I pulled on Collen’s collar.

“Dad, but…”

“…?”

“I saw the portrait room when I went to the royal palace last time. The paintings in that room were really cool, weren’t they?”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. My Dad is the best-looking guy in the capital, so I think it’ll be really cool if we hang your portrait up big. People passing by will say, ‘Wow, your dad is so handsome!'”

I said that and grinned. Collen looked down at me.

“Do you want to see Dad’s portrait?”

“Yes! I really want to see it. How cool would it be?”

“Well…?”

Collen smirked. At the same time, Zion’s lips curled up.

“Well, come to think of it, we do need at least one portrait. Draw it.”

The artist, Luton, who had been clutching his chest, looked around.

“Do you really want me to draw it like this? Um, what about props…?”

Collen growled.

“Hey, are you trying to treat my daughter like a prop?”

…But, wait, didn’t Dad treat me like a prop first? I felt the words rising in my throat.

“Let’s just proceed like this. I’ll give you three days.”

“Only three days?”

Luton made a crying sound. Then he kept grumbling, but eventually started drawing the picture.

About an hour later, Jade returned to the Magic Tower. He came to find us and was shocked when he saw what we were doing.

“What are you doing without me, Father? To draw a picture with just the two of you…”

Oh, so it’s like drawing a family picture without Jade? My spine shivered. What should I do? I’m not even his real daughter, but I’m pushing Jade out…

Jade rushed over.

“Get out of the way, Father. I will draw the picture with her.”

And thus, the court painter Luton witnessed for the first time in his life the Duke and young master fighting over who would be in the picture with a princess.

“Go to the Magic Tower, Jade.”

“I’ll leave after the portrait is finished!”

Looking at Luton’s chilly expression, I felt a strange sense of kinship.

‘It must be hard for you to socialize, Mr. Painter?’

Even family life can be difficult at times.