She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 47

I Only Intended to Become an Imperial Palace Pharmacist

Morning arrived the next day. Following Hanael's words, Sierra collected a blood sample for the second paternity test.

Fortunately, the claim that the paternity test wouldn't take long proved true. The doctors clearly viewed Sierra as Hanael's real mother, but that didn't matter to Sierra right now.

To enter the imperial palace, I have no choice but to become an imperial palace pharmacist.

She would become an imperial palace pharmacist, place the palace officials in her debt, and observe the suspicious situation unfolding inside.

While high-ranking officials held certain rumors, low-ranking servants possessed completely different secrets. She planned to win the favor of the nobility to hear inner palace rumors, while befriending the servants to gather every unsettling piece of gossip.

I will feed them a truth potion and make them confess every single rumor.

Whoever targeted her sister was a coward. Therefore, Sierra intended to act just as underhandedly.

Fighting dirty with potions! No fair play allowed! This was her clever strategy.

If anyone tries to bully me, I will just use medicine to kill them!

After completing the paternity test, she walked back to her room behind the Head Maid.

Sierra gritted her teeth, keeping her eyes on Hanael's skipping figure ahead. She clenched her jaw so hard that the veins bulged.

I possess plenty of potions with wicked effects, so anyone who crosses me dies. I will definitely find the bastard who touched my sister and kill him.

She always took pride in her exceptional skills as a pharmacist, which matched her sister's outstanding talent as a Great Archmage.

[Sierra] "It is time for me to unleash my full power."

[Lexel] "......Pardon?"

Walking ahead in the hallway, the Head Maid turned around with a puzzled look.

Deep in her own world, Sierra realized her slip, laughed awkwardly, and waved her hands in dismissal.

[Sierra] "Ah...... it is nothing. Where is the Grand Madam?"

Striking while the iron was hot, Sierra intended to meet the Grand Madam for a conversation. She planned to broach the subject by asking if the Grand Madam could write a recommendation letter so she could serve in the imperial palace under a hidden identity.

[Lexel] "Are you looking to meet the Grand Madam right now, Lady Sierra?"

[Sierra] "Yes. Ah, she must be busy, right?"

The Head Maid gestured in denial at Sierra's hesitant inquiry.

[Lexel] "She prioritizes Lady Sierra above anything else in the world right now. Therefore, you can set aside such worries."

Sierra bit her lip, wondering whether to celebrate or worry.

The Head Maid nodded and spoke gently.

[Lexel] "I will escort you immediately."

Sierra nodded, and the Head Maid gestured gracefully to lead the way.

Just as the Head Maid said, Sierra secured a private meeting with the Grand Madam quickly and easily.

When the Head Maid whispered to the maid standing outside the drawing room door, the maid immediately opened it and announced Sierra's arrival.

Judging by the atmosphere, an important guest must be inside the drawing room.

The maid exited the room after speaking with the Grand Madam.

Sierra expressed her apologies for interrupting, but the maid gestured firmly in refusal. Relaying the Grand Madam's words that meeting Sierra was far better than spending time on a meaningless distraction, the maid opened the door once more.

[G. Madam] "Sierra, you are here!"

Finding the Grand Madam's overwhelming affection rather welcome today, Sierra stepped through the doorway with a bright stride. However.......

[Adante] "Sierra is here."

She never anticipated that the "meaningless distraction" referred to a meeting with Marchioness Adante Mails, the Grand Madam's daughter-in-law and a high-ranking noble. She only sought the Grand Madam, yet the Marchioness also appeared unexpectedly.

She pressed her temples in sheer awkwardness. Adante stood up abruptly and grabbed her arm.

[Adante] "Are you unwell somewhere?"

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

At her awkward response, the Grand Madam approached in dismay.

[G. Madam] "Adante, you are making her uncomfortable."

Patting Sierra's shoulder affectionately, the Grand Madam guided her to a seat right next to her and questioned her gently.

[G. Madam] "So, what brings you to see me?"

[Adante] "It seems you noticed my presence, Mother."

[G. Madam] "You survived a brush with death and suddenly became quite talkative."

[Adante] "Indeed, Mother."

Trapped in this bizarre triangle, Sierra sipped the black tea offered by the maid and evaluated the atmosphere.

As the tension between the two women squeezed Sierra like dried meat, the Grand Madam clasped Sierra's hand firmly with her wrinkled fingers and comforted her warmly.

[G. Madam] "Why did you come, Sierra?"

[Sierra] "Ah, well. I saw a mention of an imperial palace pharmacist in a gossip magazine recently."

She recalled the "Imperial Palace Pharmacist Selection" pamphlet attached to the gossip magazine right next to the map Abel brought. The pamphlet clearly specified the recruitment period and noted that a recommender was mandatory. This path usually allowed certain pharmacists serving noble families to secure employment via letters of recommendation. The position typically required over ten years of experience, but that didn't matter.

I have a powerful shield like the Grand Madam behind me.

Facing the Grand Madam, who volunteered to be her reliable guardian, Sierra smiled as brightly as sunshine.

[Sierra] "So, I want to apply to become an imperial palace pharmacist."

This won't arouse any suspicion, right? After all, becoming an imperial palace pharmacist is the highest honor a pharmacist can achieve.

Naturally, for a money-loving person like Sierra, a position offering nothing but honor held no real appeal. However, to ordinary people, an imperial palace pharmacist remained an incredibly popular career choice.

Sure enough, the Grand Madam clapped and beamed.

[G. Madam] "You finally found something you want to do? I can easily provide a recommendation letter for the imperial palace position, of course. But to become the Duchess......"

This was trouble. The Grand Madam absolutely believed the results of the first paternity test.

Sierra rolled her eyes, projecting pure awkwardness. The Grand Madam let out a heavy sigh and spoke.

[G. Madam] "No, you must do everything you desire. Of course. I absolutely didn't think about when you would become the Duchess if you take a palace job."

You clearly thought exactly that!

Sierra and the Grand Madam exchanged glances and laughed awkwardly together.

[Adante] "Ha......"

Adante wiped her face with a weary hand. Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes. Sierra scratched her head awkwardly.

Why does she look ready to cry?

Sierra called out to her cautiously.

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

Adante snatched Sierra's hand.

[Adante] "Are you going to such lengths because of me? Entering the imperial palace to uncover the conspiracy?"

Sierra blinked in confusion.

[Sierra] "Pardon? A conspiracy?"

This action was absolutely not for the Marchioness.

Adante nodded with a deeply moved expression.

A timeline formed in Sierra's mind as she analyzed the woman. Come to think of it, the imperial palace ordered Adante's assassination. Since Sierra saved her life, it made perfect sense for Adante—who knew nothing about Amille's situation—to completely misunderstand the motives.

[Adante] "I don't know how to express my gratitude......"

Surprisingly, the misunderstandings piled up, but Sierra lacked the energy to correct them. In fact, leaving the misunderstanding untouched worked better. That way, they would support her entrance into the imperial palace with even greater enthusiasm.

[G. Madam] "What is going on?"

At the Grand Madam's stern demand, Adante raised her hand and spoke.

[Adante] "Honestly, I kept this hidden until now, but since Sierra cured my illness, there is no longer any reason to conceal it."

[G. Madam] "......"

[Adante] "Phew......"

Glancing toward the window where the curtains hung tightly drawn, Adante spoke freely with a relieved expression.

[Adante] "As Mother knows, someone tried to poison me not long ago."

[G. Madam] "Yes."

Having already gathered all the information before Adante even spoke, the Grand Madam let out a sorrowful sigh.

Adante elegantly tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and whispered.

[Adante] "The mastermind behind the poisoning is either the Princess or the imperial palace."

[G. Madam] "Your evidence?"

Sierra sipped her tea, glancing alternately between the serious expressions of Adante and the Grand Madam.

Is it wise to discuss something that amounts to treason in front of a commoner—or rather, a semi-noble—who knows nothing......?

Yet they didn't stop.

[Adante] "They don't target the Marquis family alone; their ultimate objective must be the Ideos family."

[G. Madam] "......"

[Adante] "Furthermore, they even instigated me to drive Sierra away."

[G. Madam] "Does that mean Sierra is heading there to uncover their plot? Sierra, don't do it. I will not permit anything that endangers your safety."

[Sierra] "Pardon?"

An unexpected obstacle emerged. Sierra slumped her shoulders with a puzzled expression.

[G. Madam] "You possess a fragile nature, so you have no reason to risk yourself for Adante. We will handle this on our own."

[Sierra] "Still, I want to apply as an imperial palace ph-pharmacist."

She desperately needed a reason to convince them, but nothing came to mind.

How should I handle this?

Contemplating the dilemma, she observed the Grand Madam's worried face and Adante's sorrowful expression, hatching a small scheme in her mind.

Perfect, since everyone completely misunderstands and thinks I am worried about the Marchioness!

She rolled her eyes and clasped her hands together dramatically.

[Sierra] "I am deeply worried about the Marchioness! According to a pharmacist's professional ethics, I can't stand by and watch such wicked crowds. I must go and find out myself. Absolutely!"

The Grand Madam's expression turned complex as she stared at the passionately speechifying Sierra.

[G. Madam] "How can someone be so pure and incredibly kind......"

The Grand Madam let out a heavy sigh.

Naturally, Adante's reaction was even more intense. Burying her face in her left hand, she practically sobbed.

Sierra hurriedly spoke, watching the woman who looked ready to shed a river of tears if left alone.

[Sierra] "Please don't cry. It is fine, I will not do anything dangerous."

Everything led back to the imperial palace—the assassination attempt on Adante, the plot against Cassius, and her sister's lifeline.

A conspiracy lurks within the imperial palace.

Although no definitive clue existed yet, Sierra knit her brow.

The Grand Madam immediately offered a handkerchief and spoke affectionately.

[G. Madam] "Fine, how could I ever win against you? I will write the pharmacist recommendation letter, so smooth your lovely brow."

Adante joined in like a chorus.

[Adante] "I fear a single scratch might mar your beautiful face."

Good grief....... they had turned into complete fools for her. Sierra let out an inward sigh. Honestly, she didn't mind this princess treatment, and her gradual adaptation to it posed a major problem. She thoroughly enjoyed being pampered......

Sierra swallowed a sip of her cooled tea, observing the struggle between the middle-aged and elderly women to win her affection.

She had no parents, only her sister. Consequently, she had never experienced the affection of older women before. Whenever she spoke, they offered refreshments like a mother bird feeding its chick. If she coughed or sneezed while sipping tea, they gently patted her back.

This warmth brings genuine happiness......

Sierra grinned softly. Adante and the Grand Madam smiled back joyfully.

A wave of emotion washed over her, and she realized this was what a real family felt like.

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