She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 34

Hanael's True Identity?

She was a clever child, quick to catch the vibrant energy and sharp glares around her.

[Hanael] "Why are you looking at me like that?"

She puffed out her cheeks and prepared to point a finger. Just then, a woman in a maid's uniform rushed forward, calling her name.

[Maid] "Little Miss!"

[Hanael] "Oh!"

[Maid] "I worried so much when I thought you had disappeared......!"

[Hanael] "Really? You did?"

[Maid] "Of course!"

She waved her arms vigorously at Ezel to say goodbye.

[Hanael] "That won't do! Mister, I have to go now!"

[Maid] "......Mister? Who are you?"

The maid, still catching her breath, finally faced Ezel. She lowered her head and studied him with a wary gaze.

Ezel shrugged, maintaining his most harmless expression.

[Ezel] "I am just a passerby."

[Maid] "I see."

The maid narrowed her eyes. While no nobles had reported trouble yet, kidnappings had happened frequently in the capital lately. Even Ezel's handsome face couldn't dismiss her natural suspicion.

[Hanael] "This mister told me interesting stories!"

The maid shook her head and scooped Hanael up by the waist.

[Maid] "......Little Miss, you must not speak so freely with strangers."

[Hanael] "Why?"

[Maid] "Because they might be bad people. Now, excuse us."

The maid shot Ezel a final glance, lifted Hanael with her muscular arms, and hurried away.

She whispered into Hanael's ear, clearly trying to instill some caution in the child. To Ezel, however, her suspicion meant nothing.

He frowned and rubbed his chin.

[Ezel] "Hmm......."

Watching Hanael's retreating figure, he sank into thought. If the child's words weren't a mere fantasy, the "blue energy" meant the water mana dominating his body. Mana originated from five sources: Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Metal. Among them, water mana reigned as the most powerful, and few possessed it.

If that child has water mana.......

He stared at Hanael.

I need to investigate this.

Perhaps this child was related to "Project X," the mission he had pursued for years.

Ezel bit his lip while watching Hanael's short, round figure. Her cheeks were so plump they looked ready to pop even from behind.

[Ezel] "She is cute."

He rubbed his brow with a strange look in his eyes.

[Ezel] "Time to move."

An instinct told him they would meet again. As he watched her, a situation forced him to begin his search. He realized the maid wore the uniform of the Ideos household.

If she belongs to the Ideos family...... is she a distant relative? Does anyone in that house possess such power? Or is she......?

An odd, subtle anxiety rose within him. He turned away from Hanael and walked toward the salon. Though an uninvited guest, he knew he could slip inside if he found the right gap.

When Ezel finally entered, the party neared its end. Every noble stood frozen, suggesting a chaotic scene had just occurred.

---

Sierra finished the disastrous social debut with Cassius. Inside the carriage, complexity filled her mind.

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

Cassius acted like a baby bird following its mother. His attachment to her grew far larger than she expected.

[Cassius] "What is it, Sierra?"

It happened again today. Sierra, however, preferred clear boundaries. She would never have come to the Duke's castle if Cassius hadn't mistaken Hanael for his daughter.

My heart keeps fluttering.

Sierra studied his blue eyes and analyzed her own feelings. Her own heart felt the strangest.

[Sierra] "It is nothing."

[Cassius] "You look troubled. You are deep in thought, Sierra."

She felt a subtle satisfaction at his words. She hadn't expected to enjoy his focused attention and sincere listening this much.

[Sierra] "It really is nothing. I just have a lot on my mind."

[Cassius] "What did that woman say to you?"

His gaze sharpened.

[Sierra] "She said I was your first love. I thought she was the one."

His gaze dropped to the floor. His earlobes glowed red. Sierra laughed, remembering his fresh academy days.

He looks embarrassed.

Sierra lowered the carriage curtain and cleared her throat. Cassius looked up and spoke with total honesty.

[Cassius] "I just learned that woman's name for the first time today."

[Sierra] "I see......."

[Cassius] "I only have you, Sierra."

He looked deep into her eyes.

[Cassius] "I want you to feel the weight of my presence. Pay attention to me."

She cleared her throat and looked away. This familiar yet strange conversation triggered a sense of déjà vu.

[Cassius] "Tell me if I make you uncomfortable."

[Sierra] "Hmm....... Not really?"

[Cassius] "I worry you might feel like I'm leaning only on you."

A memory from the past surfaced. Sierra sighed internally and patted Cassius' shoulder. He smiled gently at her touch, looking like a well-behaved puppy.

[Sierra] "It isn't good to get too attached when we will eventually go our separate ways."

She drew a sharp line. Still, Lady Macbeth's words echoed in her head. The thought that Cassius was kind "only to Sierra" made her chest ache for a moment.

[Cassius] "Fine. Then, while you are by my side, I will give you everything you want."

His expression hardened briefly before he gave a charming smile. Only a man who truly possessed everything could make such a promise.

[Cassius] "So, shall we host another salon?"

[Sierra] "Hmm, I'll have to think about it."

Judging by his current behavior, he would only follow her around like a puppy instead of making friends.

Maybe I should help him find family love instead of friends? Like the Grand Madam?

Unaware of Sierra's deepening worry, Cassius asked with an eagerness that felt like a wagging tail.

[Cassius] "Did you enjoy the salon?"

[Sierra] "Well...... it was somewhat interesting. But thinking back on it."

[Cassius] "Yes?"

[Sierra] "It is better not to host another one. It was a fresh experience to have nobles treat a common—no, a minor noble—like that, but still."

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

His face turned cold for a second before softening.

[Cassius] "Nobles are arrogant. They might have hurt you without realizing it, Sierra."

Actually, they acted like my footstools today.......?

She couldn't say that while looking at his grim face.

[Cassius] "Tell me if anyone displeased you. I will kil—"

He gripped her hand, his eyes soft with worry that she might be hurt.

Wait, did I just hallucinate the word 'kill'?

She had never suffered for being a commoner. She simply enjoyed using Cassius' power to stand tall before the nobles.

[Sierra] "Uh...... right....... I had fun. I just want to try something else."

She saw a thick, heavy passion in his eyes that went beyond simple liking.

She thought seriously. She had to leave this castle as soon as the paternity test results arrived, before his feelings grew any deeper.

But when are those results coming?

---

A few days later, Sierra half-gave up on her plan to find Cassius some friends. His social world contained only Sierra. Aside from her, only the Grand Madam and some distant relatives existed.

It would be better to help him get close to his relatives.

Family ties were the strongest, after all. Sierra smirked, thinking of the Grand Madam.

If he gets close to her, he might feel familial love.

As she pondered how to bring them together, she walked toward the annex where the doctors stayed.

She decided to add more detail to the answer she had written regarding the disease the doctors had asked about. She reached the door of the annex.

—Out on urgent business. Please leave your message in the basket.

The timing was poor, but she had her note ready. Sierra dropped the paper into the basket.

If this note is correct, they will contact me again.

She smiled, confident in her genius.

Right, twin doctors?

Sierra had suspected the sender of the strange message from the start. Only the twin doctors of the Hippo Kingdom possessed the skill to test her. She checked that the memo sat securely in the basket and laughed.

This is fun. Like solving a riddle.

She glanced at the basket once more and left with a light step. She walked through the path filled with memories of Cassius and headed toward the main building. There, she met the Head Maid.

[Lexel] "Where have you been, Lady Sierra?"

[Sierra] "Oh, just to the annex."

The Head Maid smiled broadly.

[Lexel] "Have you heard the news about the paternity test results?"

[Sierra] "Pardon?"

The Head Maid smiled again. Sierra faced her with a bewildered expression.

---

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