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nTranslator and Editor: Ddalgi and Wyvern

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nChapter 36

nAs she walked down the hallway to the doctors’ annex, Sierra gulped and looked around. Sierra’s feelings were a little encouraged at the thought that it might be the last time she would walk through this splendid mansion. From the high-rise spire, the flooring made of luxurious marble, the tapestry carefully crafted by artisans to prevent the cold from seeping through the wall, to the old and valuable art pieces that were skillfully maintained every day.

n“I will never forget it.”

n“What, Miss Sierra?” the maid asked, puzzled.

n“Even if I have to leave this duke’s mansion.”

nAs if answering Sierra’s secret thoughts, the maid also smiled and spoke cautiously. “Miss Sierra’s dazzling spirit of sacrifice demonstrated at the duke’s mansion.”

n‘…A dazzling spirit of sacrifice? Did I do that?’

nSierra was confused for a moment, and the maid stopped walking as well. “Even the unsparing efforts you gave to His Excellency, Duke Cassius Ideos.”

n‘… Is this about me?’

nThe maid was praising her too much, which made her secretly pleased.

n‘When am I going to enjoy this luxury again?’

nThe thought of finally leaving the residence of Duke Ideos made her feel somewhat lonely. Sierra smiled proudly. “Sure. I’ll do it.”

nIt is the era of self-appeal. Sierra nodded and entered the annex where the doctors were staying. For some reason, even this space felt bare.

n***

nEarly that morning, before Sierra entered.

nCassius heard that the paternity test results came out before Sierra. He had been having a rather dreary day and sat opposite to his godmother.

nTheir eyes met.

n“What will you do if you aren’t the father?”

nCassius smiled. “It’s me, whatever… I don’t really care.”

n‘Depending on the results of today’s result, maybe we should turn the godmother into an enemy.’

nThe godmother stared intently at Cassius. “I’ve already lived enough.”

nIt was an ambiguous statement. In the first place, he didn’t know that this might be the case because the character of the godmother itself was not a person who confided in others.

nCassius, who looked down at the steaming teacup, answered his words. “Exactly what are you talking about?”

n“…I’m about sixty years old, I have no intention of meddling in the family.”

n“Does that mean that you won’t interfere with Sierra in any way?”

n“…You’ve never thought of the assumption that Hanael isn’t your child.”

nAt the words of the godmother, Cassius smiled softly. “No.” His mouth loosened.

nThe godmother had a rather hard and stubborn face, but their thoughts were largely the same.

n“I don’t care.” Until then, Cassius’s teacup, unlike the godmother’s, was empty. He chuckled as he filled half of it. “Even this black tea is Sierra’s love.”

nAlready, the duke’s mansion had been customized according to Sierra’s taste, and she could have it all if she wanted. And Cassius wanted that, but Sierra currently didn’t seem to want anything…

nCassius sighed and closed his eyes.

nThe godmother, who was watching him, carefully opened his mouth. “I’m afraid for you when you lose her.”

nCassius snapped, “That won’t happen.”

nThe godmother looked at Cassius with a pitiful gaze, but Cassius’s expression remained stiff and emotionless, unlike before. “It will never happen.”

nHe had already lost Sierra once, and he lived without dying for five years. Like an addict, he always thirsted for affection when he was with Sierra. His life was already pledged to her. A small knock was heard from the closed door.

n“Duke Ideos, this is Hentel, the doctor of Hippo Kingdom.”

nCassius, who was looking at the doorway, frowned slightly. “Come in.”

nThe door opened with a clicking sound, and behind Hentel, who walked proudly with a waving white beard, there were doctors carrying a paternity test kit.

n‘Indeed…’

nCassius, who had never been nervous even in front of a monster, was very nervous at this moment. He looked at the faces of the doctors who were sitting next to each other on the sofa. Kilo had a cynical expression on his face, Ranya’s was excited, while Hentel’s was unreadable.

nCould it be that Hanael was not his child, as Sierra said? The results were due to be revealed today.

n“Sierra will be here soon.” He closed his eyes and opened them again. “Let’s wait together.”

nThe tea in the teacup that he had just poured was already cold.

n***

nSierra hummed and entered the annex. As the maid said, everyone was already there.

nThe godmother looked at Sierra and jumped up with a look of restlessness. “Come here, sweetheart.”

n“Yes, sir.”

n“It was very cold coming here, wasn’t it?”

nSierra shrugged her shoulders and shook her head, but the godmother made a pitiful face,

nThe brush wrapped around Sierra’s shoulder.

n“…?”

nThe doctors watched the bewildering behavior of the godmother, famous for his nobility. But there was something more wonderful.

nCassius sat next to Sierra and whispered, “It’s your favorite rose-scented tea.”

n“Yes, thank you.”

nSierra and Cassius looked at each other and smiled. The doctors were stunned, unable to adjust to the mysterious atmosphere of the three. Obviously, this mansion of Ideos must be a space familiar with aristocratic and class culture… Sierra, a commoner and a woman who was even offered a paternity test, seemed too comfortable. Besides, she was talking informally to the Duke.

nWith a low voice, he said, “…I thought you were looking at me like a ghost.”

nCassius’ manners had become quite natural with Sierra recently. Therefore, they did not notice that it was strange for a nobleman to treat a commoner like that in front of others.

n‘Well, this ends today.’

nSierra stared forward again, struggling to find her composure.

nNoticing Sierra’s reaction, Cassius looked to the doctors “Now then, let’s brief the paternity test results.”

n“Yes, sir.”

nFirst of all, Hentel began to explain seriously. “This step-by-step test is estimated to be more than 80 percent accurate and has been tested in animals and clinically in humans.”

nHentel talked extensively about the effectiveness of paternity testing. But Sierra had no idea. Because if that paternity test was really a proper test, it would definitely catch the fact that there was no direct biological relationship between Sierra, Hanael, and Cassius.

nSierra yawned a little, and Cassius asked the doctors to start with the basics.

n“Hanael is related to Sierra.”

n‘Of course, she’s my sister’s daughter.’

nNo matter how much she looked at him, he had a great talent for creating tension. If she hadn’t firmly believed that Hanael wasn’t her daughter, Sierra would have waited with tension in her hands too. “As a result of the examination, a blue wave suspected of being related by blood was revealed. Now, the next question is whether the Duke and Hanael are related.”

nThat was the point. Sierra yawned inwardly. It was a little sad. Now, thinking that today was the end of this luxurious experience of all the things she liked…

n“Hanael’s blue wavelength and Cassius’s magic wavelength. If you check it, you’ll know…”

nSierra stared at the doctor’s test strip with narrowed eyes. In the diagram on the left, the wavelength of Hanael’s magic was recorded, and in the diagram on the right, the wavelength of Cassius’ magic was recorded.

n‘…Wait a minute, I think it’s similar? Isn’t it?’

nSierra paused for a moment. But that couldn’t be the case, she sank into the sofa with a little more peace of mind.

n“…and more than 80% similarity was derived, so it was confirmed that the paternity was correct.”

n…Wait a minute, was it true that they were related?

nHer eyes were as round as saucers.

n‘What is this situation…?’

nThings that Sierra did not foresee continued to unfold. The only good thing was that Hanael wasn’t there.

n“Yeah, that’s right.” He tried to stay calm, but there were signs of happiness and regret.

nSierra didn’t want to see Cassius fall apart.

n“Excuse me…”

n“Yes, Miss Sierra.”

nRanya and Kilo looked at Sierra with a sorry expression.

n“…I think I heard it wrong, but can you tell me one more time?”

nRanya looked at Sierra and read the test paper again clearly. “According to the results of the first test with more than 80 percent accuracy.”

n“Yes.”

n“Hanael is the daughter of Duke Cassius and Miss Sierra.”

nHanael is the daughter of Duke Cassius and Miss Sierra.

nHanael is Duke Cassius’ and Miss Sierra’s…

nHanael is…

nThe words echoed in her head.

nIt was only then that Sierra looked around during that dreadful day. Even the godmother, who looked at Sierra with pity, and Cassius, who seemed to cry at any moment…

n‘What, is it real? Isn’t that a joke? Am I really wrong?’

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