She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 2

The Situation Worsens Smoothly

The one-week restraining order worked perfectly. Cassius, acting like a man who committed a crime, declared he would accept every word Sierra said. His behavior annoyed her, but she had no choice.

She bought herself a week of time. During those seven days, she intended to find out exactly what happened to him.

I must discover what changed him so much.

Contacting Cassius now was the worst possible move. He would only repeat four things: regret, apologies, guilt, and kneeling.

I should ask Abel about the status of Duke Ideos' castle.

Abel was a wolf shapeshifter Sierra met five years ago when she took in her niece. Her sister, a Great Archmage, had raised him.

Abel served as Sierra's informant, messenger, and guardian. Currently, he was collecting letters from the mailbox.

[Sierra] “I wonder when Abel will arrive……”

Sierra opened the window and sighed.

Why is Cassius acting like this?

He clearly feared she might run away. The knights surrounding the house proved it.

Sierra, however, maintained a cold, indifferent attitude.

Where would I go when my pharmacy is right here?

Her business had grown quite successful.

Of course, I am a genius, so I would succeed anywhere.

During her academy days, her sister asked her to hide her talents. It became even more important while raising Hanael.

Her sister was a Great Archmage involved in dangerous, secret missions. Sierra lived in constant fear that her work might put her niece in danger.

[Sierra] “Hanael, my baby. I told you that your mother is someone else.”

Hanael laughed and answered quickly.

[Hanael] “Sierra is my only mommy!”

The child spoke with pure, total innocence.

How do I explain this......?

Your mother is a Great Archmage, and no one knows who your father is. I am just your aunt looking after you for a while.

Sierra said those things often when Hanael was younger, but she couldn't say them now. Her sister, consumed by work at the Magic Tower, had never visited.

Sierra sighed and stroked the girl's hair.

If only those neighborhood kids hadn't teased her about not having a father or mother......

Correcting Hanael now might ruin the child's world. Besides, the confusion had already triggered Cassius' misunderstanding.

This is all my sister's fault.

Sierra blamed her absent sister and gripped her fists. Hanael climbed onto her lap and began to whine.

[Hanael] “You know, I thought I didn’t have a daddy?”

Sierra looked at the girl's flushed cheeks. Meeting a man who claimed to be her father must feel strange. Hanael had endured constant teasing for years.

She felt a wave of complex emotions, but Hanael suddenly frowned.

[Hanael] “But it's okay. I don’t need a daddy!”

The child was getting ahead of herself. Sierra nodded awkwardly.

I am sure her father is alive somewhere near the Magic Tower......

Rumor said Hanael's father was the Master of the Magic Tower. Apparently, he and her sister had a secret romance there. Both held positions where a hidden daughter would be a fatal weakness.

Hanael was five now. Their secret mission should end soon.

Sierra cleared her throat and whispered.

[Sierra] “Hanael.”

[Hanael] “Yes?”

[Sierra] “That mister is not your daddy. Don’t talk to him for a while, okay?”

Hanael's eyes lost their spark, and her head dropped. Sierra tapped the girl's plump arm.

[Sierra] “Well?”

[Hanael] “......”

[Sierra] “Hanael, answer me.”

Hanael pouted and looked at the floor. Though she grew up cheerful, she learned how to give up on things early in life.

[Hanael] “......I understand.”

She acted very grown-up in moments like this.

[Hanael] “Hanael knows. Mommy hates that mister.”

Sierra hugged the sad child. It hurt her heart to see a child who learned to give up so soon.

Sister, just wait until you return. I’m going to hit you.

A soft knock sounded. Sierra turned around. A tall boy waved as he approached.

[Sierra] “Abel, you’re here!”

[Abel] “Noona!”

The boy, who was a young teenager when Hanael was born, had grown significantly. He stood two heads taller than Sierra now.

[Sierra] “Yes, Abel.”

[Abel] “What on earth...... is happening?”

Abel had seen the knights camping outside the house. He looked at Sierra with a bitter expression.

[Abel] “There are so many knights outside. What's going on? Is it because of the Great Archmage?”

Sierra shook her head.

[Sierra] “An old acquaintance has a massive misunderstanding. Listen, even I don’t fully understand the situation yet.”

[Abel] “The mood was strange. When they saw me entering the house, they looked like they wanted to kill me.”

He shrugged.

[Abel] “Anyway, I brought the important letters.”

He held three envelopes: red, blue, and orange.

[Abel] “The landlord wants to raise the rent for the pharmacy land.”

[Sierra] “Ah......”

She frowned.

[Abel] “There are also some love letters.”

Sierra touched her throbbing temple and shook her head.

The trouble is piling up.

[Sierra] “This isn't something to discuss in front of Hanael. Put them on the desk.”

Abel pressed his cold hand against her tired eyes.

[Abel] “Yes. You should rest, Noona.”

She planned to do exactly that.

[Abel] “You stayed up all night again, didn't you? Developing new medicine and dealing with all this...... take a nap.”

He thought Sierra was as fragile as glass.

Since she often pushed herself too hard, she couldn't argue. She lowered her voice.

[Sierra] “Yes. About the outside situation. It's because of Duke Cassius Ideos.”

[Abel] “The Duke?”

His eyes widened. She nodded and sighed deeply.

[Sierra] “Can you investigate him as quickly as possible?”

[Abel] “If you want it fast, I can’t get every detail. I’ll just find out what he's misunderstood. One day is enough!”

[Sierra] “Okay. Be careful. Thank you, as always.”

She gave a short thanks and turned to Hanael.

[Sierra] “Hanael.”

Hanael nodded with her big eyes wide open.

[Sierra] “Why are you being so good today?”

[Hanael] “Hanael is always good!”

Sierra picked the girl up and hugged her tightly. Hanael giggled and rubbed her face against Sierra's shoulder.

[Sierra] “Let's go sleep, good girl.”

[Hanael] “Okay!”

Abel smiled and waved as they left.

[Abel] “I’ll be back after I find the details, Noona!”

After he left, Sierra and Hanael brushed their teeth, put on matching pajamas, and crawled into bed.

Damn it, Cassius Ideos. What is his deal? This is so distracting......

She kissed Hanael's cheek and tried to forget her worries.

It will take three hours for Abel to return.

He was only going to collect newspapers from the capital, so it wouldn't take long.

She decided to sleep and clear her head.

[Sierra] “Goodnight, Hanael.”

She hugged Hanael and closed her eyes. Because so much had happened at once, sleep claimed her quickly.

---

Sierra slept for a long time. Hanael touched her sleeping mother's eyes and slumped her shoulders.

Is it because of that mean mister? Is she sad?

Mommy looked deeply unhappy and tired.

Then what about those bad letters from earlier?

Hanael hopped into her mother's study. Usually, the door stayed locked. It was locked today, too, but something strange happened. When she touched it, the door turned blue and opened.

What is that light? Why did the door open?

She tilted her head and peered inside. Either way, an open door was a good thing.

She entered the room and searched through the letters. Her lips tightened as she looked at the papers on the desk.

[Hanael] “I must leave if I don’t pay the rent......?”

Her expression turned grave.

Though only five, she was growing fast. She spoke well and could read. Her teacher said she was practically an adult. The grandmothers at the pharmacy said she would be an adult in five more nights.

So, Hanael understood.

Kicked out of the pharmacy! Becoming beggars! Dying...... with Mommy!

She stared at the letters with a serious face.

[Hanael] “I, I need someone to help.”

She hugged the letters to her chest and walked out.

The front gate creaked open. She decided to find someone who could save her and her mother. She thought of her teacher first, but the teacher had mentioned having money troubles, too.

Who else could help?

Hanael is almost an adult. I’m not a kid. I will act like an adult.

Lost in thought, she wandered past the gate. A knight guarding the house under Cassius' orders asked in a kind voice.

[Knight] “Do you need anything?”

She stopped. She did need something.

Does that mean that mister...... rich?

She shouted with such power and confidence that the knight flinched.

[Hanael] “Are you a friend of that mean mister?”

[Knight] “Mean mister? You’ll get yourself kil—”

The pale knight tried to stop her, but Cassius arrived first. He had been standing near Sierra's house, waiting desperately for her to appear. Instead, his daughter appeared.

[Cassius] “What is the matter?”

[Knight] “D-Duke......”

The knight jumped back.

Who was Cassius Ideos? His sword knew no mercy. He had achieved the greatest glory in a war against monsters that everyone thought was a lost cause. He won a hellish victory like a demon. Rumors said he killed his own father and was more of a monster than the beasts he fought.

To the knight, Cassius was a man who would kill a noisy child without a second thought.

[Knight] “Your Grace. This child spoke without thinking.”

The knight tried to shield Hanael, but Cassius ignored him. He looked down at Hanael.

[Cassius] “Hanael.”

He didn’t care about his expensive clothes getting dirty. He knelt on one knee and whispered.

[Cassius] “Hanael, what is it?”

Hanael glared at him. The mean mister knew her name.

Daddy knew my name and didn't come for five years!

Feeling even angrier, she stomped her foot and shouted.

[Hanael] “I have something to say, mean mister!”

She narrowed her eyes. She didn't stutter like a child, and she balled her fists tightly. She was sure she looked very threatening.

[Hanael] “Listen to me.”

She glared at the man who presumably hurt her mother. Just as she expected, the mean mister seemed intimidated by her powerful presence.

[Cassius] “Speak. I will do anything you ask.”

See? He said he’ll do anything!

I have to use this mean mister!

Hanael held up the letters she stole from the desk—her "Mommy's Worry Numbers 1, 2, and 3."

[Hanael] “You, fix this! This is making my mommy suffer!”

She puffed her cheeks and thought of a very hard, scary baguette. A baguette so terrifying that your teeth would fall out if you bit it.

[Hanael] “Answer me, mister!”

She made a hard face, just like that scary baguette, and shook her fists.

---

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