She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 56

Code Red: The Infant Kidnapping and Murder Case

[Cassius] "Don't do that, Sierra. I will not punish the people involved."

[Sierra] "Th-thank you, Your Grace."

She blinked. Fortunately, her scheme succeeded.

He whispered to her quietly.

[Cassius] "Don't kneel under any circumstances."

[Sierra] "......"

She stared at him with a worried face, wondering if he had caught onto her acting. Yet he wore an even more pained expression.

He whispered, his voice reaching her ears alone.

[Cassius] "You are my pride."

Sierra froze upon hearing those words for the first time. No one had ever said such a thing to her. While many had looked down on her as a foolish commoner, only Cassius comforted her by calling her his pride.

Sierra stopped in her tracks and stared at him. Bringing his lips close to her earlobe once more, he spoke like a floating sigh.

[Cassius] "I would rather kneel myself."

Sierra bit her lip silently. What should she do with this man who treasured her knees more than his own authority? Fear crept into her heart as this man continuously made her fall for him, even though she had to leave someday.

---

That afternoon, Sierra faced constant frustration while investigating the 'Icarus Murder Case' mentioned by Ezel.

There is no relevant material even in the famous Duke's library?

The library of the Ideos estate in the capital achieved great fame among commoners. It collected an immense number of volumes, supposedly holding every book in the world. Furthermore, its classification system was incredibly detailed.

Therefore, Sierra naturally expected to find the outline of the 'Icarus Murder Case' easily by searching through the collection.

But her belief shattered instantly. The library lacked the materials she wanted. Records of the Isiphar Mansion Murder Case, the Hebor Manor Murder Case, and the Missing Inspector Leonard Case littered the shelves, but not a single piece of information existed regarding the Icarus serial murder case.

[Lexel] "Night has fallen, Lady Sierra."

Sierra nodded gently at the kind maid's words.

Watching Sierra let out a sigh of frustration from failing her goal, the maid looked down at the desk in confusion. Seeing the desk covered in various murder case records, the maid asked a question.

[Lexel] "Lady Sierra, you possess a deep interest in...... murder cases, it stands?"

[Sierra] "I don't hold a deep interest...... but I have been reading many mystery novels lately, so real murder cases sparked my curiosity. Especially unsolved ones."

[Lexel] "Ah......."

Sierra's fragile appearance definitely helped the maid accept the crude excuse. Secretly admiring her delicate looks today, Sierra spoke again.

[Sierra] "But this library lacks information on the specific case that interests me."

[Lexel] "Ah, we stock almost every book here! You must be looking for something else."

[Sierra] "Yes, unsolved murder case records."

She used a general excuse instead of naming the specific charge, the 'Icarus Murder Case,' to avoid looking suspicious, and the strategy worked well. The Head Maid clapped her hands.

[Lexel] "Murder case records usually reside in the imperial palace. Unsolved case records especially......"

[Sierra] "Yes."

Sierra swallowed hard and stared at her.

[Lexel] "They reside in the imperial palace library, accessible only to high nobles who hold official positions in the palace."

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

[Lexel] "Because they carry danger, after all."

Lexel spoke cheerfully, but only one person around Sierra could access the imperial palace library.

Cassius Ideos.

Must I borrow his help this time after all? I feel reluctant, but.......

[Sierra] "Thank you for telling me."

Her sister stood as a suspect in this case, so she couldn't easily give up looking for the records. Asking Ezel, who suspected both her and her sister, felt even more repulsive.

She spoke carefully.

[Sierra] "By the way, where is the Duke right now?"

Lexel's face brightened instantly. She looked at Sierra with a satisfied expression.

[Lexel] "I will take you to him immediately!"

[Sierra] "Ah, yes. Let me organize these materials first."

Lexel shook her head with a deep gaze.

[Lexel] "Let the maid organize this."

[Sierra] "The Duke must be busy......"

[Lexel] "My goodness, impossible."

Her look completely declared: Their love is finally blooming!

Sierra forced an awkward smile. She only wanted to ask about a murder case, yet getting misunderstood as playing a romance game felt like a unique experience.

---

Cassius realized long ago that Sierra was acting today. When she genuinely panicked or shed real tears, her face looked entirely different. He knew her tears and panic better than anyone. Over the past few years, his gaze had always been directed toward her.

So even when she wiped away her tears, he wanted to tell her she didn't have to. Even if she didn't kneel and cry, she could effortlessly order him around with a single finger.

But saying that would turn all her hard work into a mirage.

Cassius handed Sierra the warm flower tea she liked and spoke in a low voice.

[Cassius] "I promised not to punish them, so rest easy, Sierra. Is that the problem?"

[Sierra] "No."

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

She grinned bashfully.

Even though he knew her desires didn't involve love or affection, and her words didn't mean forgiveness, he always adopted an expectant look whenever he stood before her. This was the unavoidable dilemma of the one who loves more and regrets.

Tell me you came because you suddenly missed me. Say that, Sierra.

His internal words became mere prayers. Sierra betrayed his expectation as always.

[Sierra] "Well...... I heard a strange story today, and I grew curious."

Of course, being a 'necessary person' to her sufficed. Specifically, becoming 'the only person Sierra needs.'

[Sierra] "The unsolved infant kidnapping and murder case named the Icarus case."

The words were quite abrupt, but Cassius intended to prove his usefulness. He cast his gaze down toward the flower tea in her hand, then looked back up. Watching Sierra gasp in quiet admiration at his lightly fluttering eyelashes, he spoke softly.

[Sierra] "The case records don't exist in the Duke's library."

[Cassius] "Yes."

He had never once thought about a matter like the Icarus case.

[Sierra] "I heard it sits in the imperial palace library. Can you check it for me?"

He smiled brightly. He could grant any request for Sierra. Let alone a mere kidnapping case.

[Cassius] "Yes, don't worry. I will find out immediately."

Thus, he arrived at the imperial palace library a few hours later. He turned over Sierra's final words in his mind.

I hope you can let me know. As someone raising a child, I feel a bit worried about these things.

Her excuse was crude. Incredibly crude. A different reason he lacked knowledge of clearly existed. But he couldn't ask her directly. He must not disrupt her heart.

It is better to ask while gathering the information.

Calming his emotions, Cassius opened the door to the imperial palace library and stepped inside. Until then, he expected everything to resolve smoothly. However.......

[Librarian] "The material you requested to view is Code Red."

He raised an eyebrow.

[Cassius] "Code Red?"

[Librarian] "Yes."

Code Red. It meant a document with security so tight that even Duke Ideos couldn't view it. Currently, only the direct royal bloodline—the Emperor, the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the Princess—could view it.

A mere murder case carries a Code Red? Strange.

He had no intention of intervening in a Code Red case. It was a topic that normally never interested him, so backing off cleanly offered the best path to avoid trouble. But Sierra requested this. He must not retreat without securing any information. She requested this of him directly. Just picturing her expectant eyes made his heart ache.

[Cassius] "Why is it Code Red?"

Wiping sweat from his forehead, the librarian muttered hurriedly.

[Librarian] "Because a member of the imperial family requested the restriction directly."

[Cassius] "Which imperial family member?"

[Librarian] "That is......"

[Cassius] "Who is it?"

The librarian shut his mouth tightly, unable to speak. Yet under Cassius' glare, the librarian's gaze wavered relentlessly.

[Cassius] "Revealing that much causes no issues."

[Librarian] "It is......."

[Cassius] "Speak."

Wiping cold sweat from his forehead, the troubled librarian slumped his shoulders and nodded, feeling as though Cassius' gaze could drill a hole through him.

Checking the index card of the records, the librarian's eyes blinked with a completely dead look.

[Librarian] "G-Give me just a moment, Your Grace."

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

A few minutes later. His face flushed bright red, the librarian watched Cassius with an anxious expression. Cassius instinctively realized who declared Code Red on the document.

[Cassius] "It is His Majesty the Emperor."

[Librarian] "......."

Closing and opening his eyes, the librarian spoke carefully.

[Librarian] "Yes, that is correct. It is His Majesty the Emperor."

Why does the Emperor hide the case Sierra mentioned.......

The thought of having an audience with the Emperor arose, alongside an immediate rejection of the idea. While blinded by Sierra, his other senses remained sharp.

The Emperor wants to conceal the Icarus Murder Case. Why?

As far as he knows, it was just an ordinary serial murder case. An inspector from the police department handling it would fit perfectly. Yes, someone like Viscount Leonard.

But this case is in the hands of the Emperor, not Inspector Leonard. Why?

Furthermore, since the case remains open, the police department should track it.

He tilted his head sideways.

[Cassius] "I see."

He suddenly realized something, but chose not to press for more details here.

Regardless, attempting to view a Code Red murder case will put my actions under surveillance.

Anyone could easily see that Sierra was looking into quite a dangerous case.

Nothing else matters, but.......

Duke Ideos absolutely refuses to let Sierra face danger. That is his absolute rule in life.

I don't know the exact reason she investigates this case, but if she wants it, I will stain my hands with blood.

He must tell Sierra to drop this case for now.

He distorted his features and strode outside. Since things turned out this way, he has no choice but to uncover the truth himself. He checked the time. It was time to attend the council meeting.

---

The council meeting concluded much faster than expected. On his way back from the brief meeting, he planned to pick up Sierra. Just as he prepared to head toward the palace pharmacy, an unfamiliar voice called his name unexpectedly.

[Attendant] "Your Grace, Duke Ideos."

He faced an attendant wearing bright red robes embroidered with gold thread. Cassius stared at him with a sharp gaze.

[Cassius] "What is it?"

He is the Emperor's Chief Attendant.

---

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