Translator and Editor: Lily and Nabi

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Chapter 6 – This Is Like A Forced Flower Path

Cassius literally took care of all the preparations for the departure. Everything went by so fast that Sierra was embarrassed.

First, he paid a pharmacist to protect her pharmacy while Sierra was away.

“I’m the best graduate from the Academy of Pharmacology.”

…No, what kind of top graduate is a pharmacist at a rural pharmacy?

Isn’t that a waste of talent?

But there was something even more pressing.

“I’m a brave knight.”

While Sierra and Hanael would be away, they even picked up a knight to protect the mansion from getting robbed. But a brave man…?

‘What is the scale of this…?’

Of course, the effect of the stealth magic my sister cast over me is gone, so it would be reassuring if the brave knight protected the mansion since they don’t know what kind of monster will appear.

‘I think I’m going to spoiled by him because he’s only doing what I want!’’

Cassius, who was looking at the confused Sierra, quietly opened his mouth.

“It’s not much, but accept it, Sierra.”

“Well, this is a big deal…”

“This is nothing…”

What is the scale of workability? Sierra decided to prepare her mind in advance. At that time, Hanael, who was next to her in her cute school uniform, hugged Sierra’s thighs and shook her face.

“Mom, don’t forgive him, though!”

…This is a big deal. If it’s revealed that he’s not her father, Cassius won’t care for Hanael, will he? Sierra urgently told Hanael to stop.

“Hanael, you can’t say that to him.”

“Hing, I got it… Sniff!”

She had a runny nose because of a cold. Sierra looked in her pocket and tried to take out a potion made for colds. But Cassius was faster. He got on one knee and pulled the handkerchief out of his knight’s uniform, then wiped Hanael’s nose without hesitation.

“You caught a cold.”

…How dirty it must be because it’s someone else’s secretions, but Cassius was very friendly.

“F-Fool… go away!”

Hanael, whose face turned red, hurriedly stepped back. No, Hanael can’t get attached to Cassius…!

Sierra looked down at Cassius and whispered in a cool tone.

“Cassius, don’t give Hanael any affection.”

Cassius slowly looked into her eyes. His deep blue eyes were sinking like the deep sea.

‘No, what are those eyes? Now I feel guilty!’

He slowly folded his handkerchief as though it wasn’t dirty.

“I’m just…”

“…”

“I just want to be nice.”

…Sierra became increasingly concerned about the future. Cassius is a serious man, so if we find out that Hanael isn’t his daughter, he’d go crazy…

No, but we should still get along. The truth will be revealed in three months anyway.

I need to find out why Cassius is misunderstanding and figure out how to resolve the situation.

Let’s see the location where the pharmacy will be built on the capital later, too!

I will keep exchanging letters with Abel as well.

Sierra’s eyes, thinking about what to do for the next three months, shone keenly.

***

Cassius and Sierra finally got on the carriage that would be taking them to the Capital.

If you use a teleport scroll, you can get there faster, but we couldn’t. Studies have shown that children like Hanael are sensitive to magic particles, such as teleport scrolls, causing motion sickness, abdominal pain, and headaches. So, Cassius prepared a carriage with the seal of the duke’s family.

“Wow! That’s amazing! The world is moving fast!”

The carriage moved very fast. Hanael had never left the village. Sierra is also leaving the countryside for the first time in five years. It was a new feeling. Cassius, who was looking at her, quietly called Sierra.

“Sierra.”

“…Hm?“

Cassius took his gaze away from the window to Sierra and whispered low in her ear.

“Strange men were caught near your mansion.”

“…”

My sister’s enemies began to appear after the stealth magic disappeared.

As her sister often made extraordinary requests, her enemies generally performed strange magic. There was a necromancer who used voodoo, a guild leader in the dark guild, and an astrologer who could summon demons.

‘I’m sure they were planning to attack Hanael and me.’

Without Cassius, something terrible could have happened, resulting in Sierra and Hanael ending up in their hands.

‘If it weren’t for Cassius, this would have ended in a disaster. Where the hell did she go?’

She’s such a nuisance…

Where and what on earth are you doing that’s preventing you from showing up? My thoughts became more complex, but Cassius answered clearly and concisely.

“Of course, I’ve already dealt with them, so don’t worry.”

What do you mean by dealt with them? You don’t mean you killed them, do you?

The words sent chills down my spine. Sierra opened her trembling mouth and said,

“…Thank you.”

Cassius whispered in her ear in a low voice.

“I don’t know how you’ve been hiding, or what kind of people are after you.”

The husky voice stuck in my ear.

“But you don’t have to worry anymore.”

“…”

“I’ll protect you from now on.”

Sierra’s face reddened when she saw his burning eyes.

No, Hanael’s here. How can he say such strange words…

Sure enough, Hanael, looking out the window, made a strange sound of pain, turning her head.

“Daddy…”

…She’s sleep talking. Anyway, I’m dying of heartache. Sierra sighed and closed her eyes.

***

Days passed in the carriage alone. As Hanael’s whining slowly grew, they were finally able to reach the estate of Duke Idios in the Imperial Capital. After giving Hanael a spoonful of medicine for motion sickness, Sierra got out of the carriage.

Though…

The Duke’s mansion was odder than expected.

Sweat ran down Sierra’s back.

Is it right that I came here…?

What the hell is going on here?

Sierra was embarrassed when she arrived at the estate of Duke Idios in the Capital. Even if it was possible to receive a vast pool of marigolds suddenly in front of the main gate of the mansion, it was a cold sweat to see all the maids, servants, and the butler lined up.

Seeing both the servants and butler watching Cassius…

I think he’d realized how ridiculous he looked in this situation.

Hanael also feels similar emotions.

“W-Wow, I’ve never seen something like this before.”

Hanael, who had clenched her hand, trembled.

“Are you scared?”

“Huh? I’m excited! Is the Capital always like this? It’s so cool! I’m going to do a lot of fun things with my mom.”

Hanael, raised her chin high and talked seriously. Sierra touched Hanael’s hair and whispered quietly.

“No, it’s only for three months, okay? This will not be a common thing in the Capital.”

“You can stay however long you’d like.”

When Cassius said that, there was nothing to say. Sierra nodded and opened her mouth, though Hanael spoke first.

“The bad man had such a nice house and didn’t even pick me up.”

Hearing that, Cassius looked sick. Sierra felt intense pain, and grabbed her chest.

‘Every time Hanael bullies Cassius, I go crazy, I…’

Sierra has now decided to give up the conversation and look around the Duke’s mansion. Sierra, who was escorted by Cassius into the open mansion, walked up the stairs step by step, admiring the huge chandelier.

The three entered the main building of the mansion. They passed the first floor and arrived on the second, it was the last room in the corridor where you pass through the flower-filled garden. Cassius eased his jaw toward the servant following him.

“Miss Sierra, Miss Hanael. It’s a great pleasure to meet you. I’m the butler of this estate. I’ll show you to your room.”

Sierra, Cassius, and Hanael walked side by side, led by the leading butler. Sierra glanced at Cassius and thought seriously.

‘Cassius is really different from the old days. He looks like a nobleman.’

Sierra, who was looking around, paused for a moment. This was a huge room. It looks like it’s been taken care of for a long time…

The room was bigger than the country house where Sierra stayed. There were open doors on the left and right, respectively, with one living room between them. First, on the right, there was a fantasy room like a toy country for Hanael. Hanael ran to the door in the right room and shouted loudly.

“O-Oh my god! It’s a bunch of toys!”

“Be careful, Hanael.”

“Nope! I love toys! I’m not going to be careful!”

“Stop it.”

Sierra, who gave her strict attention, inadvertently turned to the left room.

And she was more frightened than Hanael and stiffened up. She couldn’t even hear Hanael’s playful voice anymore.

“This is… What…”

There was a wonderful new world that she had been wanting since she attended the academy. When Sierra could not speak, Cassius whispered quietly behind her back.

“You said it before, ‘I want to have all the potions and herbs in the world.’”

“Uh-huh…”

I did.

That’s exactly what I said.

But it was just a passing remark…

The wall in the left room was filled with labeled vials of potions. Next to it was a temperature-controlled medicine warehouse. If all the pharmacists in the world could see this, they’d be as impressed as Sierra.

When Sierra did not answer for a long time, Cassius whispered quietly, seeming nervous.

“…I did this to make up for the potions, but it’s not enough.”

Sierra raised her trembling hand and closed her mouth. This is beyond the limit.

No, Cassius, he’s a really nice person…

‘I’m tearing up. I’m going to cry. Is this heaven?’

As she looked around the room, she met Cassius’ eyes. At that moment, tears filled Sierra’s eyes as her happiness burst, and she fell down with a thud.

But it was unclear how Cassius interpreted Sierra’s tears. He clenched his teeth and murmured with trembling hands.

“Sierra, I don’t know what to do if you cry…”

“Thank you, Cassius.”

Of course, kindness stems from misunderstandings, but isn’t Cassius, a very good person? Sierra thought so.

Cassius’ eyes were equally reddened by what she had said. He wiped away her tears, gently touching Sierra’s eyes.

“It’s just this… I missed you, why are you…”

As soon as she heard his desperate voice, Sierra quickly came to her senses.

‘Oh, right. He’s misunderstanding again.’

There was something Sierra and Cassius are forgetting. Every servant was watching breathlessly.

The duke’s servants are great professionals. It meant that in most cases, they had composure, but they were shocked by this situation.

The cold-blooded demon, the warhead, Cassius Idios.

The man who cut through a beast like a demon in the war.

Why does that man, who was rumored to have killed my father… seem to be crying?

“Sierra.”

He held Sierra’s hand and gently escorted her.

“Now, let me show you your room.”

The servants of the mansion rubbed their eyes. Cassius was still that cold-blooded figure.

“Oh, all right…”

Sierra gave a slight nod with a rough expression.

But all the servants behind him knew that there would be a warm spring breeze in the desolate duke’s mansion.

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