She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 124

SS 1: After the Happy Ending (2)

[Sierra] "Eat plenty too, Duke...... I mean, Your Grace......"

Cassius chuckled quietly, observing Sierra's intense effort to maintain proper etiquette. Shaking his head, he leaned close to whisper into her ear.

[Cassius] "Only close friends surround us tonight, so relax."

He clearly recognized that she had been studying etiquette diligently lately. Falling asleep with etiquette textbooks beside her pillow......

During the daytime, lessons left Sierra dazed with exhaustion; at night, Cassius carefully wiped away her makeup, removed her dress, and dressed her in neat pajamas.

Even witnessing all those messy moments, affection overflowed from his eyes—a wondrous sight.

Sierra stared at him and nodded.

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

While their eyes met, Hanael barged into their conversation without delay.

[Hanael] "What is this? What are you two doing? Love talk?"

Normally, Sierra would never answer, yet now she brushed off such cringeworthy phrases easily. She poked Hanael's adorable, steamed-bun-like cheek and answered.

[Sierra] "Of course it is love talk."

Having spoken slyly, curiosity regarding Cassius' reaction arose. Shifting her gaze to him, a vivid blush stained his cheeks.

Cute.

His expression captivated Sierra once more, making her momentarily forget Hanael resting her chin in her hands, watching them happily.

Clattering sounds echoed in Sierra's ears. Abel and Ezel devoured the appetizer dishes at rapid speed.

Time to serve the main course.

She summoned a maid and ordered the main course served, hoping everyone would enjoy this dish as well.

---

This proved a greater harvest than anticipated.

Though Sierra carefully calculated the main course around foods these people favored......

Everyone is eating so enthusiastically!

She stared in shock as Amille ate with cheeks stuffed to bursting. Not just Amille—the Countess, usually refined—chewed like a squirrel holding a chestnut.

The Grand Madam maintained etiquette calmly while dining, yet the plate before her emptied at rapid speed.

Ezel and Abel needed no further description. Throughout the appetizers, they boasted friendliness while talking fast, but now they dined in fierce silence like soldiers at war. Cassius dined with a faint smile resting on his lips.

Investigating their tastes paid off.

Sierra looked down at the dining table with deep satisfaction.

She placed lobster before her sister Amille, who loved seafood. Before the Grand Madam, who favored roasted and boiled meats, she placed duck confit.

Hearing that the Countess liked steamed mussels, she served steamed mussels alongside clear consommé, a soup pairing exceptionally well.

Since Ezel liked chicken dishes, she offered chicken à la king made with a rich roux. For Abel, she provided a stew packed with thick sausages and generous cuts of meat.

Cassius had posed a challenge by saying, "I like anything you make," so she prepared bouillabaisse, a dish tied to their shared memories.

For Hanael, who loved salmon, she prepared smoked salmon accompanied by cucumber, but......

[Hanael] "Hing."

Huh? Why was Hanael not eating? She remained the only person at the table who had not lifted a single spoon. Puzzled, Sierra tilted her head. Hanael glanced around slyly and opened her mouth wide.

[Hanael] "Ahhh...…"

Ah, now Sierra understood.

She wants me to feed her.

Thinking back, whenever she cooked salmon back in Sufe Village, she always sat Hanael on her lap before feeding her.

Feeding her was simple. Sierra picked up a fork and speared a piece of salmon. Hanael opened her mouth with an "Ahhh" sound.

[Hanael] "Delicious!"

Watching Hanael chew happily, satisfaction filled her chest without taking a bite herself. Spellbound, Sierra picked up another piece of salmon when a gaze landed upon her.

It was Cassius.

[Cassius] "......"

He parted his lips. Having already set his fork down, his lips rested open......

He can't possibly be asking me to feed him too.

That entered excessively romantic territory.

Lacking immunity to such romance, Sierra looked away deliberately and spoke to refresh the atmosphere.

Since everyone kept eating silently, conversation lagged.

[Sierra] "Have you all exchanged words with one another?"

[G. Madam] "We talked quite a lot."

As the Grand Madam spoke, the Countess chimed in next.

[Countess] "I learned that this young man operates an information guild, that lady is an Archmage, and that young man comes from the Magic Tower as a shapeshifter."

At the Countess' words, Sierra nodded.

[Sierra] "I am glad everyone finished introducing themselves."

Since these people would meet frequently in the future, concluding introductions here sufficed. Sierra watched the guests cleanse their palates with drinks and thought.

Time to begin the main event.

Nervousness fluttered inside her before the long-awaited event began.

[Sierra] "Now, let us enjoy something fun over dessert."

[Amille] "Something fun?"

As Amille asked in confusion, knowing nothing, the Grand Madam—who already knew everything—answered solemnly on her behalf.

[G. Madam] "Yes. The Duchess prepared something special."

Sierra nodded in agreement with the Grand Madam's words.

With everyone's conversation ending and the main meal concluding, the long-awaited dessert time arrived. Cold sorbet and warm butter cake appeared simultaneously, adorning the table.

Patting full stomachs, guests swallowed cold lemon sorbet repeatedly. As dessert drew to a close, Sierra spoke with a radiant smile, like someone who had waited for this moment all night.

[Sierra] "Well, the fun thing is...... I prepared gifts."

[Abel] "Huh?"

[Ezel] "I never heard about this."

They wore puzzled expressions at her words. Sierra smiled brightly and nodded toward them.

[Sierra] "Yes, gifts for everyone."

Abel's eyes widened. Preparing to rejoice, he suddenly dropped his shoulders.

[Abel] "Ohhh...... Wait, no! It is another useless gift, isn't it?!"

[G. Madam] "Useless gift, you say?!"

[Countess] "How could our baby give a useless gift?!"

[Abel] "A-Ah, no......"

Abel found himself driven into a corner under the back-to-back punches from the Grand Madam and the Countess.

They both look angrier than I am.

Yet Abel's outrage possessed a valid reason. Sierra constantly teased him under the guise of giving gifts.......

[Sierra] "Ta-da, a gift!"

[Abel] "Gasp! A gift!"

[Sierra] "Rabbit-ear potion!"

[Abel] "I will take my leave."

Memories of teasing him with useless gifts like rabbit-ear potions resurfaced....... Today differed, making her feel mistreated.

Feeling like the boy who cried wolf, she clapped her hands together. At her hand signal, maids lined up near the round table.

Abel stammered in confusion.

See, trust my words! I told you it is a real gift!

---

Even while handing out gifts, Sierra never anticipated this scene. She stood up and pushed a cart herself. She began distributing meaningful gifts one by one. The order of gifts naturally followed priority!

[Sierra] "I wish to give the first gift to the Grand Madam."

Elders first. This method prevented disputes. Giving gifts to Ezel or Abel first would trigger a tantrum from Hanael.

[G. Madam] "Th-This...... precious item."

You have not even opened it yet......!

The Grand Madam reacted with sheer emotion. Sierra handed her a diamond tiara wrapped neatly in transparent paper. Since she always gave her jewels, Sierra wished to return the gesture.

[G. Madam] "To think our baby gave me such a precious tiara......."

She unraveled the wrapping immediately and summoned a maid to place the tiara upon her hair. Sierra believed the tiara would suit a noblewoman well, but seeing the brilliant silver tiara resting upon silver-streaked hair suited the Grand Madam even better.

Sierra offered a warm smile.

[Sierra] "It suits you remarkably well."

Next came the Countess. Sierra handed her a ship-shaped brooch, honoring a family running a shipping business and wishing for the Count's safe return.

Third in order was her sister, Amille.

[Sierra] "Sister, a diary."

Sierra handed her a small diary. Written by Sierra during early childhood, she hoped to ease Amille's lingering guilt. The diary contained entries like Sister played with me every day and My sister is the best.

[Amille] "All right, I will read it at home."

She will probably cry at home.

Keeping potentially disruptive thoughts to herself, Sierra called Ezel forward. Ezel, the Information Guild Leader. The gift prepared for him was none other than.......

[Ezel] "These are...... Hermes' Shoes?"

Yes, a magic item acquired with great effort. Wearing Hermes' Shoes allowed one to travel at lightning speed as if shrinking distance.

[Sierra] "Bring us better information. You are our business partner, right?"

He grinned slyly and nodded.

[Ezel] "Indeed, I swear it."

Finally, Abel. Realizing his turn had arrived, this cute wolf shapeshifter adopted a solemn posture, clasping his hands together as if praying.

[Sierra] "A land deed."

[Abel] "......Huh? What?"

Receiving a land deed out of nowhere, He wore a bewildered expression. Sierra spoke playfully like a mischievous child.

[Sierra] "It is a paradise where a puppy can run around freely."

His eyes widened. As a wolf shapeshifter, he always required a vast open space for walks! Sufe Village was nice, but this land belonged entirely to him.

Watching his golden eyes sparkle, Sierra stroked his hair.

The happy gift exchange drew to a close, leaving only the final order. Finally, for Cassius and Hanael, Sierra whispered while pressing a kiss to their cheeks in turn.

[Sierra] "Let us go on a picnic tomorrow. I prepared everything in secret."

Going on a vacation-like picnic to share time among the three of them again—that served as the best gift for them.

Sierra looked around and smiled with deep satisfaction. May everyone enjoy the gifts tailored to their unique traits today. And may these precious people remain happy for a long time. With those wishes, she beamed brightly, watching everyone admire their gifts or finish dessert.

Next time, I should invite the doctors from the Hippo Kingdom for a separate gathering.

That would surely prove an enjoyable dining time as well, sharing noble insights on medicine and pharmaceuticals.

Despite facing busy tasks and hardships, Sierra experienced utter happiness. Learning duties as Duchess of Ideos and inviting guests would continue in the future. Yet alongside the people in this room, overcoming every difficulty felt entirely possible.

Sierra folded her hands over her heart and breathed quietly. Her pounding heartbeat seemed to boost her confidence.

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