She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 48

A Renowned Pharmacist Appears in the Imperial Palace

The next morning arrived. The Grand Madam summoned Sierra. From early morning, the maid delivered several pieces of good news.

Splendid things are happening.

The Grand Madam submitted the imperial palace pharmacist recommendation letter. Within a few hours, the palace granted official permission and issued an order for Sierra to report for work.

The Grand Madam's guarantee made entry into the imperial palace incredibly easy. Unfortunately, getting to work involved significant drama.

Following the maid to meet the Grand Madam, Sierra let out a long, quiet sigh.

Cassius came over and caused a massive scene.

He kept close watch on her recent movements. His dark complexion proved the fact.

[Cassius] "Sierra, I heard the news. You intend to go as an imperial palace pharmacist? What does that mean?"

[Sierra] "Yes, I secured a position as a palace pharmacist. Wonderful, right?"

[Cassius] "No. It is dangerous."

His unexpected stubbornness gave her quite a difficult time. Yet, the firmer Cassius stood, the more she learned about how to handle the Ideos family members.

[Sierra] "Mm...... but becoming a palace pharmacist represents my lifelong dream."

Guilt consumed him. Because he abandoned Sierra in the past, he believed he prevented her from achieving her dream. In reality, the two events had no connection whatsoever.

[Sierra] "You work at the imperial palace too. If I encounter danger, you will protect me, right? If things turn dangerous, I will contact you immediately."

[Cassius] "Alright. Make sure you contact me."

With Sierra pushing the matter so far, Cassius found no excuse to oppose her. Yet, comfort eluded her. His guilty expression stirred a wave of apology within her heart.

Stop dwelling on this. I will just buy him a gift once I receive my salary!

Amid her thoughts, she reached the Grand Madam's room.

Summoning Sierra early in the morning, the Grand Madam adorned her to look beautiful and noble. She provided holy water full of divine power, flashy potion bottles, and a pristine white pharmacist uniform with gold trim that looked far more expensive than most dresses.

[G. Madam] "You already heard from the maid, but the imperial palace finally summoned you, child."

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

[G. Madam] "Take this. Look, I wrote your palace pharmacist recommendation letter here. I refuse to let our child look inferior anywhere. Ah, and."

She slipped a tiny magic tool into Sierra's inner pocket and muttered significantly.

[G. Madam] "It is a recording magic tool."

[Sierra] "Pardon? A recording magic tool?"

She nodded at Sierra's puzzled question.

[G. Madam] "If any patient dares to insult you, use this to strike back. Ah, and."

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

[G. Madam] "If any young master from a decent noble family, or a pharmacist, or anyone else approaches you, activate this recording magic tool immediately."

Sierra looked up at her. The older woman ground her teeth with an expression ready to commit murder. Sierra vowed never to activate the magic tool if a handsome man approached her, and she nodded awkwardly.

Naturally, the obstacles on her way to work extended beyond the Grand Madam.

Receiving the recommendation letter, she intended to travel by carriage. The Head Maid also promised to arrange one.

With Hanael waving goodbye, Sierra headed toward the main gate of the ducal mansion. However, as she searched for an ordinary carriage at the gate, an excessively luxurious carriage stood right before her. The family crest sat high atop the vehicle, and gold trim bordered the bright red four-wheel carriage. Even the driver wore a disciplined uniform, and the black horses pulling it possessed sleek, glossy coats.

This is the personal carriage of Duke Ideos, the head of the Ideos family.

Panic struck her. Then, an unexpected face appeared at the carriage window—Cassius Ideos. Drawing back the curtain, he smiled warmly with his eyes.

[Cassius] "Let us ride together, Sierra."

[Sierra] "Huh? You—no, where is Your Grace going...... I mean, where are you heading?"

Leaping down from the carriage at her question, he stood right before her. Cassius immediately extended his hand gracefully to escort her and smiled softly.

[Cassius] "The imperial palace. Let us go to work together."

A plain pharmacist backed by Marchioness Mails and the Grand Madam, and escorted by the Duke of Ideos. The paradoxical combination resembled "warm snow."

No one will dare look down on me, but...... this situation is dangerous.

Taking his hand to climb into the carriage, Sierra fell into contemplation. Was this ducal family safe operating like this? If she asked, he looked ready to hand her the entire empire.

---

Stepping out of the carriage with Cassius, she arrived at the inner palace pharmacy. In a way, this served as her official debut as a pharmacist in the capital city.

[Staff] "We heard much about you."

Their expressions conveyed neither affection nor hatred. Reflecting on it, most people in this room despised favored insiders who entered through connections. Yet, because she arrived from the Duke's residence, they lacked the courage to utter a single complaint.

A woman with a pouty expression extended her hand toward Sierra.

[Lily] "Hello."

[Sierra] "Ah, yes."

[Lily] "I am Lily! Since you are the newcomer, I will show you around the medicine preparation room."

Sierra smiled, her eyes curving into half-moons. Winning over Lily, who acted as her mentor, offered the best starting point.

[Sierra] "Ah, yes."

Following her toward the medicine preparation room, Lily wore a forced smile. She pointed out the medicine rooms, corridors, patient wards, and the palace medical office.

[Lily] "We rarely give heavy tasks to a rookie pharmacist."

[Sierra] "Is that so?"

She shrugged and ignored Lily's remarks. The woman clearly intended to belittle her, but the words failed to cause any damage. Sierra never cared about the hostility of strangers.

Lily glanced at Sierra and suddenly grabbed her wrist.

[Lily] "Ha, I have something to say. Come this way."

Sierra followed quietly without complaint. Passing through winding paths and grassy lawns, they stopped in a gloomy shadow that felt out of place within the imperial palace.

Lily checked her surroundings frantically. Finding no one nearby, she let out an exaggerated sigh of relief and glared at Sierra provocatively.

[Lily] "You!"

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

Listening cost nothing. Besides, gossip and confrontations always yielded the most information. Sure enough, Lily slammed her hand against the wall and hissed at Sierra. Her lips pouted as her shoulders slumped.

[Lily] "How do you know Lord Ezel?"

[Sierra] "Lord Ezel?"

[Lily] "Why on earth did Lord Ezel summon me secretly just to ask about you? It drives me crazy!"

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

She looked puzzled. Lily scowled and mocked her with a nasty sneer.

[Lily] "You don't know Lord Ezel? Her Imperial Highness' closest confidant? That handsome man who appeared out of nowhere like a lonely wolf of the wilderness?"

Sierra answered firmly.

[Sierra] "No, I don't know him."

Should I start testing her?

Sierra's calm demeanor irritated Lily, making her stomp heavily in frustration. Her casual dismissal evidently struck a sensitive nerve. Lily shouted.

[Lily] "H-He explicitly told me not to reveal this!"

Watching Lily's flushed face with an amused gaze, Sierra raised her chin.

[Sierra] "What is it?"

[Lily] "Lord Ezel claimed he tried a medicine you made before, yet you claim you don't know him?"

Sierra narrowed her eyes.

If he tried a medicine I made, he must come from Sufe Village. But I have never heard that name before. Besides, no handsome men live in Sufe Village.

Sierra sank into deep thought, using Lily's loud, screeching voice as background noise.

To think a clue would fall into my hands so easily.

Perhaps Ezel was the suspicious individual she watched through the window. Recalling how Ezel constantly lingered around her, Sierra knit her brow.

Grabbing Lily's shoulder firmly, she spoke in a threatening tone.

[Sierra] "Move."

The powerful command coming from such a delicate appearance made the young Lily flinch.

Sierra belonged to a completely different league compared to the young noble ladies who took elite paths to become palace pharmacists. Though her looks hid it, she was a commoner who endured countless hardships.

[Sierra] "This woman is busy."

[Lily] "W-What?"

[Sierra] "Anyway, thank you for the information."

[Lily] "What does that mean?"

Sierra grinned and pushed her aside firmly. Lily stumbled back like a dry twig.

[Sierra] "My, you are incredibly weak. Not even worth a single punch. I will brew you a restorative tonic later, alright?"

[Lily] "Wha-at?"

Lily found no words to argue back. Sierra easily pushed her nearly sixty-kilogram body aside....... her strength was monstrous.

Ignoring Lily completely, she walked into the pharmacy while humming a tune. Lily watched her departing figure blankly, feeling utterly defeated.

That day, Sierra experienced a highly fulfilling life at the pharmacy. Preparing high-quality herbs suited her talents perfectly. She easily deflected the subtle hostility around her, while grinding her teeth at the thought of the bastard named Ezel.

---

That evening, inside the carriage heading back to the ducal mansion from the imperial palace, she spoke to Cassius carefully.

[Sierra] "Hey, Cassius."

At that moment, he wrestled with unpleasant thoughts. He was reflecting on Ezel, the suspicious man who had been circling lately. Just then, Sierra broke the silence by calling his name.

[Sierra] "Do you happen to know someone named Ezel?"

[Cassius] "Ezel?"

[Sierra] "Yes."

[Cassius] "Why do you ask about him?"

He adopted a sharp, sensitive expression. Sierra leaned back comfortably against the seat cushion and made an excuse.

[Sierra] "No reason. He just seems quite popular at the pharmacy."

His face hardened instantly at her words.

[Cassius] "I know him."

His compliant reply turned him into her informant, causing Sierra to knit her brow slightly.

[Sierra] "Who is he?"

[Cassius] "He is close to the Princess. They grew close at a secret social club, though I lack the exact details."

The Crown Prince, the Princess, the Princess' informant who looked bizarre, her sister's disappearance, and a secret social club.

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

She narrowed her eyes at his description. Watching her closely, he questioned her tentatively.

[Cassius] "Are you interested in that man?"

His oddly sharp tone caused her to shift her indifferent gaze back to him. Ezel's profile flashed through her mind.

Ah, come to think of it, he is a man, right?

Consumed by the thought of rescuing her sister, she completely forgot the biological fact that Ezel was a man.

[Cassius] "No, forget it. I know I have no right to ask such questions."

Having spent considerable time with Cassius, she easily saw past his mask; he struggled to hide his hurt expression. She pursed her lips awkwardly before offering a hurried excuse.

[Sierra] "I—I don't like that style of man at all."

[Cassius] "Really?"

[Sierra] "Yeah, really."

Watching him, she suddenly bit her tongue.

Because he let out such a bright, brilliant smile. No, let us be precise. Seeing him smile made her feel good unconsciously.

---

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