She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 68

The Matchmaking Agency Created by Hanael

She quickly pushed his hand away and let out a dry cough in embarrassment.

[Sierra] "So, who designed that room?"

He hesitated briefly before speaking.

[Cassius] "A dragon."

Her jaw dropped. Yet he picked up his teacup nonchalantly, as if he had merely mentioned what he ate for lunch.

It is completely impossible for Sister to pierce a dragon's magic.

No matter how great an Archmage her sister was, she remained human. Dragons commanded ultimate magic that ruled over time and space. If anyone ranked as the supreme magic user on earth, it was a dragon.

Then who on earth broke in? Who bypassed a barrier that even Sister's enemies couldn't pierce?

Her thoughts grew increasingly tangled.

Why target my room when I am the only one with access? Why pierce a dragon's barrier and forge Sister's handwriting just to leave a letter warning me not to interfere?

She addressed Cassius carefully.

[Sierra] "I need time to think."

He stared at her quietly, then slowly tilted his head. He buried his cheek against her shoulder, rubbing lazily like a wild beast acting cute for its master.

[Cassius] "Because it is difficult to endure."

She instantly concluded that this massive man was acting like a spoiled child.

She recalled conversations with the neighborhood women back in Sufe Village. Affection could vanish quickly, but cuteness lasted forever. An old woman living happily with a husband who looked like a thug once told her that if a massive man starts looking cute, it is completely over.

He looks cute.

Her fate stood completely sealed.

---

A long time passed after she sent Cassius back.

Sierra stared blankly at the worn letter and the handwriting, ruffling her hair wildly before letting out a sigh. Her slender hand firmly pulled the bell pull beside the bed. Her head felt ready to explode from overthinking.

[Sierra] "I need a bath......."

A bath always provided the perfect remedy when stress grew severe enough to cause hair loss. Of course.......

I didn't expect the bath to turn into such a grand affair.

Entering the room with a swift stride, the maid nodded vigorously when Sierra asked for assistance with the bath. The maid selected scented oils, added them to the water warmed with hot stones, and helped her into the tub.

She expected that to be all, but the Duke's estate lived up to its reputation. The maids massaged her shoulders thoroughly. The gentle hands rubbing her body pulled her into a cozy, relaxed state. The maid’s fingertips, coated in rosewater, effortlessly unwound her tense muscles—it was absolute heaven.

[Maid] "You have been exhausted lately, haven't you?"

[Sierra] "Ah, yes......."

A comforting sense that everything would resolve smoothly enveloped her. Sierra pondered the letter blankly, then snapped her gaze to them as a thought struck her.

[Sierra] "I don't see Hanael today. Do you know what she is doing?"

The maid squared her shoulders proudly, as if awaiting the question.

[Maid] "We confirmed that our little Miss Hanael possesses remarkably outstanding talents."

[Sierra] "Ah, right."

Sierra wanted an update on Hanael's whereabouts, not praise. Yet hearing her niece complimented brought immense pride, so she let it continue.

[Maid] "Miss Hanael is an absolute genius. Rumor says she mastered the imperial language around her first birthday......."

Continuous praise followed regarding Hanael's cuteness, her bright eyes, and how she inherited her genius from Sierra.

Hanael completely charmed the maids.

More importantly, when did this maid intend to reach the point?

Listening to the praises of Hanael with a pleased smile for ten minutes, her gaze narrowed.

Realizing Sierra's distraction, the maid paused mid-sentence.

[Maid] "She even puts on her socks by herself—oh dear, come to think of it, what was I saying......?"

[Sierra] "I don't see Hanael today. She should be playing or resting in her bedroom by now."

Around this time, the child usually returned to her room after playing in the mud. The mystery letter already caused a severe headache; if the culprit targeted Hanael next....... Yet the maid delivered completely unexpected news.

[Maid] "Ah, she summoned the maids, declaring she wanted to hold a party."

[Sierra] "A party......?"

[Maid] "Yes, a party!"

[Sierra] "What kind of party......?"

[Maid] "She called it a praise festival for Miss Hanael."

Though she lacked exact knowledge of what a praise festival entailed, Sierra fell into deep thought.

Come to think of it, did Hanael tell the other maids about awakening her power? The letter warned me to hide it. Of course, no one besides the doctors knows the exact nature of her power yet.

She never expected Hanael to organize a party herself.

Noticing the confusion clouding Sierra's features, the maid chuckled.

[Maid] "Oh dear, she explicitly requested that I keep it a secret from you, Lady Sierra......."

Sierra shook her head. She needed to ensure the innocent child kept her mouth shut.

---

Hanael played the leader after gathering the maids. Mirroring Sierra's pride in her own genius, Hanael also desired to display her intelligence to the entire world.

[Hanael] "I am a genius anyway. The doctors told me to stay quiet because they need to run more tests, but you know, right?"

Watching Hanael smile like an innocent baby angel while masking her devious intentions, the five maids gathered there nodded vigorously.

[Maids] "Of course!"

[Hanael] "Therefore."

[Maids] "Yes!"

[Maid] "Before we begin today's meeting, shall we spend some time praising Miss Hanael?"

Hanael surveyed the maids, whom she had charmed so completely that they would believe her even if she claimed she made a cake out of soybeans.

[Hanael] "Ahem. Good! Praise me immediately!"

She clenched her tiny fists and shouted. The maids, who once maintained strict professionalism but now operated purely as her devotees, nodded and cheered.

[Maid A] "My goodness, our little miss is entirely too intelligent."

[ Maid B] "They say intelligence is inherited from the maternal side, so Lady Sierra must be a genius too, right?"

Hanael lacked knowledge of complex terms like maternal inheritance. But she knew one thing! At the question regarding Sierra's genius, Hanael clenched her fists tightly.

[Hanael] "Of course, of course! I am an incredibly smart genius, but even I can't defeat Sierra."

[Maids] "As expected......."

The maids' eyes sparkled. Seizing the perfect moment, Hanael fixed a sharp look on them.

[Hanael] "The reason I asked to meet today is......."

[Maids] "Yes, please tell us!"

Hanael addressed the maids, who stood twice her size, with absolute majesty. She possessed immense curiosity. For instance.......

[Hanael] "I want relationship advice!"

Every maid present widened her eyes in shock. The boisterous atmosphere plunged into instant silence.

[Maid C] "What kind of son of a bitch......."

The sharp sound of grinding teeth echoed clearly through the room.

[Maid D] "What kind of scoundrel....... oh, wait, no."

Hanael shrugged in confusion.

[Hanael] "Huh? What is a scoundrel? Hanael is smart, but is there something I don't know?"

[Maid A] "Ah, no! It is a bad word! Dirty, dirty! W-Well, by the way......."

[Hanael] "Mm?"

[Maid A] "Who exactly stole Miss Hanael's heart.......?"

Hanael blinked. To add a touch of exaggeration, the maids looked ready to hunt down and bury whoever it was.

Vivid memories surfaced in Hanael's mind—specifically, the scene of Sierra and Cassius cooking together. Though they both had remained oblivious while preparing the food, Hanael had been sitting at the bar right behind them. To be precise, she had watched them nearby while dangling her legs.

The atmosphere felt warm back then.

Warm, affectionate, and completely like a family. Consequently, she had blurted out the words loudly before she could stop herself.

Since we are staying together like this...... we are completely like a family!

In truth, she had felt a bit flustered. When she spoke those words, the silly mister—no, wait…….. Hanael resolved to address the silly mister properly as Mister Cassius from now on. Regardless, Mister Cassius wore a remarkably warm expression. The shocking part was Sierra's response.

[Cassius] "Are you happy right now?"

[Sierra] "If you mean this exact moment......."

[Cassius] "Yes."

[Sierra] "I am glad."

Sierra smiled bashfully back then. Far from an ordinary smile, she smiled bashfully!

Hanael bit her lip with her prominent, rabbit-like front teeth.

An incredibly embarrassed face!

Hanael recognized that expression perfectly. Furthermore, Sierra even tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear!

Honestly, Mister Cassius looked even more embarrassed.

Cassius cast his gaze downward and spoke.

[Cassius] "Me too."

His thumb gently stroked Sierra's cheek, wiping away a trace of cooking, as he whispered.

[Cassius] "I wish every day could be like today."

In Hanael's estimation, Cassius loved Sierra immensely. Though he adored Hanael too, his gaze shifted entirely when looking at Sierra. His cold, sharp eyes curved softly whenever they fixed onto her. The difference matched the contrast between a freezing night wind and warm summer sunshine.

Since Mister likes Sierra, the crucial part is Mommy Sierra's thoughts.

Shaking her head internally, Hanael placed her tiny hands firmly on her hips. She paid zero heed to the horrified expressions twisting the features of the loyal maids.

[Hanael] "This isn't about me, so look, listen."

[Maid A] "Ah, so this is not you, Miss Hanael?"

[Hanael] "Mm!"

[Leid B] "Then is it about the young maids or servants?"

Guessing it involved a friend her age, the maids relaxed their clenched fists and paid attention. Hanael shook her head and spoke.

[Hanael] "Don't be curious about that. What Hanael wants to know is something else entirely."

[Maids] "Yes, if we can be of any assistance.......!"

Hearing the loyal response from the maids, Hanael nodded with a satisfied smile.

[Hanael] "You see, this absolutely isn't about people I am close with."

[Maid A] "Pardon?"

Until then, the maids remained completely bewildered.

[Hanael] "There is a slightly silly but exceptionally handsome mister, and the most beautiful lady in the world."

[Maids] "Yes."

The maids tilted their heads. Yet Hanael spoke boldly.

[Hanael] "But the silly mister likes that lady immensely. Anyone can tell."

Anne, the tallest red-haired maid who adored Hanael, questioned her carefully.

[Anne] "Yes, and.......?"

[Hanael] "The problem lies in the lady's heart."

[Maids] "Hmm.......?"

[Hanael] "Her face turns red sometimes whenever she looks at the mister, and she gets embarrassed when I mention family. People said they liked each other originally."

Initially, the maids struggled to comprehend the story. But as the conversation unfolded, the reality forced itself upon them.

Hanael might be a genius, but a child remained a child. An innocent child's attempt to deceive adults always laid itself bare.

The maids exchanged glances. Though they recognized that Hanael spoke of Cassius and Sierra, they finalized a silent agreement to pretend otherwise.

The problem lay in the presence of an exceptionally dense maid among them. Crossing her arms over her chest, the densest maid delivered a bold declaration.

[D. Maid] "Case closed. It sounds like they both like each other."

[Hanael] "Seriously? We absolutely must never force anyone's feelings! The lady's happiness comes first."

Despite Hanael's solemn words, the dense maid merely grinned and nodded with all her might.

---

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