She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 87

The One Who Corrects the World Order

[Sierra] "How do you know that?"

The medium smiled faintly at Sierra's direct question. A strange smile played across the wrinkled face, creating an unexpectedly grim atmosphere.

[Medium] "A medium communicates with souls. I know everything."

Sierra parted her lips to ask what that meant, but froze. The medium addressed Cassius.

[Medium] "What is the item you acquired most recently?"

[Cassius] "......"

[Medium] "Something sinister resides within that object. Yet, it holds no malice. The reason the nightmares repeat is......"

[Cassius] "......The reason they appear?"

Cassius clearly suspected a specific item. Sierra narrowed her brow, watching their conversation. The medium continued leisurely.

[Medium] "Well, could it be a prophetic dream?"

[Cassius] "Cut the nonsense."

[Medium] "Or else......"

Staring deep into his bloodshot eyes, the medium spoke.

[Medium] "Have you never considered this? That the object awakens things you can't remember."

He exposed a rare look of defenseless panic before another person.

[Cassius] "Things I can't remember?"

That is impossible.

A memory meant recalling events that already occurred. But Sierra was alive.

Sierra narrowed her brow and stared at the medium. However, the medium had no intention of speaking further.

[Medium] "I will receive divine punishment if I reveal any more heavenly secrets, so I shall leave now."

Nobody dismissed her. Yet the medium stood up as if she had confidently delivered her entire message. Though a commoner, she displayed a noble dignity unbefitting a commoner standing before nobility.

Cassius fell into deep thought. While a bizarre pressure left the Grand Madam bewildered, the medium turned and walked out.

Sierra sprang up instantly like a coiled spring. She hurried after the robed medium, who moved as if covering vast distances in a single step. She raised her voice urgently.

[Sierra] "You are quite a gifted medium."

[Medium] "Gifted, is it?"

An unexpected, amused smile lined the medium's lips. Sierra stared at her, clinging to a thread of hope. She had never trusted anyone who relied on fortune-telling...... yet she strangely wanted to believe the medium now.

[Sierra] "Then do you believe keeping that object won't cause any problems?"

The medium smirked.

[Medium] "Yes. It brings him closer to the truth. If I were him, I would keep it."

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

The medium stopped walking and stared at Sierra. The old woman possessed a strange, captivating magic.

Sierra parted her lips. An opportunity arrived to test the woman's prophetic abilities without revealing Amille's identity.

[Sierra] "Then, by any chance...... what is happening to my sister?"

Staring intently at Sierra, the medium fell silent as if considering the question. In that tense moment, she delivered a disappointing answer.

[Medium] "I will not answer. I never act without a price."

[Sierra] "I intend to pay you fully."

Sierra searched her pockets. A single gold coin rolled out. But the medium shook her head.

[Medium] "Money can't serve as a proper price. However......"

Sierra stared intently at the medium's mouth.

[Medium] "I already received the payment regarding your sister. Therefore, I can offer a single word."

[Sierra] "......Have you met my sister?"

The medium stared at Sierra, then curled her lips upward. Instead of answering her question, the old woman uttered something completely unexpected.

[Medium] "Not everyone can find happiness. At the end of joy, one person must face misery. And your sister chose misery."

Sierra addressed the woman firmly.

[Sierra] "No, everyone will be happy."

Despite Sierra flatly rejecting her words, the medium's lips curved upward slightly.

[Medium] "If that happens, we will meet again."

[Sierra] "What? Who on earth are you......?"

[Medium] "Let us just say I am the one who corrects the world order. Farewell."

With those final words, the medium vanished completely.

Sierra tried to follow, but her feet felt glued to the floor. It felt as though a ghost had enchanted her.

---

[G. Madam] "It feels as though a ghost enchanted us, indeed."

Hours later, Cassius departed to examine the item briefly.

Left alone with Sierra, the Grand Madam finally snapped out of her daze and ordered a maid to track the medium's whereabouts. Just now, the maid placed an identification report on the tea table and left.

Reviewing the maid's neat report, she continued.

[G. Madam] "Only a few hours have passed, yet she is completely untraceable. She didn't even take a carriage, so where did she go? Furthermore, the person who introduced her claims she vanished entirely. Normally, I would never permit someone with an unverified identity inside. A strange urge forced me to invite that medium inside."

Sierra nodded as she listened to her rapid words. The older woman's point carried absolute validity. Sierra, too, had believed the medium's words blindly. The old woman possessed a mysterious magic.

[Sierra] "I understand. That person was incredibly strange. And......"

[G. Madam] "Cassius admitted the medium spoke the truth. It is a sheer mystery. What do you think, child?"

[Sierra] "Her words feel trustworthy, as if I heard them somewhere before......"

It was a complete mystery. Sierra frowned, blowing softly to cool her hot teacup. Watching the steam rise toward the ceiling, she fell into deep thought.

That medium is highly suspicious, but calling her a spy for the Crown Prince makes little sense.

Guided by pure instinct, Sierra doubted any connection to the Crown Prince. Moreover, the Crown Prince lacked the power to infiltrate spies deep into the Ideos mansion anyway.

The Grand Madam drank her tea elegantly and stood up.

[G. Madam] "I will take action personally. Investigating high society circles further should yield some clues."

She fluttered her fan gracefully, preparing to make an elegant exit.

[G. Madam] "Speak of the devil, our Duke arrives right on time."

Sierra expected her to leave quietly. Instead, the older woman glanced at the open door where Cassius strode inside, then leaned close to Sierra's face. A youthful playfulness lined her wrinkled features.

[G. Madam] "Aside from our little Hanael, making a new baby together sounds rather delightful."

Sierra stared in surprise. The Grand Madam's playful smile widened.

[G. Madam] "The atmosphere between you two looks wonderful lately, child."

Cassius strode forward, wrapping an arm around Sierra's shoulders as he whispered.

[Cassius] "Please stop teasing her."

The Grand Madam covered her mouth with her fan and stood fully straight.

[G. Madam] "Ah, right. Well then...... enjoy a delightful date, or whatever it is."

Sierra stood frozen like a stone statue until the door clicked shut and the footsteps vanished down the hallway. The Grand Madam, who once valued noble hierarchy above all else, had completely transformed.

Yet another person had undergone a profound shift: Cassius, who stood beside her with a faint smile playing on his lips.

[Sierra] "Cassius."

[Cathius] "Yes?"

[Sierra] "About that object."

He anticipated her worried words and answered first.

[Cassius] "I decided to keep it. It causes no immediate harm, so I will endure it just in case."

Sierra chose to drop the matter. Aside from the medium's advice, his expression had hardened firmly. Experience taught Sierra that Cassius would never budge once he adopted this stance. Therefore, she changed the subject.

[Sierra] "If it gets tough, I will hold your hand."

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

[Sierra] "Lean on me if you get scared. I am strong!"

He let out a low chuckle at her boast, rumpling her hair.

The truth behind the nightmares would emerge eventually. Now, clear strategic organization and forging a perfect weapon to counter the Crown Prince had to replace their playful banter.

[Sierra] "Since we have a temporary fix for the nightmares, we need to establish a proper plan."

[Cassius] "That is no problem."

Sierra raised her eyebrows at his ready response. Cassius gently tapped her brow and stood up. He walked toward the door with absolute confidence.

Does he have a hidden trump card?

---

The strategy session proceeded with rapid precision. The moment Cassius finished speaking, Ezel and Abel brought over a presentation board and sat opposite them.

Ezel beamed, his face showing utter allegiance to their side.

[Sierra] "What is with that sly expression?"

He grinned broadly at her remark.

[Ezel] "Sly? Please call me a double spy! We are already partners. I even took a potion that kills me if I betray you."

[Sierra] "Is that true?"

[Cassius] "Yes."

Her jaw dropped at Cassius' confirmation.

[Sierra] "Wait, is it safe to take that? What if you die?"

[Ezel] "Are you worrying about me?"

[Cassius] "If he doesn't betray us, death will not touch him."

Listening to their exchange, Abel puffed out his cheeks. The cute youth grumbled under his breath.

[Abel] "I dislike that man. His name sounds too similar to mine......"

Ezel's eyes sparkled at his complaint.

[Ezel] "Ezel, Ezelta, Zelta—I have many names, so you can call me whatever you like......"

Abel replied in a frosty tone.

[Abel] "Cut it out, Mr. Zelta. Here is the information we have gathered so far!"

Abel listed their findings piece by piece.

The Crown Prince was the true culprit of the Icarus murders and held the Great Archmage captive. All kinds of evidence related to the murders existed inside his palace.

Amille left clues for Sierra and Cassius through the butterfly brooch. Finally, Hanael possessed exceptionally pure blue water mana and stood as a potential victim of the Icarus murders......

Piecing these fragments together, I feel on the verge of understanding, yet it remains just out of reach.

She eventually hit the root of the problem.

[Sierra] "Why exactly is the Crown Prince committing these murders? Unless he is a psychopath who enjoys slaughter, he must have a specific objective."

What was his true goal? What did he gain by killing young children?

As Sierra rested her chin in her hand, pondering the mystery, Ezel chimed in.

[Ezel] "Ah, well. Fortunately...... I happen to run an underground information guild."

He cut a somewhat pathetic figure at that moment. Realizing his own clumsy execution, Ezel cleared his throat repeatedly before continuing.

[Ezel] "I put some thought into what the Crown Prince hopes to achieve using blue mana. In my own way."

Sierra stared at him, her expression clearly warning him not to waste her time. Flustered, Ezel swallowed hard and stammered.

[Ezel] "It's true this time!"

[Sierra] "Speak."

She stared at him intently.

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