She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 57

How to Stay Out of Dangerous Matters

The Emperor's Chief Attendant. A man who rarely appeared outside the imperial palace without the Emperor himself, let alone at an ordinary council meeting, unexpectedly emerged.

[C. Attendant] "His Majesty summons you."

[Cassius] "So you came with a secret order from the Emperor? Does he intend to hold a private meeting?"

[C. Attendant] "You see it accurately."

With things turning out this way, he possessed no right of refusal. Cassius nodded slowly. Though he lacked knowledge of the Emperor's intentions, he silently followed behind the Chief Attendant.

A shortcut.

The Chief Attendant guided him through a side path rather than the official routes within the imperial palace. The action raised suspicion. The Emperor typically utilized this method whenever he desired a confidential conversation.

He discussed things secretly like this at first when he demanded I marry the Princess.

However, Cassius rejected the marriage alliance with the Princess instantly. In that case, did this involve the Icarus Murder Case? The situation raised profound questions for him, as that case lacked any grand significance. Of course, Cassius possessed immense wisdom, so he kept his questions to himself.

He followed the Chief Attendant deep into the imperial palace, entering a dark, secret room within the innermost depths of the Emperor's palace.

Inside the windowless secret room, thick cigar smoke filled the air.

Kneeling on one knee, he lowered his head to show respect to the Emperor. But that lasted only a moment. In the pitch darkness, Cassius locked his sharp gaze onto the throne beyond the beaded curtain where the Emperor sat.

[Cassius] "Cassius Ideos greets Your Imperial Majesty."

Audiences with the Emperor always featured predictable topics: ordering a betrothal to the Princess or demanding he back the Crown Prince.

The Emperor, who pulled out cards to pressure him with a benevolent face, proved highly formidable. Fortunately, Cassius' status as a war hero allowed him to resist to a certain extent and exercise a right of refusal. Furthermore.......

[Cassius] "For what matter did you summon me?"

He could speak directly, cutting straight to the point.

[Emperor] "The Duke of Ideos has arrived."

Without another word, the Emperor sat on his throne beyond the curtain, watching him. A malicious scowl contorted his features behind the loosely woven beaded curtain. Soon, a finely wrinkled hand abruptly pulled back the beads as the Emperor stood up.

Pure white hair and narrowed eyes. The Emperor stood directly before the prostrate Cassius.

[Emperor] "Rise, Duke."

Cassius kept his head lowered without standing up.

[Cassius] "I wish to hear your voice from this position, so please speak, Your Majesty."

The Emperor frowned with displeasure before staring down at Cassius and replying.

[Emperor] "Very well, then."

He calmly opened the conversation.

[Emperor] "Are you aware that I spend much time inspecting plants lately?"

[Cassius] "Of course."

Everyone knew about the Emperor's recent obsession with plants. He even built a botanical garden collecting rare plants on the outskirts of the capital, openly declaring his desire to rest outside its grounds after his passing. Why bring up that topic so suddenly? Cassius' gaze sharpened.

[Emperor] "My favorite plant is the cloth-flower. I named it so because its petal color resembles hemp fabric."

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

[Emperor] "That cloth-flower possessed such exceptional beauty that I showered it with intense attention daily. Do you know what happened after I snapped its branches and watered it every single time?"

He let out a loud laugh.

[Emperor] "It died."

His voice carried a chilling edge.

Cassius raised his head and locked eyes with the Emperor. The core of the abstract, riddle-like story was approaching. He cast his gaze downward, waiting quietly for the Emperor's next words.

[Emperor] "Grief-stricken, I summoned a botanist."

Stepping back a pace from where he stood right before Cassius, the Emperor laughed heartily.

[Emperor] "Haha! He told me it died because I gave it too much attention. I have never heard of such a thing in my entire life. But since the expert says so, I must believe him."

His cunning gaze looked down at Cassius.

Kneeling on one knee, Cassius looked up at him and set his lips firmly.

[Cassius] "In that case, Your Majesty…….."

[Emperor] "The Duke is intelligent, so you comprehend my true meaning."

Cassius answered calmly.

[Cassius] "You mean I must ignore the Code Red case."

[Emperor] "As expected, you understand. You match my ideal for a son-in-law completely."

Deep regret lined the Emperor's features.

Cassius stared back without shaking his head or nodding, his silence absolute. It was a definitive refusal. The Emperor shrugged, his face showing he no longer expected anything.

[Emperor] "Returning to the main point......."

[Cassius] "Yes."

[Emperor] "That flower would not have died so easily if only I left it alone."

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

[Emperor] "Duke, thank you for listening to my advice so easily."

Cassius' cold, detached gaze fixed on the Emperor. After a brief silence, he spoke.

[Cassius] "I fully understand Your Majesty's words. However, forgive me if my humble interpretation proves incorrect."

The Emperor's sharp gaze locked onto him. Regrettably for the Emperor, Cassius was not the simple-minded, loyal knight the world believed him to be.

[Cassius] "It sounds as though you are warning me to stay away from an exceptionally critical matter."

In truth, an ordinary kidnapping and murder case would never interest him. Though the world revered him as a righteous hero for conquering the monster war, he was not an honorable man. However, his entire world revolved around Sierra. And she had requested this of him. A sharp ache pierced his chest as he recalled her bright, grateful smile.

[Emperor] "Yes. Don't concern yourself with any of it."

The Emperor murmured.

[Emperor] "This is the advice I can offer you...... perhaps my first and last."

Advice, rather than an order or a plea. Did looking into that matter invite a fatal problem?

Cassius stood up slowly.

[Cassius] "I obey your command."

Of course, I mean I will obey Sierra's command, not the Emperor's.

Cassius didn't give up. He summoned the secret intelligence network that operated exclusively for the Duke of Ideos. He ordered them to investigate the concealed infant murder case, known as the Icarus Murder Case. True to his intent, the network gathered substantial information. Securing the intelligence required very little time.

[Agent] "The Icarus Murder Case remains unsolved. Because the victims were primarily orphans, discovery faced initial delays. Confirmed victims exceed ten, but the condition of the corpses is highly unusual."

[Cassius] "An unusual condition for the corpses, you say."

He fixed a steady gaze onto the leader of the intelligence network handling the case.

[Agent] "Yes. Unlike typical fresh corpses, the entire body appeared bluish. Testimonies from mana examinations revealed that they completely lacked life force. It looked as if a demon had stripped away their entire souls, so people in the back alleys even call it the Demon's Curse Case."

[Cassius] "Next."

Encouraged by his words, the leader quietly recited the next piece of information.

[Agent] "Inspector Leonard handled the investigation and pursued the case with immense passion. Strangely, however, he went missing about a year ago. He is likely dead."

Cassius' sharp mind quickly linked the clues. The complete theft of life force and mana raised deep suspicions.

It makes a perfect sensational headline, yet the fact that no one reported this is highly amusing.

Inspector Leonard had almost certainly faced assassination by someone desperate to bury the case.

Did the trail lead to the Emperor, who worked to conceal it? Who was the true culprit?

Theories spun rapidly in his head. Biting his cigar calmly, he stared at the network leader.

[Cassius] "The next piece of information. Is that all?"

[Agent] "Well...... the details remain thoroughly veiled, so if you grant us more time......."

He fixed an icy glare on the leader.

[Cassius] "Dig up more. Ensure no one catches wind of it."

Securing even this much information brought temporary relief.

---

[Sierra] "A case where more than ten orphans died."

[Cassius] "Exactly, so don't concern yourself with such matters."

Cassius shared every piece of information he uncovered with Sierra. He explicitly ordered her to stay away, but compliance was entirely out of the question for her.

Is my sister entangled in such a dangerous case?

Knowing her sister, she was entirely capable of getting mixed up in dangerous affairs.

[Cassius] "I will investigate. Once I locate the culprit, I will eliminate them. That is what you want, right?"

She lacked knowledge of what exactly he meant by 'eliminate,' but Cassius' affectionate words made Sierra widen her eyes. This situation deviated completely from what she wanted.

Wait a minute. At this rate, won't my sister end up hunted by Cassius too? She already faces suspicion from the Dark Guild Master.

Waving her hands in frantic dismissal, she hastily stopped him.

[Sierra] "No. It's fine. You don't have to do that. Anyway, thank you for letting me know for now......."

I grasped the outline of the case, and I know it's dangerous. As long as Sister isn't targeted as the suspect, it's better to leave it alone.

Sierra let out a heavy sigh as the situation fell further into a dense fog. Fortunately, she chose to redirect the conversation.

[Sierra] "I just suddenly lost interest. Since His Majesty issued a gag order himself, it clearly isn't something a commoner like me should worry about."

[Cassius] "Is that so?"

[Sierra] "Yes."

She racked her brain frantically while staring at Cassius.

[Sierra] "Ah, come to think of it, what happened with the second paternity test?"

[Cassius] "They are processing the results right now. They should arrive in about two weeks."

I have nothing left to say.

After a brief silence, he called her name softly.

[Cassius] "Sierra."

[Sierra] "Yes?"

[Cassius] "That case is a classified secret hidden by the Emperor."

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

The Great Archmage as the suspect, and the Emperor hiding the case. It was a mystery overflowing with suspicious details, far from an ordinary serial murder case.

Sierra scowled. Brushing a finger gently across her furrowed brow to smooth it, Cassius issued a low warning.

[Cassius] "So ignore it if possible, absolutely. Only think about pleasant things. I will ensure it stays that way."

Sierra exhaled a soft sigh. His warning was not something she could easily dismiss.

He is right. It looks dangerous, so should I just bury it?

It's impossible that Sister committed murder; it must be a false accusation.

Couldn't I just threaten Ezel to investigate someone else instead of the Great Archmage?

Lost in deep thought, she nodded slowly.

[Sierra] "For now...... yes, I understand."

At her reply, Cassius stroked her hair with a relieved expression, his gentle touch conveying approval. Her earlobes flushed bright red at the sudden contact.

"......."

Their gazes locked in a strange tension.

Right then, a faint knock accompanied the urgent voice of the Head Maid from outside the door.

[Lexel] "Your Grace Duke Ideos, Lady Sierra."

[Cassius] "What is it?"

[Lexel] "The doctors of the Hippo Kingdom request an audience. Miss Hanael is......."

Sierra bolted to her feet at the mention of Hanael.

[Sierra] "What happened? What is wrong with Hanael?"

[Lexel] "Well...... they said you must hear the explanation directly."

Since the doctors of the Hippo Kingdom were preparing the paternity test, did a problem strike Hanael?

Sierra threw the door open, poised to sprint. However, Kilo and Lanya already stood right at the doorway.

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