Chapter 9

Chapter 9 – I’m Looking For Clues To This Misunderstanding

Sierra, who noticed that godmother had been silent for a while, soon stiffened like a deer in front of headlights.

‘Does she hate me enough to go silent? Well, she did pay me five years ago, and I ended up coming back…’

I was afraid and hoped the godmother doesn’t hate Hanael as well.

She clutched Sierra’s hand and said.

“…You’re finally here, Sierra.”

Sierra faltered when she saw her teary eyes.

‘That’s weird?’

Sierra glanced at her. However, the godmother was steadfast and serious.

I was a little scared when I saw her mouth closed and her stubborn eyes.

“Madam, what do you mean…”

Of course, the godmother was thinking differently.

That day, when she recalled Sierra’s eyes, one corner of her heart felt too heavy.

She was thinner now than the Sierra five years ago. She’s become more vulnerable and can disappear at any moment. The godmother clenched her fist quietly.

“It’s just as I said. I’ve been waiting for you.”

The godmother’s voice crept out. Sierra looked at her one more time in embarrassment. Her eyes proved she didn’t understand the situation.

The godmother breathed a long sigh.

“I don’t know how I’ll pay for my bad karma…”

Looking at Sierra’s trembling shoulders, she looked thinner than before. The godmother gave a long sigh and grabbed Sierra’s hand tightly.

“Long time no see, marchioness. I’m sorry, we meet again.”

“…What’s there for you to be sorry for?”

“Y… You gave me the money back then, but I stand right in front of you again…”

“No, Sierra.”

The godmother’s face distorted when she saw Sierra’s warmhearted expression. She had to pay for her past sins.

How long has she been waiting to be kind to Sierra?!

“Yes, I did… something terrible to you.”

“…?”

Of course, Sierra didn’t understand her remorseful feelings.

The godmother handed her money, and Sierra received it. In her eyes, it was just that.

‘Has she weakened a lot over the years?’

Her gray hair became more grayish, and she opened her mouth in a quiet tone.

“When you left, Cassius became… I’ve regretted it for five years. Now that I’ve met you again, I want to be more kind.”

“…What?”

“That’s when I separated you from Cassius…”

“Ah… You did?”

“Yes, asking you to leave Cassius… was the most regrettable mistake I’ve made in my entire life.”

“I see…? Why?”

“A moment’s misjudgment led to my nephew, Cassius, being ruined for more than five years…”

No, that was enough to ruin him?

Seeing how Cassius used to look fuller, but now his face shows he has lost weight, proved this was a bit serious. I didn’t know it was that bad.

“There is darkness in my family. It hurt my heart… I regretted it.”

When she saw her, Sierra realized.

What… This is definitely strange.

“It’s been very tough, child.”

“…I lived well. I was very happy you gave me that money.”

The godmother’s eyes shook.

“Don’t say that. A pure child like you…”

“…?”

“You’re trying to tell me to not feel guilty, right? You said that five years ago…”

“That’s… not what I meant.”

Though the godmother already mistook her as an overly pure child.

Well, how should I deal with this?

While Sierra was pondering, the godmother seemed to have already confirmed everything.

“Ha… What on earth did I do to you back then…”

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I’m sorry, but you seem to be creating dark history, madam…

However, she clasped Sierra’s hands even harder without any refutation.

“Sierra, thank you for coming back. I’ll take good care of you and your child.”

Well, things are definitely going crazy.

Sierra thought seriously.

“Thank you for your words, madam. I’ll only be here for three months. I’m leaving after Hanael’s paternity test.”

“…”

The godmother’s eyes turned red. She looked upright and cold-blooded, but her heart was weak.

“Yes, Yes. Of course, you want to leave. You’ve had a hard time, and you feel damaged…”

Oh…

This person looks like a stubborn wall.

She’s similar to Cassius.

Sierra is now beginning to look deeper into the situation.

In three months, the paternity test results will be revealed, and this misunderstanding will come to an end. So, I can politely prove them wrong.

“Oh, I didn’t suffer much, but I’m grateful for your kind deeds…”

Sierra decided to lay an iron plate. For now, she emphasized several times that Hanael was not Cassius’ daughter. It was the people in this family who did not believe her. She is innocent.

Sierra thought of a great quote.

If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it…!

However, it may be impossible to just enjoy this recklessly.

Cassius and the Marchioness of Mails, their scales were beyond Sierra’s imagination!

***

A week has passed.

And during that time, we faced an era of cataclysmic change.

Cassius acquired all the toy-selling companies for Hanael, just as he did for Sierra. Sierra felt like she was watching a happy ending in a romance novel sold out to the world. The problem is that she is not the main character of the romance novel.

In addition, Cassius said he “still lacks a lot.” It’s all too much for Sierra… The more he does this, the more anxious she becomes.

‘Cassius, are you serious?’

Cassius consistently asked Sierra out on a date. He ignored her rejections and was bombarding her with gifts. As if to comfort the wounded Sierra with gifts….

And all his attention made Sierra feel unintentionally fraudulent. Feeling burdened, she closed the door and continued to study medicine in her room, asking for her friends’ addresses.

Sierra’s actions started a butterfly effect…

“Well, it seems Miss Sierra isn’t accepting courtship.”

“Oh, dear…”

“She’s returning to where she came from!”

…It’s caused a tremendous stir in the duke’s mansion. Even the words of his servants were heard by Sierra. It was thanks to Hanael, who ran around the duke’s mansion like it was her own home.

“It’s rumored that my mom hates the weird man!”

“I don’t hate…”

“You don’t hate that strange man? Even though he left us behind?”

“That strange man is just strangely delusional…”

Sierra decided to put up with it for now, although it was a bit unsettling. It was a very comfortable misunderstanding for Sierra. Besides, I signed the contract so that we would have no disadvantage!

Of course, even though it had only been a week, the mansion was rearranged around Sierra.

Not only Cassius, but also the godmother who is in charge of the duke’s estate was as dramatic as Cassius.

‘I guess the godmother didn’t lie when she said she regretted things for five years. I don’t understand why she would, but…’

Sierra was dragged into tea time with the godmother again today. She tried to find Sierra’s favorite tea by helping her taste various different teas. Teas that exceeded her monthly salary were randomly placed on the table per leaf.

“You’re too precious to me…”

“…I love it.”

Sierra had a big appetite. She could eat anything well.

“Yes, don’t worry, I’ll help you with whatever you want. Is there anything else you want to do?”

It’s nice to have a strong supporter.

“If you hold a tea party, I’d like to be your chaperone.”

The godmother sighed low, placing her hand near her heart. Sierra shook her head. That’s too much! That’s too much!

“Chaperone? I’m a commoner, so I can’t make my debut…”

“Commoner?”

Her eyes became very fierce.

“…Who dares to look down on you?”

“What?”

“If someone refers to you as a commoner, you must tell me.”

No, this world was a noble-centered society.

Although Sierra’s older sister is a greater archmage than most nobles… people don’t know that. Sierra had the godmother’s attention and replied awkwardly.

“…I-It’s fine. Nothing special happened. Oh, I’d like to ask you a favor.”

Cassius was very anxious that Sierra would run away. Perhaps that’s why he seemed to want to prevent Sierra from seeing others.

I’m telling you, it’s like he’s building a beautiful cage…

Of course, Sierra didn’t want to do anything to provoke the already sensitive Cassius.

“I’m looking for a friend, Lina, who graduated from the Academy of Medicine… It’s been five years and I can’t find where she is.”

“Ah, your friend…”

The godmother had a heartbreaking look on her face.

“You left this capital because of me, and you haven’t been able to contact your friends for five years…”

“I’ve already told you, it’s not your fault I left the capital.”

“…Yes, yes.”

Seeing her eyes moisten, she didn’t seem to believe Sierra’s words at all.

Sierra decided to leave. They won’t listen to me anyway. I’ll just let them misunderstand!

“I wonder what exactly happened over the past five years, though especially, I wonder how the marchioness, a noble, turned out like this…”

Sierra recalled Lina, a friend from the Academy of Medicine who was called the capital’s source of information. Lina may have a clue about this incident.

The godmother had a keen observation with her eyes. She continued once again.

“Your friend… Lina from the Academy of Medicine. I’ll start looking immediately. I’ll invite her to this estate, and we can have a chat.”

It was Sierra’s first request, which made her nervous no matter what she asked her.

The godmother was almost sixty years old but swore to complete her mission well. Sierra was a little embarrassed to see her like that, but…

For now, I decided to endure this situation for three months and enjoy it.

***

Meanwhile, there was a strange rumor circulating in society.

There is a woman staying at Duke Idios’ estate. But she’s a witch. This witch uses magic to charm the godmother and Cassius, and she’s doing whatever she wants. This witch is very charming…

“Crazy.”

Andante, the wife of Marquis Mails and the godmother’s daughter-in-law, frowned when she heard the rumors of a low-class society.