Translator and Editor: Lily and Nabi

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Chapter 12 – Who Is Truly Being Bullied?

Andante coughed for no particular reason.

She didn’t know Sierra would be so positive.

However, Andante’s purpose is to deal with Sierra, who would stain the family. Although she was briefly pushed back from the momentum, she had no plans to back down from this point.

“Hmm, I don’t feel so comfortable being around commoners.”

Now, she was shooting Sierra a glare. “commoners are pathetic.”

Receiving her cursing, Sierra spoke in a gentle and kind way.

“I see, it can be very uncomfortable for a noble lady to mingle with a commoner like me, right?”

Adapting to the conversation of nobles, she was briefly confused whether Sierra’s words were sincere or not. At that time, Sierra whispered fiercely.

“If you wish, I can leave right now, my lady.”

At this point, Andante was seriously convinced. That little commoner is mocking her.

Sierra was not using a way of speaking that was considerate of herself, rather, she uses a method where she ‘quotes someone else’s words’.

At this point, if Sierra leaves, she would not achieve her original intention of driving Sierra out from the duke’s mansion, and she would be like a dog chasing a chicken. Is that her intention?

“How arrogant. Sit down this exact moment.”

“Yes, I’ll sit then.”

Andante glared at Sierra, who was quite obedient. No matter how much she thought about it, she decided that it was right to insult a commoner woman who uses that way of speaking to her.

“Why are you, a shallow commoner, staying with the duke? You dare blind the godmother and humiliate our family?”

Sierra was incredibly impressed.

It’s all true whether you say it one by one.

Firstly, A shallow commoner, this was relatively correct from the nobles’ point of view. Most people who fall into noble supremacy believe commoners to be vulgar.

Secondly, blinded eyes this part is right. Even if it wasn’t Sierra’s intention, it was true that the godmother was blind.

She didn’t understand why, and Sierra didn’t mean for it to be that way! It was clear that godmother mistook Sierra as a kind-hearted and good commoner.

Lastly, I’m humiliating the family. Yeah, that’s right. I would be a stain on Duke Idios’s name, right? So, disappearing as fast as possible would be the right answer for Cassius.

‘This is true… I don’t think she’ll slap me. I only said the right thing.’

The things she spoke were all correct. Sierra spoke seriously.

“You’re right.”

“W-W-What?”

Her face turned red. Sierra seemed to have upset Andante even more, who didn’t deny anything. The marchioness took a long deep breath and tried to regain her pace.

“…Know your place, and get out of the duke’s estate.”

“Yes.”

“…”

She was too obedient to say anything. Sierra was looking at Andante, who was speechless. She replied gracefully.

“Well, I’ll be right out in three months. We could sign a contract right now, my lady.”

“…W-Why three months?”

“You see, I have an arrangement with the duke. In three months, I will definitely leave no matter what. So, relax. You know, a flaw like me, won’t affect a great duke as much as a speck.”

Andante felt that Sierra’s vocabulary was perfect.

She didn’t even try to deny anything. Andante, at the moment, questioned why she was there in the first place.

Sierra was so firm with her words that she believed what she said was true.

Though fortunately or not, Andante finally came to her senses and cleared her throat. The level of the commoner woman who entered the duke’s mansion with her child was high enough to capture the hearts of the godmother and the duke.

Everyone opened their eyes and had great acting skills.

Of course, Sierra wasn’t acting, but she was 100% sincere. She began to think, bringing a cup of tea to her mouth.

‘Is this the end of the marchioness’ attack? This is too bland.’

In addition, even though she graduated from the academy, Sierra was a commoner who grew up digging into the ground as a child. She adapted herself to harsh words enough to pass on a conversation in the social world.

However, Andante was a woman who didn’t know how to give up.

About ten minutes of tedious admonition followed. Sierra generally showed the same attitude, such as, “Yes, yes, I understand,” to her criticism, further angering Andante.

For some reason, Andante felt like she was being caught up by Sierra the more she talked and gave a long sigh.

“Huu…”

Then, she finally grabbed a glass of water instead of a cup of tea. Sierra looked at the glass of water with no particular thought and suddenly recalled the symbolism of a ‘glass of water.’

‘Is she going to splash that on me?’

Sierra gulped. All right, splash me! Come on!

‘It’s more than enough to get me wet.’

Andante grabbed the glass of water, and Sierra unintentionally closed her eyes.

It was then.

“How dare someone touch my mom!”

A familiar, but small, loud voice rang out in the teahouse. Sierra opened her eyes wide.

Come to think of it. There was something she had overlooked.

It was Hanael who was there with the maid.

***

Before they continued their war of words in the teahouse.

Hanael, a smart little girl, took a close look at the disturbing atmosphere. She called the maid and rode the carriage to the duke’s mansion.

Luckily for Hanael, but unfortunately for Sierra, the teahouse was just across from the duke’s mansion.

Cassius did not want Sierra to leave the premises, and Sierra did not intend to either.

Within three minutes, Hanael flew into the mansion and found the person who favored Sierra most.

It was the godmother, the former Marchioness of Mails.

She was told by the maid that Sierra and Cassius had gone to a restaurant last night and drank her tea at ease. It was amazing to hear that Cassius, who became unhappy because of his broken love life, cheered up a bit.

“Grandmother!”

In the garden of the duke’s mansion, she smiled peacefully at Hanael, who was rushing towards her.

“Dear, what’s going on?”

“A bad lady is bothering my mom!”

The old woman’s half-pale face became fully white.

“How dare they bother her…”

“The maid says it’s the Marchioness of Mails! They are at the teahouse out front!”

Blood stood in the white eyes of the old woman, who listened to Hanael’s words.

“She dares…” She staggered to her feet with a cane.

“Take the lead. Let’s go.”

Hanael and the godmother’s eyes met, rushing to save the endangered Sierra.

But then…

There was an unexpected sign that prevented them from leaving quickly.

***

Looking at it that way, Hanael became Sierra’s reliever.

Hanael bounced up like a spring and pointed at her.

“Bad lady, s-she’s going to spray water on my mom!”

…There was something Sierra and Andante had overlooked.

Hanael had secretly read the romance novel at Sierra’s house and was tamed by the last novel.

Of course, Andante responded nervously, trying to dampen her dry throat without any intention of splashing water.

“What are you talking about?”

Hanael only walked proudly, picking her ears with an expression as if she hadn’t been hurt.

“You’re going to splash her with water! A bad person who neglects my mother because she’s a commoner!”

Andante rose to her feet in an irritated manner.

However, it was then. She saw an upright figure approaching behind Hanael.

At that moment, Andante was forced to stand like a statue. When Andante and the honorable godmother’s eyes met, it was like a huge lion had wrapped around the teahouse.

“Andante, how dare you!”

An angry voice that could have been loudly heard penetrated the entire teahouse.

It belonged to the mother-in-law of the marchioness, the godmother. Her white complexion was red, showing how angry she was.

“Dear Mother! This commoner is putting pressure on the duke…”

“How dare you not know your place… Shut up!”

“M-Mother…”

“She’s the duke’s precious guest, whom I have welcomed!”

The most embarrassed person in this situation was none other than Sierra.

We’ve got a problem.

Andante has provoked the already sensitive and easily misunderstood godmother. However, things were still manageable.

Sierra spoke to protect the small and precious marchioness, who had yet to do anything, as she only recited facts to protect her family.

“The marchioness is innocent.”

“…Sierra, what is this? Why do you have to suffer this humiliation again!”

‘I’ve been humiliated again…?’

It was when Sierra carefully looked into the past, wondering if this had ever happened before.

“And why are you protecting her?! You’re such a gentle fool…”

The godmother stumbled toward her with a face of demise.

Sierra fixed her hair in a hurry.

It seems like the godmother has started an extraordinary illusion again…

“…Are you alright? You must feel so hurt.”

Sierra shook her head in a hurry and tried to fix the situation.

“It’s fine. We only spoke, so don’t blame Lady Andante. It’s all my fault for being a commoner.”

Sierra has always been sincere.

“It’s not your fault! It can’t be! Besides, a commoner… you’ve been shamed as a commoner.”

“No, it’s not a shame. It’s actually an opportunity…”

I feel like I’ve angered her… The godmother’s glare became more fierce. Andante, who had been held captive by her mother-in-law, was almost on the verge of fainting.

Adding to that…

The doors of the teahouse opened once more, and a massive man walked in.

It was Cassius Idios with a demonic expression.

“It looks like I’m mistaken.”

He held Sierra’s hand in an elegant manner.

“Now, it’s time to make a proper announcement.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the small teahouse turned into a desolate space without even a breath.

Sierra rolled her eyes, looking around while examining everyone.

Hanael clenched her fists and cheered for the godmother and Cassius. The angry godmother and the cold-hearted Cassius scared Marchioness Andante Mails, whose teeth were chattering in fear.

‘Am I the only one who doesn’t have much thought here…?’

It seems like she unintentionally pulled the fuse…?

“If you touch Sierra, be prepared to deal with me, and even with our family.”

Sierra looked at Cassius with a startling look.

He was glaring like one of those demons from hell.

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