She’s Not Our Daughter! - Chapter 56.2

Chapter 56 – Code Red: The Kidnapping And Killing Of Infants

* * * 

Cassius had long noticed Sierra’s acting today. She didn’t look like she was really upset nor in tears. Cassius knew her tears better than anyone else, and her being upset better than anyone else. His eyes had always been on Sierra for the past few years. He wanted to tell her that when he wiped her tears.

Even without her getting on her knees and weeping, he could gently pamper Sierra with only one finger. But if he said that, all of her efforts so far would be a mirage.

As he handed Sierra’s favorite warm flower tea to her, Cassius spoke in a low voice.

“I promised not to punish you, so don’t worry, Sierra. Is that the problem?”

“No.”

“… Then?”

Sierra smiled awkwardly. Even though she knows that it wasn’t love or affection he wanted from her, nor asking for forgiveness, he always has that look of expectation whenever he stands before Sierra. It was an inevitable dilemma for those who loved more and regretted it. You came because you missed me. Please say that Sierra. Inwardly speaking, Sierra betrayed his expectations as always.

“That… I heard something strange today, and it made me curious.”

Of course, it was enough for him to be ‘a person she needs’. To be more precise, to be ‘the only person Sierra needs’.

“The unsolved case of the kidnapping and murder of an infant, it’s called the Icarus case.”

… It was out of the blue, but Cassius is going to do his best. He lowered his gaze towards the flower tea Sierra was holding, then raised it again. Watching Sierra with her lightly trembling lashes, he burst into admiration and told her quietly,

“There was no record of that incident inside the Duke’s mansion.”

“Yes.”

He hadn’t even thought about the Icarus incident.

“I heard it was in the Imperial Library…. Can you check it out for me?”

Cassius smiled brightly. If it was Sierra’s request, it will be granted no matter what it is. Not to mention kidnapping.

“Yeah, don’t worry, I’ll find it out right away.”

… Thus, Cassius soon arrived at the Imperial Palace Library a few hours later. He pondered over Sierra’s last words.

[‘You have to tell me. As you know, I am a little worried about raising a child, and that’s it.’]

Her excuse was a little bit vague. No, it was considerably rusty. There was clearly another reason he wasn’t aware of, but he couldn’t ask Sierra directly – because he cannot touch her heart.

(T/N: Not in a literal way of having her falling in love with him. He was saying here that Cassius couldn’t ask her directly because he was afraid he would be touching Sierra’s sore spot that will affect her feelings.)

‘It would be better to ask questions while getting information.’

Being moderately emotional, Cassius opened the door of the Imperial Palace Library. Until then, Cassius had expected everything to go smoothly. However….

* * * 

“The material you requested to view is Code Red.”

Cassius raised one eyebrow.

“Code Red?”

“Yes.”

Code Red – it meant that it was a highly secured data that even the Duke Ideos couldn’t look at. Currently, only the Emperor, Empress, Crown Prince, and the four Imperial Princesses could look at it.

‘That’s weird, to have a Code Red attached in a murder case.’

He had no intention of meddling in a Code Red case. It was only right for him to take a step back so as not to get involved, since it was a topic he usually didn’t pay much attention to. However, this was something Sierra asked him for. He was not to back down without getting any information – because she asked him herself. Just thinking of Sierra’s eyes full of expectations made his heart ache.

“Why Code Red?”

The librarian wiped the sweat from his forehead and muttered hastily.

“That’s because the Royal Family directly requested security.”

“The Royal Family.”

“That….”

“Who is it?”

The librarian bit his mouth, as if unable to speak. But since he couldn’t stand Cassius’ gaze, his eyes blinked rapidly.

“It doesn’t matter if you tell me that much.”

“That….”

“Say it.”

The troubled librarian wiped the cold sweat on his forehead. His head slumped down and nodded his head as he thought that Cassius’ eyes were going to pierce him. He blinked his dead eyes while checking the index cards of records.

“That… please wait here a moment, Your Excellency.”

“….”

A few minutes later. The red-face librarian looked at Cassius with a restless expression. Cassius intuitively realized who was the one who declared Code Red on the record.

“So it was His Majesty the Emperor.”

“….”

After closing his eyes for a moment, the librarian opened his mouth carefully.

“Yes, that’s right. It was His Majesty the Emperor.”

‘Why would the Emperor, in the case Sierra was talking about….’

He thought that he should have an audience with the Emperor, but at the same time he felt that he didn’t want to. Though he was blind to Sierra, his other senses were still intact.

‘The Emperor wants to hide the murder of Icarus. Why?’

As far as he knew, it was just an ordinary serial murder case. It would be perfect if the Senior Inspector of the Metropolitan Police Department took over. Yeah, like Viscount Leonard.

‘But this case is in the hands of the Emperor, not Inspector Leonard. Why?’

It wasn’t even a completely closed case, so the police should be able to track it down.

He tilted his head at an angle, “I see.”

He realized something in the moment, but he decided not to ask any more questions in this place.

‘Anyway, my actions would be under surveillance for trying to read it if it was a Code Red murder case.’

No matter how you looked at it, it was easy to see that Sierra was looking into a fairly dangerous case.

‘I don’t mind anything else but….’

Other than that, Cassius Ideos can see Sierra in danger. That is the iron rule of his life.

‘… I don’t know exactly why she wanted to know about this case, but if Sierra wants it, then I’ll put blood on my hands.’

I should tell Sierra to forget about this case first. He walked out with heavy steps and distorted eyes. Now that this happened, he had no choice but to find out the truth about the case himself.

He checked the time. It’s time to start the assembly meeting.

* * * 

The assembly meeting ended sooner than expected. He was planning on meeting Sierra on his way back from the brief meeting. As he was making a turn towards the Imperial Palace Pharmacy, he unexpectedly heard a stranger’s voice calling him.

“Your Excellency.”

He saw an attendant wearing a bright red garment with gold leaves on it. Cassius stared at him with a curious gaze.

“What is it?”

He was the direct vassal of the emperor.

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