She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 26

The Duke Has Gone Mad!

Exactly one week passed.

As the Princess intended, rumors flooded the salons. Beyond the existing gossip about Sierra, specific details about her appearance—blonde hair and green eyes—spread like wildfire. Strange stories claimed a haughty commoner would soon enter the salons as the Duke of Ideos' wicked mistress.

The Princess expected everyone to hear that the commoner Sierra would attend every party. However.......

A subordinate appeared before the Princess while she enjoyed the rumors she had planted. His expression looked grim. The Princess instinctively knew his words wouldn't please her.

[Iliena] "What is it?"

[Subordinate] "Well...... His Grace the Duke......."

She frowned at her subordinate's frantic breathing. Just then, a voice came from behind her.

[Cologne] "You need not be so surprised."

A man with one eye covered appeared. He was Marquis Cologne, the owner of the Cologne Merchant Guild and the effective master of every salon in the capital's social circles. Known as the "One-Eyed Marquis," he held notorious power over society.

The Princess hid her discomfort and gestured toward him.

[Iliena] "Marquis Cologne."

[Cologne] "I greet Her Highness the Princess."

[Iliena] "What brings you here?"

[Cologne] "It seems your loyal friend stumbled upon an extra edition of the news I was preparing in secret."

He smiled softly and bowed. However, his words were anything but soft.

[Iliena] "An extra edition? What could it be?"

She signaled her subordinate. The man, finally given a chance to speak, muttered urgently as if he might faint.

[Subordinate] "Every salon in the capital......."

Marquis Cologne interrupted with a cheerful answer.

[Cologne] "Yes. I've sold every salon to the Grand Madam of the Ideos family."

The people standing near the Princess and the Marquis widened their eyes.

Clatter!

The sharp sound of a glass shattering rang out.

[Cologne] "To be precise, the Ideos family purchased them all."

In short, using the social giant that was the Grand Madam as a front, the Duke of Ideos had bought the salons.

The Princess grit her teeth as she watched Marquis Cologne's eccentric behavior.

Unlike her intentions, the social world would soon flip upside down due to this sudden move by the Marquis and the Duke.

The prestige of the salons Marquis Cologne owned in the capital was immense. While nobles sometimes held tea parties and balls in their own manors, they usually used the capital's salons. Every noble had a favorite salon they visited, and high-ranking nobles often rented out entire buildings.

Marquis Cologne led every trend and ruled the salons. But now.......

Cassius Ideos and the Grand Madam had bought them all. Even the talented hosts who managed the salons now belonged to the Ducal manor. One could build new salons, but construction took time, and finding capable hosts had become nearly impossible.

[Noble A] "What on earth is happening?"

[Noble B] "Why would the Duke of Ideos pay double to buy salons meant for women's gatherings......?"

[Noble C] "What is the problem here......?"

Despite their questions, the salons now belonged to the Ideos family.

The Princess set her fan down, her face stiff. Others might not understand the Duke's madness, but she did.

As long as the salons belong to the Ideos family, I can't threaten that woman there.

Marquis Cologne was a free spirit. He never cared about the talk among noblewomen or the gossip within the salons. The Duke would likely be the same. However, if talk of Sierra began....... the Duke's eyes would likely infiltrate every corner of the capital's social life.

We still have Andante's Absolute Mandate.

Since things had turned out this way, she had to focus on the forced mandate Andante would exercise.

The Princess glared at the Marquis' shameless face and turned away.

They still held a few cards to draw Sierra out without any loss to themselves.

---

Meanwhile, inside the Ideos Ducal manor.

Sierra, Cassius, Hanael, and the Grand Madam sat in the hall, enjoying a small tea party.

[Sierra] "I was shocked when Cassius said he would buy every salon."

She shuddered, remembering Cassius' actions on the day she received the mountain of invitations. But the Grand Madam replied casually, as if it were only natural.

[G. Madam] "What are you talking about? This is your debut stage. This is the least we should do."

I forgot this woman is also on Cassius' side.

Calling a commoner's appearance a "debut stage". This Grand Madam was a doting fool for her family.

Unaware of Sierra's inner turmoil, the Grand Madam smiled and tapped the table.

[G. Madam] "Eat. This is a simple Cacciatore."

Sierra looked at the wine label. It was an expensive red wine worth her entire monthly salary, used just to soak the chicken. The scale of the meal didn't seem "simple" at all, but she proceeded anyway.

[Sierra] "Th...... Thank you."

Unlike Sierra, who possessed a modest mindset, Hanael wore a bib and grinned at the well-grilled salmon en papillote served to her.

[Hanael] "Yay! I will eat well!"

Sierra stroked Hanael's hair and tried to take a sip of tea. She wouldn't have choked if she hadn't heard the Grand Madam's low murmur while watching Hanael whistle happily.

[G. Madam] "The child resembles you, her mother, so much."

[Sierra] "Pfft!"

The tea she just tried to drink spilled down. It was a clear breach of etiquette, but no one pointed it out.

[G. Madam] "Are you ill?"

Sierra pressed her throat and muttered in a low voice.

[Sierra] "......Cough, cough. No. She is not my daughter."

Sierra muttered the habit like a witness before a lawyer. She had even activated the recording artifact in her pocket just in case.

I need to create evidence so they can't sue me for fraud, even if it's revealed that Hanael isn't my daughter.

After turning off the recording artifact, she wiped her mouth with the handkerchief Cassius quickly handed her.

The Grand Madam looked at her with pity and spoke as if there was no problem.

[G. Madam] "Yes, yes. Now, let's get to the main point."

Sierra widened her eyes. The day had felt so normal that she didn't realize there was a "main point."

The Grand Madam stared at the discarded invitations with a hard expression.

[G. Madam] "Andante set a trap in the invitation."

Sierra nodded without much thought. Living with her sister, the Great Archmage, had made her somewhat numb to the world's malice.

[G. Madam] "She exercised a Noble's Absolute Mandate against you."

[Sierra] "Cough, cough."

They were speaking far too calmly. A Noble's Absolute Mandate allowed nobles to force commoners to obey. While it didn't involve forced labor like slavery, it functioned within a reasonable scope.

If a noble executes a mandate, a commoner must follow it.

Among commoners, it was as famous as the evil law of a lord's first night, but it had mostly become a dead letter in modern times. It was rare for a noble to call a commoner and command them directly. They lived in entirely different worlds. Touching a commoner directly was, in a way, damaging to a noble's dignity.

Yet the elegant Andante had invoked it.

Even Cassius can't protect me this time. Once one noble invokes a mandate, another can't interfere.

Sierra nodded, thinking she might just go, endure some insults, and return. But the Grand Madam smiled as warmly as a spring breeze.

[G. Madam] "My child, don't worry."

[Sierra] "Pardon?"

[G. Madam] "Cassius has already solved everything."

Sierra glanced at Cassius. He gave her a picture-perfect smile. Anxiety mounted in her heart.

No, I'm not worried about Andante; I'm worried about what Cassius did......!

Sierra calmly set her teacup on the table.

[Sierra] "How...... did you solve it?"

There was no way for a lowly commoner to handle a Noble's Absolute Mandate. Other nobles couldn't intervene once it started.

[Hanael] "Chee."

Hanael kicked her feet and placed her hands on her chubby cheeks.

[Hanael] "Doesn't Mama even know that?"

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

What? Am I the only one who doesn't know? Even Hanael knows? Something is strange.

[Sierra] "What is it?"

[Cassius] "You will find out later. For now, eat plenty, Sierra."

[G. Madam] "My child, no harm will come to you at all."

[Sierra] "That's impossible......."

Sierra stopped herself. Cassius looked pained by her words.

He's going to misunderstand again!

[Cassius] "That isn't my intention."

The Grand Madam showed a pile of chocolates and murmured.

[G. Madam] "......Child, try some of this. These are precious chocolates sent from the Advent Merchant Guild."

Chocolate! Sierra instinctively reached out. But the Grand Madam blocked her hand.

Oh, I lost my dignity. I should have thanked her first!

Sierra blamed herself and opened her mouth to say thank you. Before she could, the Grand Madam picked up a chocolate and popped it into her slightly open mouth.

[Sierra] "Mmph."

The Grand Madam stared at Sierra with a satisfied look.

[G. Madam] "How is it? Does it taste good?"

Sierra froze with her mouth open, but everyone else laughed warmly.

[G. Madam] "You eat so well, my child."

The Grand Madam smiled gently, like a hen watching her chick or a mother watching her daughter.

Hanael puffed out her cheeks and clenched her soft, round fists.

[Hanael] "My Mama belongs to me....... Grandma is trying to take her away......!"

[Cassius] "She isn't taking her away, Hanael."

He laughed softly at Hanael.

[Hanael] "Hmph!"

Hanael turned her head away. To anyone watching, it looked like a beautiful family portrait.

Wow...... I might actually get used to this healing and happiness of a beautiful family.

Sierra, munching on chocolate, almost melted into this lovely family....... before stopping herself.

No, no. This isn't a family. I am destined to be cast out.

The Grand Madam smiled kindly and whispered to Sierra.

[G. Madam] "By the way, the results of the paternity test will be out soon."

Sierra felt uneasy thinking that their happiness and smiles would shatter after the test. But she enjoyed the luxury. Honestly, she caught herself thinking it would have been nice to be born a noble.

[Sierra] "Thahnk you......."

Everyone watched Sierra like doting fools, wearing satisfied smiles.

---

Inside and outside the Ideos manor, chaos reigned due to the Duke's "buying every salon" stunt.

However, in the most remote part of the estate, peace remained. The guest house where the doctors from the Hippo Kingdom stayed was quiet.

[Hentel] "Is the paternity test underway?"

[Kilo] "Yes. We were delayed slightly by other tasks, but it will be finished as scheduled."

Hentel frowned and looked at the twins warily.

[Hentel] "The paternity test is the top priority."

[Lanya] "Of course."

[Kilo] "Yes, Master!"

Hentel sat down and began analyzing the mana wave patterns of Hanael, Sierra, and Cassius shown in a magic orb.

[Hentel] "Hmm......."

Hanael's mana wave range was about 10 Beckra. Sierra's was 15, and Cassius' was also around 15. This was quite similar.......

[Hentel] "The colors are similar. It's a blue light."

Beyond the magic orb, the mana waves of the three shimmered in blue. Mana waves were divided into black, white, red, orange, yellow, green, and blue. Countless waves existed based on brightness and saturation. But.......

[Hentel] "They are a similar blue with low saturation."

The master tilted his head while studying the orb. A sense that they were missing something nagged at him.

---

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