She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 78

Let the Games Begin

[Ezel] "Why wear that expression? Ah, you didn't know?"

[Sierra] "What are you......"

[Ezel] "I had a suspicion. They say the common thread in the Icarus Murder Case is that only children possessing mana vanished."

Sierra glared at him. Sensing her wrath despite knowing nothing further, Ezel raised both hands in surrender.

[Ezel] "Whoa, hold on. I did absolutely nothing."

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

Unlike the grave expressions worn by Sierra and Cassius, Ezel looked utterly blank. When his attempt to lighten the mood failed, he glanced between Sierra and Cassius. Realizing the situation had turned strange, he put on a playful look, attempting to shift the atmosphere.

[Ezel] "Why look at me like that? You are terrifying me."

Naturally, his efforts collapsed completely.

Surprisingly, Sierra was the first to snap out of the shock. Though hit by two consecutive blows regarding her sister's disappearance, her nature remained resilient.

For now......

Nothing stood entirely exposed on the surface yet; she couldn't falter over a few pieces of prominent evidence. It wouldn't be too late to collapse after unearthing the truth behind the Icarus Murder Case—specifically, the crisis where children possessing the blue water mana died and vanished.

Sierra bit her lip firmly, glaring at Ezel. He simply shrugged and addressed her with a bewildered face.

[Ezel] "It is shocking, isn't it? It's not just regular water mana; barely any children possess the blue water mana. Choosing them specifically to kill is a massive loss to the Empire."

His words held absolute truth. Blue water mana was far more refined than standard water mana, representing the pure, clean crystal of mana itself. A child possessing such power would undoubtedly receive genius status while growing up, contributing greatly to the Empire. Yet someone murdered them. This clearly pointed to a sinister conspiracy.

Ezel looked flustered, his speech turning chaotic as he mixed informal and formal language. However, Sierra lacked the mental peace to worry about him right now.

This incident was no longer a simple kidnapping and murder case involving her sister...... it now threatened Hanael directly.

Because Hanael is a child who possesses the blue water mana.

Her intuition flared with intense alarm.

The reason Amille entrusted Hanael to me might be...... because a faction targeted Hanael.

Amille discovered the Icarus Murder Case and realized her daughter, Hanael, was a target. Thus, she hid the toddler with Sierra.

Every circumstance aligned with absolute precision. As these assumptions surfaced, her face turned white.

With Amille gone, Hanael faces immediate danger.

At that exact moment, the adorable child's voice echoed like a phantom in her ears.

Mommy, I made a snowman! A baby snowman is right next to it!

Mommy Sierra is mine! Everyone else, go away!

I won't call you Mommy. Just stay by my side. I will call you Auntie....... Please don't abandon Hanael.

Those final words formed a painful knot in her chest. Sierra let out a ragged sigh. She had never abandoned Hanael. She raised the child like her own daughter. While she lacked biological maternal instincts, she still loved and cherished her like a flesh-and-blood daughter, refusing to view her as a mere toddler. If she lost Hanael now......

One might view this as sheer paranoia, assuming her dense self had made a mistake. But...... this involved Hanael. She could tolerate errors with her own life, but Hanael's safety required absolute perfection.

Hanael is in danger.

That single thought made her feel as if she were plummeting into a bottomless abyss.

Growing increasingly pale, Sierra breathed heavily. Right then, Cassius—who had been watching her with concern—gripped her slender shoulders.

[Cassius] "Sierra."

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

Only when he drew close and wrapped his arms around her body in a tight embrace did her breathing finally stabilize. Cassius patted her back, his touch completely enveloping Sierra's shoulders.

Warmth radiated between their bodies. Finally regaining her composure, Sierra spoke in response.

[Sierra] "Thank you. Now...... let us speak."

She lowered her gaze. It was time to grow strong, not waste time on useless worry.

Furthermore, Ezel was watching Sierra with a highly questioning look.

[Ezel] "What is the matter all of a sudden? Did you remember something?"

She had to explain it to him. Although she didn't trust Ezel completely, for now......

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

She bit her tongue before she could speak further. The memory of the letter warning her to hide Hanael's genius status suddenly surfaced.

[Sierra] "It is nothing. It is just terrifying."

Because she covered it up naturally, neither man cast a suspicious look toward her abrupt shift. Ezel glanced at Cassius' freezing face and smirked playfully.

[Ezel] "True, that person is a monster, right?"

He quickly corrected his tone, clearly fearing Cassius.

Despite the gravity of the situation, the sight brought a faint smile to Sierra's lips as she tilted her head.

[Ezel] "I possess a piece of high-quality information."

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

[Ezel] "Deducing from the Princess's words, someone within the imperial palace is the true culprit of the Icarus Murder Case."

Sierra muttered to herself, pondering the statement.

Someone within the imperial palace......

Indeed, only a position of that caliber would make all the pieces fit perfectly. She nodded.

If someone in the imperial palace is the culprit, why did my sister get entangled in this case?

Sierra stared suspiciously at the massive pile of reports recovered from Amille's study. She touched the paper of the report. The texture felt ancient—impossible to pinpoint exactly, but it felt five, perhaps ten years old.

This means Amille knew the culprit long ago and sent Hanael away to safety......

If so, the culprit commanded immense power.

It also means I can't guarantee Amille's safety......

Her anxiety heightened further. Watching her lips tremble, Cassius narrowed his eyes.

[Cassius] "Are you tired?"

[Sierra] "A little."

[Cassius] "Then let us speak in private. Shall we remove this distracting fellow now?"

He intended to begin their serious, secret discussion. Though Ezel wore a wronged expression, Sierra also felt the need to speak with Cassius alone. This matter now concerned Hanael's life.

[Sierra] "Yes. But before that, I want to verify one final detail."

She held two distinct strategies.

The first path: hide and smuggle Hanael away as much as possible. Just as they had done before, moving constantly from one rural village to another—living in constant fear and anxiety without fighting back.

The second path: fight back for Hanael's sake, even if it placed her own life in danger. She would unravel the conspiracy and confront the crisis, bringing about the exact situation Amille explicitly warned her to avoid.

Sierra resolved to use her final question to choose between these two paths. She gestured lightly toward Ezel.

[Ezel] "What do you want to verify?"

Her gaze turned deep.

[Sierra] "How on earth did that murderer select the children possessing the blue water mana?"

As a pharmacist, Sierra understood perfectly how to identify children with mana. Therefore, this question, delivered in a trembling voice, served as absolute confirmation.

Ezel countered as if the answer stood plain.

[Ezel] "Blue water mana leaves a trace. Anyone who knows how to use magic can identify who possesses water mana, right? Hmm, come to think of it, I think I saw someone like that a long time ago. Who was it? Why does it feel like my brain has been bleached......"

Ignoring the rambling Ezel, Sierra bit her trembling lip firmly. In truth, Ezel spoke the truth.

Blue water mana differed slightly from other types. The power of someone possessing blue water mana inevitably leaked into their surroundings, leaving traces on the people they spent time with and the places they frequented. Therefore, any mage could track their power without difficulty.

[Sierra] "Then, the method to conceal those traces is......"

[Ezel] "Well, a method to erase the traces obviously exists."

He whispered slyly. Listening to his voice, Sierra let out a long sigh.

[Sierra] "Though it is nearly impossible."

[Ezel] "As expected, you know it well."

Indeed, only the second path remained: thoroughly unearthing the truth of the Icarus Murder Case. That was the sole method to save her sister and protect Hanael. Sierra hardened her expression and stared at Cassius.

Cassius stood ready, awaiting her command. Crumpling the yellowed report he held throughout the conversation, he replied.

[Cassius] "Have you decided?"

[Sierra] "Yes."

Those words alone told him exactly what path she chose: she would fight the enemy.

[Cassius] "Shall we throw out a bait?"

[Sierra] "Bait?"

She stared at him in confusion. He nodded calmly.

[Cassius] "Yes, bait."

Thank goodness he stood by her side. She rose and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

[Sierra] "Alright. I trust you."

Listening to her voice laden with deep concern, he whispered.

[Cassius] "Whatever happens, I will protect you."

Sierra buried her face in his chest and nodded lightly. Staring blankly down at her trembling head, he pressed his lips gently against her hair. He whispered in a tone indicating that simple words fell short.

[Cassius] "No matter what happens."

Ezel's lazy voice interrupted their exchange.

[Ezel] "Hey, I am standing right here."

Cassius ignored his remark completely. However, Sierra pulled away from his chest and glared at Ezel with fierce eyes, mouthing a sharp order to leave.

[Sierra] "Leave now."

After arguing for a few minutes about how they were discarding the hound after the hunt, Ezel was cast out with his memories erased.

---

The reception room grew significantly quieter.

Sierra and Cassius sat facing each other alone. Fortunately, they could now establish a much clearer objective: track down the real culprit of the Icarus Murder Case and clear Amille's name.

Both the Great Archmage and Hanael were bound to be entangled in that case. Following the clues one by one would unravel the entire conspiracy, like pulling sweet potato vines.

[Sierra] "Ezel said someone within the imperial palace is the mastermind."

Cassius nodded.

[Cassius] "Unless his words are a smoke screen. And his words are likely no lie."

Sierra tilted her head at his strange confidence, silently questioning how he could be so certain. He gestured lightly to answer.

[Cassius] "The truth serum. I administered it at the Magic Tower."

She smirked at his confident look.

Ezel fell victim to the same drug twice. Sierra shook her head, yet rationalized it as an unavoidable reality. It served as a minimal safety measure and brought no negative side effects to his body.

[Cassius] "Furthermore...... I checked the reports."

[Sierra] "Really?"

[Cassius] "The last person who made contact with Amille appears to be a direct royal family member."

[Sierra] "A direct royal family member?"

Her eyes narrowed. Facing her questioning attitude, he whispered boldly.

[Cassius] "Yes. While I can't be certain, I can force them to take the bait."

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

He chuckled softly and picked up a quill.

The investigation strategy officially began.

---

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