She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 27

I Will Prepare a Stage for Sierra

[Kilo] "Looking at the color, is it cobalt blue? It looks like they are related."

The twins added their thoughts from the side.

[Hentel] "No, don't say such things so easily. We haven't reached a firm conclusion yet."

[Lanya] "Yes. For now, we will remain silent...... We must research this further."

Hentel sighed while looking down at the magic orb.

It isn't certain yet, but the probability of a blood relation is high.

What if Hanael was not the biological daughter of Sierra and Cassius? He wanted to take Sierra to the Hippo Kingdom to let her talent bloom.

[Hentel] "Still, we must check everything thoroughly, just in case."

[Kilo] "Yes, we will."

Hentel, who had worked hard for a fast paternity test, let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

[Hentel] "The first stage of testing should be complete in three days."

In other words, chaos would erupt in the Ideos Ducal manor in three days.

[Hentel] "We must do this properly."

They looked at each other with serious expressions.

The fate of the Ideos family clearly rested in their hands. The error rate of the paternity test kit also weighed on them.

I must stay calm.

A nervous Hentel headed to the washroom to wash his hands.

Left alone again, the twin doctors fell into deep thought, comparing the magic orb with the chemical reagents one by one.

[Kilo] "By the way, why hasn't Lady Sierra replied to the note?"

[Lanya] "I know. And Marchioness Andante......."

She spoke coldly.

[Lanya] "Shh. That isn't the important part. Don't forget we came here for the test results."

They pressed their noses back toward the magic orb. A week of turmoil passed.

---

Inside the Ideos Ducal library.

Sierra reread the mysterious note and checked the medicine and pharmacy section of the library.

—Lack of energy, frequent fainting, stress, burning heartburn, pain, and sudden spikes in heart rate. What is this illness, and what medicine is required? I wish to hear Lady Sierra's expert opinion.

The person who gave me this note is likely the Ducal physician or one of the doctors from the Hippo Kingdom.

Sierra smiled slyly and stuffed the note back into her pocket.

What exactly is this condition......? It feels like a simple illness, but it's a shame I can't examine the patient directly.

As she casually flipped through a pharmaceutical dictionary, tiny handwriting caught her eye.

—Amolta Disease. Lack of energy and frequent fainting. Patients tend to strike their chests repeatedly due to chest pain. It often leads to an early death."

Based on the symptoms, it looks similar to Amolta Disease, but maybe not. Hmm.......

If it was Amolta Disease, no known cure existed. She felt confident she could create a cure if she met a patient, but still.......

She planned to create a list of possible candidates. She pulled the bell cord near the bookshelf to call a maid.

[Lexel] "What is the matter, Lady Sierra?"

Wait, why did the Head Maid come when I called for a regular maid? They treat me like such a big deal.......

The pressure was immense, but she was slowly adjusting to the situation. She spoke cautiously to the Head Maid.

[Sierra] "Could you gather some books related to Amolta Disease?"

[Lexel] "Ah, yes. I will command the librarian immediately."

Sierra leaned against the shelf and tried to turn her attention back to the books. The Head Maid hesitated for a few seconds before speaking softly.

[Lexel] "Yes, oh, and! Congratulations on becoming a quasi-noble."

The Head Maid smiled warmly and bowed deeply to her.

[Sierra] "......Pardon? A quasi-noble?"

A quasi-noble. In this Empire, strict ranks existed: slaves, commoners, quasi-nobles, and nobles. Sierra was a commoner.

[Sierra] "You shouldn't say such things. You'll get in trouble."

[Lexel] "Pardon? You received the rank of quasi-noble....... No, surely you didn't...... know yet?"

Sierra froze as she saw the Head Maid's troubled expression.

Wait, did my status go up?

Did Cassius do something good for her again?

What a wonderful friend...... No, no, no. She couldn't let herself be influenced like this! She quickly slapped her own cheeks a few times.

[Sierra] "Where is the Duke?"

[Lexel] "Likely in the main building...... Lady Sierra!"

Sierra gripped both sides of her dress and began to run without any regard for her dignity.

---

Sierra headed toward the office where Cassius stayed, full of energy and spirit. No knight or maid blocked her path. She burst into the Duke's office in a single breath.

As she scanned the room, her jaw dropped.

[Hanael] "Silly Mister! You're good at wooden blocks!"

[Cassius] "That's a relief, Hanael."

Sierra lost all her momentum and froze at the door.

Wait, now she's even calling Cassius 'Silly Mister'......?

If it turns out she isn't his biological child, aren't we going to die?

[Hanael] "Mama!"

She ran toward Sierra.

[Hanael] "Silly Mister played with me......."

Sierra quickly covered her mouth.

[Hanael] "Mmph, mmph!"

Sierra shuffled over with Hanael and sat across from the desk where Cassius sat. She didn't forget to keep Hanael's mouth covered.

[Sierra] "......I heard. What is this about the quasi-noble title?"

He answered calmly.

[Cassius] "It's exactly as it sounds. I gave you a temporary title to make you a quasi-noble."

[Sierra] "......Is that for real?"

Her mouth hung open. This didn't seem like something to say so calmly. A quasi-noble rank was a dream for all commoners. While commoners never became full nobles, they often became quasi-nobles.

Usually, commoners rose to quasi-noble status in three ways: becoming a knight through military merit, contributing greatly to the Empire after graduating from the Academy, or receiving a title after serving a noble family for a long time.

[Sierra] "No......."

She quickly looked around.

[Hanael] "Why! Did you think we'd let Mama be treated like a fool?"

Sierra looked down at Hanael seriously. She crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks like a hamster holding a chestnut.

[Sierra] "Hanael, where did you learn such bad words?"

She pouted when she saw Sierra's stern expression.

[Hanael] "Gasp! The 'time-out' face!"

Hanael grabbed her own backside and ran away. She vanished through the open door.

Sierra let out a deep sigh as she watched Hanael's puppy-like back disappear.

That troublemaker! At times like this, she acts exactly like my sister....…

And so, Sierra unexpectedly grasped the position of a quasi-noble. Of course, she liked it. Honestly, she couldn't stop thinking about the benefits.

If I become a quasi-noble, I can deal with the wicked landlord, Hans, and everyone else......!

She clenched her fist but stopped when she saw Cassius in front of her.

[Cassius] "I had no choice. I can't interfere with Andante's Absolute Mandate."

[Sierra] "So you raised my rank because the mandate won't work on a quasi-noble?"

[Cassius] "Yes, exactly."

She nodded slowly at his words.

Once again, Marchioness Andante did something good for me. The world revolves entirely around me.

[Sierra] "......Thank you, for now. I didn't expect to become a quasi-noble."

Cassius smiled brightly and nodded at her.

But...... do I really have to go to salons, balls, and tea parties now......?

Unlike commoners, quasi-nobles were relatively free to attend social events.

To help Cassius improve his social skills, she felt she should participate in salons and balls.

But I don't know noble etiquette or how to dance.

She had learned etiquette from her sister when she was young and took classes at the Academy. If she hired a proper teacher, she could mimic other nobles in about a week.

But dancing was different. Sierra was a terrible dancer!

[Sierra] "Oh, but...... do I have to learn social dancing to enter a salon?"

[Cassius] "Usually."

She frowned and asked him.

[Sierra] "Are you good at dancing?"

[Cassius] "I am......."

His throat shifted. His eyes looked a bit moist.

That puppy-dog look, as if he's thankful I'm curious about him.......

She decided not to get sucked in. She pressed her fingertips together to find her calm and waited for his answer.

[Cassius] "Yes, I am good. So, if your first dance partner...... is me......."

His face remained cool, but the weight of his hesitant words was anything but light.

She swallowed hard and spoke to him.

[Sierra] "Then have the first dance with me, and afterward, dance with other people too. It's a bit burdensome if you only dance with me."

Of course, this was a scheme. A scheme to make him interact with people other than herself.

Cassius, unaware of her true intentions, responded seriously.

[Cassius] "......Yes, I will. I will take responsibility for your first dance."

[Sierra] "Good, let's try everything you want to do."

By now, even she couldn't notice his inner feelings. He was approaching her, sometimes cautiously, sometimes not.

He looked straight into her eyes and smiled.

[Cassius] "How is it?"

[Sierra] "......W-what?"

Oh no, she stuttered. He gently rubbed the tip of her reddened ear and whispered.

[Cassius] "Did I manage to enter your heart, even just a little?"

Sierra was weak toward money and even weaker toward handsome faces. She swallowed hard and pushed against his solid shoulders.

[Sierra] "No! I just wanted to dance with someone I know because I'm bad at it."

She felt the hard muscle at her fingertips where they touched his shoulders, but she endured it. He laughed refreshingly.

[Cassius] "If that's the case...... your ears are very red."

Only then did she grab her ears with both hands and mutter.

[Sierra] "They aren't red!"

She tried to cool her burning ears with her hands. However, he moved his cold hand to her ear first and asked.

[Cassius] "Are you embarrassed?"

Her ears rang, and his face drew closer. Sierra blinked. At this distance, she could see his deep-sea eyes and thick eyelashes perfectly. This was dangerous.

[Sierra] "......No."

[Cassius] "Don't be embarrassed. Look at my ears too."

She looked at his ears. They were already bright red, as if they might explode, and his cheeks were flushed.

The rosy cheeks on his cool face looked ironic. But Cassius Ideos' sculpture-like looks made everything fit together like a painting.

Sierra stared into his blue eyes, mesmerized. Then Cassius, smiling softly with his eyes, whispered in a low, deep voice.

[Cassius] "I end up like this whenever I touch you. So you don't need to feel ashamed."

His words overflowed with consideration.

[Cassius] "I will handle all the embarrassment."

This is driving me crazy.

It hadn't even been a month since Cassius boldly declared he would seduce her! She couldn't let herself crumble and give in like this!

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