She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 33

Cassius and His Awkward Friends

[Sierra] "I must disagree with your opinion regarding the difference in status."

Her expression turned cold.

[Sierra] "The late Emperor himself established the strict divide between nobles and commoners."

Macbeth studied Sierra's sincere face and raised an eyebrow.

I thought she would like hearing that.

Macbeth's disappointment grew. She asked in a trembling voice.

[Macbeth] "Do you... lack feelings for His Grace?"

Macbeth stared with narrowed eyes, as if she had never considered such a possibility.

Sierra considered nodding but decided against it. Macbeth was a powerful figure in high society. If Sierra said something shocking here, the rumors would explode beyond control. She needed to remain vague and leave room for doubt.

[Sierra] "......"

Macbeth bit her lip and asked softly.

[Macbeth] "You aren't... being held captive by His Grace, are you?"

Sierra's confusion deepened.

How far is she going to take this? Captivity?

Sierra's instincts were correct. If she claimed to have no feelings for Cassius, Macbeth would likely triple the weight of those words in her gossip.

Sierra shook her head.

[Sierra] "That is not it. I came to the Duke's castle of my own free will."

A knock sounded on the door. Both women looked toward the entrance. Macbeth whispered in a drained voice.

[Macbeth] "Do you realize? The moment we walked in here, the orchestra almost stopped playing."

[Sierra] "What do you mean......"

[Macbeth] "It seems His Grace only needs you."

Sierra looked toward the doorway. Macbeth noticed the movement and whispered with a small laugh.

[Macbeth] "The way he looks at you... it is like a spring day."

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

[Macbeth] "It is hard to describe. It feels like watching a warm spring arrive in the middle of a freezing winter."

Sierra's heart wavered. She closed her eyes tight and opened them again.

[Macbeth] "Well, it is just my thought. But you should know something."

She gave a small, serious smile.

[Macbeth] "You are the only one he shows that face to."

[Sierra] "......"

Sierra recalled the expressions Cassius had shown her: the gentle curve of his eyes, his mysterious looks, and the constant smile on his lips.

Lady Macbeth—the woman called Cassius' first love—insisted those smiles belonged only to Sierra.

Macbeth popped the cork of a wine bottle on the balcony table and laughed.

[Macbeth] "Honestly, if you were a normal rival, I thought I would win. You are a commoner, after all. But......"

She trailed off. Footsteps approached the door at the perfect moment.

Macbeth poured red wine into a glass. The liquid surged against the glass, much like the emotions stirring in Sierra's heart.

Sierra fixed her gaze on the door.

[Cassius] "Sierra, are you in danger?"

His voice strained to hide his passion, yet his desperate worry remained clear.

Macbeth let out a short laugh and spoke low, so only Sierra could hear.

[Macbeth] "See?"

Her voice trembled.

[Macbeth] "I never stood a chance."

Sierra stared at Macbeth. The woman didn't seem to be lying. Sierra didn't know how to respond. Instead, she looked toward the door and spoke softly.

[Sierra] "I am fine."

Cassius went silent for a moment before answering.

[Cassius] "......Okay."

He stayed behind the door, clearly still worried.

[Macbeth] "Look at him. He fears I might harm you."

[Sierra] "That is......"

[Macbeth] "Don't deny it. But tell me, Miss Sierra."

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

Macbeth raised her glass toward Sierra's eyes as if making a toast, then took a sip.

[Macbeth] "To me, it looks like you are quite interested in His Grace as well."

She set the glass down and smiled.

[Macbeth] "What do you think?"

Sierra's heart usually felt like a calm lake. Now, that question made her emotions swell like the wine in the glass.

---

Sierra stepped out of the balcony. She hadn't noticed earlier, but the nobles all watched her, struggling to hide their confusion. Cassius guided her to a seat next to him.

[Cassius] "Sit here, Sierra."

[Sierra] "Oh...... alright."

[Cassius] "I will introduce you to my friends."

He looked nervous. Sierra felt the same. She worried she had failed to help him find real friends.

Lady Macbeth was right. Something feels very wrong here.

Sierra tried to figure out where things had gone sideways.

Cassius, unaware of her thoughts, hurriedly pointed to a man sitting nearby.

[Cassius] "This is Felice."

[Felice] "Uh......"

The man in the knight's uniform swallowed hard. He looked at Sierra and whispered.

[Felice] "Ha, ha. Ca-Cassius. It is a great j-joy to meet Miss Sierra, the friend of my loyal friend, Your Grace Ca-Cassius."

Friends usually don't act so cautiously. Cassius looked kind enough, yet the man named Felice looked like he had seen a ghost.

No matter how I look at it, they aren't friends......

Sierra spoke carefully.

[Sierra] "Yes, let us be friends."

She meant it as a simple, polite remark.

Cassius' face turned cold. Felice turned pale, looking as if he were staring at a corpse.

Sierra scratched the back of her neck. She only wanted to find Cassius a friend or a lover.

Am I going to witness a funeral today?

---

Hanael had slipped out to the capital with a maid to buy toys. She had heard about the salon.

Mama and the bad mister went there to make friends. Hanael liked the idea of Mama having friends, but she also hated it. She feared Mama would stop paying attention to her. Besides, Mama looked beautiful when she left. In that dress, she looked like a princess.

Princesses in fairy tales don't have daughters......

Mama said she wasn't Hanael's real mama. Would Mama become a princess and abandon her?

Sierra promised she never would, but a child's imagination grows fast. The horrible thought made Hanael's small shoulders slump.

But Hanael is a grown-up, so I won't throw a fit. I'll just......

Despite her "grown-up" resolve, the words kept bubbling up. Hanael puffed out her cheeks like large dumplings and poked the maid's arm.

[Hanael] "Hanael is curious about the salon, too!"

[Maid] "......Are you? But we can't go there......"

Hanael rubbed her rosy cheek against the maid's shoulder, acting cute.

[Hanael] "Fine, then something else! Hanael heard there is a toy shop next to the salon. I love toys."

Hanael had spotted the "Toy Shop Next to the Salon" in the magazine Sierra was reading. In moments like this, she was a clever little rascal.

The maid's eyes softened.

[Maid] "T-That's true. But His Grace already bought the entire toy business for you, Little Miss......"

[Hanael] "Hmph. I'm bored with all those."

The maid blinked in shock. She couldn't bear to see Hanael disappointed. She closed her eyes tight and gripped her fists.

[Maid] "If you are bored, we m-must buy new ones......! Yes, I will tell the Head Maid immediately!"

Hanael's wish came true instantly.

Yay! I'm going to see Mama!

While Hanael hid her secret plan behind a grin, the carriage arrived at the shop next to the salon. She looked around and then stood before the salon's main gate. She ran like a squirrel to keep the maid from catching her.

[Maid] "Where did the Little Miss go?"

The bushes between the shop and the salon were quite large. Hanael hid in the grass and looked around. Just then, a voice spoke.

[Ezel] "Are you playing hide-and-seek, little one?"

Hanael looked up at the man. He was dressed very well. He was as handsome as the stupid mister, but he had a fox-like look. She blinked, feeling an instinctive sense of danger. Mama always told her something.

[Ezel] "Should I take you back?"

Always be wary of people who are this kind.

[Hanael] "Are you a thief, Mister? This baby can go by herself, so go away."

[Ezel] "A thief? Little girl, my name is Ezel. I am not a thief."

It was indeed Ezel. He had slipped through the salon's security to find Cassius and Sierra. He couldn't get inside the building, so he was wandering the grounds disguised as a knight.

[Ezel] "Are you sure you aren't lost?"

[Hanael] "Yes, I'm not!"

[Maid] "Little Miss! Little Miss!"

The maid's voice echoed in the distance.

[Ezel] "It sounds like they are looking for you."

Even with his bold nature, Ezel couldn't stay cold toward a child. He looked at her pigtails and laughed softly.

[Ezel] "You look very much like some other babies I know."

[Hanael] "Huh?"

She tilted her head. Ezel smirked and whispered.

[Ezel] "Stay safe."

[Hanael] "Why? What are you talking about, Mister?"

[Ezel] "......Never mind."

He stood up. He sighed and patted her hair.

[Ezel] "Child, how could you possibly understand?"

She narrowed her eyes. She gripped her doll so hard it crumpled.

[Hanael] "You smell bad, Mister."

[Ezel] "......What?"

His eyes sharpened. Hanael poked his arm with a bright expression.

[Hanael] "Your face looks blue."

[Ezel] "......Blue?"

[Hanael] "Yes. Something like a blue sea is swelling inside your body!"

Ezel stared down at her. His face turned into a fierce, frozen mask.

---

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