She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 84

Someone I Know

Sierra prepared to speak to Abel, but Ezel, who was watching the situation quietly, cut in first.

[Ezel] "Since the Princess acted that way....... I suspected the Prince was the culprit to some extent."

[Sierra] "You suspected him?"

As she prompted him, Ezel rubbed his chin and muttered like he was speaking to himself.

[Ezel] "Still, to think the Prince, notorious for being a playboy, would commit murder....... he is absolute trash."

Cassius shook his head firmly.

[Cassius] "No."

[Ezel] "What? He isn't trash?"

[Cassius] "He didn't give off the vibe of a mere playboy."

Ezel nodded as soon as Cassius cast a cold gaze. A brief silence fell over the room before Sierra spoke up quietly.

[Sierra] "Then we must adjust our operation to target the Prince, right?"

[Sierra] "And retrieve the doll before they find out."

[Ezel] "Will they find out about Guardian?"

[Sierra] "If that mage is skilled, they will realize he is a puppet."

Leaving the enemy completely unaware that Guardian was a doll remained the most ideal outcome. Of course, they had engineered the puppet with extreme care to prevent discovery. However, if a talented mage worked on the opposing side, the probability of exposure remained high.

The image of the robed mage filled Sierra's mind as she fell deep into thought. Silence stretched over the group.

[Abel] "U-Um......."

Abel's golden eyes trembled. Sierra knew instinctively that he was flustered. But why would he react so suddenly......?

[Abel] "That mage....... He matches someone I know."

Messes up his sky-blue hair, he muttered in a low voice.

[Abel] "And someone I know very...... well."

Everyone's gaze locked onto Abel. His lips shook. Sierra felt a sudden wave of confusion. She had never witnessed the playful, lovely youth tremble like this.

Abel gripped Sierra's sleeve tightly, looking entirely unable to speak openly in front of the others.

[Sierra] "Tell just me."

He leaned close to her ear and whispered.

[Abel] "I saw the mage's hand...... I believe it is Lady Amille."

Shock stole her breath.

[Sierra] "How can you tell just from the hand?"

[Abel] "I-It is just a guess. But Lady Amille has a distinct scar from a knife wound on her hand."

However, everything aligned with the circumstances. Her older sister was missing, and rumors already connected Amille to the Icarus murders. But to think her sister would assist in taking lives....…

Sierra bit her trembling lower lip. She needed to calm Abel down first, as he looked just as shocked as she was. She reached out and gently stroked Abel's hair. Yet, his eyes turned sharp.

[Abel] "Lady Sierra, Lord Cassius."

[Sierra] "Yes?"

[Abel] "I will go discover the mage's true identity."

Her hand froze on his hair. She whispered to stop him.

[Sierra] "That is dangerous."

[Abel] "I have teleportation magic, and I only need five minutes to keep my identity hidden. If it is the person I suspect, and they are nearby, I can find them quickly."

Sierra stared at Abel. His golden eyes hardened with absolute determination. Stopping him in this state was impossible. She closed her eyes tight, opened them, and spoke.

[Sierra] "Have you made up your mind, my puppy?"

[Abel] "Yes."

Locking eyes with his golden gaze, she spoke firmly.

[Sierra] "Then I will give you exactly five minutes. Be careful. Your safety is the most important thing."

Encouraged by her support, Abel squared his chest and replied.

[Abel] "Of course! I have a dog's nose, so I can smell danger perfectly!"

He laughed brightly.

---

Just as Abel suspected, the mage assisting the Crown Prince was Amille. Keeping Guardian completely blindfolded and deafened, she touched the child's chest.

[Prince] "Answer me, Amille. Does this foolish young puppeteer possess mana?"

Amille stared back at his chilling gaze with hollow eyes. Her face lacked any expression, bordering on terrifying. Yet, the Prince remained perfectly calm.

[Amille] "Whether he has mana or not...... will you not kill him anyway?"

The Prince glared at her, but she remained still with an expressionless face.

Regaining a gentle look, the Prince smiled and spoke mockingly.

[Prince] "I never knew a dog was an animal capable of asking questions."

He reached out, tracing Amille's jawline, and whispered.

[Prince] "Well? Tell me. Whether he has mana, and whether it is pure—that is what matters."

Amille checked the doll with a sidelong glance, then grit her teeth. She was entirely at the Prince's mercy.

[Amille] "I believed that even a dog who stains her hands with blood for Your Highness could at least ask a question."

The Prince chuckled. Then, his fingertips slowly traced down her neck. Though it was a casual gesture, her cheeks flushed as if finding it difficult to breathe.

[Amille] "I will check."

He pushed her away as she exhaled a ragged breath. Stripped of the dignity expected of a Great Archmage, she fell helplessly to the floor. Throwing her aside onto the ground, the Prince gestured with his chin.

Looking at the blindfolded and deafened Guardian, Amille raised a trembling hand. Anger flared within her over her inability to save children, a harsh consequence of a foolish choice made long ago.

Perhaps I can save this child.......

She mourned for the young boy as she quietly lifted her hand. Though imprisoned, her abilities as a Great Archmage remained sharp. Confirming whether mana existed within this child posed no difficulty.

But then....... she quickly examined the area near the heart. The sensation of mana touching her fingertips wavered warmly. Yet, a strange sense of mismatch arose.

Struggling to hide her panic, Amille swept her perception over the shoulders and limbs. Her breath caught. This was shocking.

It is not a human, but a doll.

Due to its extreme intricacy, no one below the level of a Great Archmage like Amille could notice. She reflexively cast a brief sidelong glance toward the Prince. He stared at her quietly and gestured with his chin.

[Prince] "Is the mana level low?"

Should she reveal it was a doll? However.......

[Amille] "Where did you bring this child from?"

Her voice shook terribly. Yet, he knew Amille's hands always trembled whenever she dealt with children. He smirked and replied.

[Prince] "The Duke of Ideos. It belongs to his puppeteer."

The Duke of Ideos. Cassius Ideos.

Amille knew him better than anyone. He was not the type to care about murder cases—unless Sierra requested it.

This is her trap. She has figured out Hanael's identity and the Icarus murders.

Though Sierra likely had not uncovered the deeper secrets Amille still concealed....…

She bit her pale, trembling lip and whispered.

[Amille] "This child's mana is impure. We must destroy it."

[Prince] "Are you certain?"

[Amille] "Yes."

The Prince narrowed his brow, searching Amille's face thoroughly.

The Great Archmage was once his employee. During his youth, the Prince had discovered Amille's talent back when she was a mere courier traveling to and from the Magic Tower.

Everything moved rapidly after that. Amille was overjoyed at first, but one day, she suddenly declared her intention to sever ties with him. So, he pulled the rope tied around her neck, forcing her into utter submission.

Amille became a dog who faithfully obeyed his every command, despite possessing far more power than her master. The Prince often marveled at his own insight for recognizing Amille's capability early and leashing her since youth. Of course, she rebelled at times.......

A few years ago, my dog suddenly rebelled.

Amille had stained her hands with blood according to his wishes for the past five years. Yet, once the agreed five years passed, she dared to announce her departure for home. Even though the Prince's grand ambition remained unfulfilled, she dared to try.......

[Amille] "Please, let me go now."

[Prince] "Do whatever I command. Then I will release you."

[Amille] "For how many more years?"

[Prince] "Five years."

Her power grew by leaps and bounds daily, reaching a point where even the Prince, who raised her as his hound, struggled to maintain control. Consequently, the Prince fastened a far more powerful collar around her neck. It was a rare necklace crafted by dwarves and dragons—a specialized shock device designed for mages.

After forcing her to wear the artifact that reversed the flow of mana in her body, Amille ceased her resistance.

True to his suspicious nature, the Prince traced her pale cheek.

[Prince] "You showed some resistance earlier. Shall I re-educate my dog?"

Amille endured the torture with a blank, unreadable expression. The agonizing pain of burns consuming her fingertips washed over her. It was a brutal torment that an ordinary person could never survive. Yet, she endured.

After the torture ended, Amille killed the child with her own hands. Or rather, destroying the doll was the accurate description. She bit her white lips firmly, staring back at the Prince.

[Prince] "Amille, our goal is finally within reach."

[Amille] "......."

[Prince] "When that time comes, I will set you free."

When she remained silent, he struck her cheek.

Slap!

Despite the blow hitting her cheek, Amille offered no reply. She merely brushed her red hair back and let out a self-deprecating laugh.

[Prince] "You should say thank you when I offer to release my dog. Well?"

His bloodshot eyes locked onto her. Yet, contrasting his wide eyes, the Prince's expression remained warm. He smirked, living up to his reputation as a playboy. To an outside observer, his bright countenance resembled a young man who had just confessed his love.

[Amille] "How many more children do you intend to kill? For that 'goal' of yours.......?"

Living with her weaknesses gripped by the Prince, her strength stripped, and trapped in confinement. Amille believed she could endure this injustice. However, witnessing the dying children filled her with a rage far thicker than expected.

[Prince] "That is none of your business, Amille."

His expression twisted at Amille's defiance before brightening once more. His eyes curved beautifully into a warning.

[Prince] "Gathering enough mana for the goal is nearly complete. Get ready."

Sister, please, please.......

Sierra's past cries filled her ears. A hellish moment where Sierra's agonizing sobs echoed like auditory hallucinations. Amille closed her eyes and swallowed hard.

Any torment inflicted by the Prince mattered little, provided she could keep Sierra alive. Therefore, he must never discover that Sierra was her younger sister.

Hanael's power has awakened, and Sierra likely knows the Crown Prince is the culprit. She will try to oppose him.......

Amille bit her bloodied lip as she thought.

I need to set up one more measure.

Scanning her surroundings, she held her breath. The moment she noted the surveillance slackening, she immediately searched inside her worn robe.

The only thing I have left.

Her fingers brushed against a butterfly brooch hidden against her bare skin, closest to her heart. She reflected on the past.

[Sierra] "Sister, the baby made this in kindergarten!"

[Amille] "I told you to call yourself Sierra, didn't I?"

[Sierra] "Hmph....... Fine! Sierra made this in kindergarten! It's for you, sister!"

[Amille] "Alright, I'll keep it."

A butterfly brooch crafted long ago. Its paint peeled in places because it was made of cheap metal. It was her sole remaining hope, smuggled secretly when entering the Crown Prince's palace. The single hope that she might see Sierra again once everything ended.

But now was the time for resolve. Sierra had clearly designed a trap to lure the Prince. Approaching him posed too great a threat to her.

I must warn her. I must ensure Sierra never comes near this place again.

Amille placed her hand over the butterfly brooch and repeatedly muttered an incantation. A brilliant light radiated from the brooch beneath her touch.

At that moment, blood erupted from between her teeth. Despite the heavy bleeding, a clear, sharp light still shone past her pale face. It was her fierce conviction that Sierra must not become entangled in this peril.

Sierra had to flee. Even if Amille died, Sierra had to survive. At this very moment, that duty stood as her highest priority.

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