She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 54

Sister is Accused of Murder

Sierra stared straight at Ezel. Words spilled from his lips quietly.

[Ezel] "So......."

[Sierra] "So?"

[Ezel] "The Master of the Dark Information Guild."

A gleam flashed in her eyes. Naturally, an information guild master would know every secret in the capital city.

[Sierra] "You claim to be such a grand figure? Then why are you here?"

Defeat washed over his face instantly.

[Ezel] "That is......."

[Sierra] "Let us be precise. I asked why you tried to kidnap me."

Betraying his will, his mouth opened slowly. Ezel squeezed his eyes shut, vowing internally never to underestimate Sierra again.

Damn it, I shouldn't have underestimated her!

But regret arrived too late. His stubborn mouth parted against his will.

[Ezel] "Two reasons. The surface reason is the Princess' request."

[Sierra] "Her Imperial Highness' request?"

[Ezel] "Yes."

[Sierra] "Why does Her Imperial Highness care about me?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. She felt like a celebrity. A princess she had never met or known showed an interest in her.

[Ezel] "That is…….."

For once, words eluded him, but after a brief scowl, his lips parted slowly.

[Ezel] "Because you are Duke Ideos' woman."

[Sierra] "Then, Her Imperial Highness......."

As she trailed off, Ezel grew more accustomed to the situation and spoke more naturally.

[Ezel] "Yes, Her Imperial Highness is interested in Duke Ideos. And in the position of the Duchess."

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

In fact, Sierra already recognized Cassius' popularity. In the salon, she heard about Lady Macbeth, who achieved fame as Cassius' first love. But she never expected the Princess to hold such deep interest in him.

She quickly masked her complex expression. Fortunately, he called it a surface reason. The true reason, unrelated to her, must be the real motive.

[Sierra] "The second reason sounds far more critical."

[Ezel] "Well...... yes."

[Sierra] "Speak."

He let out a long sigh.

[Ezel] "As you know, our Dark Information Guild operates on a rule of one request per person. But a certain request eluded my resolution."

[Sierra] "Is that so?"

[Ezel] "So for now, I am executing two requests simultaneously."

Discomfort lined his face, as if he were desperate to hide this information, but the words finally burst out of him.

[Ezel] "The infant kidnapping and murder case from a few years ago. Commonly named the Icarus Murder Case. I am hunting the culprit of that case."

Panic struck her at those words.

[Sierra] "What do you mean by the Icarus Murder Case?"

Sierra knew of the Icarus Murder Case well. A serial murder case where around ten young infants and toddlers from an orphanage disappeared and returned as corpses. The culprit remained at large, but the murders stopped at a certain point. The case achieved wide fame, to the extent that commoners with children built higher fences after it began, but…….

I thought he was connected to Sister, but a murder case? What nonsense is this?

Sierra checked her pocket for the spare truth potion. The clear liquid carrying a cherry blossom scent confirmed its authenticity. Sliding the vial securely back into her pocket, she threatened him.

[Sierra] "Are you telling me the absolute truth right now?"

[Ezel] "Yes, I received a request to solve the infant kidnapping and murder case. It's real."

Sincerity filled his voice. Yet, her confusion mounted.

Don't dark guilds usually bury cases like infant kidnapping and murder? This underworld should be much darker.

Sierra rubbed her chin, lost in thought. She had many questions, but she needed to dig into this matter first.

[Sierra] "So, did you find the culprit?"

He bit his lip hard at her question, looking as if she had struck a nerve.

[Ezel] "That is......."

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

His words trailed off, an unusual sight for someone under a truth potion. As doubt filled her eyes, Ezel finally confessed.

[Ezel] "I found them."

[Sierra] "Who is it?"

She still failed to find a link between the infant serial murder case and the reason he investigated her.

As she pressed him with a furrowed brow, he let out a soft sigh and spoke.

[Ezel] "It is the Great Archmage Amille."

His eyebrows twitched, showing his reluctance to speak the name. But his reluctance couldn't compare to Sierra's sheer shock. Her legs nearly gave out.

Crazy. Is my sister suspected of being an infant kidnapper and murderer?

She bit her lip and scowled.

Did Sister hide herself because she faced this accusation?

[Ezel] "The evidence pointing to her is nearly undeniable."

Nonsense. Her sister would never do such a thing. Sierra cast her gaze down before looking back up at him.

[Sierra] "The Great Archmage as an infant kidnapping and murder suspect? Speak sense."

[Ezel] "Yes. The famous Great Archmage of the Magic Tower. Quite reputable, too."

She raised a brow, pretending to be unbothered.

[Sierra] "Then why her? Do you have proof?"

He answered her sharp question diligently.

[Ezel] "Just as I secured the proof...... she disappeared."

She asked blankly.

[Sierra] "Disappeared to the point that even the dark guild can't find her?"

[Ezel] "Yes."

The Dark Information Guild found everyone. If they failed, death claimed the target. Yet they couldn't find her sister…….

Sierra forced her trembling breath to stay steady and stared at him clearly.

Where on earth did she vanish? And what did this mean for a murder suspect?

[Sierra] "Daring to suspect a Great Archmage of the Magic Tower requires immense boldness. What is the proof?"

She raised her head, pretending to be confident and completely innocent. But Ezel nodded right back with certainty.

[Ezel] "A recording magic tool remained. It held proof of that woman forcefully dragging a young infant away. Damn it, the recording tool vanished somewhere, but the memory remains clear in my mind! It definitely happened......."

Sierra reasoned that he either mistook someone with a similar appearance or her sister had a completely different motive for her actions.

My sister would never kill anyone, let alone a young child. She only kills wicked people.

[Amille] “Sierra, no matter what I do in the future…….”

[Sierra] “Mm!”

[Amille] “Do you trust me?”

[Sierra] “Yes, my sister is a hero of justice!”

[Amille] “I'm glad. Yes, keep thinking of me that way.”

Recalling her sister's warm smile, Sierra hardened her resolve again and glared at Ezel.

[Sierra] "Fine. I comprehend the first reason. You targeted me because I stay near Duke Ideos."

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

[Sierra] "But what does a Great Archmage's infant kidnapping case have to do with me?"

Sierra's heart grew colder.

If he knows the connection between my sister and me, it will cause massive trouble. I should make him lose his memory.

Regrettably, Sierra hadn't brought a memory-loss potion today. Lamenting her lack of preparation, she stared at his lips. Under her intense gaze, his lips parted.

[Ezel] "I infiltrated under the Princess' orders, but you share a close relationship with Abel, the guard dog of the Magic Tower."

To think Abel would drag her down like this. Sierra swallowed her groan with a dumbfounded expression.

Ezel offered his signature beautiful smile.

[Ezel] "For starters...... Abel also ranked high on the suspect list. Information even suggested he shares a tight connection with the Great Archmage. Yet you share a deep bond with the man presumed to be Abel."

[Sierra] "Right, and?"

[Ezel] "Not only a guard dog of the Magic Tower, but you also connect to Duke Ideos. For a mere commoner, those companions are far too grand."

[Sierra] "And what else?"

[Ezel] "It piqued my curiosity. Finding it strange, I investigated you further. But aside from the Duke and the guard dog, you are purely a commoner. That part made it even more enticing."

[Sierra] "Enticing?"

At her echo, he whispered hollowly.

[Ezel] "I merely wanted to find out what kind of person you are."

He blinked, curling one corner of his mouth again. Sierra nodded and crossed her arms.

[Sierra] "So, how does it feel to get completely outmaneuvered by me right now?"

[Ezel] "Well...... as you can see, this pathetic state binds me completely. Damn it."

He bit his lip, muttering in a strange tone. Sierra laughed softly and brushed back her hair.

[Sierra] "By the way, you said you tracked me because you suspected Abel, right?"

[Ezel] "......But."

[Sierra] "If you investigated Abel, you must know his personality."

She glared at him. Stepping right up to him, she gently stroked his light green hair and whispered forcefully.

[Sierra] "Anyone can see he is genuinely kind. He never does anything wicked; he is completely cheerful."

Her fingers brushed his jawline before pulling back completely. His eyes clouded over briefly as if cast under a spell, but he cut in firmly.

[Ezel] "One can never know."

But she refused to back down.

[Sierra] "Seeing how you narrowed the search to the Great Archmage, your suspicions about Abel must have cleared, right?"

Ezel chuckled at her sharp, forceful question. A smile touched his lips, but his expression clearly showed she had struck a nerve.

[Ezel] "You hit the mark. Of course, the suspicion regarding Abel hasn't cleared completely. But……."

He smiled softly and drove the point home.

[Ezel] "Now I have a new target of interest."

Who is it this time?

Sierra scowled, staring at him.

[Ezel] "I intend to observe you closely from now on, Sierra. Completely out in the open."

He chuckled, twitching his fingertips as the paralysis began to fade. Sierra ignored his words and checked her pocket watch.

Exactly ten minutes left before the full-body paralysis potion wears off completely.

She smiled and spoke casually.

[Sierra] "Why? Do you want to suffer at my hands again?"

[Ezel] "Well, won't I prepare next time too?"

He smiled gently with his eyes.

[Ezel] "It sounds incredibly entertaining. Besides, confessing everything made me realize something."

Sierra blinked. It was about time to leave, but this man kept her from leaving. Suspecting he might prepare a counterattack, her gaze sharpened naturally.

[Sierra] "Oh, what is it?"

She crossed her arms, adopting a pose that declared her absolute confidence in returning any strike twofold.

[Ezel] "I've been thinking about this for a moment…..."

His Adam's apple bobbed.

[Ezel] "I think I've fallen for you."

Finishing his declaration, Ezel stared up at her while remaining stiffly frozen.

Sierra would have accepted it gracefully if he had spat at her instead.

What kind of new lunatic is this? His emotions make zero sense.

She scowled deeply, shoved his shoulder, and whispered seriously.

[Sierra] "Unfortunate for you, I have zero interest."

She stepped firmly on his foot and shot back sharply.

[Sierra] "Keep this in mind if you want to become my follower."

[Ezel] "I have no intention of taking it as far as following you."

A sweet smile capable of melting a winter snow queen spread across his lips.

[Sierra] "Respect me, and bring me information diligently."

[Ezel] "Respect?"

[Sierra] "Yes, shouldn't you do at least that much to make talking to you worthwhile?"

He nodded, smiling gently with his eyes.

[Ezel] "For starters...... I will pay you a proper visit soon, Lady Sierra."

Sierra shrugged. She had no reason to accept or reject him. After all, even if Ezel approached, Cassius would definitely throw him out.

[Sierra] "Don't even think about using a honey trap."

She brought her hand to his chin and smirked.

[Sierra] "I possess a far higher……."

Slowly tracing his jawline with her index finger, she spoke in a low voice.

[Sierra] "……. standard than you think."

Sparks flew as their gazes locked. Sierra smirked and gave his shoulder a light shove. Then she tossed a magic tool onto his chest.

[Sierra] "This is a communication magic tool. The potion's effects will wear off soon. See you around."

Whispering coolly, she turned around. She urgently needed to converse with Ezel.

Why does this guy feel like the key to connecting me with Sister?

Since he claimed to hunt the Great Archmage, he must hold all the intelligence.

For now...... I need the information he possesses about Sister.

If things went well, she might locate her sister soon. Perhaps an opportunity to clear the absurd, ridiculous slander of being an infant murderer would arrive.

Her optimistic thoughts branched out one by one.

---

If you’re enjoying this novel, please consider leaving a rating or comment on Novel Updates and Naver Series.