She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 122

Honeymoon, and a Baby

The Pope quickly composed her emotions and spoke.

[Pope] "......It was to meet her mother again and make her happy."

Sierra lost her speech. As if sensing her thoughts, the Pope continued in a solemn voice.

[Pope] "Lady Hanael was a pure child who desired her mother's happiness above all else."

Now that the Pope had composed her feelings, Sierra's turn arrived. Realizing Hanael desired her happiness more than anything, she felt as though stepping into an abyss, caught completely off guard.

[Sierra] "......So that was why, Hanael."

She could offer no other words. As she bit her lip silently, the Pope continued.

[Pope] "Yes. Every other child in that realm...... had no parents, except Lady Hanael. So they envied Lady Hanael more than anyone. Yet despite their envy, they wished for her to return to life, make her mother happy, and bring a magnificent end to the villain. Therefore, God restored Lady Hanael's soul and body, sending her to Amille, who had turned back time."

[Sierra] "So that was why. That was why......."

So that was why Hanael remained by my side.......

[Pope] "Yes. Ultimately, Lady Hanael's soul died once and returned to life. She returned to find her mother."

Sierra lowered her eyes silently. Emotion surged within her, yet uncertain of what to say, she simply breathed.

As if understanding Sierra's heart, the Pope spoke quietly.

[Pope] "I don't know the exact nature of God's arrangement......."

The Pope offered a soft chuckle and concluded her words. Though this topic might seem paramount to greedy humans, she could swear that these details held no importance to Sierra.

[Pope] "One thing remains certain: among all humanity, Lady Hanael received God's richest blessings."

The entity receiving God's richest blessings—the meaning behind those words stood clear.

Sierra asked in a trembling voice.

[Sierra] "......Does that mean Hanael is a saintess?"

The Pope whispered with an inscrutable smile.

[Pope] "If becoming a saintess is what Lady Hanael desires, it shall be so."

[Sierra] "And if Hanael doesn't wish for it......."

[Pope] "Everything shall follow her will."

Sierra's expression brightened. She desired only that Hanael live her own life properly.

Just as the Pope thought, Sierra cared nothing about whether Hanael was a saintess or anything else. She loved Hanael for who she was.

[Pope] "Since I answered every question, I shall take my leave."

The Pope offered a quiet chuckle and nodded. She vanished abruptly, just as the medium once disappeared.

Left alone, Sierra pondered her conversation with the Pope.

The Crown Prince lay dead, while Hanael, Sierra, Cassius, and Amille survived.

So now...... those innocent children sacrificed to the Crown Prince's worthless murders—were those children happy now as well?

Sierra raised her gaze from the floor.

Having noticed the Pope's departure, Cassius walked toward her from a distance, still clad in his tuxedo. He matched his steps with Hanael, holding her hand firmly.

The sight of them stepping closer—her husband and her daughter—left a vivid impression on her heart.

A single tear rolled down her cheek.

Neither sad nor joyful.......

A complex wave of emotion tumbled through her heart like ocean waves.

---

Sierra, Cassius, and Hanael departed together for their honeymoon destination. Though a honeymoon, Hanael accompanied them, making the trip feel more like a family vacation.

[Hanael] "I think this is my first time seeing the sea!"

She blinked and pitter-pattered across the white sandy beach. Sufe Village, where they lived together previously, sat far from the coast.

[Sierra] "Is that so?"

[Hanael] "Yup! So exciting!"

They chose the summer sea for their honeymoon. After erecting a barrier spell to prevent anyone from intruding, the three enjoyed peaceful, happy days.

An emerald sea, a white sandy beach, and a cozy villa nestled comfortably on the shore. Aside from a single caretaker and minimal servants providing food and shelter, the quiet sanctuary showed no trace of other human presence.

After changing out of their flower girl dress, tuxedo, and wedding gown inside the villa, they gathered on the sandy shore in comfortable clothing.

[Cassius] "It has been a long time since we were somewhere without people. Does your mind feel at ease?"

At his question, Sierra turned to him and smiled brightly.

[Sierra] "Yes!"

She savored this happy time, free from crowd pressure for the first time in a while. If she faced a single problem...... it was Hanael's unbelievable stamina.

[Hanael] "Woooah!"

Discovering the ocean for the first time in her five-year-old life, Hanael beat her chest repeatedly like a gorilla.

[Hanael] "It is the sea!"

Screaming in excitement, she plunged straight into the ocean before anyone could stop her, paddling eagerly like a seal.

Watching Hanael, Sierra, and Cassius looked at each other and laughed brightly.

Sierra stared into the crystal-clear ocean, revealing everything beneath the surface. Watching colorful seawater wash ashore refreshed her mind.

Only one problem remained. She intended to stroll along the white sand, holding Cassius' hand, merely dipping her feet in the water.......

Already soaked in the ocean, Hanael splashed water at Sierra.

[Hanael] "Mommy, take this water!"

Sierra yelled as salty sewater drenched her face and clothes.

[Sierra] "Hanael, what is this......!"

[Hanael] "Kyahaha! So fun!"

Watching Hanael swim away in an effort to escape, Sierra burst into laughter. She really intended to stay quiet....... Yet she refused to lose!

Sierra splashed water toward Cassius, who held her hand. The moment water soaked his hair...... the water-splashing game descended into absolute chaos.

After concluding their water fight disguised as honeymoon swimming, the three enjoyed a light dinner.

Sierra evaluated her day as an extreme schedule, unbelievable for someone who just held a wedding. Between the wedding ceremony, conversing with the Pope, playing in the water, and eating dinner.......

Hanael was already nodding off to sleep. Though Sierra didn't possess endless stamina either, she felt surprisingly awake.

Why are my eyes so wide open when I should be exhausted?

Was it because of the realization that they were married?

Immediately after dinner, Hanael walked into the room with the crib on her own and fell asleep. After announcing, "Mommy and Daddy play! Hanael is too tired to play with Mommy and Daddy now!", she coaxed a servant who doted on her and slipped into her bedroom.......

She was playing with us until now......?

After Hanael departed like the wind, Sierra entered the room shared with Cassius—a room prepared for just the two of them. A large bed stood beside a glass window where moonlight poured inside.

Tonight was their honeymoon night. Recognizing that reality, tension began to fill the air.

[Cassius] "Now it is a night for just the two of us."

Though Sierra thought it was a family vacation, this was turning into a true honeymoon. At his provocative words, she replied softly.

[Sierra] "Mmm....... I like that."

Rather than feeling embarrassed, counter-provoking him proved more entertaining. At her counterattack, his eyes curved into a smile.

His satisfied smile resembled someone receiving an unexpected gift or hearing a long-awaited answer.

---

The cheerful, slightly peculiar mood maintained throughout the day shifted dramatically.

The shift occurred because Cassius' demeanor transformed completely the moment they lay on the bed.

Sierra caught her breath under the weight of his body pressing against hers. Clinging close enough to prevent any movement, he pressed a brief kiss to her forehead.

A kiss far warmer than usual. As his lips slid smoothly across her rounded forehead, she bit her lip softly. Every spot touched by his lips tickled her skin.

Sierra parted her lips and whispered.

[Sierra] "You...... feel like you have a fever."

His temperature was excessively high.

Yet he offered no answer. Instead, his lips slid down to the tip of her nose. Sierra closed her trembling eyelashes. He kissed her eyes gently as well, his moist tongue lightly tickling her eyelids.

[Cassius] "Sierra."

He called her name in a low, deep voice that tickled her ears. Sierra stared into his dark blue eyes.

His gaze drifted slowly down past her collarbone. Through her translucent nightgown, her heart pounded rapidly. Cassius lowered his gaze slowly downward.

Did his feverish warmth transfer to her? Strangely, everywhere his gaze touched felt burning hot.

[Sierra] "......Yes."

Answering a beat late, she closed her eyes again.

From now on, as husband and wife, this time belonged solely to the two of them.

On a night illuminated gently by the moon, certain things belonged only to a married couple.

---

A week passed, completely secluded from the world—spending days with Hanael and nights with Cassius. Consequently, Sierra remained unaware of how the outside world moved.

However, through Amille's message, news of the Pope's declaration reached the villa at their honeymoon destination.

Attaching various commoner gossip periodicals like Monthly Gossip and Tabloid, alongside prominent magazines covering noble high society, Amille penned a letter in excitement.

The letter summarized the situation:

Since the Pope directly blessed and recognized Sierra and Hanael as holy beings, no noble would dare disrespect them openly now. Amille boasted loudly that if anyone disrespected Sierra, she would use her Archmage authority to destroy them.

My sister...... is adorable.

Her threat resembled a barking Chihuahua—a cute display making her want to return home soon. Sierra offered a quiet chuckle and swept back her hair.

It doesn't matter what others think of us.

Her current thoughts remained simple. Once they returned, Cassius would be busy with state affairs....... At least at this vacation spot, she wanted to toss aside gossip magazines and enjoy her rest to the fullest.

Sierra set the gossip magazines and Amille's letter onto the table. Sunset had already painted the view outside the window; lounging inside the villa amidst such beautiful scenery felt like a waste.

She wanted to refresh her mind.

Should I ask him to go outside and play?

The moment she placed the magazines down, Cassius, sitting beside her, spoke up.

[Cassius] "Shall we go outside?"

He seemed to read her mind. Sierra curved her eyes into crescent moons, smiling brightly.

[Sierra] "Yes, let us go outside. Shall we walk on the beach out front?"

Folding paper intently on the floor, Hanael snapped her eyes open at the word "outside," having been nodding off moments ago.

[Hanael] "Beach?"

Her eyes sparkled round and bright like a puppy eager for a walk.

[Sierra] "Yes."

Hanael leaped up, scattering paper across the floor.

[Hanael] "Yup, let us go right now!"

To think she would be this thrilled! Sierra hugged Hanael tightly as she ran excitedly into her arms. Leaping into Sierra's lap, Hanael chattered eagerly.

[Hanael] "Let us go to the sea and build a sandcastle!"

She opened her mouth wide and spoke in excitement. Building a sandcastle under the reddish, glowing sunset sounded lovely. Sierra patted Hanael in her arms and spoke.

[Sierra] "Yes, let us do that."

Their beautiful honeymoon drew to a close.

Sierra gazed at the sunset pouring through the window.

Many storms might strike their lives in the future. Yet as long as the three of them stood together, holding hands, they could overcome every storm.

Hoping they would remain happy for a long time, Sierra met Cassius' eyes.

Passing through a harsh winter, stepping over a firm spring, a warm summer arrived at last.

Moist breezes blowing through the open window already carried the rich scent of summer.

※End of Main Story※

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