She's Not Our Daughter! Ch 90

Run Away Immediately

Cassius looked at Sierra. How should he answer her question about whether she could meet the Great Archmage even for a brief moment?

In truth, nothing was certain yet. Strictly speaking, the correct response was that it would be practically difficult. Yet, when it came to Sierra, he knew only one answer.

[Cassius] "Yes."

Nothing was clear yet, but since she requested it, he spoke firmly to emphasize his promise once more.

[Cassius] "You can meet her. Just wait a little."

[Sierra] "Cassius."

Desperation filled her eyes as she looked at him and spoke his name, her lips setting into a firm line. Therefore, Cassius had to accomplish it. For her sake.

[Sierra] "Cassius, listen, if it's too dangerous......"

Sierra repeated his name with a trembling voice. Closing her eyes out of desperation, she opened them again.

[Sierra] "Don't overdo it......"

Her expression grew more tender. That alone sufficed for him.

Cassius was no optimist. He believed he needed a more meticulous plan to meet Amille.

---

Inside the grand meeting hall where the Crown Prince presided over the officials, Cassius watched with utter indifference as the Prince clapped.

[Prince] "These are the mages from the Magic Tower who assist me."

Cassius let out a quiet groan at the sudden entrance of the group of mages.

[Cassius] "Ah."

On the outside, Cassius retained a detached and cold demeanor, but deep perplexity gripped him. Naturally so, as the mages standing before him were far from ordinary.

The Crown Prince chuckled, extending a hand.

[Prince] "I can't tell you exactly what task they perform."

His expression was highly sly.

[Prince] "This is the Great Archmage representing the Magic Tower, Amille."

Cassius' piercing gaze locked onto Amille with burning intensity. She possessed a unique appearance: the top of her hair shone gold, shifting into deep red toward the ends.

I thought she was persecuted for being a redhead, but was her hair originally blonde?

Information regarding the Great Archmage remained strictly classified. However, a man of Duke Ideos' stature easily acquired information about the Magic Tower.

Wearing a strange expression, Cassius rested his chin on his hand and stared at Amille.

A strange sense of deja vu.

Although meeting for the first time, a bizarre sensation washed over his entire body, as if they had crossed paths at least once before.

[Amille] "It is an honor to meet you."

She acted as though meeting Cassius for the first time. However, a faint memory of that face lingered in his mind. Though indifferent to others, Cassius possessed a brilliant intellect and never forgot a face he encountered.

[Cassius] "......"

Standing still, he curled one side of his mouth into a cynical sneer.

[Cassius] "Pleasure."

[Prince] "Ah."

The Crown Prince chuckled.

[Prince] "Why? Did you assume the Magic Tower and I shared no connection?"

[Cassius] "......"

Cassius offered no reply. His expression held neither murderous intent nor panic, reflecting absolute tranquility.

Because Cassius refused to engage, the Prince's provocation failed. Annoyance clouded his features before his usual sly mask returned within seconds.

Looking at Cassius, the Crown Prince gestured with his chin.

[Prince] "Sit."

[Cassius] "Yes."

Cassius sat directly to the left of the Crown Prince. Opposite him sat the weak-willed Marquis Madeleine, his beard trembling violently. The Marquis' sallow complexion signaled to Cassius that the Crown Prince would fail in this meeting once again.

[Prince] "We must now discuss a new monster war."

Bewilderment blanketed the faces of the officials. Naturally so, as the imperial army, spearheaded by Cassius Ideos, had achieved total victory long ago.

Refusing to back down before the Crown Prince, Cassius succinctly pointed out the reality.

[Cassius] "I understand the monster war has already concluded."

Following his words, the other officials began whispering in agreement.

Catching the rising hostility in the room, the Crown Prince chuckled.

[Prince] "No, it is not."

Seated at the very foot of the table, the Crown Prince gestured briefly toward Amille, whose face remained entirely hidden beneath her robe.

[Prince] "Speak."

[Amille] "First, I must inform you that the monster gate will reopen."

As her raspy voice echoed, the murmurs intensified.

[Amille] "And it will be far larger than before."

The Crown Prince spoke.

[Prince] "In that sense, I evaluate the previous monster war as a total failure."

Staring fixedly at the Prince, Cassius curled one side of his lip into a cold sneer.

[Cassius] "If it was a failure, we simply need to close the gate leading to the monster world once more."

While highly provocative to direct at the Crown Prince, the speaker was the Duke of Ideos. His triumph in the monster war had elevated his house to a position of absolute authority.

Deeply displeased, the Prince raised an eyebrow and snapped.

[Prince] "If the previous campaign failed, the Ducal House can't escape accountability. Are you throwing up a smokescreen in advance?"

Cassius closed his eyes, then opened them.

[Cassius] "If the previous monster war ended in failure, I will gladly bear the responsibility."

A succinct reply. The Prince smirked at Cassius' rigid stance.

[Prince] "Right, that's more like it."

His face wore the confidence of a man with a hidden trump card. The Prince's visible relief didn't stop Cassius from pressing further.

[Cassius] "However, Your Imperial Highness must also take responsibility."

[Prince] "Me? Responsibility?"

Despite the Crown Prince's irritated demeanor, Cassius continued bluntly.

[Cassius] "You have dismissed the sacrifices of the soldiers who won the monster war with a single word: failure."

He established a righteous justification to oppose the Crown Prince's claim.

[Cassius] "Whether the past monster war stands as a success or a failure, our fighting achieved a temporary peace, did it not?"

He spoke quietly.

[Cassius] "We currently possess absolutely no evidence."

[Prince] "......"

[Cassius] "Yet you declare defeat with excessive confidence. These are your own subjects. Will you tarnish their honor based on baseless nonsense?"

Silence engulfed the assembly hall at his words. The Duke spoke the truth; the Crown Prince still lacked any concrete basis for his claims.

Most of the gathered officials stole covert glances at Cassius' expression. Although the Crown Prince hosted the meeting, almost no one considered the royal's political standing or influence. The Crown Prince's authority remained weak.

Aware of this reality more than anyone, the Crown Prince curled one side of his mouth into a chilling smile.

[Prince] "Fine, we can't inform everyone just yet."

He scowled, gesturing carelessly.

[Prince] "A conversation with the Great Archmage over there will convince you. You will see that your war ended in total defeat."

[Cassius] "......"

As both Amille and Cassius fell silent, the Crown Prince played his card.

[Prince] "I shall leave the room so the two of you can speak alone."

[Cassius] "For what reason?"

[Prince] "The Great Archmage of the Magic Tower made a significant request. She expressed a deep desire to inform you of the truth behind the monster war."

He smirked slyly throughout the exchange. In contrast, Cassius maintained a stark, dry demeanor.

Keeping her eyes cast downward, Amille nodded quietly.

[Amille] "I intend to explain why the previous monster war resulted in defeat."

At her words, the officials hesitantly rose from their seats.

---

[Amille] "Are you insane?"

The moment they were finally left alone in the hall, Amille suddenly shouted like a roaring beast, quickly scanning her surroundings. The cold, dismissive attitude she displayed earlier vanished completely.

For a split second, Cassius wondered if his ears deceived him. The statement struck him with such perplexity that it felt like a mere hallucination. Yet Amille's eyes flared with fierce intensity, dispelling any thought of a misunderstanding.

[Cassius] "I have no idea what you are talking about."

[Amille] "......"

The woman standing before him was neither Sierra nor Hanael. He had no reason to court her favor. He bared his teeth without restraint.

[Amille] "There is no time. I barely...... I barely managed to convince him."

She omitted the name, but the identity remained obvious: the Crown Prince. Though Amille had acted like the prince's loyal tool until now, she clearly harbored a hidden plot.

Cassius tightened his fists, staring intently at Amille. She opened her mouth.

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

The informal address didn't shock him. Strangely, Amille appeared highly vulnerable, yet her expression showed she knew exactly what words she uttered.

Instead of reprimanding Amille for daring to speak informally, Cassius merely observed her in silence.

[Amille] "Run away immediately."

[Cassius] "......What?"

No one had ever told him to flee. He had never heard such words even when he threw himself into the monster war at barely twenty, driven to a desperate struggle after losing Sierra. Yet Amille's expression carried deep sincerity.

As he narrowed his brow, trying to read her mind, Amille whispered in a desperate tone.

[Amille] "Take Sierra and Hanael and escape right now."

Countless questions flooded his mind. Yet he remained silent. Instead, he spoke a single phrase.

[Cassius] "If we run away."

At those words, panic washed over her face.

[Amille] "Then you can defy fate. Both of them—no, all three of you can survive."

[Cassius] "Are you telling us to live in hiding for the rest of our lives?"

She nodded desperately at his question.

[Amille] "Yes, hide for the rest of your lives. A day will come when you will thank me."

[Cassius] "Amille."

Pushing back her messy hair with a tense expression, she snapped.

[Amille] "Why do you keep calling my name? There is no time. Answer me immediately."

Her expression showed absolute finality, yet her claims sounded like sheer nonsense. However, a more critical matter existed.

[Cassius] "Are you actually Hanael's mother?"

At that exact moment, her face twisted as if she might vomit. Cassius stared at her, narrowing his brow. She pressed a hand to her mouth, struggling to breathe.

[Amille] "That is......"

He focused intensely on her expression. Looking at his furrowed brow, Amille tried to speak.

[Amille] "Cough, ack!"

As if her body refused to let her speak further, Amille suddenly coughed up blood.

Watching the dark red blood stream down her chin, Cassius realized that the truth behind this entire affair was far more......

[Cassius] "You did something, didn't you?"

......bizarre than he originally thought. Examining Amille closely, he maintained a cynical tone.

[Cassius] "A restriction curse binds you."

[Amille] "......"

[Cassius] "That is why you can't answer. A vital restriction prevents you from speaking. Am I correct?"

Amille appeared entirely unable to even nod.

If this woman is actually Hanael's mother......

That day, Sierra had spoken to him.

First, let me ask you a favor. I just want to find the Great Archmage because something feels suspicious.

And......

You might not believe me, but she is Hanael's mother. That is why I want to find her even more.

Cassius quietly held his breath. Long ago, he had received a clue from Sierra regarding Hanael's mother......

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