《She’s Not Our Daughter!》 Chapter 1 - Everyone Has A Causal Relationship Trantor: Lily ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 1 ¨C Everyone Has A Causal Rtionship It¡¯s been five years since I¡¯ve started taking care of my sister¡¯s daughter in a rural vige. Today, Sierra was on her way to pick up her sister¡¯s daughter, Hanael, from school. But something felt very strange. First, it was the weather. The wind blew cold, the sky was dark, and it almost seemed as thunder would strike. ¡°The weather feels odd¡­¡± But it was alwaysmon for the weather to be bad in rural viges. Sierra walked forward, raising one brow. With a lingering sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. I had a strange feeling that someone was watching me from afar. Sierra rubbed the ends of her brows and whispered low. ¡°¡­It¡¯s just my imagination, no one is following me.¡± It was when Sierra, who poured her whole spirit into her heart, walked down the path leading to Hanael¡¯s school. Her back, as she stepped forward, shuddered suddenly. When she nervously stood firm, someone whispered behind her back in a low, heavy voice. ¡°Sierra.¡± No one actually called out Sierra¡¯s name in this rural vige. They usually called her the pharmacist, the pharmacistdy, and Hanael¡¯s mother. Being more and more curious, Sierra turned around halfway. ¡®Who is that?¡¯ A somewhat familiar tall man stood right in front of her. The ck-haired man wore a ck knight¡¯s uniform and wielded a sword. He was so tall that it was intimidating. And it wasn¡¯t just that, he had deep eyes and heavy shoulders¡­ Sierra, amoner, had no such clue of the man who looked noble and sharp. She stepped back and asked in a trembling voice, ¡°Excuse me, who¡­ are you?¡± ¡°I regret leaving you.¡± Sierra frowned upon his deep voice and unfamiliar words. His hollow eyes, distinct nose, and hostile face seemed to remind her of someone. ¡®You left me? I wouldn¡¯t forget a guy this handsome¡­ No, wait a minute.¡¯ I didn¡¯t recognize him because of his jawline, which has gotten a little sharper rather than six years ago, and his face, which has turned cold. The man before her resembled Cassius Idios, her friend from the academy, a one-night stand, and a lover whom she had dated for about a month. ¡°I¡­ Cassius?¡± At Sierra¡¯s question, he took a step closer with azy sigh. Sierra felt suspicious. Why on earth does he look so miserable, as if he regrets something? Something¡¯s not right. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Sierra shrugged her shoulders with a curious expression. Although he now gives off the feeling of a raw beast, Cassius was never a dangerous man. ¡°I had no idea.¡± Cassius murmured low in a painful manner. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were here alone, raising our child alone.¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know what you mean, but it¡¯s not like that.¡± Sierra rubbed her ears several times. What is he talking about? Did I hear correctly? Otherwise, It would seem Cassius is strangely misunderstanding. She was in a very unexpected position. Cassius seemed more convinced by the subtle changes in her facial expression. ¡°You must have thought I had deceived you.¡± What is this situation? Sierra shook her head with a ridiculous smile forming her mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t know what, but I¡¯m sure there¡¯s some sort of misunderstanding.¡± Cassius strode one step forward and stirred low. ¡°Misunderstanding? What do you mean?¡± Um, this whole situation? Your expression at this exact moment? All those thoughts flowing inside your head right now? Sadly, however, Sierra could not finish. Mostly because of the ringing sound of the school¡¯s dismissal bells. Sierra looked around in a hurry. Then, just at the right time, I could hear someone running fast behind my back. Suddenly I had an ominous feeling. Wait, no. Perhaps¡­ It can¡¯t be, right? But sinister feelings are always right. ¡°Mommy!¡± Hanael, who had been running at a fast pace, smiled broadly at Sierra and waved her hands. ¡°Hanael,e to Mommy!¡± ¡­Yes, Mommy! I said it twice. Sierra shut her eyes tightly and then proceeded to open them. In the meantime, her niece, Hanael, clung to her leg. Sierra lowered her stiff gaze. My sister¡¯s daughter, Hanael¡­ For more than five years, due to certain circumstances, Hanael has not seen her biological mother¡¯s face and grew up thinking of her aunt as a mother. In short, the two of them should not meet in this current situation. Sierra raised her head once more with a stiff expression on her face and stared at Cassius. ¡®Crazy, what is this!¡¯ Fully misunderstood, Cassius rubbed roughly around his eyes and muttered in a husky, locked voice. ¡°¡­A misunderstanding? Lying is no fun, Sierra.¡± Hanging from her leg, Hanael seemed to have only just noticed the man in front of her. Hanael, who carried her school bag, inted her cheeks with a curious manner. ¡°Mom, who is this man?¡± ¡°I have no idea. Let¡¯s go, Hanael.¡± Cassius said, ring at Sierra. ¡°We weren¡¯t in a rtionship that was meant to be expressed in such words. Don¡¯t deny it.¡± His expression made him look guilty. To put it simply, the face of a man who noticed that the woman he loved was pregnant, ran away, and was living a miserable life. ¡°No¡­¡± Sierra¡¯s lips were sweet, but she was so dumbfounded that she couldn¡¯t bring herself to words. In the meantime, Hanael, who nced at Sierra and Cassius, soon opened her eyes. ¡°Maybe¡­¡± ¡°I see what you¡¯re thinking, but I assure you it isn¡¯t that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡± ¡­Cassius tried to kneel at her, but Sierra hurriedly caught him before he could reach the ground. One thing is for sure. This situation was getting worse and worse. ¡°No, do not kneel!¡± Cassius murmured quietly at Sierra¡¯s squeal. ¡°Don¡¯t I¡­ even have a chance to apologize?¡± No, you didn¡¯t do anything wrong! ¡°About this, I¡¯ll talk to you about itter for now.¡± ¡°Will you¡­ give me a chance to talk, Sierra?¡± ¡°Yes, of course!¡± Sierra rushed at her feet and tried to walk away. But there was one thing she overlooked. The fact that there was a little rascal, Hanael, still clinging from her leg. A man approached her beloved mother, apologizing and saying he was wrong. Moreover, Hanael was watching him with immense affection. What this situation meant was obvious. ¡°Daddy?¡± Hanael bulged both cheeks and continued. ¡°Phooey, don¡¯t give that bad mister a chance!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating well and living well without us? I dislike you! Go away!¡± ¡°¡­No, that¡¯s not true.¡± Hanael also seems to be misunderstanding this situation just like Cassius. Cassius stared silently at the little girl, who looked nothing like me, shouting and stomping her feet. Soon Cassius bit his mrs into this shocking day. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry, Hanael.¡± ¡°You fool! Go away!¡± Sierra felt like crying. No, Hanael. He¡¯s never walked out on you. I was never pregnant! Besides, you have no clue, but he¡¯s the head Duke of the Idios family! If we y our cards wrong, we¡¯ll die! ¡°Hanael, don¡¯t do that to the man, it¡¯s a nuisance. Let¡¯s go home and take a nap.¡± But Cassius growled and grasped Sierra¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t deny our rtionship, nor our child, Sierra.¡± There was a fierce look in her eyes. ¡°Now I¡¯ll protect you and my daughter.¡± Is it an illusion to think that we won¡¯t be able tomunicate? Cassius¡¯s ring eyes make me too scared to exin. How did he end up like a wild beast? You were supposed to be a friendly little dog¡­! Stiff as a rock, Sierra began to seriously consider how this whole crazy situation started. So all this misunderstanding led to more misunderstandings¡­ Exactly six years ago, back when Cassius and Sierra spent the night together. *** ¡°You¡¯ve woken up, Sierra?¡± Asked Cassius, sitting on the bed, gently touching Sierra¡¯s forehead. Sierra gazed at Cassius¡¯s neck with dim eyes, eyeing a faint kiss mark. ¡®So yesterday¡­¡¯ Sierra touched her swollen lips, reminding her of yesterday. The dark atmosphere, her plumped lips, and even Cassius¡¯s fingertips¡­ My face naturally flushed at the thought ofst night. Sierra lifted both hands and took a long deep breath, bringing them close to her face. ¡®No, this is a dream, it has to be a dream.¡¯ Sierra soon shut her eyes tightly and then opened them again. Butst night¡¯s afterimage didn¡¯t dissipate. ¡°You¡¯re very tired, aren¡¯t you?¡± His sweet voice rang in her ears. ¡®A dream¡­ right¡­.?¡¯ No matter how many times I blinked, Cassius did not disappear. Sierra opened her mouth with difficulty and told Cassius, ¡°Well, you already know. Right, Cassius? Last night was¡­¡± ¡°Yes. Last night.¡± His dreamy eyes felt like honey dripping with affection. Sierra asked, lowering her trembling gaze. ¡°Uh, I mean¡­¡± ¡­We spent one night together, didn¡¯t we? The memory was too vivid to ask without shame. ¡°Yes.¡± Cassius then kissed her forehead. It was a kiss of affection. His soft lips fell gently from her forehead. Sierra¡¯s thoughts became more and moreplicated. Originally, Cassius and Sierra were friends. A moderately warm andfortable friendship. But as of yesterday, their rtionship went sour. Yesterday was a ing-of-age¡¯ night. I bumped into Cassius at the pub, and we drank together to celebrate hising of age. That night, Sierra was intoxicated with wine and the atmosphere. Just by looking at him, the handsome Cassius looked twice as attractive as he drank. So I made a mistake. We yed with fire for a night. ¡®Yes, I was hung up on the atmosphere and made a mistake.¡¯ She smacked herself and sped the nket in her palms. Cassius, who did not even know what she was thinking, asked carefully, ¡°You¡¯re sweating. Are you sick?¡± This man who had a strong rtionship with herst night. Cassius Idios. As a twenty-year-old, he was the head of the Academy¡¯s Swordsmanship Department and a talented person who was said to be a swordmaster. He¡¯s also the only heir to bing the Duke of Idios and the only child of the duke who had be infertile. Of course, any perfect man had a weakness. He had thebel of an illegitimate child. But the Duke of Idios recognized him as his child and had no wife. Regardless of thebel, Cassius is stuck with, he is excessively different from me, amoner pharmacist. Since our rtionship is just that different, I thought we could barely remain friends at the academy. I thought we¡¯d go our separate ways after graduation. I didn¡¯t expect to have a one-night-stand just before graduation. ¡®Yeah, yeah. Now that he and I don¡¯t get along, I can just ask him to forget aboutst night, right?¡¯ Cassius does not necessarily love me to the point where he can even ovee his social constraints. Besides, I have no ambition to be a duchess. Sierra wanted to be a great pharmacist in a wonderful pharmacy, so she didn¡¯t want to be a nobledy. Stiffened, Sierra looked up at him carefully and pursed her lips. ¡°Well, aboutst night.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sierra washed her face dry. In the meantime, Cassius was lovingly staring at the little soft hands rubbing her cheeks. I think the impact of one night was quite significant. We were just friends, but I didn¡¯t know our rtionship would go this way. ¡®Okay, how can I say goodbye without sounding like trash?¡¯ While pondering over what to say, Cassius, who was waiting for her words, spoke first. ¡°Can I go first, Sierra?¡± ¡°Yes.¡¯ It was the ray of voice that embarrassed Sierra. I decided that I should listen to what Cassius had to say. Cassius, who looked into Sierra¡¯s eyes, began to quietly risk his luck. ¡°Aboutst night.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Sitting on the bedside, Cassius rose and drank a ss of water from the nightstand. In the meantime, Sierra pressed her head against the pillow as if the ground was disappearing. Then she looked at Cassius with fierce momentum. He looked very nervous and sorry. Even after drinking all the water, he couldn¡¯t take his lips off the ss. ¡®What?¡¯ Isn¡¯t there one thing Cassius is sorry for? I¡¯m trying to shake off my one-night stand. Sierra began to cheer Cassius with her heart. Yeah, you got this, Cassius! I¡¯m so sorry, I can¡¯t take responsibility for you! Say something like, ¡®Amoner like you never mixes with the son of a duke like me!¡¯ Sierra clenched her fists as if eagerly praying. Tap- Cassius murmured low, putting down an empty ss of water on the table. ¡°I, yesterday¡­ was my first time.¡± There was a blush of shame on his cold and chilly face. We¡¯ve got a problem. Cassius was looking eagerly at Sierra as if she were his own savior. Well, Actually, I can¡¯t remember for sure, but¡­ The first time she met Cassius Idios, he definitely had the image of a cute little dog! *** She looked seriously at the menacing beast in front of her. ¡®Didn¡¯t we have a short one-night stand and split calmly? What the hell is going on?¡¯ Cassius, in Sierra¡¯s eyes, twisted his lips upwards. ¡°Are you thinking of running away again?¡± Nope, not what I was thinking. Because I never ran away. And I have no intention of running away. No matter how I looked at it, it seemed this situation was getting more extreme. Cassius raised his hand and muttered, rubbing her cheek slowly. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to leave you.¡± This is a big deal. While briefly recalling past memories, Cassius seemed to have expanded his misunderstanding. He gently touched her hair with his calloused hands and whispered as if warning. ¡°Sierra, hmm?¡± Madness showed through his cold facial expression. Sierra was agonizing over how to clean up the mess in this situation. Hanael, who was watching them both at the time, said with her arms folded, ¡°Daddy, don¡¯t be a bad man.¡± Hanael¡¯s small figure felt a force. ¡°If you were going to regret it, you shouldn¡¯t have abandoned it.¡± Sierra tapped her lips. I mean¡­ Well, if the genre of our lives was regret, that would have been quite refreshing. The problem is that it is not. Now, Hanael was practically pouring oil onto the burning house. ¡°Now¡­ everyone, just calm down.¡± Sierra agreed to have a calm and serious conversation with Cassius. Sierra looked into Cassius¡¯s eyes, as if to ask why on earth these misconceptions urred. And quickly gave up on talking. ¡®Yeah, no. We can¡¯tmunicate at all right now.¡¯ Those eyes are filled with half-money¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s just calm down and have a conversation. So¡­¡± It¡¯s going to take a hundred years to calm down, but if I file a restraining order for a hundred years, it would shackle you. She opened her mouth and nailed a friendly tone and gentle manner. ¡°A week or so, I¡¯ll need time to think.¡± In short, you can¡¯t approach us. Sierra, you need to get some sense of this bizarre situation through some sources. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 2 - This Situation Is Smoothly Worsening Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 2 ¨C This Situation Is Smoothly Worsening Fortunately, telling him to stay away for the whole week worked wonderfully. Cassius, begging like a sinner, dered that he would ept every word from Sierra! It was very annoying, but I had to endure it. Fortunately, I had a week alone, so I was able to figure out what was going on in Cassius¡¯s head. ¡®I need to know what happened with Cassius and why he was so desperate.¡¯ Contacting Cassius at this point would be a mistake. ¡®I regret it, I¡¯m sorry, I was wrong, I¡¯ll kneel for you.¡¯ He apologized four times. ¡®I¡¯ll ask Abel how the Duke of Idios works.¡¯ Abel was a boy whom Sierra met five years ago when she took her sister¡¯s daughter in. Abel, a small male wolf, raised by her sister, an archmage, is ying the role of her skillful and informant errand boy, and even her watchman as well. ¡°When will Abel arrive¡­¡± Sierra opened the window and nced at the outside, sighing. ¡®Rather, what is wrong with Cassius?!¡¯ No matter how you see it, he was worried that Sierra might have run away. It was obvious just by looking at the knights surrounding the mansion closely. Sierra, of course, just remained indifferent. ¡®My pharmacy is here, where could I go?¡¯ Sierra¡¯s pharmacy has established itself considerably. ¡®Of course, I¡¯m a genius, so I¡¯d have a wonderful pharmacy no matter the location.¡¯ When I was at the academy, my sister requested that I should not reveal my skills. Raising Hanael was more important. Sierra¡¯s sister is an archmage and was carrying out a dangerous mission, resulting in an unknown status. She was terribly afraid that she would bring harm to Sierra. ¡°Hanael, my baby. I¡¯ve told you already. You have another mother.¡± Hanael quickly replied with a bright smile. ¡°Hanael only has Sierra as a mother!¡± She was a bright child, without a doubt. ¡®No, how should I exin this¡­?¡¯ Hanael, your mother is actually an archmage, and I don¡¯t know who your father is. I¡¯m just your aunt, who¡¯s taking care of you for a while. I would often tell her that as a child, but now I could not. My sister, who is very busy with the tower, never came to see Hanael. Sierra sighed and stroked Hanael¡¯s hair affectionately. ¡®If only those little kids for not having a mother or father¡­¡¯ If I tell her the truth now, it may cause her to be confused with her values. It even triggered Cassius¡¯ misinterpretation of things¡­ This is all because of her. Sierra once again med her sister for not being here while clenched her fist. Hanael then climbed onto herp and whined. ¡°Hey, did you know you didn¡¯t have a father?¡± Sierra started at Hanael¡¯s rosy cheeks. It must be strange for her to see a man iming to be her father. Hanael was always teased for being a child with no father. When Sierra feltplex emotions, Hanael replied, with her smiley lips nted down. ¡°That¡¯s all right. Hanael doesn¡¯t need a dad!¡± Hanael was eating Kimchi stew in a bowl. Sierra nodded slowly with a sour expression. ¡®No, my brother-inw must be alive and well somewhere in the tower¡­¡¯ I¡¯m not certain, but I heard Henael¡¯s father is the owner of the tower. My sister met him in the tower. Well¡­ Both of them have hidden their daughter¡¯s existence and are working on a secret mission that couldn¡¯t be revealed. Now that Hanael is five years old, their mission should beplete. Sierra coughed loudly and whispered affectionately to Hanael. ¡°Hanael.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°That man is not your dad. Do not even exchange words with him, understand?¡± Hanael, with glistening eyes, dropped her head in a sulking manner. Sierra tapped Hanael¡¯s chubby white bread-like arm. ¡°Okay?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hanael, answer me.¡± Hanael pouted her lips and bowed her head. The little girl grew up yful and cheerful, but nevertheless, she learned to give up easily. ¡°¡­I understand.¡± She was very mature, even at this very moment. ¡°Well¡­ Hanael knows. Mommy doesn¡¯t like him.¡± Sierra embraced the sullen Hanael. The child who learned to give up easily was heartbroken. ¡®Unnie, just you wait. I¡¯ll hit you.¡¯ Then, she heard a sound. Sierra turned around, her eyes wide. A tall boy came in, approaching her while waving his hand. ¡°Abel, you¡¯re here!¡± Sierra raised her hand and waved at Abel. ¡°Sister!¡± While Hanael grew up, the boy, who was in his early teens, also aged well. His body is about twice as big as Sierra¡¯s. Sierra shrugged, as she saw Abel walking toward her. ¡°Yes, Abel.¡± ¡°What the¡­ what¡¯s going on?¡± Abel probably also saw knights camping outside the mansion. Perhaps that¡¯s why he was looking at Sierra with a sour face. ¡°There are a lot of knights out there. What¡¯s the matter? Do you happen to be¡­¡± Sierra shook her head. ¡°I had a bit of a misunderstanding with someone from my past¡­ I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°The atmosphere was very strange. When he saw me entering your house, it was like he was ready to kill me¡­¡± Abel shrugged. ¡°I brought an important letter.¡± Abel had three letters in his hand. A red, blue and scarlet letter¡­ ¡°They want to raise your monthly rent. For the pharmacy.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± A Frown appeared on Sierra¡¯s brows. ¡°There¡¯s also a love letter.¡± Sierra shook her head with a furrowed face. ¡®A bunch of annoyances is appearing.¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s not something I want to discuss in front of Hanael. Just leave it on my desk.¡± Abel pressed Sierra¡¯s red-hot eyes with his cold hands. ¡°Yes, and rest, sister.¡± I was going to rest anyway. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have stayed up all night yesterday, but I¡¯m working on a new medicine. I have work to do¡­ I¡¯ll just take a nap.¡± Abel seemed to know Sierra was fragile. She was so overworked, but Abel had no say in the matter even if he thought so. Sierra lowered her voice and whispered, ¡°Yeah, and the problem outside¡­ It¡¯s because of Duke Cassius.¡± ¡°The Duke?¡± Abel stared at Sierra in surprise. Sierra nodded and sighed. ¡°Yes, could you look into him as soon as possible?¡± ¡°As soon as possible? Um. I¡¯m not going to go into full detail¡­ but I¡¯ll find out what he¡¯s misunderstanding. I¡¯ll be back in a day or so!¡± ¡°Yes. Be careful. I can never thank you enough.¡± Sierra gave Abel a simple thank-you, looked at Hanael, who was standing next to her. ¡°Hanael.¡± Hanael nodded with wide eyes. ¡°Why are you so kind today, Hanael?¡± ¡°Hanael is always kind!¡± Sierra tucked her hands under Hanael¡¯s arms and hugged her tightly to her chest. Hanael smiled and rubbed her face against Sierra¡¯s corbone. ¡°Let¡¯s go to bed, okay, Hanael?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Abel, who was watching their happy moment, smiled and waved. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be back after looking into him, sister!¡± After Abel left, Sierra and Hanael brushed their teeth, wore matching pajamas, and slipped into bed. ¡®Ha¡­ Cassius Idios. What the hell is he thinking? It¡¯s bothering me¡­¡¯ Sierra kissed Hanael on the cheek and tried to forget her worries. ¡®Around three hours until Abel gets here.¡¯ It won¡¯t take him long since he said he¡¯d scrap the capital¡¯s newspapers. In the meantime, I can just rx and organize my thoughts. ¡°Good night, Hanael.¡± Sierra hugged Hanael then closed her eyes. Perhaps because I had gone through so many things at once, I was drowned in my thoughts and drifted to sleep quickly. *** I guess she was tired today. So Sierra was asleep for a long time. Hanael touched her sleeping mother¡¯s eyes and soon drooped her shoulders. ¡®Is it because of that bad man? Is that why you¡¯re upset?¡¯ For some reason, my mom looked very, very sad. ¡®Was it the bad letter from earlier?¡¯ Hanael hopped into her mother¡¯s study. She usually locks it with a key. She locked it firmly today, too, but things were strange. Hanael reached for the handle, but the door turned blue and opened. ¡®What is that light? Why did the door open?¡¯ Hanael tilted her head and examined the door. Well, it¡¯s good that the door is wide open. Entering the room, Hanael searched for the letter her mother had read. Hanael, who found the letter sitting on the desk, nibbled her lips. ¡°You can either pay the rent or leave¡­?¡± Hanael¡¯s expression grew serious. As a five-year-old child, she was mature. Everyone knew she was good at speaking and reading. Her kindergarten teacher told her that she has the mindset of an adult. The olddy who came to the pharmacy also said she could be an adult if she slept five more nights. So, Hanael understands well. We¡¯ll get kicked out of the pharmacy! We¡¯d be beggars! I¡¯m gonna¡­ I¡¯m gonna die with my mother! Hanael looked down at the stack of letters with a serious expression. ¡°I-I need someone to help.¡± Hanael tightly carried the pack of letters in her arms and went out the door. The gate opened with a squeak. Hanael decided to find someone who can help her and her mother. Her kindergarten teacher immediately popped into Hanael¡¯s head. Since she remembered that her kindergarten teacher said that she was struggling too¡­ Who would be able to help her? ¡®Hanael is almost an adult. I¡¯m not a child. So I¡¯ll act like an adult.¡¯ After much consideration, she was able to step outside. The knight, who was guarding the mansion under Cassius¡¯ order, asked Hanael with a friendly voice. ¡°Do you need anything?¡± Hanael, who was looking at the knight, paused. I need¡­ something. ¡®That bad man¡­ is he rich?¡¯.Hanael shouted loudly with spirit and courage, which was enough to make the knight flinch. ¡°You¡¯re the bad man¡¯s friend, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Bad man? Who do you¡­¡± The white-faced knight tried to dissuade Hanael, but Cassius arrived first. He still stood near Sierra¡¯s home. He was waiting for her to appear. Instead, his daughter Hanael appeared, not Sierra. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Oh, sir¡­¡± The knight stepped back hurriedly in surprise. Who is Cassius Idios? He did not have a hint of mercy when holding his sword. He made the greatest achievement ever in defeating the war against the beast, which people believed he would never win. He was a devilish winner in a hellish war that he thought he would die in. There were rumors that he killed his father, and that he was more of a beast than real beasts. So, that is the Cassius Idios the knight recognizes¡­ He was so impudent that he could kill a little bean-sized child with a single swing of his word. ¡°Nothing, sir. It must have slipped this child¡¯s tongue.¡± The knight looked at Hanael in a hurry, but Cassius lowered his indifferent gaze toward Hanael. He wasn¡¯t even interested in the knight, whose front teeth were chattering. ¡°Bad man.¡± The knight, who was ignored by both, opened his mouth wide. Cassius, however, did not give a nce to the surprised knight. Instead, he called out the name of the small child in a friendly tone. ¡°Hanael.¡± He didn¡¯t mind dirtying his high-end clothes. Kneeling on one knee, he whispered affectionately to Hanael. ¡°Hanael, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Hanael red at him. The bad man seems to know her name. ¡®Dad¡­ knows my name but hasn¡¯t visited me for five years!¡¯ Even more offended, she shouted, stomping her feet. ¡°I have something to say, bad man!¡± Hanael opened her eyes in triangr shapes. She did not stutter like a child and clenched her fists firmly and beautifully. So she looked threatening enough. ¡°Listen to me.¡± Hanael red at the bad man, who she believed hurt her mother. As Hanael expected, the bad man seemed to be very intimidated by her overbearing manner. ¡°Tell me, I¡¯ll listen to anything you say. Look at that. He¡¯ll listen to anything I say! ¡®We need help from this bad man!¡¯ Hanael lifted the letters that she named, ¡°Mother¡¯s Worries No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3.¡± Which she secretly took from her mother¡¯s desk. ¡°Here. Take care of it! It¡¯s too much for my mom!¡± Hanael, who grasped her fist tightly and puffed her cheeks, recalled a very threatening and hard baguette. A scary baguette that¡¯ll break your front teeth if you sink your teeth into it. ¡°Answer, mister!¡± Hanael shook her clenched fist with a hard face just like the scary baguette. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 3 Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 3 As soon as Hanael¡¯s eyes shone like a baby viin¡¯s, Cassius held the letter with an elegant touch. ¡°No matter what it is, I¡¯ll do you a favor.¡± ¡°You better make sure!¡± Upon hearing that, the little girl quickly ran back into the house, and Cassius watched her as she did. It¡¯s not that he has an attachment to his daughter, whom he just met for the first time. It was her appearance that resembled Sierra that weakened his mind. ¡®Sierra, Hanael¡­¡¯ Cassius quietly broached the two names. The names of the two brought back a terrible memory for Cassius, who lived in pain thanks to a long war and regret. For example, when he was friends with Sierra back at the academy. ¡®I like Marigold flowers, do you?¡¯ ¡®I¡­¡¯ Sierra, who hesitantly looked at him, smiled brightly and gently waved before turning back around. Watching Sierra from behind running to care for a flower bed, gradually faded away under the sun. His feelings were much more intense. He didn¡¯t know clearly then, but he had loved Sierra since then. It was the beginning of an extreme unrequited love, which was fulfilled just by looking at her. He still thought of his past memories at the academy with Sierra. Five years ago, he had no courage to hold onto her and never let go, only holding himself back. But now, things are different. Looking down at the letters in his hand that Hanael seemed to have secretly stolen from Sierra, showed how hard she had been living during his absence. Cassius untied the knotted letters wrapped in high-quality paper and embedded each sentence into his eyes. [ I¡¯m raising the rent, so if you have a problem, get out. ] The letter was from the arrogant building¡¯s owner. [ Sierra, this is Hans. Isn¡¯t it time for you to move on? Let¡¯s start a life together, shall we? ] Which crazy bastard wrote this¡­ Sierra was alone in this world without him, and the traces of her suffering so far unfolded clearly before his eyes. ¡°This bastard¡­¡± Cassius gritted his teeth. Even the Duke of Idios¡¯ well-trained knights felt chills and stepped further away from him. * * * As soon as Hanael opened the door and crept back into the house, Sierra woke up. Sierra, dressed in her pajamas, rubbed her eyes and murmured in a sleepy voice. ¡°I feel better now that I¡¯ve woken up. I feel more absurd, but refreshed!¡± Anyway, isn¡¯t it too quiet¡­ ¡°Hanael?¡± ¡°Hm!¡± Hanael popped her head through the door. She had a faint blush on both cheeks as if she did something wrong. Sierra lifted herself from the bed and asked cheerfully, ¡°Hanael, what did you do?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You look like you¡¯ve done something wrong.¡± Hanael shook her head, pretending to be innocent. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong!¡± Sierra came to her senses as she watched Haneal speak with a twist. ¡°You!¡± No! This is terrible!¡± Hanael covered her bum with her tiny hand and ran into the room. Sierra giggled as she watched the scene unfold. ¡®It¡¯s not like I heard a breaking pill bottle or anything, so I guess it¡¯s not a big deal.¡¯ More importantly, I needed to collect information on why Cassius went crazy like this. It was time to find out why he was acting so strange. She checked her pocket watch. It¡¯s been about five hours since Abel left. Now that I took a nap, it was time to have dinner with Hanael. It¡¯s time for Abel, the cute wolf boy, to arrive with the information she needs. Sierra hummed as she ced her pocket watch down on her table. If Abel finds more information, I¡¯ll get to clear up the misunderstanding! Time to say goodbye and clean up this mess with Cassius! My pharmacy is running smoothly, and when my sister arrives, I¡¯ll live a good life with Hanael and my brother-inw! * * * Though, Sierra¡¯s n would fail before it even started. Herpetent errand boy, Abel, did not arrive until the next morning when she opened up the pharmacy. ¡®I can¡¯t even see your nose, Abel. Is it that difficult to gather information?¡¯ Sierra looked up at the sky worriedly. Even if Abel wasn¡¯ting, she still had to send Hanael to school and open the pharmacy. Fortunately, Cassius kept his promise to stay away for this one week, allowing Sierra to keep her ordinary routine, unlike yesterday¡¯s shocking bombshell announcement. She took Hanael to school and headed to the pharmacy. When she opened up the pharmacy, she stopped and looked around. ¡®Something¡¯s up.¡¯ The grass seems a little greener, the garden looks more beautiful, and the flower beds seem more erged¡­ But when Sierra stepped into the pharmacy, there was something even more surprising. ¡°Mr. Scrooge!¡± Scrooge was the owner of the pharmacy building. He looked nervous and has been standing in front of the pharmacy since early this morning! ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Si- Miss Sierra.¡± Scrooge raised both hands and made a clear, empty gesture. Sierra frowned and shook her head. ¡°You are here to raise the rent, right? Let me be clear. I can¡¯t give you any more money.¡± Sierra decided to make a strong impression. No matter how generous this rural vige was, it was a ce where people lived. Of course, there was evil. In particr, this old man, Scrooge, was like the clich¨¦ viin in a novel. ¡®I¡¯ll just find another building! I¡¯ve saved almost all my money, so I can move.¡¯ Sierra stared at him in the tired daytime. ¡°You know, under the Lease Act, you are obligated to notify a client when you raise the rent, then you have to consult with each other. You need to follow thew.¡± ¡°Oh, no. I¡¯m not here to say that¡­¡± Sierra raised a brow while looking at Scrooge, who had shrunken under her gaze unexpectedly. Did I go too far? Scrooge¡¯s expression was very strange. He looked embarrassed and apologetic, but horrified, too. ¡°Well, what is it?¡± He quietly handed her a sheet of red paper. It was like a warning notice. ¡°T-Take this.¡± Sierra looked at him, suspiciously. He was breathing so hard that his face turned red as if he had seen a ghost. Sierra was embarrassed. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Take it first. A-And I¡¯m sorry.¡± He dropped to his knees. ¡®Why is this old man kneeling in front of me?¡¯ However, there was something more surprising. Sierra opened her eyes wide, looking at the red note he gave her. [ Scrooge, (hereinafter referred to as A) shall provide Sierra (hereinafter referred to as B) with a building free of charge for the next year. ] ¡°This is crazy¡­ What¡­¡± Scrooge shouted as Sierra lifted her gaze. ¡°I-I-If not a year, we could do two years! No! It¡¯s all right!¡± She was a young pharmacist and a tenant who rented his building, so it wasmon to talk informally. ¡®Isn¡¯t he kind of weird?¡¯ Even as soon as Sierra frowned, he hurriedly opened his mouth. ¡°No, what in the-¡± ¡°Yes, I get it! I¡¯ll give you up to two years free of rent! Help me!¡± After saying that, perhaps because I couldn¡¯t give him an answer right away, he ran away. ¡°Mister!¡± Sierra shrugged her shoulders as she watched the scene of him disappearing quickly. ¡®No¡­ What the hell is going on?¡¯ After Scrooge left in such a hurry, Sierra opened the pharmacy in a daze. ¡®What¡¯s wrong with him?¡¯ As soon as the pharmacy opened, it became busy as usual. Simr daily life continued, selling energy drinks to olddies and manufacturing simple digestive potions. ¡°Did you hear that rumor?¡± ¡°Huh, what are you talking about?¡± Sierra sat in the pharmacy, listening to the olddies¡¯ conversation. No matter how hard I think about it, I doubt Scrooge is that crazy. ¡®I didn¡¯t know this old man would write a memorandum and run away right after.¡¯ Sierra looked down at the memorandum with a half-proud and half-confused look. With a legal effective magic seal on it, even if she was given a chance to speak earlier, she still wouldn¡¯t be able to talk around Scrooge. [ Scrooge, (hereinafter referred to as A) shall provide Sierra (hereinafter referred to as B) with a building free of charge for the next year. ] After looking down at the memorandum for a while, the topic the olddies were excitedly chatting about in the pharmacy reached Sierra. ¡°Anyway, Sierra is very kind and pretty.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s the bad guy in this vige¡­¡± Sierra shrugged while sorting out the medicines. However, this time, a quite tempting topic arose. ¡°By the way, Miss Sierra. Did you hear the rumor about Hans, who followed you around?¡± Who is Hans? Hans was an old, sullen, one-circle wizard who constantly hovered near Sierra. He was also a widower raising a son alone. He was a veryzy man, who hovered around like a fly. ¡®There¡¯s no one other than me who could take the spot of the second wife, huh?¡¯ ¡®Oh, no.¡¯ It was now too much for me to endure. I even thought about drugging him behind his back and then, beat him up so I could say everything I wanted. Sierra furrowed her brows and said, ¡°Ah, the one who keeps proposing?¡± ¡°Yes, him! The knights took him.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°He must have been a criminal, he was arrested by the Lord.¡± ¡°What? A criminal?¡± ¡°Yup! I guess he¡¯s going to rot forever in prison.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± I don¡¯t know what kind of crime hemitted. However, given his unusual personality and attitude, he could havemitted a crime. Sierra nodded and looked at the olddies in front of her. ¡°Who would have thought Mr. Hans was such a grim man? You must¡¯ve suffered a lot, too, Sierra!¡± Hans, a one-circle wizard, was just a bothersome stalker to Sierra. However, the vige treated him as a promising talent. Some people even tried to act like matchmakers and tried hard to tie Hans and Sierra together. Sierra smiled broadly after the feeling of tension disappearing. ¡®This is good for me, but it¡¯s also weird?¡¯ Sierra suddenly felt that the situation was going far too well. Hans, who was buzzing around her like a fly, was taken away. Besides that, she was also informed that she did not have to pay rent. All in one day. That¡¯s why¡­ This current situation felt like a w machine, where someone manipted her sess. Sierra propped her chin up. This was very suspicious. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 4 - I Expected It, But It’s Really As Expected. Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 4 ¨C I expected it, but it¡¯s really as expected. Something smells fishy. Sierra closed the pharmacy and stepped out. On the way to school through a strangely arranged path, Sierra discovered something bizarre. The small school building was glowing. The walls were painted with gold. Sierra squinted and approached the building. ¡°No, what¡¯s this?¡± There were vigers, who were suspicious like her, on the path leading up to the school. The rural vige was quick to spread rumors. ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± That¡¯s all I could say before a little girl jumped out from the school¡¯s front gate. ¡°Mom!¡± ¡­I couldn¡¯t tell Hanael not to call me ¡°Mom,¡± by the way. Sierra looked around in a hurry. Fortunately, Cassius was not around. She replied, hugging Hanael. ¡°Wait, Hanael, did something happen?¡± ¡°Yeah! A pumpkin carriage showed up at school today! It was so magical!¡± Hanael grinned. Behind the little Hanael, the director of the school walked over with a gentle smile. ¡°Thank you, Sierra.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± What else could she be grateful for? Sierra and the director clearly just had a business rtionship. The director was an ordinary person in his 40s, who was meticulously sensitive and lived a vague mission for children. If Sierra hadn¡¯t donated to the school, there would be no rtionship between them¡­ ¡°I heard you remodeled our entire school.¡± ¡°¡­Me?¡± ¡­When did I? ¡°Why, thank you. I had no idea you were so wealthy!¡± A snobby school teacher rubbed Sierra¡¯s hand like a fly. She has always looked down on her because she believed Sierra was poor. ¡®I have the worst memory. What¡¯s wrong with her all of a sudden?¡¯ I really don¡¯t want to pay them back. Sierra turned to look at the school building. There are usually two ways to construct a building. Constructors build their buildings, or wizards use magic to build them. Usually, wizards in rural viges hire constructors because of the highbor costs. Though¡­ Terra, the only overage woman in the vige, had pouty lips. ¡°Sierra, you didn¡¯t donate all that money yourself, did you?¡± That¡¯s right. But before Sierra could answer, Terra went on. ¡°Ha! You must have gone around and found a rich aristocrat. Does he make you feel like Cindere?¡± Sierra raised her brow in a state of difort and gave Terra a warning. ¡°Don¡¯t speak nonsense.¡± ¡°I know your earnings, you don¡¯t have to make excuses!¡± ¡°What makes you think I asked a rich aristocrat?¡± Something was quite suspicious. Sierra grabbed Terra¡¯s hand, signaling her to stop. ¡°W-What are you doing?!¡± Terra shouted, and Sierra stared right back at her. An answer came from somewhere else, instead of Terra. ¡°Ah, Sierra. Noble knights from the outside brought in a wizard to reconstruct the building.¡± ¡°Noble knights?¡± Sierra added pressure to Terra¡¯s hand. Though she looked thin, she was actually quite strong after many years of taking special strength potions. Terra wriggled nervously, but couldn¡¯t get out of Sierra¡¯s grip. ¡°Yes, noble knights! They¡¯re camping at the back gate. I hear they¡¯re the knights from the Great Duke¡¯s family who won the war!¡± Now, if I put all the information together, there¡¯s only one answer. A man with excellent financial resources, a man who can control the knights, and a man who¡¯s in debt to Sierra, who only wishes her happiness! Cassius Idios! After releasing Terra¡¯s hand vigorously, she whispered to Hanael in a friendly tone. ¡°Hanael, stay with this teacher for a minute.¡± ¡°W-What are you!¡± ¡°Out of my way, Terra!¡± Sierra strode toward the back gate, heading towards the shiny school building. Walking at a fast pace, she reached the back gate quickly. The knights camping outside the gate dispersed like ants. They rushed away when they met her gaze. Most of them were highly athletic, so it was easy for them to quickly hide in the forest path. Fortunately, she could snatch a dumb knight by the wrist before he ran away. ¡°Excuse me, knight?¡± ¡°Yes, yes? I don¡¯t know anything!¡± ¡°You recognize me, right?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know¡­¡± The confused knight scratched the back of his head while Sierra asked, crossing her arms across her chest. ¡°I have something to discuss with Duke Idios.¡± The knight looked down at Sierra. Soft blonde hair and almond shaped eyes. Her green eyes were also bright. Even though Sierra was a woman who looked very fragile judging from her appearance. Yet¡­ The knight wondered. It was quite strange. ¡°As you know.¡± Why do I feel overpowered? ¡°W-Well, w-what do you want¡­¡± ¡°Duke, where are you now? I need to talk to you.¡± *** Cassius seemed to have been hovering around Sierra this whole time. As soon as he heard she was looking for him, he quickly followed her like a dog. Why are you acting like a puppy that was left in the rain? Of course, she didn¡¯t have much in mind on what to do, but she wasn¡¯tfortable leading on an innocent man¡­ ¡°I have something to say, duke.¡± ¡°Sierra.¡± Sierra was certain when she looked into his eyes. Though nothing was said, it was obvious. To be precise¡­ ¡®Did you have a hard time living here all by yourself, surrounded by these scumbags?¡¯ Was his expression. This isn¡¯t right! Sierra opened her mouth and went straight to the point. ¡°I have a question. A lot of pretty weird things happened to me today.¡± Sierra looked at him with her arms crossed. Cassius whispered softly, tilting his head. ¡°A lot of things?¡± ¡°Randomly, old Scrooge came to me, saying I don¡¯t need to pay rent! They say Hans is in prison, and Hanael¡¯s school hired a wizard to reconstruct the building¡­¡± Wait, these are all good things for me. Sierra tried really hard to keep control of her temper, but she suddenly became dizzy from the anger. Cassius mumbled, with hisnguid eyes. ¡°Hans¡­ you call each other by your first name.¡± Oh my God. Does that matter right now? ¡°Duke, please mind your own business from now on. Hanael is not your daughter.¡± Of course, everything was great. I didn¡¯t have to see Hans, who kept proposing to me and molested all the girls in the vige anymore, as well as not paying the old Scrooge. However, considering the cause of Cassius¡¯ actions, it couldn¡¯t be as good as it seemed. A strange state of mind that makes him see Hanael as his daughter. What will happen if he figures out that Hanael is not his child? I¡¯m positive that he¡¯d be very upset. So Sierra was determined to tell him, but Cassius did so first. ¡°I just¡­¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ll do what you tell me, Sierra.¡± He closed his eyes and showed a painful expression. ¡°Except to leave you.¡± His rough fingertips brushed over her shoulder like a butterfly and moved away. His warm hands tied tightly at the shawl by her shoulders. Sierra still doesn¡¯t know exactly how Cassius had lived. ¡®No, why do you look so emotional and hopeless? Sierra sighed, seriously. However, one good thing came out of this misfortune. A carrier pigeon wasing from a far distance. The fact that a carrier pigeon was here meant one thing. Abel had finally arrived. *** ¡°Sister, it¡¯s strange.¡± Abel frowned. Sierra was surprised. It was rare seeing Abel make such a serious face. ¡°What¡¯s strange?¡± ¡°I mean the Duke Cassius Idios, I think he¡¯s been looking for you for over five years.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± He¡¯s been looking for me for five years? Sierra settled in this rural vige five years ago. After graduating from the academy, I spent a night with Cassius and dated him briefly for about a month. Right after we broke up, I came to this rural vige to raise my sister¡¯s daughter. Since then, no one, including Cassius, could find the vige because of a protection spell my sister cast¡­ So Cassius had been looking for me? As the only heir of Duke Idios, why would he look for a woman he had a one-night stand after briefly meeting, like Sierra herself? ¡°¡­Is that possible?¡± ¡°Yes, but it doesn¡¯t make sense. I¡¯ve been looking through some old newspapers, so I think it¡¯s true.¡± Abel handed over a morning newspaper that has a yellowish tint from a few years ago. ¡ª ¡®Rabid dog,¡¯ who is the woman Duke Cassius Idios is searching for? Duke Cassius Idios, who returned with a splendid victory in a year¡¯s war against the beasts where everyone thought he would lose! Rumor has it that there¡¯s a woman he¡¯s looking for. She¡¯s from the Royal Academy, with a beautiful blonde, long straight hair¡­ ¡ª ¡°¡­It¡¯s only gossip, but Cassius is a rabid dog¡­¡± I was stunned because this didn¡¯t match the past at all. Plus, Cassius could have be someone else different since he had fought in a war. Wars are big and traumatizing events that can change people. But Sierra knew the image of Cassius in the past. The Cassius from the past¡­ ¡®Sierra, Marigolds are very pretty, just like you.¡¯ Always wearing a friendly smile. ¡®I thought you liked them, so I tried growing a flower bed¡­ it¡¯s a bit difficult.¡¯ It was so cute that I couldn¡¯t avoid his gaze, his ears were hot. Yes, Cassius was originally such a kind and pure child. He was a tiny dog, no, a big dog, he was a golden retriever! That golden retriever is said to have 100 yellow cards in his heart.[ T/N: some who has a heart so wide, they would give near infinite pardons. ] But how did he change by 180 degrees in five years¡­ It feels like it was just yesterday that he was so embarrassed, he couldn¡¯t even hold my hand. The Cassius of the past melted away and turned into a sharp cold man. ¡°Yes, Sierra. Apparently, he had been looking for you all along.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t¡­ think I would have a baby in one night, did you?¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s not impossible, but there is a possibility. Do you know what is in the hands of Duke Idios?¡± Abel was right. The Duke had a rare hand. Cassius was an illegitimate child, but he naturally rose to the title because the Duchess of Idios did not want to have any more children. For generations, only one son was born into the Idios family. Cassius was probably only the 11th son¡­ So, as a joke, people used to say, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a curse stating that only one child could be born into the Idios family?¡± Now as I recall the past, Cassius¡¯ strange obsession was understandable. Obviously, Cassius liked himself and his attachments from his childhood. However, Sierra and Cassius had only been dating for about a month since they slept together and didn¡¯t have a deep connection. She was more like a date mate, rather than a girlfriend. In her memory, Cassius from the academy was certainly kind and friendly. Though no matter how affectionate and kind a person is, there was no reason for them to obsess over a woman they spent little time with. However, if Sierra mistakenly thought she was pregnant with his child, then his obsession would be understandable. Sierra nodded, agreeing with Abel¡¯s words. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. The Idios¡¯ family obsession is well known. Maybe that¡¯s why he thought Hanael was his child.¡± ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be able to back down easily, so¡­ I think a little extra action Is needed.¡± ¡°Special measures?¡± Abel nodded vigorously. He opened a newspaper scrapbook, the secret weapon was hidden inside his pocket. ¡°So, there¡¯s something you can do, right?¡± ¡°Of course, Sierra!¡± Sierra took it from Abel¡¯s hand in reply, she was soon handed his scrapbook. I knew it. I knew I could trust you! ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 5 - Theres A Paternity Test? Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 5 ¨C There¡¯s A Paternity Test? ¡°The way you can resolve this misunderstanding is by taking a paternity test.¡° That was the method Abel suggested. A paternity test kit from Hipo Kingdom, which is famous for its medicine! ¡¶ Hipo Kingdom¡¯s medical staff developed the first paternity test kit, which has drawn people¡¯s attention. It is said to be an innovative kit that would take up to only three months to identify illegitimate aristocratic children. ¡· ¡°Wow, I¡¯m d there are paternity test kits, the world has evolved.¡± Sierra felt joy when she saw Abel¡¯s scrapbook. Yes, this is it! ¡°Yes! Wouldn¡¯t this prove your innocence?¡± ¡°Would it?¡± ¡°Yes, I actually looked into how to submit a birth certificate, but it was difficult to prove since the dy in Hanael¡¯s birth registration.¡± Furthermore, Hanael had been reported as the daughter of Sierra, as her sister had disappeared, leaving Hanael behind. ¡®Though I said I knew my sister would ask for er, I didn¡¯t expect this to happen now¡­¡¯ Submitting a birth certificate would rather provide an intable excuse for Cassius¡¯ misconception. Abel tapped Sierra¡¯s slightly drooping shoulder and continued. ¡°But this paternity kit can prove innocence without any problems.¡± ¡°How do I request a paternity test kit?¡± ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s¡­ to distinguish between an illegitimate child of an aristocrat, but¡­¡± I had an ominous feeling. ¡°I assume they don¡¯t take orders from themoners in these rural viges. They will only inspect when they are directly requested by a wealthy noble family and when the people of a noble house are present.¡± I understand. Hipo¡¯s doctors are high-end, so of course, they¡¯ll be selective. However, this was unfortunate for Sierra. Can the term ¡®mountain beyond mountain¡¯ be used in this situation? Sierra checked the newspaper carefully and stiffened up again. ¡°The kingdom¡¯s doctors should be invited into the family¡¯s mansion for three months to keep a close eye on the three of them, the couple and child¡­ with blood and hair tests.¡± Sierra lightly kicked her foot and disheveled her blonde hair. ¡®Is there any other way to go to the Idios family and take a paternity test?¡¯ Surprised, Abel cringed and sat in his chair at the same time. It made a squeaky noise, but Sierra didn¡¯t pay any attention to it. She flipped her bangs and her eyes shone. ¡°Sister, we, in fact, have another problem.¡± ¡°Problem?¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s about an archmage.¡± Are you talking about my sister, who¡¯s super funky and hippy that left her daughter to her sister and doesn¡¯t even show her face? Abel continued with a perplexed expression. ¡°¡­That stealth spell the archmage cast has worn away. Maybe that¡¯s why strange people started appearing in this vige.¡± No wonder, since a week ago, Abel has been restlessly running around with his feet on fire. That¡¯s why he couldn¡¯t show up when I needed him. The pieces were slowly adding up. Of course, that¡¯s why it had been so peaceful! ¡°Yeah, the stealth spell my sister cast was only supposed tost five years, right?¡± ¡°Yes. You ranted that within five years, an archmage would appear no matter what. I¡¯ve been trying to get in touch with the archmage for a week but I haven¡¯t received a letter back.¡± Her sister did not only disappear on Sierra but also Abel. Sierra let out a long sigh, her head nged wildly. ¡°Sister, just show up for once!¡± Abel, watching Sierra rolling her feet and cursing, spoke carefully. ¡°Well¡­ if there¡¯s any good news, I saw some on my way here.¡± Sierra nced at the hesitant Abel. ¡°¡­But it looks like the knights of the Idios family are guarding the mansion. So, fortunately, it¡¯s still safe.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good thing, but¡­¡± Cassius thinks Hanael is his daughter, so he was protecting Sierra. If this altercation caused by unknown reasons were to be resolved, it was clear they would no longer be protected. ¡°So, I¡¯ve been thinking for a while, sister.¡± Sierra made eye contact with Abel. Perhaps the wolf-boy and her were thinking the same thing. ¡°You want me to run a paternity test and find the cause of Cassius¡¯ misunderstanding and be protected all at the same time, right?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s a lot safer for you guys to stay with Cassius. Besides, Duke Idios, who is famous for his war-torn ears, will protect Hanael, who he thinks is his child!¡± After hearing out Abel, I definitely leaned toward it. Sierra nodded and answered. ¡°¡­Yes, that would be better.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to contact the archmage soon after I leave.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ let¡¯s stay in touch. I hope we can reach them as soon as possible. Thank you, Abel.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Sierra, who became more serious, looked through her hangers and threw on a jacket over her cotton dress. ¡°Oh, sister, where are you off to all of a sudden?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a saying called ¡®to iron out¡¯ in a short period of time.¡± Sierra, who was about to go over to Cassius, paused. ¡°By the way, Abel. I have another problem. Cassius will treat me nicely for three months. Wouldn¡¯t I be tamed by the wrong way of doing things?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Keep looking into it, this is going good.¡± I was so happy¡­ I felt like I was Cindere in a fairy tale¡­ ¡°Y-Yes¡­ but you¡¯ll still have to be careful, sister.¡± Sierra looked at him and nodded firmly. I have to be determined to be strong. *** Sierra and Cassius met on a small trail outside her mansion. ¡®Where do I start?¡¯ First, I should start off by lightly coughing to freshen up the atmosphere. ¡°Cough, cough.¡± ¡°Did you catch a cold?¡± The friendly low-pitched tone of Cassius, facing her, stuck the rim of her ear. The knight immediately rushed over and put a nket around her shoulder. ¡®Where the hell did this nkete from¡­¡¯ Sierra was afraid of adapting to his overprotection. She decided to say what Cassius had been looking forward to all along. If she put it into a more moderately intimate tone with informalnguage, the current Cassius would not listen to her. ¡°M-May Ie with you to your mansion?¡± Of course, her purpose was somewhat impure. Cassius lowered his gaze. He strode up to face Sierra. ¡°¡­Of course.¡± Cassius slowly tucked her hair behind her ear, uttering a heavy sigh. This skin-to-skin contact was strangely thrilling. ¡°Let¡¯s go right now.¡± My voice is useless¡­ Sierra coughed once more before answering him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious as to why I¡¯ming?¡± ¡°Whatever the reason may be, you¡¯re still by my side.¡± ¡­I guess he¡¯s not curious. Isn¡¯t that too much? Sierra opened her mouth carefully. ¡°You know, I have a reason why I¡¯m going with you.¡± ¡°You can tell me anything.¡± ¡°Hipo Kingdom¡¯s medical team developed a paternity test kit. Three months is enough to figure out if you¡¯re a father or not.¡± Cassius, who noticed what she meant, gritted his teeth and muttered. ¡°You want¡­ the three of us to run a paternity test?¡± ¡°Yes, because Hanael is not your daughter.¡± The paternity test would take a little while, but that¡¯s fine. ¡°If your paternity test reveals she¡¯s not your daughter, I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t be at a disadvantage since I kept telling you the truth.¡± That was the most important problem. But unlike Sierra¡¯s careful statement, Cassius only snickered. ¡°Sierra.¡± His expression became more sinister. Sierra was a little startled. ¡°That doesn¡¯t really matter.¡± No, why am I getting scared? Sierra forced a smile and pretended not to be anxious. ¡°I do everything you tell me to do. So¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t leave my side.¡± Sierra half-trembled and scratched her forehead. Actually, she had never run away before, but anyway, he does everything she asks him to do¡­ ¡°Well, I won¡¯t be leaving until my paternity test is over, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Sierra smiled brightly. Of course, Sierra thought she was giving her ¡®bright smile¡¯ when in reality, she looked somewhat miserable and pathetic right now. In fact, the impact of Sierra¡¯s appearance was¡­ Some of the nearby city¡¯s knights were sensitive enough to whip out handkerchiefs and wipe away tears¡­? Unfortunately, the situation seemed the same for Cassius. He mumbled quietly, clenching his teeth. ¡°Then, when will you leave?¡± Oh, this was moving all too fast. I didn¡¯t even think of nning when I would leave the mansion. Sierra narrowed her eyes and whispered in a quiet voice. ¡°Um¡­ I don¡¯t know when it¡¯ll be possible. I¡¯ll need to find a new pharmacist to look after the pharmacy for a while, and I need to clean up the house¡­ so it¡¯ll take a while. ¡± It would be beneficial for Cassius and herself to finish the paternity test as soon as possible. She quietly spoke to herself. ¡°I¡¯d better do it as soon as possible.¡± Cassius, who was listening to Sierra¡¯s voice,ughed low. She looked puzzled because she didn¡¯t understand why he wasughing. Cassius, who was watching the Sierra, whispered low into her ear. ¡°Just get your things and be ready to leave.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯reing¡­¡± Cassius muttered in a triumphant tone that seemed to overwhelm her. ¡°It¡¯s only natural that I would take care of the rest.¡± I think he¡¯s being too kind? If the paternity test says you¡¯re not her parent¡­ won¡¯t you be upset? I feel like I¡¯m going to feel drunker at the duke¡¯s mansion. It felt more ominous, but Sierra nodded slowly. Yeah, well. We can split up easily in three months! ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 6 - This Is Like A Forced Flower Path Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 6 ¨C This Is Like A Forced Flower Path Cassius literally took care of all the preparations for the departure. Everything went by so fast that Sierra was embarrassed. First, he paid a pharmacist to protect her pharmacy while Sierra was away. ¡°I¡¯m the best graduate from the Academy of Pharmacology.¡± ¡­No, what kind of top graduate is a pharmacist at a rural pharmacy? Isn¡¯t that a waste of talent? But there was something even more pressing. ¡°I¡¯m a brave knight.¡± While Sierra and Hanael would be away, they even picked up a knight to protect the mansion from getting robbed. But a brave man¡­? ¡®What is the scale of this¡­?¡¯ Of course, the effect of the stealth magic my sister cast over me is gone, so it would be reassuring if the brave knight protected the mansion since they don¡¯t know what kind of monster will appear. ¡®I think I¡¯m going to spoiled by him because he¡¯s only doing what I want!¡¯¡¯ Cassius, who was looking at the confused Sierra, quietly opened his mouth. ¡°It¡¯s not much, but ept it, Sierra.¡± ¡°Well, this is a big deal¡­¡± ¡°This is nothing¡­¡± What is the scale of workability? Sierra decided to prepare her mind in advance. At that time, Hanael, who was next to her in her cute school uniform, hugged Sierra¡¯s thighs and shook her face. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t forgive him, though!¡± ¡­This is a big deal. If it¡¯s revealed that he¡¯s not her father, Cassius won¡¯t care for Hanael, will he? Sierra urgently told Hanael to stop. ¡°Hanael, you can¡¯t say that to him.¡± ¡°Hing, I got it¡­ Sniff!¡± She had a runny nose because of a cold. Sierra looked in her pocket and tried to take out a potion made for colds. But Cassius was faster. He got on one knee and pulled the handkerchief out of his knight¡¯s uniform, then wiped Hanael¡¯s nose without hesitation. ¡°You caught a cold.¡± ¡­How dirty it must be because it¡¯s someone else¡¯s secretions, but Cassius was very friendly. ¡°F-Fool¡­ go away!¡± Hanael, whose face turned red, hurriedly stepped back. No, Hanael can¡¯t get attached to Cassius¡­! Sierra looked down at Cassius and whispered in a cool tone. ¡°Cassius, don¡¯t give Hanael any affection.¡± Cassius slowly looked into her eyes. His deep blue eyes were sinking like the deep sea. ¡®No, what are those eyes? Now I feel guilty!¡¯ He slowly folded his handkerchief as though it wasn¡¯t dirty. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I just want to be nice.¡± ¡­Sierra became increasingly concerned about the future. Cassius is a serious man, so if we find out that Hanael isn¡¯t his daughter, he¡¯d go crazy¡­ No, but we should still get along. The truth will be revealed in three months anyway. I need to find out why Cassius is misunderstanding and figure out how to resolve the situation. Let¡¯s see the location where the pharmacy will be built on the capitalter, too! I will keep exchanging letters with Abel as well. Sierra¡¯s eyes, thinking about what to do for the next three months, shone keenly. *** Cassius and Sierra finally got on the carriage that would be taking them to the Capital. If you use a teleport scroll, you can get there faster, but we couldn¡¯t. Studies have shown that children like Hanael are sensitive to magic particles, such as teleport scrolls, causing motion sickness, abdominal pain, and headaches. So, Cassius prepared a carriage with the seal of the duke¡¯s family. ¡°Wow! That¡¯s amazing! The world is moving fast!¡± The carriage moved very fast. Hanael had never left the vige. Sierra is also leaving the countryside for the first time in five years. It was a new feeling. Cassius, who was looking at her, quietly called Sierra. ¡°Sierra.¡± ¡°¡­Hm?¡° Cassius took his gaze away from the window to Sierra and whispered low in her ear. ¡°Strange men were caught near your mansion.¡± ¡°¡­¡± My sister¡¯s enemies began to appear after the stealth magic disappeared. As her sister often made extraordinary requests, her enemies generally performed strange magic. There was a necromancer who used voodoo, a guild leader in the dark guild, and an astrologer who could summon demons. ¡®I¡¯m sure they were nning to attack Hanael and me.¡¯ Without Cassius, something terrible could have happened, resulting in Sierra and Hanael ending up in their hands. ¡®If it weren¡¯t for Cassius, this would have ended in a disaster. Where the hell did she go?¡¯ She¡¯s such a nuisance¡­ Where and what on earth are you doing that¡¯s preventing you from showing up? My thoughts became moreplex, but Cassius answered clearly and concisely. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve already dealt with them, so don¡¯t worry.¡± What do you mean by dealt with them? You don¡¯t mean you killed them, do you? The words sent chills down my spine. Sierra opened her trembling mouth and said, ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± Cassius whispered in her ear in a low voice. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you¡¯ve been hiding, or what kind of people are after you.¡± The husky voice stuck in my ear. ¡°But you don¡¯t have to worry anymore.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll protect you from now on.¡± Sierra¡¯s face reddened when she saw his burning eyes. No, Hanael¡¯s here. How can he say such strange words¡­ Sure enough, Hanael, looking out the window, made a strange sound of pain, turning her head. ¡°Daddy¡­¡± ¡­She¡¯s sleep talking. Anyway, I¡¯m dying of heartache. Sierra sighed and closed her eyes. *** Days passed in the carriage alone. As Hanael¡¯s whining slowly grew, they were finally able to reach the estate of Duke Idios in the Imperial Capital. After giving Hanael a spoonful of medicine for motion sickness, Sierra got out of the carriage. Though¡­ The Duke¡¯s mansion was odder than expected. Sweat ran down Sierra¡¯s back. Is it right that I came here¡­? What the hell is going on here? Sierra was embarrassed when she arrived at the estate of Duke Idios in the Capital. Even if it was possible to receive a vast pool of marigolds suddenly in front of the main gate of the mansion, it was a cold sweat to see all the maids, servants, and the butler lined up. Seeing both the servants and butler watching Cassius¡­ I think he¡¯d realized how ridiculous he looked in this situation. Hanael also feels simr emotions. ¡°W-Wow, I¡¯ve never seen something like this before.¡± Hanael, who had clenched her hand, trembled. ¡°Are you scared?¡± ¡°Huh? I¡¯m excited! Is the Capital always like this? It¡¯s so cool! I¡¯m going to do a lot of fun things with my mom.¡± Hanael, raised her chin high and talked seriously. Sierra touched Hanael¡¯s hair and whispered quietly. ¡°No, it¡¯s only for three months, okay? This will not be amon thing in the Capital.¡± ¡°You can stay however long you¡¯d like.¡± When Cassius said that, there was nothing to say. Sierra nodded and opened her mouth, though Hanael spoke first. ¡°The bad man had such a nice house and didn¡¯t even pick me up.¡± Hearing that, Cassius looked sick. Sierra felt intense pain, and grabbed her chest. ¡®Every time Hanael bullies Cassius, I go crazy, I¡­¡¯ Sierra has now decided to give up the conversation and look around the Duke¡¯s mansion. Sierra, who was escorted by Cassius into the open mansion, walked up the stairs step by step, admiring the huge chandelier. The three entered the main building of the mansion. They passed the first floor and arrived on the second, it was thest room in the corridor where you pass through the flower-filled garden. Cassius eased his jaw toward the servant following him. ¡°Miss Sierra, Miss Hanael. It¡¯s a great pleasure to meet you. I¡¯m the butler of this estate. I¡¯ll show you to your room.¡± Sierra, Cassius, and Hanael walked side by side, led by the leading butler. Sierra nced at Cassius and thought seriously. ¡®Cassius is really different from the old days. He looks like a nobleman.¡¯ Sierra, who was looking around, paused for a moment. This was a huge room. It looks like it¡¯s been taken care of for a long time¡­ The room was bigger than the country house where Sierra stayed. There were open doors on the left and right, respectively, with one living room between them. First, on the right, there was a fantasy room like a toy country for Hanael. Hanael ran to the door in the right room and shouted loudly. ¡°O-Oh my god! It¡¯s a bunch of toys!¡± ¡°Be careful, Hanael.¡± ¡°Nope! I love toys! I¡¯m not going to be careful!¡± ¡°Stop it.¡± Sierra, who gave her strict attention, inadvertently turned to the left room. And she was more frightened than Hanael and stiffened up. She couldn¡¯t even hear Hanael¡¯s yful voice anymore. ¡°This is¡­ What¡­¡± There was a wonderful new world that she had been wanting since she attended the academy. When Sierra could not speak, Cassius whispered quietly behind her back. ¡°You said it before, ¡®I want to have all the potions and herbs in the world.¡¯¡± ¡°Uh-huh¡­¡± I did. That¡¯s exactly what I said. But it was just a passing remark¡­ The wall in the left room was filled withbeled vials of potions. Next to it was a temperature-controlled medicine warehouse. If all the pharmacists in the world could see this, they¡¯d be as impressed as Sierra. When Sierra did not answer for a long time, Cassius whispered quietly, seeming nervous. ¡°¡­I did this to make up for the potions, but it¡¯s not enough.¡± Sierra raised her trembling hand and closed her mouth. This is beyond the limit. No, Cassius, he¡¯s a really nice person¡­ ¡®I¡¯m tearing up. I¡¯m going to cry. Is this heaven?¡¯ As she looked around the room, she met Cassius¡¯ eyes. At that moment, tears filled Sierra¡¯s eyes as her happiness burst, and she fell down with a thud. But it was unclear how Cassius interpreted Sierra¡¯s tears. He clenched his teeth and murmured with trembling hands. ¡°Sierra, I don¡¯t know what to do if you cry¡­¡± ¡°Thank you, Cassius.¡± Of course, kindness stems from misunderstandings, but isn¡¯t Cassius, a very good person? Sierra thought so. Cassius¡¯ eyes were equally reddened by what she had said. He wiped away her tears, gently touching Sierra¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s just this¡­ I missed you, why are you¡­¡± As soon as she heard his desperate voice, Sierra quickly came to her senses. ¡®Oh, right. He¡¯s misunderstanding again.¡¯ There was something Sierra and Cassius are forgetting. Every servant was watching breathlessly. The duke¡¯s servants are great professionals. It meant that in most cases, they hadposure, but they were shocked by this situation. The cold-blooded demon, the warhead, Cassius Idios. The man who cut through a beast like a demon in the war. Why does that man, who was rumored to have killed my father¡­ seem to be crying? ¡°Sierra.¡± He held Sierra¡¯s hand and gently escorted her. ¡°Now, let me show you your room.¡± The servants of the mansion rubbed their eyes. Cassius was still that cold-blooded figure. ¡°Oh, all right¡­¡± Sierra gave a slight nod with a rough expression. But all the servants behind him knew that there would be a warm spring breeze in the deste duke¡¯s mansion. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 7 - Circumstances of the Duke Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 7 ¨C Circumstances of the Duke Inside the maids¡¯ room in the mansion, a strange heat was trapped. Having just received two new guests at the mansion, they were recalling Sierra, who was just upstairs. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± They all sat still, looking at each other as if they didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°I do not understand, but¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re supposed to be nice, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Everyone remembered Sierra and Hanael beside her. In fact, the estate of Duke Idios has been devastated. Between the duke and the sensitive marchioness godmother, the servants were impoverished. The mansion became hideous, dark, and haunted as a result. But a new wind started blowing in their mansion, just a while ago. ¡ª Duke Idios¡¯ mansion changed? First of all, the mansion was remodeled. ¡ª The vast wilderness in front of the duke¡¯s mansion was turned into the Marigold Garden! The duke began to act curiously, obsessively reminiscent of memories. ¡ª Why the change of heart, Duke Walkerholic? Focus, please! He hired heavy-mouth servants at a high price and contacted pharmacists and medicine dealers in the capital city as well. There was also a profane guess that the duke was really insane. ¡°I feel as though¡­ I¡¯ve witnessed heaven and earth change.¡± All the maids sat in their seats nodded vigorously. The maids simply organized the morning paper on the table and thought seriously. Duke Idios, who had never rested after the war and inherited the title, rested for the first time in five years. He led a team of knights to a very small country vige. Then he brought back a little girl and a woman. Therefore, the servants naturally came to the conclusion. ¡°¡­Is she from one of the rumors? The one who arrived today?¡± ¡°You mean the duke¡¯s first love?¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Making his social debut after the war, Duke Idios¡¯ deration did not only sweep the aristocratic social circle but also the entire Capital. He bluntly declined the emperor who wanted to introduce him to the princess. He swore to God that he would not marry or love unless it was his first love. The emperor was also angry at the hard-fisted Duke Idios. Although the woman who was being introduced was an imperial woman, he refused the emperor with his fiery attitude. All of the emperor¡¯s sugar-coated words were useless. He is still frantically searching for the woman he called ¡®his first love¡¯. ¡°He swore to God that he would never marry nor love anyone unless it were her¡­¡± ¡°But¡­ people thought his first love was Lady Macabeth.¡± Lady Macbeth. She was the duke¡¯s motive for the academy, making her a well-known figure in society as his first love. So far, the maidens and servants have considered Lady Macbeth as their master¡¯s first love, just like any other socialite. Though¡­ They nced, eye contacting each other. ¡°Hm¡­ did they say her name was Miss Sierra? Let¡¯s be nice to her.¡± ¡°It does not matter if she is amoner, eh.¡± ¡°I think she will be a littledy soon.¡± It was then. Someone popped a word amongst the women sitting in groups. ¡°By the way¡­¡± ¡°Oh, go on?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s a rumor going around saying the great mistress called over Miss Sierra¡­¡± Who is the great mistress? The godmother. She was the sister of thete duchess. ¡°¡­She won¡¯t kick Miss Sierra out, will she?¡± The godmother was an upright and noble old woman in her sixties. She was famous in society for being very meticulous and quite strict with her mother-inw. There is no saying that the current godmother, who is over forty, won¡¯t step on her shadow! ¡°If Miss Sierra and her child are kicked out, the atmosphere in this mansion will be brutal again¡­¡± They dropped their heads heavily. *** Meanwhile, Cassius and Sierra sat side by side after putting Hanael to sleep. At Sierra¡¯s strong request, they decided to draw up a simple contract. ¡°I requested for a paternity test kit.¡± ¡°How long will it take?¡± ¡°I assume it¡¯ll arrive within fifteen days at the least.¡± Sierra nodded. The Royal Medical Center in Hipo Kingdom developed a paternity test kit. Cassius had already sent a wave to the Royal Medical Center in front of Sierra. So, now he could only guarantee one thing that was on her mind. [A/N: I assume the ¡®wave¡¯ here is the written request for a paternity test kit.] ¡°First of all, what I want to say was the same as before.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± ¡°I want you to prove in writing that even if Hanael is not yours, we won¡¯t be at a disadvantage.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± Cassius nodded his head unexpectedly. Sierra raised her brows in wonder. ¡°¡­Are you serious?¡± Cassius nodded to Sierra¡¯s question. A white piece of paperid on the table. It was a contract that Cassius brought from the butler. ¡°It¡¯s a magic contract. There, my oath is written. If it gets notarized, the contract is settled.¡± Sierra scanned the contract and was relieved. ¡®Cassius isn¡¯t one to cheat.¡¯ A contract that will not give any disadvantage. If you break a contract, you will suffer from magic and a solicitor will notarize it, so you can proceed with a trial as well. Though, I¡¯m not in a position to hold a big trial with the duke¡­ ¡°All right, good.¡± Sierra, feeling more relieved, pressed her thumb onto the contract. Now, all I have to do is investigate the reasons for Cassius¡¯ misunderstanding. His earnest gaze turned toward Sierra. When I looked into his eyes, it made me feel as though Cassius loved me with his whole heart and longed for me all this time. But I can¡¯t just act like that to an academy friend, a one-night stand. Sierra swept away the lingering images that dominated her head and coughed a few times. Then she proceeded to carry on. ¡°¡­You know, Cassius. I have a question.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Since when¡­ did you think Hanael was your child?¡± After speaking, Sierra praised her choice of words. I tried to word it as neutral as possible, so the already sensitive Cassius wouldn¡¯t have any ideas. ¡°As soon as you left.¡± Fortunately, it was worthwhile to be careful choosing words. Cassius¡¯ response was half-dried instead of a tone with any particr obsession or affection. It was a short hint, but it was very helpful for Sierra. After her one-night stand with Cassius, their break-up after a short period of being together, and leaving for a rural vige, something must have happened to cause him to misunderstand that she was pregnant. So, there was only one thing left for Sierra to do. As soon as she leaves, she¡¯ll find out what the hell happened to Cassius. ¡®Now that I¡¯m back in the capital, I need to contact my friends¡­¡¯ I decided to meet my friends that I had to forcibly cut off and chat a bit to figure out the source of this situation. Sierra wanted to see one of her best friends. It was Lina from the Academy of Medicine. Thest time I heard from her, she went abroad to study¡­ ¡®I wonder how Lina is doing?¡¯ Sierra¡¯s eyes, reminiscent of memories, narrowed. Cassius stared down at Sierra. I knew what he was thinking inside his head. Insisting that Hanael is not his child, I¡¯ll probably run away somehow after 3 months¡­ He couldn¡¯t let Sierra go. Cassius, with anguid smile around his mouth, called Sierra¡¯s attention again. ¡°I¡¯ll be in your care for these three months.¡± Of course, he was going to act friendly so she would never run away again. So that Sierra, whose eyes are full of boundaries like a little rabbit, can fall in love with him again. ¡°Mhm, of course!¡± Sierra, who stopped thinking, smiled brightly. Cassius smiled back at her. So, Sierra may be attracted to him, and her vignce will thaw out like spring snow. *** Unfortunately, her n to meet her friends has been dyed. Sierra couldn¡¯t get out of the mansion right now because Cassius was anxious that she would run away and did not allow her to. Cassius circled around Sierra and sent her everything she wanted. He¡¯s adding to the fact that she couldn¡¯t run away¡­ ¡®Okay, you should know that even if I am dying, I¡¯d want to live here forever.¡¯ To be honest, I would have slept peacefully if it wasn¡¯t for Cassius¡¯ misunderstanding. He feeds me, puts me to sleep, and even brings me nice potions¡­ I¡¯m sure even my parents who died early wouldn¡¯t be this caring to me. ¡®¡­But we should refrain from having more personal meetings.¡¯ Of course, Sierra nned to refrain from meeting with Cassius for the time being. It¡¯s too much pressure¡­ Sierra, who finished hervish dinner with Cassius today,id on arge bed alongside Hanael. My thoughts deepened endlessly but since Hanael was beside me, I couldn¡¯t make it obvious. Hanael, lying next to her, fiddled with Sierra¡¯s belly fat and groped a small piece. ¡°I¡¯m attacking Mommy¡¯s tummy fat!¡± ¡­I can¡¯t be serious this way! Sierra closed her mouth tightly with one hand and pretended to be sick. ¡°O-Oh, dear¡­¡± ¡°O-Oh, does it hurt?¡± Hanael looked down at her belly and cried out ¡°Don¡¯t get sick!¡± So Sierra pinched Hanael¡¯s mischievous cheek and said, ¡°It was a lie! Mhm, Hanael, you¡¯re like a bun! Ah! Touch your belly fat!¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Sierra and Hanael faced each other andughed. It was a happy day just looking at each other like this. Of course, there have been many hardships so far. However, whenever she saw Hanael¡¯s face, all her pain melted away when she saw her smiles. Is this how a mother feels? Sierra pinched Hanael¡¯s nose bridge light so it wouldn¡¯t hurt. ¡°Dear, Hanael¡­ why do you look so happy? Hm?¡± ¡°Because the toys are so much fun! The stuffed toys are so big, too! Hanael described the size of a stuffed doll with wide-open sausages arms. Not only that, a mountain of dolls were piled up against Hanael¡¯s assigned bed as well. Sierra asked gently, hugging Hanael in her arms. ¡°Hanael, this house¡­ it¡¯s amazing, isn¡¯t it?¡± Actually, I was worried. Sierra and Hanael would have to leave this mansion in three months. Would that be okay? When I first left the country vige, I made a firm decision. In fact, I was sure Cassius wouldn¡¯t back off so I was thinking of moving to a new home after I heard that some strange people had appeared in the vige. And¡­ Hanael is still young. I¡¯m afraid that she would adapt too well or wouldn¡¯t adapt at all. It worried me. ¡°Huh? This house?¡± Hanael blinked with her eyes wide open. Sierra looked at her long eyshes, nodded, and replied. ¡°Mhm.¡± Hanael put her head on Sierra¡¯s chest and whispered. ¡°You know, Mom. I have something to say.¡± ¡°Uh-huh, go ahead.¡± Sierra wanted to hear Hanael¡¯s honest feelings. Hanael buried her face in Sierra¡¯s chest and whispered in a shy voice. ¡°The toys that mister bought for me are fun, but I love ying with my mom more.¡± When I saw her earlobes turning red, I knew she wasn¡¯t lying. ¡°Yeah..¡± Sierra sighed and patted Hanael. ¡°Hanael, I love you.¡± Hanael lifted her gaze. ¡°Kiss!¡± Hanael kissed Sierra¡¯s lips. Sierra smiled merrily and kissed Hanael on both cheeks like a bird again. The friendly and sweet time passed. But peace is easily broken. Someone knocked at the door. Sierra and Hanael¡¯s eyes shifted directly toward the door. Was it Cassius again? If not¡­ then who the hell could it be? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 8 - Shes The Bad Mother Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 8 ¨C She¡¯s The Bad Mother-inw? ¡°Miss Sierra, I am the maid, Lexel.¡± ¡­Lexel, the maid of Duke Idios, hase to their room. Sierra got up after dressing up in a hurry. ¡°Come in! What brings you here?¡± The door opened, and Lexel carefully stepped inside. ¡°I¡¯m Lexel, the maid of this mansion. Please call me when you need so.¡± The maid. No matter how low her title may be, she was at least a fallen noble, and it was self-evident that she was in a higher position if she is the maid of a duke. Sierra said cautiously. ¡°Drop the title.¡± ¡°You are someone valuable to His Grace, so I cannot.¡± Seeing as she speaks so formally, Cassius seemed to have properly educated her. Can this situation be settled¡­? Sierra, a little confused, looked at the maid with a curious look. ¡°But what¡¯s the matter¡­?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± The maid was a loyal and professional servant. What could she be hesitating about? ¡°Miss Sierra, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to chat with the great mistress, then leave immediately.¡± The great mistress, who is that? She whispered low when she noticed the strange look of Sierra. ¡°She is the wife of thete predecessor, Marquis Mails, the venerable of this estate.¡± Sierra covered Hanael with a quilt and stepped out of the room. *** While looking at Sierra, the maid predicted a crisis would hit Duke Idios. The estate of Duke Idios has a total of two powerful people. One is, of course, Cassius, the Duke of Idios. The other was the sister of thete Duchess of Idios, Marquis Mails¡¯ wife, who is the mistress of the Idios family, which was vacated by her sister¡¯s death. So far, the maids who have served her walk on thin ice. She had a cold temper. Fortunately, she was perfect at her job. The godmother was skillful and cared for her nephew, Cassius Idios, even though she had no direct connection with her sister. Thus, she was able to care for the Idios family without much disagreement with Cassius. Duke Idios is usually indifferent, but he left the godmotherpletely in charge of housekeeping. It was a courtesy to the godmother, who devoted more than a decade to the Idios family. Thanks to their harmony, the family¡¯s external image and internal state were managed quite perfectly. Though, would Sierra continue to stay in the duke¡¯s mansion? In addition to her sharp temper, she had a reputation as a bad wife and a bad mother-inw. Everyone was convinced that the snobbish godmother would not find interest in an ordinarymoner woman, like Sierra. When the maid first learned that Sierra had arrived at the duke¡¯s mansion, she reported to the godmother, feeling anxious. To make matters worse, she was convinced that she had provoked the already sensitive godmother. I¡¯m sure she expected it, but the godmother¡¯splexion turned white. ¡°The duke brought¡­ amoner woman who he ims was his first love¡­¡± The maid bowed down, judging that the godmother would be angry immediately. ¡°Yes, her name is Sierra. I¡¯ve brought you the details, Godmother.¡± ¡°I remember her, Sierra¡­¡± ¡°Yes, yes. Rumor has it that she¡¯s amoner who graduated from the Academy of Pharmacology¡­¡± The maid spits out Sierra¡¯s personal details, and the godmother¡¯s hand was trembling. She had a blunt face. ¡°¡­The one I got rid of with my own two hands.¡± The maid, not knowing of such secret circumstances, widened her eyes. The godmother¡¯s face was white as a sheet. Now that the woman she kicked out has returned to the mansion, she would resent that knife-like temper. The maids trembled, anticipating a bloodbath blowing into the mansion. The maid peeked up at her. ¡°Get out.¡± The air in the room where the godmother stayed has be especially cool. *** Sierra was unaware that the maid was worried and continued walking down the hallway without much concern. A woman who was officially invited to a noble mansion must pass a test. It is to have tea time with the mistress of the mansion. After unpacking and putting Hanael to sleep, Sierra decided to say hello to the family¡¯s mistress. Cassius told her she didn¡¯t have to, and everyone else told her to do whatever she pleased, but you must never do that. What if she, amoner, is hated by the godmother and gets into trouble! Now, Cassius is very nice to her, but we don¡¯t know what will happen when Cassius¡¯ misunderstanding is resolved in three months! I¡¯ll have to kneel down in front of godmother! ¡®¡­Godmother, I¡¯ve seen you once, but you were a very nice woman.¡¯ Sierra smiled warmly, recalling the warm events of five years ago. In the past, she had spent a night with Cassius and was in a terrible state. But then the godmother appeared like aet. She offered me money to break up with Cassius. She didn¡¯t p me in the face and handed me the money gracefully and politely! The amount she handed me was huge. But there is one thing I regret. I broke up with Cassius, but after five years, he was right in front of me again¡­ ¡®I¡¯ll apologize. I¡¯ll keep him as far away from Hanael as I can. You¡¯re not going to p me in the face if I bow down, right?¡¯ Sierra closed her eyes and arrived at the door of the room, where the marquis¡¯ wife was staying. One maid looked at her and murmured, like a tiny pep talk. ¡°C-Cheer up¡­¡± ¡­What¡¯s going on? However, the door to the room opened before she got to ask about her intentions. Sierra looked at her with a curious look and nodded. It¡¯s finally time to see the godmother. *** ¡°Hello, I haven¡¯t seen you in a long time.¡± ¡°Yes, Sierra. Sit.¡± The upright godmother and Sierra sat face to face with a tea table between them. On the tabley many sweets, such as Madeleine and Financier, as well as ¨¦ir and Fromage. What¡¯s this? There was a strawberry-vored senbei that was not at all suitable for a noble mansion. Sierra smiled inwardly with her hands clenched on her knees. ¡®I always used to overeat these sweets while I was at the academy to the point where I always felt nauseous.¡¯ This mansion was very strange. It was like a customized dream house that Sierra wanted. ¡®¡­I haven¡¯t seen her in a while, and it reminds me of the old days.¡¯ However, when she looked at the broken Cassius, she could not help but feel what kind of tragedy she had caused him. When Cassius, who had never cried even when he was criticized for being the duke¡¯s illegitimate child, showed tears. She thought his heart would sink more. Cassius¡¯ mad search for Sierra, made him suffer the whole time, investigating through all themoner pharmacists¡­ I felt like I was responsible for everything and not being able to understand my niece¡¯s feelings. Clink! The cup of coffee dropped to the floor. Her hands were shaking. ¡®¡­What¡¯s wrong with me?¡¯ The godmother muttered in a trembling voice toward the servant. ¡°Clean it up.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± The servant closed his eyes as if he knew it would happen. With a hunch that the shattered ss was simr to the rtionship between Sierra and the godmother. The godmother must be trying to discipline Sierra! However, contrary to her belief, the expression of the godmother did not turn out well. ¡°Sierra¡­ you should chat with me.¡± The broken cup of coffee had been cleaned up. A still silence hovered on the table. She sighed low, reminiscent of that day five years ago. The day she learned of Sierra and Cassius¡¯ love affair was still in front of her. *** Five years ago, inside a small cafe. The godmother was fed up with the maid who followed her and sat across from Sierra. The owner of the cafe shook while offering unsweetened coffee, tea, and dessert. It was extremely difficult for her to treat a nobledy when she had been doing business mainly formoners. Knowing that fact, the godmother arrogantly crossed her arms and looked Sierra up and down. ¡°What brought you here to find me?¡± In the general judgment, she was a woman who was irregrly thin. She looked pretty good, but to sum up in detail, she looked like she was about to shed tears. If I tell this lovely young woman to break up with my nephew, I¡¯ll be a viin. However, she was a noble with a high nose, and her opponent was just amoner woman who was a hindrance to the family. The godmother whispered to Sierra with an arrogant look on her face. ¡°I will be straightforward.¡± ¡°¡­Ah, yes?¡± The godmother pretended not to notice Sierra¡¯s delicate physique and pale cheeks. She turned her gaze away and murmured. ¡°Leave Cassius.¡± Sierra¡¯s eyes shook at her words. ¡°What¡­?¡± The godmother clicked her tongue at Sierra¡¯s shameless objection. Sierra looked so vulnerable that even she, who reigned as a vicious social empress, was almost knocked over by her conscience. The godmother took in a long breath of air, then pretended to be calm again. She repeatedly said, handing over a white envelope she had in her hand. ¡°There¡¯s money in it, so you won¡¯t be dissatisfied. Take it and don¡¯te near my family anymore.¡± Her lips twitched, contemting adding something more, then she opened her mouth again. Sierra spoke carefully first. Unwittingly, the sweaty woman stared at her lips. ¡°Yes, mydy.¡± Sierra even had a gentle smile around her lips. As if she were saying don¡¯t worry. LIke she was really all right¡­ It couldn¡¯t be, but that was it. The end. Then the godmother took a serious look at Sierra¡¯s face. And it happened. Sierra bowed to godmother since she was leaving and suddenly felt nauseous for a second. ¡°Uuk.¡± ¡°What¡­¡± Sierra looked sick with a pale face. ¡°Oh, no. It¡¯s not something mydy should care about.¡± With a clear expression, her tone was also soft. At that time, the godmother called Sierra, a gooddy with a good reputation. ¡°¡­I see.¡± The godmother nced up at Sierra, and left calmly, thinking that it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal. At that time, I kept thinking that I was missing something for some reason, but I ignored it. It made her heartbeat with regret the whole time. I shouldn¡¯t have separated them then. If I had known that Sierra was pregnant, I wouldn¡¯t have left so coldly when I saw her feeling nauseous¡­ She ripped her heart out five years ago. I feel terrible for being so hard on a pregnant woman¡­ The godmother, who was determined not to repeat the past again, blinked her eyes. Contrary to the public opinion in the duke¡¯s mansion, which assumed the godmother would condemn Sierra, she was just the second Cassius Idios in Sierra¡¯s eyes. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 9 - Im Looking For Clues To This Misunderstanding Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 9 ¨C I¡¯m Looking For Clues To This Misunderstanding Sierra, who noticed that godmother had been silent for a while, soon stiffened like a deer in front of headlights. ¡®Does she hate me enough to go silent? Well, she did pay me five years ago, and I ended uping back¡­¡¯ I was afraid and hoped the godmother doesn¡¯t hate Hanael as well. She clutched Sierra¡¯s hand and said. ¡°¡­You¡¯re finally here, Sierra.¡± Sierra faltered when she saw her teary eyes. ¡®That¡¯s weird?¡¯ Sierra nced at her. However, the godmother was steadfast and serious. I was a little scared when I saw her mouth closed and her stubborn eyes. ¡°Madam, what do you mean¡­¡± Of course, the godmother was thinking differently. That day, when she recalled Sierra¡¯s eyes, one corner of her heart felt too heavy. She was thinner now than the Sierra five years ago. She¡¯s be more vulnerable and can disappear at any moment. The godmother clenched her fist quietly. ¡°It¡¯s just as I said. I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡± The godmother¡¯s voice crept out. Sierra looked at her one more time in embarrassment. Her eyes proved she didn¡¯t understand the situation. The godmother breathed a long sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t know how I¡¯ll pay for my bad karma¡­¡± Looking at Sierra¡¯s trembling shoulders, she looked thinner than before. The godmother gave a long sigh and grabbed Sierra¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°Long time no see, marchioness. I¡¯m sorry, we meet again.¡± ¡°¡­What¡¯s there for you to be sorry for?¡± ¡°Y¡­ You gave me the money back then, but I stand right in front of you again¡­¡± ¡°No, Sierra.¡± The godmother¡¯s face distorted when she saw Sierra¡¯s warmhearted expression. She had to pay for her past sins. How long has she been waiting to be kind to Sierra?! ¡°Yes, I did¡­ something terrible to you.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Of course, Sierra didn¡¯t understand her remorseful feelings. The godmother handed her money, and Sierra received it. In her eyes, it was just that. ¡®Has she weakened a lot over the years?¡¯ Her gray hair became more grayish, and she opened her mouth in a quiet tone. ¡°When you left, Cassius became¡­ I¡¯ve regretted it for five years. Now that I¡¯ve met you again, I want to be more kind.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°That¡¯s when I separated you from Cassius¡­¡± ¡°Ah¡­ You did?¡± ¡°Yes, asking you to leave Cassius¡­ was the most regrettable mistake I¡¯ve made in my entire life.¡± ¡°I see¡­? Why?¡± ¡°A moment¡¯s misjudgment led to my nephew, Cassius, being ruined for more than five years¡­¡± No, that was enough to ruin him? Seeing how Cassius used to look fuller, but now his face shows he has lost weight, proved this was a bit serious. I didn¡¯t know it was that bad. ¡°There is darkness in my family. It hurt my heart¡­ I regretted it.¡± When she saw her, Sierra realized. What¡­ This is definitely strange. ¡°It¡¯s been very tough, child.¡± ¡°¡­I lived well. I was very happy you gave me that money.¡± The godmother¡¯s eyes shook. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. A pure child like you¡­¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°You¡¯re trying to tell me to not feel guilty, right? You said that five years ago¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not what I meant.¡± Though the godmother already mistook her as an overly pure child. Well, how should I deal with this? While Sierra was pondering, the godmother seemed to have already confirmed everything. ¡°Ha¡­ What on earth did I do to you back then¡­¡± I¡¯m sorry, but you seem to be creating dark history, madam¡­ However, she sped Sierra¡¯s hands even harder without any refutation. ¡°Sierra, thank you foring back. I¡¯ll take good care of you and your child.¡± Well, things are definitely going crazy. Sierra thought seriously. ¡°Thank you for your words, madam. I¡¯ll only be here for three months. I¡¯m leaving after Hanael¡¯s paternity test.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The godmother¡¯s eyes turned red. She looked upright and cold-blooded, but her heart was weak. ¡°Yes, Yes. Of course, you want to leave. You¡¯ve had a hard time, and you feel damaged¡­¡± Oh¡­ This person looks like a stubborn wall. She¡¯s simr to Cassius. Sierra is now beginning to look deeper into the situation. In three months, the paternity test results will be revealed, and this misunderstanding wille to an end. So, I can politely prove them wrong. ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t suffer much, but I¡¯m grateful for your kind deeds¡­¡± Sierra decided toy an iron te. For now, she emphasized several times that Hanael was not Cassius¡¯ daughter. It was the people in this family who did not believe her. She is innocent. Sierra thought of a great quote. If you can¡¯t avoid it, enjoy it¡­! However, it may be impossible to just enjoy this recklessly. Cassius and the Marchioness of Mails, their scales were beyond Sierra¡¯s imagination! *** A week has passed. And during that time, we faced an era of cataclysmic change. Cassius acquired all the toy-sellingpanies for Hanael, just as he did for Sierra. Sierra felt like she was watching a happy ending in a romance novel sold out to the world. The problem is that she is not the main character of the romance novel. In addition, Cassius said he ¡°stillcks a lot.¡± It¡¯s all too much for Sierra¡­ The more he does this, the more anxious she bes. ¡®Cassius, are you serious?¡¯ Cassius consistently asked Sierra out on a date. He ignored her rejections and was bombarding her with gifts. As if tofort the wounded Sierra with gifts¡­. And all his attention made Sierra feel unintentionally fraudulent. Feeling burdened, she closed the door and continued to study medicine in her room, asking for her friends¡¯ addresses. Sierra¡¯s actions started a butterfly effect¡­ ¡°Well, it seems Miss Sierra isn¡¯t epting courtship.¡± ¡°Oh, dear¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s returning to where she came from!¡± ¡­It¡¯s caused a tremendous stir in the duke¡¯s mansion. Even the words of his servants were heard by Sierra. It was thanks to Hanael, who ran around the duke¡¯s mansion like it was her own home. ¡°It¡¯s rumored that my mom hates the weird man!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t hate¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t hate that strange man? Even though he left us behind?¡± ¡°That strange man is just strangely delusional¡­¡± Sierra decided to put up with it for now, although it was a bit unsettling. It was a veryfortable misunderstanding for Sierra. Besides, I signed the contract so that we would have no disadvantage! Of course, even though it had only been a week, the mansion was rearranged around Sierra. Not only Cassius, but also the godmother who is in charge of the duke¡¯s estate was as dramatic as Cassius. ¡®I guess the godmother didn¡¯t lie when she said she regretted things for five years. I don¡¯t understand why she would, but¡­¡¯ Sierra was dragged into tea time with the godmother again today. She tried to find Sierra¡¯s favorite tea by helping her taste various different teas. Teas that exceeded her monthly sry were randomly ced on the table per leaf. ¡°You¡¯re too precious to me¡­¡± ¡°¡­I love it.¡± Sierra had a big appetite. She could eat anything well. ¡°Yes, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help you with whatever you want. Is there anything else you want to do?¡± It¡¯s nice to have a strong supporter. ¡°If you hold a tea party, I¡¯d like to be your chaperone.¡± The godmother sighed low, cing her hand near her heart. Sierra shook her head. That¡¯s too much! That¡¯s too much! ¡°Chaperone? I¡¯m amoner, so I can¡¯t make my debut¡­¡± ¡°Commoner?¡± Her eyes became very fierce. ¡°¡­Who dares to look down on you?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If someone refers to you as amoner, you must tell me.¡± No, this world was a noble-centered society. Although Sierra¡¯s older sister is a greater archmage than most nobles¡­ people don¡¯t know that. Sierra had the godmother¡¯s attention and replied awkwardly. ¡°¡­I-It¡¯s fine. Nothing special happened. Oh, I¡¯d like to ask you a favor.¡± Cassius was very anxious that Sierra would run away. Perhaps that¡¯s why he seemed to want to prevent Sierra from seeing others. I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s like he¡¯s building a beautiful cage¡­ Of course, Sierra didn¡¯t want to do anything to provoke the already sensitive Cassius. ¡°I¡¯m looking for a friend, Lina, who graduated from the Academy of Medicine¡­ It¡¯s been five years and I can¡¯t find where she is.¡± ¡°Ah, your friend¡­¡± The godmother had a heartbreaking look on her face. ¡°You left this capital because of me, and you haven¡¯t been able to contact your friends for five years¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, it¡¯s not your fault I left the capital.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, yes.¡± Seeing her eyes moisten, she didn¡¯t seem to believe Sierra¡¯s words at all. Sierra decided to leave. They won¡¯t listen to me anyway. I¡¯ll just let them misunderstand! ¡°I wonder what exactly happened over the past five years, though especially, I wonder how the marchioness, a noble, turned out like this¡­¡± Sierra recalled Lina, a friend from the Academy of Medicine who was called the capital¡¯s source of information. Lina may have a clue about this incident. The godmother had a keen observation with her eyes. She continued once again. ¡°Your friend¡­ Lina from the Academy of Medicine. I¡¯ll start looking immediately. I¡¯ll invite her to this estate, and we can have a chat.¡± It was Sierra¡¯s first request, which made her nervous no matter what she asked her. The godmother was almost sixty years old but swore toplete her mission well. Sierra was a little embarrassed to see her like that, but¡­ For now, I decided to endure this situation for three months and enjoy it. *** Meanwhile, there was a strange rumor circting in society. There is a woman staying at Duke Idios¡¯ estate. But she¡¯s a witch. This witch uses magic to charm the godmother and Cassius, and she¡¯s doing whatever she wants. This witch is very charming¡­ ¡°Crazy.¡± Andante, the wife of Marquis Mails and the godmother¡¯s daughter-inw, frowned when she heard the rumors of a low-ss society. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 10 - Two Starting Points Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 10 ¨C Two Starting Points ¡°Yes, I am very sorry to hear that the great mistress is senile, Mdy¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡¯Tis only a rumor.¡± Andante dismissed the rumor. Though the maid seemed to have more to say. Andante, who had her fist tight enough to make the back of her hand stand out, quietly opened her mouth and urged her to continue. ¡°Yes, keep talking.¡± ¡°Yes, Mdy. ording to the maid who visited the duke¡¯s estate, the great mistress said that she would be the chaperone of that littlemoner woman.¡± Andante chewed the flesh inside her mouth and opened her eyes. What kind of person is my mother-inw? She has never been my chaperone, so there¡¯s no way she¡¯d be merciful to a pettymoner woman. ¡°It can¡¯t be true. Even as her daughter-inw, I have never been so favored by her.¡± Her mother-inw, the godmother, was a noble herself. Although she was no longer socially active since some sort of incident five years ago, she was the winner of ¡°Kanne Fleur,¡± which picks out the flowers of the social circle for all nobles. The record remained unbreakable until decadester. Furthermore, she, a convict, has even touched all kinds of noble spirits with her serpent-like tongue. The only person that the godmother cares about is her noble nephew, Cassius Idios, who resembles her. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the woman had a child with the duke.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a scandal.¡± Whether she has a child or not, I was convinced that I needed to discipline her. ¡°Yes, Mdy.¡± The connection between Marchioness Mails and Duke Idios was very close. That is because the upper social ss have been connected since the previous generation, and it was also in a situation where it was managed together. Therefore, the higher Duke Idios¡¯ position is in society, the higher the position of Marchioness Mails. Such a special rtionship. Therefore, the more impure rumors circted about the duke, the more closely the marchioness had to pay attention to it. Andante had a burning temple and took a long deep breath. After a moment of excitement, her heart started to beat unusually fast. The maid carefully touched her mistress¡¯ neck to induce breathing. ¡°¡­Mdy, b-breathe.¡± ¡°Ahhh¡­ Yeah.¡± ¡°Shall I call a doctor?¡± ¡°You should. I¡¯ll be prescribed sleeping pills.¡± Andante suffered from a terrible incurable disease. She had an irregr violent heartbeat. ording to her doctor, he said she had a time limit. It¡¯s a disease that no doctor has ever cured. ¡°Rest is the most important thing, don¡¯t push yourself, Mdy.¡± ¡°¡­Shouldn¡¯t we get rid of the scandal rted to the duke¡¯s mansion? It¡¯s an important time.¡± It was not that it wasn¡¯t, but the current Marquis Mails and Duke Idios had joined hands to import valuable goods from the east continent. A business targeting socialdies. The Mails family has invested hundreds of millions toward debt. Therefore, they were paying keen attention to small and trivial rumors circting around the social world. ¡°There will be no stain on the family name for the time being.¡± The maid, who was watching Andante, huddled up. Although the body of the great mistress may not have been the best, she was like a beast in the social world. ¡®She¡¯s the one who can bring that belovedmoner down to the abyss.¡¯ No matter how much thatmoner soars and grows, she can¡¯t live by baking it up to Andante. ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯ll have to get rid of the ships from the east continent before they reach the harbor.¡± Andante¡¯s eyes became more determined. *** Meanwhile, Sierra, who waspletely unaware that Andante was targeting her, was still lying in her huge bed with Hanael today. ¡®The life of a rich unemployed human, that¡¯s the best.¡¯ As Iid down, I started to miss the times when I was selling medicine at Supe Vige. ¡®They elderly with arthritis, they¡¯re waiting for me.¡¯ No matter how smart the head of the pharmacy department is, they¡¯re notparable to Sierra¡¯s genius ability. Because Sierra is really smart. Thanks to her sister¡¯s strict warning to hide her abilities until she became an adult, she did not show her ability until the academy¡­ ¡®I envy Lina. She¡¯s good at her job.¡¯ Not long ago, Sierra was able to contact Lina, thanks to the help of the godmother. Lina became a decent doctor, but she said she could not make time to meet her immediately because she was very busy preparing her clinic. But fortunately, I could keep sending and receiving letters from her. Lina¡¯s letter was delivered to Sierra again today. [ Phew, did you know my clinic has been really busy? Nowadays, noble wives have reputations, so they often look for me. Sierra, do you intend to open a pharmacy in the capital? Why don¡¯t you make your name known in the capital, rather than that rustic Supe Vige? ] How dare she insult Supe Vige! Sierra was furious for a while, but she envied Lina, who showed her skills without hesitation. ¡®I want to open a pharmacy in the Capital cityter. I¡¯m really confident I¡¯m going to do a great job at treatments.¡¯ It could be dangerous if I stand out, and my sister told me to hide my abilities until I became an adult. ¡®¡­Now that I¡¯vee to think of it, I¡¯ve not received a letter from my sister nor Abel. Is there something wrong?¡¯ With a worried sigh, Sierra folded Lina¡¯s letter in half. ¡®I¡¯ll have to replyter.¡¯ Sierra folded Lina¡¯s letter and stroked Hanael¡¯s hair. She had fallen deeply asleep. Then, there was a knock at the door. Knock knock. It was a neat knock. ¡°Miss Sierra.¡± Sierra listened closely. It was the voice of the maid. ¡°¡­Oh, yes. Come on in. ¡± ¡°His Grace has sent you a letter.¡± The maid¡¯s expression and tone were as if she were helping a pair of lovers in a secret rtionship. ¡°Oh, yes. Give it to me.¡± Sierra casually epted Cassius¡¯ letter. [ I¡¯m going to have a fine dinner at a restaurant at six o¡¯clock today, so get ready. We¡¯ll eat at the restaurant and together, we¡¯ll write a request for a paternity test kit from Hipo Kingdom. ] If Cassius simply asked me to have a fine dinner with him, I¡¯d refused because I would think it was a date request. Sierra¡¯s biggest task right now was to plete her paternity test and get away from Cassius.¡± But now, Cassius irresistibly attracted his bait with a ¡°paternity test kit request.¡± Sierra only has one choice. ¡°Miss, I¡¯ll be going to a restaurant outside the mansion at six P.M. with the duke.¡± ncing at Sierra¡¯s insensitive expression, the maid looked up in surprise. The maids saw Cassius pay close attention to remodeling the interior of the mansion these days, and all of them saw clearly that the godmother liked Sierra. Cassius, who has been living all this time, oftenughed these days, and the godmother, who was always picky about small mistakes, became more gentle. All this was thanks to Sierra, a butterfly-like woman who visited the brutal mansion, giving it the warmth of spring. In short, Sierra was like a jewel to the maids. ¡°You two are having a fine dinner¡­ I will make preparations in your honor.¡± Of course, Sierra didn¡¯t know how brutal the duke¡¯s estate was before she came. ¡°There is no need to¡­¡± ¡°No, I will decorate you beautifully.¡± ¡°If you must¡­¡± Sierra, who had always lived as amoner, thought it would be quite fun to dress like a noble. After checking the letter through the maid, she began to dress up. She applied light makeup, dressed in an old fashion dress, simr to a dandelion. It had the color of fresh-yellow and a square neckline. It was a beautiful dress with a delicate floral print. All of it shone in harmony with Sierra¡¯s innocent appearance. ¡°¡­You are very beautiful, Miss Sierra.¡± The problem was, the maid burned Sierra¡¯s spirit. She finished freshening up too soon. ¡°Would you like to take a walk?¡± Sierra nodded. Of course, the maid hid her dark conspiracy to further strengthen the rtionship between Cassius and Sierra. *** ¡°Oh, dear. I¡¯ve lost my way, and we somehow ended up at the training grounds.¡± The maid stuttered and Sierra rolled her eyes. Anyone could see she was clearly lying. ¡®¡­Miss, you¡¯re a bit of a fuss.¡¯ However, Sierra decided to overlook it generously. After all, Sierra and Cassius were supposed to meet. It would be even better to wait in front of the training grounds and head over to the restaurant together. The outside of the corridor was ss, so we could see each other from the inside and outside. ¡°As expected, His Grace has turned the training grounds upside down. Ha, ha, ha.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± I don¡¯t know what to answer to that. Sierra changed her mind to stare at Cassius. He was sparring. ¡®That¡¯s how Cassius used to be.¡¯ Sierra nodded. I felt that I had to admit that Cassius had changed a lot from the past. Cassius was dressed infortable clothing to spar. The sweaty white shirt secretly revealed Cassius¡¯ body. Whenever he moved his sword, his muscles would move along with it¡­ Sierra shut her eyes tightly, then slightly opened one. Cassius, who found her in that short space, quickly opened the door and stood in front of her. He was still staring at Sierra and the light pouring out from beyond her. It seemed difficult to face the situation without a sense of reality. Sierra, who felt somewhat awkward, continued with a fake cough. ¡°I watched you spar. You¡¯re good with that sword.¡± ¡°¡­I tried my best.¡± In a deep voice, he emphasized. ¡°Fencing, you said you liked it.¡± More like ¡°I tried just because you like fencing.¡± Sierra looked away with an awkward smile. ¡°¡­Did I? I don¡¯t recall.¡± Cassius, who had no intention of changing the subject, answered obediently. ¡°Mhm.¡± At that same time, he tried to stoke the hair flowing down Sierra¡¯s neckline carefully, but stopped. ¡°Apologies, I¡¯ll get you dirty with my sweat.¡± He picked up an old but clean handkerchief and wiped his hands. Sierra squinted and watched the scene. ¡®That handkerchief seems familiar.¡¯ The demon of the battlefield, Duke Idios, said that. All the knights around were shocked by the way he acted like a little puppy. Though Cassius and Sierra were in their own world. Cassius was staring intently at Sierra, who was lost in thought. Come to think of it, I once admired knights who looked free-spirited during my academy days. I once told Cassius, ¡°Your fencing is so cool!¡± Then, Cassius blushed embarrassingly. He said he would work harder from there on. Of course, Cassius didn¡¯t mean much because he blushed at Sierra¡¯s words all the time. Maybe it¡¯s because of the memories long ago? Then, while I was immersed in my thoughts, Cassius¡¯ face came closer to mine. ¡°How was it, my fencing?¡± ¡°Mm¡­¡± Sierra didn¡¯t know a thing about swords. So, she scratched the back of her head awkwardly, not knowing what to do. ¡°Tell me I did a good job.¡± Cassius tilted his head at an angle. He had a smirk stered on his face. The young smile on his cool face almost looked like that friendly one from the past. ¡°Not much? Then, I¡¯ll try harder.¡± He raised his hand briefly as if he were escorting her. Sierra made a seriousmitment. She couldn¡¯t ever be tempted. Cassius¡¯ fingertips brushed Sierra¡¯s fingertips. ¡°¡­And, Sierra.¡± He whispered low as he stared down at Sierra. ¡°You look very lovely today.¡± It was ament that was dripping with honey. ¡°I wish to say that to you every day.¡± ¡­His voice was so affectionate that someone would think he loved her. His eyes curved softly, and he smiled. It was an obvious temptation. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 11 - Cassius Temptation Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 11 ¨C Cassius¡¯ Temptation Sierra looked inside the restaurant. She was very nervous, thinking that a noble atmosphere would have been formed because she was with the Duke of Idios. However, Sierra, who was escorted inside by Cassius, was forced to be impressed. ¡°Here¡­¡± ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go in, Sierra.¡± She could not hide her astonished face as she took one step at a time. When she was at the academy, Sierra talked about a beautiful house several times. At that time, she said she liked a small restaurant in a rural vige. ¡®I once said that I wanted to live in a simr house for a long time.¡¯ Dandelions and azaleas bloom in the garden, butterflies flying around, and a wooden house. And this restaurant looked like that small house in the rural vige. Even as she stepped inside, the feeling of a warm house increased. ¡®I didn¡¯t know that even the centerpiece would be decorated with lilies¡­¡¯ Sierra liked lilies. Of course, not because of romantic purposes, but because lilies were expensive and effective. As Sierra looked down at the lilies, Cassius handed her the bouquet of blue roses next to the table with the centerpiece. ¡°They¡¯re blue roses.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ You¡¯ve put a lot of effort into this, but I didn¡¯t prepare anything. Thank you.¡± Even if it was merely a coincidence that this fine dinner was prepared to capture Sierra¡¯s taste, it was surprising to see the delicately prepared flowers. Suddenly, my heart became cold. ¡®Maybe he still likes me¡­ No, I don¡¯t think so.¡¯ They only met briefly at the academy, but they haven¡¯t forgotten about each other in thest five years. Sierra was the very realistic type. Of course, I once dreamed of romantic rtionships, but I knew my situation well. I also knew that a man like Cassius Idios, who could get any woman he wanted, had no reason to look at amoner like me. While Sierra was trying to shake off her suspicions, Cassius pulled out her chair to make it easier for her to sit down. ¡°Sit here, Sierra.¡± ¡°Ah, mhm.¡± As soon as they sat down, the appetizers arrived, as if the chefs were waiting. Sierra read the paper, ¡°Application for the use of Hipo Kingdom¡¯s paternity test kit and prior consent form,¡± with the appetizers. It was exactly what the newspaper said in the report, that medical staff from Hipo Kingdom were residing in others¡¯ homes for three months and conducting tests. Cassius, who hadn¡¯t touched the appetizers yet, spoke in a cynical manner with his chin clenched. ¡°There are two ways to request a paternity test from Hipo Kingdom.¡± Sierra looked up from the document and stared straight at Cassius. ¡°The first option is to request the doctors to travel here.¡± ¡°And the other one?¡± Sierra held the quill next to the signature spot in a strange manner. Anyway, she was going to get a paternity test and sign it. Then, Cassius spoke in a voice full of affection. ¡°The second option is you, Hanael, and I can go on a trip to Hipo Kingdom. The three of us would stay there for three months.¡± Facing Cassius¡¯ gaze, Sierra tried to ignore the sweat flowing behind her back and coughed. ¡°N-No, we can¡¯t.¡± ¡°All right.¡± ¡®I think he¡¯s giving up too fast.¡¯ When I looked up at Cassius with a questioning gaze, he whispered softly. ¡°Do whatever you want.¡± ¡­I felt a little, no, I felt guilty about Cassius¡¯ constant consideration. Though I said bravely, ¡°¡­Well, let¡¯s just invite the doctors to the estate. We won¡¯t take a trip.¡± Sierra signed the document. Cassius also signed after. The main meal was followed by a silence that was neither light nor heavy. Cassius skillfully picked the red wine to pair with the centerpiece and poured it into the ss. ¡°It¡¯s a good drink.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ thank you.¡± The sparkling wine swished into the transparent ss. She can¡¯t believe Cassius knows how to distinguish alcohol. She held her chin, thinking that time truly had passed, and that time was quite meaningless. ¡®Cassius couldn¡¯t even hold his liquor in the past.¡¯ She smiled as she remembered Cassius sipped the alcohol with a reddish face. ¡°Sierra.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Cassius whispered, pushing a ss of wine in front of her. ¡°I only think of you when we are alone.¡± With his gaze downward, he looked lost in thought. ¡®If that¡¯s what you thought in the past, then that¡¯d be fine.¡¯ But, to make matters worse, Cassius is begging for Sierra¡¯s forgiveness, so it¡¯s embarrassing if he says, ¡°I only think of you.¡± Cassius looked at Sierra quietly. ¡°¡­I apologize for asking you like this, but Sierra.¡± Cassius leaned forward. Unfortunately for Sierra, the seats where they sat were not very wide. Thanks to Cassius¡¯ sharp instincts, his lips and her lips almost met for a moment. ¡®Oh, no.¡¯ She closed her eyes tightly. ¡°Open your eyes.¡± After taking a few deep breaths, Sierra peeked her eyes open. Cassius¡¯ eyes, like the blue sea, were in front of her. He whispered in a low,nguid voice. ¡°I get impatient whenever Iy eyes on you.¡± As soon as she heard that, as soon as she met his gaze, her night with Cassius began to y vaguely inside Sierra¡¯s head. The sound of a rough breathing, an odd voice, and a creaking bed¡­ Sierra blushed. She grabbed Cassius by the shoulder and pushed him away. ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t seduce me. I¡¯ll be gone in three months anyway¡­¡± Cassius rarely interrupted Sierra. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to think about running away.¡± Sierra blinked. Cassius¡¯ face was right in front of her. A faint distance, with the tip of their noses, touching. At that moment, Sierra recalled a faint afterimage of the forgotten past. ¡®I want to keep pursuing you.¡¯ ¡®¡­Yes, you can.¡¯ Sierra suddenly recalled the past and froze. ¡°Remember?¡± So, it was Cassius¡¯s aggressive temptation. ¡°You said I could lure you in.¡± He really seemed to remember, specifically, what happened five years ago. She hastily put her hand over Cassius¡¯ mouth, but it was the wrong choice. He kissed her fingertips softly. Sierra could feel his breath at the tip of her fingers. Sierra pulled away with difficulty. ¡°No more. You imagine intense illusions and misunderstandings, and that¡¯s why you keep reminding yourself of the past.¡± Cassius did not reply. His rxed gaze stuck to her. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to, I won¡¯t.¡± Sierra seemed to now realize why Cassius had the reputation of a cold-blooded duke. He has be so different from the past. ¡°But you know, Sierra.¡± Sierra looked at him with her mouth shut. He stuck out the tip of his tongue and lustfully licked his lips. ¡°If only you could forgive me ande to like me¡­¡± He adds ¡°forgive¡± in every sentence he says! There¡¯s nothing for me to forgive you for. However, Sierra could not easily refute. His eyes were bent too strangely. Her red lips were swollen since she bit them a few times, and his deep blue eyes were staring at her with longing. ¡°I¡¯ll do anything.¡± Sierra, staring at his moving lips, realized that she had been caught in the wrong trap. ¡°So, please fall in love with me again as soon as possible.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Only me.¡± Cassius, who spoke calmly after his deration, drank his wine. Sierra shook her head in a hurry as her heart was pounding. No, Sierra. Calm down. What you dream of is bing a genius pharmacist and making a name for yourself in the empire, not bing Cindere! ¡®No, I can¡¯t eat.¡¯ A Cindere story mixed withmoners and nobles? Not a chance. I have read romance novels that subtly deal with rtionships between nobles andmoners, but that¡¯s what they were, novels. Sierra never believed in eternal love. She was a little snob, and she knew the world too well. ¡®All I believe in is physical strength, effort, and money.¡¯ She couldn¡¯t believe him anymore. Cassius was obsessed with Hanael¡¯s blood ties and courting Sierra. So, Sierra dered herself as hard as a nail. ¡°I¡¯ll never fall for you again.¡± After the paternity test, I should really say goodbye as soon as possible. Sierra bit her lips tightly. *** The next morning, Sierra was out at a small teahouse in the Capital, ignoring Cassius. Hanael, a greedy tea-desserts lover, went straight over to the ss disy case. Sierra was drinking tea, following Hanael with her eyes. At that time, someone blocked her way. ¡°You¡­ It¡¯s a bit difficult to see your face, indeed.¡± She was a nobledy with a graceful and elegant impression, simr to that of a ck swan. She was dressed in a velvet feather hat, a butterfly fan, and a ck dress, with ck hair and ck eyes. ¡°¡­And you are?¡± Sierra looked at her with a curious face. ¡°I have no reason to reveal myself to you.¡± The maid, who was keeping an eye on Sierra and Hanael, quickly spoke. ¡°M-Madam. I beg your pardon, but Miss Sierra is the guest of Duke Idios¡­ ¡± ¡°You, shut up. Since when does a maid teach me what to do?¡± ¡°T-That is¡­¡± ¡°Besides, there¡¯s a rumor that you¡¯re amoner. What are you doing?!¡± She blew her butterfly fan fiercely and looked down at Sierra. Sierra carefully raised her head. ¡°Yes, and I have no idea what I¡¯ve done, but I can tell you aren¡¯t very fond of me.¡± Sierra opened her eyes straight. She was a little excited about the existence of someone who hated her, whom she had met for the first time after a long time. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°M-Mdy. If Marquis Mails finds out, it¡¯ll cause a bigmotion¡­¡± Does she have a rtionship with the godmother? Sierra¡¯s eyes glistened. Her brooch was made in the shape of a falcon. ¡®That¡¯s the seal of the Marquis of Mails¡­¡¯ Then, that would be Marchioness Andante Mails, the godmother¡¯s daughter-inw. Now I understand this situation properly. ¡°I believe we haven¡¯t met, Marchioness. My name is Sierra.¡± She sat opposite Sierra. Before the fight begins. Sierra decided to take Hanael somewhere else first. She knows for sure that nice words would not be said, so she shouldn¡¯t let a child hear them. ¡°Please take Hanael outside for a while.¡± ¡°¡­Miss Si-Sierra.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± The maid bit her lips, but eventually agreed with Sierra¡¯s words and dropped her head. Andante, who was looking at Sierra with a cold gaze, soon spoke first. ¡°I heard you¡¯re living with the duke¡¯s family, under his protection.¡± ¡°Yes, I live under their protection.¡± Sierra nodded sincerely. It¡¯s absolutely true that I¡¯m living under the protection of them. ¡°¡­¡± With the expression of positivity that came out so easily, Andante stared at Sierra, speechless. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 12 - Who Is Truly Being Bullied? Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 12 ¨C Who Is Truly Being Bullied? Andante coughed for no particr reason. She didn¡¯t know Sierra would be so positive. However, Andante¡¯s purpose is to deal with Sierra, who would stain the family. Although she was briefly pushed back from the momentum, she had no ns to back down from this point. ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t feel sofortable being aroundmoners.¡± Now, she was shooting Sierra a re. moners are pathetic.¡± Receiving her cursing, Sierra spoke in a gentle and kind way. ¡°I see, it can be very ufortable for a nobledy to mingle with amoner like me, right?¡± Adapting to the conversation of nobles, she was briefly confused whether Sierra¡¯s words were sincere or not. At that time, Sierra whispered fiercely. ¡°If you wish, I can leave right now, mydy.¡± At this point, Andante was seriously convinced. That littlemoner is mocking her. Sierra was not using a way of speaking that was considerate of herself, rather, she uses a method where she ¡®quotes someone else¡¯s words¡¯. At this point, if Sierra leaves, she would not achieve her original intention of driving Sierra out from the duke¡¯s mansion, and she would be like a dog chasing a chicken. Is that her intention? ¡°How arrogant. Sit down this exact moment.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll sit then.¡± Andante red at Sierra, who was quite obedient. No matter how much she thought about it, she decided that it was right to insult amoner woman who uses that way of speaking to her. ¡°Why are you, a shallowmoner, staying with the duke? You dare blind the godmother and humiliate our family?¡± Sierra was incredibly impressed. It¡¯s all true whether you say it one by one. Firstly, A shallowmoner, this was rtively correct from the nobles¡¯ point of view. Most people who fall into noble supremacy believemoners to be vulgar. Secondly, blinded eyes this part is right. Even if it wasn¡¯t Sierra¡¯s intention, it was true that the godmother was blind. She didn¡¯t understand why, and Sierra didn¡¯t mean for it to be that way! It was clear that godmother mistook Sierra as a kind-hearted and goodmoner. Lastly, I¡¯m humiliating the family. Yeah, that¡¯s right. I would be a stain on Duke Idios¡¯s name, right? So, disappearing as fast as possible would be the right answer for Cassius. ¡®This is true¡­ I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll p me. I only said the right thing.¡¯ The things she spoke were all correct. Sierra spoke seriously. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°W-W-What?¡± Her face turned red. Sierra seemed to have upset Andante even more, who didn¡¯t deny anything. The marchioness took a long deep breath and tried to regain her pace. ¡°¡­Know your ce, and get out of the duke¡¯s estate.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She was too obedient to say anything. Sierra was looking at Andante, who was speechless. She replied gracefully. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be right out in three months. We could sign a contract right now, mydy.¡± ¡°¡­W-Why three months?¡± ¡°You see, I have an arrangement with the duke. In three months, I will definitely leave no matter what. So, rx. You know, a w like me, won¡¯t affect a great duke as much as a speck.¡± Andante felt that Sierra¡¯s vocabry was perfect. She didn¡¯t even try to deny anything. Andante, at the moment, questioned why she was there in the first ce. Sierra was so firm with her words that she believed what she said was true. Though fortunately or not, Andante finally came to her senses and cleared her throat. The level of themoner woman who entered the duke¡¯s mansion with her child was high enough to capture the hearts of the godmother and the duke. Everyone opened their eyes and had great acting skills. Of course, Sierra wasn¡¯t acting, but she was 100% sincere. She began to think, bringing a cup of tea to her mouth. ¡®Is this the end of the marchioness¡¯ attack? This is too nd.¡¯ In addition, even though she graduated from the academy, Sierra was amoner who grew up digging into the ground as a child. She adapted herself to harsh words enough to pass on a conversation in the social world. However, Andante was a woman who didn¡¯t know how to give up. About ten minutes of tedious admonition followed. Sierra generally showed the same attitude, such as, ¡°Yes, yes, I understand,¡± to her criticism, further angering Andante. For some reason, Andante felt like she was being caught up by Sierra the more she talked and gave a long sigh. ¡°Huu¡­¡± Then, she finally grabbed a ss of water instead of a cup of tea. Sierra looked at the ss of water with no particr thought and suddenly recalled the symbolism of a ¡®ss of water.¡¯ ¡®Is she going to ssh that on me?¡¯ Sierra gulped. All right, ssh me! Come on! ¡®It¡¯s more than enough to get me wet.¡¯ Andante grabbed the ss of water, and Sierra unintentionally closed her eyes. It was then. ¡°How dare someone touch my mom!¡± A familiar, but small, loud voice rang out in the teahouse. Sierra opened her eyes wide. Come to think of it. There was something she had overlooked. It was Hanael who was there with the maid. *** Before they continued their war of words in the teahouse. Hanael, a smart little girl, took a close look at the disturbing atmosphere. She called the maid and rode the carriage to the duke¡¯s mansion. Luckily for Hanael, but unfortunately for Sierra, the teahouse was just across from the duke¡¯s mansion. Cassius did not want Sierra to leave the premises, and Sierra did not intend to either. Within three minutes, Hanael flew into the mansion and found the person who favored Sierra most. It was the godmother, the former Marchioness of Mails. She was told by the maid that Sierra and Cassius had gone to a restaurantst night and drank her tea at ease. It was amazing to hear that Cassius, who became unhappy because of his broken love life, cheered up a bit. ¡°Grandmother!¡± In the garden of the duke¡¯s mansion, she smiled peacefully at Hanael, who was rushing towards her. ¡°Dear, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°A baddy is bothering my mom!¡± The old woman¡¯s half-pale face became fully white. ¡°How dare they bother her¡­¡± ¡°The maid says it¡¯s the Marchioness of Mails! They are at the teahouse out front!¡± Blood stood in the white eyes of the old woman, who listened to Hanael¡¯s words. ¡°She dares¡­¡± She staggered to her feet with a cane. ¡°Take the lead. Let¡¯s go.¡± Hanael and the godmother¡¯s eyes met, rushing to save the endangered Sierra. But then¡­ There was an unexpected sign that prevented them from leaving quickly. *** Looking at it that way, Hanael became Sierra¡¯s reliever. Hanael bounced up like a spring and pointed at her. ¡°Baddy, s-she¡¯s going to spray water on my mom!¡± ¡­There was something Sierra and Andante had overlooked. Hanael had secretly read the romance novel at Sierra¡¯s house and was tamed by thest novel. Of course, Andante responded nervously, trying to dampen her dry throat without any intention of sshing water. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Hanael only walked proudly, picking her ears with an expression as if she hadn¡¯t been hurt. ¡°You¡¯re going to ssh her with water! A bad person who neglects my mother because she¡¯s amoner!¡± Andante rose to her feet in an irritated manner. However, it was then. She saw an upright figure approaching behind Hanael. At that moment, Andante was forced to stand like a statue. When Andante and the honorable godmother¡¯s eyes met, it was like a huge lion had wrapped around the teahouse. ¡°Andante, how dare you!¡± An angry voice that could have been loudly heard prated the entire teahouse. It belonged to the mother-inw of the marchioness, the godmother. Her whiteplexion was red, showing how angry she was. ¡°Dear Mother! Thismoner is putting pressure on the duke¡­¡± ¡°How dare you not know your ce¡­ Shut up!¡± ¡°M-Mother¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s the duke¡¯s precious guest, whom I have weed!¡± The most embarrassed person in this situation was none other than Sierra. We¡¯ve got a problem. Andante has provoked the already sensitive and easily misunderstood godmother. However, things were still manageable. Sierra spoke to protect the small and precious marchioness, who had yet to do anything, as she only recited facts to protect her family. ¡°The marchioness is innocent.¡± ¡°¡­Sierra, what is this? Why do you have to suffer this humiliation again!¡± ¡®I¡¯ve been humiliated again¡­?¡¯ It was when Sierra carefully looked into the past, wondering if this had ever happened before. ¡°And why are you protecting her?! You¡¯re such a gentle fool¡­¡± The godmother stumbled toward her with a face of demise. Sierra fixed her hair in a hurry. It seems like the godmother has started an extraordinary illusion again¡­ ¡°¡­Are you alright? You must feel so hurt.¡± Sierra shook her head in a hurry and tried to fix the situation. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We only spoke, so don¡¯t me Lady Andante. It¡¯s all my fault for being amoner.¡± Sierra has always been sincere. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault! It can¡¯t be! Besides, amoner¡­ you¡¯ve been shamed as amoner.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not a shame. It¡¯s actually an opportunity¡­¡± I feel like I¡¯ve angered her¡­ The godmother¡¯s re became more fierce. Andante, who had been held captive by her mother-inw, was almost on the verge of fainting. Adding to that¡­ The doors of the teahouse opened once more, and a massive man walked in. It was Cassius Idios with a demonic expression. ¡°It looks like I¡¯m mistaken.¡± He held Sierra¡¯s hand in an elegant manner. ¡°Now, it¡¯s time to make a proper announcement.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the small teahouse turned into a deste space without even a breath. Sierra rolled her eyes, looking around while examining everyone. Hanael clenched her fists and cheered for the godmother and Cassius. The angry godmother and the cold-hearted Cassius scared Marchioness Andante Mails, whose teeth were chattering in fear. ¡®Am I the only one who doesn¡¯t have much thought here¡­?¡¯ It seems like she unintentionally pulled the fuse¡­? ¡°If you touch Sierra, be prepared to deal with me, and even with our family.¡± Sierra looked at Cassius with a startling look. He was ring like one of those demons from hell. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 13 - Sierras Sister, Amil, the Grand Archmage Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 13 ¨C Sierra¡¯s Sister, Amil, the Grand Archmage All eyes were on Sierra. She looked at Andante, who was embarrassed and looked somewhat ridiculous, trembling with slight fear. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ fine.¡± Sierra, who was about to say, ¡°I don¡¯t care if you touch me,¡± could sense Cassius¡¯ ghastly expression. She stared at Cassius without thinking. Surprisingly, his eyes were red. ¡°I said I¡¯d protect you.¡± Oh, my God. No. Don¡¯t cry! Sierra loved the tears of the handsome man, but she never wanted him to cry at a time like this. She grabbed Cassius roughly by the wrist. ¡°T-Thank you for protecting me. Let¡¯s go quickly. I¡¯m cold.¡± Like Sierra, who values health, she was wearing a shawl and a muffler, but that didn¡¯t help at all. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go. And Andante?¡± The godmother¡¯s cool gaze was directed toward Andante. ¡°¡­This is your one and only warning, Dear.¡± The godmother and Cassius followed Sierra, wrapping their arms around her. Hanael followed behind the three, touching her cheeks with her hands. Crash! The owner of the tea house, who was watching the whole fiasco, broke the precious teacup. This situation would end briefly. No, this situation¡­ is over for now. Andante, who was left alone, sat down with a nk look on her face. ¡°What is this¡­¡± Their affection for Sierra was very deep. They favored her too much than what she had imagined. There wasn¡¯t a chance for her to drive them apart, to begin with. *** Sierra, who finally got to go out after a long time, was insulted. She never thought so, of course, but from the perspective of the godmother and Cassius, it seemed so. So¡­ In the duke¡¯s mansion, there was a situation that resembled a special operation. ¡°Please find out what her tastes are.¡± The most important thing for the godmother was to ¡®find out what Sierra wanted.¡¯ The maid began to investigate Sierra with secrecyparable to a spy¡¯s mission. On the other hand, Cassius was surprisingly quiet. Simr to usual, peaceful days passed. Though she realized that this would be very little peace before the typhoon. Sierra was reading the morning newspaper while having her tea time in peace, but suddenly, she dropped the food she was about to take into her mouth. ¡ª¡¶Breaking News¡·A mysteriousmoner, who is a blossoming young woman, is with Duke Idios. ¡®Wait. Isn¡¯t that me, themoner woman?¡¯ Sierraughed as she checked the newspaper. From her point of view, it didn¡¯t really matter. Sierra¡¯s identity wasn¡¯t properly revealed, and she was described as just a ¡± blossoming young woman.¡± Although¡­ Sierra¡¯s jaw dropped when she checked the newspaper after lunch that day. ¡ª Duke of Idios disapproved of others¡¯ entry into the townhouse. ¡ª Is it because of themoner woman, who is of marriageable age? ¡ª Will she be the mistress of the duke? Or will she be taken in by the godmother? Taken in? That¡¯s not gonna happen, you bastards. For now, it was not ordinary not to allow others to enter. Usually, townhouses in the capital of noble families were opened for social activities, but they just shut it down. ¡®I hope it¡¯s a misunderstanding, but the headline in the newspaper seemed usible.¡¯ I didn¡¯t dare to read the details of the article because I was afraid it was real. Just looking at the title of the article made me dizzy. Sierra lowered her hand and checked another newspaper. ¨C Duke Idios purchases shops within a kilometer of the townhouse, and it bes a hot topic ¡°Ha¡­¡± Sierra gave a deep sigh as if the ground cave in. ¡®Why the hell is godmother doing this to me?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t tell whether it was really because of Hanael or because of her feelings of regret. I didn¡¯t even want to know her mental state. For some reason, I thought it would be twice as burdensome if I dig in more than this. ¡®Anyway, I warned you not to, people. You¡¯re the ones who didn¡¯t listen.¡¯ So Sierra decided to sit on the sidelines of the creation of ck history between the godmother and Cassius. He won¡¯t listen to me even if I stop him. Instead, I intended to record the fact that I had stopped him gradually with a video recording or writing instrument. ¡¯If you sue me for adultery or fraudter on, I¡¯ll have to go see awyer¡­¡¯ Sierra began to gather evidence one by one. However, she did not forget to treat others kindly. She can¡¯t avoid it, so she should enjoy it now, right? ¡°Miss?¡± ¡°Ah, yes, yes! Miss Sierra!¡± Sierra smiled broadly at the maid, who was filled with excitement. ¡°Can I have another te of that omelette du fromage?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll give you everything you want!¡± ¡®Ha, this is so nice.¡¯ Her slender shoulders trembled with happiness. Eating omelette du fromage with strawberry jam made me think that this is heaven. The idea that my sister shoulde and solve this situation quickly fainted away. *** Meanwhile, Sierra¡¯s older sister, Amil, the archmage, was drinking wine in the tower¡¯s office. She drank to the point where her nose scrunched up until Abel, who listened to Sierra, wandered to the messy room. ¡°Archmage!¡± With her chestnut-shaped eyes and her voice sour, she said, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s been a while, Abel.¡± ¡°Archmage, you¡¯ve been here? Why didn¡¯t you contact me?¡± ¡°Ah, well¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s urgent. Please go to Sierra!¡± ¡°What, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Well, Hanael is being mistaken as Sierra¡¯s daughter. I know you want to live freely, but it¡¯s time to go find Hanael¡­¡± After listening to the whole story, Amil waved her hand. ¡°I roughly understand what happened now.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, so I need your help.¡± ¡°Well, no. The monster, Cassius Idios, is obsessed with Sierra. Right? Back at the academy, they were together briefly, so Cassius thought Hanael was his daughter, and Sierra said, ¡®That¡¯s not true, that¡¯s crazy.¡¯¡± Abel was surprised on the inside. Amil was a geek even for an archmage. To think she¡¯s drinking and eatingfortably inside the tower, while taking on the extraordinarymission of the tower. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°When you¡¯re an archmage, you be a wise person who masters the world, little wolf.¡± ¡°¡­T-That¡¯s true.¡± Abel¡¯s cheeks became faintly red. ¡°Well¡­ what Sierra wants is not something I can help her with.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You asked me to prove that Hanael is not Sierra¡¯s daughter.¡± Amil mumbled low with her mouth shut. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I can¡¯t enter the capital city. There is a situation within us adults.¡± ¡°Huh? Didn¡¯t you go there yesterday? ¡®Roll and bread¡¯ is a popr bread that is only avable in the capital.¡± Amil frowned. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ Anyway, even if I approach them, both Sierra and Hanael will be in danger. This time it¡¯s different, wolf boy.¡± Amil swiftly hid a video cassette recorder she was holding behind her back. Amil said, interrupting Abel, who did not notice the fact that he was dissatisfied with her words. ¡°Anyway, let Sierra know. Tell her if she wishes to stay alive, she better stay with the duke for three months. Oh, and I¡¯ll tell you what Sierra wants most.¡± While Abel was distracted, Amil lifted herself onto the ledge of a window. The tower they were in had over thirty flights of stairs, but she sat dizzily on the window sill and waved her hand as if she were about to jump down. ¡°¡­From now on, you can use your abilities freely. You¡¯ve done a great job keeping your promise to hide them. Tell her not to worry because Cassius Idios will protect her in the future.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°Well, I really gotta get going.¡± Abel shouted into the air in vain. ¡°Archmage! You can¡¯t leave like this!¡± ¡°Okay, we meet again in three months! Sierra must endure many hardships until then!¡± Abel, listening to Amil¡¯s lively voice, hurriedly approached the window and looked down. But she had already disappeared far away. ¡°No, no¡­ Miss Amil!¡± Abel¡¯s voice was nothing but a vain echo in the air. ¡°Oh, dear¡­ I should finish dyeing my roots¡­¡± Amil, who hates her gold hair, used hair dye to make it pink. However, it seemed impossible to dye her roots every time it grew out. Abel clicked his tongue and looked around at the mess inside the tower. By the way¡­ ¡®I feel like a shrimp caught between two whales¡­¡¯ Abel sighed again, checking his recent letter from Sierra. [Abel, what did she say? I¡¯m going to punch her when shees back. Did you ask me to grit my teeth? ] However, it was impossible to even meet with her in the first ce. The free archmage, Amil, left, and the tower was already silently empty. Abel, who was in vain, whispered to himself. ¡°I¡¯m in trouble, Sierra.¡± ¡®No, this is not the time.¡¯ Abel quickly lifted himself. Even if the truth couldn¡¯t be known, he had to tell Sierra. Then, Abel found a small envelope. It was a small scroll with the words ¡°If you found this, it means it¡¯s dangerous now, Sierra.¡± written in it. Abel slowly opened the envelope. *** Abel entered the capital immediately, feeling embarrassed. The rumor of Duke Idios¡¯ Cindere was rampant across the city. Gossip columnists tried to break through the duke¡¯s irond defense, but they failed. There were many spections that thedy who entered the fortress could be awarded a title of nobility. ¡°Uh, what the hell is this¡­¡± Isn¡¯t Cindere¡­ Sierra? ¡°Isn¡¯t this too much¡­?¡± He had to grasp the situation. Abel clenched his fists and arrived in front of the duke¡¯s mansion where Sierra was staying. It was a huge noble mansion that looked like it was just out of a fairy tale. A pointed spire could be seen, and a clock tower was visible from the square. Abel spoke sincerely to the helmeted gatekeeper. ¡°I¡¯vee to see Miss Sierra.¡± The knight was startled and hurriedly took off his helmet. ¡°Who?¡± He was in charge of reporting the people who are looking for Sierra. ¡°If you tell her my name, she will recognize me. I lived with Miss Sierra¡­¡± The knights exchanged nces at his words. Of course, Duke Idios told them to let anyone rted to Sierra in. However, a yful young man with sky blue hair should not be allowed in. It was just then, when the knights were agonizing for a while. ¡°Abeeel!¡± Hanael, with her two pretty little pigtails, dashed out the door. ¡°Hanael!¡± Abel hugged Hanael in a tearful embrace. Hanael dered with her chin up as if she had already adapted to the mansion. ¡°What? You knights!¡± The faces of the knights turned into smiles. ¡°Let Abel in this second.¡± How can anyone resist the lovely Hanael and her orders? The knights hurriedly opened the door. But it was then, Looking at his rival, Duke Idios approached from the door. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 14 - Abel, Cassius, Sierra Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 14 ¨C Abel, Cassius, and Sierra ¡°¡­Who are you?¡± At the foot of the mansion, the Duke of Idios asked Abel. He looked up at Cassius, who was a span bigger than him. ¡®Don¡¯t you know me? I thought you did!¡¯ Abel smiled brightly and bowed. ¡°Ah, you are Sir Duke Idios, right? I am Abel. I lived with Miss Sierra!¡± ¡°You lived with Sierra¡­¡± Abel has often heard of the human world, but has not been very bright in the physiology of real humans. ¡°Yes!¡± Cassius stared at Abel with a look of difort. Then, Hanael began to tease Cassius. ¡°Bad man, what are you doing? Let Abel in!¡± Cassius stared at him and nodded. ¡°Come on in. Let¡¯s have a little chat before you meet Sierra.¡± After hugging Hanael because of their time apart, Abel answered clearly. ¡°Yes, sir. Your Grace!¡± Abel was also a formidable flower figure. ¡®It¡¯s better than meeting sister right away.¡¯ He hums as he enters the mansion. Hanael whistled happily and followed him in. *** ¡°So¡­¡± Inside the drawing room. Abel, who was looking around with wide eyes, burst into excitement again. ¡°Very, very nice, Your Grace! I¡¯m so d sister can stay in a ce like this.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Cassius almost lost his fighting spirit with Abel¡¯s bright words. He looked at Abel and tapped on the table. ¡®So that¡¯s the Duke Cassius Idios. He looks better-looking from up close.¡¯ Abel smiled brighter than the sun and bowed toward him. Then Cassius softly spoke. ¡°You are¡­ Abel, and you lived with Sierra.¡± As if to emphasize what he said earlier, Cassius gritted his teeth. Abel flinched because of the bloodthirsting from him. Abel was a dog mixed with wolf blood. Come to think of it, Cassius had a faint smell of blood. It showed that he was a soldier who fought in the war for several years. ¡®Come to think of it, he¡¯s being a little bit hostile toward me.¡¯ Abel tilted his head. Why would he be hostile? I¡¯m nice to Sierra and Hanael¡­ ¡®Are you really hating me? That¡¯s upsetting.¡¯ Abel, a male dog, did not have much of a concept of male and female bodies. He drooped his shoulders but said bravely, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here to see Miss Sierra!¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°Because Miss Sierra needs me!¡± Cassius¡¯s eyes became fierce. Abel, however, only looked at him with a bright expression. ¡°Your hair looks a bit filthy.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡®I couldn¡¯t wash my hair because I was in a hurry, so my hair is a little gross¡­¡¯ ¡°Yes, that is correct!¡± Abel scratched his head and nodded. Abel was a powerful enemy who could not make a remark that could turn the situation around. Cassius, who was staring at him, calmly spoke. ¡°If you require anything, tell me. I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± This meant, to be exact, that he would prevent Sierra and Abel from meeting. Though Abel, who could not read between the lines, tilted his head. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s going to work! This secret is between me and sister.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Cassius¡¯ brow raised at a more intimate call than expected. Abel nodded and froze like a bright puppy. ¡°Oh, the nobles in the capital don¡¯t use that title in public ces, do they? I¡¯m sorry, Your Grace.¡± Abel, who was somewhat tactless, was an unexpected ambush and opponent for Cassius. He looked at him silently. No, in fact, it would be more appropriate to say that he stared at him. Naturally, this was a very ufortable situation for Cassius. ¡°I¡¯m sure Miss Sierra will want to see me now. She needs me.¡± Cassius has always been an underdog when ites to love. If he tries to hurt Abel, or at least stop Abel and Sierra from meeting, and if Sierra finds out. Cassius said quietly, ¡°¡­Then, I will guide you to the tea room.¡± He looked down at the floor. Then, Abel¡¯s cheerful thanks came to his ears. ¡°Yes, thank you!¡± Abel, who has a bright personality, smiled and bowed ny degrees. ¡°Although¡­¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Cassius calmly spoke. Abel was a man who knew Sierra¡¯s situation for the past five years, while he did not. Now, he asked, trying not to appear like he lost hisposure. ¡°¡­I wonder how long you¡¯ve been with Sierra.¡± Abel, who saw his expressionless face, replied sincerely. ¡°It¡¯s been about five years? We¡¯ve been living together ever since she settled down in Supe Vige! She¡¯s also a pharmacist.¡± At Abel¡¯s seriousness, Cassius bit his lip. ¡°¡­How did Sierra live? Did someone make it difficult, or did something happen¡­¡± Abel tilted his head. Not long ago, Sierra had a rather painful five years, including the owner of the building and the flirting men handled by Duke Idios. In addition, she was full of ambition, wanted to make a lot of money, and wanted to show her abilities. Of course, pharmacies always made a surplus, but it was not enough to satisfy Sierra. ¡®There were people who harassed her, and she had many personal problems, but sister always seemed happy. She was full of ambition to make money.¡¯ Abel, who was debating whether to say all that, nced at Cassius¡¯ face. He looked like a monster from hell. So, he just answered concisely. ¡°Yes! It was really difficult!¡± Abel was trying to add that Sierra¡¯s expression was terrifying when the pharmacy failed to make profit. However, when he saw Cassius¡¯ expression be gloomy, he paused. ¡°There was a time when a man dared to harass sister¡­ what else?¡± Of course, Sierra didn¡¯t care much about the truth or anything because she was very cool. But neither Abel nor Cassius knew that. Abel, who was talking about this and that, suddenly stopped talking. Strange. Why does he look so distressed? As if he had heard the news of someone¡¯s death. ¡®He pointed out my hair earlier. Does it smell¡­?¡¯ Abel scratched his greasy hair and vowed to wash it thoroughly. Cassius continued to speak. ¡°O¡­ kay.¡± His voice was a bit murky. Abel tilted his head. He really needed to wash up. *** A few hourster, in the drawing room. ¡°Miss Sierra, you¡¯ve seeded.¡± Abel looked around the drawing room with a bit of admiration. Sitting face to face with him, Sierra, with her vulnerable face, spoke seriously. ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a storm out of the blue. It¡¯s like a dream.¡± ¡°As expected¡­ Please let me live here too!¡± ¡°I think you could, but don¡¯t forget we have to leave in three months anyway.¡± Abel nodded while listening to Sierra¡¯s regretful voice. ¡°By the way¡­¡± Sierra, with a serious look on her face, grabbed Abel¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Is sheing? Will shee and clear all this up?¡± Although I have requested a paternity test kit, it would be more beneficial for my sister to visit the duke herself. Although Abel stuttered, avoiding Sierra¡¯s eyes. ¡°Well¡­¡± At Abel¡¯s limp tail, Sierra felt an ominous premonition. Her palm, which held Abel¡¯s hand, was wet and damp. Abel was silent and soon opened his mouth. ¡°¡­She- the archmage- Well¡­¡± ¡°Why, well, what¡¯s next, what do I do?!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Abel quietly spoke and diverted his gaze to avoid attention. ¡°Stay with Duke Idios. She said she couldn¡¯te¡­ and left.¡± After listening to Abel, Sierra opened her mouth. ¡°Isn¡¯t shepletely insane? Well, I¡¯m not, but what about Hanael? She hasn¡¯t even bothered looking for her these past five years, has she?¡± She¡¯s a crazy older sister who¡¯s doing much harm. Sierra clenched her fist. ¡°Abel.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Poison or a stone axe, pick.¡± ¡°What?¡± Abel was one of the characters who were very aware of Sierra¡¯s fierceness, which was hidden behind her fragile appearance. She didn¡¯t know what she would do to find her sister, Amil, if she left it like this. No, it¡¯s not that simple, but now, Sierra was burning with the will to fight with her eyes wide open. ¡°I think I¡¯m gonna kill that woman.¡± Of course, Abel, who had been in the same boat with Sierra for a long time, knew very well how to deal with her. He needed to change the subject. ¡°Well¡­ fortunately, I picked up a small letter and a scroll before the archmage disappeared.¡± Sierra, who became like a calm rabbit with a carrot in front of her, watched Abel take out the scroll. ¡°Scroll? What is it?¡± Sierra¡¯s eyes glistened. ¡°When Hanael¡¯s life is in danger, I think we can use it only once. It said if you use it, she¡¯ll be summoned.¡± What Sierra knows about her sister is that she never lies. And if there was something she didn¡¯t know about Sierra, it was the fact that no one could stop her even if she went blind. She lifted it high into the air, ready to rip up the scroll. ¡°This is an emergency. I need to kill my sister right now¡­¡± ¡°C-Calm down, Miss Sierra! ording to Amil, this scroll is automatically triggered when Hanael is sick. If you tear it up, it¡¯ll just be useless!¡± Sierra frowned and took the scroll. She had an attitude. ¡°In any case, the one who cares about Hanael never bothered to search for her. I really dislike her.¡± Of course, Sierra didn¡¯t mean it because Amil was the only family she had. ¡°¡­Hanael will soon be cleared of the charge of being Cassius¡¯ child, so I¡¯ll l just have to put up with him for three months.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it!¡± ¡°By the way, wait a minute. She said I could show my abilities now?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah! That¡¯s good news, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes, it is, but¡­¡± The past when she hid her abilities came to Sierra¡¯s mind. She had to give up even though she was capable enough to take the top spot and get a schrship. ¡®She told me to hide my strength, so I just kept it hidden.¡¯ Sierra gave a long sigh. ¡°Then shall we go for a walk? There¡¯s a ss garden here, and the scenery is really nice.¡± ¡°Yes, that sounds nice!¡± Abel smiled like the puppy he is. Without dy, they began to take a walk together in the small ss garden. Yet, one thing Sierra didn¡¯t know was that the garden was visible from Cassius¡¯ drawing room. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 15 - The Doctors Have Arrived Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 15 ¨C The Doctors Have Arrived Cassius looked out the window. His study is on the second floor where he usually stays. The scenery outside was clearly visible from there. In particr, the garden trail built inside his fortress was visible from his study. There, Sierra and Abel were being watched. Cassius opened the window while attending to his duties peacefully, and happened to see them together. ¡°Ha, really¡­.. Do¡­..¡± ¡°Yes! This is exciting¡­.. Soon¡­..¡± Even though their conversation could not be heard perfectly, Sierra was smiling brightly. She even stroked Abel¡¯s hair without hesitation. A healthy young man with sky blue hair and a weak-looking Sierra looked surprisingly good together. This was different from the usual Sierra, who used to tremble like grass and daffodils. A long time ago, Cassius and Sierra used to be happy. But¡­ When asked if Sierra had difficulties, Abel¡¯s voice immediately told Cassius that she was having a hard time. An aide walked in, knocking on the door behind him. ¡°Your Grace, I¡¯ve been looking into him. The man is a puppy named Abel.¡± ¡°¡­Carry on.¡± ¡°Yes, ording to the vigers, their loyalty is sincere considering Msss Sierra feeds and gives him a ce to stay. Of course, I think we need to find out more. This information is not urate. However, it¡¯s clear that they¡¯ve been together for quite a long time.¡± He was the one who protected Sierra and Hanael while he was gone. Do you dare be jealous of that man? Cassius spoke calmly, quietly pressing down on his stomach. ¡°Now, get out.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Grace.¡± The aide shut the door carefully and left. After he left, Cassius focused on the papers left on his desk instead of closing the window. It was so that he would stop thinking about them. His gaze, which was fixed on his quill, fountain pen, and paper, soon reached the shlight next to him on the desk, then to the worn-out-looking rabbit doll, which was unsuitable for the room. He looked down at the pink rabbit doll Sierra handed him, which had been by his side throughout the war. When they first became friends, that was Sierra¡¯s first gift to him. ¡®This is a present for you, take it.¡¯¡®¡­A rabbit doll?¡¯¡®Yeah, you remind me of a rabbit, so I bought it!¡¯¡®I¡¯m simr to a rabbit?¡¯¡®Yes, you¡¯re actually more simr to a puppy, but the mart only had a rabbit.¡¯ After that day, he fought the war alongside a rabbit doll that didn¡¯t even fit him. It was also a pledge that reminded him to never die. ¡­I¡¯ve missed you, always. However, Cassius still couldn¡¯t figure out how to approach her. He was a little clumsy and awkward in front of Sierra. The brightughter of Sierra, which he has never heard before. He could hear a cracklingugh outside the window. It was Sierra¡¯s bright and livelyughter. Her brightughter and beautifulughter, which he never heard before¡­ It was that moment. Knock, knock. He heard a short knock. Cassius raised his brow at the thought of it being the aide again. But the door opened naturally. Peeking through the door, a girl with cute, chubby cheeks showed her face. ¡°Mister bad man.¡± It was his daughter, Hanael. Hanael, hugging the stuffed doll in her arms, asked in a strange tone. ¡°You know, I came here to ask you something.¡± Cassius looked at Hanael. She looked exactly like Sierra, so he had no choice but to nod at the small child who resembled her. *** Hanael gulped down the hot chocte and smiled pleasantly. Cassius tried to wipe Hanael¡¯s mouth that was covered with foam. Hanael, who pped the back of his hand, said grumpily. ¡°The maids said I look like you.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± When he thought about it thoroughly, it seemed to be like that. Hanael had Sierra¡¯s hair color and eyes. She looked like Sierra no matter what. However, if you look closely, she looked somewhat simr to him, too. For example, when I smile, my left eye shuts slightly, too. ¡°¡­Yes, we look alike.¡± Hanael swung her dangling legs as she could not touch the floor. ¡°¡­You know, Mister. I have a question. T-That¡­. Mister¡­..¡± ¡°¡­Hm?¡± Hanael was trying to say something but was muttering instead. With the presence of her father, she couldn¡¯t figure out what to say or how to say it. Hanael was still a child, and she was not good at expressing her emotions. So, Hanael decided to talk about her mother. To Hanael, her mother¡¯s happiness is the most precious thing to her¡­ Hanael spoke with strength as she wriggled the teacup in her hands to gather courage. ¡°Mister, are you going to be nice to my mother forever? The maid said you could count on them.¡± Cassius answered sincerely. Just in case Sierra feels burdened, she says everything Sierra couldn¡¯t say. ¡°Daddy¡­ No, Mister would devote his life¡­¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do a good job.¡± Hanael specifically spit out the fundamental question. ¡°Then, why did you abandon my mother?¡± Her words turned into a dagger, crushing Cassius¡¯ heart. He took a deep breath to remain calm. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ abandon her. There¡¯s a reason for that, and I¡¯ve misunderstood, so¡­¡± Hanael pouted out her lips and said, pping her cup of hot chocte. ¡°Chi, there¡¯s no such thing. You¡¯re a liar.¡± Bang! The door opened, but Hanael continued to mutter like a rattle. ¡°That old man abandoned my mother¡­¡± A pale hand that popped out of nowhere pinched Hanael¡¯s cheek and stretched it as if it were dough. ¡°This man¡­. You¡­. What does this mean?¡± It was Sierra¡¯s porcin-like hand. ¡°I didn¡¯t get thrown away. He didn¡¯t do that. Hanael, why are you bothering the duke? I was wondering where you¡¯ve been! I¡¯ve been searching for you!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bother the bad man!¡± Sierra shrugged. Cassius stared silently at Abel¡¯s puzzled expression as he walked in behind her. But now, Sierra was looking at him, not Abel. I hated myself for liking that fact. So, Cassius smiled and stared at Sierra again. She gave Cassius a slightly embarrassed look. ¡°Cassius, I¡¯m sorry. Did Hanael cause you any trouble? She showed no happy expression simr to the one earlier. Cassius, who saw Sierra¡¯s drooping eyes, sighed deeply. ¡°No, she did no such thing.¡± ¡°Hmph! I¡¯m not a nuisance! Why am I always the bad person!¡± ¡°You, where did you learn such adult-like words¡­?¡± Hanael grumbled in an unpleasant manner. Sierra warned her to stop by pressing down on Hanael¡¯s plump nose. However, Sierra noticed that Hanael kept stealing nces at Cassius. Hanael¡¯s chubby cheeks were flushed pink. It meant that she was taking a liking to him. ¡®¡­This is so clear without much thought.¡¯ Hanael was a mischievous girl, but she was soft-hearted even if it didn¡¯t seem that way. Therefore, it¡¯s easy for her to like him, especially since Cassius treated me well. ¡®I used to sing dad¡¯s songs when I was younger. That¡¯s understandable.¡¯ However, it would be Hanael who gets hurt if he gave more affection. Sierra was about to sternly scold Hanael. But it was just then. Cassius with a turbulent gaze, Hanael with a grin, Sierra in a panic, and even Abel with a stiffened look. A knock rang in the room, where the four of them intertwined their confused emotions¡­ The butler carefully opened the door and appeared. ¡°I am sorry for intruding, Your Grace.¡± Cassius, who was watching Sierra and Hanael¡¯s conversation, spoke to the butler. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The doctors from Hipo just arrived by a teleport scroll.¡± Sierra was taken aback. Finally, good news and salvation came down to her. *** Meanwhile, inside the drawing room of the duke¡¯s mansion. Three medical staff members, invited by the duke, finally arrived from Hipo Kingdom. While waiting for the duke, they sat on a sofa enjoying their refreshments. They were important figures who would not have moved unless they were invited by Duke Idios himself. Hentel, Lanya, Kilo. Lanya and Kilo were red-haired and blue-eyed twins, and are now considered the best doctors in Hipo Kingdom. Even so, their excellence would lose its light in front of Hentel. The oldest of the three, Hentel, was such a genius that he even endured the title, ¡®The Reincarnation of Hipocrates,¡¯ the god of medicine who founded the kingdom. Now, instead of working at a clinic, he was working hard to train the younger ones and develop an experimental medical kit. Although he may have stepped down from the front line, there was still light in his red eyes. The old man, who was stroking his white beard, calmly spoke. ¡°We have received an official invitation from the duke, so we must maintain a clean demeanor no matter what.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± After a brief silence, they began a passionate chat about medicine. The first person who mentioned it was Lanya, a woman with long straight red hair. ¡°I¡¯m so proud to have this opportunity to test the paternity kit.¡± ¡°Yes, Lanya! Besides, we¡¯ll be in this kingdom for three months. I¡¯m looking forward to the medicine and medical techniques here. Right, Mr. Hentel?¡± Lanya replied to her twin, Kilo. ¡°Come on, Kilo. Is there even anyone decent who majored in medicine or pharmacy here?¡± ¡°Hmm, yes, there must be even though they¡¯re a rare find in our kingdom these days. So¡­¡± It was time for the atmosphere to sink once more. They witnessed the door swing open. The butler, who walked inside, cleared his dry throat. ¡°I present His Grace, Duke Idios and Miss Sierra.¡± A woman simr to a delicate flower with flushed cheeks and a knight-like man who stood by her appeared in front of the three. Before they entered, the Duke of Idios hid his first love, Sierra, behind him. ¡°Good morning, Your Grace. I am Hentel, a doctor from Hipo Kingdom. These are Lanya and Kilo, my students.¡± Hentel gestured Cassius to a handshake. ¡°Wee.¡± Cassius greeted him with a stiff handshake. Next was Sierra¡¯s turn. Everyone¡¯s eyes naturally turned to Sierra. In particr, the young twin doctors from Hipo Kingdom could not hide their curiosity. Since the time they entered the room, the duke kept her hidden behind him as if to shield her, so they could not properly catch a glimpse of Sierra. Finally, Sierra took a step forward. From her pink lips, a soft voice suitable for a fragile and lovely appearance flowed out. ¡°Nice to meet you, I am Sierra.¡± Then, the vulnerable woman lowered her eyes and curtsied. Hentel, Lanya, and Kilo revealed their expressions without realizing it. The sharp-faced Duke Idios and the daffodil-like woman were like heavenly individuals, but it was difficult to say that they fit well together. Moreover, the woman was shaking so much that it looked like she might have been kidnapped. The doctors from Hipo Kingdom, who looked at Sierra, exchanged cautious nces with each other. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 16 - Contract, and Contracts Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 16 ¨C Contract, and Contracts Finally, the three doctors from Hipo Kingdom, Hentel, Lanya, Kilo, along with Sierra and Cassius, sat face to face in the drawing room. Hentel spoke first, cing a guide about the paternity test on the table. ¡°The paternity test is divided into three segments.¡± Hentel nced at the fragile Sierra. He would have suspected her as a patient seeing her leanplexion. ¡°Please take a look at this guide first.¡± Sierra noddedpliantly at them. [ The paternity test is divided into stages 1, 2, and 3. It takes one month toplete each stages. ] Meaning that it would take three months in total. Sierra turned to the next chapter of the detailed guide. [ Phase 1: Mana Wavelength Exam ] Sierra nodded. This was a smart way. In the case of blood rtives, mana wavelengths were often matched. Of course, there are cases where it is not as well¡­ ¡®How would you test wavelength, with potions?¡¯ Thinking briefly, Sierra turned to the next chapter. [ Phase 2: Trait Exam ] What exactly is a ¡®Trait Exam¡¯? At that moment, her curiosity arose. Sierra turned to the next page. [ In the case of Phase 3, it is carried out in secret, so the details will be disclosed afterpleting Phase 2. ] [ If there is a ¡®match¡¯ in each phase, you will move onto the next phase for confirmation only. If there is a ¡®mismatch,¡¯ the patient is not the child¡¯s parent. ] Sierra saw the first phase and cheered herself on. In fact, it was apparent that the three of their mana wavelengths would be a hundred percent inconsistent. ¡®I thought it¡¯d take three months, but this will shorten it to a month!¡¯ Of course, Cassius has to also be convinced¡­ She bit down on her lip to hold back herughter and looked toward Cassius. ¡°I¡¯ve checked everything, no¡­¡± ¡°¡­Sierra.¡± ¡°I did, Your Grace.¡± Sierra knew very well that she was amoner who had to use honorifics in front of other people. So, she only spoke with honorifics. However, the fact came a bit different for Cassius. His expression showed he was dissatisfied, realizing he had hit a wall. He then spoke. ¡°¡­Alright, I¡¯ll read it, too.¡± Cassius began to read the guide in an elegant manner. While they checked the guide, the doctors from Hipo Kingdom nced at her. Hentel, who was not interested in gossip, decided to observe Sierra, debating whether she was sick or not. ¡®Her skin is ivory, and her eyes have no jaundice. I¡¯m guessing she eats well¡­ She shakes like a person who has a disease. It¡¯s confusing and amazing at the same time.¡¯ Meanwhile, Lanya was also observing Sierra as she was biting her lip. ¡®¡­It¡¯s a self-exnatory story. Amoner woman is conducting a paternity test on her rtives. Is she worried about being kicked out, could she be upset?¡¯ Guilt fluttered in the corner of Lanya¡¯s heart. Kilo was staring at the refreshments without much thought. ¡®If I eat sweets right now, I¡¯ll be able to gain some energy.¡¯ It was Sierra¡¯s soft voice that brought them back from their own thoughts. She passed the guide over to Cassius and asked, catching the attention of the doctors. ¡°During the mana exam, would you perhaps use Molen leaves?¡± Young sprouts growing on Molen trees were widely known as herbs that helped strengthen mana. However, Sierra knew that when Molen leaves were finely crushed and applied to the fingertips, human mana wavelengths appeared faintly on it like a magic circle. She was speaking in an elegant tone, but her words were not so ordinary. Hentel stroked his beard and spoke. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t think the leaves that would be used were written down.¡± Nevertheless, Hentel soon found his calmness. If Sierra had majored in medicine or pharmacy at the academy, it was certainly worth knowing. It is a norm to believe that the mana exam uses Molen leaves. ¡°Well, you stand corrected, Miss Sierra.¡± Sierra nodded and gathered more courage to continue. ¡°If you use potions in a mana exam, you¡¯d mix olives with Molen leaves and put Hanya roots in them, right? Isn¡¯t that true?¡± At Sierra¡¯s words, Hentel raised one eyebrow, precisely because his heart was pierced with unexpectedness. In the Imperial Pce, the auxiliary drug used to examine a person¡¯s mana wavelength was usually the Hanya leaf, too. But the leaves had many impurities. Therefore, they discovered that the roots, not the Hanya leaves, were more pure after various clinical trials. Hanya roots were a secret only the three of them knew¡­! ¡°¡­That¡¯s a secret.¡± However, Hentel¡¯s ¡®secret¡¯ was shattered like ss thanks to his surprise reaction. ¡°¡­Is that true? Wait, how did you know that? Is that information public?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. I¡¯ve conducted a mana wavelength exam at a rural vige before. I did a few experiments.¡± ording to her sister, Sierra no longer had to hide her abilities. So, she showed off her knowledge to the fullest. ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Th-That¡¯s right, but¡­¡± Lanya and Kilo exchanged nces as they were stunned. However, Lanya shrugged her shoulders and averted her gaze away. In Lanya¡¯s mind, the supremacy of Hipo Kingdom still remained in her mind. It is understandable since Hipo Kingdom¡¯s medicine was exceptionally superiorpared to other kingdoms¡­ along with pharmacology. ¡°I¡¯m d you know that information.¡± Sierra ced her hand on the table andughed. Kilo stiffened, appearing embarrassed. As he stared at Sierra¡¯s smile, it seemed to represent a blooming flower. At that moment, they heard Cassius¡¯ heavy, low tone voice. ¡°¡­Well, how will the exam go?¡± Looking at him, Kilo tried to ignore the cold sweat flowing down his spine, smiling nicely. Of course, he was freaking out on the inside. He stopped their conversation so suddenly. Adding more to it, his facial expression was incredibly terrifying. In Kilo¡¯s opinion, Sierra was clearly under pressure by the forceful Cassius. ¡®It¡¯s obvious how scared she would be, especially since he was called a warhead. Meanwhile, she¡¯s so tender, it¡¯s such a pity.¡¯ Lanya, who witnessed the situation, was one step ahead. She clicked her tongue. In general, the reason why noble families usually request for paternity tests was because they suspected illegitimate children. ¡®I¡¯m sure the duke requested a paternity test because he suspected her of such immorality?¡¯ Lanya, who pitied the woman, narrowed her eyes. ¡®By the looks of it, the duke is rather cold, too. I can imagine how hard it must¡¯ve been for a delicate woman to step foot into this mansion. She probably had no thoughts of a paternity test and was forced into this, right?¡¯ Lanya¡¯s delusion grew when saw Sierra¡¯s slender trembling shoulders and Cassius¡¯ blunt expression. ¡®I¡¯m sure they had a rtionship, but he couldn¡¯t trust that the child she bore was his own blood, so they¡¯re undergoing a paternity test! She doesn¡¯t even look like the type to lie!¡¯ She stared at Sierra, biting her lower lip hard. Sierra, receiving an eerie stare, carefully spoke to Lanya. ¡°Well¡­ Miss Lanya?¡± Lanya continued with a deep sigh. ¡°For now, Miss Sierra, please take care of your health as much as possible.¡± Of course, checking someone¡¯s well being was not a condition for the exams. Though Lanya had a point. A doctor witnessing Sierra¡¯s slender, fragile shoulders droop with vulnerability stimtes the viewer¡¯s protective instinct. ¡°Take care of my health?¡± ¡°Yes, eat a lot of meat-oriented meals starting today.¡± ¡°¡­Meat-oriented meals¡­¡± Sierra wriggled her shoulders. Instantly trying to wrap her into his arms tightly, Cassius lowered his hand carefully and spoke for her. ¡°I¡¯ll ensure Sierra¡¯s diet myself. Do you have anything else to add?¡± Hentel shook his head. ¡°No, Your Grace. I¡¯ll start on the potions immediately.¡± As if trying to patch up the situation, Lanya reassured him. ¡°All the ingredients are ready.¡± Kilo and Lanya thought the same thing when they saw Cassius¡¯ cold expression. The tabloid magazines stated that Sierra was being treated fairly well by the duke. He¡¯s enjoying the power he holds. In reality, however, Sierra looked too weak and overwhelmed by the duke. ¡®But it¡¯s mere gossip. It can be manipted at any moment.¡¯ Kilo felt bad for her. He gave her a look of sympathy. It would be quite difficult to please a man who is a high-ranking and intimidating noble. *** That night. Hanael was lying beside Sierra. Sierra was hesitant to tell her about the ¡®paternity test¡¯ since she didn¡¯t know exactly how Hanael would perceive it. ¡®But Hanael is not a fool either. She¡¯ll find out one day, but when exactly should I tell her?¡¯ Sierra coughed and stroked Hanael¡¯s hair. ¡°Hanael, listen carefully.¡± ¡°Yeah? I¡¯m never talking to that bad mister again.¡± She didn¡¯t even tell her not to talk to him, but Hanael puffed her cheeks out and spoke first. Sierra smiled softly and shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s not that.¡± While Sierra was agonizing, Hanael was about to fall asleep. Her eyes fluttered, trying to stay awake. ¡°By the way¡­¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°¡­What do you like?¡± Hanael buried her head into Sierra¡¯s chest. It was her friendly gesture of affection, like a cat wanting a head pat. Sierra spoke seriously. ¡°Money.¡± ¡°I knew it¡­!¡± Hanael nodded. ¡°And the patients I can help.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Hanael lightly rubbed her nose and made a n inside her head. She wanted to tell godmother everything Sierra liked. Although she didn¡¯t like the bad mister, the godmother was very nice to her, and it didn¡¯t seem like she had done anything wrong¡­ so far. If her attitude changed and bothered her mom, she would hit her. Hanael¡¯s evil thoughts were shattered by Sierra¡¯s question. ¡°But why do you ask?¡± ¡°Just because.¡± Sierra looked at Hanael. She didn¡¯t know exactly what Hanael was thinking in her small head. However, it was easy to notice that Hanael was bing attached to the duke¡¯s mansion. So, she decided to resume Hanael¡¯s studies, which she had put off. ¡°You know, Hanael.¡± Sierra gave up because Hanael cried a lot. However¡­ it was time for Hanael to imprint her sister¡¯s existence. ¡®This way, Cassius¡¯ misunderstanding will be resolved! She can¡¯t keep calling me mom!¡¯ Sierra stared at Hanael with a grim gaze. ¡®I¡¯ll educate you properly and firmly!¡¯ ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 17 - An Unexpected Rival? Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 17 ¨C An Unexpected Rival? ¡°Did you know you have a second mother?¡± ¡°¡­No.¡± Making a sound with her tongue, she dug into Sierra¡¯s arms. ¡°I only have one mother!¡± Sierra¡¯s chest was soaked with tears. It was obvious that tears were swelling in Hanael¡¯s big eyes. ¡®Until now¡­. she¡¯s not had a father, but I was afraid she might believe her mother didn¡¯t exist either.¡¯ Sierra stroked Hanael¡¯s hair and was lost in deep thought. At first, she told Hanael that she was her aunt. She used to call Sierra ¡°auntie¡± for the longest, until she started calling her ¡°mother¡± at some point. ¡®Well, Hanael doesn¡¯t quite understand. The fact that it wasn¡¯t her mother who raised her¡­¡¯ That was how the title was settled. ¡®But I think I need to exin about my sister in detail now.¡¯ No matter how irresponsibly my sister left Hanael behind, she was furious and dered that she would kill her sister, but in fact, Sierra still trusted her sister a lot. Just as Hanael only had Sierra, Sierra only had her sister, Amil, the Grand Archmage. It was strange since she would never abandon her child for no reason. ¡®Why the hell won¡¯t youe, is there a real problem¡­?¡¯ Sierra closed her eyes. In fact, she always thought she was a weird person, but nevertheless, she always made the right choice. Before¡­ When the young Sierra was bored and alone, her entric sister used a teleport scroll all the way from the northernmost continent just to make her smile. Teleporting from a long distance had its side effects. Her sister was no exception. Her nose was red, and her hands were extremely cold. Her powers almost refluxed due to going so fast, but they still had augh. Despite Sierra¡¯s constant request, her sister did note for Hanael¡­ Either intentionally or because there was a reason. It must have been either reason. ¡®I have no idea why you refuse toe yet, I really have no clue.¡¯ Sierra patted Hanael. Unfortunately, ¡°educating¡± Hanael had to be postponed until tomorrow. Sierra had many concerns about whether Hanael could face the reality properly. *** At the same time, while much noise about the paternity test was in full swing at the duke¡¯s mansion, a regr ball was being held in a salon near the pce as usual. Of course, this ball was quite special. It was full of nobles, as it was hosted by the emperor¡¯s famous daughter, Princess Illiena. Under a gorgeous chandelier, several tables were perfectly prepared and a small stage where you can waltz across the center. Of course, the people who gathered today chose to eat finger food rather than dance. The main discussion was, of course, Sierra. Thedies with theirce fans in their hands continued to talk while eating and drinking. ¡°¡­Come to think of it, did you hear?¡± Regardless of whether it was a noble or amoner, gossip had no business. Thanks to the owner of the teahouse, even if he was drowned, the series of incidents that the Marchioness Andante Mails suffered was secretly spread throughout the social world. ¡°Her, the duke¡¯smoner¡­¡± ¡°Some say that themoner woman is actually the secret daughter of the godmother.¡± Lady Macbeth, who was expected to be Duke Idios¡¯ first love, frowned slightly. But there was nothing she could do. ¡°¡­There¡¯s also a rumor saying that she bore the child of His Grace.¡± They all nced at Macbeth, with her paleplexion due to theck of blood. In fact, it was widely believed in the social world that Macbeth had a deep connection with Cassius. Everyone made a bet deciding whether Duke Idios would end up with Macbeth or with the princess¡­ She, who seemed to be heartbroken, tilted her head and walked away. Thedies who were watching Macbeth started to gossip. ¡°But didn¡¯t you say his first love was Lady Macbeth?¡± ¡°I heard she met him at the academy!¡± ¡°Really¡­ what will be of this?¡± The gossips of thedies echoed through the room. At that time, a man who was drinking wine and acted as a flower on the wall blinked his eyes. ¡°This¡­ sounds quite interesting.¡± At his gentle sigh, thedies around him signaled each other with eye-to-eye contact. To all thedies gathered here, this man aroused desire. He first attended the princess¡¯ tea party for the first time, drawing attention from others as soon as he appeared. In fact, the reason was obvious. His appearance was one of the finest in the capital. Green light hair with warm gold eyes and his eyes that shone seductively. It was so admirable that there would be no one who would not be shaken if he tried and seduced someone. He may be the most beautiful person in the empire. Besides, he was a mysterious person. Although he attended the princess¡¯ tea party, no one here was sure of his identity. Ladies spected that he was from a distant side of the imperial family, wondering what part of the country he was from, or maybe whether he was a prince of a foreign country. There was only a rumor going around. But they couldn¡¯t even ask who he was. The man stood like a wall against others, unlike his awkward appearance. It was the same for even a small number of men who were allowed to attend the tea party. One of thedies, who was peeping at his sculptural side profile, opened her mouth cautiously and courageously. ¡°May I call you young¡­¡­master?¡± ¡°Call me whatever you like.¡± His friendly and wistful voice made thedy smile with joy. She continued carefully. ¡°Where are you from, young master?¡± Curiosity rose from thedies gathered at the same table. ¡°¡­Ie from Tomseun, the south. Shall we have a dance and a drink, mydy? The youngdy¡¯s face reddened, bing a rosy color. It was such a fatal smile for the eye. *** Princess Illiena¡¯s tea party was held for three consecutive days. And on thest day, the princess called in a man. She called him by the name of ¡°Ijel.¡± People began to whisper at the man¡¯s name. Although he had attended each time, no one could find his identity. But Ijel knew how to handle all those rumors gracefully. He remained silent until he sat face to face in a small secret room with the princess. ¡°Ijel, have you heard all the rumors?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± It was a simple answer. The princess¡¯ gaze strangely stuck to him. Their rtionship was quite suspicious. ¡°¡­And what kind of rumors are spreading?¡± ¡°As you know, there¡¯s much talk about a woman who is residing with the Idios family.¡± ¡°Carry on¡­¡± Leaningfortably against the backrest, Princess Illiena tilted her chin to her side and murmured huskily. ¡°My goal for the Idios family, do you think it will stille true?¡± ¡°Yes, of course. It is very much possible.¡± ¡°Even after all those rumors?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make it possible.¡± A sinister line flowed across the mouth of the gentleman. ¡°¡­What will you do if you fail?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not possible to fail.¡± It was an obvious rant. The princess frowned and impatiently continued. ¡°Our opponent is Duke Idios.¡± ¡°I know.¡° His young and yful face was strangely cold. ¡°I¡¯ve never failed before.¡± For a moment, the overwhelmed princess clenched onto the teacup tightly. ¡°¡­Yes, I look forward to it.¡± The man named Ijel nodded, and his expressionless face turned into a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t forget. You certainly promised to pay the price.¡± The princess, who saw his expression change in just a second, nodded, bing stiff. Having joined hands with this suspicious man, she nned to pay a good price. *** A week has passed. The paternity test had not started yet. This was because they were busily making fresh potions. ¡®I thought it would be done right away.¡¯ She lied in bed and stared into the air while pondering. It has now be a big problem that I got used to a life where everything could be solved by pulling a bell rope on a fluffy bed with a nket. Due to that, she gained weight and was on the verge of bing plump. Sierra tried to spend a leisurely time but was interrupted with a gift from the godmother. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Someone told me you like to treat patients.¡± Sierra¡¯s eyes widened. Atst, the godmother got what Sierra really wanted! Her heart was beating fast. It was a special element that would treat a patient with a headache. Sierra decided to show her skills after a long time. And an enormous warehouse to store herbs that Cassius built for her! ¡®Sierra, I can give you everything you want.¡¯ ¡®Crazy¡­¡¯ At that time, Sierra almost hugged Cassius, unaware of her actions. ¡®¡­If you want something else, I¡¯ll give you more. You only need to say it.¡¯ ¡®Thank you!¡¯ Sierra remembered everything Cassius said timidly when he pointed to medicinal herbs. She nted apricot seeds in the warehouse and added some dew with mot herbs, which are not usually used as a headache remedy. ¡®Those herbs aren¡¯t usually used. But I use them!¡¯ Sierra practically lived in the library during her time at the academy and worked hard to mix and study various herbs. She was a genius in medicine, and her brain functions very quickly. It wasn¡¯t just that, though. ¡®I¡¯ll add in a bit of mana here, and then I¡¯ll be done!¡¯ As the younger sister of Amil, an archmage, she also had excellent magical skills. It was her mana that could be used to make magical medicine. Pharmacists were also divided into two categories. A ¡°former¡± is a pharmacist who only deals with herbs, and a tter¡± is a pharmacist who can manipte mana like a wizard. Magical pharmacists were very rare. In addition, the effectiveness of the medicine is divided into many different ways depending on the pure energy of a magical pharmacist and how well it is managed. Of course, Sierra¡¯s mana was exceptionally pure. She had been pretending to be a normal pharmacist until now, but now she can show her skills to the fullest! ¡°It¡¯s finally done!¡± Sierra finished making her potion. She had a patient with a headache waiting in the drawing room and was exiting the warehouse to hand them a translucent orange-colored potion. However, while walking down the hall with her potion, came across a doctor from Hipo Kingdom, Hentel. Sierra smiled brightly at him. ¡°Hello, Mr. Hentel!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to see you.¡± He also had a small potion in his hand. Although he looked old, he had outstanding academic inquiry skills. His curious gaze turned toward Sierra. ¡°Excuse me, may I ask what you have?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. I made a potion for headaches! Where are you heading?¡± ¡°I¡¯m preparing to attend a medical symposium for a while. Although¡­¡± Hentel¡¯s eyes narrowed. His eyes were stuck to the small potion bottle Sierra held. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 18 - Ive Got You! Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 18 ¨C I¡¯ve Got You! ¡°¡­You made the potion yourself?¡± Sierra smiled softly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much, it¡¯s a remedy for headaches.¡± ¡°Headache remedy? I¡¯ve never seen a headache remedy in that color before!¡± Sierra, no longer required to hide her abilities, raised her chin proudly and answered, ¡°It¡¯s because I developed it with my own methods.¡± In contrast to her nonchnce, Hentel narrowed his eyes, shaking his head. ¡°I can sense that the mana in this is very pure, and that it was used so creatively.¡± Sierra frowned. Why did Hentel look so serious? ¡°It¡¯s really nothing much.¡± ¡°Then¡­ could you pass the potion to this old man for a moment?¡± She was nning to patent the headache remedy so she could gain recognition by selling it at a high price to nobles and donating the proceeds to a poor vige. And yet she was actually considering handing him the potion she personally formted? Even before she had revealed it to the world? Lost in thought, she watched Hentel. ¡®Hentel doesn¡¯t look like a thief, and he won¡¯t be able to imitate my mana anyway¡­ Maybe I should give him a sample.¡¯ Sierra made up her mind. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a sample, and then we can discuss it this evening.¡± Hentel responded enthusiastically, sping his hands together. ¡°I look forward to it!¡± ¡°But¡­ I have my conditions.¡± ¡°You mean terms?¡± ¡°Yes. I n on patenting my form so that it won¡¯t be leaked throughout the entire empire.¡± Sierra was very thorough. She was thinking of making it so that her form wouldn¡¯t be leaked systematically so as to make sure that it won¡¯t be stolen. ¡°Sure, I see. It¡¯s a sensitive matter.¡± ¡°¡­If you don¡¯t mind, please test out my potion when I give it to youter.¡± Hentel¡¯s eyes took on a sharp gleam. ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t mind.¡± He also didn¡¯t check Sierra¡¯s medicine himself. However, Sierra was certain that the look in his eyes would change as soon as he checked the sample. She was, after all, a genius. Thus, a secret promise was created between Hentel and Sierra. *** After meeting Hentel, Sierra gave a patient the headache remedy, and her satisfaction doubled when his eyes widened after taking a sip of the orange-colored potion. ¡°This is no joke, I felt better as soon as the liquid went down my throat!¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s meant to be fast-acting,¡± Sierra answered,ughing as if it was no big deal. ¡°And it¡¯s not bitter!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve added some delicious ingredients so that it tastes sweet.¡± Of course, the specific ingredients and in what ratio she put them in were a trade secret. ¡°Is it alright?¡± The patient, still pleasantly surprised, was almost violent in his enthusiasm. ¡°Yes!¡± The godmother¡¯s scheme to make Sierra happy was a sess. She was in a great mood now. She bowed toward the patient. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve never walked around here, have you? It would be better if you walked deeper inside. It looked like a real forest in Supe vige, but it was made up to be more like an borate flower garden. Rare nts, not pine trees or tanus, which weremon in the empire, attracted attention. ¡°If you keep searching for rare herbs, you¡¯ll find them, Miss Sierra.¡± Sierra smiled brightly at the patient¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯ll have to explore it properly, then!¡± How could I refuse to explore a herb-filled forest? It¡¯s also, in a way, my obligation as a pharmacist! Sierra nodded at the patient, smiling radiantly before heading to the forest path. Not only rosewood bloomed along the way, but even seaweed¨Dwhich is known to only grow on beaches¨Das well as an autumnal flower named cosmos. With admiration and curiosity, Sierra ventured deeper and deeper into the forest. ¡®It¡¯s like a well-formed botanical garden.¡¯ Sierra was amoner, but she had various experiences from an early age thanks to her big sister. She¡¯d also visited the botanical garden, where rare nts were gathered, several times. She was disappointed that she couldn¡¯t experience it again when she stayed in Supe vige, but luckily, she was able to visit the botanical garden again. But when luckes, bad luck catches up! After craning her head for a long time to observe a tree, she eventually tripped over a stone. Thump! Shended with quite a loud noise. Sierra quickly wiped the tears of pain from her eyes with the back of her hand. ¡°Ah, Mi-!¡± She had no idea she¡¯d fall over like this. She looked around in a hurry. Fortunately, no one witnessed this bizarre fall, but it seemed that the skin of her knees was scratched. To make matters worse¡­ ¡°¡­Did I sprain my ankle?¡± Sierra frowned, limping over to a nearby bench. While she rested, she saw her ankles redden and swell painfully, and she wondered whether she could endure walking in her condition. ¡®Is there anyone passing by?¡¯ Sierra looked around. Earlier, she thought it was fortunate that there was no one here, but now it was her downfall. An absurdly serious sense of distress washed over her. *** Meanwhile, Cassius returned to the mansion in the capital after briefly attending a meeting discussing bills to pass asws. He arrived inside the mansion, fingers pressing his tired eyes. As he tried to enter Sierra¡¯s room as a habit, one of the servants carefully informed him about her whereabouts. He didn¡¯t know if Sierra would meet him, but of course, he came to her first. He walked at a moderate pace so he wouldn¡¯t be out of breath. If he walked too fast, it may seem like he was too eager to meet her, and if he walked too slow, Cassius was afraid she would eventually disappear. Finally, Sierra was within his sight. He found her sitting on a bench with her shoulders drooping like a captured deer. And like Cassius, Sierra could also see him. Sierra¡¯s eyes widened a bit. ¡®I should avoid him.¡¯ She lived in the same mansion as Cassius, but didn¡¯t really want to run into him. Trying to pull herself up in a hurry, she realized her ankles had no strength. As if he found her in a game of hide and seek, Cassius was getting closer and closer. ¡®¡­That look.¡¯ When he looked at the Sierra, she could see his blunt and cold expression melting like ice. His rxed expression made him look younger. ¡°Sierra.¡± Sierra raised her hand awkwardly and said hello. ¡°¡­Hi, Cassius.¡± As he stared at her, he made a strange expression. ¡°Why are you sitting alone?¡± ¡°Ah, I tripped,¡± Sierra blurted out. ¡°What?¡± He frowned and suddenly knelt before her. He rolled up her light green muslin dress. She felt a tingling sensation whenever he touched her. Her skin tingled in the ces he touched her. Cassius¡¯ fingertips ran over her ankle as if he were ying the piano. It was only then that Sierra, a little embarrassed, moved her leg slightly. Sensitive to her attitude, his eyebrows furrowed. ¡°You¡¯re shaking, Sierra. I¡­¡± He quietly lowered her ankle. ¡°Do you not like it when I touch you?¡± ¡°¡­Umm, that¡¯s not the reason?¡± Sierra then answered weakly when she saw the goosebumps on her exposed leg. ¡°It¡¯s because it¡¯s cold.¡± Cassius resumed his ministrations, whispering, ¡°Still, bear with it for just a bit longer.¡± Well, he was as curt as always. Sierra had gotten used to it, so she only nodded her head without thinking much of it. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll wrap a bandage around it first.¡± He wrapped a bandage around her ankle, and rather skillfully at that. Sierra was certain of it, especially as a pharmacist who often worked with doctors and was sometimes considered as one. ¡°Where did you learn to do that?¡± asked Sierra, who was trying to make small talk while her ankle was being tended to. ¡®When did he even experience treating injuries? And he looks like he wants to say something, but¡­¡¯ He responded back even though it was a memory he didn¡¯t want to recall. ¡°¡­On the battlefield.¡± When she had first arrived at the estate of Duke Idios, she was able to check all kinds of publications. In one of them, Cassius Idios stated that he had once endured a devastating experience in the northern battlefield before he returned after ying monsters. Sierra winced. ¡°Ah¡­ sorry.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m grateful that I learned it since I was able to help you,¡± he murmured with a faint smile. It was then that Sierra became curious. As Cassius carefully examined her ankle, she paused, pondering over his words. From this angle, she could only see his trembling eyshes. She wanted to say something, but she didn¡¯t want to say anything cold as he did treat her injury. Like earlier, when the surprisingly innocent Cassius seemed strangely hurt by her apparent nervousness. Sierra wasn¡¯t so abrasive so as to turn a blind eye to his feelings. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t exactly hate being touched by you,¡± she said, attempting to clear the misunderstanding. Cassius looked up at her and the hope in his eyes made her soften. ¡®I don¡¯t want to hurt him, but I don¡¯t want him to keep his hopes up either¡­¡¯ Sierra said her next words seriously and firmly. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean I like you.¡± Cassius, still looking at Sierra, felt his throat tighten. But he didn¡¯t say anything. ¡®¡­You look like you¡¯re in pain because you love me. That wouldn¡¯t be¡­¡¯ She had heard a lot before about herck of awareness. However, this incident felt different, even to her. Cassius was silent. He just grasped the hand she hadid on the bench. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t walk all the way back on your own feet, Sierra.¡± It was ridiculous for amoner to be held in the arms of a duke. No matter how reserved Cassius was, he considered Hanael to be their daughter, and yet it wasn¡¯t even true. ¡°No, no. You can call a servant.¡± ¡°Sierra.¡± He quietly grabbed Sierra by the arm. ¡°¡­Please let me do this.¡± His voice held such desperation in it that she stared at him, frozen. Crows cawed in the distance, signalling thete hour. ¡®¡­My goodness, this isn¡¯t worth making a fuss over.¡¯ ¡°It¡¯ll take me about 20 minutes to call a servant. You¡¯ll be alone in the meantime.¡± ¡­If it weren¡¯t for thosest words¡­ She didn¡¯t know if what he was saying was true or not, but with the darkening sky came an unexpected chill and sense of fright. Kkiiik, kkaaak¡ª Thanks to the crows¡¯ ghastly cries, Sierra¡¯s mind was made up. ¡°For now¡­ but you must put me down as soon as we reach the mansion.¡± He nodded. Sierra carefully tapped the bench. ¡°Alright.¡± Soon after, Cassius held his hands out in front of her. Sierra looked at Cassius¡¯ broad shoulders and got a strange feeling. ¡®Were his shoulders always so broad¡­?¡¯ She remembered how the seams of his clothes used to burst during the academy days. She hadn¡¯t realized the growth rate was that fast¡­ ¡®I¡¯ve heard that a man¡¯s physical appearance can grow even after 20 years old, and now he looks like a real adult.¡¯ Cassius, with his eyes still on Sierra, opened his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ll hold you.¡± And he did just so, gently wrapping one arm around her shoulders while the other slid underneath her legs. After picking her up, Cassius, who had been silent for a while, whispered low. ¡°You¡¯re light,¡± he whispered. ¡®¡­I thought I would be heavy.¡¯ ¡°I thought I¡¯d gained weight, though?¡± she responded timidly. Heughed, softly and a little low. ¡°No way. You¡¯ll have to eat a lot more.¡± Confused as Sierra was, his firm chest bumping against her cheek startled her, even though his clothes were in the way. It had been a long time since Sierra hade into contact with a man aside from her work as a pharmacist since she left Supe Vige. His pectoral muscles could be felt through the rough fabric of his uniform, as well as his heartbeat. Maybe her hyper-awareness was because of her difort and nervousness. ¡°Rx,¡± Cassius said, except how could she¡­when she could feel his words rumbling from his chest and through her body? ¡°¡­I can¡¯t,¡± Sierra whispered back softly so as to hide the blush that was spreading to her ears. When he stretched his arm, she shifted and identally buried her face in his chest, and then she felt the firm muscles there flex. What¡­? ¡®Hey, are eating and training all you do? Why are you so fit?¡¯ ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 19 - Its Hard To Be An Emotional Handsome Man Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 19 ¨C It¡¯s Hard To Be An Emotional Handsome Man Sierra gulped and tried to control her thoughts. She needed to remember how huge the gap between them was, one between a duke and amoner. Under the empire¡¯sws, theirs was a fate that had been doomed from the start. The nobility generally had nothing to do with the lower ss unless they were mistresses. He shouldn¡¯t even consider the possibility. It was a poisonous apple, briny seawater, never to be ingested. Besides, as soon as the misunderstanding is resolved, he would no longer have a responsibility to her. She raised her head and stared at Cassius. He was biting his lip, perhaps out of nervousness due to having her in his arms. The tendon on his forearm was visible through his sleeve. Cassius had truly grown into a man. ¡®Anyway, since we¡¯re close, wouldn¡¯t we be able to have a pretty honest conversation?¡¯ Sierra, also biting her lips nervously, subconsciously buried her face in Cassius¡¯ chest. She felt him flinch. She was crazy, how could she have made such a mistake¨D She lifted her head again, attempting to fix the situation in a hurry, and spoke. ¡°Cassius, I have a question.¡± ¡°You may ask as much as you wish.¡± ¡°So¡­ I want you to answer honestly.¡± ¡°¡­Okay, I will.¡± Sierra ignored the pain shooting up her leg. ¡°I got¡­ pregnant and ran away¡­ No, when did you get that idea, exactly?¡± It was a different approach from what she had already tried so far. In order to get to the bottom of the situation, she had to make some adjustments. The words ¡°She¡¯s not your daughter!¡± didn¡¯t work on Cassius and the godmother, who firmly believed that Hanael was the child of him and Sierra. Thus, it was necessary to find out why they were so insistent on it. ¡®I need to know when this disaster started.¡¯ Cassius almost missed her words, thinking she was humming. He bit his lip again. ¡°¡­I found out right after you left.¡± Her eyes narrowed. When she left him after their graduation ceremony to go to Supe Vige? The time when her sister left Hanael to her and said no one would be able to find them? ¡®What happened right after I ran away? Did he think I was pregnant¡­?¡¯ Sierra decided to dig in a little more. ¡°How soon after I left¡­ did youe to think that I was pregnant?¡± He paused, and she could notice him trembling, distressing out of him in waves. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°¡­After you left, I went back to the cafe you used to visit often.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s a cafe I used to visit often¡­¡± Did he mean the cafe where I received the envelope from the godmother? ¡°¡­A cafe ran by a woman named Cindy. The ce we used to visit when we were in a rtionship.¡± Sierra listened quietly. What¡­ Exactly what happened at that cafe, what the hell? *** Five years ago. The godmother asked Sierra to leave Cassius, and so she contacted him to break up, except out of sheer misfortune, he didn¡¯t receive the letter. He¡¯d been so busy preparing to leave for the army. Instead, he wrote her a letter asking her to wait for him. Like how misfortunes ovep, Cassius did not receive the letter. He¡¯d been so busy preparing to leave for the army. Instead, he wrote Sierra a letter asking her to wait. He only received the break-up letterter on, and when he went to her house, it was already empty. Her friends didn¡¯t say a word either. Sierra disappeared just like that. The only memory of her left was a cafe run by Sierra¡¯s close friend, Cindy, which they often visited. Cassius couldn¡¯t bear such an ending, and rushed to the cafe to look for leads. He was able to meet Cindy, who knew him both from Sierra and because he often worked on assignments there. At that time, Cindy gave Cassius a cup of coffee at the table, looking at him with pity. Sitting opposite each other with a table between them, they had a small conversation. ¡°Have youe looking for Sierra?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Cindy was amoner, and he was the heir to the duke¡¯s family, but he still used honorifics with her. He got that habit from Sierra, who used honorifics when talking to people who used them as well. Noticing that, Cindy awkwardly spoke to him. ¡°¡­Sierra said she was going somewhere, and she hasn¡¯t returned to the cafe in over a week. Herst time here seemed so hard for her, and she also said she would no longer stay here with a deep sigh.¡± ¡°That¡­ what¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Oh, and¨D!¡± Cindy hurriedly headed to the cafe¡¯s checkout counter and rummaged through the drawer near it. She brought out a pair of baby shoes. ¡°Take this.¡± They were pink. For a moment, Cassius, unable to understand the situation, looked down at the tiny baby shoes. ¡°Sierra cherished them, but she left them here somehow. By any chance, if you ever meet again, please give them back to her!¡± Cindy smiled innocently. By any chance¡­? At that moment, Cassius¡¯ heart sank to the floor. *** Sierra froze when she heard the full story. ¡°I handed you the baby shoes you left behind.¡± This is insane¡­ The only reason Sierra was struggling at that time was because her sister didn¡¯t pay any travel expenses for her trip to Supe Vige, so she had to make a deal! And, of course, she bought baby products because she had to raise Hanael¡­! She identally left them at Cindy¡¯s cafe since she was busy. She didn¡¯t expect that to cause this butterfly effect. ¡®Even so, I don¡¯t think he misunderstood only because of the baby shoes¡­?¡¯ Sierra knew that Cassius was both emotional and brilliant. He wasn¡¯t the top student for nothing, so there must be a more specific reason why he¡¯s so convinced that Hanael is our child, one that¡¯s more convincing than just seeing those shoes. Sierra tried to probe a little more, but Cassius abruptly stopped walking and took a breath. Was he tired of holding her? But his feet looked fine, if the continuous tapping was any indication. Sierra thought it was because it was hard to hold her, but his feet tapped on the floor like a ball. ¡°¡­I know, no matter what I say, your wounds won¡¯t heal.¡± Oh dear, she felt as if his heartbeat was ringing in her ears. His desperation and his regret when he had nothing to regret, all of it resonated within her. Half embarrassed, Sierra whispered calmly at him. ¡°No, that was a misunderstanding. Please, stop thinking that,¡± Sierra whispered, embarrassed. ¡°I¡­¡± He chewed on the inside of his cheeks so she wouldn¡¯t see. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve brought back unpleasant memories.¡± But as soon as he finished speaking, water started to drip over Sierra¡¯s face. Shocked, she looked up at him. ¡°I¡¯m not crying.¡± ¡®Isn¡¯t crying a bit too much¡­?¡¯ ¡®No, what if I cry, too?!¡¯ She stiffened. The eyes that looked down on Sierra were filled with tears. ¡°Because I know I don¡¯t deserve to cry.¡± Sierra was amoner who knew her ce very well. She tried to pull her face away from his strong chest. However, Cassius used his considerable strength to hold her even tighter. ¡°¡­I won¡¯t let you go until we get inside.¡± ¡®I never said I was letting go¡­?¡¯ His low voice hinted at a deep level of possessiveness. ¡°No more, I won¡¯t ever make you walk alone.¡± That voice sent shivers down her spine. She really was going to enter the mansion in his arms. ¡®Before that, wipe your tears first¡­¡¯ His cold, sharp face looked even more frightening with bloodshot eyes. Of course, all the servants of the estate witnessed this scene, once more utterly convinced of Cassius¡¯ love for Sierra, although they lowered their gaze and didn¡¯t dare gossip. Afterwards, all the doctors at the duke¡¯s mansion were sent to treat her slightly sprained ankle. *** Meanwhile, that evening. It was peaceful when Cassius carried Sierra inside the mansion, though the servants were silently anxious. There was a separate building where the doctors resided, and the mansion was virtually isted. The doctors from Hipo Kingdom, who arrived at the estate to perform the paternity tests, were working hard to produce kits for the first exam. ¡°Fresh potion production is done! I¡¯ll tell the duke tomorrow.¡± ¡°¡­Hmm, have you picked up a list of good doctors?¡± Lanya asked. ¡°Not a single person, really. It¡¯s like a drought!¡± Kilo winced. ¡°As expected, there¡¯s a talent drought outside our kingdom. Even the duke of the empire picked us.¡± As soon as she finished her careless remark, the door to the examination room opened. ¡°This is a serious matter,¡± Hentel warned Lanya, then took a small potion bottle out of his pocket. It was the sample of the headache remedy that Sierra gave him. ¡°¡­Such talent.¡± ¡°Yes, master?¡± Kilo held out his hands, mimicking a diligent servant. ¡°Ahh¡­ have you seen the list of doctors? We think it should be in this order, but it might not be in Master¡¯s view. It¡¯s dire, isn¡¯t it? Kilo held his hands forward, mimicking a steadfast servant. ¡°¡­Our kingdom has no good doctors, either.¡± ¡°Haa, then no one can solve the chronic problems of our kingdom¡­¡± Lanya had more to say, but she quickly shut her mouth as soon as Hentel shook his head. ¡°No, there is someone.¡± She opened her eyes in surprise. ¡°What? Master, you know someone capable? When did you see them? Are they a doctor? What did they study? Are they from the imperial pce?¡± ¡°They¡¯re a normal pharmacist.¡± ¡°You mean the talent our master discovered¡­ was just an ordinary pharmacist?¡± Kilo asked.¡°Indeed.¡± It wasn¡¯t that they belittled pharmacists, Hipo Kingdom respected them and doctors. It was more that Hentel had such high standards that he would only recognize people with exceptional abilities. He didn¡¯t care about fancy titles or positions, but rather, he thought hidden talents were more outstanding. There was another reason why they were surprised. Their master, Hentel, wouldn¡¯t even mention them in the first ce, unless they had exceptional ability. To some extent, he was not interested in those who were known only as a name. However, his eye to see a hidden talent was more outstanding than anyone. One prominent example was when he discovered a man within the remote areas of the kingdom, one with enough potential to be a genius at surgeries. Thanks to Hentel training him, the king who identally injured his leg during a huntingpetition was able to walk again. If Hentel, a master, could make such a meaningful expression¡­ Lanya couldn¡¯t take the curious anticipation any more, jumping up and making the sk on the table wobble. ¡°Where did you find the pharmacist? What about their skills?¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know yet. I¡¯m not sure.¡± Resembling an old angel, Hentel stroked his beard and lowered his gaze. ¡°We¡¯ll have toplete our duties first.¡± ¡°Oh, yes, Master.¡± As Lanya¡¯s excitement drained away, she sat back on a chair, shrugging. ¡°Is the production of the kit going well?¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s it! Yes, it¡¯s going well for now. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll be able to run the examination right away!¡± Hentel nodded. The day had finally arrived. A hand-made paternity kit will allow them to examine Sierra, Cassius, and Hanael. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 20 - Paternity Test, The First Stage Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 20 ¨C Paternity Test, The First Stage That evening, as promised, Hentel met with Sierra to discuss the orange potion. At best, it was only a headache remedy, but it was formted in an unusual way that resulted in an umonly sessful product. His curiosity deepened. ¡°This time¡­ I was invited to a symposium on the development of medicine.¡± It wasmon knowledge that the Duke of Idios invited Hentel. ¡°What kind of symposium is it?¡± ¡°I hear it is a symposium hosted by the Imperial Pharmacology Academy. Thankfully, I was issued an invitation letter¡­¡± Sierra¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. The symposium, hosted only once a year by the Imperial Pharmacology Academy, was a prestigious event. When Sierra was a student at the academy, her dream was to participate in one such event. Furthermore, the records from the symposium were published annually in magazines. She used to buy the magazine regrly, although she would often end upining. ¡°This is not how it should be done!¡± and ¡°I can do better than that!¡± were some of the thoughts that crossed her mind. ¡°Would you like to go with me?¡± Confusion flooded Sierra¡¯s mind. Then, Hentel carefully brought Cassius up. ¡°If His Grace does not allow you to¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Would Cassius ever allow her to do anything? He¡¯s so protective¡­. Even so, Hentel still had a look of cautious hope. ¡°¡­You¡¯ll learn many things.¡± He seemed to misunderstand Sierra¡¯s position in this family. However, as amoner, she couldn¡¯t just open her mouth. Sierra spoke with an ambiguous smile. ¡°Let me tell His Grace,¡± Sierra said, smiling mysteriously. ¡°Ah, yes.¡± His worried eyes nced at Sierra. It seemed that Cassius was unintentionally misconstrued, and she felt a bit guilty for that. *** Early morning, the next day. Hentel announced thepletion of the paternity test kit. Finally, Sierra, Cassius, and Hanel arrived at the separate building for doctors to undergo their paternity tests. Sierra, Cassius, and Hanael sat side by side on the sofa chair in the drawing room of the building. Hentel sat across them. ¡®I can finally escape.¡¯ The thought of leaving the estate had her missing theforts of the duke¡¯s mansion. Sierra looked at Hentel, a little regretful. ¡°The potions areplete. As I said the other day, I added a variety of herbs to them, and it¡¯s harmless to one¡¯s health.¡± He handed them a guide and continued speaking. Sierra slid his words through the guidance¡¯s warnings. ¡°If you drink the potions here, waves will be generated around your body that are difficult to see with the human eye. That wavelength can then be analyzed through images. Sierra had heard that Hipo Kingdom has been interested in radiology recently, so they analyzed them through imaging. It was more scientific and systematic than she thought. She saw three bottles of blue potions on the table and said. ¡°May I drink mine now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± At Hentel¡¯s eptance, Sierra nodded, popped off the lid of the potion, and gulped it down. Next to her, Cassius did the same. Hanael nced around. ¡°Do I have to drink this?¡± ¡°Yes, just have a sip.¡± Hanael nodded vigorously and drank the potion. Then, she frowned and stomped her feet. ¡°This tastes no good! It¡¯s not good!¡± She pretended to spit it out of her mouth. Sierra stroked Hanael¡¯s hair. ¡°Hanael, you can¡¯t do that.¡± Hanael pouted and looked toward Cassius. He smiled silently at them and immediately stopped when he saw Sierra staring at him. Hentel, who coughed and re-directed his attention, pulled out a recording device next to the table. ¡°This a magical recording device specially made for medical purposes.¡± Sierra¡¯s eyes shone curiously, it was quite an amazing object. About ten minutes after that, the recording device started filming. The three of them sat side by side on the sofa and waited, trying to kill time until Hentel dered that all the filming wasplete. Of course¡­ Sierra was a little busy avoiding Cassius¡¯ gaze, which was making her blush. ¡®¡­Why do you keep looking at me?¡¯ She felt ufortable looking into his eyes since it reminded her of when he carried her yesterday. His firm body¡­ just like when he held her that day five years ago¡­ ¡®Are you really tempting me?!¡¯ Fortunately, Cassius didn¡¯t seem to notice Sierra¡¯s train of thought, but¡­ After an ufortable silence, Hentel was the first person to speak, putting down the video clip. ¡°Now that we¡¯re done filming, we¡¯ll analyze the wavelengths from the image and let you know the results of the reading immediately.¡± ¡®I can finally leave!¡¯ Sierra nodded, feeling like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Now, after that reading, she would be able to leave the estate with the results that Cassius was not Hanael¡¯s father. After that, Sierra, Cassius, and Hanael left the doctor¡¯s building. Cassius said he had to leave the premises for a meeting of state affairs at the Imperial Pce, which he was required to attend. Hanael and Sierra, of course, had to head over to the main building to y and eat, so they went in different directions. At the gate of the main building past the annex, Cassius spoke first. ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯ll be back.¡± He smiled faintly, excited at the idea that Sierra and Hanael were seeing him off. Hanael looked at him closely, puffing her cheeks and pouting. ¡°Don¡¯te home safely! Bad mister!¡± Her chubby cheeks looked like cotton. When Cassius imagined it, he replied with a grin. ¡°Yes, I get it.¡± ¡®What did you get?¡¯ ¡­Sierra decided to step up to protect Hanael¡¯s precious life. ¡°Well¡­ have a safe trip, Cassius.¡± Sierra decided to speak up in ce of Hanael. ¡°Mom is such a softie! A peach!¡± ¡®¡­I¡¯m not provoking him, you twerp. If I do that, our lives might be at stake in a month!¡¯ *** As they returned from seeing Cassius off, Hentel carefully spoke to her. ¡°Have you thought about participating in the symposium?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ when is it?¡± ¡°Today.¡± ¡°What? Today?¡± She would have the opportunity to see good pharmacists, doctors, and schrs, although it was somewhat sudden. It didn¡¯t make sense to miss this opportunity as a talented pharmacist. Hentel kept giving tempting offers to the hesitant Sierra. ¡°It¡¯s a little sudden, isn¡¯t it? But I think you can participate as my assistant. It¡¯ll onlyst an hour¡­¡± He used his most convincing voice. ¡°First of all, I tried your headache remedy¡­ you have a knack for pharmacology.¡± At his words, Sierra shrugged and spoke humbly. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m a genius in it.¡± Sierra said. To her, that was still humility, and so her strange attitude fueled Hentel¡¯s schstic curiosity. ¡°¡­Then, would you like to go with me for a while?¡± She didn¡¯t want to get lured in. The reason was, of course, because of Cassius and the godmother. ¡®If I leave the mansion, won¡¯t they believe I ran away again?¡¯ Sierra, who had no intention of running away, was falsely used, but it seemed that she had to seek permission to leave the mansion for now. That¡¯s why she called¡­ ¡°You called for me?¡± ¡­The godmother, who was busy with the internal management of the mansion, appeared. Her hair was messy and windblown, as if she hade in a hurry. There was nothing to deny, so Sierra nodded vigorously. ¡°Yes, I¡¯d like to go to the symposium.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not¡­ leaving the mansionpletely, are you?¡± Sierra, who noticed the godmother¡¯s suspicion, was a little embarrassed, but she held it in and whispered affirmatively. ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t leave.¡± Hentel, standing next to him, coughed carefully and said. ¡°The symposium will be held in the capital, and it will take about an hour, mydy. We will be back immediately after. There will be no danger.¡± ¡°¡­Still, there was that incident at the teahouse the other day¡­¡± ¡°Marchioness Andante was such a nice woman, and yet you suddenly cut ties with her¡­¡± ¡°Shall we hold the symposium here, then?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡®That¡¯s ridiculous¡­! Such a burdensome proposal!¡¯¡¯ ¡°Because¡­if you leave the mansion, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll get hurt¡­¡± Sierra felt like she was being imprisoned inside the estate. Her desire to go to the symposium drove her to grab the godmother¡¯s wrinkled hands. ¡°I¡¯m going to the symposium. I won¡¯t get hurt.¡± The godmother looked at their sped hands. ¡®Was that too much?¡¯ Sierra carefully tried to release her hand. However, the godmother grabbed Sierra¡¯s hand again, pulling it toward her. ¡°¡­You said only one hour, right?¡± She nodded, blushing. Seeing that she couldn¡¯t even reply made her heart ache more than she expected. ¡®No¡­ it¡¯smon fordies to dismissmoners like me as dirt when they hold their hands¡­¡¯ ¡®¡­Why is the godmother¡­¡¯ ¡°Come back soon. Write a letter for Cassius as well.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± In fact, the symposium took only about an hour, so it was unlikely that Cassius would already be back. Still, she thought it would be polite to leave a note. [ Cassius, I¡¯ll be at the Imperial Pharmacology Symposium for a bit. ] ¡®This should be enough.¡¯ *** Sierra and Hentel left the mansion inside a carriage with a knight leading them. However, there was something they didn¡¯t notice¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve got her.¡± It was that Ijel, the man hired by the princess, who was hiding near the mansion, wandering unnoticed in a small carriage. When he saw the gates open to let out a gorgeous carriage, he glimpsed inside and saw a woman with doe-like eyes. ording to the information he had obtained so far, that slender woman must be Sierra. ¡°Blonde and green-eyed¡­¡± He grinned and opened all the windows of his carriage. ¡°She¡¯s quite lovely.¡± Ijel clicked his tongue, and the coachman, who was currently trimming the horse¡¯s mane, looked toward him. ¡°Coachman.¡± ¡°Ah, yes?¡± Though he hadn¡¯t put much thought into looking inside the carriage, the coachman realized once again that the man had quite a delicate, handsome countenance. He¡¯d already seen him a few times, but his features were just as striking. Ijel¡¯s beautiful nose and lush red lips could easily attract all the women in the capital. ¡°Let¡¯s follow that carriage, shall we?¡± Ijel smirked, a devilish, arresting smile. The coachman stared for a few seconds, stunned, before he nodded. ¡°Of course!¡± Clop clop. The sound of hooves rang out as the horse sped into a canter. And so¡­ A total of two carriages began running down the boulevard toward one destination. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 21 - The Beginning Of Blue Is Surprisingly Ordinary Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 21 ¨C The Beginning Of Blue Is Surprisingly Ordinary Hentel and Sierra entered the venue of the Pharmacology Symposium. ¡®I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m going to participate in the Imperial Pharmacology Symposium¡­ And as an assistant at that.¡±¡¯ ¡°Don¡¯t be too nervous.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Contrary to her expectations, she didn¡¯t feel much tension, only anticipation for which topics the world-ss schrs would discuss. Under the veiled hat, Sierra¡¯s eyes sparkled. The ornate hall resembled an ordinary event hall, simr up to when the servants handed her hot food, simple desserts, and a choice between sweet or bitter wine. However, instead of a ballroom, there was a podium for academic presentations, and there was a distinct schrly atmosphere where people gathered and talked in groups in the light of elegant chandeliers. ¡°Oh, Mr. Hentel!¡± ¡°Wow, a big name is here! Mr. Hentel, is this your assistant next to you?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± They had a pleasant conversation about newly established concepts in medicine and pharmacology. ¡°These days, treatment using magical medicine is more popr than directly contact to the affected area.¡± Sierra listened to the exciting conversation, and her palms started to sweat. ¡®Here¡¯s a talented pharmacist!¡¯ ¡­But for now, since she was hiding her identity, she couldn¡¯t say anything yet. cards hung all over the ce. Pioneers of medicinal papers discussed their ideas freely. ¡®The capital really is a different world¡­¡¯ Sierra, of course, did not think she was inferior to the wise people here. She listened to people as she looked around. ¡°When I put in the bean base syrup, it showed a dramatic efficacy for treating colds.¡± ¡°Oh, is that the subject of this study?¡± Chewing on a sweet piece of candy, Sierra listened to their conversation. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Bean base syrup? She thought the schrs were wrong too. ¡®That¡¯s no good,¡¯ she thought, but she didn¡¯t speak. There was no reason to bring attention to herself. The famous schrs with whom Hentel had a passionate conversation with soon left. ¡°What did you think of that conversation?¡± he asked her carefully, the first words he¡¯d said to her in a while. ¡°What was it about, exactly?¡± ¡°A potion that relieves the symptoms of a cold.¡± ¡°It¡¯d be better to remove the bean base syrup. It hasponents that cause runny noses in chronic rhinitis patients.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s¨D correct. Did you learn about it yourself?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sierra¡¯s grin was one that said that that was no big deal. ¡°If you want to make a potion without those side effects, you can use tarantha leaves, a paste simr to bean base syrup.¡± Hentel was surprised. She wasn¡¯t sure yet since she¡¯d have to experiment more. Still, it was surprising to see her speak confidently without being intimidated by the schr¡¯s opinion. While she did add that she had to experiment more, it was still surprising to see her speak confidently without being intimidated by the other schr¡¯s opinion. How did this smart woman end up giving birth to Duke Idios¡¯ child and suffering the humiliation of a paternity test? Sierra sensed the tense mood. ¡®It¡¯s really no big deal, so what¡¯s wrong with him?¡¯ *** After a simple ceremony, the symposium began in earnest. Numerous announcements followed the introduction. Sierra was interested in the presentations that were a culmination of many years of schstic research. However, there were still some parts that frustrated her, much like before. ¡°It¡¯s a magical potion for soldiers suffering from post-war depression.¡± Sierra¡¯s eyes sparked. ¡°Of course, there is no way to positively change temporary depression without side effects, so let¡¯s turn this challenge over to future researchers.¡± Sierra, inwardly shaking her head, clenched her fist. ¡®Temporary depression is when you grind the cynthia leaves and take it as a depressant. As for post-war depression, a deeper approach must be taken, but isn¡¯t it too serious to describe as a challenge?¡¯ ¡®But it¡¯s still a lot of fun!¡¯ A short recess was announced, so Sierra stepped into the washroom to quickly wash her hands. But when she went out, there was a man in the hallway staring intensely at her. He was looking at Sierra with an intense gaze. ¡°Mydy.¡± Looking at him closely, she supposed he was quite handsome, but she had grown immune to such things thanks to Cassius. Sierra was momentarily stunned, but regained herposure easily. ¡°I¡¯m nody.¡± The man who blocked Sierra¡¯s way, Ijel, raised one eyebrow. ¡°More than that¡­¡± Dewy eyes, a deep voice. Ijel smiledzily, recalling her appealing beauty. ¡°I¡¯m curious about mydy¡¯s name.¡± What will Sierra say? What would she say? After doing some research, he was confident that he would get to her easily. Would she be embarrassed? Would she tell him her real name, or a fake name? When he saw her wearing a veiled hat, he had assumed she would make up a name. But she justughed. ¡°I¡¯m not ady. Who are you?¡± She was definitely fiercer than she looked. As the situation wasn¡¯t going ording to n, Ijel gave a simple answer. ¡°I¡¯m a doctor.¡± Of course, that was a lie. Sierra nodded. At this point, it was better to just answer vaguely. ¡°You must be tired from participating in the symposium,¡± she began, changing the flow of conversation While Ijel was speechless for a moment, she searched the inside pocket of her dress and pulled out a vial. ¡°It¡¯s a good remedy for fatigue. Take it.¡± She looked like a gazelle, but she acted as if she was the one on the hunt. The interruption in the flow of conversation had everything going wrong. Sierra held out her hand. ¡°The price is five gold.¡± ¡°Five¡­¡± It was expensive, especially for such a small amount. Far too much to pay this woman, whom he wasn¡¯t sure was even a certified pharmacist. She had guts. It was too much to pay a woman who he didn¡¯t even know was a certified pharmacist or not. However, Sierra¡¯s attitude had some nerve. Ijel smiled boldly. ¡°If you tell me your name, I¡¯ll pay you.¡± Sierra shrugged and tried to take the bottle from his hand. ¡°That¡¯s not possible. I¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t be my first customer from the capital.¡± Ijel¡¯s expression changed, unused to rejection. That¡¯s strange. In the Tomseun area, it was possible to survive without a meal for more than ten years. However, he quickly realized that Sierra would not budge from her opinion. Ijel reached into the inner pocket of his suit and took out five gold. ¡°I hope it¡¯s good for its price.¡± She received the money with a smile as she put them in her pocket. He could see her seemingly loosening up behind her veiled hat. ¡°Of course. Well, goodbye.¡± He stared at her back as she left, leaning against the wall with a small smile. ¡°Huh.¡± She was a wonderful woman. Her gentle appearance belied her strong personality. ¡°So my face doesn¡¯t work on her, does it?¡± He couldn¡¯t quite figure out what kind of woman Sierra was. The information he gathered said she was a woman with a weak and delicate expression, a gentle tone, but she was unexpectedly sharp in person. ¡®How confusing.¡¯ He grabbed Sierra¡¯s fatigue remedy with his thumb and index finger and shook it several times. Medicine, resembling red wine, that did not bubble no matter how much he shook it. ¡®How attractive¡­¡¯ Ijel thought, feeling a slight sense of thirst. He took a sip. Unlike other potions, Sierra¡¯s fatigue remedy was sweet. His tense muscles rxed immediately, and a refreshing sensation flowed through his body. It was a pleasant feeling, like floating on fluffy clouds. He stared at the spot where Sierra had already disappeared. The princess wanted to be the Duchess of Idios. However, despite the emperor¡¯s insistence, Duke Cassius Idios remained impassive. ording to his information, the reason was that woman, Sierra. ¡®The princess must be anxious.¡¯ Ijel stood up properly. There was nothing left for him to do there. *** Meanwhile, Cassius was secretly meeting with a lobbyist. The lobbyist he was meeting now was a person who was closely involved in the legition in the Imperial Pce. Until recently, he thought Sierra had left. He built a mansion for her but did not directly interfere with thew. His only focus was to find her. But now, after witnessing her being dismissed by others, he wanted better for her. Cassius was going to strengthen Sierra¡¯s position in society, give her everything so that she wouldn¡¯t want to leave him again. ¡®The first thing I need to do is alter the marriagew.¡¯ In his head, the pieces fell into ce one by one. Under the current imperialw, Sierra and him weren¡¯t allowed to wed. So first, he nned to change thatw so that they could legally marry. ¡®I doubt Sierra will ept me again, but¡­¡¯ A painful expression crossed his face. No matter, he had been able to endure it for five years. Furthermore, Sierra was currently living in his estate. There was nothing to be disturbed or frightened about. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you, Your Grace.¡± Paoben was a Supreme Court justice-turned-lobbyist, credited with influencing and changing more than tenws. Cassius and the old gentleman sat face to face at a table in a secret room. Sitting face to face at a table in the secret room of Paoben¡¯s, who was an old gentleman, Cassius nodded. ¡°Did you call for me? This isn¡¯t a prank or anything, is it?¡± Cassius sped his hands, staring into the enemy¡¯s eyes and his white beard. He didn¡¯t care much about elegant speech nor about social gatherings, so he spoke bluntly. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. I want to change the current marriagew for the nobility.¡± ¡°¡­Are you trying to break thatw, Your Grace? In what way¡­¡± ¡°At the moment, an adopted daughter of a noble can¡¯t marry another noble if they were originally amoner.¡± If Sierra epted his proposal, he wanted to take her as his wife. However, under imperialw, even if she was adopted as a noble family¡¯s foster daughter, her origin as amoner wouldn¡¯t disappear. This system was established during the reign of the emperor with the aim of protecting the lineage of the nobility. ¡°Yes, but by any chance¡­¡± Facing Cassius¡¯ gaze, Paoben, the most capable lobbyist in the empire, widened his eyes. ¡°This is too much, even for me.¡± It didn¡¯t matter if it was a differentw. This particr one was a directive from the emperor himself. Furthermore, it was obvious that many would oppose this change as power was consolidated because of the noble lineage. Cassius tapped the table with his index finger a few times. ¡°How much would you need to do it?¡± ¡°How much exactly do you need?¡± Paoben could see in Cassius¡¯ eyes a sharp conviction. This man would never back down. ¡°¡­No matter how much money you have, it¡¯s impossible to shake the roots of a noble.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask again. How much would you need to do it?¡± In the secret room, their intense gazes met. The battle of wills in that secret room became the beginning of a revision of the marriagew that would change the history of the empire. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 22 - Rain And You Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 22 ¨C Rain And You The duke¡¯s mansion was calm. However, Cassius¡¯ reaction to the regr report of Sierra¡¯s movements after returning to the mansion was a little more intense than expected. ¡°¡­She left?¡± ¡°Yes, she said there was something interesting she wanted to see for some time.¡± ¡°When¡­¡± His eyes were giddy white. He hurriedly looked around the mansion. But there was no sign of Sierra. ¡°She¡¯ll be right back¡­ Your Grace?¡± ¡°¡­Sierra?¡± The butler of the family rolled his eyes. He had clearly said that Sierra herself said she woulde back. However, it seemed that Cassius could not hear him now. Cassius bit his lip, walking past the butler and blinking repeatedly. He almost stumbled, but he righted himself with difficulty. The nightmares he dreamed of every night had be a reality. Outside the window, the rain fell hard, but he couldn¡¯t afford to care. He ran madly down the stairs without an umbre or cloak. All of the people in the mansion looked at him, bewildered. At that time, Hanael was having fun ying with the maids in the lobby on the first floor of the mansion. The yful child liked the marble floors, so she settled down there on purpose. She had been ying with her soft, small hands, but now tilted her head at the rapidly changing atmosphere. ¡°Come here¡­! Okay?¡± ¡°¡­Ah, baby.¡± ¡°Yes? What is it¡­? Hanael widened her eyes. In Hanael¡¯s field of vision, Cassius was stumbling to the door. ¡®You¡¯re a fool, aren¡¯t you? Where are you going like that?¡¯ It made her feel strange to see the fool who was always nice to her suddenly heading somewhere in a hurry. ¡®Where¡¯s that bad mister going without an umbre? I can¡¯t see him!¡¯ Hanael¡¯s round eyes blinked for a long time, suspicious of Cassius¡¯ actions. While she stayed still, the maids seemed restless. Among them, a brave maid hurriedly stood up and called for another maid. ¡°Baby.¡± The maid, who rushed out to the first floor, carefully spoke to Hanael. ¡°Baby, shall we go in? It¡¯s raining, you can y in a room¡­¡± ¡°¡­No.¡± Hanael shook her head. The little girl stood, hugged her cherished stuffed toy, then moved towards Cassius. ¡®Isn¡¯t it raining¡­? I get sick when I get rained on.¡¯ That fool wasn¡¯t even going anywhere. He was just looking far away into the distance in the rain. Perhaps he was staring at the gate, waiting for a carriage to arrive However, when she saw Cassius through the window without a care for the rain, her heart ached. Hanael leaned her fluffy head of pink hair against the wall. ¡®Jeez, no. Wake up, Hanael! Think of mother!¡¯ Hanael turned her head. Before she realized it, someone was at the doorway with her. ¡°Here we go again¡­¡± The gentle sigh from the godmother tickled Hanael¡¯s ears. ¡®What do you mean by ¡°here we go again?¡±¡¯ So this has happened once or twice before? What on earth happened? The hand holding her stuffed toy clenched. ¡°Is it starting again?¡± ¡°¡­No, sweetheart. You¡¯ll catch a cold if the freezing wind hits you.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± She stroked Hanael¡¯s beautifully tied hair. The godmother spoke quietly to Hanael. ¡°The bad mister is paying for his crime.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not fair¡­¡± Hanael looked down at the stuffed doll. It was a doll that the bad mister gave to her as a present. Not long ago, she met the bad mister without telling Sierra, who was busy making medicine. The bad mister handed Hanael an ugly pink rabbit doll. The seams were messy, and its ck bean-like eyes were ced too low. In short, it was a doll that fell far short of Hanael¡¯s aesthetic standards. ¡°Hanael, what do you think of this doll?¡± ¡°Sir. It¡¯s ugly.¡± Cassius hid the doll behind him. ¡°Ah, I made it myself¡­ It¡¯s ugly, right?¡± ¡­She didn¡¯t think the bad mister would make something like that. Hanael scratched her head carefully. ¡°Um? When did you make this?¡± Cassius smiled awkwardly as he smoothed the stuffed doll¡¯s ears. ¡°A few years ago. When I was thinking of you guys¡­ This isn¡¯t enough, is it?¡± Hanael slowly moved her hand to ept the ugly rabbit doll. ¡°I¡¯m not taking it because I like you, so go away.¡± The stuffed doll he gave her was quite fluffy since it had a lot of cotton inside. [E/N: this is a shback, hence the bold text.] ¡®Well, I¡¯ll be leaving this mansion with my mother eventually. One memory wouldn¡¯t hurt¡­¡¯ It was mature of Hanael. The bad mister was very mean, but his eyes looked a little lonely at that time, so she couldn¡¯t help it. Hanael grabbed the stuffed doll. ¡°¡­I like it when it rains. Grandmother.¡± Really?¡± ¡°Yup. So I¡¯ll keep watching the rain in my cloak.¡± The godmother gave Hanael an inscrutable look. *** It rained like this on that day. Leaning back on an old tree, Cassius closed his eyes and recalled the day when he epted that he hadpletely lost Sierra. He had waited a long time in front of her empty house. In the rain, just like today¡­ ¡°I beg you, it is raining, Your Grace¡­ I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll get sick.¡± The butler held out an umbre. ¡°It¡¯s fine, go on inside.¡± He waited all night in front of Sierra¡¯s house that night, thinking that she mighte back. But even after waiting a long time, Sierra did note back. Forever. That night, he copsed from a fever due to the rain. He saw Sierra in his dreams, looking at him resentfully. It was like she was asking him why he never came to visit her and their child. As his fever burned, so did his guilt. After a few days, he had recovered a little and went back to Sierra¡¯s house in the middle of the day. But then, a woman who called herself Sierra¡¯s friend arrived. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Although he was sweet and affectionate to Sierra, Cassius was not good with other people. The woman who looked at him feistily clicked her tongue. ¡°That¡¯s a bit of a waste. A broken heart?¡± she whispered ¡°Leave.¡± He was in no state to hold a conversation with another woman. Anyway, he had to wait for Sierra, or he¡¯d have to go and find her if she never showed up. ¡°You¡¯re looking for Sierra?¡± His paleplexion was flushed with fever. Cassius red at the woman, meeting her green eyes and¡­ He flinched. Her eyes looked just like Sierra¡¯s. ¡®Sierra¡¯s gone to raise a child. So you can¡¯t find her.¡¯ Maybe this was a warning. The cold-looking woman with her pink hippie perm grimaced and smiled. ¡°What, gone to raise a child¡­¡± ¡°Literally.¡± ¡°Hold on, what¡­¡± She knew Sierra¡¯s whereabouts, and if the sudden teleportation was any indication, she was also an archmage. If it weren¡¯t for the little pin she identally dropped on the floor, Cassius might have thought her a hallucination. Of course, he didn¡¯t want to believe it at first. A child. However, there was conviction in that woman¡¯s voice. A faint spark of suspicion began to burn. So he waited for Sierra. Even when it rained, he waited without an umbre. Even at night, he waited for her with fireflies around him. He still had no power to disobey the emperor¡¯s orders to take his title as a duke. If he leaves for battle, he won¡¯t see Sierra for a long time. All sorts of thoughts were jumbled in his head. That¡¯s why he was so anxious now. ¡°She¡¯lle back.¡± ¡­Perhaps, for a long time. Cassius waited there. She wille back. Sierra left a note saying she¡¯d be back. That¡¯s why¡­ He brushed a hand over his wet uniform and smiled calmly. There were eyes watching him. The godmother, who had been watching him stand tall in the rain for a long time, stumbled and touched the window frame. Hanael grabbed the arm of the old woman. ¡°Grandmother¡­?¡± she whispered. ¡°Baby.¡± The godmother¡¯s hand dropped. Hanael tilted her head curiously. ¡°Why is he crying out there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of the rain, baby.¡± ¡°No, I saw it. He¡¯s crying.¡± Sierra had only been gone for a few hours. But in just a few hours, much of the atmosphere of the mansion turned dreary. *** Sierra rode in the carriage, happy and refreshed. The enchanted four-wheel carriage was literally the best. It¡¯s spacious and warm, and she felt like she could live there for the rest of her life, but that was just an exaggeration. ¡°This was a very meaningful day, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Sitting in the carriage and fanning her face, Sierra grinned. ¡°Yes, the future of this empire seems bright.¡± The doctor across from her scratched his sideburns, smiling. ¡°And I thought I was going to feel ufortable because of the sudden rain, but I¡¯mpletely dry. As expected of magic.¡± ¡®Jesus, magic reminds me of a nuisance.¡¯ It did. She suddenly thought of her sister because of it. Sierra gritted her teeth thinking of her big sister. When she sees her, she¡¯ll make sure to twist her¡­ ¡°¡­Yes, but the atmosphere of the estate is a little strange.¡± ¡­Sierra¡¯s thoughts were shattered by the doctor¡¯s words. Their carriage was on its way inside the gates of the mansion. However, no matter how rainy it was, there were no signs of it in the garden or near the trail, nor was anyone using cloaks or umbres. Sierra squinted and looked out of the rain-spattered window. ¡°You¡¯re right. Isn¡¯t it a little gloomy today?¡± Sierra looked nkly at a beautiful tree near the gate of the main building. And under the tree, she flinched seeing a shadowy figure just standing. ¡°I think I just saw a ghost¡­¡± ¡°That sounds terrifying¡­ That¡­ can¡¯t be¡± The two tilted their heads, looking curiously at the mansion that was immersed in ominous mystery. Atst, the carriage stopped. Sierra entered the mansionfortably thanks to her umbre. Hanael, standing still in the doorway, fell into Sierra¡¯s arms. ¡°Mom!¡± Herce socks were wet. Also, the corners of her mouth were downturned. ¡°Who dared to¡­¡± ¡®¡­harass my daughter?!¡¯ she almost shouted. Sierra bit her lips in a hurry to stop herself. ¡®Oh God, I¡¯m being brainwashed into thinking she¡¯s my daughter.¡¯ Sierra coughed loudly. ¡°Who made my Hanael sad, hmm?¡± Hanael¡¯s shoulders drooped. ¡°You know, ah¡­ daddy, no, the bad mister is strange!¡± Bad mister? Does she mean Cassius? Sierra looked away in a hurry. Her face was grim when she finally saw the servants. What is this atmosphere¡­? Did you have a formal portrait taken¡­? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 23 - Dont Go, Sierra Trantor and Editor: Lily and Nabi ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 23 ¨C Don¡¯t Go, Sierra Upon entering the mansion, thepletely dry Sierra looked down at little Hanael attached to her side. ¡°Um¡­ So what exactly happened to Hanael?¡± Wasn¡¯t it strange that she was talking about the bad mister, or rather, Cassius? Sierra just decided to stay quiet. The godmother was staring straight at her. Something felt¡­ wrong, but she couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint what. ¡®What¡¯s going on here¡­?¡¯ One of the recently published romance novels called ¡¶The Hill of Storm¡· came to Sierra¡¯s mind. The atmosphere had a simr dark feeling, but why? ¡®Could it be a ghost¡­?¡¯ *** ¡°Hello, Cassius.¡± She was worried when she heard the news of Cassius suddenly getting soaked. She heard the news from the doctor who came and went as if he had some kind of illness. After hours of agonizing, Sierra had decided on something. ¡°Listen, Sierra. I need to take him to a clinic.¡± Luckily, he had an antipyretic system that reduced his fever fast. ¡®¡­No, I mean, why do I have a remedy in my hand that works well for people who catch colds?¡¯ Feeling tingling guilt in her heart as a pharmacist, Sierra soon took a potion bottle. It was interesting to others to hear that Cassius copsed after sitting like a dog in the rain. Wasn¡¯t it natural? Sierra walked over to him, convincing herself ¡®Well¡­ if I help Cassius, he won¡¯t think of me as a fraud, even if the truth is revealedter.¡¯ ¡­There was a little bit of an ulterior motive, of course. Sierra carefully ced her hand on Cassius¡¯ forehead. She didn¡¯t understand why he had stood out there alone in the rain. With his eyes still closed, Cassius felt the warmth of Sierra¡¯s hand. ¡°¡­I miss you,¡± he whispered suddenly. ¡®What do you mean? Who are you talking about?¡¯ ¡°¡­Don¡¯t go.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Please.¡± Sierra gulped. Even with his eyes closed, it felt like he was looking at her with desperate longing. ¡°Actually¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t hear the next words. His hand was holding onto hers tightly. Cassius didn¡¯t even know if the hand he was holding was Sierra¡¯s. His grip got a little stronger. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ go, please.¡± Sierra became even more confused. ¡®¡­What am I gonna do? Who is he talking about?¡¯ Come to think of it, this has happened before. ¡°Huu¡­¡± Her heart broke a little as she looked down at him swallowing painfully. ¡®¡­I¡¯m too nice.¡¯ She stared at Cassius, lost in thought. In the past, it was obvious to her that Cassius craved human affection. He had copsed a few times while training incessantly without saying he was sick. Sierra had decided to scold Cassius. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were sick?!¡± ¡°No one would care anyway. I¡¯d rather just keep training-¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯m here. We¡¯re friends, right?¡± ¡°Friends¡­¡± She remembered Cassius¡¯ eyes twinkling as soon as she had spoken. ¡°Yeah, I have¡­ you.¡± Sierra opted to stay. Reflecting on the past, she whispered, ¡°Hm¡­ those times were once so nice.¡± Somehow she felt strange. They now happened to be in a rtionship full of misunderstandings, but they once had a very good rtionship. She looked down at Cassius and felt troubled. His long eyshes fluttered as he opened his eyes with difficulty. ¡°¡­It could be better now, better than it was back then.¡± His voice was husky. Had he been listening to her? It seemed that he wasn¡¯tpletely delirious from his fever. Actually¡­ it wasn¡¯t that he suddenly didn¡¯t look sick, but hisplexion looked much brighter. Sierra looked at him awkwardly and gave him a short nod. ¡°You¡¯re up. I¡¯ll take my leave¡­¡± At that moment, his hand grabbed Sierra¡¯s wrist. She nced at her wrist suspiciously. Cassius¡¯ sudden touch didn¡¯t embarrass her, not when they were so careful. His gentle touch could have been because of hisck of strength, or because he was worried that Sierra might get hurt. ¡°¡­Don¡¯t go, please.¡± He looked desperate. ¡°Ten minutes.¡± Sierra hesitated silently. She wasn¡¯t cold enough to be cruel to a sick person. Come to think of it, Sierra had seen that look in his eyes before. Even at the academy, Cassius Idios was a lonely child. As many people admired him, there were just as many who were envious and jealous. And during all that, Cassius grew much stronger. ¡°What¡­ Okay, just ten minutes. Only because you¡¯re my patient.¡± As soon as Sierra¡¯s words reached him, Cassius seemed relieved. He had a slight blush on his face. ¡°I don¡¯t want to say this.¡± He covered his face with his arms. ¡°I wish I were sick every day.¡± ¡­The Cassius of today looked to be just as hungry for affection as he was in her memories. *** It was nice to have someone by his side while he was sick. It felt like how it was five years ago. ¡°Don¡¯t get sick.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel sick because you¡¯re by my side.¡± ¡°¡­Seriously?¡± ¡°Yup, I wish I was sick every day. I like¡­ having someone by my side.¡± Before Cassius blurted out a confession, he choked the words down. *** ¡®Even then, he missed the warmth of people.¡¯ They hadn¡¯t spent the night together yet, they just had an innocent friendship. And yet Cassius had said that. If so, Cassius¡¯ behavior was understandable. Now that he thinks Sierra gave birth to his daughter, he¡¯d grown more attached. She spoke softly, ¡°What are you talking about, you need to stay healthy. Healthes first.¡± Sierra changed the wet towel on his forehead. Cassius coughed slightly because of his fever. He raised his forearm to cover his mouth to avoid infecting Sierra. ¡°Still,¡± Cassius whispered faintly, holding Sierra¡¯s hand carefully. ¡°You¡¯re warm.¡± ¡­He probably felt cold due to his fever, but it seemed he wasn¡¯t just talking about heat. She couldn¡¯t help but smile thinking about what Cassius said at the academy a long time ago. ¡°I was born an illegitimate child. I have no such thing as a family.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m just like you. I¡¯m an orphan.¡± ¡°¡­I see. We have something inmon.¡± Cassius hadughed self-consciously. Considering his background growing up, it was clear that he really yearned for love. Somehow feeling sorry for Cassius, Sierra tried soothing her own jumbled feelings. *** Sierra stayed by Cassius for just ten more minutes and then returned to her room. Cassius, though, was on her mind the entire time. She stared at Hanael with a nk expression, noticing that she had torn the stuffed doll¡¯s ears. Hanael had been carrying that ugly doll around for some time, strangely enough, even if she had quite a few prettier toys. ¡®No, no. That doll doesn¡¯t matter now!¡¯ Sierra patted her cheeks repeatedly. ¡®Ha¡­ I¡¯m going to die of dread.¡¯ In fact, it is clear that the rtionship between Sierra and Cassius cannot be established. Judging by the maids and their big mouths, Sierra had the smallest chance of bing their mistress because she was amoner. ¡®Well¡­ now that I¡¯ve revealed a child, no one will doubt me.¡¯ Sierra blinked and lowered her head, lost in thought. Cassius¡¯ actions today showed he had some affection for Sierra. And Sierra vaguely knew why. Sierra was Cassius¡¯ first friend. And that night¡­ he said it was his first time. It was clear that he had imprinted on her like a newly-hatched chick. But Sierra had no intention of bing a duchess, much less a concubine. She just wanted to be a peaceful pharmacist. And sure¡­! She loved the wealth of this estate, she liked it a lot, but¡­! At some point, she started to drool, so Sierra hurriedly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. ¡­She ventured off from her thoughts for just a second, but one thing was certain. ¡°Cassius needs someone other than me or Hanael.¡± After saying out the words, she felt certain. During the paternity test, it would be better to leave Cassius with someone else. What if he had more opportunities to get to know other nice and beautiful women and people. People admired Cassius as both the Duke of Idios and their hero. If he could just form rtionships with good people¡­ ¡®He relies on me because he has no one. He¡¯s not in love.¡¯ Sierra didn¡¯t believe in love in the first ce. She majored in medicine and knew how to make love potions easily. You merely had to manipte human physical responses, and people would mistake themselves for falling in love. There can be no love between nobles andmoners. The absence of their parents and her sister¡¯s intermittent visits made Sierra emotionally unavable and skeptical Sierra rubbed her hands together, propping her chin up and shrugging. ¡°I¡¯ll help him meet a good person before I leave.¡± She would have to think about when to meet her solicitor. ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± Hanael had a mischievous glint in her eyes. *** On that night, the inside of the pce was deste, suitable for plotting. With a table between them, the princess and Ijel faced each other. Dressed in red, the princess smiled softly as she waved her fan. ¡°Sierra, is she strong and healthy?¡± ¡°Ijel, I¡¯ve never heard youpliment a woman. Have you fallen for her?¡± Ijel responded by changing his soft demeanor to a cold one. ¡°That would be impossible.¡± The princess, who was staring at Ijel, quietly responded, ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯m curious about that woman. You¡¯d better at least invite her to the ball.¡± ¡°¡­Hm.¡± Ijel leaned back on the chair and continued in anguid tone. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not a good idea.¡± ¡°And why is that?¡± ¡°The Duke of Idios won¡¯t stand for it.¡± The princess chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve already prepared. We have a good n.¡± She pulled the rope next to the table. Then, quietly, the door opened. Looking at the womaning in through the door, Ijel gulped. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 24 Trantor and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 24 Ijel frowned and stared again at the softly smiling princess. ¡°Come on in, Marchioness.¡± They caught a woman at the end of their gaze. Marchioness Andante Mails. She hesitated and went inside. She was the only one who had personally run into Sierra before. Furthermore, Sierra had humiliated her in the social world, so she was likely almost zing with her desire for revenge. She was from the same family as the godmother who cared for Sierra, and was easily swayed by her weakness. Andante was a useful hand in many ways, and the princess straightened her back. ¡°You¡¯re quite wicked, Your Highness.¡± ¡°If I want something, let¡¯s just say I don¡¯t care about the consequences and will take it by any means.¡± Ijel shrugged. He, too, was the type to go out of his way to get what he wanted, so it was reasonable for him to side with the princess. ¡°So, what do you want from the noble Lady Andante?¡± The princess grinned and tapped on the table. There was a small invitation embroidered with red roses. ¡°Madam, you want revenge on themoner, don¡¯t you?¡± She was definitely referring to Sierra, amoner. Andante bit her lip as she faced the piercing gaze of the princess. In fact, she didn¡¯t want to get revenge that much. She just came because the Empress called her. ¡°¡­I never really wanted revenge, Your Highness.¡± The princess decided the Marchioness was lying. She continued with a slight frown on her forehead. ¡°Throw a beautiful masquerade ball, Marchioness.¡± ¡°I will, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Your Highness, can you help me? I want to meet the child, but I can¡¯t invitemoners to the ball at the Imperial Pce. It¡¯s unbing.¡± The Empress lifted the fan and brought it to the tip of her chin, smiling gracefully. ¡°So you wanted to meet Sierra¡¯s child.¡± If you invite a trivialmoner to a ball or salon, your rank will be lowered. Therefore, it was impossible to ask those who were close to the princess to hold a ball and invite Sierra. Andante, too, trembled at the idea of insulting the nobles like that. ¡°¡­Then I will make her attend, Your Highness.¡± The princess smiled leisurely. Andante¡¯s expression grew anxious. ¡°I heard that your husband is dead.¡± The Marchioness grabbed the hem of her dress, pressing her hand on her knee. ¡°¡­There is a misunderstanding, Your Highness.¡± Ijel, who provided the information to the Empress, looked at them leisurely and folded his arms, an impassive expression on his face. ¡°No, but can I talk openly about your husband¡¯s illness?¡± The princess attacked Andante¡¯s weakness with a soft look on her face. Her sessor was not yet strong, and the Marchioness was far away and couldn¡¯t manage her estate. In that situation, if it became known that her husband was dead, it would have a negative impact on the entire family. Investors even seemed to be considering the timing of withdrawing funds due to rumors of a feud with the Duke of Ideos in the social world. ¡°¡­!¡± Andante stared at the Empress with her lips pursed. ¡°As Your Highness said¡­ If we hold a masquerade, won¡¯t our family be harmed?¡± ¡°Oh, my God, of course, it won¡¯t be a problem at all.¡± The Empress nned to ruin Sierra, a wickedmoner trying to take her ce. The stage would be set beautifully by letting Andante sit in front of it. * * * Sierra, having spent a boring day at the Duke¡¯s mansion, began to learn everything about Cassius and what kind of life he led. When she hinted at her curiosity, the maids were delighted. ¡°I¡¯m a little worried because everyone likes it so much. I¡¯m just going to make friends with Cassius and leave.¡± It¡¯d take a month to three months to get the results of a paternity test. During that time, she would make good friends with Cassius, and after proving that Hanael was not his child, she would leave this mansion with a cool goodbye¡­ and preferably with a bag of money. Sierra smiled happily and couldn¡¯t hear what the maids said. She put all the gossip tabloids and records the maids gave her on the desk. [Duke Ideos, absent today?] [No. 1 most mysterious person in the social world, Duke Cassius Ideos] [His first love? Is it a matter of wounds or side effects?] She carefully scrutinized the records and came to a perfect conclusion. Cassius was like that when he was at the academy, but he didn¡¯t change at all¡­ ¡°He was a reclusive loner¡­¡± One of the maids standing next to her quickly intervened. ¡°Oh no!¡± Sierra was surprised that someone had heard her talk and corrected her statement. ¡°What I said was a mistake, but does the Duke have close friends?¡± ¡°That¡­¡± the maid trailed off, at a loss as to whether or not to speak about her master. Originally, such things should be kept under wraps, but the one asking was Sierra, who was loved by the godmother and the Duke. ¡°It¡¯s because Cassius has been through a lot of wars.¡± In other words, he had no friends. Sierra nodded her head. Now that they¡¯d checked the archives, it was time to ask the maids about Cassius. ¡°I see, so what was Cassius like?¡± Everyone told her to use informalnguage, but honorifics just kept popping up. Fortunately, the maids paid more attention to Sierra¡¯s message than her tone. When Sierra asked about Cassius, the maids began to babble. ¡°The Duke stayed in the mansion and missed you and the baby.¡± ¡°And, he made a small room for the baby.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been quite a while since we even designed this room.¡± Sierra shook her head. The maids were exaggerating. Maybe it was because Cassius had been in the rain that time. They were afraid of the gloomy atmosphere returning. ¡°¡­Are you serious?¡± Sierra considered the facts. It was obvious that Cassius had lost the opportunity to show his face in society during the war. He had no friends at the academy because of his lonely childhood. And all that served to iste him even further. ¡°I feel a little bad that you¡¯ve been fighting alone all this time¡­¡± Cassius must have been just as poor at human rtions as she guessed. Her resolution shed into her head. ¡®I¡¯ve made up my mind. If I build a rtionship with Cassius, won¡¯t I be able to break up with him without any problems when I leave?¡¯ She should probably make an appointment with Cassius. * * * A minute after she told the maids that she wanted to meet Cassius, Sierra looked at Cassius hesitantly. He stared at her with an innocent expression on his face. ¡°I heard you called me.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Sierra wasn¡¯t the type to spit on a smiling face. Looking at Cassius smiling happily¡­ ¡®I thought it would take an hour or so! This is way too soon!¡± So, instead of sorting the messy thoughts in her head, she decided to get to the main point. ¡°You know, let¡¯s go out and socialize.¡± The idea of making friends with Cassius reminded Sierra of a social club. Although she was amoner, the social circle of aristocrats was known through various romance novels and tabloids. All the beautiful parties she had heard of popped into her head. There were masked social churches, horseback riding parties, and various other opportunities to bump into people. ¡°Don¡±t you think it¡¯s going to be a lot of fun? A social event or something?¡± ¡°A social event?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going without you.¡± Cassius was a little stubborn. ¡®Am I like a doll attached to him now¡­?¡¯ Sierra was a little confused about what exactly he was thinking. What he felt for her wasn¡¯t quite love. If he learned to socialize and showed growth, surely people would also want to be his friends, even lovers. He would then be thankful to Sierra for showing him a whole new world, and then he would be able to let her go. It would be a wonderful, happy ending. Sierra smiled brightly as she looked at Cassius, who let go of her hand, trying to gently wipe her face. He opened his mouth carefully. ¡°¡­You wanted to go to a social club, Sierra?¡± Cassius seems to have misunderstood a little, but¡­ ¡°Oh, I was curious about them because they¡¯re so famous.¡± It was somewhat true, with all the masquerade parties and the like. ¡®When will you begin associating with the nobility?¡¯ She had a very strong feeling that Cassius would help her if she was ignored due to her social status. ¡®It¡¯s time to show my skills to the world¡¯ Her eyes gleamed in anticipation of her entire n, which was to make money by showing off to society and treating the sick. Cassius stared at her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sierra.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even know that you liked social clubs.¡± Wasn¡¯t he being too nice and gentle? ¡°Then, I¡¯ll prepare right away. There are several clubs, so I¡¯ll prepare a booklet.¡± Sierra smiled, satisfied with how earnest he seemed. ¡°Take it slow, you have plenty of time.¡± He smiled brightly at her words. They enjoyed a peaceful tea time, chomping on a row of rose cookies on the table, sipping on ck tea. Cassius felt like he was back in his academy days at this moment, while Sierra was delighted to think that everything would soon be perfectly in ce. Meanwhile, Andante fainted from stress inside the mansion while making invitations to the masquerade, including Sierra¡¯s. Although she was staying at the Duke¡¯s manor, the godmother was also aware of how the Marquisate¡¯s manor was running. The godmother was informed that Andante had a mild illness. He didn¡¯t know that she was running out of time, but he noticed that her heart was pounding and her hands and feet were cold. Of course, the godmother was still harsh. But she was a cold-hearted judge who makes no family without my daughter-inw. So, the godmother chose to interview the twin doctors of the Hippo Kingdom. ¡°¡­Well, I¡¯d like you to make some medicine for my daughter-inw.¡± The twin doctors answered in unison. ¡°Oh, yes. Godfather! Where is the patient? What are the symptoms?¡± At the words of the twin doctors, the maid who served Andante stepped forward. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 25 Trantor and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 25 ¡°There is ack of energy, often falling, stress, heartburn, pain, and a sudden increase in heart rate . . .¡± The maid talked about her symptoms except for the fact that Mrs. Andante, whom she served, was unwell. The twin doctors faithfully transcribed the symptoms from the maid. They decided to think about how to properly treat the symptoms. *** After receiving orders from the godfather to treat the Marquis Andante Mails, the twins went outside. They somewhat enjoyed the process of taking on a new patient. Ranya, the red-haired twin doctor, opened her mouth carefully. ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s ce a bet, shall we?¡± ¡°What kind of bet?¡± ¡°About that Sierra.¡± Kilo¡¯s blue eyes twinkled at Ranya¡¯s words. Come to think of it, they¡¯ve been thinking about challenging Sierra¡¯s abilities. That curiosity stemmed from their teacher¡¯s remarks not long ago, who had attended the symposium with her. ¡°I think Sierra is quite brilliant. In other words, she is a genius.¡± However, it was confusing because she was different from the other students. The teacher, who was confident in his abilities to discover talented people, didn¡¯t seem to know exactly what Sierra was capable of. Thanks to that, the curiosity of the twin doctors gradually deepened, and wondered if their teacher had been correct. And so they made a bet. ¡°Honestly, I can¡¯t seem to find a solution just by looking at those symptoms.¡± ¡°Yeah, me too. I don¡¯t know unless I examine the patient myself.¡± Kilo, who was walking slowly, extended his opinion. ¡°But if she¡¯s really a genius¡­¡± Ranya continued for him. ¡°Of course, even with just written symptoms, you will notice the patient¡¯s condition and how to cure it.¡± She hummed. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s bet. I bet she¡¯s a genius and our teacher is right.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll bet against her. I can¡¯t believe it for some reason. It¡¯s too unclear¡­¡± ¡°¡­Hmm, okay?¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s have fun. Losing only a bit of money isn¡¯t that fun, is it?¡± The existence of a doctor in the Hippo Kingdom was truly invible. Stakes were raised. ¡°Shall I write in the note what the maid said?¡± They looked at each other and smiled. Ranya took out the notepad and pen that she always kept in her pocket and scribbled it down. [Weakness, falling often, stress, heartburn, pain, a sudden increase in heart rate. What do you think is this illness? And what medications does she need? I would like to hear Sierra¡¯s opinions.] Kilo and Ranya, doctors from the Kingdom of Hippo, tried to solve the patient¡¯s symptoms just by looking at them. If Sierra were a proper pharmacist, she would have no choice but to respond to this note. They looked at each other yfully. ¡°Then, shall we hand over this note and go meet Andante, the Marquis?¡± Upon the return of the note, Sierra¡¯s skills would be revealed to be genuine or fake. *** Sierra did not know that the twin doctors from Hippo were particrly interested in her or that she was at the center of the spotlight. She was justnguidly reading a romance novel in her room. A happy life of eating cookies while reading a new book filled with a maid in a cupboard! ¡®As expected, true love is only in a romance novel. It¡¯s really fun?¡¯ Love in reality and love in fiction are definitely different. Unlike in reality that can¡¯t ovee the difference in status, there is an eternal happy ending in the novel.¡¯ Sierra grinned widely and crossed her legs. But just when she was concentrating on reading the novel, someone whispered a low voice behind her. ¡°What are you reading?¡± [That Hot Night] and [What medicine did the Duke give themoners?] ¡°Ahh!¡± Surprised, Sierra hastily dropped the romance novel to the floor. ¡°Hey, at least tell me you¡¯re gonnae in here!¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re too focused on reading.¡± Cassius sat across from Sierra. Now, his expression has changed into the brightest in recent years. He seemed to enjoy the fact that Sierra said what she wanted. Sierra pointed to the table where there were mountains of letters and invitations. ¡°Cassius, are you saying this is all for me?¡± ¡°Yes. I tried to block letters being sent to you, but they just kept oning¡± Sierra stared at the reality she was experiencing for the first time. ¡°The maid¡¯s work got harder. Everyone must be curious about me.¡± Cassius nodded, looking at Sierra¡¯s beautiful face and soft green eyes. ¡°¡­Yes, that¡¯s right. Everyone must be curious about you.¡± ¡°Curious about me staying by your side, probably.¡± Cassius smiled. Sierra didn¡¯t mean it that way, but somehow, it was like affirming the fact that she will always be at his side. ¡®He shouldn¡¯t be more attached to me. Eventually, I¡¯ll leave him and he¡¯ll meet someone else. I¡¯m amoner, so to speak, but in a way¡­ also a debutante? ¡°¡­Do you want to debut?¡± ¡°Everyone does, every girl wants to be a debutante¡± Cassius looked a little overwhelmed by the frank answer. He hesitated for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s make you a debutante, then. I¡¯ll make a noble family adopt you.¡± ¡®I just said that being a debutante was a girl¡¯s dream.¡¯ ¡°No¡­¡± Sierra shook her head, but Cassius went on. ¡°If you¡¯re ufortable, I¡¯ll make a noble family adopt you but you don¡¯t have to see them so often. Tell me anything you want to do, Anything¡± ¡°No¡­ No, you don¡¯t have to do that, Cassius.¡± At Sierra¡¯s words, Cassius nodded like a gentle sheep. The rumors about him couldn¡¯t be when he was so sweet. Why were there even such ugly rumors about his personality? Was it because of the war? Well, it was not something to care for. Sierra looked through the letters one by one, trying to forget what Cassius had said about debuts and adoptions from noble families. ¡°I¡¯d like to select a few more ball invitations, Cassius.¡± She pointed to the invitations scattered all over the table. Cassius also read some. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be too low-key and attend only the balls hosted by viscounts or barons. The nobledies will gossip about it. I¡¯ll pick a ce where you can rx.¡± Sierra nodded. ¡®Oh? This is Marquis Andante Mail¡¯s invitation to a masquerade ball.¡¯ [Since it¡¯s a masquerade I don¡¯t think it will be too much of a problem. I want to make a brief apology.] Sierra carefully put down the ball¡¯s invitation. Could she really join? But Andante hated her, and Sierra didn¡¯t want to take risks. A note fell out. Her brow furrowed as she read it. [Weakness, falling often, stress, heartburn, pain, a sudden increase in heart rate. What do you think is this illness? And what medications does she need? I would like to hear Sierra¡¯s opinions.] She¡¯d have to research it soon. But how would they listen to her opinion? Sierra¡¯s heart pounded with excitement andpetitiveness. ¡®I don¡¯t know what kind of idiot they are, but they¡¯ll regret messing with me.¡¯ She smiled slyly, and Cassius looked straight at her. ¡°I have a good idea, Sierra.¡± ¡°Huh? What is it?¡± Cassius leaned forward and threw all the ball invitations on the trash can next to him. He then whispered his idea into her ear. Sierra¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Are you serious?¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m always serious.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that too much?¡± Cassius only smiled softly as if telling her not to worry. *** There was no reply to the invitation given to the Duke of Ideos. Marquis Andante sat face to face with the princess. ¡°Miss Sierra seems to have decided to ignore all of our invitations¡­ I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll go.¡± She stood, preparing to leave. ¡°Are you going to go back now?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness¡ª¡± she coughed and blood dripped from her mouth, which she wiped away with a handkerchief. She put the bloodstained cloth on the table and wiped her lips with the back of her hand. Andante remembered that her godfather had arranged for her to be treated. Andante bit her lip. No one knew that she was sick, and it should have stayed that way. ¡°You must be in critical condition, ma¡¯am.¡± The princess, who knew everything, sneered at her. ¡°But I can¡¯t go back.¡± Andante looked straight at the empress and grabbed the pen again. They were on the same boat. ¡°Please¡­ Your Highness.¡± The princess smiled, tapping the parchment with her index finger a couple of times. ¡°I will invite her to our salon by exercising the solemand of the nobility. Write it down.¡± The solemand of the nobility. It is one of the evils that aristocrats can legally exercise againstmoners. High-ranking aristocrats above the rank of marquis could, for one instance only, forcemoners to do anything except extreme punishment such as forcedbor. Even other aristocrats could not intervene in the ¡°singlemand¡±. However, it was also a blemish on the reputation of the aristocrat if they used it on amoner. Nobles hated being associated withmoners. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± All of this was for the family. But to use the solemand that could damage the honor of the nobility¡­ Andante¡¯s eyes contorted in embarrassment, and the princess smiled softly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure this doesn¡¯t leak out either. Now, Marquis?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s write it now.¡± Andante grabbed the quill with a trembling hand. But her handwriting was not easily written. Then the empress calmly threw a biennial. ¡®I¡¯ll help you a little with your family¡¯s problems, Marquis.¡± Finally, she heard the creak of a pen in her hand. Soon, an invitation woulde that Sierra could never refuse. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 26 Trantor and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 26 It¡¯s only been a week since then. As the Princess intended, all kinds of rumors spread throughout the salon. In addition to the rumors about Sierra¡¯s existence, specific information about her being amoner with blonde hair and green eyes also spread. Even the bizarre rumor that the arrogant and high-nosedmoner would soon enter the salon as the corrupt wife of the Duke of Ideos. The Princess calcted that Sierra, amoner, would soon participate in all the parties. However, a henchman approached the gloating Princess. ¡°Your Highness, something serious has happened.¡± The henchman¡¯s expression was cruel. She intuitively realized that what he had to say was bad news. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The Princess frowned as she heard the urgent breathing of the henchman. ¡°Nothing to be surprised about.¡± A man with one eye covered appeared behind her back. It was the Duke of Colne, the upper lord of Colne, the de facto owner of all salons in the Imperial society. He was also nicknamed Duke One Eye, and was nevertheless notorious for ruling all social circles. The Princess hid her irritation and gestured toward him. ¡°Duke of Colne.¡± ¡°I greet you, Your Highness.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Looks like that loyal henchman ran into something while he was doing his extracurricrs¡± He smiled softly at the Princess and bowed his head, but those words felt hard. ¡®What is it?¡¯ The Princess nodded at the henchman. He rushed to speak. ¡°All the salons of the capital were sold.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, I sold all the salons to the head of the House of Ideos.¡± The people¡¯s eyes widened. Crash! A sharp sound of ss breaking could be heard. In short, it meant that Duke Ideos had bought the salon. The Princess gritted her teeth as she looked at the Duke of Colne. In this case, contrary to her intentions, the social circle of the Empire would be overturned by the Duke of Ideos. Needless to say, the Duke of Colne held a great amount of authority over the salons. The nobles¡¯ tea parties and proms were sometimes held in their mansions, but mostly in salons at the capital. All nobles had a salon that they frequently went to, and in the case of arge group of aristocrats, the whole salon was rented and operated. It was the Duke of Colne who led fashion in the social world and dominated the salon as a whole. Now¡­ Cassius Ideos and his godmother bought the salons boasting such authority. Even apetent host who was in charge of the salon had to be attributed to the duke¡¯s mansion. Of course, there was a way to set up a new salon for gatherings in the capital, but it would take a long time to build, and it was difficult to find a host to manage the salon. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± ¡°Duke of Ideos, why do you have to pay double the price to buy the women¡¯s group salon¡­?¡± ¡°What is the problem¡­?¡± Even as the people murmured among themselves, nothing would change the fact that the salons was already owned by the Duke of Ideos. The Princess put down the fan with a hard expression. Others did not know about the Duke of Ideos¡¯s expedition, but she did. ¡®As long as the salon belongs to Ideos, no one can threaten her in the salon.¡¯ The Duke of Colne was a free man. The stories between aristocratic women and the stories circting in the salons had not been touched. Perhaps the Duke of Ideos would be simr. However, if Sierra¡¯s story circted, it was highly likely that the Duke¡¯s eyes would actually prate the salons of the capital. ¡®¡­Because it is still under Andante¡¯s orders.¡¯ Since this happened, he had no choice but to focus on Andante. She turned around, ring at the Duke of Colne. They still had a few more cards to draw Sierra out without violence. * * * Around that time, in the Ideos estate, Sierra, Cassius, Hanael, and the godmother, who were sitting opposite each other in the hall inside the mansion, were enjoying a small tea party. ¡°¡­I was surprised that Cassius bought the entire salon that day.¡± Sierra shuddered as she remembered what Cassius had done the day she received so many invitations from the nobles. However, the godmother responded calmly, as if it was natural. Unlike Sierra, who was still dumbfounded, Hanaelughed while holding a well-baked salmon papillote that served as his share. ¡°Eat well!¡± Sierra stroked Hanael¡¯s hair and tried to take a sip of ck tea. If only she hadn¡¯t listened to the low-pitched muttering of the godmother while looking down at Hanael who was whistling excitedly¡­ ¡°The baby looks a lot like you, Sierra.¡± ¡°Pooh, pooh!¡± The ck tea she was about to drink dripped down. It was a clear disrespect, but no one pointed out Sierra. ¡°Are you sick?¡± Sierra pressed her throat and muttered in a low voice. ¡°Kuk¡­kuk. No, because she¡¯s not my daughter.¡± Sierra muttered as if testifying in front of awyer, she had also activated the recording artifact she had kept in her pocket just in case. ¡®Even if it turns out that Hanael is not my daughter, I am gathering all evidence so that we cannot be sued for deception.¡¯ After turning off the recording device she hid and put it in her pocket again, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief that Cassius quickly handed her. barely stopping their conversation. The godmother, who looked at her with pitiful eyes, began to talk. ¡°Yeah, okay. So let¡¯s get to the point now.¡± Since it was such a normal day, Sierra didn¡¯t know there was a topic that they needed to talk about. The godmother stared down at the discarded invitation with a hard expression. ¡°This is Andante¡¯s invitation.¡± Sierra nodded thoughtlessly. She lived with her older sister, an archmage, and was sick with the evil of the world. They were being too calm about it. With the right ofmand of power, the nobles were able to force themon people. Of course, ves functioned on a level ofmon sense, not forcedbor. ¡®If the nobility executes apulsory order, themoners would have to obey it unconditionally.¡¯ Among themon people, nobles are famous for their evil methods, but in fact, it was now obsolete. After all, they were living in apletely different world from themon people. In a way, touching themoners directly undermined the authority of the nobility. But Andante was using the right ofmand. ¡®I can¡¯t even protect Cassius this time, because if one nobleman uses themand, the other nobleman can¡¯t interfere.¡¯ Sierra nodded her head, wondering if she woulde back after being insulted. But the godmother only smiled sweetly like a spring breeze. ¡°Child, don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Cassius has taken care of everything.¡± She nced at Cassius, who then smiled picturesquely. Her anxiety spiked. ¡®At this point, I¡¯m more worried about what Cassius will do, not Andante¡­?¡¯ Sierra set the teacup down on the table. ¡°How did you solve it¡­?¡± There was no way a humblemoner like her would be able to handle themand of the nobility. Hanael dangled her feet and held her plump cheeks with both hands. ¡°You don¡¯t know about that either?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡®What, am I the only one here who doesn¡¯t know? Not even Hanael told me.¡¯ ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find outter. So eat a lot, Sierra.¡± ¡°Baby, you¡¯ll be alright.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­¡± Sierra paused. At Sierra¡¯s words, Cassius put on a painful expression. ¡°Do not misunderstand me again!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mean that.¡± The godmother muttered as she showed me the pile of choctes in front of me. ¡°Try a little of this. These are precious choctes.¡± Chocte! Sierra tried to reach for it, but the godmother interrupted her. ¡®Oh, I¡¯ve been so shameless. I should have thanked her first!¡± Sierra, who med herself, opened her mouth to say thank you. The godmother first picked up the chocte and ced one into her slightly open mouth. ¡°Umph.¡± Then he looked at Sierra with a happy expression on his face. ¡°How about it? Does it taste good?¡± Chew, chew. Sierra¡¯s lips froze even as they were open, but everyone was watching with an amicable expression on their faces. ¡°You eat so well, my child.¡± The godmother smiled gently, as though she was a hen looking at her chick, or a mother with her daughter. Then, Hanael puffed up her chubby cheeks and clenched her little fist that was as soft as honey pancakes. ¡°My mom is mine! Grandma can¡¯t take her away!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not taking her away, Hanael.¡± Cassius smiled at Hanael. ¡°Hmph!¡± Hanael turned her head away with the grumpy sound. The four of them must have looked like a beautiful family portrait. ¡®Ha¡­ Goodness, it¡¯s like I¡¯m being tamed by the healing power of this happy, beautiful family. Sierra munched on the chocte, trying to immerse herself in this feeling. But of course¡­ she hesitated. ¡®No no. This isn¡¯t my family. I¡¯m meant to be thrown out.¡¯ The godmother smiled kindly, then whispered to Sierra. ¡°Come to think of it, the paternity test will be conducted soon.¡± ¡­And so their happiness and their smiles were washed away as soon as the words ¡®paternity test¡¯ were uttered. Even so, this overwhelming goodwill felt kinda nice. ¡®I wish I was born a noble,¡¯ Sierra muttered as she munched on chocte. ¡°Tha¨Cnk yew¡­¡± Everyone else in the room had smiles on their faces as they watched Sierra, as though they were captivated by herpletely. * * * The incident of the Duke of Ideos buying all the notable salons in high society happened, yet the Duke himself and the godmother were unbothered. However, in a remote building at the estate¡­ It was a peaceful annex building where the doctors from the Hippo Kingdom resided as they were invited to the estate. ¡°Is the paternity test going along smoothly?¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯re a bit behind schedule because we had to settle a few other things, but I think we can work it out ording to the schedule.¡± The wary Hentel, who was looking at the twin doctors, frowned. ¡°The paternity test is our top priority.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Yes, Teacher!¡± As he sat down, the doctor analyzed the contents of the enchanted video clip that showed the magical wavelengths of Hanael, Sierra, and Cassius. ¡°Hm¡­¡± The range of Hanael¡¯s mana wavelength was approximately 10, while Sierra and Cassius were both 15. They were quite simr. ¡°The colors are simr, too. It¡¯s blue.¡± Beyond the video clip, all three mana wavelengths shed blue. Mana wavelengths could be ssified into categories: ck, white, red, orange, yellow, green, and blue. Among them, countless wavelengths could be derived depending on the brightness and saturation. But here¡­ ¡°There¡¯s a low saturation¡­ They¡¯re a simr shade of blue.¡± Hentel looked intently at the video, then tilted his head to the side, thinking that there was something missing. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 27 Trantor and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 27 ¡°Looking at the color, it¡¯s cobalt blue, isn¡¯t it? I think they really are the biological parents,¡± the twins added. ¡°No, it¡¯s not yet conclusive.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll keep quiet for now¡­ I¡¯ll have to do more research.¡± Hentel looked down at the video zone and sighed. ¡®I¡¯m not sure yet, but it¡¯s true that there is a high probability that he is the parent.¡¯ What if Hanael wasn¡¯t the daughter of Sierra and Cassius? He wanted to take Sierra to the Hippo Kingdom to help her talents blossom. ¡°Still, you have to check it carefully.¡± ¡°Yes, I will.¡± Hentel, who had been working hard to get a quick result of the paternity test, sighed deeply again and wiped the sweat from his forehead. ¡°It looks like all of the first-stage inspections will bepleted in the next three days.¡± In other words, it was the same as saying that the Duke of Ideos would be in turmoil in three days. ¡°You have to do it properly.¡± They looked at each other seriously. It was clear that the fate of the Duke of Ideos was in their hands. And the probability of error in the paternity test kit¡­ ¡®We need to calm down.¡¯ A little nervous, Hentel headed to the washroom to wash his hands. The twin doctors, who were left alone again, were immersed in their thoughts as theypared and contrasted the image spheres and reagents one by one. ¡°Come to think of it, why didn¡¯t Sierra reply to the note?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Andante¡­¡± Ranya said coldly. ¡°First of all, that¡¯s not what¡¯s important. Don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re here for test results,¡± Hentel scolded. They put their noses in the video sphere again. A week passed. * * * Inside the library of the Duke of Ideos, Sierra read the mysterious note again and checked the medicine section in the library. [Weakness, falling often, stress, heartburn, pain, sudden increase in heart rate. What do you think is this illness? And what medications does she need? I would like to hear Sierra¡¯s opinions.] ¡®Perhaps the one who gave me this note was either the Duke¡¯s doctor or one of the doctors in Hippo Kingdom.¡¯ Sierra smiled slyly and shoved the note back into her pocket. ¡®What exactly is this kind of disease¡­ It seems simple, but it¡¯s a pity I can¡¯t distinguish it.¡¯ She flipped the page of the pharmacological dictionary. [Amolta disease] [Feeling weak and often knocked down] [Be careful, because the chest pains tend tost for a long time [Life expectancy is shortened considerably] ¡®If you look at the symptoms, it may or may not be simr to Amolta disease. Hmm¡­ If that¡¯s the case, there is no known cure. If U was only able to meet some patients suffering from Amolta, I would be more confident that I coulde up with a cure, but¡­¡¯ She pulled a string near the bookshelf and called the maid. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Miss Sierra?¡± Wow, that was fast. She was being treated like royalty. It was burdensome, but she started to get used to this situation. ¡°Can you collect some books about Amolta?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. I¡¯ll ask the librarian right away.¡± Sierra, leaning on the shelf, tried to turn her gaze back to the book. After hesitating for a few seconds, the maid carefully opened her mouth. ¡°Yes¡ªah, and! Congrats on bing a semi-noble.¡± The maid smiled softly and bowed her head politely towards her. ¡°What¡­ Semi-noble?¡± There were strict ss divisions: ves,moners, semi-nobles, and high nobles. And Sierra was amoner. ¡°You can¡¯t say that, you¡¯ll get in trouble.¡± ¡°What? You were given the title of semi-noble¡ªyou didn¡¯t know it yet, did you?¡± Sierra hardened even more when she saw her hesitating. ¡°No, does it look like I raised my status?¡± ¡®What? Did Cassius do something for me again? No, no, no. Don¡¯t let this happen!¡¯ She hastily pped herself to get herself in order. ¡°Where is the Duke?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, Miss Sierra!¡± Sierra pulled up both sides of her dress and started running. * * * Sierra sprinted to the office where Cassius was staying. No knights nor maids stood in her way. Her jaw dropped at the scene behind the door. ¡°Mister Stupid, you¡¯re good at Jenga!¡± ¡°I¡¯m d, Hanael.¡± Sierra lost all her energy and stiffened at the doorstep. ¡®No, now you¡¯re even calling Cassius stupid¡­? We¡¯ll die when it turns out that you¡¯re not his real child!¡¯ ¡°Mom!¡± Hanael ran towards Sierra. ¡°Mister Stupid yed with me¡­¡± Sierra hastily covered Hanael¡¯s mouth. ¡°Wow!¡± She sat with Hanael across from the chair where Cassius sat. Of course, she did not forget to cover Hanael¡¯s mouth. ¡°¡­I heard I¡¯m a semi-noble now. Can you tell how that happened?¡± Cassius answered calmly, ¡°I gave you a temporary title, which made you a semi-noble.¡± ¡°¡­Is that the truth?¡± She shouldn¡¯t ck off anymore. Semi-nobility was what allmoners dreamed of. This was becausemoners never became nobles, but they could be semi-nobles. There were generally three cases in whichmoners ascended to semi-noble status. First, when serving as a mercenary and bing a knight in the country. Second, when graduating from an academy and contributing greatly to the development of the empire and a noble family. And third, sometimes when you are awarded the lower title for being a servant of a noble family for a long time. ¡°No¡­¡± She looked around hastily. ¡°Why! Do you think I¡¯m going to let my mother be fooled?¡± Hanael folded her arms and sat quietly. ¡°Hanael, where did you learn bad words?¡± Seeing Sierra¡¯s cold expression, Hanael pursed her lips. ¡°Huh, uhm¡­¡± Hanael ran away, the door swinging open in a sh. Sierra sighed deeply as she saw Hanael¡¯s little back disappear through the crack in the door. ¡®That troublemaker! Why are you just like me?!¡¯ *** Thus, Sierra came to be a semi-noble. Of course, she was fine with it. Frankly, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the benefits. If she became a semi-noble, she could deal with that vicious building owner, Scrooge, Hans, or whatever¡­ She clenched her fists and stopped when she saw Cassius in front of her. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help it. I can¡¯t interfere with Andante¡¯s forced orders.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not amoner, but a semi-noble, the order will not take effect. So I raised your title.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sierra nodded cautiously at Cassius¡¯ words. ¡®Andante did me a favor again. The world is so focused on me.¡¯ ¡°¡­Thank you. First of all. I didn¡¯t think I would be a semi-noble.¡± Cassius smiled brightly and nodded at her. ¡®But do I really have to go to the salon, the prom, and the tea party¡­?¡¯ Unlikemoners, semi-nobles were rtively free to participate in such events. In order to nurture Cassius¡¯s affinity for socializing, it was probably necessary to do so¡­ ¡®But I don¡¯t know aristocratic etiquette or dance.¡¯ Noble etiquette had been taught by her older sister when she was young. At the academy, there were also art sses. She¡¯d taken a course before. Therefore, if a proper teacher of etiquette was invited to train her, she could have moderately imitated other aristocrats¡¯ manners in a week or so. But dancing was a different matter. Sierra was stiff! ¡°Oh, but do I have to learn ballroom dancing to go to the salon?¡± ¡°Normally, yes.¡± Sierra frowned. ¡°Are you good at dancing?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Cassius nodded, and his eyes seemed to have softened a little. ¡®The puppy-like eyes that seem to be thanking me for being curious about him¡­?¡¯ Sierra decided not to get involved. She waited for Cassius¡¯s next reply, sping her fingertips to findposure. ¡°Yeah, I dance just fine. So, even if you have no talent at all, if your first dance partner was me¡­¡± His expression was cool. Sierra swallowed. ¡°Then dance with me for the first time, and then dance with other people as well. It¡¯s a little awkward if you dance with me alone.¡± Of course, this was a ruse. A ruse to make Cassius interact with others outside of hisfort zone. Sierra said solemnly, ¡°Yes, I will. I will be your first dance.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do whatever you want.¡± At this point, Sierra could notice Cassius¡¯s inner feelings. He was approaching cautiously. Cassius looked straight into her eyes and raised his lips. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°¡­What, what?¡± Cassius whispered, carefully. ¡°Do I have a ce in your heart?¡± ¡­ Sierra was very weak when it came to money and good looks. She gulped and pushed his firm shoulder. ¡°No! I just want to dance with someone I know because I can¡¯t dance.¡± She felt a strong muscle at her fingertips. Cassius beamed. ¡°That¡¯s true, but your ears are red.¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re not!¡± She tried to cover her hot ears with her hands. Cassius got to her first though, cool hands pressed to both sides of her face. ¡°Shy?¡± His face moved closer and Sierra blinked. His deep-sea eyes and delicateshes were right in front of her. ¡°¡­No.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, look at my ears.¡± She did. They were already red as if on the verge of exploding, and his cheeks were burning red. In a way, the young reddish cheeks and the nonchnt expression looked ironic, but Cassius Ideos¡¯ chiseled appearance made it all fit together. Sierra stared, bewitched. Then Cassius smiled softly and whispered in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m like this when I touch you. So you don¡¯t have to be shy.¡± How thoughtful. ¡°I¡¯ll do all the things that make me shy, just for you.¡± ¡®¡­Crazy¡¯ It¡¯d been less than a month since Cassius had be this seductive! This was uneptable! ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 28 Trantor and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 28 Sierra, weak to temptation, almost fell for Cassius. But Sierra shook her head inwardly. There was one reason the people of this mansion, including Cassius, treated Sierra so well. It was because of Hanael, a baby who mistakenly thought that she was from a noble family. The people of this mansion, the godmother, maybe even Cassius. ¡®Never fall for it, Sierra. You may like me for a moment, but your feelings will onlyst for a short time.¡¯ The love betweenmoners and nobles never ended well in real life. She needed to quickly find a suitable woman for him. ¡°Yeah. Cassius. I have something to tell you¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°When you open a salon, let¡¯s send invitations.¡± ¡°Yes, you don¡¯t have to worry about that. I intend to invite the nobles separately.¡± Sierra shook her head and pretended to be pitiful. ¡°I¡¯d like to participate in sending invitations too¡­ May I?¡± She lowered her eyebrows. Sierra was very grateful to Cassius, and wanted him to be happy with friends and a lover. It would eventually be revealed that Hanael wasn¡¯t Cassius¡¯s child, and she hoped he wouldn¡¯t feel left alone when she left the Duke¡¯s residence. ¡°Of course, you can.¡± Cassius nodded. * * * Unlike the peaceful Duke¡¯s residence, the inside of the Imperial Pce was in a state of chaos. Among them, the angriest was the Princess. In a splendid secret room decorated with gold-thread tapestries woven by craftsmen, she sat alone with a man nearby. She drank the hot tea that the maid gave her, and slowly closed her eyes, gesturing at the man to sit across from her. ¡°Ijel, what happened?¡± ¡°Well, Your Highness¡­¡± The Princess gritted her teeth and muttered, ¡°It¡¯s an odd thing to buy a salon, but it could have been a business decision. However, she was even given a temporary status.¡± Semi-nobility was a ss betweenmoners and aristocrats. Although it was a temporary title, its weight was by no means light. ¡°What are you thinking about? Even if you have the title of semi-noble, it will not proceed until marriage.¡± ¡°¡­What are you nning, Your Highness?¡± Because Cassius was a chaste and honest type, she intended to make him his concubine. Of course, she wasn¡¯t kind and sweet, that¡¯s why she wasn¡¯t the type to look away from what she liked. That was the Princess¡¯ point. ¡°I guess he is Your Highness¡¯ first love?¡± The Princess looked at the hot steam from the teacup and recalled the story she had heard in the salon. ¡®¡­The other women who were trying to be the duchess turned into dogs chasing chickens, right?¡¯ Young Lady of the Avanture County, who had made her debut too early and had yet to use her social skills properly, looked around and smiled mischievously at the Duke. Both the Princess and the Duke reacted impassively that time. Lady Macbeth, who imed to be his first love, also failed to get the attention of the Duke. ¡°What are you worried about, Your Highness?¡± His eyes twinkled and shone. The Princess, who looked at his beautiful smile, soon came to her senses and clenched her teeth. ¡°It¡¯s a situation to worry about. Is this interesting to you, Ijel?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Ijelughed, lowering his gaze. ¡°Isn¡¯t Your Highness interested? The Duke of Ideos has a weakness.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Those who have weaknesses are easily destroyed.¡± Ijel took the fan that the Princess had in her hand. He gripped it so tightly that it dented. ¡°The cracks are the weakness of this fan.¡± He held the fan in one hand. It didn¡¯t even need much strength topletely break it. All that was left in Ijel¡¯s hands was a crisp wood. ¡°If you attack their weaknesses, they will easily fall apart.¡± The Princess red at him. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to destroy the Duke, Ijel.¡± ¡°I know, Your Highness.¡± Ijel raised an eyebrow and smiled. ¡°Weakness makes us human. Hasn¡¯t the Duke been too carefree so far?¡± The Princess frowned slightly. ¡°In that case, wouldn¡¯t it be easier to dig into it?¡± After speaking, Ijel smiled elegantly. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the salon first.¡± ¡°Is it possible? It¡¯s going to be organized mainly by those who are close to the godmother.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s impossible for you to attend, I¡¯ll try.¡± Duke Cassius Ideos did something unexpected, but there were no major problems with their ns. He put the broken fan down on the table and got up carefully. ¡°Sure, Your Highness. I¡¯ll see you there.¡± ¡°Where are you going, Ijel?¡± ¡°I do not know,¡± he answered vaguely, but in fact, he was going to the salon. A salon that will be designed exclusively for Sierra. Because he was thinking of digging into the truth. ¡®I will meet the Duke of Ideos, finally¡­.¡¯ What he was doing now was just a part of fulfilling the request of the Princess. But Ijel had one more important duty. He hid his smile. * * * On the other hand, the atmosphere of the Duke¡¯s house was calm and gentle. Hanael, Sierra, and Cassius were sitting side by side in the warm drawing room in the Duke¡¯s mansion, on a small sofa. Sierra on the far left, Hanael in the middle, and Cassius on the right. The three of them sat together like a friendly family and had a serious conversation. They were discussing which nobles they would invite to Sierra¡¯s party. ¡°It¡¯s the list of nobles. You can choose who to invite.¡± Cassius looked at Sierra with a proud expression on his face. Sierra grinned. ¡®Cassius is so kind, there¡¯s a chance he¡¯ll definitely make friends!¡¯ ¡°I brought you whatever you want.¡± He kept handing over the list over and over as if he wantedpliments from her. But Sierra did not praise him. The praise belonged to the person who would be friends with Cassius. The stern look on Sierra¡¯s face made Cassius a little gloomy. She pretended not to notice, directing her attention to the bookshelf. Of course, Cassius, with his indomitable will, did not give up because he did not receive apliment. He was looking at her with twinkling eyes. Sierra, who tried to ignore his expression, coughed a couple of times, then whispered earnestly, ¡°First of all, I want to invite people our age.¡± ¡°Our age. Yeah, I get it.¡± Cassius nodded, grabbing a quill and a notepad from the table opposite the sofa. ¡°What else do you want?¡± ¡°Um¡­ I wish that the number of men and women would be evenly matched.¡± He didn¡¯t seem to have anyone who could be a lover or a friend. She thought it would be appropriate if it was an equal ratio. Cassius, who was holding a quill and writing something down on a notepad, quietly raised his head. ¡°¡­Why?¡± ¡°Huh? I just thought it would be more fun.¡± It seemed that Cassius had seriously misunderstood her thoughts. ¡®Why do you look so sad?¡¯ Sierra awkwardly scratched the back of her head. Cassius exined softly. ¡°You don¡¯t usually invite a lot of men to the salon.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ I didn¡¯t know that.¡± He looked at Sierra¡¯s expression gently. Then he lowered his eyes and nodded. ¡°But I¡¯ll do whatever you want.¡± His eyshes twitched slightly as he spoke. Sierra quietly looked through the list of nobles, trying to find a suitable person to be Cassius¡¯ friend. ¡°There are pictures and names, so look for them carefully.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± Sierra smiled softly and shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about it.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Sierra lifted her head from the list and looked at Cassius. Cassius¡¯ gaze was focused on the list of nobles, not Sierra. ¡°I think I can definitely have a good rtionship with the people I invited that day.¡± She felt a little ufortable with his words. ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°If you will not have a great rtionship with them, I¡¯ll make it happen.¡± ¡®I can¡¯t let him do that¡­¡¯ Even the expression on his face was quite terrifying. What to do? Cassius seemed to have a tendency to be aggressive. ¡®If you want to have a good rtionship, you shouldn¡¯t be intimidated¡­¡¯ No matter how one looked at it, hecked social skills because of the war. So, before Cassius and Sierra set foot together in the social world, she was convinced that she needed to nurture him socially. ¡°Um, thank you. And I have a small favor, Cassius.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°On the day the salon opens, you can¡¯t just stay by my side.¡± ¡°¡­Why?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t just say, ¡®I have to find your new partner.¡¯ Sierra held her breath for a moment, then exhaled. She was in the middle of trying to figure out what kind of excuse she would make. ¡°Why would you do that?¡± Hanael said, who was reading a children¡¯s book. Sierra looked down at Hanael with a bitter expression. ¡°You want to make friends while you¡¯re away, Mommy.¡± ¡®¡­Not really? You mean Cassius wants to make friends?¡¯ However, Hanael didn¡¯t stop poking around. ¡°Because she doesn¡¯t have any friends.¡± Sierra was mortified at Hanael¡¯s innocent voice. No, that¡¯s true, but¡­ isn¡¯t it too honest?! ¡°It¡¯s just me.¡± Hanael shamelessly raised her chin. Sierra pinched her soft cheeks. ¡°Hey, who told you that? And I told you to call me aunt!¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± Hanael puffed out her lips, but Cassius looked into the air. Sierra became serious, fearing that there might be another misunderstanding. ¡°I don¡¯t have many friends. By the way, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve lived well without any friends.¡± She was sincere. Wasn¡¯t it unnecessary to always interact with friends? ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 29 Trantor and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 29 Cassius looked at Sierra, reflecting on her past. It was frustrating to think how she had raised a child alone. ¡®Sierra was active in the academy.¡¯ Back in the academy, Sierra had quite a few friends. He remembered her meeting a friend named Lina and being kind to her as well. Sierra, who was always sincere when dealing with people, was amon object of envy. Now it was different. Perhaps it was hard to raise a child in the countryside. Cynical thoughts filled his head. ¡°Then check the list. Let¡¯s fill it with the people you like.¡± ¡°Ohhh¡­¡± Sierra looked through the list carefully. The portraits, names, and characteristics of the nobles were all listed. ¡°¡­And their details are here too?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s necessary. They may spread rumors, so take a look.¡± Before writing the list, Cassius had it properly filtered. A person with discretion, a good reputation in society, manners, and favors owed to the Ideos Family. ¡®I don¡¯t n to invite anyone who dares hurt Sierra.¡¯ Cassius pursed his lips as he thought of the princess. He heard that the Princess was discussing marriage. He promptly removed all her attendants¡¯ names. ¡°Okay. I need your opinion, so tell me about the person you like.¡± At Sierra¡¯s direct words, Cassius felt as if a thorn was stuck in his neck. He almost said he liked her, but those words would be even more burdensome for Sierra, who was still struggling. He murmured, eyes downcast. ¡°The person I like is¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Sierra had said five years ago that she was a great listener. It seemed she hadn¡¯t changed. She nodded and made eye contact with Cassius. ¡°So?¡± Looking into her eyes, Cassius quietly recalled the past. ¡°She¡¯s nice andforting.¡± When he first got only second ce in the academy, his father had insulted him. However¡­ ¡®Cassius, you were second!¡¯ ¡®¡­¡¯ ¡®Congrattions. Uh, you look bad, though. Is it because you were always the top student?¡¯ ¡®Still, there¡¯s still room for improvement!¡¯ ¡®¡­I feel like a worthless person.¡¯ She shook her head and looked at my report card with a smile. ¡®My rank was so average! Don¡¯t I look like a worthless fool?¡¯ ¡®¡­No, you are smart.¡¯ ¡®Yeah, see? Your grades don¡¯t prove your worth!¡¯ At that time, Cassius was able to grow thanks to Sierra. Her words helped him not to be too proud. ¡°You say good atforting? Hmm¡­ That¡¯s a little vague.¡± Sierra went through the list one by one as if contemting, picking up the bookmarks one by one. ¡°And?¡± ¡°I like good people who like flowers.¡± Cassius recalled the flower garden Sierra used to walk through during her academy days. She used to walk down the path with awkward steps. ¡®I¡¯m afraid that the flowers will be stepped on. Isn¡¯t it strange to walk like this?¡¯ ¡®Oh, it¡¯s not strange.¡¯ ¡®You must not step on it!¡¯ ¡®Huh?¡¯ Cassius couldn¡¯t hear her properly because he was smiling at Sierra¡¯s leaping. ¡®Oh, no. nothing.¡¯ Only Sierra¡¯s smile was clear in his mind. How could he ever let her go? When he thought of the times when their love deepened little by little, a smile came to his lips. For a while, he heard the hallucinations that had tormented him all the time. ¡®You are trash.¡¯ He flinched at the memory of an echo, a woman¡¯s screeching voice. ¡®Sierra was pregnant at the time.¡¯ The day he¡¯d learned of her pregnancy was clear as day in his mind. There were times when he med himself, enough to feel numb even at war when he saw the blood of hisrades. All the seasons passed one by one, like a panorama. Sierra nced at his frozen expression. ¡°You¡­ Your face is pale, what¡¯s the matter?¡± He shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯m okay.¡± Although it must have been difficult raising a child by herself, Cassius was grateful to Sierra for staying kind and sweet. He blinked slowly. Hanael quietly read a fairy tale next to her. ¡°The one the bad guy likes.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Cassius and Sierra looked at Hanael at the same time The little girl smiled. ¡°It¡¯s all Mom, no, Aunt¡­ It¡¯s Sierra!¡± ¡°¡­Huh? Yeah?¡± Sierra¡¯s eyes widened. Her gaze passed through Hanael and focused on Cassius. ¡°¡­Really?¡± Cassius caught her gaze and nodded slowly. It was the same feeling as when he first became friends with Sierra and fell in love with her, a blush on his face just like when they were dating. ¡°We have to take etiquette and ballroom dance lessons, Sierra.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ huh?¡± ¡°Go. I will be reading a book here.¡± Cassius and Sierra stopped at the same time when they saw Hanael¡¯s mature behaviour. Hanael raised her chin and rolled her eyes as she looked at the two of them. ¡°What are you doing? Go quickly and learn.¡± She hummed and picked up a cookie from the table. ¡°Can I stay here with the maids?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± As Hanael nodded while chewing on a cookie, Sierra nced at Cassius and he greeted Hanael lightly. ¡°We¡¯ll go now, Hanael.¡± So the two of them left. Hanael, who was left alone on the sofa in an instant, closed the children¡¯s book. ¡®Strange. Are they two dating or what?¡¯ If little children were good-natured, Hanael was doubly good. ¡®I guess my mom doesn¡¯t like bad guys that much. No, I think I rather like it.¡¯ Hanael pouted. But strangely, they seemed to fit together. The fact that they are her own mother and father¡­ ¡®But why does mom want me to keep calling her aunt? I¡¯m not the kind of person who can lie¡­¡¯ A question shed through Hanael¡¯s mind for a moment, but it quickly passed from her mind. * * * Sierra, who had left Hanael on the sofa, headed to the library with Cassius. Etiquette was taught at the library. She sat down at her desk in the library and sighed as she looked at the many books already on the desk. ¡®When will I ever live in a noble mansion again? I¡¯ll even pay Cassius for it, I think.¡¯ Basic etiquette was learned quickly even at the academy, so there shouldn¡¯t be a problem with that, Sierra thought innocently. ¡°Let¡¯s study now.¡± She looked at him. ¡°¡­Cassius? Are you my teacher?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded lightly and turned his back on the table. ¡°Uh¡­ aren¡¯t you busy?¡± ¡°Nothing is more important than you.¡± Cassius, now feeling twitterpated as he said that, smiled softly, but his cool face instantly turned calm. Sierra coughed to get Cassius¡¯ attention back and fixed her gaze on the book again. ¡°Then, when are you going to teach me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about the properties. First of all, it is polite for the host hosting the party to be the first to enter and greet guests at the door.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± It¡¯s been a while since she heard an academy lecture! Sierra¡¯s eyes were shining as she listened to Cassius. It felt like her learning ability had increased with her honest attitude of asking freely. In that way, the first etiquette ss that Cassius personally taught waspleted sessfully. Next was dancing, which was a problem for Sierra¡¯s two left feet. ¡®Come to think of it, I¡¯m bad at dancing.¡¯ * * * Whatever Sierra¡¯s condition, Cassius and Sierra entered the small hall of the duke¡¯s mansion to learn to dance. ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Is this where you learn to dance?¡± ¡°Are you also teaching me social dancing?¡± For the ballroom dance, a professional teacher was usually called in, but Cassius nodded. As for now, the ballroom dance teacher wasn¡¯t called in for today¡¯s lesson. ¡°Oh, I guess you¡¯re good at dancing too. So, what¡¯s popr in the social world these days?¡± He didn¡¯t know exactly what dance was popr because he left the social world. However, his brilliant brain came up with something. ¡°Tango.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ Tango!¡± Cassius clumsily, nervously took her hand even as he trembled. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you tango.¡± Sierra looked at him nkly. Cassius held his breath for a moment. Everything was silent. Sierra¡¯s eyes felt as transparent as ss reflecting the distant sky, even though they were obviously green. ¡°Are you good at tango?¡± Naturally, Cassius knew how to do a ballroom dance. He had to know it as the heir to the duke. After all, his father, Duke of Ideos, had a dance teacher and he taught him. The dance teacher ttered him, saying that he was good at using his body. Of course, Cassius had a tendency to never forget what he had learned. But if he said that, he might lose his chance to dance with Sierra. ¡°I know how to run a little. I think I will have to practice consistently with you.¡± Sierra shrugged her shoulders towards Cassius, who pretended to be innocent. ¡°Then there is nothing I can do.¡± Sierra reluctantly took his hand. It must be just a harbinger for her to dance without much thought. But for Cassius it was different. ¡°Then let¡¯s dance together. We don¡¯t want the host to be embarrassed.¡± At that, he took a breath. It took courage since he didn¡¯t know he had to hold hands with her, and even dance with Sierra. Sierra softly rolled her eyes and smiled. ¡°Now, shall we dance without apaniment? I don¡¯t know anything.¡± It was informal, but it was his first dance with Sierra, and yet there was no such thing as a beautiful orchestral melody¡­ He tightened his grip on her. ¡°Yeah, I can lead.¡± Sierra smiled at him and the atmosphere felt rosy. Cassius felt like his heart was about to explode from the tension. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 30 Trantor and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 30 ¡°Hand.¡± Sierra looked up at Cassius. His earlobes were a little red, but his gaze was certain. His eyes were like a desert night bathed in a bluish light. ¡°Can I just dance however I want?¡± ¡°Yeah. Originally, I would dance to the music, but I¡¯ll teach you the basic steps first.¡± He pretended to be okay, but even Sierra was nervous, hand-in-hand with Cassius. Cassius whispered low in her ear. ¡°I¡¯ll start.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Cassius started dancing. Sierra, knowing nothing, tightened her movements to avoid stepping on him. Sierra looked down at her feet and danced step by step together. Cassius¡¯ gaze fell on her head. ¡°Tango is an eye-to-eye dance.¡± She quietly raised her eyes, meeting his own. Her breath caught, and she ended up stepping on his foot. Cassius didn¡¯t show any reactions. ¡°Yet again.¡± ¡°¡­You stepped on my foot.¡± ¡°You can make a mistake.¡± Cassius, who was once expressionless, smiled once more. Seeing that smile, Sierra loosened up and matched his tempo. ¡®¡­I¡¯m having trouble dancing, Cassius.¡¯ Sierra¡¯s foot paused . She couldn¡¯t dance, so it was natural for her to lose her concentration. But Cassius naturally took the next step and led her to dance. Even Sierra, who was a little embarrassed, blinked and followed his steps. One step at a time, neither slow nor fast. ¡°There is a saying that if the steps get tangled, that¡¯s tango,¡± he whispered as they sped up. ¡°Is there such a saying?¡± ¡°Yeah. Tango is such a free dance. You just have to rx and move aroundfortably.¡± Sierra met his deep eyes. Because she was nervous, she used too much strength and made many mistakes. ¡°¡­It¡¯s not easy.¡± She stepped on his foot painfully. Cassiusughed softly. ¡°Like this, wait a minute¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Wait, it¡¯s just tangled.¡± Cassius stuttered out his words. ¡°You can do it again.¡± His feet met Sierra¡¯s. In the terribly quiet hall where no music could be heard, only the sound of heels hitting the floor could be heard. Sierra made eye contact with Cassius and danced. It was a rtively dynamic movement. ¡°It¡¯s an amazing dance, but I¡¯m bad at it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, we¡¯re dancing together.¡± ¡°Dancing with you doesn¡¯t feel like I¡¯m a bad dancer.¡± Sierra smiled broadly, relieved, and Cassius held out his hand again. ¡°Once more?¡± As she smiled, Sierra nodded her head. Sierra was definitely not good at dancing. After dancing a few times, she happened to identally lean her head on Cassius¡¯ chest. ¡®¡­His heartbeat is too loud.¡¯ It would have been better if there was music, but without music, Cassius¡¯ reaction was more careful. She bit her lip. ¡®I can¡¯t do this.¡¯ Sierra straightened herself again and muttered softly. ¡°Let¡¯s stop for now.¡± Cassius nodded in agreement. Obviously, she was just thinking of making Cassius her good friend. But when she saw Cassius, her feelings for him became strangelyplicated. Her toes kept curling and her eyes kept blinking. She hated this feeling of befuddlement and quickly let go of his hand. ¡°I think this is enough for today¡¯s practice. I think I¡¯m doing well.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Surprisingly, Cassius backed off. However, Sierra was still staring at him ¡®Did Cassius have such deep eyes?¡¯ She struggled to suppress her tumultuous heart.She took her eyes off his gaze. She felt weird. No, it was difficult to describe in words. * * * Recently, Hanael had more things of her own. Everyone loved Hanael very much, the godmother even kissed her on the cheek. It was a luxury she had never felt in a rural vige. Hanael went outside today to y in the lobby of the mansion. With a stuffed toy in hand, she wandered around the mansion looking for the maids. And it was then that Hanael saw Sera, a little maid who was friendly towards her. She ran towards Sera excitedly. ¡°Wahh-¡± Hanael, who was about to say hello with her mouth wide open as she ran, stopped quickly. There was a tall gardener by Sera¡¯s side. ¡®What are they doing?¡¯ Hanael widened her eyes and shook her head. A sweet voice echoed in her ears. ¡°My daughter, is it hard to work?¡± ¡°No, Dad. It¡¯s okay!¡± ¡°Dad loves you very much.¡± ¡°Mom loves you too.¡± The gardener, who had arge beard and a well-dressed maid beside him,ughed happily. Sera was standing between them, holding their hands tightly and smiling happily. The sunlighting in from the window shone at the family. Hanael quietly rolled her eyes. They seemed like a really warm and friendly family. ¡®¡­I¡¯m jealous.¡¯ Seeing the loving family, Hanael took a step backwards without realizing it. Then she hesitated and hid in the hallway just behind the lobby. The events of the past came to mind in Hanael¡¯s mind. It was the same in kindergarten. All of her ssmates were picked up by their dads. But Sierra was the only one who came to pick up Hanael. She didn¡¯t go looking for her dad because she was afraid that her mom wouldn¡¯t like it¡­ In Hanael¡¯s small mind, something from when she was younger came to mind. Sierra then told Hanael to call her Auntie. Hanael didn¡¯t know what an aunt was, so she called Sierra her aunt. The people made fun of Hanael that she was an orphan without a mother or father. When Hanael cried and opened the pharmacy door, Sierra had told the people that she wasn¡¯t an orphan. ¡®Hey¡­!¡¯ She had said to the people in a sharp voice, hugging the sniffling Hanael. ¡®She¡¯s my daughter. She also has a wealthy father. So please don¡¯t say anything rude!¡¯ ¡®No, pharmacist girl-¡® ¡®Shut up! Don¡¯t bully my daughter and get out!¡¯ Her voice was louder than any father. Hanael remembered the warmth of her mother, who hugged her tightly. But now she says she¡¯s not her mother. She said she had a new mother. Hanael hugged the stuffed doll tightly. She wanted to see her mother. At that time, a shadow fell right in front of Hanael. ¡°Hanael?¡± It was Hanael¡¯s father, no, he was Mr. Idiot. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Are you crying?¡± ¡°No, not at all!¡± Hanael hated crying. She was already almost an adult, grown enough to protect her mother. She didn¡¯t want to look like a child. However, the idiot soon knelt down on one knee and grabbed Hanael¡¯s arm tightly. Tears fell from Hanael¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not crying.¡± Hanael groaned while her eyes filled with tears. ¡°I told you I¡¯m not crying. I was smiling. You didn¡¯t know, did you? I guess you don¡¯t know because you¡¯re an idiot.¡± Hanael stared at Mr. Idiot. This man did not look out for himself for a very long time. She hated it very much, but¡­ ¡°Hanael, listen to what I¡¯m going to say.¡± ¡°What? I¡¯m not your daughter¡­ Go away.¡± ¡°No, You can be my daughter. You don¡¯t have to be my real daughter. Still, you¡¯re going to be my daughter Hanael.¡± Children instinctively recognized the truth. It was the same with Hanael. There was only sincerity in Cassius¡¯ eyes. Hanael huped. ¡°¡­Okay.¡± ¡°I will take responsibility for you for the rest of your life.¡± Hanael cautiously asked him. ¡°¡­How about Mom?¡± Hanael froze at his brilliant smile. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of you and your mom for the rest of my life, if you allow me.¡± Hanael nodded her head while clenching her fists on her cheeks. * * * While Cassius and Hanael were having a secret meeting, Sierra came into the room. She had to carefully select the nobility to invite to a party in the salon. ¡°What kind of people would you like?¡± ¡°The people here may have something to do with the Ideos family.¡± Cassius would think Sierra didn¡¯t know, but Sierra wasn¡¯t stupid. There was no way the sensitive Cassius would have put just anyone on the list of nobility. ¡°¡­We need fresh people.¡± Sierra decided to refer to other things besides the list of participants, keeping it a secret from Cassius. ¡®If Cassius is to make friends, he will need new people anyway.¡¯ Sierra nodded to herself and worked hard on all the gossip she got from the drawing room. She searched, and after checking the gossip she had, hardened. [Is Lady Macbeth the Duke of Ideos¡¯ first love?] ¡®Is Cassius¡¯s first love Lady Macbeth¡­?¡¯ Several articles on Lady Macbeth were also attached separately. Sierra, who quickly scattered the articles, sighed, ¡®I¡¯m feeling a little weird¡­¡¯ Maybe it was because she was dancing with Cassius earlier, and it felt like her chest was pounding and pounding. ¡®¡­What is this strange feeling?¡¯ Feeling her pulse pounding, Sierra shook her head and threw the articles on the floor. She ignored her heartbeat. Just then, a gentle knock was heard from outside the door. ¡°Come in.¡± At Sierra¡¯s words, the loyal maid came in and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m trying to help your baby bathe, but is she here?¡± ¡°I know that Hanael is with the other maid.¡± Recently, Hanael, who had taken up ying as a hobby, was happy with the other maids. The maid swallowed and nodded her head. Her gaze busily moved between Sierra and her surroundings. ¡°Ahh¡­ Would you mind helping, Miss Sierra¡ªOh my, Such a vulgar article!¡± The maid hastily gathered the gossip magazines on the table about Lady Macbeth and Duke Ideos. ¡°All of this, it¡¯s all rumors!¡± There was a sign of panic, fearing that Sierra might have misunderstood it. It wasn¡¯t that she had such a bad attitude, but her mood became even more strange. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 31 Trantor and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 31 The maid chatted for a while. ¡°Cassius and Lady Macbeth have nothing to do with each other.¡± They quickly closed the door and left. ¡®There¡¯s no need to be so upset. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m offended that Cassius and Lady Macbeth once had a rtionship¡­¡¯ Her life had always been calm, and Sierra loved that serenity. She lived her life longing for sess, but that was all. She shook her head. ¡®I don¡¯t need an unexpected situation in my life.¡¯ Sierra leaned deeper into the backrest and read a handful of gossip, but there was something she couldn¡¯t tell for sure just from that. ¡®It might be good to meet you once.¡¯ It was Lady Macbeth, a woman whose face was famous all over the ce as Cassius¡¯s first love. She was the daughter of a noble family, and was not acquainted with Sierra. Their rtionship back then was probably at the stage of getting engaged. Even that seemed to have be history because of the appearance of the princess and Sierra. ¡®Anyway, seeing the rumors¡­ Lady Macbeth must also like Cassius, right?¡¯ Usually, for a young girl from a noble family, such a rumor was close to a scandal. No matter what the rumor was, the dignity of a noble was important. Perhaps, given the wealth of the Macbeth family, these rumors could have been resolved. However, Lady Macbeth left the rumors alone. It was as if she wanted the rumor to spread¡­ Rumor had it that she was Cassius¡¯ first love. Those two could have gotten along well. ¡®Lady Macbeth. I must invite her. I¡¯m doubting myself about this, but¡­ Well, if Cassius says he doesn¡¯t like her that much, then I can coolly introduce him to another person. Cassius should also find someone who likes him.¡¯ Sierra coughed and cleared her throat. After making a list of people to invite, she sat on a rocking chair to rest for a bit. Shortly after, Hanael knocked on the outside of the door and ran to her. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± Hanael smiled and climbed up on Sierra¡¯sp with her stuffed doll that she always carried. She ced her doll on the table and Sierra hugged Hanael. ¡°Did youe here to y jacks again? Did you get your hands dirty?¡± ¡°Dirty.¡± Hanael wiggled her hands and rubbed at her fancy clothes. Sierra smiled, stroking Hanael¡¯s hair, Hanael¡¯s baby-like appearance still lingered in the rural vige and in the duke¡¯s residence. ¡°Hey.¡± Unlike Sierra, who was immersed in the deep thoughts of the past, Hanael¡¯s tone was a little energetic. She had something to say. Sierra looked down at Hanael, who leaned her back on her chest and stared into the air. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You told me that I have another mother.¡± Hanael shook her head. Then she opened his eyes and looked up at Sierra and asked her. ¡°Then did that mother abandon me?¡± Abandoned. At those words, Sierra felt suffocated. She hesitated to answer Hanael. ¡°No. She didn¡¯t abandon you. She¡¯s a very loving person.¡± ¡°Then why doesn¡¯t shee to see me?¡± Hanael puffed her chubby cheeks and pouted her lips. Sierra hugged Hanael tightly and whispered gently. ¡°She couldn¡¯te because of an emergency, Mom will be here soon. Let¡¯s see. Huh?¡± It didn¡¯t matter what her sister¡¯s situation was. Sierra decided to go see her. ¡°It feels weird.¡± Hanael buried her face in Sierra¡¯s chest and cried. Sierra stretched the cheeks of the sweet and warm baby. ¡°What¡¯s weird?¡± ¡°Um, because I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Even if I¡¯m not your mother, Aunt Sierra will be with Hanael for the rest of her life, hm?¡± At Sierra¡¯s words, Hanael puffed her cheeks and smiled. Hanael was still a baby. With that little mind, wouldn¡¯t it be hard to ept that you have a different family history from others? Sierra¡¯s hand held Hanael¡¯s tightly. ¡°¡­But Hanael, believe me.¡± Hanael licked her lips, and Sierra knew that Hanael had something to say. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°That Mr. Stupid.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± By stupid, did she mean Cassius? Sierra felt a little ufortable, but couldn¡¯t pinpoint why exactly. Sierra held Hanael¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°You keep saying weird things. He doesn¡¯t care if you aren¡¯t my real mom.¡± ¡°¡­That Mr. Stupid¡ªah, no, no.¡± Sierra quickly bit her tongue. The word ¡°stupid¡± kepting to mind. She swallowed her embarrassment with a few coughs. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Mr. Stupid keeps saying that as long as the three of us are happy, that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Cassius¡¯s heart was slightly revealed to Sierra. She felt weird, it was as if someone was constantly patting her shoulder while she was sitting there. ¡°Is that so?¡± At Sierra¡¯s words, Hanael shook her head as if she was puzzled. ¡°That Mr. Stupid kinda likes Hanael a lot, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s kinda like if Hanael¡¯s not here, Mr. Stupid¡¯s gonna die!¡± Hanael pursed her lips and shrugged her shoulders. While puffing her cheeks, Hanael leaned against Sierra¡¯s chest. ¡°Mr. Stupid thought of Hanael and gave me a doll.¡± ¡°Do you like him, that Mr. Stupid?¡± Sierra asked cautiously as she looked at Hanael carefully, even referring to the stuffed toy she always carried around in her arms. ¡°I like this doll so much!¡± Cassius and Hanael seemed to have be closer than expected. Sierra sighed. ¡®I guess I¡¯ll have to meet my sister soon. And I¡¯m going to have to find Cassius a friend. More than that, where did Abel go¡­¡¯ She missed Abel with her puffy, light blue hair. Sierra patted Hanael¡¯s head and sighed once more. * * * It was the day of Sierra¡¯s salon debutante. In nominal terms, it appeared that the semi-noble Sierra and her guardian the Ideos family were close and everyone wanted to see Sierra¡¯s face at least once. However, those invited were only the ones selected. The salon, which was bought by the godmother, was decorated like a small banquet. Not even a small decoration was wasted. It evidently cost a lot of money. She wasn¡¯t even picky. Sierra entered the room with a stern expression on her face. ¡®Finally, I can meet the friend candidates for Cassius. Especially the one named Lady Macbeth.¡¯ She recalled a conversation she had with Cassius before arriving at this salon. ¡®How about the people here? Do you have any friends?¡¯ It was meant to dive a little deeper into his friendship. Cassius then muttered cautiously, avoiding her eyes. ¡®¡­Yes, the people invited here are all my friends¡­¡¯ ¡®Really? What are they like?¡¯ ¡®Then what do you like?¡¯ ¡®I like medicine, I like flowers, I like cute things, and surprisingly, I don¡¯t like romance. Need I say more?¡¯ Meanwhile, Sierra confirmed that Cassius certainly had no friends like her. Cassius, who looked at Sierra with a puzzled expression on her face, had carefully changed the topic. ¡®Let¡¯s remove Lady Macbeth from the invitation list. It might hurt you.¡¯ ¡®Well, really? I don¡¯t think it will hurt much.¡¯ Cassius exined carefully with a bewildered expression. ¡®The rumors circting in the social world about me and her¡­ are all fake, Sierra. Please, believe me.¡¯ ¡®Yes, I believe you.¡¯ Sierra replied very simply, but Cassius was restless whenever he saw the surname Macbeth. Meanwhile the party, which Sierra silently called the [Cassius Friend Interview], finally opened. Sierra entered the salon with a trembling and pounding heart. ¡°Shall we go in?¡± Of course, as a semi-noble, she was escorted by Cassius. It was a little awkward, but she was worried that Cassius would be portrayed as a heretic. ¡°Well, let¡¯s go in first.¡± Sierra nodded lightly. Together they entered the salon. She inhaled and exhaled as she gazed at the gigantic salon. From the window, she could see the carriages arriving one after another. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, Sierra¡­¡± Huh. ¡°You can do this, Sierra.¡± With those words, Sierra suddenly remembered her academy days. It was also Cassius who encouraged her back then. Now, Cassius sped her hands tightly. It was meant to be soothing, but her heart was pounding strangely. * * * Meanwhile, the nobles outside the salon were restless and secretly spying on the inside through the window. Their anticipation had already been crushed by the knights covering the perimeter of the salon. In fact, all but Lady Macbeth, whom Sierra decided to invite directly, had all arrived It was made up of close friends of the Ideos family. Sierra and Cassius prepared to greet the nobles at the Salon¡¯s doorstep. They entered the salon one by one, trying to hide their curious expressions. She smiled brightly at them and shook her head. ¡°Thank you for visiting the salon. I am Sierra.¡± It was usually customary for a gentleman to kiss the back of ady¡¯s hand in the aristocratic salon. Sierra shook her head, and the nobleman nodded lightly,pleting the simple ritual. ¡°Nice to meet you. I am Delphi of the Shaly family.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Chel.¡± A man named Chel looked at Sierra with an unusually dark look. He looked good, but somewhat strange. There were so many guests. Sierra coughed and shook her head. All the young girls of the family had be acquainted with Sierra through the aristocratic list there. There were about fifteen guests, just the right amount for a small salon. After saying hello to everyone, Sierra quietly watched the situation. Now it was time for the first dance. Cassius, who was quick-witted, reached out his hand to her. ¡°Shall we dance?¡± As soon as Cassius finished speaking, the orchestra yed a song. The nobles gaped at the first dance he had ever participated in society as Cassius stared at Sierra with a shy expression. Their jaws dropped at his face. As time went by, they got to a point where they were confused as to whether this was a dream or real life. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 32 - Cassius First Love Trantor and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 32 ¨C Cassius¡¯ First Love To the aristocrats of the social world, Cassius¡¯s expression was generally perceived as cold like the north wind, and just as indifferent. Now it lookedpletely different. He was dancing like a prince, looking at the woman in front of him with a face full of tenderness. All the nobles gathered were astonished. Most of them wanted to talk about it, but they didn¡¯t dare speak, so they only gaped and kept silent. The only certainty was that the Duke of Ideos loved thatmoner woman, no, the woman who was now semi-noble. While everyone was bewildered, the orchestra yed the lively yet mournful tune. It ended with a strong finish. Sierra spoke to Cassius in a lively tone, ¡°I think it¡¯s time to eat, my Lord.¡± After the first dance, they had a light meal. The woman acted freely, and as long as Cassius Ideos stood by, no one in this ce could speak freely to Sierra. No one could offend her, purposely or identally, at this event. * * * The table for the tea party was quickly prepared. Sierra seriously scanned the area to spot a friend for Cassius. No one said anything. It was natural. Because everyone in this seat, except for Lady Macbeth, was seated ording to what Cassius liked. Among them, the young nobleman, who looked to be the youngest, started crying and talking about eating mustard. ording to the noble etiquette of the capital, he had to speak to the owner of the salon first. ¡°¡­Lady¡­¡± The young nobleman looked at Cassius and trembled. Because as soon as he opened his mouth, his expression suddenly got worse. It was like he didn¡¯t want him to touch his girl. The young nobleman looked at Sierra while trying to stop his trembling body. She took pity on him. ¡°Ahh¡­ My name is Sierra. I am under His Grace, Duke Ideos¡¯s care.¡± Cassius replied, ¡°Everyone in this room is close friends with me. This one over there is Sheldon, that one is Felly, andstly¡­¡± Sierra¡¯s and the woman¡¯s eyes met just in the center. ¡°Ceria Macbeth, the Lady of the Macbeth family.¡± ¡°Please feel free to call me Lady Macbeth.¡± Following the brief self-introduction, the quiet time of sipping tea began. Sierra fiercely looked around and restarted her search. ¡®Do you really have close friends? It doesn¡¯t seem like it.¡¯ As Sierra drank tea and observed them, they too observed the atmosphere of Sierra and the usually-cold Cassius. He always poured tea into Sierra¡¯s teacup. It was a clear disy of possessiveness. ¡°Oh,e to think of it, I heard that the people here are very close to the Duke.¡± ¡°They also go to horseback riding clubs together.¡± Of course, Sierra had never heard of it. Duke Ideos once said he was not interested in trivial things such as equestrian clubs. The ignorant young nobleman tried to shake his head. But Duke Cassius Ideos, who was next to Sierra, turned to him with a re that said he should affirm it. He had no power in this ce. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Sierra stared nkly at him and shook her head. ¡®¡­What is it, do you really have friends?¡¯ Cassius did not yet understand Sierra¡¯s train of thought. ¡°If there¡¯s someone you want to be friends with, tell me, Sierra.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, Thank you for your consideration.¡± ¡°That friend of mine will soon be your friend too, right?¡± Cassius spoke softly to the nobles. They looked into each other¡¯s eyes and then nodded. Of course, they also had authority as aristocrats, but their debt to the Duke of Ideos was bigger than that. ¡®Why does it look like a bad rtionship?¡¯ Sierra looked away, then soon took a sip of the tea. ¡®I tried to make friends, but everyone is so cold¡­¡¯ She didn¡¯t learn anything in this salon. Sierra sighed and took a small biscuit. It was bitter and crunchy. She tried to converse again, but Cassius was still staring at her. Fortunately for all, the awkward tea time ended quickly. Having finished the conversation, it was time to wrap up all the ceremonies in the salon with the group dance. However, before the tea party table was cleared out for the group dances. Lady Macbeth opened her mouth. ¡°Sierra, I have something to say to you alone.¡± Everyone was shocked and stunned. Of course, Lady Macbeth¡¯s attitude wasn¡¯t out of order. Rather, it was a natural procedure for nobles to socialize during a break before a group ballroom dance. However, this was a salon where Cassius had his eyes wide open. Nevertheless, Lady Macbeth raised her chin. Sierra looked back at her, and she spoke. ¡°Yes, Lady Macbeth. Let¡¯s go to the balcony.¡± She recalled the proper etiquette. She knew that socializing during breaks took ce on the balcony. She went to Cassius. ¡°I will be back.¡± It was a voice only he could hear. But Cassius changed his rxed expression to an anxious one. ¡°Can you not go?¡± Sierra was a little perplexed, but whispered low into Cassius¡¯ ear. ¡°What are you worried about? I¡¯ll go. It won¡¯t be a big deal.¡± She, too, could notice that the eyes of people looking around her had be even more startled. But Sierra was curious about something. The woman who was called Cassius¡¯s first love, Lady Macbeth. * * * Sierra left and went to the balcony with Lady Macbeth. Cassius¡¯s cold eyes stared at the balcony. Sierra proudly said that she wanted to meet Macbeth, so he didn¡¯t have anything to say. As soon as Sierra closed the balcony door, the cold air reced her spot. The orchestra resumed ying at his order. His soft expression disappeared, leaving only cynicism. He wasn¡¯t the type to show off his authority, but he wasn¡¯t the type to spend his kindness on useless things. Cassius stared quietly at the balcony, then looked back at the hall with a cold expression. To be precise, after Sierra entered the balcony, everyone stared at the hall that had stopped. The orchestra also stopped, and the aristocrats who had been hardened by the incident were fully in his vision. He gestured lightly towards the orchestra. ¡°Just continue ying and we will dance.¡± To the apaniment of the colorful orchestra, in the chilly situation, only the nobles could be seen dancing like soldier dolls. Everyone in the room looked forward to the return of Sierra and Macbeth. Contrary to Sierra¡¯s expectations, Cassius didn¡¯t dance with anyone. He only stared at the missing seats of Sierra and Lady Macbeth. * * * Meanwhile, Sierra and Macbeth, who entered the balcony, did not engage in a sharp confrontation, contrary to Cassius¡¯ concerns. Macbeth spoke straightforwardly. ¡°So, I heard your name is Sierra.¡± She stared at Sierra¡¯s face for a moment, startled. Her shoulders were shaking slightly. ¡°Yes.¡± Macbeth bit her parched lips. ¡®Was Duke of Ideos attracted to soft types?¡¯ Someone weak, tender, seemingly ready to fly away at any moment. She lookedpletely different from Cassius Ideos¡¯ taste. Macbeth sat in a chair on the balcony, gesturing proudly to Sierra. ¡°Mydy, the Duke will punish me if he knows I¡¯ve spoken to you this way, but please sit down.¡± Sierra sat firmly, so nervous that her pulse felt funny. Still, she looked at Macbeth with a clear gaze. ¡°No way.¡± Sheughed softly, and Macbeth burst outughing. ¡®Combat power is definitely disappearing.¡¯ Macbeth sighed inwardly. After all, the rumors of her being the duke¡¯s first love were going to disappear as of today. Even the princess would not be able to match Sierra. Just by looking at those eyes¡­ If oneys their hands on Sierra, he would act like he was going to catch and kill them right away. Even now, the sound of the orchestra was ying intermittently from outside. It was also an indicator of how anxious Duke Ideos was. But Sierra, who was unaware of that fact, was just staring at Macbeth and nodding her head. ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You are the only one who shows such an attitude to Duke Ideos. So be careful.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Sierra rolled her eyes. Seeing Sierra like that, Macbeth whispered more solemnly, ¡°The Duke was talking about a friend. Is this your idea?¡± Macbeth shrugged her shoulders in disbelief as she recalled Cassius¡¯s words. ¡®I don¡¯t really need that.¡¯ ¡­ ¡® ¡®I hate friends and socializing.¡¯ Cassius had never been seen in the equestrian clubs or social clubs where the high-ranking nobles usually gathered. After the war was over, he either worked like crazy or stayed in his mansion. By the way¡­ He appeared with Sierra at the salon and stared at her with honeyed eyes. He talked to her with kindness. And when she looked slightly relieved, Cassius performed an exaggerated performance that nearly choked the nobility seated. All this was a funny skit. The cause was unknown, but it was clear that it was a show for her. ¡°You must be the Duke¡¯s first love.¡± Macbeth smiled softly, as if giving up on everything. Embarrassed, Sierra looked at her with a puzzled expression. ¡°What do you mean¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen the Duke with that expression.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Sierra stared at Macbeth with a slightly perplexed expression. Macbeth shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll give up.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s funny to give up.¡± ¡°Why¡­?¡± ¡°Because the two of you can easily ovee the difference in status with that level of emotion.¡± Sierra¡¯s expression stiffened at her blunt words. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 33 - Cassius And The Friends Who Are At Odds With Him Trantor and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 33 ¨C Cassius And The Friends Who Are At Odds With Him ¡°As for the difference in status, I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯d dare to agree with that opinion.¡± Sierra¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Because the strict distinction between nobles andmoners was directly stated by His Majesty the previous emperor.¡± Lady Macbeth, who was observing Sierra¡¯s sincere expression, raised her eyebrows as if she was puzzled. ¡°¡­I thought you¡¯d like it if I said that. Don¡¯t you have any feelings for the Duke?¡± Sierra thought about whether to nod her head moderately, but she let it go for now. Anyway, in the case of Macbeth, it was because he was a historical figure in the social world. What if she made a surprising statement here, and then exaggerated it in society? It was necessary not to respond properly to any words, but to leave the room vaguely. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Macbeth bit her lip. ¡°You¡¯re not in custody, are you?¡± Sierra looked at Macbeth and was even more embarrassed. Her prediction was right. If Sierra had said ¡®I don¡¯t have a thing for Cassius,¡¯ Macbeth might have exaggerated the word three times. She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not like that. I came to the Duke¡¯s estate on my own.¡± They heard a knock on the door from outside. Sierra and Macbeth looked at the door at the same time. Then Macbeth muttered in a drained voice. ¡°You know? When we got in here, the orchestra almost stopped ying.¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± ¡°I think the Duke of Ideos only needs you, I guess.¡± At Macbeth¡¯s words, Sierra instinctively looked at the doorway. Macbeth noticed the movement of Sierra¡¯s gaze and smiled faintly. ¡°His expression was like a spring day.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit harsh to say this, but I have to say it feels like seeing a warm spring that came from a cold winter.¡± Sierra was clearly shaken. She shut her eyes tight and then opened them again. ¡°Well, that¡¯s just my opinion. But you know what?¡± Macbeth chuckled, then grew serious. ¡°You¡¯re probably the only one who sees the Duke¡¯s many faces.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Sierra recalled the expressions Cassius had made. A friendly eye smile, a mysterious expression, and a constant, tender smile. But Lady Macbeth, dubbed as Cassius¡¯s first love, expressed that it was clearly limited to Sierra. Macbeth grinned as she opened the cork from the wine bottle on the table on the balcony. ¡°Honestly, I thought I would win if it was a suitable opponent. You are amoner. But¡­¡± At just the right time, footsteps could be heard from the doorway. Macbeth poured the sparkling wine into the wine ss beside her. A reddish liquid glistened in the wine ss. She fixed her gaze on the doorway again. ¡°¡­Sierra, aren¡¯t you in danger?¡± It was Cassius, desperate concern in his voice. Macbeth, who had been listening quietly, smiled and spoke softly to herself so that only Sierra could hear it. ¡°Look.¡± Macbeth¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°I¡¯m no match for you.¡± Sierra stared intently at Macbeth. It didn¡¯t seem like she was lying. Sierra didn¡¯t know how to respond. Instead of answering Macbeth, she looked down at the doorway. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Sierra didn¡¯t say anything for a moment. ¡°¡­Huh.¡± She looked worriedly at the door. ¡°Look, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll hurt you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t deny it. By the way, Miss Sierra.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Looking into Sierra¡¯s bewildered eyes, Macbeth looked up as if toasting a wine ss and took a sip. ¡°It seems to me that you are also very interested in the Duke.¡± Putting the wine ss down, Macbeth grinned. ¡°What do you think?¡± Sierra¡¯s heart was like a calmke. But at that question, her heart began to ripple. * * * Sierra came out. She didn¡¯t notice it before, but the nobles all looked at her, trying to hide their bewildered expressions. Cassius sat her down next to him. ¡°Sit here, Sierra.¡± ¡°Ah yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you to my associates first.¡± Cassius looked a little nervous, but it was the same with Sierra. It felt as if she had not been able to properly make friends for Cassius. Sierra decided to look at where and how things went wrong. Cassius, who seemed unaware of Sierra¡¯s feelings, pointed to the man sitting next to her impatiently. ¡°This is Felice.¡± ¡°Uhh¡­¡± The man in the knight¡¯s robes gulped. ¡°Haha, Cassius. It¡¯s a joy to meet Miss Sierra, who is your true friend¡­¡± Usually, people don¡¯t act that carefully towards friends. Cassius¡¯s expression was obviously friendly, but nevertheless, Felice looked almost panicked. ¡®No matter how you look at it, they don¡¯t seem like friends¡­¡¯ Sierra cautiously opened her mouth. ¡°Yes, we are close friends.¡± It was just lip service. Cassius¡¯ expression hardened, and Felice grimaced as if he had seen a corpse. Sierra scratched the back of her head. She was just trying to make Cassius a friend and lover, but this¡­ * * * Hanael, who went out to the capital with her maid to buy toys, heard about the salon. ¡®My mom and Mister Stupid went to a salon and said they were going to make a friend.¡¯ Hanael had mixed feelings about them having friends. She was worried that they would pay less attention to her. Besides, her mom, who had left for the salon earlier, was incredibly pretty. She looked like a princess. ¡®The princess in a fairy tale doesn¡¯t have a daughter¡­¡¯ Sierra said she was not Hanael¡¯s mother. Then, maybe the mother became a princess and abandoned Hanael? Sierra said she would never do that, but the child¡¯s imagination was in full swing. Hanael¡¯s small shoulders slumped down with a terrible thought. ¡®But Hanael is an adult, so she won¡¯tin about it¡­¡¯ However, the words she wanted to avoiding out of her mouth kepting out. Hanael puffed her cheeks like arge dumpling and poked the maid¡¯s arm next to her. ¡°I¡¯m curious about the salon!¡± ¡°¡­Are you curious? Still, I can¡¯t¡­¡± Hanael showed affection by rubbing her peachy-pink cheeks on the maid¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Well, then follow me! I heard about a toy store next to the salon. I like toys!¡± Hanael had looked at the toy store next to the salon in the magazine Sierra was looking at before. She was a bad girl with a good brain. The maid¡¯s eyes looking at Hanael drooped. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. But the Duke took over the toy business for you, Miss¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired of them all.¡± The maid blinked her eyes in shock, however she couldn¡¯t even look at Hanael¡¯s disappointed face. ¡°If you¡¯re tired of it, you should buy another toy¡­! Yes, I¡¯ll tell the maid!¡± Fortunately, Hanael¡¯s wish came true quickly. She smiled bashfully, and the carriage eventually arrived at the toy store right next to the salon. When Hanael arrived at the toy store, she looked around and stood in front of the front door of the salon. To prevent the maid from chasing closely behind Hanael, she ran like an acorn-biting squirrel. ¡°Where did the child go?¡± The grass was quite tall between the toy store and the salon. Hanael hid herself in a pile of grass and looked around. ¡°You¡¯re ying hide and seek, kid.¡± Hanael rolled her eyes and looked at the man who spoke to her. He was very well-dressed, handsome like Mister Stupid, but somehow strangely like a fox. Hanael blinked at him. Her mom always said to be wary of such people. ¡°Hmm. Are you a thief? I will take care of it, so go away.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a thief, kid. My name is Ijel.¡± Ijel had to break through the clever salon¡¯s security to meet Cassius and Sierra. However, he was unable to enter the salon, no matter what. So he just pretended to be a knight and just wandered around¡­ ¡°Aren¡¯t you lost?¡± ¡°Ugh, no!¡± ¡°Miss! Miss!¡± He could hear the maid looking for Hanael from afar. ¡°I think she¡¯s looking for you.¡± No matter how shameless Ijel was, he couldn¡¯t keep his brazen attitude in front of the little girl. He looked down at the girl¡¯s head and smiled. ¡°You look pretty much like the babies I know.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Hanael snorted. Ijel smirked. ¡°Take care of yourself.¡± ¡°Why? What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Ijel straightened, patting her head. ¡°Kid, what are you thinking?¡± Hanael narrowed her eyes, squeezing her doll tightly. ¡°You look bad.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Hanael replied brightly while poking his arm. ¡°Your face looks blue.¡± ¡°¡­Is it blue?¡± ¡°Yeah. Something like the blue sea is about to overflow from your body!¡± Ijel¡¯s expression hardened. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 34 - Hanaels Identity Trantor and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 34 ¨C Hanael¡¯s Identity Hanael was observant and could quickly notice all the vigor and fierce gazes around her. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± She was about to point her cheeks, all puffed up. A woman in a maid¡¯s uniform called Hanael¡¯s name and approached her. ¡°Hanael! I was so worried when I thought you had disappeared¡­!¡± ¡°Huh? Is that so?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± At the maid¡¯s words, Hanael waved her arms toward Ijel and waved goodbye. ¡°Then don¡¯t do it! Mister, I¡¯ll leave now!¡± ¡°¡­Mister? Who are you?¡± The maid, who had been holding her breath for a while, finally faced Ijel, bowing warily. He shrugged and made himself look as harmless as possible. ¡°I¡¯m just a passerby.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± The maid¡¯s eyes narrowed. In fact, no aristocrats had been harmed yet, but kidnappings often urred in the capital these days. ¡°This man had a funny conversation with me!¡± Hanael said cutely. The maid shook her head and hugged Hanael tightly. ¡°¡­You can¡¯t talk to strangers freely.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because he could be a bad person. Oh, farewell.¡± She nced at Ijel and held Hanael tight in her arms as she walked away. Ijel frowned slightly and rubbed his chin. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± He hummed, looking at Hanael¡¯s retreating figure. If the child wasn¡¯t lying, the blue energy probably meant the mana of the water that dominated his entire body. Mana came from a total of five elements. Water, fire, soil, wind, and stone. Among them, the most powerful was water mana, and only a few had it. ¡®If water mana exists in that child¡­¡¯ He looked at Hanael. ¡®¡­For now, I will need to do research.¡¯ Maybe that baby had something to do with ¡®Project X¡¯ he had been working on for years. Ijel bit his lip as he stared. Her cheeks were so plump that she looked like she was about to explode from behind. ¡°You look cute.¡± He looked at Hanael¡¯s back with that strange gaze and rubbed his forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll get going.¡± He had a feeling that he would see her again soon. There were situations in which there was no choice but to explore instinctively and intuitively. Come to think of it, the maid¡¯s uniform belonged to the Ideos household. If it was a child of the Duke Ideos¡­ Was it in the bloodline? Was there anyone in that family with that kind of energy? Or maybe that kid¡­?¡¯ Ijel felt an unfamiliar, subtle nervousness. He tore his gaze away from Hanael and walked into the salon. Although he was an uninvited guest, it would have been possible to infiltrate the interior by targeting a gap. And when Ijel entered the salon, the party was about to end. There must have been a bit of amotion, as all the nobles were frozen. * * * Sierra ended the messy social debut party with Cassius. Despite riding in the carriage with him, Sierra¡¯s mind became moreplicated. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Cassius acted like a baby bird imprinted on Sierra at first sight. It seemed that the attachment he had to her was a little stronger than expected. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Sierra?¡± She sighed. If Cassius had not misunderstood Hanael as his daughter, she would not havee to the duke¡¯s mansion. ¡®I mean, my heart keeps pounding.¡¯ Sierra looked at him, doing some self-examination. What was really strange was her own mind. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Your expression is bad. You look deep in thought, Sierra.¡± Sierra paused, noticing the subtle satisfaction of listening to Cassius. She didn¡¯t expect it to be so much fun to hear him speak so deeply and seriously. ¡°It¡¯s really nothing. It¡¯s just because I¡¯ve been thinking a lot.¡± ¡°What did she say to you?¡± Cassius¡¯ gaze grew sharper. ¡°No, I just heard that I was your first love, except I had thought she was.¡± The gaze that had been staring at Sierra suddenly slipped to the floor. Sierra saw his earlobes burning hot, and suddenly remembered Cassius¡¯ days at the academy and smiled. ¡®Well, you look shy¡­¡¯ Sierra coughed as she openly lowered the curtains of the carriage. Cassius raised his head. ¡°¡­I just learned her name for the first time.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°I have only you, Sierra.¡± He looked deeply into Sierra¡¯s eyes. ¡°I want you to tell me what you¡¯re feeling. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± There was a sense of deja vu at this simr yet unfamiliar conversation. ¡®Tell me if it bothers you.¡¯ ¡®Well¡­ Isn¡¯t it too burdensome?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m worried that I¡¯ll feel like I¡¯m only relying on you¡­¡¯ Sierra sighed inwardly at the afterimage of the past that suddenly came to mind and patted Cassius on the shoulder. Cassius smiled softly like a puppy again with that one touch of hers. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea to take care of each other.¡± Sierra drew a line like a sword. Still, Macbeth¡¯s words about Cassius crossed her mind again. When she remembered the words, something almost made her heart tingle. ¡°¡­Well, then I¡¯ll grant you whatever you want, just as long as you¡¯re by my side.¡± Cassius, who had hardened his expression a little, smiled hopefully again. These were words that only a man who could truly grant everything could say. ¡°So, shall we open another salon next time?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m worried.¡± Cassius¡¯ current behavior seemed to show that he would follow her around and show no interest in making friends, even if they opened another salon. ¡®¡­Should I make someone other than a friend?¡¯ Like a family love? Not knowing Sierra¡¯s growing anguish about whether or not to reopen the salon, Cassius asked, practically wagging his tail like a puppy. ¡°The salon, was it fun?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I think it was a bit of fun. But after thinking about it, it would be better not to open the next salon. It was refreshing because it was the first time that nobles treated me like that, even to amoner¡­ I mean, a semi-noble like me.¡± Cassius¡¯ expression turned cold for a moment. ¡°Nobles are arrogant and sarcastic. They may have hurt you unconsciously, Sierra.¡± ¡®No. Most of the people I saw today were worshipping my feet¡­?¡¯ However, after seeing Cassius¡¯ wretched expression, she was unable to utter all the words in her heart. ¡°If there is someone you don¡¯t like, tell me¡­¡± Cassius grabbed her hand with a gentle look in his eyes, worried that Sierra might have been hurt. ¡®No, I think I just heard an auditory hallucination.¡¯ Sierra was amoner, and she wasn¡¯t hurt. She simply enjoyed the experience of being escorted by him in front of nobles. She was having fun, and she just wanted to try something else. ¡°Uh¡­ Yes¡­¡± Sierra, who read not a mere sympathy in Cassius¡¯ eyes, but a deep passion, pondered seriously. Before his feelings deepened, she should leave the mansion as soon as the paternity test results came out. But when would theye out? * * * After a few days, Sierra gave up her quest to make friends for Cassius. It seemed she was the only one he saw. The only thing that existed was the godfather and blood rtives. ¡®It would be better to be close with your blood rtives.¡¯ Among school ties and blood ties, the strongest are blood ties. Sierra grinned as she recalled Cassius¡¯ rtionship with the godfather. ¡®If you be close with the godfather, you can feel the love of family.¡¯ Contemting how to make Cassius close with the godfather took over her mind while she was walking into the doctor¡¯s annex. She decided to supplement the answer to the message about the disease that the doctors asked a while ago. Sierra wrote a brief note to be handed over to them and made her way to the front door of the annex. [ I am absent for urgent business. Please write the project on a note and put it in the basket. ] The timing was bad, but she was d that she wrote the note. Sierra recalled the contents of the letter she had brought, and tapped the note into the basket. ¡®If the contents of this note are correct, they will contact me again.¡¯ Sierra smiled contentedly, convinced of her genius ability. ¡®Isn¡¯t that right, twin doctors?¡¯ In fact, Sierra had been vaguely aware of the sender of the bizarre note from the moment she received it. Doctors from Hippo were the only ones who could test her skills. It was the twin doctors of the kingdom. She smiled after confirming that the memo was well ced in the basket ced in front of the annex¡¯s door. ¡®Fun. It¡¯s like solving a riddle.¡¯ Sierra looked at the basket again and walked out of the annex with light steps. On the way to the main building after passing through a memory filled with Cassius, she ran into the maid. ¡°Where have you been, Sierra?¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve been to an annex.¡± The maid smiled broadly at the mention of it. ¡°Did you hear about the results of the paternity test?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The maid smiled repeatedly at Sierra. Sierra looked at her with a puzzled expression. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 35 Trantor and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 35 Why did she look so happy? Sierra shook her head inwardly. ¡°No, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Well¡­.¡± The maid hesitated. ¡°I heard that all the paternity test results areing out tomorrow. I wonder if something¡¯s wrong with going to the annex where the doctors are¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± Sierra sped her hands forward and shouted theatrically. ¡°That¡¯s the best news I¡¯ve ever heard!¡± Yeah, good. Hopefully, tomorrow she¡¯ll be able to leave this mansion. *** Meanwhile, Ijel reported to the princess about Sierra and started investigating Hanael. To be honest, all of this was as natural as flowing water for Ijel. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡­Until a little boy with blue permed hair showed up. The ce they were currently facing was among the estates near the duke¡¯s residence located in the capital. It was a back alley, close to a slum. Ijel raised his chin and asked more carefully. ¡°Who is it?¡± Ijel frowned at his blue-dyed hair. Abel, the puppy-like boy who faced Ijel, distorted his expressions too. He seemed awkward about physical contact, and had a more familiar face than expected. As he pondered who he was, Abel spoke out at once. ¡°Why are you talking about Sierra and Hanael?¡± Ijel instinctively knew that his appearance wouldn¡¯t work for the child. He chuckled and shook his head. ¡°You look like a knight.¡± ¡°¡­Are you not?¡± Ijel, who was staring at the boy¡¯s round, golden eyes, smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not a bad person.¡± Abel nced at Ijel and scratched his temple. In fact, just by looking, there was no evil feeling at all, and there was a strangely inessible spirit. It felt like there were many magicians around him¡­. He stared intently. ¡°You look like someone.¡± He thought that he had to contact Sierra first. Abel ruffled his sky-blue hair and grinned. He was hesitant to contact Sierra because she might be busy, but now something came up. Abel came out of the alley, excited at the thought of contacting and meeting Sierra after a long time, even though he was fully alert. ¡®By the way, I think that guy really looks like someone¡­¡¯ However, even as he left the alleypletely, Abel could not find a resemnce. *** Late that night, Sierra, who was having a happy day cuddling in bed with Hanael, received a letter from Abel. A crow flew through the window and delivered it. Sierra opened the wax-sealed letter, stunned for a moment as she read the suspicious contents. [Sierra. I caught a strange guy wandering around. What a weirdo! I¡¯ve tried ¡®The Magic of Truth¡¯, but it¡¯s quite suspicious to see that it doesn¡¯t work. And the wizard, I think I¡¯ve almost found it. I got a tip from a raven outside the capital! Did I do well?] Sierra could almost kiss him. ¡®Is my sister performing a quest outside the capital?¡¯ Only unanswered questions piled up. Sierra sighed heavily, thinking of her sister and clenching her fists. ¡®Why don¡¯t youe to see me while you¡¯re on the outskirts of the capital? Are you even a real person¡­?¡¯ She ground her teeth out of anger, but the truth was, there was a bigger problem than that. Sierra clicked her tongue. ¡°¡­And why are there so many suspicious guys?¡± It seemed that her sister¡¯s enemies were constantly trying to attack Sierra, but she thought that it would have been difficult to move if it wasn¡¯t for Cassius or the Duke¡¯s mansion. Sierra let out a short sigh as she watched the letter disappear in mes as soon as she put it down on the table. ¡®I¡¯m worried that my sister hasn¡¯t showed up yet¡­¡¯ It was surmised that Cassius¡¯ feelings for Sierra were quite deep. So, if she asked for protection magic, she¡¯d be able to have it! ¡®I¡¯ll have to ask to cast a protective spell when I leaveter.¡¯ Sierra hummed and buried her face in the bed again. Hanael, who was staring at her while she fretted, poked her cheek. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Hanael¡¯s mother has written me a letter saying that she wants to see Hanael.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± Hanael looked at Sierra with an expression of disbelief. Herrge green eyes were mixed with suspicion and curiosity. Sierra answered the clever child while tying her hair, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true. Have I ever lied to you?¡± ¡°Ummm¡­¡± Hanael muttered, puffing up her cheeks and burying her face in Sierra¡¯s chest again. ¡°You¡¯re lying that you¡¯re not my mother.¡± ¡°¡­it¡¯s not a lie, Hanael.¡± She thought that she should visit her sister as soon as possible. At this rate it could be dangerous for Hanael¡¯s emotional development. The paternity test results wereing out soon, so it wouldn¡¯t be so urgent. Sierra hugged Hanael tightly and hummed lightly. There was a pleasant feeling in her heart that everything was going to work out. *** Meanwhile, that night, the doctors of Hippo Kingdom who went outside and checked the paternity test kit for errors returned to the separate room again. The twin doctors thoughtlessly flipped through the basket hanging on the doorway and were surprised to see the note. ¡°No¡­¡± The two of them entered the annex without their master¡¯s knowledge, putting a note in their pocket, stopping in a small secret room to open the note that Sierra had handed to them. [Amolta disease. In Amolta bottles, you need to put in herbs with purple irises and crushed thorns of blue roses. The patient is probably around 40 years old, female, and has hypersensitivity and anxiety. If I¡¯m right, let me see the sick patient. She might die.] They widened their eyes. Sierra got it right. ¡°¡­There is no way she knows who the patient is, right?¡± Their jaws were almost hanging. ¡°Is this Sierra¡¯s ¡®real¡¯ prescription?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Hmm.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s Amolta disease¡­¡± The twin doctors looked at each other. ¡°I checked the patient myself, but I never imagined that disease.¡± ¡± ¡­Usually, there are many errors in diagnosis without seeing the patient. There is a high probability that it is not.¡± They looked into each other¡¯s eyes and pondered. ¡°First of all, we¡¯re not sure if it¡¯s Amolta disease, so let¡¯s start with an Amolta disease test kit.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s correct, it¡¯s an incurable disease.¡± ¡°There are prescription drugs here.¡± Curiosity shed in their eyes. The two seriously put their heads together and admiringly read the note from Sierra. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Surprised by the teacher¡¯s stern voice, they bit their lips. ¡°The results of the first stage paternity test should also be carried out without any error. And you have to be responsible for the patient¡¯s health, too.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± ¡°Make sure you do your duty faithfully.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Every minute, every second, you have a sense of duty as a doctor.¡± ¡°We see, Teacher.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll keep that in mind!¡± They were able to finish the paternity test only after being so upset that their tears fell and after they finished the Hippocratic Oath. Input the information value based on the image sphere, check the final wavelength of mana, and handwrite the final result on the test paper. As this was a sensitive matter, all actions taken to activate the paternity test kit had to be recorded via video equipment. When they finally checked the result of the test paper, they smiled proudly. In this way, their test kit might be a light to a household¡­! *** The next day, early morning. Knock knock~ Sierra, who was asleep with Hanael in her arms, yawned and opened her mouth. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The handmaiden came in with a grim expression as if she had to announce the death of a colleague. Without a second thought, sheid her body on the soft bedding and closed her eyes. ¡°Why do you look like that¡­¡± ¡°Finally, the long-awaited moment hase¡­¡± Sierra held her breath involuntarily at the words of the reverent and elegant maid. The hand carrying the white bedding was full of strength. ¡°The paternity test results are out.¡± Her eyes widened. She heard of it yesterday, but she was unaware that it¡¯de out this early¡­! Deciding to respect them sincerely, she put her hands in front of her chest and whispered theatrically, ¡°Really? So who¡¯s the parent?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Seeing that the maid also had a bewildered expression on her face, it seemed that she had not yet received the exact result. Sierra stared at her, suppressing her pounding heart. ¡°¡­First, there was an order for Sierra to be taken to the doctors¡¯ annex. The godmother and the duke are already waiting.¡± This early in the morning¡­ Everyone was very diligent, Sierra nodded. She stood up as she carefully covered the sleeping Hanael with a nket, and then she jumped up. ¡°It¡¯s a little chilly.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll change you into a dress. Today is an important day.¡± On the way out of the bedroom and on the way to the dressing room, Sierra grinned with deep remorse, wondering if it was the end. This kind of aristocratic treatment would end today. Sierra changed her clothes step by step, thinking that it was an event that wasn¡¯t as bad as expected. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 36 Trantor and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 36 As she walked down the hallway to the doctors¡¯ annex, Sierra gulped and looked around. Sierra¡¯s feelings were a little encouraged at the thought that it might be thest time she would walk through this splendid mansion. From the high-rise spire, the flooring made of luxurious marble, the tapestry carefully crafted by artisans to prevent the cold from seeping through the wall, to the old and valuable art pieces that were skillfully maintained every day. ¡°I will never forget it.¡± ¡°What, Miss Sierra?¡± the maid asked, puzzled. ¡°Even if I have to leave this duke¡¯s mansion.¡± As if answering Sierra¡¯s secret thoughts, the maid also smiled and spoke cautiously. ¡°Miss Sierra¡¯s dazzling spirit of sacrifice demonstrated at the duke¡¯s mansion.¡± ¡®¡­A dazzling spirit of sacrifice? Did I do that?¡¯ Sierra was confused for a moment, and the maid stopped walking as well. ¡°Even the unsparing efforts you gave to His Excellency, Duke Cassius Ideos.¡± ¡®¡­ Is this about me?¡¯ The maid was praising her too much, which made her secretly pleased. ¡®When am I going to enjoy this luxury again?¡¯ The thought of finally leaving the residence of Duke Ideos made her feel somewhat lonely. Sierra smiled proudly. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll do it.¡± It is the era of self-appeal. Sierra nodded and entered the annex where the doctors were staying. For some reason, even this space felt bare. *** Early that morning, before Sierra entered. Cassius heard that the paternity test results came out before Sierra. He had been having a rather dreary day and sat opposite to his godmother. Their eyes met. ¡°What will you do if you aren¡¯t the father?¡± Cassius smiled. ¡°It¡¯s me, whatever¡­ I don¡¯t really care.¡± ¡®Depending on the results of today¡¯s result, maybe we should turn the godmother into an enemy.¡¯ The godmother stared intently at Cassius. ¡°I¡¯ve already lived enough.¡± It was an ambiguous statement. In the first ce, he didn¡¯t know that this might be the case because the character of the godmother itself was not a person who confided in others. Cassius, who looked down at the steaming teacup, answered his words. ¡°Exactly what are you talking about?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m about sixty years old, I have no intention of meddling in the family.¡± ¡°Does that mean that you won¡¯t interfere with Sierra in any way?¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯ve never thought of the assumption that Hanael isn¡¯t your child.¡± At the words of the godmother, Cassius smiled softly. ¡°No.¡± His mouth loosened. The godmother had a rather hard and stubborn face, but their thoughts werergely the same. ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± Until then, Cassius¡¯s teacup, unlike the godmother¡¯s, was empty. He chuckled as he filled half of it. ¡°Even this ck tea is Sierra¡¯s love.¡± Already, the duke¡¯s mansion had been customized ording to Sierra¡¯s taste, and she could have it all if she wanted. And Cassius wanted that, but Sierra currently didn¡¯t seem to want anything¡­ Cassius sighed and closed his eyes. The godmother, who was watching him, carefully opened his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m afraid for you when you lose her.¡± Cassius snapped, ¡°That won¡¯t happen.¡± The godmother looked at Cassius with a pitiful gaze, but Cassius¡¯s expression remained stiff and emotionless, unlike before. ¡°It will never happen.¡± He had already lost Sierra once, and he lived without dying for five years. Like an addict, he always thirsted for affection when he was with Sierra. His life was already pledged to her. A small knock was heard from the closed door. ¡°Duke Ideos, this is Hentel, the doctor of Hippo Kingdom.¡± Cassius, who was looking at the doorway, frowned slightly. ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened with a clicking sound, and behind Hentel, who walked proudly with a waving white beard, there were doctors carrying a paternity test kit. ¡®Indeed¡­¡¯ Cassius, who had never been nervous even in front of a monster, was very nervous at this moment. He looked at the faces of the doctors who were sitting next to each other on the sofa. Kilo had a cynical expression on his face, Ranya¡¯s was excited, while Hentel¡¯s was unreadable. Could it be that Hanael was not his child, as Sierra said? The results were due to be revealed today. ¡°Sierra will be here soon.¡± He closed his eyes and opened them again. ¡°Let¡¯s wait together.¡± The tea in the teacup that he had just poured was already cold. *** Sierra hummed and entered the annex. As the maid said, everyone was already there. The godmother looked at Sierra and jumped up with a look of restlessness. ¡°Come here, sweetheart.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°It was very colding here, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Sierra shrugged her shoulders and shook her head, but the godmother made a pitiful face, The brush wrapped around Sierra¡¯s shoulder. ¡°¡­?¡± The doctors watched the bewildering behavior of the godmother, famous for his nobility. But there was something more wonderful. Cassius sat next to Sierra and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s your favorite rose-scented tea.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± Sierra and Cassius looked at each other and smiled. The doctors were stunned, unable to adjust to the mysterious atmosphere of the three. Obviously, this mansion of Ideos must be a space familiar with aristocratic and ss culture¡­ Sierra, amoner and a woman who was even offered a paternity test, seemed toofortable. Besides, she was talking informally to the Duke. With a low voice, he said, ¡°¡­I thought you were looking at me like a ghost.¡± Cassius¡¯ manners had be quite natural with Sierra recently. Therefore, they did not notice that it was strange for a nobleman to treat amoner like that in front of others. ¡®Well, this ends today.¡¯ Sierra stared forward again, struggling to find herposure. Noticing Sierra¡¯s reaction, Cassius looked to the doctors ¡°Now then, let¡¯s brief the paternity test results.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± First of all, Hentel began to exin seriously. ¡°This step-by-step test is estimated to be more than 80 percent urate and has been tested in animals and clinically in humans.¡± Hentel talked extensively about the effectiveness of paternity testing. But Sierra had no idea. Because if that paternity test was really a proper test, it would definitely catch the fact that there was no direct biological rtionship between Sierra, Hanael, and Cassius. Sierra yawned a little, and Cassius asked the doctors to start with the basics. ¡°Hanael is rted to Sierra.¡± ¡®Of course, she¡¯s my sister¡¯s daughter.¡¯ No matter how much she looked at him, he had a great talent for creating tension. If she hadn¡¯t firmly believed that Hanael wasn¡¯t her daughter, Sierra would have waited with tension in her hands too. ¡°As a result of the examination, a blue wave suspected of being rted by blood was revealed. Now, the next question is whether the Duke and Hanael are rted.¡± That was the point. Sierra yawned inwardly. It was a little sad. Now, thinking that today was the end of this luxurious experience of all the things she liked¡­ ¡°Hanael¡¯s blue wavelength and Cassius¡¯s magic wavelength. If you check it, you¡¯ll know¡­¡± Sierra stared at the doctor¡¯s test strip with narrowed eyes. In the diagram on the left, the wavelength of Hanael¡¯s magic was recorded, and in the diagram on the right, the wavelength of Cassius¡¯ magic was recorded. ¡®¡­Wait a minute, I think it¡¯s simr? Isn¡¯t it?¡¯ Sierra paused for a moment. But that couldn¡¯t be the case, she sank into the sofa with a little more peace of mind. ¡°¡­and more than 80% simrity was derived, so it was confirmed that the paternity was correct.¡± ¡­Wait a minute, was it true that they were rted? Her eyes were as round as saucers. ¡®What is this situation¡­?¡¯ Things that Sierra did not foresee continued to unfold. The only good thing was that Hanael wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡± He tried to stay calm, but there were signs of happiness and regret. Sierra didn¡¯t want to see Cassius fall apart. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Sierra.¡± Ranya and Kilo looked at Sierra with a sorry expression. ¡°¡­I think I heard it wrong, but can you tell me one more time?¡± Ranya looked at Sierra and read the test paper again clearly. ¡°ording to the results of the first test with more than 80 percent uracy.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hanael is the daughter of Duke Cassius and Miss Sierra.¡± Hanael is the daughter of Duke Cassius and Miss Sierra. Hanael is Duke Cassius¡¯ and Miss Sierra¡¯s¡­ Hanael is¡­ The words echoed in her head. It was only then that Sierra looked around during that dreadful day. Even the godmother, who looked at Sierra with pity, and Cassius, who seemed to cry at any moment¡­ ¡®What, is it real? Isn¡¯t that a joke? Am I really wrong?¡¯ ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 37 - Finding Out The Secret Of Her Birth Trantor: Yonnee ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 37 ¨C Finding Out The Secret Of Her Birth Sierra¡¯s mouth was agape. This situation was just absurd¡­ but she couldn¡¯t say anything to refute it. The results were suspicious enough, but the most suspicious ones were¡­ ¡®These doctors¡ªno, are they quacks?¡¯ Sierra looked around the room. Everyone seemed to trust the results of the test without a doubt, all except Sierra. She coughed a few times and eventually stuttered. ¡°S-So then¡­¡± Everyone¡¯s attention was brought to Sierra right then. They waited fervently for her next words, as if they were listening to a cardinal¡¯s oration of the holy doctrine. Everyone was looking only at her, but Sierra couldn¡¯t find the right words. ¡®This is crazy¡­ What kind of situation is this even??¡¯ It was too strange. ¡®She¡¯s not her daughter, but they¡¯re saying she actually is? What?¡¯ Watching as Sierra opened and closed her mouth without saying anything, Cassius spoke in a low tone. ¡°¡­So then?¡± While everyone¡¯s eyes were still on Sierra, she turned her head to the Godmother, who was holding Sierra¡¯s hand gently, then to Cassius, who stared at her with a serious look on his face, then to the old doctor Hentel and the twin doctors Lanya and Kilo. Sienna carefully retracted her hand from the Godmother¡¯s grasp and thought of several things at once. ¡®I don¡¯t understand. Perhaps Cassius¡­? Cassius bought them off?¡¯ ¡°I have a question.¡± Sierra tried to clear her throat before speaking, but her voice still trembled, conveying her turbulent thoughts. ¡°Did you maybe¡­ receive any money?¡± Well, of course, she tried to beat around the bush, but she went ahead and asked if there was any chance that these doctors had been bought off, or even just rumors alluding to them being quacks. Not long ago, she had realized how deep exactly Cassius¡¯ affection for her was, so at the back of her mind, she had some suspicions that even the results of the paternity test could be manipted. ¡®Actually, Cassius doesn¡¯t seem to be the type of person to buy people off, but the world has changed, so¡­¡¯ Yet Cassius was the righteous type, and he really wasn¡¯t one to use money like this for his own benefit. However, if these doctors were really either quacks or bought off, Sierra was adamant to make them spill the truth and confess. Her eyes glowed insidiously. ¡°Of course, we will be getting a small amount aspensation. But the results are nevertheless urate.¡± The doctor¡¯s voice was powerfully confident. Faced with this bizarre situation, Sierra desperately needed some time alone. That quack¡­ No. First, she should have raised questions about the credibility and effectiveness of the paternity test that these doctors created. ¡°The kit. May I have a look?¡± ¡°Sierra.¡± ¡°¡­Huh? No, um, yes, Your Grace?*¡± ¡°This is only the first stage of the test. There are still two more stages remaining, so¡­ We¡¯ll still have to see.¡± Looking into Cassius¡¯ eyes, she tried to nod and agree with him, but she paused. No, why even say that when¡­ ¡®Cassius, you look like you¡¯re about to cry¡­!¡¯ Of course, the paternity test that was developed by the most trustworthy doctors had a result of 80%, that¡¯s why Cassius also thought that Hanael was really his daughter. At one side, even the Godmother was wiping her tears with a handkerchief. ¡°How hard must have been for you, baby and Sierra¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Even if she said it wasn¡¯t difficult, it wouldn¡¯t work on these people. Sierra looked at the Godmother with a nk look on her face. ¡°That won¡¯t be the case anymore. I¡¯ll protect you from now on.¡± The doctors were supposed to clear all suspicions of Cassius being Hanael¡¯s father. But the paternity test just made the misunderstanding even worse. Sierra looked at the doctors with a sharp gaze, retracting her hand that she held out while asking for a sample of the test kit. ¡®This wasn¡¯t my n!¡¯ ¡°I would like to talk to the doctors for a moment.¡± ¡°Huh? What is it, Sierra?¡± Looking at the Godmother first, then at Hentel, Sierra spoke with emphasis. ¡°I need to talk to you for a moment.¡± It was time for a serious conversation. * * * The doctors and Sierra were left alone so they could talk, only after the sensitive Cassius and Godmother had finally calmed down. ¡¯Child, I¡¯ll give you the whole world.¡¯ ¡®No, you don¡¯t have to give me the whole world¡­ You should take it easy¡­¡¯ ¡®Sierra, you¡¯re too agitated. Let¡¯s rest for now.¡¯ ¡®No, I¡¯m not agitated at all. I¡¯m very calm right now.¡¯ Sierra had a hard time soothing both the Godmother and Cassius, especially thetter¡¯s tears. Then after a while, only four people were left in the room. Lanya and Kilo looked at Sierra with glittering eyes. But Sierra returned that look with a cold stare. ¡®I¡¯m sure. I¡¯m sure of it.¡¯ These people must truly be quacks. Sierra uttered her words one at a time as she stared down at the doctors sternly, looking as though she was about to grab them by the cor. ¡°Look here. I need to check that paternity test of yours.¡± Sierra doubled down on her re and spoke straightforwardly. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± The twin doctors were startled, at which Sierra suddenly wondered if they were angry that their medical innovation was being suspected. But Kilo answered kindly, with only a hint of curiosity in his voice. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone doubt our skills!¡± ¡­Sierra didn¡¯t expect such a flippant response, so she felt unbnced. However, Lanya looked at Sierra and said kindly. ¡°It¡¯s not the Kingdom of Hippo¡¯s¡­ Anyway, please check it yourself.¡± ¡°Show me.¡± Sierra decided to check the paternity test kit for the first stage. * * * A few hourster, she returned to her room after examining the kit, bringing along all three doctors with her. Sierra realized that there were no ws to the kit, so she was trying to control her reactions for now. ¡°These guys are geniuses¡­¡± Sierra sighed deeply. There was only one thing left in her arsenal¡ªthe potion of truth. And the second stage of the paternity test. ¡®I should assume for now with a reasonable doubt against the results because, after all, the kit is still under development.¡¯ Sierra decided that there was definitely an error in the results of the first stage of the test. She called in the doctors, crossed her legs and spoke haughtily. ¡°I would like you to drink the potion of truth and swear that this kit is truly legitimate.¡± The potion of truth was a drug designed to make the person who drank it speak only of the truth. The doctors shrugged as they looked at Sierra, as though they expected this. ¡°I apologize, but the three of us have already taken the potion of truth.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like you to drink the potion that I myself specially formted.¡± Sierra nodded towards the table solemnly. On the table were three bottles of the potion, all of them about the size of an index finger. Her potion of truth had ten times more efficacy than the usual, and she had tested this before. Kilo, Lania and Hentel¡¯s eyes trembled. ¡°Amazing. I¡¯ve never seen a potion of truth that¡¯s green.¡± After this remark, they each took a bottle and swallowed the contents. Their eyes clearly sparkled with the curiosity of a schr, not even holding any doubts toward it. Sierra gulped as she looked at them. Sierra knew that the potion would work the moment it went down a person¡¯s throat. She looked at them and coughed to alleviate her own tension. ¡°Now, tell me about the paternity test kit.¡± ¡°Our paternity kit had been manufactured with great care, and it had undergone a number of clinical trials to test it. I swear on my honor as a schr that there are no ws to the test.¡± ¡°Of course, there may be some errors, but¡­¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s why the other two stages of the test are there to fill in the gaps.¡± Listening to Hentel, Kilo and Lanya, Sierra buried her face in her hands as she was lost in thought. ¡®It¡¯s real. At this point, there¡¯s no one who can defend me and tell the truth apart from my sister.¡¯ Of course, she could just wait two more months for the next two stages of the test. However¡­ ¡®Will anyone still believe the results of the next two stages when there¡¯s already an unofficial announcement that he¡¯s the real father from the first stage¡¯s results?!¡¯ Of course, it was known that the paternity test had three stages in total, and thetter two had better reliabilitypared to the first stage. But wouldn¡¯t it all just be better if her sister appeared and exined everything? Sierra was sure that she¡¯d lose her voice while waiting for the results of all three stages of the test. ¡°Yes, alright. Then let¡¯s proceed with the second stage of the test.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± They bowed towards Sierra. Hentel and Kilo left first, but Lanya was left behind with her head still bowed. Then, she raised her head and frowned. ¡°Oh, Ms. Sierra.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I read the note.¡± Sierra was about to ask what she was talking about, but she paused. Lanya was clearly talking about the patient who had the Amolta disease. Sierra didn¡¯t have the chance to say anything before Lanya stepped out the door with a smile on her lips. As the door clicked shut, Sierra thought to herself. ¡®If there¡¯s no way to disprove their credibility¡­ then naturally, I should question the reliability of their paternity kit.¡¯ Sierra stared at the closed door and gritted her teeth. The only way to prove that Hanael wasn¡¯t her daughter was to prove that those doctors were quacks. Either that, or she should drag her sister here. She had always been supportive of her sister¡¯s carefree way of living, so even if she was being misunderstood by other people, she didn¡¯t mind that her sister didn¡¯t visit since she respected her sister¡¯s will. But this time¡­ ¡°Sister¡­¡± There was an emergency now. Alone in the room, Sierra spoke to herself drearily. ¡°You told me to do whatever I can, right? Then, I will.¡± Her sister, Amil, was clearly a genius of her own right. She was an archmage and was the second-inmand of the great Magic Tower. But on the other hand, Sierra was also a genius in pharmacology. And medicine was one of her specialties. The range of her own skills were much wider than Amil thought. ¡®Now that it¡¯s like this, I¡¯ll just have to grab your hair and drag you here to prove it.¡¯ Sierra clenched her fist with an insidious smile. ¡®First, let¡¯s look and see if she¡¯s had any contact with Duke Ideos.¡¯ Sierra¡¯s mind was on hyperdrive as she thought of ways to prove her innocence. She jumped up from her seat and headed out the door. ¡ª¡ª tl/n: Sierra was speaking to Cassius informally at first, but she caught herself and switched to formalnguage. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 38 - What Do You Mean, A Proposal? Trantor: Yonnee ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 38 ¨C What Do You Mean, A Proposal? Before stepping out the door, Sierra paused. Come to think of it, instead of going out right away, she should make a discernment potion first and send a letter to Abel. ¡®First, I need to make a potion that could detect the traces of someone¡¯s past.¡¯ Each person had their own mana wavelength, especially so when it came to Amil since she¡¯s an archmage. Because Amil was aware of this as well, she was adept at covering her traces, but Sierra had known her since birth, so she would definitely notice traces of her sister¡¯s mana wavelength no matter how faint. Now that she had decided to look for her sister, she was confident that everything might get solved easily. Sierra clenched her fist and assured herself. ¡°First of all, make the potion. Then, I¡¯ll spray it around to look for your traces.¡± ¡®Should I add a spoonful of violets and sugar, along with other formtions?¡¯ Being a pharmaceutical genius, Sierra¡¯s quickly flitted through a catalogue of potions and ingredients in her mind. She hummed as she thought of violets, sugar and Potena roots as she opened the door to the huge medicinal warehouse next to her room. Inhaling the sharp scent of herbs in the warehouse, Sierra smiled and spoke to herself. ¡°Thank you, Cassius.¡± Potena roots were difficult toe by and very expensive. When Sierra was a pharmacist in the rural vige, she couldn¡¯t get ahold of any Potena roots so she could make better potions. However, Sierra now had Cassius as a strong backer, who even built this inventory for her. ¡®Thank you, for making everything easier, Cassius. It¡¯s a bit ironic, but¡­¡¯ She sat at her work table with the Potena roots, sugar and violets in her hands, then proceeded to make the potion by carefully measuring and mixing the right ratio. After she was done formting it, she sighed deeply. ¡®I¡¯m almost done with the reagent for testing.¡¯ Now, it was time to write to Abel. She grabbed a piece of paper and a quill, then wrote down in an aggressive cursive lettering. ¡¸ Abel, you don¡¯t even have to catch her. Just find my sister¡¯s approximate location. From now on, I¡¯ll find her myself. You cane back to the Duke¡¯s estate, too, so we can kill¡­ so we can find her together. ¡¹ After she was done writing the letter, she called a small messenger bird and tied the note to its leg. The ribbon used to tie the letter was red. Sierra patted the bird, recalling where Abel was now. But as though the bird was incensed, it flew away seemingly with a pout. ¡°Bye-bye, birdy.¡± Sierra suddenly thought about what the Godmother and Cassius were doing while she had examined the paternity test. ¡®I guess I¡¯ll have to say I¡¯ll be out for a while¡­?¡¯ Cassius would definitely be against it. As ast option, Sierra could always just bring him along with her. * * * Sierra didn¡¯te out of her work station until hourster, and she only noticed the time when Hanael, who had finished taking a shower after ying hide and seek with maids, peeked through the door. ¡°It was very, very fun!¡± ¡°Right, I¡¯m sure it was.¡± Sierra liked having the time to formte her potions very much, but she looked at Hanael with a big smile and embraced the child. ¡°Hanael, should we go to bed now?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ Hanael is tired¡­¡± With Hanael still in her arms, Sierra walked to the bedroom, but as she nced at the doorway, she froze. There were maids lined up in front of her with their shoulders tense. No matter how dense Sierra was sometimes, the maids¡¯ expressions right now were far too suspicious. Their smiles were so big, stretching up to their ears like a clown, seeming as though they were straining themselves. ¡®W-What¡¯s with that look¡­¡¯ They already smiled at Sierra usually, but this time it was just too much. Sierra stared at them with a curious look. Meanwhile, Hanael plopped down and ran to the door. Without a chance to catch Hanael as she ran away quickly, the maid asked Sierra with an awkward smile, her eye slightly twitching. ¡°That, well¡­ Would you like ate-night snack?¡± ¡°N-No thank you.¡± The head maid took one step forward, and Sierra tried to step back, but there was a wall behind her. Sierra looked at the head maid who was more than a head taller than her and thought carefully. ¡®What¡¯s this¡­ Why does it feel like I¡¯m being cornered¡­?¡¯ As she contemted, the head maid mumbled with a low voice, a light smile still on her face. ¡°Miss Sierra, I think there will be good news soon.¡± ¡°What good news? What are you talking about?¡± The head maid, as though she was selling illegal substances, dropped her voice to a hush. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if the Miss will believe it, but I think the Duke is preparing a proposal.¡± ¡°¡­Huuuh?¡± ¡°This is extremely fortunate. Right, Miss?¡± Sierra was dumbfounded, but the head maid continued to look at her with a gleam in her eyes. ¡®Propose?! How ridiculous!¡¯ Cold sweat dropped like bullets. Rubbing her strained eyes that were tired because she made potions all day, Sierra muttered softly. ¡°So then¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s a secret. Okay?¡± Was she for real? Towards amoner¡ªno, towards a semi-noble. A Duke was going to propose to a semi-noble? In the first ce, that wouldn¡¯t be possible without ignoring the established hierarchy of nobles. If they weren¡¯t talking about Duke Ideos, Sierra would have said this was all just nonsense. But, after seeing Cassius¡¯ behavior these past few weeks and realizing how he looked at her¡­ It wasn¡¯t so far-fetched¡­ Sierra couldn¡¯t properly adapt to the atmosphere in this overprotective Ducal estate. There was still some time left before Abel¡¯s reply, so there was only one thing that¡¯s important for Sierra. Going to Cassius Ideos right now and stopping his proposal. Let¡¯s do that first! * * * ¡°¡­I heard about it.¡± Sierra was sitting opposite Cassius, and for five minutes before she spoke, there was a prolonged silence between them. What Cassius had in his hands was Sierra¡¯s favorite cookie, but after he heard what she said, he answered. ¡°What about, Sierra?¡± He didn¡¯t understand what she said because she couldn¡¯t say the embarrassing word ¡®propose¡¯ right away. His eyes became curious after she continued to hesitate. Sighing deeply, Sierra bit her lip, then muttered quietly. ¡°I¡­ I heard you¡¯re p-p-proposing to me.¡± ¡°¡­I can¡¯t let things stand like it is, so I thought this would be a good alternative.¡± At that, Sierra said inly, ¡°A Duke should not marry amoner. Even a semi-noble wouldn¡¯t be suitable.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± ¡®Then are you going to try and make me a noble? That¡¯s not going to work either.¡¯ Of course, this was supposed to be impossible, but knowing how Cassius had been acting so far, it might just be possible. But Sierra immediately rebuked him. ¡°¡­You know, even if you try to make me a noble, ording to thew, you still can¡¯t marry amoner who was adopted by a noble.¡± Hearing Sierra¡¯s words, Cassius ced the cookie back on the table and took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands. Internally, Sierra was startled by the evident grace and elegance that only nobles exuded. In many ways, she thought that this was enough to highlight that the differences between them were like heaven and earth. While Sierra straightened her hair nervously, Cassius smirked and said in a low voice¡ª ¡°No. I will abolish thew that says that people can only marry within the same ss.¡± Sierra was rendered speechless, her mouth wide open. Cassius was more drastic than she expected. He gazed at her carefully, then lifted his hand to caress her forehead gently. ¡°If you want.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The only thing that matters is your consent, Sierra.¡± ¡°Um¡­ I mean¡­¡± It was just as the head maid said. Now that he was perfectly convinced that Hanael was his daughter, Cassius was like an unstoppable runaway lotive. He was even about to abolish aw just to propose. She shouldn¡¯t havee here. ¡®This is getting out of hand.¡¯ Sierra realized. ¡®Because of the paternity test¡¯s inherent legal binding, Hanael and I might not ever be able to leave the mansion.¡¯ And at this rate, Hanael could be taken away. Even if it wasn¡¯t Cassius¡¯ intention, she could be taken away because of the Imperialw. ¡®Godmother and Cassius are fond of me now, so they won¡¯t take Hanael away from me, but¡­¡¯ Due to the bizarre result of the paternity test, the chances of the situation blowing up would definitely inte. Sierra decided to doubt the doctors¡¯ skills for now. ¡®Let¡¯s just make sure for now that they¡¯re not quacks.¡¯ Sierra herself confirmed that there were no problems with the paternity test kit. But you never know. First, she should re-check the doctors¡¯ skills. No matter how much she thought about it, even though they¡¯re known doctors, she had no choice but to question their abilities in case they made any oversights with the paternity test. After that, she¡¯d need to haul her sister here as her witness. * * * Early morning the next day, the annex where the doctors were staying was in an uproar because of a surprise visit. Currently, Hentel was in a secluded room as he was reevaluating the results of the first stage¡¯s results once more, and at the same time was preparing for the second stage. And like Hentel, the twin doctors were busy at work as well. That morning, they were packing up their stethoscopes and other equipment into their doctors¡¯ bags because they were on their way to treat Marchioness Andante Mails. They were especially summoned just to treat her. If it weren¡¯t for the unexpected visit at the annex, the busy doctors would have gone on their day as usual. However, just as Kilo and Lanya were about to go out the door with their bags in hand¡­ They found Sierra standing there, wearing ck clothes as though she were in mourning. ¡°I would like to see the patient as well.¡± Kilo and Lanya looked at each other with startled faces. It was too much of a convenient timing because they were really just about to meet the Marchioness. ¡°¡­I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not possible, Miss Sierra.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t I deserve to see the patient, too? I¡¯ve diagnosed her with the Amolta disease.¡± Sierra¡¯s confident attitude left Kilo and Lanya speechless. ¡°You¡¯ll also need a pharmacist to assist you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Lanya¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity. ¡°Alright, you cane with us. But won¡¯t you need to hide your identity?¡± Sierra nodded. ¡®Easy peasy.¡¯ Sierra hid her eyes behind one hand. ¡°It won¡¯t be hard to hide my identity if I do this.¡± With her eyes covered, Kilo staggered on his feet. Her eyes were fired up with determination. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 39 - A Benefactor Out Of The Blue? Trantor: Yonnee ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 39 ¨C A Benefactor Out Of The Blue? Cassius and his Godmother were already looking forward to it, and Sierra almost got swept away by the festive mood in the Ducal estate, but she was a spirit. She wouldn¡¯t be able to live as a Duchess, nor would she be able to leave Hanael who¡¯ll be a Duke¡¯s daughter. ¡®I can¡¯t wait one more month. I have too much to do.¡¯ ¡°Please refrain from calling me Sierra.¡± ¡°¡­Then how about dressing up as our assistant? They¡¯ll be expecting us to bring one anyway.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do that.¡± Sierra wore a veiled hat to cover her face, and an assistant¡¯s coat over her dress. Unfortunately, or fortunately, everyone at the estate was preupied with matters concerning her, so she managed to slip away with this meager disguise. ¡®I¡¯ll treat the patient for sure.¡¯ Sierra smiled secretly. Whoever the patient was, Sierra would be sure to treat them. And if the doctors from the Hippo Kingdom misdiagnose the patient, she¡¯d be ready to point out all of the inuracies. She even had a recording artifact in her pocket. She ced some in other herbal pouches as well for back-up. With her eyes glimmering, she climbed the carriage. Finally, she could prove her ownpetence. It was finally time to go see the patient. * * * At Marquis Mails¡¯ mansion and inside the room of Marchioness Andante, the smell of medicine was overpowering. Sierra, wearing a magical veil hat to hide her identity, stood behind the doctors and looked around with a heavy feeling. ¡®Then¡­ The special patient was Marchioness Andante?¡¯ Sierra, who was determined about not getting caught, stood at the back like a ghost, trying not to draw any attention to herself. It was a good thing that her face was covered by a veil, and with the spell cast on it, she had no problems seeing in front of her. Andante was sitting up on her bed, leaning on the headboard with a maid standing beside her, not noticing Sierra at all. Sometimes, one of the doctors would nce back at her, but that was all. There was already another doctor beside the Marchioness as well, one that surely had treated other people from Marquisates and Dukedoms, but she even called for doctors from the Hippo Kingdom¡­ ¡°Before I talk about my illness.¡± While Lanya and Kilo had bowed to the Marchioness ording to Imperial custom, Andante solemnly asked¡ª ¡°Who is that suspicious woman behind you covering her face?¡± ¡­It seemed impossible to avoid the sharp gaze of the Marchioness of Mails. Sierra bowed, further lowering the veil. Then, Lanya stepped forward first. ¡°Our assistant is also from the Hippo Kingdom. She wears a veil because she is embarrassed to show a hideous burn to the Marchioness.¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± Andante¡¯s suspicious gaze was still on Sierra, and in a hurry, Sierra spoke as well. ¡°T-That¡¯s right.¡± ¡®Is a burn on my face a good enough excuse¡­¡¯ Sierra, who had already prepared a myriad of excuses beforehand, looked at Lanya with a bitter gaze. The conscience-stricken Lanya turned away from Sierra, wiping the cold sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand. ¡®Even if you say it¡¯s a burn, knowing Andante¡¯s temper, she¡¯ll tell me to take off the veil this instant. You should¡¯ve said a different excuse!¡¯ Surprisingly though, Andante didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, her gaze on Sierra burned even deeper. ¡°A simr voice¡­ Haa, no, what am I thinking? Alright, let me hear your diagnosis first.¡± Sierra decided to observe quietly, her eyes sparkling. The symptoms alone pointed to the Amolta disease, and she confirmed it properly, so it¡¯s time to check these doctors¡¯ skills. Leaning against the headboard, Andante opened her lips and said almost urgently, ¡°Last time I was diagnosed with the Amolta disease, and you gave me medicine.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± It seemed like they¡¯d already discussed the Amolta disease. Sierra observed the situation in front of her, excited. The doctor by the Marchioness¡¯ side had a generous look on his face as he rubbed his mustache. ¡°I knew it was the Amolta disease! As expected, the medical advancements in the Hippo Kingdom are truly astounding.¡± Lanya and Kilo looked at each other and smiled, then nodded. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure that¡¯s an exaggeration, but thank you.¡± But their pleasant talk was immediately swept away by Andante¡¯s deep sigh. Then, she began to speak in a quiet voice. ¡°The symptoms have improved considerably, and I don¡¯t vomit blood that much anymore, but¡­¡± ¡°But¡­?¡± Feeling ominous, Kilo took a step closer to the bed. Andante bit her lip as Kilo went forward, then she slightly raised her dress to show her ankles. ¡°¡­I still have bruises on my ankles. No, they got even darker.¡± It was amon side effect for the medication for Amolta. But Sierra felt that something was out of ce. Standing at the back like an invisible sack of barley, she went on her tiptoes to look over the shoulders of the maid, the doctor, Kilo and Lanya, who were all huddling by the bed. Then, over Lanya¡¯s shoulder, the Marchioness¡¯ ck and blue legs were seen. As a noblewoman, her ears were red with shame knowing that she had exposed her legs, but even so, she was determined. ¡°The bruises got thicker.¡± It was an astute observation. It was obvious that if it was truly the Amolta disease, not only bruises would form, but even keratin would gloss over. Of course, there¡¯s a chance that the Hippo Kingdom¡¯s doctors didn¡¯t follow her prescription¡­ ¡°The bruise did? But that¡¯s¡­ The prescription shouldn¡¯t have done that.¡± ¡°May I take a closer look, Marchioness?¡± Recalling the prescription she gave to Lanya and Kilo, she looked over to the potions at the bedside table. As she remembered, those doctors must have followed her instructions. So there¡¯s one remaining option left¡­ ¡®¡­Wait a minute. Is the Marchioness¡¯ illness really the Amolta disease?¡¯ Lanya and Kilo were busy examining the Marchioness¡¯ body and checking her breathing once again. As Sierra listened to their conversation, she decided toment on what she thought about the illness. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s strange. It certainly seems like the Amolta disease, but¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s the Amolta disease! What else could it be if not that?¡± ¡°This assistant¡­ What makes you say that?¡± ¡°The Amolta disease is easy to heal once it¡¯s been diagnosed. But this bruise¡­¡± ¡°The best way to get rid of the bruises is to mix azalea with salt and olives!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, but¡­¡± As she listened to the doctor¡¯s exmations while Lanya and Kilo talked to him, Sierra frowned slightly. ¡®The symptoms definitely point towards Amolta. That¡¯s the case, but¡­¡¯ rm bells were going off in her head. Her eyes fixed on the Marchioness¡¯ unstable gaze and slightly opened lips. As her lips were slightly opened, mouth sores were revealed inside her lips. ¡®Mouth sores? That¡¯s an unexpected sympt¡ªwait a minute.¡¯ Sierra grimaced and stepped forward. Kilo, who noticed her, looked at Sierra and asked her. ¡°Is there a problem, Miss Sie¡ªno, assistant?¡± ¡°Pardon me. I need to check something.¡± As Sierra approached the bedside, the Marchioness¡¯ doctor red at her with his arms crossed, clearly expressing his disapproval. ¡°Know your ce as an assistant!¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m merely an assistant, but I may be an assistant who can get to the bottom of this illness.¡± ¡°¡­The Amolta disease will be healed soon after taking the prescription a few times!¡± ¡®You don¡¯t even know whose hand made that prescription.¡¯ Sierra inwardlyughed, then shrugged. ¡°Even if it¡¯s truly not the Amolta disease?¡± ¡°¡­W-What?¡± The doctor grabbed the back of his neck and cast her a re of suspicion, but Sierra shifted her eyes towards the Marchioness instead. Beyond the thick veil, she saw the Marchioness¡¯ face. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s hear it.¡± ¡°M-Madam.¡± ¡°I said I want to listen to this assistant.¡± ¡°A-Alright¡­¡± After gaining Andante¡¯s approval, her doctor grunted and huffed. Whether the doctor liked it or not, Sierra gently touched the bulging veins on the Marchioness¡¯ legs. She was skeptical about the bluish bruises on top of those bulging veins. ¡®I¡¯m not a doctor, but¡­¡¯ Sierra looked over at the Marchioness¡¯ face as she pressed down on the bruises. It didn¡¯t look like she was holding back in pain, and instead, she remained aloof. Of course, putting pressure on bruises wouldn¡¯t necessarily make all people feel pain¡­ Sierra contemted for a while before she spoke. ¡°This bruise is a symptom of addiction.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes were on her, including Andante, who sat still without expecting much from Sierra¡¯s words. But after she spoke, everyone except for Lanya and Kilo froze. The expressions of the maid, the doctor and Andante were all stiff. ¡°What¡­ are you talking about? Do you even know what you¡¯re saying? Addiction?!¡± Sierra didn¡¯t stop despite Andante¡¯s shouting. ¡°I¡¯m sure of it. It¡¯s an addiction disguised as the Amolta disease.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s not possible!¡± The Marquisate¡¯s family doctor stared at Sierra with a puzzled look. Andante was also gnashing her teeth at her. ¡°What¡¯s your reasoning?¡± Sierra nodded and answered with a sure tone. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s certainly an addiction. Shall I present the signs?¡± Sierra¡¯s eyes shone keenly. The doctor, who was staring nkly at Sierra, suddenly yelled harshly. ¡°How dare you! You shut your mouth!¡± But Sierra was never the type to be intimidated by others. She clenched her fist and shook her head with a grim expression. They might not be able to see her face well under the veil, but everyone could feel her resolve. ¡°I¡¯m not just an ordinary assistant. I am Lanya and Kilo¡¯s assistant. Doctor, the Marchioness herself allowed me to speak!¡± Andante stepped forward, and at that, the doctor couldn¡¯t speak further. He coughed in vain and with a red face, he said, ¡°¡­H-How dare you¡­¡­¡± Lanya stepped forward as well and restrained the doctor. ¡°Marchioness, I guarantee it. This assistant has exceptional abilities. Please leave it to her.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± As if incensed by Andante¡¯s attitude, the doctor opened his mouth and pointed tantly at Sierra. ¡°What if the Madam doesn¡¯t have any addiction?!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± When Sierra hesitated, the doctor, who had backed down for a second, straightened his shoulders again and returned to his arrogance. He was convinced that no one else couldpare to himself, especially not these two doctors and this assistant from the Hippo Kingdom. He even held high positions in all famous medical schools and was often called by the Royal family. ¡®Well, sir doctor, you¡¯re looking pretty suspicious right now.¡¯ Sierra internally sneered at him. If he had enough gall to provoke another person, then it would only be right for Sierra to respond by shutting him down. ¡°Then I¡¯ll put my own life on the line. It¡¯s addiction.¡± As though Sierra pulled the pin from a live bomb with this extreme remark, the atmosphere in the room was thrown into a spiral. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 40 - Her Identity Revealed Trantor: Yonnee ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 40 ¨C Her Identity Revealed ¡°You want to bet¡­ your own life?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Unexpectedly calm, Andante stared at Sierra. On the other hand, the doctor was at a loss for words. Sierra looked at the doctor, then turned to Kilo and Lanya, who were standing next to her. In a stupor, both their mouths were agape. ¡°No, but¡ª!¡± Among the three doctors, it was Lanya who first came to her senses. She hurriedly grabbed Sierra¡¯s arm and shook her head, then mouthed, ¡®Why would you say that!¡¯ Sierra didn¡¯t back down. She soundlessly replied and mouthed in return, ¡®What do you mean? Because it¡¯s weird.¡¯ She didn¡¯t know what kind of feuds the nobles had amongst them, but there was a dangerous person who was poisoning Andante, and they could pose a threat to Cassius as well. After all, the Marquisate of Mails was inseparable from the Dukedom of Ideos. ¡®Andante is Andante, but Cassius could also be in danger. I believe in my skills, so I have no thoughts of backing down.¡¯ Cassius was, in a way, Sierra¡¯s benefactor. Additionally, Andante had suffered from a misunderstanding that still bothered Sierra until now. The Marchioness did nothing wrong. Looking back, Sierra was obliged topensate for it. ¡®Besides, she¡¯s a sick patient. As a pharmacist, I have an obligation to help her.¡¯ Persistent, Sierra stared at Andante again and spoke. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve put my life on the line, it¡¯s the Marchioness¡¯ turn to decide whether or not you¡¯d like to listen to me. Would you like to hear the reasoning behind my diagnosis?¡± Sierra endured Andante¡¯s burning gaze. Soon, her lips opened. ¡°¡­If you¡¯re truly ready to risk your life.¡± At that remark, Sierra gave her a bleak smile. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s how confident I am.¡± ¡°Hoo¡­¡± ¡°And, you know, Madam¡­¡± Sierra approached the bedside without anyone stopping her this time, and calmly spoke. ¡°If it turns out right that it¡¯s addiction, shouldn¡¯t the person who poisoned the Madam also give up their neck?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Madam, what do you think?¡± Andante listened to Sierra and contemted what she just said. The Marchioness stared sharply at Sierra, perhaps trying to see behind the veil. ¡°Yes, I agree. The perpetrator must pay. Now tell me, how did youe to that conclusion?¡± Andante¡¯s permission was finally given. ¡°What is your reasoning?¡± Sierra grinned and looked around. Atst, it was time to tell the truth of the matter. ¡°Now, speak with the conviction of a person with her life on the line. Why is it addiction and not the Amolta disease?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Sierra took out the small recording artifact out of her pocket and pressed it down. ¡®In case of an unexpected situation, I¡¯d better record it.¡¯ Sierra, who paced the room, pursed her lips at the Marchioness¡¯ words. The doctors from the prominent Hippo Kingdom did not seem to expect much. Well, of course they wouldn¡¯t, since even they couldn¡¯t discern that Marchioness Andante Mails indeed did not have the Amolta disease. But Sierra was able to diagnose it. And that was because she inherited the blood of a mage. She was a genius of the century who¡¯s unrivaled in the formtion of medicine because of her pure mana. ¡°On the Madam¡¯s legs are protruding veins and bluish bruises.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°There are also signs of blood clotting.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a typical symptom of the Amolta disease. You haven¡¯t said anything about the supposed addiction itself.¡± Andante stared at Sierra, but Sierra noticed a subtle hint of curiosity in her austere tone. Sierra grinned and rummaged through her pockets, adjusting her veil as well. ¡°It¡¯s true that these aremon symptoms of the Amolta disease. However¡­¡± Sierra searched through her pockets that were full of herbs. ¡°What suspicious things have you¡ª?!¡± The doctor tried to butt in again, but Sierra raised one hand to stop him. After some more rummaging, her hand brushed by a tender petal. ¡®I found it.¡¯ Sierra grinned and took out the herbal pouch, which was full of Feymed flower petals called the ¡®Rose Dawn Leaf¡¯. It was also known by the name of ¡®Transparent Candle¡¯. This was a rare herb that looked like lilies, but unlike lilies, this herb looked transparent, as though it would disappear any moment. ¡°As you can see from its transparency and by the shape of the blooming petals, it¡¯s the Feymed petal. It¡¯smonly used for physiognomy.¡± ¡°Feymed petal? It could be found in our family garden. But why are you bringing it up?¡± Everyone looked puzzled. The doctor even snorted, at which Andante gave him a look. ¡°ording to Melinda, a professor from the Academy of Pharmacology, Feymed petals could also detect poison, just like silver spoons.¡± Sierra¡¯s serious tone restrained the atmosphere from getting disorganized. Andante looked at Lanya, Kilo and her doctor. Both the twin doctors nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°How about you, doctor? What do you think?¡± Sierra had cited Professor Melinda, so he wouldn¡¯t dare refute it. Her keen gaze was on him. ¡°It¡¯s written in her textbook, but if you refute this, then you must admit that you¡¯re foolish.¡± But contrary to Sierra¡¯s expectations, the doctor nodded tauntingly and smiled. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Feymed petals can detect poison. If you put the petals where the poison is, the petal would change color.¡± Now, Sierra approached the Marchioness¡¯ bruised legs and brought over the petals. ¡°These are not bruises formed naturally. It¡¯s a symptom of poison being released on the skin. So if you rub the Feymed petals like this¡­¡± The transparent petals turned blue as though they absorbed the bruises. The Marchioness was dumbfounded. ¡°¡­It¡¯s poisoned. If it¡¯s a normal bruise, then the petals wouldn¡¯t be like this, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Sierra looked up, but the Marchioness¡¯ doctor smiled as though he had found a loophole. ¡°But I¡¯ve already determined whether the Madam was poisoned or not¡ªthat¡¯s what I did first. And how could we believe petals that came from your own pocket? Isn¡¯t this just a trick? You can¡¯t even show your own face!¡± It was certainly a reasonable counterargument. Andante and her maid¡¯s gazes turned to Sierra. The maid was evidently filled with suspicion, but Andante¡¯s expression was unreadable. Sierra shrugged and looked at them in return. ¡°How did you test for poisoning?¡± ¡°Cedar stems, Pelleng buds, and of course, Feymed petals.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Sierra nodded in a rxed manner. ¡°And where are they now?¡± The doctor shook his head, scoffing bitterly. ¡°Ha! Isn¡¯t it natural to throw them away? It¡¯s been a long time since they should have been disposed of.¡± Sierra listened to him and folded her arms. The doctor had been treating Andante for some time now, but he still didn¡¯t know her temperament. Would the Marchioness have let him touch her skin just like that? ¡°No, they weren¡¯t thrown away.¡± ¡­Of course not. Andante was a noble to the core¡ªan austere, highbrowed woman who focused on managing the estate instead of focusing on her husband¡¯s shipping business. ¡°Open the drawer or the bedside table. It contains all the herbs the doctor had listed.¡± ¡®I knew it!¡¯ Thanks to Andante¡¯s meticulous personality, Sierra imed a small victory in this battle. Sierra nodded and took a step closer to the drawer. Meanwhile, the doctor was stomping his feet while muttering to himself restlessly. ¡°T-That¡­ No, Madam!¡± Even with the doctor¡¯s persistent dissuasion, Sierra opened the drawer without any hesitation. There, she found all kinds of herbs, just as Andante said. She looked through the contents and called over Lanya and Kilo. ¡°Isn¡¯t this petal clearly fake? Feymed petals need to be harvested at dawn for them to give off a transparent sheen.¡± Lanya and Kilo discussed among themselves. ¡°Right. This is as white as a lily.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a Feymed petal by anyone¡¯s standards.¡± Lanya and Kilo¡¯s gazes shifted to one person. ¡°Th-th-that¡­¡± The doctor¡¯s forehead was dripping with sweat as he looked around frantically. Sierra stared at him with narrowed eyes, thenughed coldly. ¡°Why are you so flustered?¡± ¡°I-I-I¡¯ve been tricked! I didn¡¯t know it was addiction!¡± ¡°Well then, we¡¯ll have to figure this out one step at a time from now on.¡± Sierra did not let up on questioning the doctor, but he could only look at Sierra with a tense expression. ¡®This was why the doctor seemed so suspicious.¡¯ ¡°Besides, Madam. I noticed that you have mouth sores.¡± ¡°¡­Mouth sores?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a clear indication that you ingested poison through your mouth.¡± Sierra brought the petals to the teacup next to her bed. There was no abnormal response. Then, she slid the petals over the medicine bottle, which the doctor himself had made. At that moment, the petals burned out of thin air. ¡°If he followed the prescription from the Hippo Kingdom¡¯s doctors, then the ingredients should have been sent to him, but he himself was supposed to mix them.¡± At Sierra¡¯s remark, everyone gathered there turned their cold gazes to the doctor, but the quick-witted doctor knelt down and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s a setup! How could anyone believe that assistant? It¡¯s a setup, I say!¡± Despite bowing his head to the floor, his tone was triumphant as heined of injustice. ¡°That girl may not have even brought real Feymed petals!¡± ¡°If you would like to refute my ims, then all we have to do is ask a maid to retrieve ¡®real¡¯ Feymed petals. Not the fake petals you used.¡± Sierra was rxed now, but still focused on the task at hand. By all means, this was her victory. However, a question shed through her mind as she stared at the doctor¡¯s head on the floor. ¡®But is the n to poison the Marchioness of Mails just the doctor¡¯s plot alone?¡¯ ¡­Or could it be that someone in this Empire was scheming against the Marquisate? Sierra folded her arms with her eyes narrowed. * * * A few hourster, the doctor was dragged to the dungeon and was properly dealt with. Sierra was also forced to apany him there because she was the person who caught him in the act. The doctor was now being confined, surrounded by knights, mages and councilors as he underwent torture to get information out of him. ¡¯How did you poison the Madam¡¯s medication?¡¯ ¡®T-That¡¯s¡­¡¯ ¡®Confess now. Who is it that dares to mess with Marquis Mails?!¡¯ ¡®I-I have nothing to sa¡ªhu, huk!¡¯ The doctor was subjected to many torture methods, but they couldn¡¯t figure out who was scheming against them. By the time Sierra had deemed that there would be no progress in their investigation, Sierra left the torture chamber. It was Andante¡¯s maid who called her. Despite the chaotic state of the household, the maid had managed to arrange a room where Sierra and Andante could talk, just the two of them at a tea table. The Hippo Kingdom¡¯s doctors were staying at a separate drawing room. ¡¯Go on in. You should talk to the Marchioness alone.¡¯ ¡®No, I¡¯m¡­¡¯ ¡®The Madam¡¯s going to give you a big reward.¡¯ Sierra, still wearing the veil hat, sat opposite Andante, feeling very ufortable. Then, Andante spoke in a low voice. ¡°You¡¯re my savior, Miss Assistant. Thank you.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re wee. I apanied your people to the torture chamber, but it¡¯s unfortunate that the doctor wouldn¡¯t reveal anything.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± For a moment, Andante gulped, then smiled at Sierra as she whispered, ¡°I have a gist of who¡¯s behind the scenes. It¡¯s not like there are many suspects.¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± ¡°In any case, they won¡¯t be captured right away. But before that¡­¡± Couldn¡¯t capture them right away? Then, they were powerful enough to poison the Marchioness and get away with it. Sierra, faced with a puzzling mystery, gave Andante a curious look, but Andante spoke first. ¡°¡­I want to see my savior¡¯s face properly.¡± ¡°I apologize, but I¡¯ve got a terrible burn scar¡­¡± Sierra mentioned theme excuse and touched the veil. She was going to lower it even more, but Andante quickly reached out. ¡°A burn?¡± Even before she could ask entirely, as Andante reached out, Sierra¡¯s veil hat came off, and so her face was revealed. ¡®She took my hat off just like that?!¡¯ Frozen in surprise, Sierra didn¡¯t expect that the graceful and elegant woman would do this. This was serious. Andante found out who she was¡­! ¡®Even though I saved her, she¡¯ll think I deceived her so she¡¯ll resent me!¡¯ It might not blow up into a huge mess since Cassius was there for her, but¡­ ¡®It¡¯s a problem that might spur on other problemster.¡¯ Nervous, Sierra gulped and turned her gaze to Andante, whose expression was somewhat strange. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 41 Trantor: Yonnee ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 41 Sierra tried to read Andante¡¯s reaction, but the best thing she could do right now was to bow deeply while apologizing. ¡°¡­I apologize for not revealing my identity. You must be terribly offended.¡± Andante looked at Sierra with a strange gaze and murmured softly, as if she were considering her words carefully. ¡°You¡¯re the one who discovered that someone¡¯s making me addicted to poison and that my doctor was being manipted¡­¡± Sierra couldn¡¯t tell if Andante was holding her temper or not. What was clear however was that the Marchioness¡¯ cheeks were flushed and her voice was trembling. ¡®I don¡¯t think she finds it pleasant that I treated her, especially because she¡¯s a noble¡­¡¯ And apart from that, Andante was wrongly used of attempting to throw water at Sierra. ¡®Let¡¯s just smile. Even if the other person doesn¡¯t like it, they won¡¯t be able to spit on a smiling face. ¡­Maybe?¡¯ Sierra curved her eyes and looked at Andante with a bright smile. Andante stared nkly at her, staggered to her feet, then grabbed Sierra¡¯s hand. ¡°Sierra.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± The hands that were sping over Sierra¡¯s were full of strength. ¡°I¡¯ve troubled you greatly. Ever since that time, I¡¯ve done a lot of damage to your personal life.¡± ¡°No no, I¡¯ve been living a good life without any problems.¡± Andante¡¯s eyes teared up at Sierra¡¯s words. ¡®¡­What¡¯s she talking about? I¡¯m totally fine?¡¯ Sierra held no particr enmity towards Marchioness Andante Mails. But ording to Andante¡¯s continued babbling, Sierra had been severely harassed by her¡­? ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot at the teahouse.¡± ¡®No, that¡¯s really not it¡­¡¯ If they continued to talk like this, Andante would just be like Cassius and his Godmother. Sierra thought it¡¯s already like that right now, but¡­ ¡°You don¡¯t have to be sorry.¡± ¡°¡­And even after everything, you saved my life, just like an angel. I can¡¯t ignore this.¡± Sierra wasn¡¯t exactly an angel, but praise made even whales dance¡ªfrankly, Sierra was a little happy hearing it. She saved a patient who was almost poisoned to death, and she stopped this through her own abilities as a pharmaceutical genius. And now she heard from the patient that she was grateful. ¡®This is the life I¡¯ve been wishing for all along.¡¯ Sierra stared at Andante, her eyes shining brightly, In return, Andante studied Sierra¡¯s expression and shook her head. ¡°I can see why Mother-inw thinks I¡¯m pitiful.¡± She let go of Sierra¡¯s hand, then sat back down on the seat opposite Sierra. Andante took a few deep breaths until her emotions calmed down somewhat, then she spoke once more. ¡°That¡¯s right, I still have something to tell you, about what I mentioned a while ago. The one who¡¯s scheming.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You must think badly of the Imperial Pce to have saved me. Because¡­¡± Andante paused, then said bitterly, ¡°That doctor is an Imperial doctor. There¡¯s a possibility that he was bought off, but I think he¡¯s trying to kill me under the pce¡¯s orders.¡± What she just said raised a lot of questions. Who was it from the pce who wanted to kill the Marchioness? Andante smiled when she saw how Sierra frowned. ¡°This is normal among the nobles. Anyway, from now on, I intend to help you with everything I can. I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll hurt you as well.¡± It was definitely going to be a disaster if this was all a part of a power struggle within the nobles. Of course, even if Sierra knew that the opponent was the pce, she still would have saved Andante. That was Sierra¡¯s mission as a pharmacist towards a patient. ¡®This is going to be more troublesome than I thought.¡¯ When Sierra furrowed her brows, Andante lifted her index finger and ironed out the younger woman¡¯s wrinkled forehead. ¡°If you make that face, you¡¯ll get old faster. You¡¯re pretty, so take care of yourself.¡± ¡°Ah, yes¡­¡± ¡°When my husbandes, I will ask him to bestow upon you a title of nobility.¡± ¡°Um, more than that, I would appreciate it if you acknowledge that I¡¯m morepetent than Hippo Kingdom¡¯s doctors. As a witness of today¡¯s events.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s already been done.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Andanteughed and pulled on the rope to notify her servants. ¡°Sierra, word of your astounding skills had already been sent by the Hippo Kingdom¡¯s doctors.¡± ¡°Huh? To whom?¡± ¡°The doctors have sent a message to the Duke of Ideos.¡± Sierra bit her lip when the door burst open, and through it, Cassius practically ran inside the room. Looking as though the world had copsed, Cassius rushed to Sierra¡¯s side, then shouted. ¡°Why are you here¡­ I thought you¡¯ve been hurt¡­!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hurt at all.¡± ¡°That wicked bastard could have killed you, Sierra.¡± ¡­Not at all. That doctor didn¡¯t even care about a lousy assistant like Sierra until the end. Sierra rose and stood in front of Cassius. Now that herpetence had been proven, she could now contest the credibility of the paternity test kit that doctors¡ªwho were worse than Sierra herself!¡ªhad made. ¡°Before that, the paternity kit¡ªand the Prime Minister¡­¡± ¡°Sierra.¡± Cassius hurriedly wrapped his arms around Sierra¡¯s waist. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what kind of paternity test it is.¡± His loud voice echoed in Sierra¡¯s ears. ¡°¡­I¡¯m so afraid that you¡¯ll be gone.¡± Come to think of it, he smelled like the cold air outside. Sierra breathed in. ¡°Do you¡­ know how much I¡­¡± ¡®At this rate, I¡¯ll have to mention the paternity test a littleter.¡¯ Anyway, there was a recording artifact in her pocket that had been recording everything so far. ¡°I know. It was dangerous, so you must have been worried a lot¡­ I know.¡± Sierra nodded awkwardly while patting him on the shoulder. ¡°If anyone bothers you, I¡¯ll kill them right away. The same goes for the doctor.¡± ¡®¡­Why does hearing him threaten to kill someone sound so sweet¡­¡­¡¯ Even as dense as Sierra was, she was faced with a crying Cassius, so for now she decided that she should soothe him first. ¡®It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve experienced anyone being this worried about me.¡¯ She mostly lived in this world being alone. She had an older sister, but they never met often, and their parents died early. Strangely, whenever she saw Cassius, she wanted to lean on him. Sierra raised a hand to push him away, but she paused. She didn¡¯t know why, but she was unwilling to push him away, and so she only looked at his shoulder. His arms¡­ being in his embrace was warmer than she thought. * * * After embracing so fiercely even in front of Andante, Sierra and Cassius returned to the Ducal estate with a cloud of awkwardness hovering around them. They stood together then for a few minutes¡ªwhile Cassius¡¯ arms were firm and warm, Sierra eventually came to her senses after having been possessed for a moment. ¡®Don¡¯t forget your goal!¡¯ Aside from Sierra being swayed by Cassius, Hanael really wasn¡¯t their daughter. As soon as they returned to the estate, Sierra called for the doctors and met them together with Cassius. Sierra had already proved to them what she could do after saving the Marchioness, even when the doctors themselves couldn¡¯t, so she raised questions about the paternity kit. ¡°I¡¯ve examined the paternity kit, and it seems like there¡¯s a w to the first stage of the test.¡± Hentel had already been convinced of Sierra¡¯s abilities after hearing about what she did at the Marquis¡¯ mansion, and so he nodded in agreement. ¡°I am aware that the first stage is not decisive.¡± ¡°There¡¯s only about an 80 percent chance that the results are urate.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s put a tentative hold on determining Hanael¡¯s identity right away. For now, let¡¯s speed up the paternity test so it doesn¡¯t leak out.¡± Sierra was able to reach an agreement with Lanya and Kilo. It was still not sure that Hanael was Sierra¡¯s daughter, so Cassius¡¯ proposal had been averted. But the Godmother¡­ ¡°Child, you saved my daughter-inw. I¡¯m so proud of you. You¡¯re an angel¡­¡± ¡­The Godmother was acting like she would never stop loving Sierra. Right now, Sierra was trying to stop her from trying to hold a festival throughout the entire capital. Fortunately, she managed to convince in the end. However, a few dayster Sierra heard something upsetting. ¡°My sister¡¯s missing?¡± ¡°Yes! Thest ce where her trail got cut off was at the town of Sebor, where the Crown Prince¡¯s official residence is.¡± Under normal circumstances, anyone would be frantic at the news that their sister was missing, but Sierra¡¯s sister was the entric archmage Amil. In fact, this was more of a case of ¡®hiding¡¯ than ¡®disappearing¡¯. Clenching her teeth hard enough that the sound was audible, Sierra sprang up from her seat and clenched her fist. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Sebor and catch that trail.¡± A rare, entric expression crossed Sierra¡¯s face. She took out the blue potion that was in her pocket. It was the ¡®Trail Distinguishing Potion¡¯ that she made. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Hearing the curiosity behind Abel¡¯s voice, Sierra hastened her steps and responded solemnly. ¡°It¡¯s a potion to catch my sister¡¯s tracks.¡± Until now, Sierra had endured it all somehow and stayed considerate of her sister. It went until the extent that she did not openly show her own abilities because it might bring harm to her sister. But she couldn¡¯t stop now. ¡°I¡¯m going to find my sister with this. Then, of course, I¡¯ll drag her here.¡± She couldn¡¯t take it any longer. She liked this mansion. She was happy that Hanael could livefortably, and she liked the people here very much. But she wasn¡¯t sure if she could like Cassius in that way. ¡®Life isn¡¯t a romance novel. There¡¯s no happy ending where both people aren¡¯t on the same page.¡¯ Sierra closed her eyes tightly, then opened them. ¡®And my parents¡­¡¯ Sierra¡¯s eyes, which reminded herself of her parents who died too early, shone beautifully. After thinking of her parents, she felt more determined. ¡°How long does it take to go to Sebor?¡± Abel counted on his fingers and mumbled to himself as he calcted the distance, then soon pped and answered cheerfully. ¡°It won¡¯t take long. We can get back in a day.¡± Sierra¡¯s expression became twisted. That sister of hers. She¡¯ll be caught alive, at least. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 42 - Sister, I’ll Find You No Matter What Trantor: Yonnee ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 42 ¨C Sister, I¡¯ll Find You No Matter What Before heading to Sebor, Sierra will first have to meet Cassius. Of course, this meeting with him took ce faster than she expected. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking of going on a short trip.¡± ¡°A trip?¡± Cassius¡¯ eyes became downcast. Seeing this expression, Sierra guessed right that it would be difficult to carry out her ns without a hitch. ¡°What trip?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Sierra rapidly calcted what to say, knowing that Cassius would be very against her travels. ¡®I should be honest then.¡¯ Her sister wanted her connection with Hanael to be kept hidden. It still wasn¡¯t clear why this had to be done, but¡­ ¡®First of all, I can¡¯t reveal my sister¡¯s identity. Let¡¯s just tell a half-truth.¡¯ With this firm decision, Sierra looked right into Cassius¡¯ eyes, making his lips harden into a straight line. Those determined green eyes locked with Cassius¡¯ blue eyes. ¡°Cassius, I told you, right? Hanael¡¯s mom is someone different.¡± Sierra decided to say it to him straight. ¡°I need to go to Sebor vige for a little while to find Hanael¡¯s mom. I heard that that¡¯s where she¡¯sst seen.¡± ¡°Really?¡± With this, Cassius¡¯ stiff expression rxed smoothly. ¡°So you¡¯re saying¡­ you¡¯re looking for Hanael¡¯s mom.¡± ¡°Yes. Because I¡¯m not Hanael¡¯s mom.¡± Sierra, who said this resolutely, crossed her arms in front of her chest. Cassius¡¯ smile seemed to have grown bigger. ¡°Alright. I understand, Sierra.¡± Now that she got permission to go to Sebor vige, she was already thinking of the things she needed to pack, contemting whether to go by carriage or teleport scroll. But Sierra¡¯s thoughts were cut short by Cassius. ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± ¡°I have more enemies than you think.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± As Sierra looked into Cassius¡¯ eyes, she realized what exactly he was saying. ¡°It¡¯ll be dangerous if you go alone, Sierra.¡± He stated it quietly as though it was an obvious fact. ¡°My enemies may attack you. I can¡¯t let you go alone in a dangerous vige like the Sebor vige.¡± Listening to Cassius¡¯ voice that somehow sounded romantic, Sierra paused for a moment. ¡°Sebor is dangerous?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s the Crown Prince¡¯s private property. The Crown Prince¡¯s? Sierra narrowed her eyes. It was suspicious. ¡®Why was my sister at the Crown Prince¡¯s private property?¡¯ ¡­Of course, her sister was a great, extraordinary archmage, so there shouldn¡¯t be a big problem. Sierra nodded in a rxed manner. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Seeing Sierra¡¯s hesitation, Cassius smilednguidly. ¡°You¡¯re letting me go with you, right?¡± With a brilliant smile on his lips, Sierra felt like it was the perfect picture of snow melting away during the first day of spring. But she shook her head in a hurry to snap out of it. ¡®If he runs into my sister, he may notice that he¡¯s an archmage.¡¯ It was something usible considering Cassius¡¯ skills. Sierra quickly drew the line. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about me getting hurt or dying, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°¡­What? But you¡¯ll be going alone¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with Abel. I decided to go with him.¡± A sh of emotion sparked in Cassius¡¯ eyes. He gritted his teeth the moment Abel¡¯s name was mentioned. ¡°It¡¯ll be just¡­ just you and that pup?¡± ¡°Yes. Abel¡¯s a good kid.¡± At Sierra¡¯s matter-of-fact answer, Cassius¡¯ expression became distorted. ¡°¡­¡­¡± He lowered his eyes silently, his fists clenched tightly. Sierra was surprised to see him like this. ¡®Are you jealous¡­? But I don¡¯t even see Abel as a man.¡¯ For Sierra, Abel was like a cute puppy or younger brother who listens well. But to Cassius, it might look different. She blinked, then smiled at him. ¡°He¡¯s strong, too. Um, I only think of him as a younger brother.¡± ¡°Sierra. I want to do everything I can to let you do whatever you want, but I don¡¯t think I can endure letting you go alone with him on a trip like it¡¯s a honeymoon¡­¡± ¡°¡­Huh? Honeymoon?¡± Cassius continued muttering in a low voice with his head down. ¡°¡­Alright. You can go to the vige.¡± He had a pained expression. What did he mean by Sierra and Abel having a honeymoon? That was absurd. However, Cassius continued to look so forlorn. She couldn¡¯t even refute him. He gently caressed her chin and leaned closer to whisper into her ears. ¡°But I want to go, too.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°If you want, I can stay out of your way. But Abel¡¯s too weak. I can¡¯t let you go to such a dangerous ce unprotected.¡± Sierra never thought that Abel was weak, but as Cassius said this, it sounded absolutely reasonable. ¡®If he¡¯ll really stay out of my way, then he won¡¯t run into my sister. Cassius listens to me well after all.¡¯ And apart from that¡­ Finding out that it was the Crown Prince¡¯s property bothered her. As Sierra recalled the letter sent to her, there¡¯s something off about it. It¡¯s true that her sister was practically a monster in terms of strength, but¡­ It was strange that she suddenly said that Sierra could now show her own abilities. ¡°Come to think of it, it¡¯s like a will¡­¡± As Sierra spoke to herself, Cassius looked sharply at her. ¡°¡­Will?¡± Ah, no. He¡¯ll misunderstand again. Sierra rubbed the back of her neck then shook her head. ¡°Let¡¯s get ready to leave tomorrow.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Relieved, Cassius nodded. Finally, the trio was formed to catch Sierra¡¯s sister. * * * The next morning¡ª It was cold, so Sierra wore a bo on her head and a shawl over her shoulders. She stroked Hanael¡¯s head and spoke softly to the child who was only half-awake in bed. ¡°Hanael, I¡¯ll be back.¡± Hanael hugged her rabbit doll tightly in her arms. ¡°Huh? Where are you going?¡± ¡°A short trip. Should I use aundry potion for your rabbit before I go?¡± ¡°¡­No, I¡¯m okay with it.¡± The cute Hanael puffed her cheeks, which now looked like chubby dumplings. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m leaving for a while, okay? Wait for me just a little.¡± ¡°Yeah, okay. You¡¯lle back after Hanael wakes up, right?¡± Hanael whispered quietly in a sleepy voice. ¡°You¡¯re not leaving Hanael behind, right?¡± Ever since Hanael understood that her mother was a different person, she became a little more mature and a bit more unsure of herself. This made Sierra¡¯s heart clench tightly, so she shook her head firmly. ¡°I¡¯ll never leave you. I¡¯ll be beside Hanael until the day I die, no matter what!¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s childish.¡± Hanael said one thing and meant another, smiling even as she said those words. ¡°Then, are you going on a trip with Mister Stupid?¡± Sierra nodded. There was a small spark of hope in Hanael¡¯s eyes. ¡°Thennn¡­¡± Hanael folded the stuffed toy¡¯s ears as she mumbled timidly. ¡°¡­I know now that M-Mister Stupid isn¡¯t Hanael¡¯s dad.¡± ¡°All of a sudden?¡± Hanael¡¯s cheeks puffed up again, and she pouted while speaking carefully. ¡°Still, tell Mister Stupid to have a safe trip.¡± ¡®When did Cassius and Hanael get so close?¡¯ Puzzled as Hanael buried her face on the bed, Sierra replied. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll be back safe and sound. Take a good nap. You know it¡¯ll make you taller, right?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Sierra smiled and stroked Hanael¡¯s head, thinking of the silent wish of her lovely niece growing up happily. Soon after, the trio found themselves in a carriage together. Abel, Cassius and Sierra were all dressed in dark robes right now for their trip to Sebor. Cassius sat opposite of Sierra while Abel was beside her. Abel smiled brightly as he looked at Cassius. ¡°I greet the Duke Ideos! Haha!¡± Abel seemed to have diligently learned how to greet aristocrats. It was a rather ostentatious greeting, but it looked cute enough. Sierra had a small smile on her lips as she watched Abel¡¯s adorable antics. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be in your care.¡± But Abel¡¯s cuteness didn¡¯t seem to have any effect on Cassius. The Duke drew a sharp line between them, an aloof expression on his face. It was a clear sign of vignce against Abel. ¡®I knew this would happen¡­ I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll get along well¡­¡¯ Abel smiled brightly anyway at Cassius, whose shoulders were slumped. Abel seemed to like Cassius quite a bit despite thetter being so wary of the former. ¡®Do you think he¡¯s your rival?¡¯ Sierra tried to figure out the situation, but it was just too strange. Right now, Cassius was being gentle and cautious to read her mood, while Abel on the other hand was just happy to be here to apany her¡ªand they¡¯re all wearing dark clothes as though they¡¯re in mourning. ¡°Ohh, um. This is just like a trip, isn¡¯t it?¡± Sierra said awkwardly. But Cassius answered with a low voice. ¡°¡­You said we¡¯re here to find Hanael¡¯s mother.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡± Sierra tried to speak with a light tone. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± . It really did seem like a holiday trip, but in fact, it was more like a secret mission than a leisurely trip. That¡¯s the reason why the Duchy¡¯s fancy carriage wasn¡¯t used now, but it was regrettable that the carriage they were using now was rickety and ufortable. Cassius noticed Sierra¡¯s difort and immediately brought a nket over her, but there was nothing he could do about the inconvenience. Sierra was about to groan, but the person next to her scooted close and whispered in her ear. ¡°Sister, Sister!¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± The carriage trip was unbearable so far, but now it wasn¡¯t anymore after seeing Abel¡¯s bright smile. ¡°It¡¯s amazing!¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing that we¡¯re the Duke of Ideos is with us now to find Archm¡ªno, Hanael¡¯s mom right now!¡± ¡°It¡­ is?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± When Abelughed quietly into her ear, Cassius, who was sitting opposite them, called her at once. ¡°Sierra.¡± At that moment, the sound of Cassius¡¯ voice rose over the carriage¡¯s rattling. And finally, the oblivious Abel turned towards Cassius. ¡°It¡¯s my second time meeting you, Your Grace! It¡¯s nice to meet you!¡± ¡­Abel was too bright. ¡°Ah, yes.¡± And so a strange power struggle ensued between the two, with Cassius looking deeply dissatisfied at Abel. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 43 - Sierra, Sandwiched Between A Battle Of Two Men Trantor: Yonnee ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 43 ¨C Sierra, Sandwiched Between A Battle Of Two Men An hour into the carriage ride, Sierra grew restless. And to contradict this, Abel was somehow still in high spirits¡­ ¡°I¡¯m really close with Sister!¡± ¡°Ah, yeah.¡± ¡°We¡¯re really close¡­ because you know how we lived together in the Supe vige, right? Sister and I were even mistaken as newlyweds! Haha!¡± ¡®That¡¯s not it¡ª Abel¡­!¡¯ Abel, this good-natured and lovely puppy, unintentionally stirred Cassius¡¯ jealousy. Even Sierra, as dense as she was, noticed the throbbing veins on Cassius¡¯ temples. ¡®I don¡¯t think you should word it that way¡­¡¯ In fact, from the cute puppy Abel¡¯s standpoint, it would be surprising if he knew that he would be hated. Abel liked Sierra, so he wanted to get along with Cassius very much, seeing as they had some past together. ¡®Come to think of it, Abel¡¯s a dog shapeshifter, and he applied to be a guard at the magic tower, but he wasn¡¯t epted.¡¯ He wasn¡¯t even considered for the post because he liked people so much. Sierra the time when he was still a young puppy and when her sister decided to help Abel. ¡¯Abel, bite him!¡¯ When a sentry of the magic tower said so, Abel in his puppy form shook his head and made a crying face. ¡¯N-N-No! Even a thief feels pain!¡¯ ¡®Aren¡¯t you a guard dog of the magic tower? He¡¯s a spy! You have to bite him!¡¯ ¡®But still¡­ People feel pain! I¡¯ll try my best not to hurt him¡­¡¯ The memory ended with the sentry watching exasperatedly at the whining Abel. Sierra¡¯s sister said that Abel was different, though. She said that¡¯s why she picked up and raised Abel, who the magic tower had thrown away, and added that he should be relieved that he was even being taught and trained well. ¡¯I tried strengthening his mental fortitude just as you said, but I don¡¯t think it worked well. Maybe it¡¯s because of his nature?¡¯ Sierra shook her head as she recalled this. Abel was good-natured even back then¡­ ¡°Ack, why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Haha, is it a funny memory?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Cassius turned to Sierra, and at this, Abel sighed because Cassius still wouldn¡¯t acknowledge him. With a disappointed face, he looked out the window. Sierra saw how Abel¡¯s bright and bubbly expression blurred and bounced back. ¡°Oh, by the way! Shall we shake hands, Your Grace?¡± Abel reached out to Cassius, who just looked down at the hand with one corner of his lips raised. He was obviously sneering at him¡­ ¡°Oh, you¡¯re smiling!¡± ¡­But the bright Abel just smiled and continued. ¡®Abel, good luck¡­¡¯ From Sierra¡¯s perspective, as she watched the two men¡¯s conversation, Abel looked like the one who was winning¡­ ¡°Haha! Seeing Your Grace smile, I can¡¯t help but smile as well. Right, Sister?¡± Cassius finally spoke, as though he couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°¡­Sister?¡±{ tl/n: Abel calls Sierra ¡®Noona¡¯, which is a term used by men to address older women who¡¯s either their family or their close friends. } ¡°What? Huh?¡± Abel shrugged, not having any idea how Cassius was feeling. Then, he pped once and eximed. ¡°Is it weird to call Sister this way?¡± ¡°¡­Seems like you¡¯re close.¡± ¡°Ah, yes! We¡¯re really close! Hehe.¡± Sierra could practically see an invisible tail wagging behind Abel. Meanwhile, she could see an explosion of fire behind Cassius¡¯ eyes. She was nervous. It felt like there were less than five seconds before a bomb could explode¡­ But Sierra¡¯s guess was wrong. Cassius closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again while sighing. ¡°While I wasn¡¯t there¡­¡± Cassius¡¯ shoulders drooped and his voice had a slight tremor. Then, Abel asked back with a face that said he didn¡¯t know what Cassius was talking about. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Cassius?¡± Sierra cautiously probed Cassius just in case he would explode on Abel. Cassius stared at Sierra with a pained expression. ¡°¡­It¡¯s nothing, Sierra. I¡¯m grateful that you¡¯ve been taken care of.¡± His trembling voice and deep sigh expressed his suffering. Abel, who continued to be clueless, blinked slowly as he was confused. ¡°Um¡­ That is¡­¡± ¡°And during the time that Sierra was having a lot of difficulties¡­¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true that I helped Sister a lot when she was going through a lot of things!¡± Abel nodded good-naturedly. Sierra¡¯s gaze turnedplicated as she saw how Abel just continued to bulldoze over the conversation. ¡°But, um, wasn¡¯t it hard?¡± Abel looked at Cassius, then whispered carefully towards Sierra. ¡°You had a hard time begging Mister Scrooge because we were behind on the monthly rent a lot¡­¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Sierra hurriedly shifted her gaze towards Cassius. He surely heard that since he¡¯s a trained knight. ¡°¡­Yeah, it was.¡± Instead of making up more excuses, Sierra just scratched the side of her face with one finger and decided to give up. ¡°Well, yeah. It was kinda difficult¡­¡± At these words, Abel smiled and nodded vigorously. On the other hand, Cassius just looked more depressed. Seeing Cassius¡¯ sullen face, Abel blinked and carefully spoke again. ¡°But still, now that I¡¯m seeing you together, Sister and the Duke look great together, too!¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Cassius¡¯ eyes became cloudy, but Abel continued speaking brightly. ¡°You two look great together!¡± At that moment, Cassius suddenly turned toward Sierra. Their eyes met. Sierra¡¯s mind went nk, then she hurriedly looked out the window. Her ears were terribly red. ¡®Crazy¡­¡¯ Sierra and Cassius remained speechless, but Abel continued to chatter on. The carriage slowed down gradually, and as the sound of the horse¡¯s steps subsided, Sierra lifted the curtains of the window. Outside, a strange and exotdscape of the vige could be seen, along with the sign saying ¡®Sebor vige.¡¯ Finally, they arrived at the vige where Sierra¡¯s sister disappeared. She¡¯s going to find that sister of hers now! Sierra¡¯s eyes were determined. * * * Abel headed west while Cassius and Sierra headed east. It was decided that they¡¯d search for about an hour. ¡®There are trails and sparsely distanced houses in the East.¡¯ Sierra, who had just entered the avenue, stared down at the map she had brought with her. Sebor was a very small vige, even smaller than Supe vige where she had stayed. ¡®I heard that magic stones are famously abundant here.¡¯ The reason why Sebor vige was famous wasn¡¯t because it was the Crown Prince¡¯s direct property, but because it was a special ce where there¡¯s a lot of magic stones. From the Imperial Pce, the Crown Prince designated Sebor as his own private property because he secured the magic stones while keeping the mages of the magic tower in check. ¡®It¡¯s suspicious that my sister disappeared from this vige in particr.¡¯ Amil, Sierra¡¯s sister, was a mage who could manipte mana on her own, so she didn¡¯t need magic stones. Sierra took out the Tracking Potion, then turned to Cassius with a serious expression. ¡°Ah, Hanael¡¯s mom had gone missing, so I have to find her with this. It¡¯s a potion to find someone¡¯s tracks. ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Cassius seemed to have a lot of questions, but he nodded anyway and kept his lips shut. As she leaned down, Sierra dropped a small pool of the potion on the ground. If her sister recently passed by this ce, the potion would catch onto her mana and bring up a whirlwind-like fog that would be revealed on the ground. ¡®Seeing as there¡¯s no response, it¡¯s either that she hadn¡¯t passed through here, or that it had been too long ago when she went here.¡¯ But there was no need to worry. Sierra clenched her fist and walked along the avenue. Thus, Sierra and Cassius walked until they reached the forest. Cassius also took a potion bottle of his own and left drops on the ground to help Sierra. However, no traces of Sierra¡¯s sister came out. This made her increasingly nervous. ¡°Take it easy. We still have a lot of time¡­ It breaks my heart to see you suffer.¡± Cassius carefully stroked her disorganized hair. And behind his gaze, she saw him feeling sorry for her a little. ¡®I guess you¡¯re being like that because of the conversation in the carriage earlier.¡¯ Sierra¡¯s eyes widened when Cassius reached down to grab her hand, a smile on his lips. ¡°I¡¯ve lived a good life so far, so you don¡¯t have to worry now. First, just let me know how I can help you.¡± Cassius muttered softly with a smoldering gaze. ¡°Alright¡­¡± ¡°Good.¡± Sierra, who had been walking around for a while, stopped for a moment as she realized that the sky had gotten dark. Cassius helped her spray the potion here and there without any question, then he looked at her. ¡°Do you remember?¡± Cassius said something unexpected in a low voice. ¡°Our kiss.¡± Sierra recalled the past that she had almost forgotten. The kiss she had with Cassius began to y in her head, and it was on that night that they decided¡­ to start dating. Cassius had looked so happy, and Sierra was strangely excited, even if she knew that she had to break up with him eventually. Sierra recalled the distant memory of them walking along an avenue promenade, holding hands. ¡°¡­The kiss we had while we walked hand-in-hand.¡± Five years ago, Cassius and Sierra had walked along a simr promenade together. After talking for a long time while walking, they reached the side of the road where there weren¡¯t any people. Perhaps there was a small festival held in a vige nearby, but by chance, as the sky grew dark, fireworks exploded high above. ¡®Can I kiss you?¡¯ ¡®¡­What?¡¯ Back then, Cassius was recklessly kind to her. She was trying to hide her face, but the way he looked at her was serious. Seeming to say ¡®I won¡¯t kiss you if you don¡¯t like it¡¯, but he stepped forward, his lips so close to hers. ¡®No¡ªI want to kiss you.¡¯ At that time, slowly, Sierra¡¯s eyes fluttered, gradually closing. Even when her eyes were closed, she could feel Cassius standing still, looking at her without a word. In that tense atmosphere, Sierra gulped down. ¡®Why did he say that suddenly¡­¡¯ What¡¯s surprising was that he didn¡¯t sumb to temptation and just kiss her right then. Sierra opened her eyes and looked at him, back in the present. Cassius¡¯ lips moved closer and closer, and Sierra suddenly thought that she needed to move away. Unknowingly, Sierra found herself focusing her gaze on his lips again after he brought up that memory. Right now, unexpectedly, with him so close to her. Sierra held her breath, counting down inside. 5, 4, 3, 2¡­¡­ ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 44 - Her Sisters Last Trace Trantor: Yonnee ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 44 ¨C Her Sister¡¯s Last Trace ¡°Sister! Duke Cassius!¡± As Sierra hurriedly pushed away Cassius, he red at Abel, who was walking towards them cheerfully with a bottle of the tracking potion in one hand. ¡°¡­What¡¯s going on?¡± Sierra talked to Abel then even as her whole face was bright red. She could still feel Cassius¡¯ deep gaze on her from earlier. ¡®Crazy, you¡¯re crazy, Sierra! Why were you swayed by the atmosphere¡­!¡¯ Before her mind could be filled with only Cassius again, Sierra turned to Abel, who skipped closer to them. ¡°Right, what¡¯s going on, Abel.¡± The fact that he stopped them from kissing like lovers even though they weren¡¯t lovers, Abel smiled broadly and waved to them. ¡°I found a trace!¡± Sierra¡¯s eyes widened at the unexpected words. She hurried towards Abel at once, half forgetting what had happened just now. ¡°Where is it?¡± ¡°A small cabin in the west!¡± Abel pointed a finger in that direction. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go! Come one, Cassius!¡± Sierra looked urgently at Cassius, but then suddenly froze because she remembered what happened between them. ¡®Come to your senses, Sierra. What¡¯s more important is to resolve this misunderstanding once and for all.¡¯ Cassius¡¯ deep gaze was still on her, yet right now, her priority wasn¡¯t him, but it was to find her sister. * * * All three of them trudged towards the cabin in the west, with Cassius and Able on each of her sides. The old log cabin looked strangely tranquil, as though it wasn¡¯t a ce where her sister had been. They carefully searched around the log cabin before passing through the gate. The yard and the windows were covered in frost for the most part. ¡°There¡¯s nothing suspicious here. Let¡¯s go inside right away. We can do that, right?¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll open the door now.¡± Sierra grabbed the doorknob without giving a chance for Cassius to react or disagree with her. But as she opened it, Abel, who was whistling cheerfully behind Sierra, shouted aloud right then. ¡°N-No!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Sierra!¡± Cassius suddenly shouted as well and reached out to her, and Abel was saying something under his breath as he looked at her. ¡°S-Sister, there¡¯s¡ªaround you¡­!¡± Only then did she notice that there was a blue light covering her as she held the doorknob. Cassius tried to grasp her shoulder tightly, while Abel reached out to her as well, astonished. ¡°Sister! O-O-Over your head¡ª!¡± Abel couldn¡¯t finish what he¡¯s saying, Cassius¡¯ hand over Sierra¡¯s shoulder was suddenly pushed away as white smoke wrapped over her body. Before Sierra could even process what was happening, Cassius reacted quickly and tried to pull her into an embrace, however, the smoke got to her first. Sierra was so surprised that her body frozepletely, but she managed to open her lips to mutter in surprise. ¡°What¡­ Just what is¡­?¡± However, her voice disappeared and only an echo remained. Sierra was engulfed. A huge storm of mana was conjured from thin air, and it was hard to believe that all this mana was inside this small cabin. Sierra opened her eyes wide, but there was no way to stop this. While trying to get through the fog, she waved her hands in a hurry. ¡®Wait. I think I¡¯m fine¡­ right?¡¯ Strangely enough, it felt like the storm was protecting her rather than attacking her. Then, when she took a deep breath, the storm suddenly stabilized. At that moment, the whirlwind surrounding her stopped. A wave of relief came over her, but soon after, Sierra was jolted into action once more. The hurricane-like storm surrounded her again, but she couldn¡¯t escape it. ¡®What is this? Just what is going on?¡¯ The whirlwind wrapped around her even more than before, but Sierra was surprisingly calm. This whirlwind wasn¡¯t attacking her. Rather, it felt like a cozy cloud. And¡­ ¡®I can hear something.¡¯ At that very moment, it was like a hallucination. She heard her sister¡¯s voice. ¡°Sierra.¡± How could she have forgotten that she was here for her sister? She suddenly looked around, but she could only see the cozy cloud. ¡°What? Sis, are you here?¡± But the voice that she heard was but an echo. Sierra¡¯s shoulders drooped as she looked around. ¡°Nothing¡­ What the hell?¡± Sierra smiled helplessly at the absurd situation. The energy that surrounded the cabin seemed to have been released, and¡­ ¡°Sierra!¡± Cassius stood in front of her, his sword unsheathed and with an expression that made it look like he was facing a demon. As a sword master, he seemed to have solved the spell ced on the cabin through his sword. ¡°Cassius.¡± Sierra became calm once more, relieved that they could enter the cabin now, but Cassius rushed towards her. While checking her physical condition and every corner of Sierra¡¯s face desperately, he whispered with a low voice. ¡°I thought I was going to lose you again.¡± All that happened to her was that she heard her sister¡¯s voice. Sierra was in such good condition that it was embarrassing to see him fuss over her like this. ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m fine.¡± She patted Cassius on the shoulder, then she felt drops flow down on the shawl over her own shoulder. He must have worried for her a lot because he was crying now. Cassius didn¡¯t raise his head, embracing her for a long time. All he wanted was to feel Sierra¡¯s warmth. * * * ¡°It¡¯s good that we¡¯re able to go in now, right?¡± Sierra looked around inside the dpidated cabin and spoke cheerfully, but Cassius replied. ¡°No matter how I look at it, the person you¡¯re looking for must be dangerous, Sierra.¡± She shook her head when he saw his narrowed eyes. ¡°She¡¯s a good person.¡± ¡°Th-that¡¯s right!¡± As Abel responded, Sierra had a subtle smile on her lips as she looked around. Just like the exterior, the interior of the cabin looked strange as well. It was a simple ce with a kitchen on one side, then there was one bed with a desk beside it. Just looking at it would make one think ¡®Isn¡¯t this just a tool shed?¡¯ because of how empty and small it was. It really didn¡¯t seem like her sister, who liked going to fancy parties, would have stayed here¡­ ¡°Abel.¡± ¡°Yes, Sister.¡± Sierra stared at Abel, then raised her chin. ¡°This ce couldn¡¯t be where Si¡ª¡± She bit her tongue before she could finish saying ¡®Sis¡¯, hurriedly shutting her lips when Cassius gave her a curious nce. ¡°No, uh, Hanael¡¯s mom. That person¡¯s trace disappeared, so that means she teleported.¡± Sierra¡¯s eyes sparkled. As their gazes matched, Abel hesitated when she looked sharply at him, and then to Cassius. ¡°Cassius, can you sever the barrier outside the cabin that¡¯s made by the magic tool?¡± She needed to talk to Abel while Cassius dealt with the barrier. ¡°¡­Sierra.¡± ¡°Please. I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± He was reluctant to leave Sierra¡¯s side because of the whirlwind incident just now, but Cassius eventually stepped outside, surrendering to her wishes. As soon as he left through the door, Sierra walked closer to Abel. ¡°What do you think that was? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s search inside first, Sister. I¡¯m sure Miss Amil left some clues behind.¡± Abel was surprisingly sharp, given the fact that he had failed to be a guard of the magic tower. Sierra nodded then hurriedly searched inside. They searched the kitchen first, then split up with Sierra going through the bed and Abel taking charge of the desk. As she checked the bed, Sierra frowned because there didn¡¯t seem any clues there¡ªbut suddenly, after searching the desk, Abel eximed. Sierra¡¯s ears prickled like a meerkat. ¡°What did you find?¡± ¡°Well, um¡­ Sister¡­¡± Sierra hurried to Abel¡¯s side with just one step because the cabin was so small. ¡°There¡¯s a coded letter that Miss Amil wrote, but I can¡¯t read it.¡± ¡°What? A coded letter?¡± ¡°Yes, Sister. If you look at the handwriting, it looks exactly like hers¡­¡± Sierra winced as she looked at the envelope. There was a strange expression on her face as she took the letter roughly, thinking that this whole situation might just be one big joke. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Sister?¡± Abel looked curiously at Sierra¡¯s hardened expression. ¡°Can you read it?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Should she say that she knew how to read it or not? Sierra, who grabbed the coded letter, stared at Abel with trembling eyes. ¡°¡­I know how to read it. This is a code that I made with her.¡± In fact, if such a letter appeared using that code, the first instinct one would think was that this was either forged or a trap. However, as soon as Sierra saw it, she instinctively knew that her sister was really the one who wrote it. ¡®We came up with this code when we were young, so this couldn¡¯t have been forged. It¡¯s clear that you wrote this with me in mind as the receiver.¡¯ If ever something serious happened to her sister, they decided that she would send a letter with this code. Sierra bit her trembling lips as she opened the envelope. ¡¸ Hi, Sierra. If you¡¯ve received this letter, that means you must havee looking for me. ¡¹ ¡®What is this?¡¯ ¡®Hi Sierra,¡¯ the letter says. It really was a letter addressed to her, predicting that she woulde here. Of course, it was something that her older sister predicted well because she knew Sierra¡¯s temperament, and how Sierra would have definitelye looking for Amil the moment her patience snapped¡­ Sierra bit her lips tightly. ¡°It¡¯s a letter my sister wrote for me.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± As she looked at Abel¡¯s surprised expression, Sierra sighed deeply. Then, she looked down at the letter with a puzzled expression on her face, which eventually stiffened as she read more. ¡¸ By the time you¡¯ve read this letter, I may not be in this world anymore. ¡¹ The handwriting was really her sister¡¯s, but what was written was so unbelievable that Sierra couldn¡¯t ept it. ¡®Not in this world? What does that mean?¡¯ Sierra¡¯s face darkened, and Abel continued watching her, perplexed. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Advanced Chapters! Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 45 - When Rescuing Her Older Sister Trantor: Yonnee ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 45 ¨C When Rescuing Her Older Sister ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Feeling the ominous atmosphere, Abel cautiously asked Sierra, but she only stared at Abel, closing her eyes once and then opening them again. ¡°The letter is about¡­¡± ¡°About what?¡± Sierra suppressed the dread that was pooling at her stomach, lowering her gaze as she stared at the letter again. ¡°No. I¡¯ll read the rest first.¡± She¡¯s only read the first line at most. Trying to calm herself down, Sierra hurriedly read the next line of the letter, thinking that this all might be a practical joke because her sister was that kind of person¡ªit shouldn¡¯t be anything serious. ¡¸ I¡¯m being chased by those bastards from the Imperial Pce. I might die, so just in case, I¡¯m writing this letter that only you can read. ¡¹ Sierra read one line at a time to Abel, her voice trembling as she continued. ¡°¡¯I¡¯m being chased by people from the Imperial Pce.¡¯¡± It was frustrating because Amil didn¡¯t specify who exactly it was from the Imperial Pce that¡¯s chasing her, but from this line, the words ¡®I might die¡¯ stood out to Sierra. She stuttered as she looked at Abel. ¡°¡¯I-I might die¡­¡¯¡± ¡°Si-sister, calm down for now. You know well that Miss Amil ys around like that.¡± And he was right. Amil had joked many times about dying, making Sierra cry a lot. Sierra shifted her gaze to the letter again. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll read faster.¡± It was better to read the words quickly and simultaneously interpret them for Abel, since they weren¡¯t sure when exactly Cassius would return from outside. She was also anxious to know if Amil saying she ¡®might die¡¯ was a joke or not. ¡¸ I think of death as just another journey. ¡¹ ¡®What a load of bull. Death is a journey? What¡¯s wrong with you?! Even an idiot like you should survive! Are you kidding me?!¡¯ Sierra, frowning to the fullest as she suppressed her frustration, continued reading the letter. ¡¸ Ever since childhood, you¡¯ve been so scared about me dying. I¡¯m in charge of so many dangerous responsibilities, but this time¡­ I¡¯m a little worried, too. I never thought that those people from the Imperial Pce would be able to kill me. This must be my fate. Anyway, stop crying, hm? Come to think of it, you said you were misunderstood. You said that Hanael is being mistaken as your daughter¡­ but I wrote this letter to clear that up, even if I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s believable. I should go and prove it myself, but I don¡¯t think I can do that right now. The letter to prove Hanael¡¯s birth is in the box under the drawer, so go and find it. ¡¹ At this point, Sierra almost copsed to the floor. She strengthened her legs, but the more she read, the more she was convinced. Something must have happened to her sister. And she might really¡­ die¡­ ¡®You never let me know when you¡¯re having a hard time, Amil.¡¯ Sierra lowered her gaze. ¡¸ Anyway, Sierra. Don¡¯t even think of setting foot inside the Imperial Pce. If you don¡¯t want to get involved with the mess I¡¯m in and with that devil, just go on your way. This means that you¡¯re now someone who has nothing to do with me. I sustained an injury, and it twisted my mana a little. If you don¡¯t want to be swept into this, just ept everything as it is and live peacefully. Okay? Don¡¯t even think of looking for me. Even if I haven¡¯t died yet¡­ ¡¹ From the context, her sister might have been in charge of something rted to the Imperial Pce. It could have been that she shed with someone of high status. The word ¡®devil¡¯ may refer to the actual being, but this word could also describe a fellow human. ¡®This letter is so dreadful, but it doesn¡¯t mean that you really died. You¡¯re the strongest mage I know, Amil.¡¯ Her older sister is an archmage. At the same time, Sierra is also a genius when ites to potions. As she reread the words ¡®nothing to do with me,¡¯ Sierra smirked. ¡°What kind of nonsense is she spouting¡­ Dying? Breaking ties? Does any of this make sense?¡± As she smiled in vain, she raised a hand to tousle her already tangled hair. ¡°Sister¡­ There¡¯s a bloody handkerchief here, look!¡± While Sierra was still rereading the letter, Abel had searched the cabin once more and found the handkerchief. He held it out to Sierra. ¡°Give it to me.¡± As Sierra snatched the handkerchief from Abel¡¯s hand, she hurriedly took out the tracking potion out of her pocket and sprayed it over. Smoke rose from it and had spread out. Sierra was in deep thought¡ªit¡¯s not someone else¡¯s blood, but her sister¡¯s. It was clear that this blood had her mana. Whether she died or not, it was no question that she must have been in danger. ¡°¡­It¡¯s really my sister¡¯s blood on this handkerchief.¡± Sierra sank down. Memories of her sister shed through her mind. When she was about six years old, she couldn¡¯t clean herself properly because she had no parents to wash the dirt off her. And she was being bullied by other children a lot¡­ ¡¯Sister, if you¡¯re hungry, why aren¡¯t you eating azalea flowers?¡¯ ¡®Why are you telling me to eat flowers? I cooked a lot of delicious food.¡¯ ¡®But the other kids told me to eat what¡¯s on the ground, so I ate it¡­¡¯ Looking at the young Sierra, who spoke so much innocence in her words, Amil leaned down to Sierra and murmured. ¡¯Which kid said that to my younger sister? Are you an orphan? Your older sister¡¯s here beside you.¡¯ ¡®Yeah¡­¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll beat them up. They¡¯re all dead. So you don¡¯t have to worry anymore, okay?¡¯ ¡®Yes! I¡¯m not an orphan! My sister is the best!¡¯ It was also Sierra¡¯s older sister who discovered her abilities first. She recognized Sierra¡¯s pure mana and taught her how to develop her pharmacological skills. ¡¯My younger sister is really smart. You¡¯re a genius.¡¯ ¡®Yeah, Sierra is a genius!¡¯ ¡®But your abilities are a little dangerous for now. So let¡¯s learn how to control it, okay?¡¯ ¡®Sierra does everything Sis tells her to do!¡¯ These happy, warm memories ovepped with the words on the letter, and she could almost hear her sister¡¯s calm voice through the coded message. Sierra stood up on her trembling legs and washed away the pained expression on her face. Still, the memories she had of her sister continued to sh through her mind. ¡¯Your older sister is kinda weird.¡¯ ¡®My Sis i-isn¡¯t weird!¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re an orphan. And it¡¯s not like that girl is your real sister, right?¡¯ When Sierra¡¯s shoulders drooped sullenly, her older sister suddenly swooped in like aet to save her. ¡¯These idiots are out of their minds. I guess I¡¯ll do a sword dance tonight!¡¯ ¡­That¡¯s why she epted Hanael entirely. Just as Amil was Sierra¡¯s lighthouse, Sierra wanted to raise Hanael well. She hugged Hanael tightly and protected the child as well, iming that she was her daughter in front of the vigers who simrly bullied her. ¡¯Hanael is my daughter! Don¡¯t touch her!¡¯ ¡®No, but, Lady¡ª¡¯ ¡®Hanael, you don¡¯t have to hear such despicable words. You¡¯re my daughter from today on. I¡¯ll protect you.¡¯ Sierra folded her sister¡¯s letter, on which she saw a caricature of her behind the piece of paper,plete with her blonde hair and green eyes. As she looked at this, tears dropped down onto the letter. How could Amil make Sierra rely on her, only to say that she was going to die. That¡¯s absurd. ¡®You said you¡¯d live together with me for the rest of our lives.¡¯ Sierra muttered under her breath. ¡°Rest of our lives¡­¡± The unfamiliar reality hit her all at once. She might never see her sister ever again. ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t think that I might never see you again.¡± As she talked to herself nkly, Abel patted her on the shoulder and spoke carefully. ¡°Sister, you know¡­¡± ¡°¡­Yeah?¡± Wary, Abel hesitated before continuing. ¡°Actually¡­ I just remembered that there was a time five years ago Miss Amil was being chased. The thing is, it was around the same time of Hanael¡¯s birth when a request came from the Imperial Pce.¡± ¡°The Imperial Pce?¡± Her sister¡¯s letter also mentioned it. Sierra listened well to Abel¡¯s spection. ¡°Yes. The pce had continuously been pressuring her back then. They wanted to take Hanael. When she saw that letter, Archmage Amil had a really hard time.¡± ¡°¡­Do you mean that Hanael¡¯s father might be someone from the Imperial Pce?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ He must be in a position powerful enough to put pressure on an archmage.¡± Nothing¡¯s for certain, but Sierra¡¯s tracking potion was still clearly and meticulously detecting her sister¡¯s mana traces. And if she considered her sister¡¯s coded letter¡­ ¡®Her life is being threatened because she got involved with the wrong bastard in that pce.¡¯ Sierra closed her eyes, then opened them once more. She didn¡¯t know her beloved sister would be under such unexpected danger. Now, she had only one thing to do. Clenching her fist, Sierra muttered in a low voice. ¡°Really? Even if you say you¡¯re going to die, I won¡¯t let you go.¡± There was a fire behind her eyes as the letter was crumpled in her fist. ¡°S-Sister¡­ Your eyes¡­¡± Once Sierra opened her eyes again, she looked at the world with an almost crazed look. In all her life, she got seriously angry only once, and that was when there was one man who tried to sexually assault her. That assant almost died halfway through and seemed to juste back to life. ¡°It looks like some bastard harassed my sister so much to the point that she went into hiding¡­¡± ¡°¡­S-Sister.¡± Abel nervously gulped. Sierra continued whispering under her breath as though she was reciting a wise saying. ¡°This calls for an eradication.¡± ¡°¡­P-Pardon?¡± Abel¡¯s face turned deathly pale at the sudden remark. Sierra recalled that Cassius was outside the door. In a way, Cassius was also a victim here. It wasn¡¯t something he should have, but he misunderstood the situation and thought that Hanael was his daughter¡­ ¡°There¡¯s more than one victim because of that bastard.¡± Sierra gritted her teeth. At that moment, the door rattled open, which made Sierra reflexively turn her gaze. Cassius, who had finished his tasks, strode into the room, and as Sierra looked at him, she spoke. ¡°We¡¯re done searching, Cassius.¡± ¡°¡­Shall we go back now?¡± Sierra nodded, looking at him with a slightly fatigued nce. Before that, she needed to retrieve one more letter that her sister had left for her in the drawer. ¡®¡­Why is the envelope so small?¡¯ It was somehow ominous, but¡­ Anyway, it was time for them to return. * * * As they left Sebor riding a ck carriage, Sierra sighed deeply as she looked out the window. She had to save her older sister who she thought was caught by a crazy bastard, but she couldn¡¯t even guess who the ¡®devil¡¯ was from the Imperial Pce. The carriage set off from the vige, but then Sierra saw the figure of a familiar man as they passed by. With her thoughts already soplicated, a confused look dawned over her features. ¡®His face is familiar?¡¯ Sierra wondered where it was that she saw him, then she realized it was the man she encountered at the pharmaceutical conference that she went to with Hentel, the doctor from the Hippo Kingdom. ¡®He approached me out of the blue, but I only remember him because he¡¯s quite handsome.¡¯ Today, he was wearing a monocle as though he was looking for something. ¡®Why is that man here?¡¯ Come to think of it, there was something suspicious about their meeting back then. It was a sudden approach followed by a sudden disappearance. And it was strange how he never sought her out again after receiving just one potion from her. ¡®Why is he in the Crown Prince¡¯s private property? Why did hee all the way here?¡¯ The carriage passed by quickly. So many questions swirled inside Sierra¡¯s head. Just thinking about her sister¡¯s whereabouts alone, she started to question everything around her. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 46 - Even So, She Really Must Go To The Imperial Palace Trantor: Yonnee ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 46 ¨C Even So, She Really Must Go To The Imperial Pce ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Sierra?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± She had been staring out the window for a long time because she had spotted that familiar stranger, but she finally came back to her senses as Cassius spoke to her. Neither Cassius nor Abel were looking at her with strange gazes, so Sierra smiled, scratching the back of her head. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I think it¡¯s strange.¡± Sierra said it like she really thought so. And since she said it like that, it was no question that they would ask what¡¯s strange. ¡°¡­What is?¡± ¡­But she couldn¡¯t say anything in return. Averting her eyes, she decided to skirt around the matter. ¡°Hanael¡¯s mom is missing¡­ so I¡¯m at a loss.¡± Sierra looked back at Cassius, then recalled the shocking revtion about her sister¡¯s disappearance, making her whole body stiffen. She had intended to find her sister right away after getting a clue about her whereabouts, thene clean to Cassius. ¡®Now that she¡¯s nowhere to be found, what if he doesn¡¯t believe me?¡¯ But Sierra soon remembered her sister¡¯s second letter. As the carriage rattled, she thought about how rumors were circting that Hanael was her daughter despite her older sister¡¯s disappearance. She might fall short, but she needed to solve this misunderstanding first. With a somewhat heavy heart, Sierra took out the letter from her pocket. ¡¸ Hanael is my daughter, not Sierra¡¯s. Please take good care of them both. ¡¹ After reading the concise letter, Sierra was left speechless for a moment. ¡®What¡¯s this? The letter¡¯s so short. Why isn¡¯t there any evidence?¡¯ Sierra was baffled, and she stared at Cassius then Abel once. The two of them looked at her inquisitively as she hurriedly took out the letter after rummaging through her pockets. Cassius was brusque as usual, but Abel, who knew what the letter was about, gulped. ¡®If you just say it like this and expect people to belie¡­ Wait a minute.¡¯ Sierra frowned at the letter. She grew up without her parents ever since she was a child, so her handwriting was more simr to her sister¡¯s, like they were mirror images. In other words¡­ ¡®¡­Now that I think about it, isn¡¯t this my handwriting?¡¯ Sierra and Amil¡¯s handwriting were closely simr. No, it wasn¡¯t enough to say that they were simr. It was better to say that they were the same. ¡®If I show this, I¡¯ll look more suspicious, what are you thinking, Amil! Why didn¡¯t you change your handwriting?!¡¯ After seeing this letter, Sierra¡¯s worries only deepened. ¡®¡­I have to rescue my sister quickly so that she can write this again. Ahh, this is driving me nuts¡­¡­¡¯ ¡°What¡¯s written in that note?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s a receipt for a snack that I bought before.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± It wasn¡¯t a believable excuse, but it wasn¡¯t like she could show this letter to anyone. She needed to find her sister because that was the only way all the misunderstandings would be cleared. If Amil was here, it would be easy to just run a biological test to prove Hanael¡¯s real birth mother. ¡®But even as I¡¯m being misunderstood, Amil¡¯s life is in actual danger right now.¡¯ Sierra sighed and ced the letter back into her pocket. ¡®Somehow, I ended up in a situation where I¡¯ll need to save my sister.¡¯ Her sister always just saved herself. Sierra was facing something unprecedented, but one thing¡¯s for certain. ¡®Whatever it is, my sister is the key to solving everything. So I¡¯ll have to find you no matter what.¡¯ Sierra¡¯s eyes changed as her resolve hardened. As she focused on her thoughts, she didn¡¯t notice how Cassius¡¯ eyes had narrowed as he observed her. * * * That night, Sierra sent Abel to the Imperial Pce. After half a day, he returned, and could only sigh. ¡°Sister, I tried to get into the Imperial Pce, but¡­ I don¡¯t think I can. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Abel frowned, and handed something unexpected to Sierra¡ªit was a detailed map of the pce. Sierra¡¯s eyes widened, but Abel spoke first. ¡°Actually, it was difficult to get this map, too, but¡­¡± ¡°This map?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sierra squinted and pointed to the other papers that Abel brought along with the map. ¡°What are the other documents in your hands?¡± ¡°These aren¡¯t much, but I thought these could help. They¡¯re job openings, but not for anything important.¡± He was carrying several pamphlets rolled up in a bunch. From imperial doctors to pharmacists, professors in the academy and servants at the pce¡­ Upon taking a quick nce at the pamphlets, Sierra nodded in agreement. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s look at that map first.¡± But before checking the old parchment, Sierra paused, then said. ¡°Why were you hesitating so much earlier?¡± Abel¡¯smand over information was astounding. Not just anyone could get their hands on a map of the Imperial Pce, which is considered a matter of military secrecy. However, even though he did quite a good job, Abel¡¯s forehead was wrinkled as he frowned. Sierra didn¡¯t know what to expect. It was the first time she saw this lovely puppy look so annoyed. Full of questions, Sierra¡¯s eyes were squinted. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Tell me.¡± ¡°¡­There are several magic tools around the pce. Plus, there¡¯s a lot of powerful magic circles there just to prevent unauthorized people from doing any magic.¡± Then, Abel hurriedly plucked out a few strands of his hair. Sierra was startled by this for a moment, but then the boy sighed heavily as he showed the tip of his hair strands. ¡°Sister, look at this! Because I only sneaked in, I was attacked by a magic tool like this¡­¡± When she saw Abel¡¯s burnt hair, Sierra eximed and said ¡®Oh, no!¡¯ But when she thought about it, Sierra recalled how she saw something like this with her sister. ¡°Then this leaves us no choice but to go to the Imperial Pce and search it secretly, right?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Sierra was lost in thought. ¡®Cassius is the only one who¡¯ll be able to help me to enter the pce directly.¡¯ But how would she exin this situation to him? And apart from that, if something would go wrong, Cassius could get wrongly involved in this. He was already treating her kindly enough, so how could she possibly say ¡®I want you to take a huge risk just so I can rescue my sister¡¯? Even if a person is naturally shameless, there should be a limit. ¡®Is there anyone other than Cassius who could help me? I also need someone to look into the Imperial Pce¡¯s affairs sneakily. And I¡¯ll also need to go in and out of that ce often.¡¯ There was no choice but to involve herself with a person from the pce who could leak information to her. What¡¯s ideal would be a servant who knew the pce well, but where could she possibly find such a person? No, even if she found someone like that, how could she establish a connection? Sierra¡¯s worries only grew. ¡°Cheer up, Sister. Why don¡¯t you ask the Duke or the Godmother?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t ask Cassius for any more favors. Let¡¯s try to find a way for ourselves first. If that doesn¡¯t work, then let¡¯s ask for the Godmother¡¯s help. As ast resort, I¡¯ll have to reveal my sister¡¯s identity to her.¡± Sierra thought about all the possibilities. As he listened to her, Abel ced a finger over his temple and murmured in confusion. ¡°Alright then, Sister. Let¡¯s do that first. Of course, Miss Amil told us not to reveal her identity at any given time, but¡­¡± ¡°¡­Yes, I¡¯m hesitant, too. But if the situation calls for it¡­¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to reveal everything. I trust your judgement, Sister.¡± Abel and Sierra¡¯s gazes met firmly. After folding the map and tucking it away, Sierra was lost in thought as she took the bunch of pamphlets in his arms. * * * That night, Sierra rolled around in bed, restless as she mulled it over. ¡®How will I be able to find the person who¡¯s threatening my sister¡¯s life at the pce?¡¯ Sierra thought about this realistically. First of all, if she went to an information guild that was open to eptingmoners as clients, then she¡¯ll have to reveal many secrets about the pce, the magic tower, the archmage and her situation. There was a high probability that it would backfire. Such ces that do legal exchanges would trade only ordinary information. ¡®I could try going to a back-alley information guild, but I might not even be able to make a request. I might not even get out of there alive.¡¯ Sierra sighed deeply. ¡®And I can¡¯t exactly tell Cassius that my sister is actually an archmage¡­¡¯ In serious conflict, Sierra buried her head into a pillow and muttered continuously, sounding as if she was sobbing. ¡°How can I sweet talk people over so that I can use them as my source?¡± Hanael, who tilted her head to the side, grabbed Sierra¡¯s hand tightly and whispered. ¡°There¡¯s only one way to do that.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You have to do what you¡¯re good at!¡± Hanael whispered excitedly as Sierra poked Hanael¡¯s cheek like it¡¯s soft flour dough. Sierra¡¯s eyes grew wide at the child¡¯s unexpected words. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Sierra was taken aback, but Hanael¡¯s smile grew wider. ¡°Hanael is so cute that Hanael makes people happier just by dancing!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s a good thing I can do to get people on my side¡­?¡± Sierra¡¯s gaze gravitated towards the map and pamphlets on the table. Then, one of them caught her eye¡ª¡¯Imperial Pce Pharmacist Selection¡¯. ¡°¡­If I be an imperial pharmacist, I can establish connections with people at the pce, and at the same time, I¡¯ll be able to search inside without drawing suspicion. It¡¯ll be like killing two birds with one stone.¡± Hanael nodded vigorously as she watched Sierra considering this. ¡°See, did Hanael help?¡± Poking the cute cheeks, Sierra whispered in return. ¡°Yes, of course! Hanael helped a lot!¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s great!¡± Hanael¡¯s eyes glimmered as she snuggled deeper into Sierra¡¯s arms. Sierra patted Hanael, then braided her hair. ¡°That¡¯s a relief! Then, what else?¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right. The doctor told us to get ready again because we have another examination!¡± ¡°Huh? When?¡± At Sierra¡¯s sudden words, Hanael¡¯s tiny lips opened and closed like a baby bird¡¯s beak. ¡°Tomorrow! Mom will be there, too.¡± Sierra visibly became more cheerful. As she stroked Hanael¡¯s hair, she thought about how this could solve one of her problems at least. There must be only one reason why the doctors were calling them: it¡¯s time for the second stage of the paternity test. ¡®Come to think of it, time passed so quickly. The second stage is already tomorrow.¡¯ She was so preupied with her sister¡¯s whereabouts that she forgot about the paternity testpletely. Sierra nodded and smoothed out Hanael¡¯s hair. ¡°Now, should we get ready for bed?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± To borrow Hanael¡¯s words, they brushed their teeth as well as they could and theny in their soft bed to sleep. Sierra, who had a hard day, fell asleep quickly. But Hanael, who waited for Sierra all day, couldn¡¯t fall asleep so easily. ¡°¡­Sleeping?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Hanael tossed and turned, but eventually snuggled into Sierra¡¯s arms. She looked closely at Sierra¡¯s angr nose, her long eyshes, and red lips in the dark. ¡°Good night, Mom.¡± Hanael just stared at Sierra¡¯s face, thinking that she didn¡¯t want the other person who she should call ¡®mom¡¯ toe. It¡¯s actually been a while since Sierra said a word about that person to Hanael. Maybe she couldn¡¯t find her. Hanael hoped she couldn¡¯t find that person forever. That way, she could stay with Sierra longer¡­ ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 47 - Then, I’ll Become An Imperial Pharmacist Trantor: Yonnee ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 47 ¨C Then, I¡¯ll Be An Imperial Pharmacist The next morning came soon. Sierra was asked to give a blood sample for the second stage of the paternity test, just as Hanael said. Fortunately, it seemed to be true that the test wouldn¡¯t take long. The Hippo Kingdom¡¯s doctors seemed to think that Sierra was Hanael¡¯s real mother already, but Sierra paid no mind to that today. ¡®In order to enter the Imperial Pce, I¡¯ll have no choice but to be an Imperial pharmacist.¡¯ If she became one officially, she¡¯d be able to investigate people in the pce more freely, and she¡¯d be able to look into the suspicious things within the pce itself. While there were rumors that subordinates could glean from within the pce, there were also rumors that only those with higher positions could hear. If she could get close to those superiors, she¡¯d be able to catch onto those rumors. The same goes for the subordinates as well. ¡®I¡¯m going to have you all drink my truth serum so I can hear everything.¡¯ ¡­She didn¡¯t know who she was going to be up against, and it was obvious that this method was cowardly. Still, Sierra intentionally wanted to go by this method. She could stay cowardly and win through her potions! There¡¯s no such thing as fairness! This was a n, not a scheme. ¡®If someone tries to harass me, then I¡¯ll kill them through my potions, so what!¡¯ After finishing the second round of the paternity test, Sierra walked along the corridor, guided by the head maid while Hanael skipped beside her. She gritted her teeth to the point that the tendon on her chin slightly jutted out. ¡®I have quite a lot of potions with adverse effects up my arsenal, so if you dare touch me, you¡¯re dead. And I¡¯ll surely find and kill the one who touched my sister.¡¯ Sierra had always been confident in both her abilities as a pharmacist and her sister¡¯s outstanding magic abilities. ¡°I¡¯ll really go all out this time, just you wait.¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± The head maid who was guiding them back looked at her with a perplexed expression. Sierra, who had been immersed in her own world, smiled awkwardly and shook her head. ¡°Ah¡­ No, uh, where¡¯s Godmother?¡± Since she was nning to strike while the iron was hot, Sierra thought that she should meet the Godmother and talk to her about entering the pce while hiding her identity. She wanted to ask if she could get a rmendation letter from her. ¡°Are you nning to meet the Godmother, Miss Sierra?¡± ¡°Yes. But, ah, she must be busy.¡± At Sierra¡¯s hesitant tone, the head maid shook her head. ¡°The Godmother puts Miss Sierra above all else in the world. Please rest assured.¡± Sierra thought if this was something that was a good thing or not to her situation, but as she bit her lips, the head maid nodded and said kindly. ¡°I¡¯ll guide you there, Miss.¡± Then, as Sierra nodded in return, the head maid guided her there as promised. * * * As the head maid mentioned, Sierra was easily able to meet the Godmother. Just one word towards the maid standing in front of the door, and she was quickly led in front of the drawing room where the Godmother was. The maid immediately went into the room to inform the Godmother of Sierra¡¯s visit. ¡®Judging by the circumstances, there seems to be an important guest in the drawing room.¡¯ The maid came right back after informing the Godmother, and when Sierra tried to say that she was sorry for imposing, the maid just shook her head. The maid conveyed the Godmother¡¯s words, that she was happy to meet Sierra since she wasn¡¯t doing much anyway. ¡°Sierra, you¡¯re here!¡± After hearing the same burdensome remarks again from the Godmother today, she entered the door and was weed by a bright and lively greeting. But then¡­ ¡°Sierra¡¯s here.¡± ¡­Sierra didn¡¯t know if the Godmother truly thought that she ¡®wasn¡¯t doing much¡¯ when Marchioness Andante Mails was right there. The Marchioness was the Godmother¡¯s daughter-inw, and she was a high-ranking aristocrat¡­ Sierra just asked to meet the Godmother, but she really was imposing since the Marchioness was already here. Sierra pressed her temple awkwardly while she was still feeling puzzled. Then, Andante stepped forward and held Sierra¡¯s arm. ¡°Do you feel sick?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± At Sierra¡¯s awkward answer, the Godmother approached. ¡°Andante, Sierra feels ufortable.¡± The Godmother, who patted the frozen Sierra¡¯s shoulder affectionately, led her to the sofa so she could sit beside her. ¡°So, why did youe to see me?¡± ¡°Mother, you must have noticed now that I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°After you died and came back to life, your tongue must have gotten longer.¡± ¡°It seems so, Mother.¡± Sierra gauged the atmosphere while sipping the cup of ck tea that the maid handed to her earlier. It was a strange triangr rtionship, and Sierra was like a shrimp caught in the middle of the fight of two whales. The Godmother took Sierra¡¯s hand and squeezed it warmly. ¡°What brought you here, Sierra?¡± ¡°Ah, I recently saw a listing about an Imperial pharmacist being hired.¡± Sierra recounted the Imperial pharmacist selection pamphlet that she saw attached to the gossip news clipping next to the map of the Imperial pce that Abel brought to her. The pamphlet stated the recruitment period, and it said that a rmendation letter was also necessary. For pharmacists employed by noble households, the usual route would be to get a rmendation from their employer. Most of the pharmacists who pass had more than a decade of experience, but that¡¯s not going to be a problem. ¡®I have a powerful guardian like the Godmother.¡¯ Looking at the Godmother who she imed to be her powerful guardian, Sierra smiled brightly like the sun. ¡°And I want to enter the Imperial Pce as a pharmacist.¡± ¡®I won¡¯t seem suspicious, right? Being an Imperial pharmacist is the best honor a pharmacist could have.¡¯ Of course, Sierra was someone who likes money, so being an Imperial pharmacist wasn¡¯t something she fancied as the position only had honor to offer. However, it was still a sought-after position for many other people. Sure enough, the Godmother pped her hands once and smiled broadly. ¡°Finally, there¡¯s something you¡¯d like to do. I can give you a rmendation for the position. But if you want to be the next Duchess¡­¡± ¡­Warning bells rang. Come to think of it, the Godmother was one of the people who believed in the results of the first paternity test. Sierra averted her gaze awkwardly. At that, the Godmother sighed, then spoke. ¡°¡­No, you should do what you want to do. I don¡¯t think being a Duchess would give you the same satisfaction as being an Imperial pharmacist.¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s not that I think they¡¯re too different!¡± And it was then that Sierra and the Godmother smiled awkwardly as they made eye contact with each other. ¡°Haa¡­¡± Andante wiped her cheeks because tears were streaming down her face. Sierra scratched the back of her head awkwardly. ¡®But why is she crying?¡¯ Sierra called out to her cautiously. ¡°Marchioness¡­?¡± Andante took Sierra¡¯s hand. ¡°¡­Are you doing this because of me? You¡¯re going all the way to the Imperial Pce to investigate the conspiracy around my condition?¡± Sierra blinked repeatedly in confusion. ¡°Pardon? Conspiracy?¡± ¡­Well, to be exact, it wasn¡¯t one about the Marchioness. Andante nodded vigorously. As Sierra stared at her, a n began to form in her mind. Now that she thought about it, it was also the Imperial Pce that was threatening Andante¡¯s life. Since Sierra saved Andante¡¯s life, misunderstandings formed from thetter¡¯s side since she knew nothing about the situation of Sierra¡¯s sister. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to express my gratitude¡­¡± Surprisingly, misunderstandings once again piled up inyers, but this time, Sierra couldn¡¯t afford to clear it up. This would only help her chances at entering the Imperial Pce. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± When the Godmother asked sharply, Andante raised her hand and spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve been hiding it so far, but truthfully, and because it was Sera who cured me of my illness, I have no reason to hide it anymore.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Huu¡­¡± Andante, who nced at the carefully closed window, opened her lips without hesitation. In fact, she seemed to be relieved to finally let it out. ¡°As you know, I was almost poisoned a few days ago.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s right.¡± The Godmother sighed. She already knew about this before Andante even told her. Gracefully tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear, Andante quietly whispered. ¡°It seems that either the Princess or the Imperial Pce was behind my poisoning.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your basis on this im?¡± Sierra sipped her tea quietly as she listened to the serious conversation between the two women, looking alternately between them. ¡°In a way, I should watch my words in front of amoner who knows nothing about this¡ªno, a semi noble¡­¡± ¡­But she didn¡¯t stop speaking. ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯re aiming just for the Marquisate. I believe they¡¯re ultimately targeting the Ideos family.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Apart from that, they tried to bribe me into having Sierra expelled from the Duchy.¡± ¡°Then if that¡¯s the case, how could I possibly allow Sierra to look into this matter? I will not allow anything dangerous to happen to you.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡­And it was then that an obstacle appeared unexpectedly. Sierra straightened her shoulders, her expression perplexed as the Godmother continued speaking. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do so much for Andante. We¡¯ll take care of it ourselves.¡± ¡°But as a ph-pharmacist, I need to enter the pce. Because!¡± She needed a reason to persuade the Godmother, but she couldn¡¯t think of anything. ¡®How should I do this?¡¯ As Sierra contemted what her next step should be, she looked at the Godmother¡¯s face, which was full of doubts and worries, and Andante¡¯s pitiable expression. ¡®¡­Okay. They both think I¡¯m just being worried about the Marchioness.¡¯ Sierra looked up dramatically and sped her hands together. ¡°I¡¯m just so worried about Marchioness Mails! As a pharmacist who abides by my professional code, I can¡¯t just let those evildoers go unpunished. I have to go and find out the truth myself. I¡¯ll do it for sure!¡± Then, the hard expression on the Godmother¡¯s face as she stared at Sierra changed considerably. ¡°How can you be so gentle and kind¡­¡± The Godmother sighed deeply. On the other hand, Andante was on the verge of tears. Sierra had one hand covering her face. Before she could shed any tears, Sierra hurriedly spoke up again. ¡°Please don¡¯t cry. It¡¯ll be alright. I won¡¯t do anything dangerous. It¡¯s all connected to the Imperial Pce. The one trying to get rid of Andante, the one aiming for Cassius, and the one after her sister¡¯s life. ¡®I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a conspiracy lurking inside the pce.¡¯ She didn¡¯t have a clear lead yet, but Sierra frowned slightly. Then, handing over a handkerchief to her, the Godmother spoke gently. ¡°Ah, how could I stop you? I¡¯ll write you a rmendation letter, so please open your beautiful eyes.¡± Andante also spoke beside the Godmother. ¡°Yes, don¡¯t strain your beautiful self, please.¡± No, but¡­ I¡¯m really just ordinary. Sierra sighed inwardly. This princess treatment wasn¡¯t actually that bad, but she found it hard to adapt to them being like this. She was used to just relying on herself¡­ Sierra took a sip of her lukewarm tea as she watched the middle-aged woman and the older woman fight overplimenting her. Sierra only had her sister beside her, not her parents. So it was the first time that she was being doted on by older women. She was like a baby bird being fed by its mother when they gave her more refreshments, and when they patted her back when she coughed a little while sipping her tea. ¡®This kindness¡­ makes me a little happy¡­?¡¯ Sierra smiled brightly. And in turn, the Godmother and Andante also smiled happily. She was a little touched because a thought ran across her mind, that this might be what having your family beside you felt like. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 48 - A Skilled Physician Appears At The Imperial Palace Chapter 48 ¨C A Skilled Physician Appears At The Imperial Pce Trantor: Yonnee ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 48 ¨C A Skilled Physician Appears At The Imperial Pce The next morning, the Godmother¡¯s maid visited Sierra, telling her that the older woman was calling her. Along with that, the maid also told her a lot of good news. ¡®Very good things keeping.¡¯ The Godmother had already written a rmendation letter for Sierra so that she could enter the Imperial Pce as a pharmacist. And only a few hourster, good news came once more about how she was already being summoned to the pce to work. This was all thanks to the Godmother vouching for her¡ªthat was the only reason why she could enter the pce as easily as this. Unfortunately though, Sierra knew that there would be considerable twists and turns before she could really work there. As Sierra followed the maid towards where the Godmother was now, she sighed internally. ¡®Cassius came in like a raging storm.¡¯ Cassius seemed to have only been carefully monitoring Sierra¡¯s movements. His poorplexion proved this fact. ¡¯Sierra, I heard about it. What do you mean you¡¯re going to be an Imperial pharmacist?¡¯ ¡®Yeah, I¡¯m going to enter the pce as a pharmacist. Cool, right?¡¯ ¡®You can¡¯t. It¡¯s dangerous.¡¯ She had a hard time convincing Cassius, who was more stubborn about it than she expected. However, even as Cassius was firm about this, Sierra also learned a lot about how she could hit the weakest spots of the Ideos family members. ¡¯Um¡­ But it¡¯s always been my dream to be an Imperial pharmacist¡­¡¯ Cassius immediately felt guilty, thinking that Sierra couldn¡¯t achieve her dream before because he had abandoned her. Of course, in truth, these two things weren¡¯t rted at all¡­ ¡¯¡­Right. So, I¡¯ll contact you.¡¯ After Sierra said this, Cassius had no reason to oppose anymore. However, on Sierra¡¯s part, she wasn¡¯tfortable about this situation either. Because she had guilt-tripped Cassius, she also felt sorry for doing it. ¡®Ah, let¡¯s not think about that anymore. I¡¯ll just buy him a present when I get paidter!¡¯ She was near the Godmother¡¯s room now. As the older woman called her early this morning, Sierra had been dressed to the nines, looking beautiful and much like a noble. Carrying a fancy potion bottle full of holy water filled with sacred power, Sierra was dressed in a white robe that had gilded edges. This pharmacist¡¯s robe looked far more expensive than most dresses¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve already heard from the maid, but child, the Imperial Pce has already sent your summons.¡± ¡°¡­Ah.¡± ¡°Now, here you go. I also wrote your rmendation letter already. Oh, our Sierra just can¡¯t go anywhere without standing out from the rest. Oh, and¡­¡± The Godmother stepped forward and tucked a small magic tool in the inner pocket of her white coat. ¡°It¡¯s a magic tool for recording.¡± ¡°Huh? Recording? The Godmother nodded, seeing Sierra¡¯s curiosity. ¡°If any of the patients insult you, we can use this. Ah, and another thing.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Regardless whether it¡¯s a young nobleman, a fellow pharmacist or anyone else approaching you, you must turn on this recording tool right away.¡± Sierra looked up at the Godmother, and she looked as if she could kill anyone right now. In response, Sierra nodded reluctantly, but inwardly, she vowed never to turn on the magic tool if a good-looking guy approaches her. Of course, Sierra¡¯s obstacles to going to work did not stop at the Godmother. After receiving the letter of rmendation, she nned to take a carriage to work, and the head maid went off to prepare one. As she headed to the Ducal estate¡¯s main entrance, Sierra saw that Hanael was there to see her off. But then¡­ While she was looking to spot an ordinary carriage that would bring her to work, what Sierra saw was an overly fancy red carriage that had the Duchy¡¯s insignia emzoned tantly on its side. Even the coachmen who came with the carriage were wearing impable uniforms, and the four ck horses pulling the carriage all looked so shiny¡­ ¡®Isn¡¯t this a carriage that only the Duke of Ideos could use?¡¯ Sierra was shocked. And even before she could process all these, she came face to face with Cassius Ideos himself poking his head out of the carriage¡¯s window. As he held the curtain to the side, Cassius beamed at her. ¡°Let¡¯s go together, Sierra.¡± ¡°¡­Huh? Cass¡ªno, Your Grace where the he¡­ No, where are you heading?¡± While Sierra was struggling to speak formally, Cassius came out of the carriage and walked towards her, stopping only when he stood in front of her. With a gentle smile on his lips, he offered an outstretched hand as though he was going to escort her. ¡°Let¡¯s go together. For work at the Imperial Pce.¡± What a juxtaposition this was. She was only an ordinary pharmacist, and yet she was vouched by both the Godmother and the Marchioness of Mails, and she was going to be escorted to work by the Duke of Ideos himself. ¡®There won¡¯t be any reason that the people there would ignore me, but¡­ This is extremely dangerous¡­¡¯ As Sierra thought this, she went inside the carriage while holding Cassius¡¯ hand for support. Would this Duchy be alright¡­? Perhaps if she asked for it, they might give her the entire Empire even¡­ * * * After riding the carriage with Cassius, they finally arrived at the Imperial Pce, and Sierra headed into the pharmacy inside. In a way, this was her debut as a pharmacist in the capital. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you.¡± The statement itself wasn¡¯t of favor nor malice, but most people here seemed to hate people who entered through connections. Even so, since she was vouched by the Duchy, no one would dare say anything to her. A girl whose lips were pursed reached out to Sierra for a handshake. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Lily! Since you¡¯re new, I¡¯ll show you around the formtionb.¡± Sierra smiled, her eyes bent like crescent moons. She would have to win Lily over, and this might be easy since the girl seemed to be the one tasked with helping Sierra settle here. ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Listening to Lily on their way to the formtion room as they walked along the corridors of the Imperial Pce, Lily had an unnatural smile on her lips. With that, she also showed where patients stayed next to the infirmary of the pce. ¡°There¡¯s not much a new pharmacist has to do.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Sierra shrugged and only half-listened to Lily. It was clear that Lily was already underestimating Sierra, but Sierra wasn¡¯t interested in other people¡¯s opinions anyway. Then, Lily suddenly grabbed Sierra¡¯s wrist and pulled her. ¡°¡­Ha. I have something to say. Follow me.¡± Sierra followed silently as they walked. They walked a long way, even going outside. Then, they stood at a deserted corner of the pce, Lily looked around furtively for anyone who might be listening. Seeing as there weren¡¯t any, she let out a brief sigh, then she red at Sierra. ¡°You!¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± It was better that she could hear this herself though, rather than knowing that she was being talked about behind her back. This was where information flowed the most, too. As expected, Lily mmed a hand against the wall next to Sierra, then she pursed her lips and leaned down, then she muttered. ¡°How do you know Lord Ijiel?¡± ¡°Lord Ijiel?¡± ¡°Just why the hell is Lord Ijiel secretly calling me! And he¡¯s only asking me about you? It feels terrible!¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Sierra tilted her head to the side, perplexed. Lily scowled and looked at Sierra as though she was trash. ¡°You don¡¯t know Lord Ijiel? He¡¯s the closest acquaintance of Her Imperial Highness, the handsome wolf-like man who you can¡¯t predict when he¡¯ll next appear.¡± Sierra answered firmly. ¡°Yeah. Don¡¯t know him.¡± ¡®Should I say it slowly so you understand?¡¯ Lily stomped her feet as though she was incensed by Sierra¡¯s calm attitude. She seemed to have struck a nerve with Lily, who didn¡¯t even know how to speak roughly. Lily stomped even harder and shouted. ¡°H-H-He told me to keep it a secret!¡± Staring at Lily¡¯s bright red face with a curious gaze, Sierra raised her chin. ¡°What secret?¡± ¡°I heard that Lord Ijiel drank a potion that you gave him. You really don¡¯t know him?¡± Sierra widened her eyes lightly. ¡®If it¡¯s someone who drank a potion she made, then it should be someone from the Supe vige. But I¡¯ve never heard of the name Ijiel before. And, well, there¡¯s no such handsome man in Supe.¡¯ Sierra was lost in thought as Lily continued to rage in the background, screeching loudly as though she was a whistling kettle. ¡®I didn¡¯t expect to find a lead this early.¡¯ Perhaps this Ijiel person was the suspicious man Sierra saw through the carriage window back then. As she thought about just who he was, Sierra frowned. ¡°Kid.¡± Gripping Lily¡¯s shoulder tighly, Sierra muttered in a threatening voice. ¡°Get lost.¡± Lily, who was still young, flinched when she suddenly heard a harsh voiceing out of the woman who had a gentle-looking appearance. Sierra was different from the young nobledies who had gone through the elite course to be an Imperial pharmacist. Even if she didn¡¯t look like it, she was amoner who had gone through all sorts of ordeals. ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± ¡°W-What?¡± ¡°Anyway, thanks for giving me information.¡± ¡°On what?¡± Sierra smiled as she pushed Lily to the side, and the girl had no choice but to move away as though she was a branch in front of a boulder. ¡°You¡¯re weak. You can¡¯t even clench your fists. I¡¯ll make you some herbal medicer.¡± ¡°Whaaat?¡± Weighing roughly sixty kilograms, Lily couldn¡¯t stand her ground when Sierra pushed her away¡­ because she was too strong. As Sierra entered the pharmacy once more, she didn¡¯t even give Lily a second nce. Lily watched Sierra¡¯s retreating back with aplicated look, her mood terrible, as if she had been given an injection. That day, Sierra had a happy pharmacist¡¯s life. The job of a new pharmacist who only trimmed quality herbs kind of suited her. It was even a bonus that she got some useful information about a man named Ijiel from someone who confronted her first. * * * After the day¡¯s work, Sierra was back inside the carriage that would return her from the pce and back to the Ducal estate. Sierra turned to Cassius and carefully opened her lips. ¡°Um, Cassius.¡± At that time, Cassius was lost in thought, his expression slightly bothered. He was thinking about that suspicious person, Ijiel, who had been hovering around himtely. And right then, Sierra mentioned his name. ¡°Do you know someone called Ijiel?¡± ¡°¡­Ijiel?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Why do you want to know?¡± Cassius¡¯s face grew stiff right then, but Sierra leaned back slowly and carefully looked at him. ¡°No, it¡¯s just that he seems popr among the pharmacists.¡± Cassius¡¯ expression hardened even more at Sierra¡¯s words. ¡°I know him.¡± Sierra was surprised by Cassius answering obediently. ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the Princess¡¯ acquaintance. They grew close at a secret social club, but that¡¯s all I know.¡± The Crown Prince and the Imperial Princess, the princess¡¯ information source who was a suspicious looking man, her sister¡¯s disappearance, and a secret social club. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Sierra¡¯s eyes narrowed as she thought about this. Then, as Cassius watched her, he carefully asked. ¡°¡­Are you interested in that man?¡± Seeing how Cassius was being cautious now, Sierra brushed away her curiosity and put on a mask of indifference. Even so, some information she knew about the man named Ijiel passed one by one through her head. ¡®Come to think of it, it¡¯s a man, right?¡¯ Thinking only of how to save her sister, Sierrapletely forgot that Ijiel was biologically a man. ¡°No, forget it. I know I don¡¯t have the right to ask questions like this.¡± Sierra had known Cassius for a long time, so she knew that he was trying to hide how hurt he felt right now. With the corners of her lips tugging up in an awkward smile, she made a hasty excuse again. ¡°He¡¯s not really my type.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yup, really.¡± Sierra couldn¡¯t speak anymore as she saw just how much Cassius¡¯ face brightened right then. No, to be more precise, seeing him smile so brightly dazzled her. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 49 - The Princess Proposal Chapter 49 ¨C The Princess¡¯ Proposal Trantor: Yonnee ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Chapter 49 ¨C The Princess¡¯ Proposal ¡°¡­Then why do you ask?¡± ¡°I¡¯m suspicious of him because he approached mest time. But I heard in the pce that he¡¯s popr, so I wanted to find out more.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Cassius always had a subtle smile on his lips whenever he looked at Sierra, but right now, he suddenly looked like an asura. Surprised by this, Sierra flinched slightly, after which Cassius schooled his features once more. ¡°He dared to approach you.¡± ¡°¡­Oh, um, nothing special happened.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll investigate him properly, Sierra.¡± Right then, he smiled affectionately as he held Sierra¡¯s arm. ¡°So that there¡¯s no bone left. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°No, that would be¡­¡± Sierra thought that things were going well, but¡­ She didn¡¯t know why, but when she looked at Cassius, it seemed like the brakes were all gone. She couldn¡¯t erase the thought of it. Sierra just smiled and gave him a stiff nod. ¡°Yeah, o-okay, go ahead and do that.¡± ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t worry, Sierra.¡± Cassius threw her a trustworthy look and spoke in a friendly voice. His very image wouldfort anyone. ¡°¡­Okay.¡± By the time the captivated Sierra returned to her senses, Cassius spoke once more and emphasized. ¡°As soon as possible. I¡¯ll find out everything. You know I¡¯ll do anything you ask.¡± Like a puppy, he leaned his head against Sierra¡¯s shoulder. She endured and let him stay next to her, patting his shoulder familiarly without feeling awkward. Did she get through to Cassius, even only little by little? But why was her heart pounding? Was this the sound of her heart of Cassius¡¯? Sierra didn¡¯t know. * * * A few dayster, Cassius received notice from the information guild that hemissioned. Dressed in a simple coat and wearing formal shoes, he entered the guild with an expressionless face. ¡°Your Grace, Duke Ideos.¡± A man with a slight build, whose face was covered with a mase, greeted him. ¡°We¡¯ve found the man named Ijiel.¡± ¡°What information do you have?¡± This man was the guild¡¯s leader. Noticing Cassius¡¯ sharp tone, he smiled broadly. ¡°You¡¯re in a hurry.¡± At this, Cassius straightened his back and stared down at the man. His blue eyes did not contain even a hint of sympathy or warmth. ¡°I don¡¯t want to waste my time on trivial nonsense.¡± And with this, the man smirked and held out a small file. ¡°Here you are.¡± The sound of the documents being flipped could be heard. What Cassius read was simr to what he already knew. Name, age, gender, connection to the Princess and Crown Prince, and his demeanor in social clubs. ¡°Your information is terrible.¡± For a moment, the man¡¯s lips hardened into a line as though his pride was wounded, but then a crooked smile soon reced it. ¡°Then what about this? The man named Ijiel, the person who¡¯s interested in him is none other than¡­ Duke Ideos¡¯ beloved Sierra.¡± Cassius straightened his posture and smiled dryly. ¡°It would be right to kill him even without any information.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s mere interest?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s one kind of interest or another.¡± At Cassius¡¯ words, the man smiled and even apuded without sincerity. ¡°I¡¯ll be rooting for you, Your Grace.¡± Cassius¡¯ cold gaze was set on the face of the information guild¡¯s leader. He didn¡¯t want to argue with a man who was famous for being entric. He couldn¡¯t afford to waste time now. ¡°Then.¡± After saying this, Cassius left. The iron door without atch mmed shut as, the sound of metal scraping heavily. Cassius turned around and left, perhaps on the way to another dark guild. ¡°He¡¯s more in love than I thought. The Princess must be suffering quite a bit.¡± The man lowered his mask and pressed the disguise magic tool that was in his pocket. And the face that was revealed under the mask was Ijiel¡¯s. The secret leader of the information guild. That was Ijiel¡¯s identity, With his mask in one hand dropped to his side, he swept his face with the other hand. ¡°Sierra and Cassius. I know the rtionship between those two.¡± He bit his lips hard. ¡°Sierra. She¡¯s rted to all sorts of big names, yet she¡¯s amon pharmacist.¡± Following the order of the Princess, Ijiel found out everything about Sierra and was fully aware of Abel, Sierra¡¯s close aide. However, information about Abel was hidden beneath a veil, so Ijiel felt that his perfectmand over information had faltered. At least, he found out that Abel was a former guard of the magic tower. ¡°¡­Abel, a dog of the magic tower. But how could a countryside pharmacist like Sierra be connected to a dog of the magic tower?¡± A smile tugged on the corners of Ijiel¡¯s lips. He didn¡¯t know what connection they had. It waspletely hidden. ¡°Is it rted to the disappearance of that woman, Amil?¡± His considerable interest could be seen with how his lips curled up even more. Fortunately, he thought that he would be able to have a chance to learn about Sierra more. Either way, he could use the Princess, who¡¯s half-crazy about the Duke of Ideos¡­ or the Duke himself once he¡¯s decided to try and eradicate her. That¡¯s when Ijiel would contact Sierra. * * * Cassius turned away in ease. Even if he went back to the estate right away, Sierra wouldn¡¯t be there, but he had made a meaningful first request today just as she had told. Seeing how his lips had turned up, the Princess asked with a strange gaze. ¡°Did something happen for your mood to be pleasant, Duke?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°This is an important issue, so I asked for your presence personally.¡± ¡°Yes, please let me know.¡± The Princess looked around her again. She seemed to be checking if there were no other people. Cassius thought that her attitude was stranger than usual, but he didn¡¯t want to talk about it further. The Princess¡¯ feelings weren¡¯t important to him. What Cassius was curious about were only what Sierra thought and felt today. The reason why the Princess sought him out personally was not at all important. Realizing that Cassius looked less closed-off than usual, the Princess smiled deeply. She had more expectations for their conversation today, and the situation might work out a little better for her. ¡°May I ask you toe to the drawing room in the pce for a while?¡± Every time they met, she would always try to invite him to the Imperial Pce, but he had never epted once. But today, when he allowed this meeting with her, maybe¡­ ¡°It would be difficult.¡± But even today, it was impossible. But the Princess had no intention of stepping down. She recalled what happened ording to Ijiel. ¡¯I believe that Duke Ideos is nning to marry Sierra.¡¯ ¡®¡­That can¡¯t be.¡¯ ¡®Why not? He¡¯s about to change thew with regards to marriage, too.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s impossible¡­ No matter how much power the Duke holds.¡¯ ¡®Is there anything that the ¡®Duchy of Ideos¡¯ can¡¯t do?¡¯ ncing at the anxious Princess, Ijiel spoke softly as though to relieve her concerns. ¡¯¡­Would you like to meet her separately, that woman?¡¯ ¡®What?¡¯ ¡®As you know, I¡¯m confident with my words.¡¯ ¡®¡­Then.¡¯ ¡®Please distract the Duke for a moment. Then I¡¯ll try to have someone kidnapped.¡¯ Ijiel gave a dazzling smile that would captivate anyone. At this, the Princess nodded. Yeah, things might work out easier than she thought if he could persuade Sierra. ¡°I have something to say about a woman named Sierra.¡± Cassius¡¯ expression quickly hardened. ¡°You are not someone who can call her name easily.¡± The unbridled, vivid anger in Cassius¡¯ eyes made the Princess freeze. She gestured towards her maid. ¡°Guide His Grace to the Imperial Pce.¡± She walked with trembling steps as though she was walking on ake that was covered with only thin ice. She was trying to buy time with Ijiel, but¡­ ¡®He¡¯s my man anyway. I can¡¯t be jealous of amoner woman.¡¯ She tried to deny it, but it was true that she felt that way when one mention of Sierra¡¯s name could make the Duke this angry. She closed her eyes tightly, then opened them once more, trying desperately to deny her zing jealousy. * * * Inside a drawing room of the Imperial Pce, without even taking off his coat, Cassius was served tea, but he turned to the Princess and spoke firmly. ¡°Please get to the point.¡± The Princess¡¯ pride took a great hit because this was what she didn¡¯t want to hear the most. But she smiled broadly anyway and replied. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be straightforward. I like the Duke, and I think you¡¯re the only marriage partner who would suit me.¡± ¡°I see.¡± As if she had said nothing, he brushed her off as though she was nothing more than an annoying bug. Her pride was rattled once more, but she continued determinedly. ¡°Thatmoner woman doesn¡¯t suit you, Duke.¡± As if a trigger had been pulled at the mention of moner woman¡¯, Cassius¡¯ expression became extremely cold at once, when he was only expressionless a while ago. ¡°But what should I do? I do not like Your Highness.¡± However, despite Cassius¡¯ firm response, the Princess opened her lips again. ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough that you know my feelings? For me, that¡¯s enough.¡± Then, Cassius neatly cleaved the conversation to an end. ¡°I will never marry you, Your Highness.¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t have anyone else to marry, do you? A woman who fits your status.¡± ¡°A woman who fits my status¡­ No, there are a lot of women out there.¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no reason for me to listen to Your Highness¡¯ useless drivel any longer.¡± Cassius was about to get up. The Princess bit her lips tightly. When she saw the man who upied her heart so besotted with another woman, she felt her heart aching. But the Princess swept her hair roughly and spoke once more. ¡°But what to do, Duke?¡± With this, Cassius instinctively felt ominous. While his eyes were shaken for a moment, finally, the Princess felt that she had his full attention. ¡°While the Duke and I were talking¡­¡± The Princess leaned over, her expression as though she wasn¡¯t very pleased with the situation either. Cassius looked at her then, urging her to continue. ¡°A close friend of mine would have already asked Miss Sierra to talk for a while. And perhaps¡­ she might have gotten hurt.¡± Cassius jumped to his feet. Then, with a drier expression on her face, the Princess murmured softly. ¡°It would be toote even if you leave now. I won¡¯t tell you where they are.¡± Out of his chair now, he carefully buttoned his duffle coat and warned her with a low voice, his eyes cold. ¡°How dare you. I will make you pay for this.¡± And the Princess replied with an equally low voice. ¡°For a woman who does not even have any power, are you saying that you¡¯ll oppose the Imperial Family?¡± ¡°She¡­¡± Cassius¡¯ expression was unreadable, but his voice was extremely cold. ¡°She is the mother of my child.¡± The Princess¡¯ eyes grew wide. And Cassius, who was looking at her, turned away slowly. ¡°This time, I¡¯m not going to sit still.¡± The Princess clenched her trembling lips. She should have predicted this defeat from the moment he said that he had a child with that woman. But she didn¡¯t want to give up. She had already done too much to do that. The more he clung onto Sierra, the more the Princess wanted him. Her eyes grew nervous as she watched the Duke¡¯s retreating figure. It was an odd feeling. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Rate the novel on Novel Updates. Join our discord to receive thetest updates as soon as possible! Chapter 50 - Torment As Much As You Want Chapter 50 ¨C Torment As Much As You Want Trantor: Yonnee Chapter 50 ¨C Torment As Much As You Want ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The Princess blocked his way. ¡°Your Highness said you love me.¡± Cassius took the Princess¡¯ unimpressively wrist as he said this dryly, more matter-of-fact than a doctor¡¯s diagnosis. She smiled up and stared back at him. ¡°I love you so much. I¡¯ll give you everything.¡± It was a low, crooked voice that was dour to his ears. The Princess¡¯ eyes shook as she couldn¡¯t guess Cassius¡¯ intentions. He slowly let go of her wrist, then whispered. ¡°But why is your pulse so calm?¡± ¡°Duke, that¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°You must have thought that I¡¯d be foolish enough to fall for your schemes.¡± ¡°¡­Duke Ideos.¡± Cassius quietly, clearly said one thing in response to her words as he looked down on her coldly. ¡°You¡¯ve underestimated me.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll be honest with you. I¡­ covet you. But of course, it¡¯s true that I like you.¡± The Princess¡¯ ears turned red as she said this. Cassius looked at her inquisitively, waiting for her to continue, but his patience was slowly reaching its limit. Soon, it was going to be time for Sierra to leave the Imperial Pce¡¯s pharmacy. He didn¡¯t tell Sierra to wait for him, but if she left now, she¡¯d already be on her way home. He didn¡¯t want to waste any more time listening to the Princess¡¯ dull excuses. ¡°And if we join forces¡­¡± As Cassius continued to look at her with indifference, the Princess¡¯ voice became hushed. ¡°Just as it is right, I can be your Duchess as I leave the Imperial Pce.¡± ¡°I have no interest in your ns for the future.¡± Cassius turned disinterestedly, and the Princess¡¯ expression copsed at the firm rejection. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a penins in the Lenc region. Perhaps even the Imperial scepter.¡± There was still a glimmer of hope in the Princess¡¯ eyes as she mentioned the penins in the Lenc region, anticipating that Cassius would want it. ¡°Unfortunately, I am not interested.¡± However, Cassius had no intention to listen to her any longer, and turned around fully. Noticing that this was truly herst chance before he left, she hurriedly hugged Cassius¡¯ back and whispered. ¡°Just why must it turn out like this. That Sierra is only amoner.¡± Cassius removed the Princess from him sharply. At this, the Princessughed as she looked at his back, then murmured. ¡°It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re crazy for her, Duke. She¡¯s beautiful.¡± The Princess swallowed a bitter smile. She also saw that Sierra was a bright and lovely woman, despite being a willow tree in her eyes. She certainly had a different appealpared to the Princess as she was called the most beautiful woman in the Imperial Pce. But it was still so hard for her to believe that the Duke right in front of her fell for that person rather than her. There were so many other women with Sierra¡¯s level of beauty. ¡°But you know this, too, don¡¯t you, Duke? There are a lot of people going after her as well.¡± Cassius was already by the door, which was halfway open, then he turned slowly towards her. ¡°None of them would have the power to do so.¡± And at this, the Princess¡¯ eyes darkened. ¡°But if it¡¯s a son of the Imperial Family¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± There might be a way to introduce that girl to my brother. Would you be able to stop that?¡± Cassius looked at the Princess, his lips in a straight line. She may think that they were a good pair together, but Cassius thought differently. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who it is.¡± ¡°¡­What do you mean, Duke?¡± ¡°If anyone touches Sierra, regardless of who it is, I mean that they would all lose to me.¡± Cassius looked as though he was ready to do anything, even treason, and turned away. He looked even colder, but the Princess continued talking. ¡°Remember. You join hands with me anytime, I don¡¯t mind the situation.¡± Cassius spoke in a low, mocking tone. ¡°No, you won¡¯t even be able to touch it.¡± Cassius felt responsible for Sierra¡¯s safety, like a bird that had flown into his hands. He bit the flesh in his mouth. He regretted that Sierra started getting unfavorable attention because she was caught up with him. ¡®I¡¯m sorry, Sierra.¡¯ On the outside, he looked calm, but his mind was in turmoil. Cassius recalled how Sierra had suffered all kinds of humiliation ever since she entered the Duchy. He hated himself even to the point of vomiting¡­ Nevertheless, he couldn¡¯t let her go. He once again vowed to make her happy while she was with him. ¡®I¡¯ll need to strengthen the security around her. And block all contact with the Crown Prince.¡¯ Seeing the Princess¡¯ crazed eyes left a deep impression on him. She said it was love, but that couldn¡¯t possibly be it. There was no reason for someone to be that obsessed. ¡®I need to find out what the Princess is scheming.¡¯ No matter how he looked at it, the Princess didn¡¯t seem to have given up on him yet. Cassius bit his lower lip as he headed towards the Imperial Pce¡¯s pharmacy, thinking about how he could make the Princess surrender. * * * At that time, Sierra had returned after finishing all the requests asked of her at the Imperial Pce¡¯s pharmacy. Of course, she had been subjected to countless tricks by the other resident pharmacists that looked as though they hated her to death. Even so, Sierra didn¡¯t care about anything like that. She was just excited that she could fulfill those prescriptions after a long time. ¡®I have to gradually prepare and look for an informant who could gather rumors circting in the pce.¡¯ It was a full week of keeping her eyes and ears out for news about her older sister. Meanwhile, Cassius went with Sierra to work on the same carriage. He gave her something like a cloth doll whenever he went with her to work as though it was an allowance¡ªthe cloth doll was full of money. It was the same today. ¡°Take it.¡± Sierra, who couldn¡¯t stand the same routine throughout the week anymore, carefully opened her lips and asked. ¡°Um, thank you. But may I ask why this doll has money?¡± In the rattling carriage, Cassius leaned forward and their knees touched for a moment. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember five years ago? You said you liked it.¡± ¡®Just because I said I liked something, he even put money inside like it¡¯s a money envelope.¡¯ Listening to Cassius¡¯ gentle voice, Sierra looked back at her memories. Come to think of it, in the spring of her 19th year, Cassius often gave her flowers and dolls. And then, her cheeks reddened. ¡¯That¡­¡¯ ¡®Huh?¡¯ ¡®I thought you liked this¡­¡¯ ¡®Listen, Cassius.¡¯ ¡®Yes?¡¯ ¡®I like money. A lot of it.¡¯ Thinking that she was still very much a consistent person as with the past, she touched the doll with frustration. Then, Cassius leaned in carefully and whispered into her ear. ¡°If someone bothers you, buy them off with this money.¡± ¡°Buy?¡± ¡°The knights will protect you, but I¡¯m still worried.¡± ¡°Well¡­ Thanks.¡± She didn¡¯t know what could happen, and her own safety was the most important to her. Sierra nodded vigorously because Cassius was a hundred times right. Even though he was being overprotective, it was only because it¡¯s true that he had a lot of enemies that could also harm her. After organizing her thoughts, Sierra got off the carriage and entered the pce¡¯s pharmacy. Over the past week, Sierra had been trying to uncover all kinds of rumors, but then again, no one talked to her, so there was only so much she could hear. Apart from that, since Sierra didn¡¯t retaliate, the bullying got worse and worse. ¡®Because the pharmacists here can¡¯t be bought with money.¡¯ Unfortunately, Cassius¡¯ method could only go so far with the pharmacy. Still, as Sierra came for work today, she greeted them brightly. ¡°Good morning.¡± But as usual, there was no one who greeted her back. Of course Sierra, whose nerves were like steel, entered the pharmacy with a spring in her step. ¡®Today, I need to sort and trim the medicinal herbs.¡¯ After changing into the uniform provided by the Imperial Pce, she went into the pharmacy¡¯s preparation room and looked around. There, she saw three pharmacists together giving her the stink eye. They were the ones who were bothering Sierra the most these days. When Sierra went next to them to check the herbs, not paying their res any mind, they could be heard gossiping about Sierra herself right there. ¡°¡­I heard that she graduated from the Imperial Academy with only mediocre grades.¡± ¡°What has happened to these nobles, have their eyes gone blind?¡± ¡°I know right.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Sierra frowned at the low quality medicinal herbs gathered in front of her. Jenny, the one standing next to her, pushed a sk next to her and muttered. ¡°Even if you make a pitiful face, I w-won¡¯t help you at all.¡± Jenny was the one that Sierra had confronted on her first day of work not too long ago. Snatching the sk from the girl¡¯s hand, Sierra replied. ¡°Ah, thanks. I needed this.¡± ¡°¡­G-Goodness.¡± The pharmacists, including Jenny, quickly frowned and went back to murmuring as if they really believed that she couldn¡¯t hear them. It was like back stabbing, yet right in your face. ¡®Oh well, the bullying hasn¡¯t changed much from when I was a student.¡¯ Honestly, Sierra wasn¡¯t really self conscious. She was the type of person who thought, ¡®If the world throws punches at me, then I¡¯ll punch right back.¡¯ But at this moment, the only problem she could see was this¡ªthe rotten hemp roots that they had given her. Sierra frowned as she looked at the hemp root in front of her, the sound of their whispering passing through her ears. ¡°Is she even capable of seeing if it¡¯s cheap medicine or what?¡± ¡°I heard her academy grades weren¡¯t that good either.¡± ¡°Mid-level grades. I heard her nickname was Bee because she always got Bs.¡± Sierra had followed her sister¡¯s words and hid her abilities at the academy. Thinking that receiving even only Bs would be good enough, Sierra sighed heavily as she looked down at the rotten hemp roots, a sarcastic smile on her lips. ¡®I don¡¯t care if they give me lower-grade herbs because there are times that they could make better medicines as long as they¡¯re handled properly through mana. But they gave me rotten herbs even though it would be used to treat patients?¡¯ She frowned and crinkled her nose. Until now, she wasn¡¯t interested in how they wereing for her, but now that they were going to affect even patients and the medicine they¡¯ll take, Sierra felt that she had to draw the line here. ¡®I can¡¯t stand this.¡¯ Apart from that, she also had to check if these pharmacists would be useful or not. She looked to the side. ¡°Hey.¡± When the course tone spilled through her lips though her expression remained soft, they seemed surprised by Sierra¡¯s unexpected call. ¡°You all seem to be looking down on me as a parachute appointee.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not ignoring you because you got in through connections. It¡¯s just because I think you¡¯re pathetic.¡± Perhaps they thought that her pride might be hurt by admitting that they thought of her as nothing but that, however, Sierra shrugged and asked back. ¡°Pathetic?¡± ¡°Yeah! Even though you got bad grades at the academy, you entered the pharmacy through the favor of nobles. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡°The people here are from families who have served at the Imperial Pce¡¯s pharmacy for generations.¡± ¡°And the pharmacists are also all top students during their time at the academy. That¡¯s the only legitimate way of bing an Imperial pharmacist.¡± ¡°Your position was supposed to be filled by the next top student of the academy, but you ruined everything!¡± Sierra crossed her arms over her chest and smiled proudly at them for speaking so boldly. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is that most of the pharmacists in the pce were top students of the Imperial Academy?¡± ¡®It¡¯s a reasonable selection method¡­ but why did you have to make a job listing? The people in the pce areughable, too. They¡¯re all staying here with connections anyway.¡¯ As she swallowed the word ¡®pathetic¡¯, Sierra smiled and looked back at them. ¡°Then you¡¯re confident that you¡¯re better than me, right?¡± While she was still in Supe vige, Sierra once read a book about mercenaries. Surprisingly, there was a twist that the people who were at the main mercenary¡¯s side easily from the start would likely hit him from the back, while the ones he found to be hostile at first turned out to be more loyal in the second half of the book. ¡®Despite yawning while reading it, I didn¡¯t know I¡¯d actually use what I learned in that book.¡¯ Sierra turned to them. She could see their eyes burning with passion for the pharmacy. In order for her to find her sister more quickly, it was necessary to have minions¡ªah, no, close aides at the Imperial Pce. Chapter 51 - You Didnt Know I Was A Genius, Huh? Chapter 51 ¨C You Didn¡¯t Know I Was A Genius, Huh? Trantor: Yonnee Chapter 51 ¨C You Didn¡¯t Know I Was A Genius, Huh? Sierra smiled leisurely as her enemies surrounded her, their immature gazes on her. She would need to test these pharmacists whether they¡¯d suit being her close aides. ¡°You mentioned earlier that, for a long time now, all individuals from noble families who entered the Imperial pharmacy were top students, right?¡± ¡°¡­Why do you ask?¡± The blonde Sally retorted sharply. Then, Felia, who had blue hair, meddled immediately. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right! Even Sally here was born in the Imperial Pce. We¡¯re pure-blooded pharmacists.¡± The term ¡®pure-blooded¡¯ was quite ridiculous. However, this meant that they had some influence within the pce. Though they were trying to bring Sera¡¯s spirit down by telling her this, it only served as very good news for her. ¡®Everyone thinks status is all there is. If they¡¯re familiar with the rumors inside the pce, then it¡¯s necessary for someone like that to be a close aide.¡¯ Then, it was time to check their discrepancies. Sierra tilted her head to the side and asked them. ¡°Do you all devote your lives to the pharmacy?¡± The gazes pointed towards Sierra became subdued. They didn¡¯t seem to expect that she would bring up the pharmacist¡¯s oath, ¡®I swear to give my life to the pharmacy¡¯. But that subdued atmosphere disappeared in an instant¡ªwith sulking expressions, they tried to drive Sierra into a corner once more. ¡°What life? We¡¯ve even dedicated our souls!¡± ¡°An arrogant parachute cruiser like you dares to ruin the Imperial pharmacy¡¯s reputation?¡± ¡°Even if you¡¯re sponsored by aristocrats, the Imperial pharmacy isn¡¯t a ce for dogs and cows to enter!¡± Half-listening to their shrill voices, Sierra picked her ear and smiled. The people who ndered Sierra behind her back were clenching their teeth. They wanted to kick Sierra out right away. In contrast, Sierra seemed to be liking these aides more and more. ¡®Sure enough, since the Duke and the Godmother rmended me for the post, only the ones thirsty for power would want to be close to me while doing their best to tter me¡­¡¯ The Imperial pharmacy seemed to be a ce that focused on skills more than power. Then, it would be even easier for Sierra to dominate it¡ªshe was a genius among outstanding geniuses. ¡®They¡¯ll be good enough to be my hands and feet.¡¯ Then, Sierra looked around at the three pharmacists surrounding her, then she smiled. ¡°You¡ªdo you think we¡¯ll let you off if you tremble like that?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t trembling though.¡± And Sierra was telling the truth. She never trembled, but then the atmosphere took a strange turn. ¡°I won¡¯t let you go even if you make a pitiful expression like that.¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s right!¡± ¡­Sierra looked up with gloomy, sad eyes. Then, she saw some agitation shaking them up. While furrowing her eyebrows, she smiled pitifully. ¡°Okay, I got it. So you don¡¯t like that I suddenly came to the Imperial pharmacy with the support of nobles, which makes me less than you.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°You understood it well.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know, but we did well on the Imperial examination.¡± Sierra stared at them as they chattered like birds. In fact, it was quite cute seeing this kind of arrogance and shamelessness from these young pharmacists. Rxed, Sierra nodded and replied. ¡°Just in time, the head of the pharmacy who¡¯s in charge of making potions for His Majesty is away for quite a while.¡± How dare you mention the great pharmacist? Their eyes grew dark just then. Sierra shrugged as she looked at Felia, Jenny and Cellie. ¡°Then why don¡¯t we have a contest?¡± ¡®Of course, I¡¯m going to win.¡¯ ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about my skills?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just a waste of time topete with a mere academy bee.¡± They turned their backs on her. Sierra had a lighthearted smile as she spoke again. ¡°You¡¯re avoiding me because you¡¯re scared, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Sierra smirked. ¡°What a shame.¡± It was an obvious provocation. ¡°Fine.¡± And these young pharmacists were so na?ve to have fallen for a simple goad. ¡®Got you.¡¯ Sierra shamelessly asked back. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Instead of justpeting.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± ¡°If you lose, stop arrogantly butting in when you don¡¯t have the abilities for it anyway.¡± Sierra, having nothing to lose, nodded rxedly. ¡°If you lose, then you can¡¯t ignore me again.¡± Looking into the three people¡¯s eyes one person at a time, Sierra raised a corner of her lips and whispered in an insidious way. ¡°And don¡¯t mess with me.¡± * * * After half an hour, the contest between Sierra and the three pharmacists was set. They proudly presented a patient¡¯s chart towards Sierra as though they¡¯d been ready for this moment. [ Unidentified, night care, health drink, Bentimo Vital prescription. ] ¡°If it¡¯s Bentimo Vital¡ª¡± Felia shrugged, an arrogant expression on her face. ¡°You¡¯re from the countryside. Do you even know what that is? It¡¯s a drug to relieve energy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s difficult to make.¡± Something ¡®difficult to make¡¯ was nothing for Sierra. Just smiling, Sierra replied. ¡°The patient should be identified first. If it remains unknown, then it must be one of the Imperial family members, and if the prescription is weakerpared to a man¡¯s prescription, then it must be a woman.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah, you¡¯re right. This is what Her Majesty the Empress takes after dinner. The color should be vivid blue, should be neither sweet nor salty, and it should be both tasteless and scentless because it¡¯ll be mixed in the mulled wine that she drinks often.¡± They were top students at the academy, and even this was fairly difficult for pharmacists who have gotten into the Imperial pharmacy. In this thrilling situation, their gazes pointed to one side. ¡°Alright. Who¡¯s going first among you?¡± ¡°Cellie will go first. She¡¯s in charge of what Her Majesty drinks.¡± Sierra looked over at Cellie, who in turn spoke haughtily. ¡°I rmend giving up even at this point.¡± ¡°Have you even made Bentimo Vital when you¡¯re from the countryside?¡± ¡°You¡¯re scared to even look at my face, huh? Then raise the white g and we¡¯ll pardon you.¡± While maintaining her poker face, she turned her head. When Sierra¡¯s expression hardened, they were pretending as if they had already won, but Sierra just looked down at the patient chart that they handed over to her, thinking to herself. ¡®This is really easy.¡¯ Sierra put on some gloves and headed to the formtion table. Before her, there were immunity boosting roots and berries, sterilized medicine bottles, pots, graduated cylinders and syringes. Then behind her back, she heard whispering voices. ¡°What the¡ªwhat kind of confidence does she have?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with that expression? How arrogant.¡± The sound of their mutterings was just insignificant to Sierra, so she smiled. She trimmed the roots while pruning them simply. Shhk, shhhk. The skin of the immuno root, which was an ingredient for the Bentimo Vital, was as rough and as hard as the skin of a pineapple. The reason why it was considered difficult to make Bentomo Vital was because of the difficulty in peeling the skin of the immuno root. Immuno roots have a translucent husk, but the medicinalponent of this ingredient was concentrated near the skin of the root. The difficulty in extracting that potent part was high because the moment a mistake would be made, that part would disappear. ¡®It¡¯s really easy to prune immuno roots.¡¯ Sierra trimmed the root¡¯s husk too easily and too smoothly¡ªshe was a genius and had nimble hands. Cellie, the most outstanding of the three, was of course unlike the genius Sierra because she struggled to trim off the immuno root¡¯s skin. ¡°Ha, haa.¡± She gasped several times as her hands trembled while carefully peeling off the skin. Felia volunteered to be the referee in this match, and she watched Sierra¡¯s ministrations while muttering. ¡°A-Aren¡¯t you good at using a knife?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good at other things, too.¡± Compared to Cellie, who could barely peel the immuno roots, Sierra was already boiling the root¡¯s husk to take its extract. She then poured it into a clean potion bottle. ¡®It¡¯s almost done.¡¯ After simply adding the berries into the extract, the final step was finally here¡ªinfusing mana into the formtion. At this point, Cellie¡¯s hand trembled. At first, she thought that it would be easy to get rid of Sierra, but now that they were deep into the match, it didn¡¯t even need to be said who hade in first. Of course, Sierra was someone different. ¡°I¡¯ll be infusing mana into this now, look carefully.¡± She was excited because she could finally show her skills after such a long time, and she smiled happily as she looked at the potion bottle that hadn¡¯t been closed yet. Sierra wiggled her fingers briefly at Jenny, who was frozen as she stood there. ¡®This is so easy. And using mana is easy, too.¡¯ A wave of blue mana flowed from Sierra¡¯s fingertips. As the wave of pure mana flowed into the potion, Sierra blinked and tapped the potion bottle once as though it was no biggie. It¡¯s finallyplete. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± Looking over at Sierra and her blue potion bottle, Felia nervously refuted her. ¡°Ha! Making potions quickly doesn¡¯t mean anything if it isn¡¯t good, so¡­¡± ¡°Cellie, l-look at that.¡± Looking away from her boiling pot, Cellie looked at the reagent bottle in Sierra¡¯s hand. At once, she knew that it was a perfect, high-quality potion. Cellie¡¯s eyes trembled as she saw the potion¡¯s clear blue hue, quite literally the textbook definition of the expected color. Cellie hupped. ¡°No, we can¡¯t tell just by the color¡­¡± ¡°Then we can use a spray for the diagnosed reagent.¡± Those three pairs of eyes were wide in astonishment as they looked at Sierra. As the referee, Felia barely came to her senses. ¡°Let¡¯s see its efficacy. Hand over a clinical reagent!¡± As expected of the Imperial pharmacy. There were plenty of expensive reagents to test whether a potion was good, low-tiered or poisonous, and this only made Sierra smile with one corner of her lips raised. ¡°First¡­ Let¡¯s check.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s a problem with it, bubbles woulde up, but if there¡¯s no problem, then there won¡¯t be a reaction.¡± Lily dropped the diagnostic reagent through a syringe with her trembling hand, and perfectly without any bubbles, there was no reaction from Sierra¡¯s potion. ¡°Even if it¡¯s confirmed, its scent and vor still need to be tested.¡± Lily carefully took the potion bottle and ced it under her nose. She was famous for having a hound¡¯s nose, but she still smelled nothing from the potion. ¡°I can¡¯t s-smell anything.¡± She hurriedly searched for a spoon on the table and carefully scooped up some of the potion. Then, she held it to her mouth. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Crackle. The spoon soon crumpled. It was definitely made out of metal, but then Felia could onlyment on it with a quivering voice. ¡°¡­You, you¡¯ve gotten stronger, Lily.¡± ¡°I believe it¡¯s been proven.¡± The trio just looked at each other, frozen. It was a perfect defeat for Cellie, who thought that she was good at making potions. As they bit their dry lips tightly, the three people opened their lips carefully to speak. ¡°Then¡­¡± ¡°¡­How on earth¡ªhow is t-this possible?¡± ¡°You only got l-lucky!¡± But their eyes were shaking. ¡°I did what you asked me to do. You said you value skills, right?¡± Sierra smiled and ced the lid over the potion. ¡°I think I¡¯ve proven myself.¡± In the standstill, the pharmacist¡¯s master, the old pharmacist, entered while wearing a white robe. He looked at the three pharmacists who were standing foolishly, then over to Sierra who was smiling brightly. ¡°Whatmotion is this in the formtion room?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s nothing big.¡± With her conscience pricked, Jenny took a step forward first, and the old pharmacist murmured as he took in the truth of the situation, wiping his forehead. ¡°Nomotions are allowed in the formtion room.¡± He turned to Sierra and spoke as though it was a warning. ¡°If anything happens, then just tell me.¡± But before she knew it, his eyes were meticulously inspecting her appearance. ¡®Hm¡­¡¯ Thanks to this, she also took this as a chance to take a closer look at his appearance. Then, the moment they made eye contact, Sera realized that something was off. ¡®This pharmacist is weird. His eyes are rxed, but he keeps sweating¡­¡¯ Sierra looked over to him and pondered. ¡®Hmm well, if he¡¯s the Imperial pharmacist who checks the Emperor¡¯s health every morning, then he must have met the Emperor¡­¡¯ At that moment, she nced at the clumsy hand. Certainly, this golden opportunity was just right. Chapter 52.1 - An Unexpected Kidnapping Chapter 52.1 ¨C An Unexpected Kidnapping Trantor and Editor: Bunny and Clisely Chapter 52 ¨C An Unexpected Kidnapping It must have been an audience with the Emperor as usual, but why does he look like that? The Imperial Pce¡¯s old pharmacist¡¯s expression was strangely stern. Sierra squinted her eyes at the sudden question she thought of. The Imperial Pce¡¯s pharmacist turned his gaze away as he left the manufacturing room pretending to be alright. But he couldn¡¯t avoid Sierra¡¯s tenacious gaze. She rummaged through her pockets and pulled out her pocket watch. ¡®If my sister¡¯s disappearance is somehow rted to the Imperial Pce, and if the Emperor has health problems ¡­ then there must be something going on inside the Imperial Pce.¡¯ Sierra thought deeply as she narrowed her eyes. She may have limited ess to information but¡­. ¡®I don¡¯t know if Ijiel will approach me soon.¡¯ It is an undeniable fact that the scattered puzzle pieces were put together one by one, and she decided to focus on that. It was way better for her mental health than thinking of gloomy thoughts such as that her older sister that might be dead, who was Hanael¡¯s biological father was, or if Cassius was just misunderstanding something. * * * Her week passed peacefully more than she expected, and Ijiel didn¡¯t approach her, contrary to Sierra¡¯s expectations. More than that, she was leading a very pleasant pharmacy life. ¡°Your expression looks good today, Sierra.¡± Cassius paused for a moment as he handed her the money as usual. Sierra was humming now, rather than having a dark and gloomy face. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing,¡± Sierra awkwardly coughed when her feelings were openly revealed and disregarded it with her hand. ¡®He can really read my emotions¡­ How do you know that I am feeling overwhelmed with pride after collecting enough rumors in the Imperial Pce?¡¯ She was slightly pricked with her conscience inside, but she tried to look calm outside. Looking carefully at Sierra¡¯s face, Cassius opened his mouth lightly and said, ¡°I hope that good things are happening to you.¡± ¡°Hmm! The other pharmacists were nice to me, and the atmosphere there is also really good. Thank you for your concern.¡± ¡°Take this.¡± Sierra held out her hand, knowing that he would hand over an envelope of money as usual, but what Cassius gave her was something unexpected. ¡°This¡­.¡± Sierra tilted her head with a puzzled expression. Cassius attached a small magic tool on her clothes. He then let out a low chuckle looking at Sierra¡¯s expression. ¡°It¡¯s a magic tool. It¡¯s designed to give me a signal right away when you¡¯re in danger.¡± With her eyes wide open, Sierra pressed the magic tool on her chest and burst into an exmation, ¡°Goodness¡­ just what kind of principle is this?¡± She nodded her head. It was perfect for her, who was a very safety-conscious person. Of course, she was confident that she could take care of herself just well, but she never knew. As she entered the pharmacy with a proud heart, she nced at the bowing Lily in front of her and smiled. Lily has been taking on the role of a faithful doormat ever since she lost the confrontation not too long ago. ¡°Hey, Lily.¡± ¡°Ye-yes.¡± Lily swallowed her saliva as she saw the liquid medicine in Sierra¡¯s hand. It was apletely different attitudepared to when she first checked on her. ¡°How is the atmosphere at the pharmacy these days? Well, do you have any good news?¡± ¡°Ah! Miss Sierra is also crazy about gossip ¨C no, that¡¯s not it. It¡¯s a slip of my tongue.¡± ¡°Oh yes, I am crazy about gossip, and so?¡± One day, it was quite enjoyable to see Lily y the role of her subordinate. Most of the rumors she heard were from Lily. Of course, she doesn¡¯t have any close friends other than Lily, but she had no other ce to cross-check those rumors. ¡°Ah¡­e to think of it, the people at the pharmacy said that they will be having a party for Miss Sierra.¡± ¡°Party?¡± Puzzled, Sierra raised her eyebrow. Lily blinked her eyes and hurriedly turned around after examining her expression. ¡°Yes, we usually throw a party for newbies, but I don¡¯t know why everyone was doing this all of a sudden¡­.¡± Before long, Sierra could feel that Lily¡¯s eyes looking at her were wary. Her skeptical attitude was very obvious to Sierra, who had be sensitive to other people¡¯s hostility these days because of her sister¡¯s disappearance. ¡®Oh, this is a trap!¡¯ She was feeling full without even needing to eat seeing the trap they hadid for her. ¡°Then, shall we go to the new party soon? When is that?¡± Sierra stared intently at Lily, rattling like a deer in front of a gazelle. Why is she trembling? ¡°Still¡­ I think we should, right?¡± ¡°When is the party date?¡± ¡°They said that they would do it today as long as Miss Sierra is alright with it! I really have no idea what these pharmacy people are doing. They were always gossiping!¡± ¡°You also gossiped about me.¡± ¡°B-but that¡¯s when I don¡¯t know about Miss Sierra¡¯s abilities¡­.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± ¡®Lily is probably trying to pretend to be friends with me right now ¨C I know it all. How can she change her stance so easily?¡¯ Sierra smiled sinisterly, and then began to plot her secrets. ¡®I guess I¡¯ll have to keep this pharmacy¡¯s people and discipline.¡¯ Recipes of medicines for diarrhea remedy, truth potion, and restraining medicine quickly passed by the iron bars in her head. ¡®Well, as long as I don¡¯t get caught. Nothing will happen if they don¡¯t do anything to me.¡¯ Sierra smiled contentedly and nodded her head as she wore her heart inside her sleeve. (T/N: wearing one¡¯s heart inside sleeve=hiding true intentions) ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s do it today. How about at the secluded alley tonight ¨C no, how about at dinner tonight?¡± She was invited to a celebration where the bullying party will be carried out under the pretext of a celebratory party. Sierra smirked and hummed. Next to her, Lily let out a long sigh. * * * ¡ª tl/n: hello! as this novel¡¯s raw chapters are too long, it has been split in order to lessen the pressure on the staff. thank you for your understanding! Chapter 52.2 - An Unexpected Kidnapping Chapter 52.2 ¨C An Unexpected Kidnapping Trantor: Yonnee Trantor and Editor: Bunny and Clisely Chapter 52 ¨C An Unexpected Kidnapping * * * That day,te in the evening. Before she headed to the small pub where the celebration venue was to be held, Sierra gave Cassius a firm warning in advance. The pub was definitely in an alley near the Imperial Pce, but it was strangely bleak and deste. As she had expected, the pub was very gloomy and strange. She cheered inside as she recalled her conversation with Cassius. [¡®You have to dispatch the Knights Order immediately if you think that I am going to be in danger.¡¯ ¡®Of course.¡¯ ¡®Because my life is the most important. I never intend to risk myself!¡¯ ¡®Yes, your life is the most precious. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡¯] Sierra smiled softly as she recalled her conversation with the docile Cassius, remembering her gold bars in the safe. She happily went inside. But as she went inside the gloomy pub, there were soft lighted candlesid around the carpet. It was as if they were having an anniversary party with someone¡­. Pretending to be moderately stupid, Sierra put her hands together and pped as she walked into the pub. Though, things were a bit odd. Felia, who was in the middle of the trio, was holding a cake and said with a trembling voice, ¡°Congrattions oning to our pharmacy!¡± ¡°This is a party tomemorate our friendship.¡± ¡°Wee!¡± Sierra nervously walked away. She thought that the butter would fly on her face, but there was ¡®Sierra, God of Pharmacy¡¯ lettering written on the cake. ¡®No¡­ what is this? I know I was good at it, but isn¡¯t this too much?¡¯ Sierra frowned. Then they opened their mouths cautiously. ¡°I saw you check the medicine bottlest time. The public wouldn¡¯t know, but we do ¨C what great skill that is.¡± ¡­ it was honorifics. ¡°¡­ Moreover, I heard from people I knew that doctors in the Hippo Kingdom also praised Miss Sierra¡¯s medicine.¡± She could clearly see the color on their faces even though the pub was dark. Sierra widened her mouth. ¡®I thought that the three pharmacists, including Lily, would somehow kidnap or harass me¡­?¡¯ She couldn¡¯t figure out how this was going to turn out. Standing near the mellow candles in the meantime, they spoke in a friendly tone. ¡°Should we sing a song?¡± ¡°No, let¡¯s just cut the cake.¡± She didn¡¯t feel anything until the end. Sierra was only able to keep up with the tension when they suddenly made their way to the center floor of the pub. But as soon as arge card suddenly came down to the floor, their faces turned red and they began pping. ¡®Are they insane? What is this? Why are they doing this?¡¯ She thought that they definitely were scheming something if they had tried to embarrass her, but there were more problems. Their sillyments are not over yet. [We have seen your beautiful and brilliant skills, Miss Sierra. You are very nice and perfect! You are the best! God of Pharmacy!] They even handed a letter to Sierra and had a letter reading session. In fact, Sierra was very embarrassed by their tteries that her face contorted into a bewildered expression. ¡®Isn¡¯t this ridiculous¡­? What¡¯s with this unfamiliar praise that¡¯s making me blush?¡¯ They began to raise their voices even more after Sierra stayed silent for a while. ¡°I will choose the song titled ¡®Honor, Honor, Honor¡¯.¡± ¡°Start.¡± There were obviously people with their mouths open singing, but why was there a sound of a pig eating? Listening to their horrible high notes of a three-man-stage, Sierra rubbed her eyes and began to reflect on the bizarre happenings today. ¡®What the hell is this! No, should I say that it was a relief that we are friends?¡¯ She thought that she should work a little harder, but she really felt that this is exactly the ce to beat merit supremacy now that it hase to this. If Sierra spoke now, then they would tell her all the rumors inside the Imperial Pce, then that wouldn¡¯t be bad. It was a little out of the blue, but anyway, it was quite joyful to have someone support her in the Imperial Pce. The celebration party was over; the three pharmacists drank alcohol and got very drunk, ready to kiss up to Sierra. She abandoned the drunk people and rushed out of the pub. She had made all sorts of preparations in case they harassed her, but it was all useless now. That moment when she trudged out of the entrance of the suspicious alleyway, ¡®Hey, what¡¯s with that suspicious grandma?¡¯ There was a suspicious person in front of Sierra. There was randomly an old woman with a bent back, she shouldn¡¯t have been in a ce like this at night. ¡°Miss.¡± Her voice was sharp, and it looked like she was a suspicious person disguised as an old woman. Sierra asked her with great anticipation, ¡°Yes?¡± Sierra quickly looked behind the old woman, and behind her in another fairly dim alleyway, there stood a suspicious carriage. The very dark fabric covering the carriage made it obvious that it was a carriage used for kidnapping. ¡®This was a kidnapping method about 30 years ago, but it¡¯s the norm for them to do it this way.¡¯ Sierra grinned as she remembered the pocket ne Cassius had given her. ¡®This trap is too easy.¡¯ How easy does Sierra look to set this trap? She lightly lifted the old woman¡¯s luggage and asked, ¡°Where should I put this?¡± ¡°The carriage, over there in the alley!¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll bring it there right away.¡± Sierra thought that after she carried the old woman¡¯s luggage, a suspicious person would get off the skeptical carriage and kidnap her. However¡­. ¡°Aigoo, this youngdy is very gentle and kind.¡± The old woman praised Sierra as she patted her shoulder with her wrinkled hands. A man in a colorful uniform got down from the carriage as she coughed in vain. Sierra was expecting him to take out a white cloth to cover her mouth, but¡­. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡­. The man was quite polite. Sierra lowered her head, trembling. Soon, the old woman will change¡­! ¡°Thisdy carried my luggage.¡± ¡­ I thought you¡¯d hit the back of my neck? ¡°You are truly a benefactor.¡± Even the man in colorful clothes, who got off the carriage, looked at her gently. He then escorted the simple-looking old woman into the carriage. The grandma handed Sierra a pouch of money and a small fortune cookie. ¡°Thank you. I will give you a reward if youe to 1 Britton Streetter.¡± He then carefully bowed deeply towards Sierra. ¡®This¡­ shouldn¡¯t be it.¡¯ The suspicious grandmother and the carriage left. Sierra, who was left alone, blinked her eyes in bewilderment. ¡®What is this fortune cookie for?¡¯ There was a distrustful small fortune cookie inside the pouch, as if it had been already opened. Sierra stared at the fortune cookie, with its crunchy looking surface. ¡®It doesn¡¯t smell like drugs. It¡¯s really just like a fortune cookie¡­.¡¯ Sierra swallowed her saliva and opened the cookie with trembling hands. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!