She’s Not Our Daughter! - Chapter 52 – An Unexpected Kidnapping

It must have been an audience with the Emperor as usual, but why does he look like that? The Imperial Palace’s old pharmacist’s expression was strangely stern. Sierra squinted her eyes at the sudden question she thought of.

The Imperial Palace’s pharmacist turned his gaze away as he left the manufacturing room pretending to be alright. But he couldn’t avoid Sierra’s tenacious gaze. She rummaged through her pockets and pulled out her pocket watch.

‘If my sister’s disappearance is somehow related to the Imperial Palace, and if the Emperor has health problems … then there must be something going on inside the Imperial Palace.’

Sierra thought deeply as she narrowed her eyes. She may have limited access to information but….

‘I don’t know if Ijiel will approach me soon.’

It is an undeniable fact that the scattered puzzle pieces were put together one by one, and she decided to focus on that. It was way better for her mental health than thinking of gloomy thoughts such as that her older sister that might be dead, who was Hanael’s biological father was, or if Cassius was just misunderstanding something.

* * * 

Her week passed peacefully more than she expected, and Ijiel didn’t approach her, contrary to Sierra’s expectations. More than that, she was leading a very pleasant pharmacy life.

“Your expression looks good today, Sierra.”

Cassius paused for a moment as he handed her the money as usual. Sierra was humming now, rather than having a dark and gloomy face.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Sierra awkwardly coughed when her feelings were openly revealed and disregarded it with her hand.

‘He can really read my emotions… How do you know that I am feeling overwhelmed with pride after collecting enough rumors in the Imperial Palace?’

She was slightly pricked with her conscience inside, but she tried to look calm outside.

Looking carefully at Sierra’s face, Cassius opened his mouth lightly and said, “I hope that good things are happening to you.”

“Hmm! The other pharmacists were nice to me, and the atmosphere there is also really good. Thank you for your concern.”

“Take this.”

Sierra held out her hand, knowing that he would hand over an envelope of money as usual, but what Cassius gave her was something unexpected.

“This….”

Sierra tilted her head with a puzzled expression. Cassius attached a small magic tool on her clothes. He then let out a low chuckle looking at Sierra’s expression.

“It’s a magic tool. It’s designed to give me a signal right away when you’re in danger.”

With her eyes wide open, Sierra pressed the magic tool on her chest and burst into an exclamation, “Goodness… just what kind of principle is this?”

She nodded her head. It was perfect for her, who was a very safety-conscious person. Of course, she was confident that she could take care of herself just well, but she never knew.

As she entered the pharmacy with a proud heart, she glanced at the bowing Lily in front of her and smiled. Lily has been taking on the role of a faithful doormat ever since she lost the confrontation not too long ago.

“Hey, Lily.”

“Ye-yes.”

Lily swallowed her saliva as she saw the liquid medicine in Sierra’s hand. It was a completely different attitude compared to when she first checked on her.

“How is the atmosphere at the pharmacy these days? Well, do you have any good news?”

“Ah! Miss Sierra is also crazy about gossip – no, that’s not it. It’s a slip of my tongue.”

“Oh yes, I am crazy about gossip, and so?”

One day, it was quite enjoyable to see Lily play the role of her subordinate. Most of the rumors she heard were from Lily. Of course, she doesn’t have any close friends other than Lily, but she had no other place to cross-check those rumors.

“Ah… come to think of it, the people at the pharmacy said that they will be having a party for Miss Sierra.”

“Party?” Puzzled, Sierra raised her eyebrow.

Lily blinked her eyes and hurriedly turned around after examining her expression.

“Yes, we usually throw a party for newbies, but I don’t know why everyone was doing this all of a sudden….”

Before long, Sierra could feel that Lily’s eyes looking at her were wary. Her skeptical attitude was very obvious to Sierra, who had become sensitive to other people’s hostility these days because of her sister’s disappearance.

‘Oh, this is a trap!’

She was feeling full without even needing to eat seeing the trap they had laid for her.

“Then, shall we go to the new party soon? When is that?” Sierra stared intently at Lily, rattling like a deer in front of a gazelle. Why is she trembling?

“Still… I think we should, right?”

“When is the party date?”

“They said that they would do it today as long as Miss Sierra is alright with it! I really have no idea what these pharmacy people are doing. They were always gossiping!”

“You also gossiped about me.”

“B-but that’s when I don’t know about Miss Sierra’s abilities….”

“Oh, yes.”

‘Lily is probably trying to pretend to be friends with me right now – I know it all. How can she change her stance so easily?’

Sierra smiled sinisterly, and then began to plot her secrets.

‘I guess I’ll have to keep this pharmacy’s people and discipline.’

Recipes of medicines for diarrhea remedy, truth potion, and restraining medicine quickly passed by the iron bars in her head.

‘Well, as long as I don’t get caught. Nothing will happen if they don’t do anything to me.’

Sierra smiled contentedly and nodded her head as she wore her heart inside her sleeve.

(T/N: wearing one’s heart inside sleeve=hiding true intentions)

“Alright then, let’s do it today. How about at the secluded alley tonight – no, how about at dinner tonight?”

She was invited to a celebration where the bullying party will be carried out under the pretext of a celebratory party. Sierra smirked and hummed. Next to her, Lily let out a long sigh.

* * *