She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 12

Who is Being Bullied?

Andante cleared her throat. She never expected Sierra to agree so easily. However, her goal remained the same: to remove the woman who threatened to stain the family's reputation. Even if she felt momentarily pushed back, she had no intention of retreating.

[Andante] "Hmph. Sharing a table with a commoner leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

She shot a look at Sierra that clearly said, 'A commoner like you is pathetic.'

Receiving her glare, Sierra spoke with a modest and kind tone.

[Sierra] "Yes. It must be very uncomfortable for a noble lady to sit with someone like me."

Andante, accustomed to the indirect speech of high society, couldn't tell if Sierra was being sincere. Suddenly, Sierra whispered with sudden intensity.

[Sierra] "If you wish, My Lady, I can leave right now."

At that moment, Andante grew certain: this lowly commoner dared to mock her.

Sierra wasn't being polite; she was using the same "indirect insults" common in noble circles.

If Sierra left now, Andante would fail her original goal of officially kicking her out of the mansion. She would look like a fool who let her target escape.

[Andante] "How arrogant. Sit down at once."

[Sierra] "Yes. I will sit."

Andante glared at the obedient woman. She decided that since this commoner knew how to use clever words, direct insults were the better weapon.

[Andante] "Why does a vulgar commoner continue to stay at the Duke's mansion? Do you dare cloud Mother's judgment and bring shame to our family?"

Sierra marveled at the statement. No matter how she looked at it, every word was correct.

First, "vulgar commoner." From a noble's perspective, this was a logical view, as most aristocrats looked down on commoners.

Second, "clouding Mother's judgment." This was also true. Although Sierra didn't intend it, the Grand Madam clearly misunderstood her, seeing her as a saintly, innocent woman.

Third, "shaming the family." Yes, she was a stain on the Duke's reputation. Leaving as quickly as possible was the right choice for Cassius' sake, too.

These points are so accurate that they don't even hurt.

She spoke to the Marchioness with complete sincerity.

[Sierra] "You are absolutely right."

[Andante] "Wh-What?"

Andante's face turned bright red. Sierra's calm agreement seemed to infuriate her even more.

The Marchioness took a long breath, trying to regain her composure.

[Andante] "Know your place and leave the Duke's mansion."

[Sierra] "Yes."

[Andante] "......"

The response was so submissive that Andante ran out of things to say.

Sierra continued smoothly.

[Sierra] "I will leave in exactly three months. I can even sign a contract right now if you wish, My Lady."

[Andante] "......Why three months?"

[Sierra] "I have a promise with the Duke. In three months, I will leave no matter what anyone says. So, please don't worry. As you know, a small flaw like me can't affect the great Ideos family."

To Andante, Sierra's speech felt perfect. It left no room for argument.

For a split second, Andante wondered why she had even come here. Sierra seemed like a formidable opponent. However, after several coughs, she snapped back to reality.

She decided this woman was a master actress who had tricked both the Grand Madam and the Duke.

Sierra, of course, was 100 percent serious. She brought her teacup to her lips.

Is that all the Marchioness has? This is too easy.

She had grown up poor, digging in the dirt. She was used to rough language. To her, the indirect insults of high society were nothing more than words to be ignored with a simple "yes, yes."

But Andante was a woman who didn't know how to give up. A boring lecture followed for ten minutes. Sierra continued to agree, which only fueled Andante's anger.

Feeling trapped by Sierra's passive attitude, she let out a long sigh.

[Andante] "Whew......"

She finally gripped her water glass instead of her tea.

Sierra watched with interest as the water rippled. She suddenly remembered the symbolism of a water glass in romance novels.

Is she going to throw that at me?

Sierra swallowed hard.

Okay, fine. Come at me with the water splash! I can handle a little water.

Sierra squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the impact.

[Hanael] "Don't you dare touch my mommy!"

A familiar, small, yet thunderous voice echoed through the tea house.

Sierra snapped her eyes open. She had overlooked one important factor: Hanael.

---

Before the argument began at the tea house, the clever little Hanael had sensed the bad atmosphere. She immediately told the maid to take her back to the mansion.

Luckily for Hanael—but unluckily for Sierra—the tea house sat directly across from the Duke's mansion.

Within three minutes, Hanael sprinted into the mansion and found the person who adored Sierra the most: the Marchioness Dowager Mails.

The Grand Madam had been peacefully drinking tea, having heard that Cassius and Sierra had gone to a restaurant the night before. She felt happy that Cassius, whose love life she had once ruined, finally seemed to find some joy.

[Hanael] "Grandma!"

The woman smiled at the sight of the running child.

[G. Madam] "Child, what is it?"

[Hanael] "A mean lady is bullying my mommy!"

The elderly woman's face turned pale.

[G. Madam] "Who dares bully whom......"

[Hanael] "The maid said it's the seal of the Mails family! They are at the tea house right in front of us!"

The white of the old woman's eyes turned red with fury.

[G. Madam] "How dare she......"

She gripped her cane and stood up.

[G. Madam] "Lead the way. Let's go at once."

Hanael and the Grand Madam locked eyes, united in their mission to save Sierra. But as they tried to leave, a tall figure blocked their path.

---

That was how Hanael ended up acting as Sierra's savior. Hanael bounced up like a spring and pointed her finger at Andante.

[Hanael] "Mean lady! You were trying to throw water on my mommy!"

Both Sierra and Andante had forgotten one thing: Hanael had been secretly reading the romance novels in Sierra's house. She was well-versed in dramatic tropes.

Andante, who only picked up the glass to wet her dry throat, responded irritably.

[Andante] "What are you talking about?"

Hanael didn't look hurt at all. She walked forward with a proud expression, cleaning her ear with a finger.

[Hanael] "You tried to splash her! You're a bad person who looked down on my mommy for being a commoner!"

Andante stood up, looking annoyed. But then, she saw a stiff figure approaching from behind Hanael. She froze like a statue. As her eyes met the fierce gaze of the Grand Madam, a roar filled the tea house.

[G. Madam] "Andante! How dare you!"

The shout was loud enough to pierce through the entire building. It came from the Grand Madam, Andante's own mother-in-law. Her face, once pale, was now flushed with rage.

[Andante] "Mother! This commoner is bringing shame to the family—"

[G. Madam] "You don't know your place...... Shut your mouth!"

[Andante] "M-Mother......"

[G. Madam] "She is a precious guest I brought here!"

Sierra was the most confused person in the room.

This was bad. Andante had triggered the Grand Madam, who was already sensitive and prone to misunderstandings.

Sierra spoke up to protect the Marchioness, who hadn't actually done anything wrong yet.

[Sierra] "The Marchioness is innocent."

[G. Madam] "Sierra...... What is this? Why must you suffer such insults again!"

Again?

Sierra searched her memory, wondering if this had happened before.

[G. Madam] "And why are you defending her! You are too kind for your own good......"

The Grand Madam walked toward her with a heartbroken expression. Sierra's mind raced. The Grand Madam was starting another wild misunderstanding.

[G. Madam] "......Are you okay? Your face looks so tired."

Sierra shook her head quickly, trying to fix the situation.

[Sierra] "I'm fine. We were just talking. Please don't punish the Lady. It is all my fault for being a commoner."

Sierra meant every word.

[G. Madam] "It is not your fault! How could it be! Besides, a commoner......? Did she insult you for being a commoner?"

[Sierra] "No, it wasn't an insult, it was just a fact......"

Sierra realized she had touched a nerve. The Grand Madam's gaze turned even sharper.

Andante, who had lived under her mother-in-law's thumb for years, looked like she might faint.

Then, the door opened again. A man walked in with heavy steps. It was Cassius Ideos, looking like a demon.

[Cassius] "I suppose I was mistaken."

He took Sierra's hand with an elegant yet firm grip.

[Cassius] "It seems I must make a formal announcement."

The small tea house fell into a deathly silence. Sierra looked around the room.

Hanael was cheering with clenched fists. The Grand Madam was shaking with rage. Cassius looked cold enough to freeze the air, and Andante was literally trembling with fear.

I’m the only one here who doesn't really care......

She realized she had accidentally lit a massive fuse.

[Cassius] "If you touch Sierra, be prepared to face me—and my entire family."

Sierra stared at Cassius in shock. He was smiling like a monster returned from hell.

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