She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 46

I Must Enter the Imperial Palace After All

[Cassius] "What are you thinking about, Sierra?"

[Sierra] "Huh?"

She snapped back to reality after staring out the window for a long time because of the familiar man. Both Cassius and Abel watched her with strange expressions.

Scratching the back of her head awkwardly, she let out a nervous laugh.

[Sierra] "Nothing. Just thinking about how strange it is."

She regretted the words the moment they slipped out. If she called it strange, they would ask what was strange.

[Cassius] "What is?"

She had no real answer prepared. Rolling her eyes at the expected question, she decided to make up an excuse.

[Sierra] "Hanael's mother disappeared...... so. I don't know what to do now."

Facing Cassius, Sierra stiffened as she remembered the root problem she had forgotten due to her sister's shocking letter. She originally planned to find her sister immediately, obtain a clue, and present it to Cassius.

Damn it, now my sister vanished; he won't believe me.

However, Sierra soon remembered her sister's letter.

The carriage jolted. Though her sister's whereabouts remained unknown, she could at least disprove the rumor that Hanael was her daughter. While far from enough, she intended to clear up the misunderstandings one by one.

With a heavy heart, she pulled the letter from her pocket.

[Amille] "Hanael is my daughter, not Sierra's. Please take good care of Sierra and Hanael."

Holding the letter open confidently, she blanked out for a moment.

What is this? The letter is incredibly brief, and there is no evidence?

Sierra glanced forward and to the side—specifically at Cassius and Abel. Both men watched with curiosity as she suddenly fumbled through her pockets and pulled out a letter.

Cassius maintained a stern expression, while Abel, guessing the nature of the letter, swallowed hard.

If I show him this now, he will believe...... Wait a minute.

Sierra scowled, staring at the letter. Growing up without parents since childhood, she learned to write from her sister. Her sister's handwriting served as her model and textbook. In other words…….

Come to think of it, this is my handwriting?

Reflecting on it, her sister's handwriting and her own were remarkably similar. No, calling it similar was an understatement. They were identical.......

If I show him this, he will suspect me. Seriously, what is wrong with her! She should have changed her handwriting style at least!

Her worries deepened further upon verifying her sister's letter.

I need to rescue her quickly and make her rewrite this. This drives me insane, honestly.......

[Cassius] "What is that note?"

[Sierra] "Oh, it's nothing. Just a receipt for some snacks I bought."

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

Though everyone looked suspicious, showing this letter right now was highly awkward.

To find her sister and clear her name, she had no choice but to bring her sister here and prove maternity through a paternity test.

Besides, while I face a false accusation, my sister is in mortal danger.

She let out a heavy sigh and slipped the letter back into her pocket.

Somehow, I ended up in a position where I have to rescue my sister.

Her sister had always rescued her before. Sierra faced a strange situation she had never experienced. Yet, one thing remained certain.

No matter what, Sister is the key. I must find her at all costs.

Her gaze turned resolute. Deep in thought, she remained unaware that Cassius narrowed his eyes as he watched her closely.

---

That night, Sierra dispatched Abel to the imperial palace. Returning half a day later, Abel sighed heavily before speaking.

[Abel] "Noona, I went to the imperial palace, but I don't think I can get inside."

[Sierra] "Why?"

[Abel] "Well......"

He frowned cautiously. He handed Sierra an unexpected item—a map of the imperial palace's interior. Sierra widened her eyes at the surprisingly detailed map. But Abel spoke first.

[Abel] "Actually, I went through a lot of trouble to get this map, but......."

[Sierra] "A map?"

[Abel] "Yes."

She narrowed her eyes, pointing at the other papers he pulled out along with the map.

[Sierra] "What are those other papers in your hand?"

[Abel] "Oh, these are nothing major. I brought some job postings thinking they might help, but they look useless."

A bundle of pamphlets slipped from his coat. Postings for imperial palace doctors and pharmacists, recruitment for palace academy professors, openings for maids inside the palace.

Glancing at the various flyers, she agreed with his assessment and nodded.

[Sierra] "Right, let's look at the map first."

She paused just as she reached for the old parchment map.

[Sierra] "By the way, why do you keep trailing off?"

Abel's information-gathering skills were remarkable. No one could easily obtain an imperial palace map, which ranked as a military secret.

Yet despite accomplishing such an impressive feat, Abel kept his brow furrowed deeply. It was the first time the lovely, puppy-like boy showed such an annoyed expression.

Filled with questions, Sierra narrowed her eyes.

[Sierra] "What on earth is wrong? Tell me."

[Abel] "Surveillance magic tools guard the imperial palace at all times. Furthermore, a powerful magic circle prevents anyone without permission from casting magic."

He frantically rummaged through his light blue hair and plucked out a strand. Sierra's confusion turned to concern as the boy sighed heavily, showing her the tip of his hair.

[Abel] "Look at this, Noona! Because I didn't enter through official channels, the surveillance magic tools hit me like this......."

Sierra let out an understanding sound upon inspecting his singed hair tips. Come to think of it, she had frequently witnessed her sister in similar situations.

[Sierra] "Then we have no choice but to enter the imperial palace officially and conduct a secret search ourselves, right?"

[Abel] "Yes......."

She fell deep into thought.

The only person who can help me and enter the imperial palace directly is Cassius.......

But how could she possibly explain this situation to him? Moreover, getting tangled with the wrong palace official because of her could prove incredibly dangerous.

How could she ask a man who already treated her exceptionally well, "Please risk your safety to help me rescue my sister"? Even for someone shameless, this crossed the line; it was completely absurd.

Is there anyone else besides him? I need someone who can dig up internal palace information effortlessly. And I must be able to frequent the palace myself.

She had no option but to build a connection with a loyal palace insider who could supply her with intelligence—someone like a servant well-versed in inner palace affairs.

But how could she find such a person? Even if she did, how would she develop a friendship? Her anxieties intensified.

[Abel] "Cheer up, Noona. Why don't you ask the Duke or the Grand Madam?"

[Sierra] "I can't ask anything more of Cassius. Let us find a way on our own first. If that fails, we can approach the Grand Madam. When asking for help, we might ultimately have to reveal Sister's true identity."

As she spoke rapidly, he massaged his temples with a confused expression and muttered.

[Abel] "Yes, let us do that for now. Though the Great Archmage explicitly told us never to reveal her identity under any circumstances, still......."

[Sierra] "Yes, that makes me hesitate too. But if things turn critical……."

[Abel] "Then we must speak up, Noona. I trust your judgment completely!"

Their resolute gazes locked. After folding the map Abel provided, Sierra accepted the bundle of pamphlets from him and sank into serious contemplation.

---

That night, she buried herself in her bed, tossing and turning.

How can I find out who threatens my sister's life inside the imperial palace?

Sierra assessed her situation realistically. If she marched into a public information guild accessible to commoners and demanded secrets about the Magic Tower, the Great Archmage, or the imperial palace, they would likely throw water in her face. Such establishments operated legally and only traded ordinary information.

Should I commission an underground information guild instead? I can't even secure an appointment, and a single stroke of bad luck working with them guarantees my death.

She exhaled heavy sighs.

I can't tell Cassius right away that Sister is actually the Great Archmage.......

Wrestling with the conflict, she buried her face in her pillow and whimpered.

[Sierra] "How am I supposed to win people over and turn them into my informants......"

Tilting her head, Hanael gripped her hand tightly and whispered.

[Hanael] "There is only one way to win people over!"

[Sierra] "Huh?"

[Hachael] "Just do what you do best!"

She poked Sierra's cheek with a pale hand as soft as dough. Sierra's eyes widened like saucers at the unexpected remark.

[Sierra] "What?"

Hanael grinned widely at her shock.

[Hanael] "Hanael is super cute, so if I just do a little hip dance, everyone loves me!"

[Sierra] "Is that so?"

[Hanael] "Yes!"

[Sierra] "Then I should win people over by doing what I do best too......?"

Her gaze landed on the imperial palace map and the pile of pamphlets on the table. One clearly read: Imperial Palace Pharmacist Selection.

If I become an imperial palace pharmacist, I can build connections with palace officials and easily search the interior. It kills two birds with one stone.

Hanael nodded vigorously as she watched Sierra contemplate seriously.

[Hanael] "Hey, did Hanael help you out?"

Sierra poked the adorable dimple on Hanael's cheek and whispered.

[Sierra] "Yes, of course! Hanael helped immensely!"

[Hanael] "What a relief!"

With sparkling eyes, Hanael dove into her embrace. Sierra patted her back while braiding her hair.

[Sierra] "Of course it is a relief."

[Hanael] "Oh, right! The doctor told us to gather because we have another test!"

[Sierra] "Huh? When?"

At her puzzled question, Hanael babbled continuously with her tiny lips.

[Hanael] "He said tomorrow! He told me to tell Mommy too."

Her face beamed with pure joy at the attention.

Stroking Hanael, her confusion cleared. The doctor had only one reason to summon her: a paternity test. It was about time for the second paternity test.

Ah, right. I need to take the second paternity test tomorrow.

Worrying endlessly over her sister's fate had caused her to forget all about it.

She nodded, smoothing Hanael's hair.

[Sierra] "Right, then we should head to sleep, shouldn't we?"

[Hanael] "Yes!"

They brushed their teeth diligently and snuggled into the fluffy bed to sleep.

Exhausted from the grueling day, Sierra fell into a deep slumber quickly. However, Hanael, who had waited eagerly for Sierra all day long, couldn't fall asleep so easily.

[Hanael] "Are you asleep?"

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

Shifting closer to burrow into Sierra's embrace, Hanael stared at Sierra's sharp nose, fluttering eyelashes, and plump red lips in the pitch darkness.

[Hanael] "Good night, Mommy."

Gazing at Sierra's sleeping face, Hanael hoped that the person claiming to be her real mother would never show up.

Come to think of it, she felt glad that Sierra hadn't mentioned that woman at all. Sierra probably failed to find her, right?

It would be wonderful if she never found her. That way, she could stay with Sierra much longer.

---

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