She’s Not Our Daughter! - Chapter 25

Chapter 25

“There is a lack of energy, often falling, stress, heartburn, pain, and a sudden increase in heart rate…”

The maid talked about her symptoms except for the fact that Madam Andante, whom she served, was unwell.

The twin doctors faithfully transcribed the symptoms from the maid. They decided to think about how to properly treat the symptoms.

* * * 

After receiving orders from the godfather to treat the Marchioness Andante Mails, the twins went outside.

They somewhat enjoyed the process of taking on a new patient. Lanya, the red-haired twin doctor, opened her mouth carefully.

“…Let’s place a bet, shall we?”

“What kind of bet?”

“About that Sierra.”

Kilo’s blue eyes twinkled at Lanya’s words. Come to think of it, they’ve been thinking about challenging Sierra’s abilities.

That curiosity stemmed from their teacher’s remarks not long ago, who had attended the symposium with her.

“I think Sierra is quite brilliant. In other words, she is a genius.”

However, it was confusing because she was different from the other students. The teacher, who was confident in his abilities to discover talented people, didn’t seem to know exactly what Sierra was capable of.

Thanks to that, the curiosity of the twin doctors gradually deepened, and wondered if their teacher had been correct.

And so they made a bet.

“Honestly, I can’t seem to find a solution just by looking at those symptoms.”

“Yeah, me too. I don’t know unless I examine the patient myself.”

Kilo, who was walking slowly, extended his opinion.

“But if she’s really a genius…”

Lanya continued for him.

“Of course, even with just written symptoms, you will notice the patient’s condition and how to cure it.”

She hummed.

“Okay, let’s bet. I bet she’s a genius and our teacher is right.”

“Then I’ll bet against her. I can’t believe it for some reason. It’s too unclear…”

“…Hmm, okay?”

“Yeah, let’s have fun. Losing only a bit of money isn’t that fun, is it?”

The existence of a doctor in the Hippo Kingdom was truly inviolable.

The stakes were raised.

“Shall I write in the note what the maid said?”

They looked at each other and smiled. Lanya took out the notepad and pen that she always kept in her pocket and scribbled it down.

[Weakness, falling often, stress, heartburn, pain, sudden increase in heart rate. What do you think is this illness? And what medications does she need? I would like to hear Sierra’s opinions.]

Kilo and Lanya, doctors from the Kingdom of Hippo, tried to solve the patient’s symptoms just by looking at it. If Sierra were a proper pharmacist, she would have no choice but to respond to this note. They looked at each other playfully.

“Then, shall we hand over this note and go meet Andante, the Marquis?”

Upon the return of the note, Sierra’s skills would be revealed to be genuine or fake.

* * * 

Sierra did not know that the twin doctors from Hippo were particularly interested in her or that she was at the center of the spotlight.

She was just languidly reading a romance novel in her room. A happy life of eating cookies while reading a new book filled with a maid in a cupboard!

‘As expected, true love is only in a romance novel. It’s really fun?’

Love in reality and love in fiction are definitely different. Unlike in reality that can’t overcome the difference in status, there is an eternal happy ending in the novel.

Sierra grinned widely and crossed her legs.

But just when she was concentrating on reading the novel, someone whispered a low voice behind her.

“What are you reading?”

[That Hot Night] and [What medicine did the Duke give the commoners?]

“Ahh!” Surprised, Sierra hastily dropped the romance novel to the floor.

“Hey, at least tell me you’re gonna come in here!”

“I think you’re too focused on reading.”

Cassius sat across from Sierra. Now, his expression has changed into the brightest in recent years. He seemed to enjoy the fact that Sierra said what she wanted.

Sierra pointed to the table where there were mountains of letters and invitations.

“Cassius, are you saying this is all for me?”

“Yes. I tried to block letters being sent to you, but they just kept on coming”

Sierra stared at the reality she was experiencing for the first time.

“The maid’s work got harder. Everyone must be curious about me.”

Cassius nodded, looking at Sierra’s beautiful face and soft green eyes.

“…Yes, that’s right. Everyone must be curious about you.”

“Curious about me staying by your side, probably.”

Cassius smiled. Sierra didn’t mean it that way, but somehow, it was like affirming the fact that she will always be at his side.

‘He shouldn’t become more attached to me. Eventually I’ll leave him and he’ll meet someone else. I’m a commoner, so to speak, but in a way… also a debutante?’

“…Do you want to debut?”

“Everyone does, every girl wants to be a debutante”

Cassius looked a little overwhelmed by the frank answer. He hesitated for a moment.

“Let’s make you a debutante, then. I’ll make a noble family adopt you.”

‘I just said that being a debutante was a girl’s dream.’

“No…”

Sierra shook her head, but Cassius went on.

“If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll make a noble family adopt you but you don’t have to see them so often. Tell me anything you want to do, Anything”

“No… No, you don’t have to do that, Cassius.”

At Sierra’s words, Cassius nodded like a gentle sheep. The rumors about him couldn’t be when he was so sweet. Why were there even such ugly rumors about his personality? Was it because of the war?

Well, it was not something to care for. Sierra looked through the letters one by one, trying to forget what Cassius had said about debuts and adoptions from noble families.

“I’d like to select a few more ball invitations, Cassius.”

She pointed to the invitations scattered all over the table. Cassius also read some.

“You shouldn’t be too low-key and attend only the balls hosted by viscounts or barons. The noble ladies will gossip about it. I’ll pick a place where you can relax.”

Sierra nodded.

‘Oh? This is Marchioness Andante Mails’ invitation to a masquerade ball.’

[Since it’s a masquerade I don’t think it will be too much of a problem. I want to make a brief apology.]

Sierra carefully put down the ball’s invitation. Could she really join? But Andante hated her, and Sierra didn’t want to take risks.

A note fell out.

Her brow furrowed as she read it.

「Weakness, falling often, stress, heartburn, pain, sudden increase in heart rate. What do you think is this illness? And what medications does she need? I would like to hear Sierra’s opinions.」

She’d have to research it soon. But how would they listen to her opinion? Sierra’s heart pounded with excitement and competitiveness.

‘I don’t know what kind of idiot they are, but they’ll regret messing with me.’

She smiled slyly, and Cassius looked straight at her.

“I have a good idea, Sierra.”

“Huh? What is it?”

Cassius leaned forward and threw all the ball invitations on the trash can next to him. He then whispered his idea into her ear.

Sierra’s eyes widened.

“Are you serious?’

“I’m always serious.”

“Isn’t that too much?”

Cassius only smiled softly as if telling her not to worry.

* * * 

There was no reply to the invitation given to the Duke of Ideos.

Marchioness Andante sat face to face with the princess.

“Miss Sierra seems to have decided to ignore all of our invitations… I don’t think she’ll go.”

She stood, preparing to leave.

“Are you going to go back now?”

“Yes, Your Highness—”

She coughed and blood dripped from her mouth, which she wiped away with a handkerchief. She put the bloodstained cloth on the table and wiped her lips with the back of her hand.

Andante remembered that her mother-in-law had arranged for her to be treated.

Andante bit her lip. No one knew that she was sick, and it should have stayed that way.

“You must be in critical condition, Madam.”

The Princess, who knew everything, sneered at her.

“But I can’t go back.”

Andante looked straight at the empress and grabbed the pen again. They were on the same boat.

“Please… Your Highness.”

The Princess smiled, tapping the parchment with her index finger a couple of times.

“I will invite her to our salon by exercising the sole command of the nobility. Write it down.”

The sole command of the nobility. It is one of the evils that aristocrats can legally exercise against commoners. High-ranking aristocrats above the rank of marquis could, for one instance only, force commoners to do anything except extreme punishment such as forced labor.

Even other aristocrats could not intervene in the ‘single command.’ However, it was also a blemish on the reputation of the aristocrat if they used it on a commoner. Nobles hated being associated with commoners.

“That’s…”

All of this was for the family. But to use the sole command that could damage the honor of the nobility… Andante’s eyes contorted in embarrassment, and the princess smiled softly.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure this doesn’t leak out either. Now, Marchioness?”

“……”

“Let’s write it now.”

Andante grabbed the quill with a trembling hand. But her handwriting was not easily written. Then the Princess calmly threw a biennial.

“I’ll help you a little with your family’s problems, Marchioness.”

Finally, she heard the creak of a pen in her hand. Soon, an invitation would come that Sierra could never refuse.