She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 20

The Paternity Test, First Step

That evening, Hentel sat across from Sierra as promised. He rolled the orange potion Sierra handed him between his fingers.

It was merely a headache remedy at best. However, she combined it using an unusual method that people rarely use, and it produced a highly successful result.

His curiosity deepened.

[Hentel] "I received an invitation to a symposium regarding the advancement of medicine and pharmacy this time."

People already knew the Ideos Ducal Family had invited Hentel.

[Sierra] "What kind of symposium?"

[Hentel] "I hear the Imperial Pharmacy Academy hosts it. Thankfully, I received an invitation......."

Sierra's eyes widened.

The symposium, hosted only once a year by the Imperial Pharmacy Academy, held massive prestige.

Back when Sierra attended the academy, participating in the Imperial Pharmacy Academy's symposium stood as her ultimate dream. Furthermore, the records produced after the symposium ended came out as a magazine once a year.

She used to subscribe to that magazine, though she harbored no grand intentions. She usually read the records and agonized, thinking, You shouldn't do it like this! and I can do it better!

[Hentel] "Will you go with me?"

Chaotic thoughts flooded her mind. Right then, Hentel spoke softly.

[Hentel] "If His Grace the Duke does not permit it....…"

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

Does Cassius even have the right to allow it or not? It's my own business.

However, Hentel wore an extremely cautious expression.

[Hentel] "......You must face great pressure."

He clearly misunderstood Sierra's position within this family. However, as a commoner, she absolutely couldn't say, I live like a queen here.

She gave an ambiguous smile and spoke.

[Sierra] "I'll try asking His Grace."

[Hentel] "Ah, yes."

His worried gaze locked onto Sierra.

Because she accidentally caused Cassius to be misunderstood, a tiny, pea-sized bead of guilt rushed into her heart.

---

Early the next morning. Hentel announced the completion of the paternity test kit.

Finally, Sierra, Cassius, and Hanael arrived at the ducal mansion's annex to undergo the Hippo Kingdom's paternity test. They sat side-by-side on the sofa in the annex's drawing room. Hentel sat opposite them.

Finally, I can escape.

Thinking about leaving this place, she already missed the luxurious food and shelter of the ducal mansion. Sierra harbored deep regret and looked at Hentel.

[Hentel] "First, I crafted the potion. As I mentioned before, I included various herbs, and it is harmless to your health."

He handed over an instruction manual and continued. Sierra skimmed the warning details and let his words pass through her ears.

[Hentel] "If you drink the potion here, an invisible wavelength will form around your body. We will analyze that exact wavelength through a video sphere."

She heard the Hippo Kingdom had taken an interest in medical imaging lately, but she never expected them to analyze it through a video sphere. It proved highly scientific and systematic.

She stared at the three bottles of blue potion on the table and spoke.

[Sierra] "Do we just drink it now?"

[Hentel] "Yes."

At Hentel's confirmation, she nodded, popped the potion lid, and downed it in one gulp.

Cassius, sitting beside Sierra, did the same. Hanael glanced around.

[Hanael] "Does Hanael have to drink this too?"

[Sierra] "Yeah, let's just take one sip."

Hanael nodded vigorously, then boldly gulped the potion down. Then, she scrunched her face and stomped her feet.

[Hanael] "Hanael doesn't like this! It tastes bad!"

She spat outward, pretending to throw up. Sierra stroked Hanael's soft hair.

[Sierra] "Hanael. You shouldn't do that."

Hanael jutted her lip out and looked toward Cassius.

Cassius watched them quietly with a smile, then met Sierra's gaze and hardened his expression.

Hentel cleared his throat to gather their scattered attention and pulled out the magical video recording tool next to the table.

[Hentel] "It is a magical video sphere specially crafted for medical purposes."

Fascinating. Sierra's eyes sparkled.

For the next ten minutes, the video sphere recorded them. The three of them sat side-by-side on the sofa and killed the boring time until Hentel declared the recording complete.

Of course.......

Sierra kept busy avoiding Cassius' piercing gaze, burning into her cheek.

Why does he keep staring?

Meeting his intense gaze brought back memories of being held by him yesterday, making her deeply uncomfortable. Memories of his hard body embracing hers, and that day five years ago, rushed back.......

Are you seducing me or what!

Cassius clearly knew nothing of Sierra's inner turmoil.......

After an uncomfortable silence, Hentel set the video sphere down and spoke.

[Hentel] "The recording is over, so I will analyze the video sphere's wavelength and inform you of the results immediately."

I can finally leave!

Sierra nodded with a significantly lighter heart.

Once the analysis concludes, she will receive the result proving Hanael is not Cassius' biological daughter and finally leave this mansion.

Afterward, they exited the annex. Cassius announced he had to leave the mansion temporarily for a mandatory Imperial Palace political meeting. Hanael and Sierra headed to the main building to play and eat, so their paths diverged.

In front of the main building's doors, he spoke first.

[Cassius] "Then....... I will be back."

A faint smile graced his face. Excitement at the thought of Sierra and Hanael seeing him off radiated from his grin.

Looking up at him, Hanael puffed her cheeks out and offered her greeting.

[Hanael] "Don't have a good trip! Bad mister!"

Her chubby cheeks looked pure white like cotton. Cassius smirked and answered.

[Cassius] "Okay, I got it."

[Hanael] "What do you know?"

Sierra stepped in to protect Hanael's precious life.

[Sierra] "Um....... Have a safe trip, Cassius."

[Hanael] "Mom, you're way too soft! What are you, a peach?"

I am not soft, you brat. Our lives depend on this a month from now!

While walking back after sending Cassius off, Hentel addressed her.

[Hentel] "Have you considered participating in the symposium?"

[Sierra] "Ah....... When is it?"

[Hentel] "Today."

[Sierra] "What? Today?"

Although sudden, it presented an opportunity to observe excellent pharmacists, doctors, and scholars up close. As a talented pharmacist, missing such an opportunity made no sense.

He continued tossing tempting bait to the deliberating Sierra.

[Hentel] "It is sudden, right? But you can participate briefly as my assistant. It only takes an hour......."

He dropped a subtle hint.

[Hentel] "Above all, considering that headache potion. You possess a clear talent for pharmacy."

At his words, she shrugged and spoke humbly.

[Sierra] "Actually, I am a pharmacy genius."

Of course, this constituted humility from Sierra's perspective. However, her peculiar attitude further fueled the scholar Hentel's curiosity.

[Hentel] "Then, shall we go together?"

Sierra was prepared to agree willingly, but paused. Naturally, Cassius and the Grand Madam troubled her mind.

If I leave the ducal castle, won't they misunderstand and think I ran away again?

As someone who absolutely lacked any intention of running away, this false accusation proved entirely unfair. However, she still needed to seek permission to leave the mansion.

So she merely summoned the head maid.

---

[G. Madam] "You called for me?"

The Grand Madam, whom Sierra assumed was busy managing the mansion's interior affairs, appeared. She looked entirely disheveled, as if she had rushed over.

Refusing her in this situation proved awkward, so Sierra gave a reluctant nod.

[Sierra] "Yes, I want to attend a symposium."

[G. Madam] "You aren't...... leaving the mansion permanently, are you?"

Her wild thoughts and anxious eyes startled Sierra, but she endured it steadfastly and whispered.

[Sierra] "Of course I'm not leaving."

Standing beside her, Hentel cleared his throat and spoke.

[Hentel] "The symposium takes place in the capital and requires roughly one hour, Madam. She will return swiftly. She faces zero danger."

[G. Madam] "......Still, we had that teahouse incident recently."

That Marchioness Andante was a genuinely nice person, but you suddenly ruined everything.......

[G. Madam] "Should I host a symposium right here in the ducal mansion for you?"

[Sierra] "......Pardon?"

That makes no sense......!

What an incredibly burdensome proposal......!

[G. Madam] "Leaving the mansion is a bit...... unsettling. I worry that fragile little you will get hurt......."

The Grand Madam stood ready to grant Sierra anything she desired, yet firmly opposed her leaving the mansion. She showed zero signs of giving permission.

Desperate to attend the symposium, Sierra firmly grasped the Grand Madam's wrinkled hands.

[Sierra] "I'll go to the symposium. I won't get hurt."

The Grand Madam stared blankly down at their overlapping hands.

Did I cross a line?

Sierra attempted to pull her hands away. But right then, the Grand Madam tightly snatched her retreating hands.

[G. Madam] "......You said one hour, correct?"

She nodded, her eyes reddening with moisture.

Seeing the Grand Madam unable to even speak, a heavy weight settled over Sierra's chest.

Wait....... Noble ladies usually slap commoners like me away for being dirty if we touch them.......

Why on earth is she.......

[G. Madam] "Go on. But leave a note for Cassius."

[Sierra] "Ah, okay."

Since the symposium only took an hour, Cassius would unlikely return to the mansion before she did. Still, leaving a note represented basic courtesy.

[Cassius, I'm heading out to a medical pharmacy symposium for a bit.]

This should be enough.

Sierra nodded with a carefree mind.

---

The carriage carrying Sierra, Hentel, and the knight assigned by the Grand Madam departed the mansion. However, they remained completely unaware of one fact.......

[Ezel] "Gotcha."

The man summoned by the Imperial Princess, Ezel, lay in ambush near the mansion.

He continuously prowled around the ducal mansion in an inconspicuous small carriage.

Finally, the ducal castle's gates opened, and a magnificent carriage drove out. Through the window, a woman with deer-like eyes came into view.

According to his gathered intelligence, that delicate woman had to be Sierra.

[Ezel] "Blonde hair and green eyes......."

He smirked and pushed his carriage window entirely open.

[Ezel] "Pretty."

He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. He did it to draw the attention of his coachman, who groomed the horse's mane nearby.

[Ezel] "Coachman."

[Coachman] "Ah, yes?"

The coachman casually glanced into the carriage and instantly assumed the man's delicate, handsome features might blind him.

Despite seeing him several times, the coachman never adjusted to that fatal beauty. The incredibly refined nose and long, red lips held the exact power to bewitch every woman in the capital.

[Ezel] "Let's follow that carriage."

He flashed a melting eye smile and winked. It carried a demonic charm capable of bewitching even a man.

Frozen in a daze for a few seconds, the coachman nodded.

[Coachman] "Yes!"

With a loud neigh from the horse, the hooves charged forward powerfully.

And just like that.......

A total of two carriages began speeding fiercely down the main road toward a single destination.

---

If you’re enjoying this novel, please consider leaving a rating or comment on Novel Updates and Naver Series.